Bush seeks to regain GOP support (other titles "Bush facing lame-duck woes" for same article)

Associated Press ^ | May. 12, 2005 12:00 AM | Tom Raum

[Former Military Chick]

WASHINGTON - He can't just blame the Democrats. Some lawmakers in President Bush's own party are giving him an increasingly hard time over everything from Social Security to a free-trade pact for Central America to his plan to ease immigration laws.

It may be an early lame-duck warning for his presidency.

Bush returned from a celebratory trip to Europe to a domestic agenda badly in need of his quick attention. One of his chores is to shore up GOP support where possible.

"The president stays in regular contact with members of Congress, congressional leaders, about how to move forward on our shared priorities," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan on Wednesday.

But some of those priorities are fraught with disagreement, and others are not as shared as the White House might like.

The Senate is racing toward a constitutional confrontation over a proposal by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to force a rules change on filibusters to clear the way for votes on Bush's judicial nominations. The move is a top priority for most party conservatives. But the upending of a long-standing Senate tradition is not viewed enthusiastically by all Republicans.

Also, the Senate is moving toward approval of a giant highway bill that exceeds the spending ceiling set by the White House, possibly setting the stage for Bush's first veto.

Misgivings by four Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee triggered a three-week postponement of a vote on the nomination of John Bolton to be U.N. ambassador.

Momentum seemed to be growing behind Bolton on the eve of an expected committee vote today, but only after fierce lobbying by the president's team of fellow Republicans.

Meanwhile, partisan acrimony has gotten so strong that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada recently called Bush "a loser."

"Maybe it was a poor choice of words," Reid later said. "But I want everyone within the sound of my voice to know how displeased I am with what this White House is doing to our country."

Bush's poll numbers have declined into the mid-40 percent range. And the situation in Iraq remains difficult. A string of suicide bombings struck several Iraqi cities on Wednesday, killing more than 60 people and wounding more than 100.

Bush's troubles in moving his major proposals through Congress are aggravated by having to do a difficult dance: angling for support from Republican moderates and reaching out to Democrats on initiatives like Social Security without driving away members of his conservative base.

"These are big issues that aren't easy to achieve in the second term. These are tough votes for members of Congress facing re-election," said Sarah Binder, a political-science professor at George Washington University. "The easy things from a Republican perspective have already been done."

These include recently passed bankruptcy overhaul, legislation limiting class-action lawsuits, a budget resolution that roughly tracks Bush's spending priorities and an $82 billion measure for Iraq and Afghanistan.

In more troublesome areas, Bush modified his Social Security overhaul plan after a 60-day cross-country blitz failed to build support.

But his new proposal to adjust benefits to keep the program solvent opened him to fresh criticism from Democrats that he was targeting the middle class.

And it drew cool responses from conservative senators like George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Trent Lott of Mississippi.

Bush's proposal for a free-trade pact with six Central American and Caribbean nations is drawing opposition from nearly all Democrats and from some Republican lawmakers from textile and sugar-producing states.

Meanwhile, Bush's guest-worker immigration program, first proposed in his first term, continues to draw opposition from the political right, especially Republican lawmakers from Southwestern states.

Usually second-term presidents don't become lame ducks - losing influence as attention turns to possible successors - until after midterm elections, still a year and a half away.

But Bush is "flirting with it if he's not there yet," said University of Texas political scientist Bruce Buchanan.

Republican consultant Scott Reed, who has close ties with the White House, dismisses talk about a lame-duck Bush presidency. But Reed said, "It appears the president will need to spend some of his well-earned political capital to move his agenda."

American University political scientist James Thurber said, "He has chosen tough issues. He also is concerned about his legacy, and members on the Hill are concerned about re-election."

[Former Military Chick]

Have to wonder if this kind of impression will picked up by the rest of the MSM, if it were, I would not be shocked.

The idea that you can search for a judge who has been in the holding pattern for approval and find a title about Bush and lame ducks is frustrating. Of course that was in an Arizona paper, an AP article but it did swing to those voters).

I suppose time will tell how the MSM treats this article.

[AZFolks]

I support the President and the GOP. However, when they call now I let them know I will contribute no more until they take control and do what I paid and help elect them to do.

[Soul Seeker]

Nah, the President wouldn't be the lame duck.

The GOP Senate would be the lame duck, and they could kiss their butts goodbye at election.

[thoughtomator]

Bush gets no more support from me on anything but WoT policy until he removes his lips from Vincente Fox's butt.

[xzins]

Clinton taught me not to believe in this lame-duck garbage.

The president remains the guy with the ink pen all the way up to his very last day.

[Former Military Chick]

Cannot disagree with you in the least. Folks in DC need to do what we pay them for.

As a matter of fact, there is a commercial in the greater Kansas City area, discussing the up and down vote of the judges and the job we gave our senators to take care of the business we voted them into the senate to do.

Sending a note to my congress critters now!

[FlipWilson]

Another "the AP wishes Bush was a "lame duck" article. G

[peacebaby]

What is it with our Republican lawmakers? Have they forgotten "Divide and conquer?"

That Trent Lott had "cooled" to Bush's proposal on benefits doesn't mean that Trent Lott isn't behind Bush.

AP is misleading, as usual.

[Former Military Chick]

Love that observation thanks SS.

[Former Military Chick]

Indeed if you put the author's name at the google search in the news section, you will see what other publications picked up the article and how they renamed it.

Sometimes I really am dumbfounded by that way of doing business.

Would love to know what the writer would have called it ... tick tock ... nah... I wont hold my breath on that one.

[Soul Seeker]

You're welcome. :-)

I know some folks hate the term the "nuclear" option, but I love it. And where the Senate is concerned I'm prepared to go nuclear on Senators that obstruct whether they be GOP or DEM.

I'm loyal to the President and most of his Cabinet. I'm loyal to conservatism. And I'm loyal to a few Senators (very few) and a few house members. I am not loyal to any political Party except so much as it advances what I believe. If some GOP Senators cannot do that, I'm taking them out as I've worked to take out Democrats.

[peacebaby]

Just called my Senator Johnny Isakson about my concern that the GOP party remain supportive and strong behind our President.

[SkyPilot]

The only "lame duck" around here is this one:

"I work for the Associated Press, and I am still relevant, dammit!"

_{The AP, supporting left wing causes since 1916.}

[Iron Matron]

Bush gets no more support from me on anything but WoT policy until he removes his lips from Vincente Fox's butt.<<<


Worth repeating.

[Iron Matron]

Just called my Senator Johnny Isakson about my concern that the GOP party remain supportive and strong behind our President<<<

How about our President remaining supportive and strong behind the United States of America and the Citizens of same? That's what I talk to MY Senators about!

[EQAndyBuzz]

"I suppose time will tell how the MSM treats this article."

Tomorrow's NYT headline will be, "Bush A Lame Duck?"

[af_vet_1981]

The more libertine FR residents don't think President Bush requires the support of the more socially conservative families. I suppose as long as they get their favorite TV shows they'll be satiated.

[JesseJane]

Bush may be a lame-duck, but the GOP will be dead-ducks if they ignore the American Citizens on the illegal alien invasion. It's US, or THEM. Choose, the border or your jobs.

[NCSteve]

Bush would probably have far fewer problems if he spent less time globe trotting and making speeches and more time leading his party. The campaign is over, it's time to actually go about the business of governing.

[Rockingham]

Bush has some of the worst relations with Congress of any President. By not exercising his veto -- not even once -- Bush has let the credibility of the threat erode; and his lobbying staff has been remarkably weak and virtually absent on key issues.

I surmise that part of it is that Bush is inhibited by the lack of prior federal service, such as his father had, and by the lack of Reagan's articulate, impromptu command of the issues. Bush thus has no stock of friends and experience in Congress to draw upon, and he cannot but be apprehensive of having to explain his views and policies in give and take with members of Congress who know the issues to an extraordinary degree. Even the smallest flub would be quickly passed around on Capitol Hill and make its way into the media.

For some reason, Cheney has apparently not been able to take up the slack or provide effective guidance. Cheney's deep sense of loyalty and deference to Bush may prevent him from pressing Bush to be more effective in dealing with Congress, or it may be that Bush has rejected Cheney's advice.

In Florida, Jeb Bush has had recurrent problems with Republicans in the Florida legislature, many of whom regard Jeb as arrogant and untrustworthy. An easy and effective personal touch with prickly legislators who ought to be allies seems to elude both Bush brothers.