Isn’t It Curious?
I just read a press release by New Jersey Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez and NY Sen. Schumer calling for a “new direction to give the American people the real security they deserve.” Here’s one of the specifics of the Democrats’ plan:
The Real Security Act of 2006, as well as the Menendez amendment to the Port Security bill under debate in U.S. Senate, will require 100 percent screening of cargo at our nation’s ports, and will change course in Iraq to allow America to finally win the war on terror.
Isn’t it curious that Sen. Clinton wasn’t part of this? You’d think that they’d accomodate her so that she’d bring more media coverage to this, wouldn’t you? there’s only two reasons I can think of why she wasn’t there; either she didn’t want to be associated with this legislation or they didn’t want alot of coverage on this. I’d seriously doubt that they didn’t want some coverage of this.
Screening 100 percent of the cargo coming into America’s ports simply isn’t feasible because it’d tie up our ports while providing little real benefit. This has been a Democratic carping point for ages. I haven’t seen proof that screening 100 percent of the cargo will make us safer than screening 5 percent. I’d bet that that proof doesn’t exist.
“It would be unacceptable to screen only five percent of White House tourists, so why is it acceptable to scan only five percent of cargo entering our country,” Menendez said. “Scanning anything less than 100 percent of cargo that enters our ports is irresponsible and downright negligent. The Bush administration needs to provide a tangible plan, in writing, that describes how they will move America closer to 100 percent scanning.”
Comparing scanning people entering the White House to scanning cargo coming into U.S. ports is comparing apples to cars. This is what Democrats think passes for serious debate about terrorist prevention. They know that they can’t win this fall without putting forth something resembling an agenda to deal with preventing terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, they put this out instead.
Technorati Tags: Schumer, Ports, Election 2006, Hillary, Homeland Security
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
September 12th, 2006 at 9:22 am
[...] Cross-posted at California Conservative Categories: Midterm Elections, Homeland Security, Terrorism, 9/11, Hillary | [...]
September 12th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
The technology exists to scan container cargo. We do it currently on highways entering the country. What’s the big problem with actually taking the initiative and doing the same at ports? It shouldn’t tie up container cargo since you’re taking off cargo with a crane (attach sensor to crane) or roll-on/roll-off (same idea as for highways). Seems to me it just makes good sense if you are worried about dirty bombs. If you are worried about bio-weapons, that’s a whole other kettle of fish. Still, if you managed to keep one dirty bomb out of a major city, isn’t it worth the nominal cost of the sensors? Is the problem here that Democrats are ‘harping’ on something that the Republicans should have done something about anyway (and have even talked about it if memory serves)? Seems to me you’re just being pissy about this one Gary.
September 12th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
ya I am with Billyjoejimbob.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
A couple of comments, and a modest proposal:
1) It seems to me a program to “scan” all the cargo entering the country is akin to the WPA of the last century, a makeshift program designed to get a number of slackers (and probably illegals) off the streets and into the donkey pockets.
2) I’m still waiting for anything that remotely resembles a “plan” from the donkeys to “make the country safer”, something they keep carping about the Republicans.
A modest proposal: Eliminate anything entering the country (nukes or bioweapons, T.V.’s, computers, oil, humans, etc.) until that item has been thoroughly checked out. That way the big bad megacorps can have outdated merchandise piling up in warehouses, or have empty warehouses, and will have to beg the donkeys for relief in the form of political contributions, or go bankrupt. That will bring our economy to its knees, and we can “get back to nature”, without cars and houses and megastores and all somesuch. The greenies win, the donkeys win, and obviously all our citizens will win because everyone will be equally miserable. Except for the weenies in power. Some are more equal than others, a perk of the position.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Carlos,
The point is that there is something that *can* be done and the Republicans aren’t doing it. That leaves them open to attack. It matters little if the Democrats have no better answer other than what I just described.