It is hard not to chuckle at the way the Democratic party is exploiting “portgate”, the confrontation over control of America’s east coast ports. The other day a Washington-based friend – formerly employed by a Democratic senator – called to share his amusement over the spectacle of politicians, most of them bellicose free-traders, accusing President George W. Bush of reckless disregard for the nation’s security.

“They got kicked in the head so many times they finally woke up,” he said with mirthful sarcasm. “Now, all they have to do is say it every day until November: ‘He’s selling our ports to terrorists!’ ”