OCCOM BILL wrote:Thanks for the article Walter. I'd say Chertoff's take is spot on. I've had surprisingly little trouble convincing most of the people I've discussed this with that the Deal was good for America. I suppose it's because most of their opposition was the knee-jerk-didn't-know-any-better variety. Pity, neither Bush nor any of his people attempted to sell it on the National Level. The lion's share of the blame still rests with those politicians who played on ignorance and bigotry for political gain; but I think this is one of those cases where Bush's lack of diplomatic ability really hurt the country. I could easily see where a Bill Clinton type speaker could have sold this and punished rather than rewarded the unscrupulous promoters of ignorance and bigotry. I see this as a sorry reflection of American politics, across the board.
It is depressing how easily national statesmen can fall into base behaviors because of political expediencies. In this affair, the Republicans are only marginally better than the Democrats.
What this issue forces us to consider (if we have not done so already) is the question of whether principle trumps self-interest in the realm of politics.
The answer, sadly, is
OF COURSE IT DOES NOT!
A small fraction of our representatives may vote in accordance with their intellect and their conscience, but, in the main, they vote based on how they might benefit from a particular vote.
Now the reality is that self-interest rather than conscience drives societal movement. Yes altruism pops its shining head up from time to time, and, generally, we can expect the most from humanity when times are worse, but in the day to day advance of the world's events, bet on positions that favor someone personally.
The Dubai ports deal is a perfect example.
Notwithstanding the fact that their opposition smacked of xenophobia and racism (two of the greatest [according to Liberals] sins to visit mankind), Democrats committed themselves to the course and dissembling argument of "How can we sell our ports to the Arabs! One or two of the 9/11 terrorists came from the UAE and so that is proof positive that the UAE can't be trusted!"
Unfortunately we can never rely upon consistency of argument in American politics.
If we could, we could infer from the the arguments of Chuckie Schummer and his ilk that the actions of several, speak for the intent of millions. Thus since we had quite a few people in favor of invading Iraq, Chuckie should shut up about it as this approval (regardless of whether or not it was of the few) spoke for all Americans.
But then wait, perhaps Chuckie's argument is not so illogical within his reality and that of his party.
A minority of people object to a given governmental action, and Chuckie and his fellow Libs are lightening quick to assert that these few speak for everyone. Thus, it makes sense in the Wonderland world of the Left that if one Arab from Dubai rode a plane that crashed into the World Trade Center, all Arabs from Dubai are untrustworthy.
Of course what we are dealing with is not the seemingly utter
stupidity of the arguments being made, but the gross
cupidity of Democrats for a return to power.
That self-interest in a positive force in the world is not toxic to conservatives, but it surely is to liberals, and yet we are confronted, on a daily basis, with the advancement of the self-interest of Liberals.
What is so nauseating about issues like these is the way that would be ideologues so quickly part ways with the ideology they are accused of promoting for the benefit of their personal interests.
In another thread I may explain why in this field of dreck the Republicans are marginally better that the Democrats, but for now, a plague on both their houses!
That's not even the whole sentence, let alone the whole point. What's your game? 
