Archive for February 16th, 2006

File under: Wuh? Heh? Sezwuh? What is it with the White House pushing support towards the pending sale of six major U.S. ports to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned company. Where are the Congressional hearings on this one? Or, perhaps, they wish to focus on the vice president’s hunting accident. The sale of a large U.S. corporation to China was blocked by Congress last year. I find myself in the unusual position to support Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. quoted as saying, “Outsourcing the operations of our largest ports to a country with a dubious record on terrorism is a homeland security and commerce accident waiting to happen. The administration needs to take another look at this deal.” London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company is the world’s fourth-largest ports company. It “runs commercial operations at shipping terminals in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.” I just don’t get it. What next, Saudi Arabia running our major airports?

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Press passed (up). Feelings hurt. The White House press corps is miffed that the Vice President hunting accident made it to the local newspaper before it made it to the pool reporter. So, what are they gonna do about it, hmm? Gone are those images of the chain smoking gum shoe reporter, disheveled grey suit, fedora, “getting the story.” Impractical, you say? Not in today’s world of Secret Service details, pool reporters, shared feeds, press planes? Perhaps the next time Dick Cheney or any other potential newsmaker goes on vacation sans press pool there will be some industriousness demonstrated to keep within birdshot of the story. What does that entail? How about some good old fashioned journalism.

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