Has Rush Limbaugh Changed Your Mind About UAE Running Our Ports

[momof2inPA]

Despite the high disapproval ratings of this deal, Rush Limbaugh is preaching to his fans daily about why it's a good deal for America. Apparently, he'll keeping preaching until his ditsy heads change their minds.

So, has he changed your mind, yet? Did you initially think that you didn't want an Arab country running our ports but after listening to Rush or another conservative talk show host, have you seen the light, bowed down to their superior intellect and changed your mind? Just curious if the spin is working.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I can't imagine anything Rush is going to say that would change my mind. I agree with some of the things he talks about and disagree on others.

 

[cardaway]

I once thought illegal drugs were wrong, but Rush changed my mind.

 

[DawnCt1]

Frankly, I have always been opened minded about it and didn't have much opposition, if any, to it in the first place. If China can run the TERMINAL in Longbeach, certainly, a company, that services our military ships in the Port of Dubai can handle cargo containers elsewhere. Lets be clear on the language. An Arab company/country will NOT being "running our ports". They will be handling the terminal operations; much like a travel agent handles your vacation. They have nothing to do with chosing your destination, but they book you on a flight, send you to hotel and security, etc is left up to the airport. Delta airlines handles the fllights and destinations and the gangway at the airport, but they don't "run" the airport. As long as we allow UAE flights into the country, flights from Saudi Arabia into the country, having a UAE company with an American liason is no big deal.

 

[HayGan]

Frankly, I have always been opened minded about it and didn't have much opposition, if any, to it in the first place. If China can run the TERMINAL in Longbeach, certainly, a company, that services our military ships in the Port of Dubai can handle cargo containers elsewhere. Lets be clear on the language. An Arab company/country will NOT being "running our ports". They will be handling the terminal operations; much like a travel agent handles your vacation. They have nothing to do with chosing your destination, but they book you on a flight, send you to hotel and security, etc is left up to the airport. Delta airlines handles the fllights and destinations and the gangway at the airport, but they don't "run" the airport. As long as we allow UAE flights into the country, flights from Saudi Arabia into the country, having a UAE company with an American liason is no big deal.

Exactly! An Arab company will be controlling the operations but not the security. BIG difference!

I find it ironic that so many people who argue against racial profiling are furious over this decision

 

[GEM]

The only thing Rush has ever made me change is the chanel on my TV or radio.

(That said, I never cared much about this issue in the first place.)

 

[mrsltg]

Nope. I've never been a xenophobe so I'm not afraid of people just because of their geographic location/religion/skin color. FWIW I'm also not boycotting Germany b/c some of the terrorists were schooled/lived there. I also don't hold Switzerland accountable for who banks with them....

Erin

 

[Geoff_M]

momof2inPA, sorry but I refuse to directly answer your question that drips with condescension. Quit frankly, I didn't know what his position was on the deal. I'm glad to hear from you that he hasn't given into the kind of xenophobic "knee jerking" that some of the other commentators have fallen victim too.

My prediction: At the end of the new 45-day "do-over" review of the deal, DPW and the government will annouce that the US will "green light" the DPW take over of UK-based P&O in exchange for a couple token concessions like the liasson between the US government and DPW must be a US citizen, and both sides in the controversy will then walk away declaring "victory". The Administration will state that our relations with a valuable ally in the GWOT has been saved, and the Chuck Schumer's of the world (after realizing that there's not a lot of fire behind the initial alarmist smoke) will declare that they made our ports "safe" once again by extracting the "window dressing" concessions.

 

[Robinrs]

The only thing Rush has ever made me change is the chanel on my TV or radio.

(That said, I never cared much about this issue in the first place.)

OmG, LOL, ITA GEM!

 

[DawnCt1]

How Timely. I just got a paid political phone message, from "something of American Families". It complained about Congressman Rob Simmons supporting the "outsourcing of port security to an Arab country". It went on the say that "President Bush and his friends" are relying on an Arab country for port security" and to call Congressman Simmons office at....... The flagrant and gross misrepresentation of this issue is NOT to be believed. Unfortunately they didn't leave a number where I could call THEM!!!

 

[cardaway]

momof2inPA, sorry but I refuse to directly answer your question that drips with condescension. Quit frankly, I didn't know what his position was on the deal. I'm glad to hear from you that he hasn't given into the kind of xenophobic "knee jerking" that some of the other commentators have fallen victim too.

My prediction: At the end of the new 45-day "do-over" review of the deal, DPW and the government will annouce that the US will "green light" the DPW take over of UK-based P&O in exchange for a couple token concessions like the liasson between the US government and DPW must be a US citizen, and both sides in the controversy will then walk away declaring "victory". The Administration will state that our relations with a valuable ally in the GWOT has been saved, and the Chuck Schumer's of the world (after realizing that there's not a lot of fire behind the initial alarmist smoke) will declare that they made our ports "safe" once again by extracting the "window dressing" concessions.

But you have no problem adding your own condescension soaked comments.

 

[eclectics]

The only thing Rush Limbaugh has changed my mind about is tougher penalties for forging drug prescriptions.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

The only thing Rush has ever made me change is the chanel on my TV or radio.

 

[DawnCt1]

The only thing Rush Limbaugh has changed my mind about is tougher penalties for forging drug prescriptions.

Actually he has never been accused of "forging" prescriptions, so thats a new twist on the previous allegations.

 

[eclectics]

Actually he has never been accused of "forging" prescriptions, so thats a new twist on the previous allegations.

It wasn't meant to be taken seriously, as indeed I could argue, should Mr. Limbaugh himself. And yes, he has a disease that should not be joked about, but since his "pre-self disclosure" remarks about drug addicts, he lost all credibility and sympathy from me.

 

[Independent]

"But, excuse me, how would you think President Bush would feel if we said to him, 'Okay, let's have your Secret Service detail be taken over by the United Arab Emirates?' 'If it's okay for all of us, let's have the Arabs protect you, and just hope that ticking sound is Dick Cheney's pacemaker.'" – Bill Maher

But joking aside, I will reserve judgement. I would like to know more why the Coast Guard voiced concern about their ability to protect the ports and why this was kept hush/hush from congress and the American people.

Rush will cause me to change the channel (loved this ), but then so will some of the most vocal opponents. I will wait to see what the review brings. On this issue, I am really still on the fence.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Sorry I am a free thinker and nothing that you, Rush or anybody else says will make me change my mind on a issue that I have researched. I like to make up my own mind.

 

[HayGan]

"But, excuse me, how would you think President Bush would feel if we said to him, 'Okay, let's have your Secret Service detail be taken over by the United Arab Emirates?' 'If it's okay for all of us, let's have the Arabs protect you, and just hope that ticking sound is Dick Cheney's pacemaker.'" – Bill Maher

The quote is EXACTLY why this issue has become so misunderstood. It has nothing to do with security. It would be like the UAE taking over the daily operations of the kitchen/waitstaff/houskeeping of the White House and the Secret Service would not be affected. They would still monitor the activites of the others and protect the President and his family.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Exactly! An Arab company will be controlling the operations but not the security. BIG difference!

I find it ironic that so many people who argue against racial profiling are furious over this decision

ITA. Why is it ok to single out an Arab company but not an Arab passenger entering a plane? One is called recial profiling and the other is not?!?

 

[What the Heck]

My only concern is why are we outsourcing this at all? Why can't a US company handle it?