The Militant Moderate

Just when you think you have seen a lot of dumb things from the current federal administration, you find that they have done something even dumber.  To make matters worse, the administration is stuck again in a vituperative defense of it dumb acts against critics, who are as numerous as the sands along the sea coast around eastern ports.  These critics include senators and congressmen from both political parties, governors of affected states, nearly every person of note in the mass media, and most concerned citizens in the country – including the Militant Moderate.  

The MM supposes that there might be acts of greater social and political insensitivity than that of approving of an Arab company managing our ports, but at the moment he would be hard pressed to think of one.  Similarly, it is difficult to imagine why the president, after discovering this blunder, did not immediately separate himself from the process of dumb decision-making by hirelings and come out openly in a call for reconsideration of that internal procedure – thus allowing the staff to reverse itself and save face.  

The Militant Moderate surmises that there must be deep-seated nuances of relations with ostensibly friendly Arab governments, and that the president is trying to maintain good relations with those whose cooperation is needed in the Gulf.  Also, the MM is aware of reports of close business and investment ties of the UAE with the Bush family over a long period of time.  However, any person with a modicum of acumen about government, public relations, and politics should have known that this was not a good avenue for placating friendly Arab business associates.  

The White House press secretary keeps repeating himself to media people in describing how thorough was the process, how cabinet members have affirmed it, and how customs and the Border Patrol are still going to be in charge of security.  Considering our farcical experiences with the southern border, does anyone feel more secure with those people involved?  Does anyone feel more secure knowing the president’s appointees have reviewed this decision and found it sound?  

Political pundits now say, “It is a matter of lack of trust.”  

The Militant Moderate wonders how loud the public must shout, “We don’t trust you!  We don’t trust your advisors!  We don’t trust your vice-president!  We don’t trust your version of ‘intelligence’!  We don’t like the secrecy with which you operate!  We don’t trust your opinions on Social Security or Medicare, or most other issues of substance!  We don’t trust your explanations of your budget!  We don’t trust your management of the Iraq war!  We don’t trust your decisions in handing out bundles of our tax dollars abroad, and to your political cronies’ companies, without proper accounting!  You have fooled us before, and it is not so easy anymore!”  

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate