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| 3/8/2006 1:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Coincidental timing of the seasons
 | Rob Crowe
Columnist
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Some may say we are in the midst of winter, approaching spring but I call this season Cookie Season.
For those who wonder what that is, it’s the time of year the Girl Scout Cookies are delivered. Since our house is the Hill City Brownie Cookie Distribution Center, my mouth has been watering for a couple of days, ever since I helped Management carry the pickup load of cookies into the house.
One of the benefits of being blessed with lots of girls is that, over the years, I get to experience this season firsthand. It usually costs me quite a bit, but that doesn’t matter, I can stock up on Caramel Delites and if I’m careful, that will last for some time, at least a couple of weeks. If Management hides some in the freezer, it can last a couple of months.
For those who wonder who Management is, you must not be married.
But I digress. Caramel Delites are my favorite, but I admit to being talked into buying a couple of other types by the elder Brownie salesgirl resident of the household. Unlike her father, she has salesperson potential. Either she knew her cookies or knew her father. The taste of the Thanks-A-Lot is pretty good and I’ve always been a sucker for sweet lemony things so we also got some Lemon Pastry Cremes. We broke the first batch out tonight for bed-night snacks so I’m fortified for a night of column-writing or whatever else may come up.
The other season that is upon us is election season. This season seems to start earlier every other year. Being an Official Republican Activist due to being Aitkin County Republican Chair, I’m the recipient of calls and letters from the candidates and political entities wanting my support or money. Since I’m chintzy with my support and even chintzier with my money, there are some disappointed folks out there. Maybe it isn’t sooner than in the past, I don’t keep personal records of those things, but it sure seems so.
Another indication of the election season is the media and political firestorm over the rather benign occasion of Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, buying some port terminal management operations owned by a British Company.
Before you start saying, “That Crowe fella isn’t interested in keeping the U. S. homeland safe against terrorists,” let’s review some facts.
According to Rich Lowry, National Review columnist: “It is loosely said that Dubai Ports World would ‘take over’ six ports. That’s false. The ports are owned by local governmental entities, and the company will manage only a few terminals. For instance, it will manage two terminals out of 14 in Baltimore. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns five terminals devoted chiefly to cargo. Dubai Ports World would be involved in only one, which it would manage together with a Danish firm.”
Likely this fact has managed to elude most of the Politicians (of both major parties) and mainstream media reporters who want to blow this situation out of proportion. The other popular mis-statement is that the Bush Administration engaged in a “secret” process or had a “secret” agreement with Dubai Ports World in describing a process that, though not public (for good reason), is well established in dealing with situations where foreign entities are purchasing a
U.S. business. Just a little deceiving.
Part of the problem is the age-old struggle between the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch where up to 535 presidential wanna-bees are looking for occasions to separate themselves from the pack and disagree with the president.
With the involvement of an Arab country or any other in a transaction of this sort it is good to ask honest questions about the deal. It is totally irresponsible to base the main arguments against the Dubai Ports World terminal acquisition on misleading or false information. President Bush is right to defend his administration’s actions, but it will be to the benefit of all to wait 45 days and review the matter.
Rob Crowe chairs the Aitkin County Republicans and raises kids and cows on a farm near Hill City.
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