[Preechr]

It's Ok... I forgive you, buddy.

The Dems started the challenge to it. The Republicans jumped on it to both spin it their way and to have a nice little "I'M not just another Dubya Yes-Man" feather in their caps.

This is political gold to the Dems, just another news-cycle issue to the GOP. Kerry made a lot of hay with port security in 04, so they can claim some high ground here. Their impetus here, however, was protection of the longshoremen's union. That pressing it will help them appear stronger on defense is a happy bonus. That's two really good reasons that make me believe this will be a news item for the next 20 months.

I honestly believe the deal will die. The Bushies are doing a hell of a job of calming the waters, but I think their tack is wrong and their will to push it through weak. Maybe I'm just not factoring in enough for whatever behind the scenes benefits there are to bribing the UAE with foreign aid type money filtered through a corporate deal such as this one. Yeah, we need the air base and the flyover rights, as well as the entry point for future ME conflicts... the intelligence help and the tap into ME finance... but I'm just not sure we will lose those things were this deal to fail.

There are also some benefits to the GOP in killing it. Even if it goes away, though, I still think port-security should be a major topic for the Dems till 08 is decided. I will honestly be amazed if they don't start up one of those "whisper campaigns" trying to paint this deal, and others that they could dig up, as TeamBush© deliberately opening holes in our defense in order to score another attack for their political benefit... even without an additional terror attack on America.

If they don't run with this ball they've taken, I have no hope left for the party at all. I don't really have any measurable hope for it now, but if they blow this opportunity, I will be able to comfortably say they are completely un-salvageable and hopeless... at least until the next chance to sign out comes around...