Progressive, smart, capable

via atrios

In an odd configuration of events, the preznit made these remarks to members of the Seafarer's International Union:

I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is a fantastic facility. It speaks to your leadership, and the leadership and the importance of your union. And so, here on Labor Day, I say to the union members who are here, happy Labor Day, and thanks for supporting leadership that is progressive, smart, capable, and has your best interests at heart. (Applause.)

Huh. The progressive leadership referred to is one Michael Sacco, president of the SIU and a VP of the Maritime Trades division at the AFofL-CIO. That's right, say it with me, "brother." He introduced the president with these remarks:

The Seafarers International Union and our affiliated training center are tremendously honored to welcome President Bush for Labor Day. President Bush and his administration consistently have recognized the value of the U.S. Merchant Marine to America’s national and economic security. His leadership has created thousands of jobs in the U.S.-flag fleet.

Bush's brief remarks are unremarkable and indistinguishable from any of his other economic speeches. What's the key to good paying jobs like those in the Merchant Marines? You start off with low, low taxes so you can keep more of what you make! And you end with a big ole helpin' of neo-liberalism!:

And finally, one of the ways to make sure that we're a competitive nation is to continue opening up markets for U.S. products. If I was somebody who was driving a ship, or an engineer on a ship, I'd want to hear a President say, we want you to be selling U.S. products -- transporting U.S. products around the world. See, we got 5 percent of the world's people here in the United States, which means 95 percent are potential customers. And therefore, it's important for us to be aggressive about opening up markets.

I think that last sentence may have been a little more on-the-money than W. intended.

At any rate, in between, he lurches from job training programs to ethanol subsidies to nuclear power to international trade. It did get me thinking, however. If there's any group of trades who really benefit from globalization, it's the ones who work in shipping. And if there's a group of workers who benefit from providing a little "Reagan Democrat" cover for Bush - who wants to keep the wheels of free trade well lubricated - it'd be the merchant marines.

A cursory search of the 2004 campaign cycle shows that the SIU gave reliably to the Dems: they were into Gephardt, gave cash to Harry Reid, etc., etc. Huh.

Well there you go, a lot of hemmin' and hawin' about some minor remarks at a "low-key" Labor Day function. Here's to progressive, smart and capable leaders who have your best interests at heart. Whatever the fuck that means.