Always so fun to throw something else into the mix to consider-namely, with the Ports deal, Dear Leader W's claims about how the US will still call the security shots, as his remarks earlier today show

Q Mr. President, since you're the final arbiter of the Dubai Ports deal, are you still inclined to approve it? And do you stand by your veto threat?

PRESIDENT BUSH: My position hasn't changed to my message to the Congress. And I appreciate the fact that the companies concerned have asked the Congress for a review of all the security implications.

Let me just make something clear to the American people. If there was any doubt in my mind, or people in my administration's mind that our ports would be less secure and the American people endangered, this deal wouldn't go forward. And I can understand people's consternation because the first thing they heard was that a foreign company would be in charge of our port security, when, in fact, the Coast Guard and Customs are in charge of our port security. Our duty is to protect America, and we will protect America.

On the other hand, this company is buying a British company that manages the ports. And by the way, there are a lot of foreign companies managing U.S. ports. And so my question to the members of Congress as they review this matter is, one, please look at the facts. And two, what kind of signal does it send throughout the world if it's okay for a British company to manage the ports, but not a company that has been secure -- been cleared for security purposes from the Arab world?

That's interesting, especially when considering that the President can waive those same security standards, say, for well-connected cronies-and the best part here?

Well, President Bush Jr has done just that, when he waived rules pertaining to US ports already, namely, back right after Katrina hit

Another challenge we face is that the downed pipelines are causing the need to transport gasoline to needed markets by ship. Under current law, shipping between American ports can only take place on American ships, and there are currently not enough American ships to move the oil and gasoline to where it's needed. So today I've instructed Secretary of Homeland Security Chairman Chertoff to temporarily waive this requirement, so foreign ships can also help distribute oil and gasoline to where it's needed. Today's action will further help us move gasoline to accommodate the demands of the American citizens.

So the President can order any requirements waived as it relates to any aspect of US ports

Does anyone doubt This President WOULDN'T waive security requirements on behalf of a major campaign contributing crony, especially as how he did just that with Katrina

I'd say there needs to be restrictions written into the deal that allows the President to waive ANY requirements needed to run US ports ONLY with a congressional okay