Bill Clinton, former US president, advised top officials from Dubai two weeks ago on how to address growing US concerns over the acquisition of five US container terminals by DP World.According to Clinton’s spokesman, "About two weeks ago, the Dubai leaders called him and he suggested that they submit to the full and regular scrutiny process and that they should put maximum safeguards and security into any port proposal.”
It came even as his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, was leading efforts to derail the deal.
He also added that Mr Clinton supported his wife’s position on the deal and that “ideally” state-owned companies would not own US port operations.
Ideally? I take that to mean that this deal is not in our best interest. Clinton could have said that of course, but he was paid $300,000 to address a summit in Dubai in 2002 and finds himself in a pickle now. He has to keep Hillary and the UAE happy.
Bob Dole is also walking the same tightrope. The North Carolina Democratic Party called for Senator Elizabeth Dole to recuse herself from the debate. So what was paid lobbyist Bob Dole's response? He says he'll limit his involvement to discussions with Bush administration officials and efforts to "help the American people understand the real facts."
The only thing I want to understand is whom do we believe in the end - the Democrats or the Republicans?
4 comments:
It's getting harder to believe either side nowadays.
I don't think it's so much of a question of who to believe as far as the Democrats are concerned. I just think they've lost the plot and can't be counted on to do anything useful anymore.
The Republicans on the other hand can be trusted to be untrustworthy.
Something tells me we may be hearing from a 3rd Party soon...
Perhaps The Libbytarians will show us the light at the end of the tunnel :)
Lew, I almost posted a link to the Green Party website. They claim they don't take any corporate donations - yet. Money seems to be the great equalizer in Washington. It seems to corrupt just about everyone.
Mike, thanks for pointing me to the Libbytarians! I'm sure I could depend on that party to have some integrity and ethics.
Money seems to be the great equalizer in Washington. It seems to corrupt just about everyone.
Ain't that the truth. That's one of the things that makes me so cynical about politics - the old adage "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
If you substitute money, lobbyists, and political perks in there the implications are a bit frightening...
I almost feel like you can trust people only while they are struggling to gain any attention. Once they achieve any recognition and are exposed to the typical evils and tempations of the political realm all bets are off.
So where does that leave us I wonder?
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