Sunday, February 26, 2006
The Ports deal as a wedge issue
This time the wedge is working between Our Dear Embattled Leader and his erstwhile loyal cadres in Congress. The LA Times looks at the problems brought about by a Congress up for reelection and a preznit who isn't. The pressure of reelction has heightened the irritations brought on by a White House that tried to rule without Congress.
Republicans are concerned it will allow Democrats to use against them the very issue the GOP wielded to great effect in 2002 and 2004, when the party accused Democrats of being insufficiently tough on terrorism. Political fear swept through the ranks of GOP strategists last weekend when they heard Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on television saying Bush was endangering national security by approving the port deal.And so the Republicans get to pretend they are tough independent folk and ODEL will still get his big score before he leaves office.
"We looked at this thing and said, 'Oh my God! We are getting outflanked on national security by the left of the left wing!' " said a senior House Republican aide, who spoke about the party's internal conversations on condition of anonymity.
The deal also rankled Republicans because it fueled long-standing complaints that the Bush White House did not consult enough with Congress and took GOP support for granted.
"Isn't there supposed to be some give and take?" said Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.). "There's a disconnect [at the White House] about the value of Congress — until they need us for something they want."
The administration's handling of the port deal also has compounded GOP concerns that the administration's policy and political apparatus — which seemed shaky on such issues as Hurricane Katrina and the failed Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers — was not in good working order.
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