C-Span TV (C-Span One)
Robert Kimmitt, Deputy Treasury Secretary, is now speaking. (I’ve been thinking that it’s the REVIEW PROCESS that may need the most scrutiny, and am glad to see it raised here in this piece from the Counterterrorism Blog.) From “Weaknesses in CFIUS Review Process Reported to Congress Last Year“:
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee is meeting now receive a public briefing on the Executive Branch review of the DP World purchase of the six US ports (on C-SPAN). It looks like the Government Accountability Office hit the bulleye last year when reporting weaknesses in the process to the Senate Banking Committee, which has primary oversight jurisdiction over CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States), the interagency group which reviewed the purchase. You can read the report at the Senate Banking Committee website for that hearing. Here is the text of the Executive Summary of that report, which could serve as a guide for the rational discussion of this issue and future changes to the Exon-Florio Act, which mandated the review process used in this matter:
Several aspects of the process for implementing Exon-Florio could be enhanced thereby strengthening the law’s effectiveness. First, in light of differing views among Committee members about the scope of Exon-Florio—specifically, what defines a threat to national security, we have suggested that Congress should consider amending Exon-Florio to more clearly emphasize the factors that should be considered in determining potential harm to national security.
Second, to provide additional time for analyzing transactions when necessary, while avoiding the perceived negative connotation of investigation on foreign investment in the United States we have suggested that the Congress eliminate the distinction between the 30-day review and the 45-day investigation and make the entire 75-day period available for review. … Read all
Hillary just spoke. She’s introducing legislation to ban any government-owned entity from running such an operation (not her words /paraphrasing).
Reporter from Congressional Quarterly: Should Bush voluntarily withdraw this?
Warner: “the administration would realize the strong sentiment of the Congress … ” veto …. it can be worked out satisfactorily so it reflects the views of both congress and executive branch.
(This is SO much about the Exec branch having ZERO respect for those other branches.)
Dang. The hearing has concluded but C-Span has opened up the lines to callers on the 2-1/2 hour meeting.
Hillary is now speaking to reporters.
From Keith’s newsletter:
(Don’t tell Boo I used the “F” word.)
yup, Bush bent the frame and shattered the glass.
I’m close to throwing something at the TV (which would be bad if for no other reason than that I am at my grandmother’s house). Several times in the past 24 hours on different cable networks I have heard something similar to: some democrats want to kill the deal, republicans want to put it on hold. Of course, in the Fox version by Kondracke last night, he went further and characterized the supposed democratic position as reckless and the republican opposition as prudent, but the basic narrative is the same. Also, notice that democrats are characterized as divided while all republicans supposedly are unified on this, since there is never a limiting modifier in front of their god-damned party.
What fantasy world are these newsreaders living in? The wording between CNN and Foxnews has been so similar that they must have read the same memo from somebody. I’m not even sure who the some democrats are suppposed to be, since Clinton and Schumer are the leading democratic opposition and both are calling for hearings.
What fantasy world are these newsreaders living in?
The parents of Natalie Holloway are on the for hour tonight on Larry King