This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE    2/28/06

            Are they tone-deaf politically?

            I have been a staunch supporter of President Bush, but recent events have deserved some criticism.

            The latest incident is the lease of six Atlantic ports in the U.S. to the Emirate of AEU.  

            Apparently the sale of these port activities by the British to this Arabian emirate was completed even before the President knew of it.  He found out about it from the news.

            Since then he has strongly supported the transaction, noting that it is not a threat to our port security.  It was noted that it only governed some port activities and that the actual port security will continue to be done by the Coast Guard and other American forces.

            Also the cargo handling will continue to be done by American longshoremen.

            There is every indication that the act is not a threat to our ports.

            It is the handling of the information that puzzles me.   It seems to me in a number of recent activities the White House seems deaf to political repercussions.

            In this current issue….a number of Republicans took issue with the action….and the President first indicated he would veto any legislative attempt to cancel the sale….later, he indicated he would hold it up for 30 days for the Congress to conduct an inquiry.

            If Karl Rove is such a political wizard….where is his sense when it comes to political issues such as this.

            It also reflects badly on the President that he wasn’t informed early on about the deal and could have clarified all the facts before they became so muddled.

            And….apparently the Vice President is also a little tone deaf politically.

His hunting accident was an accident, pure and simple.  I can understand why there was a delay in its being reported to the public, but in all political astuteness he should have held a full fledged news conference rather than give a side interview to Britt Hume.

            Why deliberately anger the press…..that’s not smart politics.  I realize that some of the press have been abrasive and abusive….but they still are the press and carry a certain amount of weight with the public.

            These are just two instances of late that seem to indicate a lack of understanding that virtually every action that comes out of the nation’s capitol can create political repercussions.

            To be brutally honest, it indicates to me that the White House really doesn’t care what the press thinks or does, or they are simply tone-deaf on issues that have political importance.

            Let’s hope Karen Hughes…or someone with her political knowledge and ability straightens the White house out on issues such as these I’ve mentioned.

            This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.