Posted on 01/29/2008 9:23:45 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A Democratic Congress is poised to heed President Bush's call to help save the economy, but may not give him much else after a State of the Union speech that recycled many of the administration's past initiatives.
A lame duck president called again for immigration reform, an end to lawmakers' pet projects, control of Social Security spending and making tax cuts permanent. Democrats have rejected those Bush initiatives before.
And, in a sign that the dominant political battles will not be in Congress, many in the House chamber kept an eye during the speech on Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton — bitter rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. They sat close to each other, but managed not to shake hands.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who hours earlier had endorsed Obama over Clinton, reached out to shake Sen. Clinton's hand when she came near.
Bush is plunging into politics himself this week, raising money for Republicans from Wednesday through Friday at events in California, Nevada, Colorado and Missouri. Other appearances will promote the themes from his speech.
Delivering the televised Democratic response, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius urged Bush to work with a Congress controlled by her party.
"The last five years have cost us dearly — in lives lost, in thousands of wounded warriors whose futures may never be the same, in challenges not met here at home because our resources were committed elsewhere," she said. "America's foreign policy has left us with fewer allies and more enemies."
The president pushed hard for "a robust growth package" to jump-start the economy, asking Democrats to avoid the temptation "to load up the bill."
As he spoke, Senate Democrats already were planning to expand the package negotiated by Bush and House leaders from both parties, to include tax rebates for senior citizens and an extension of unemployment benefits.
Bush said allowing previous tax cuts to lapse would raise bills for 116 million Americans, but Democrats have cited the rising deficits as the war in Iraq has dragged on.
The president warned, as he has repeatedly, that pulling Americans out of Iraq too soon would aid al-Qaida and undermine Iraq's government.
"Members of Congress: Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen," the president said.
Bush is likely to keep winning that one. Democrats have tried again and again to set a timetable for withdrawal, but lacked the votes.
Congress has ignored Bush's proposals to deal with millions of illegal immigrants and to control Social Security spending.
"I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren," Bush said.
There's no reason to think that Congress will touch Social Security in an election year, and any immigration agreement would not involve comprehensive reform on an issue that has deeply divided the nation.
Illegal immigration "must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals," Bush said. That line, which didn't propose a solution, was applauded on both sides of the aisle.
The president, speaking about one of his signature programs, urged Congress to continue the No Child Left Behind Act, saying, "no one can deny its results."
Republicans enthusiastically applauded. Several Democrats, who disagree, could be heard laughing at Bush's conclusion.
Hey George,
Do some of us a favor and retire posthaste to Crawford.
We have enough problems facing us in this nightmare of an election coming up that need our undivided attention.
Go home.
Disappear.
"Several Democrats...could be heard laughing at Bush's conclusion." What a bunch of children. We really are getting the "leadership" we deserve.
President unlikely to sign any law passed by congress that doesn’t give him what he wants. Honestly, what a vile and immature screed by another mental midget residing in Camelot.
He’s the only man in the WORLD with the balls to take the fight to terrorists all around the world, just to keep our sorry behinds safe...and when I read posts like yours, it makes me wonder why the heck he bothers. We’re really not worth the effort.
And oh yes, George,
With the exception of Dick Cheney, take your entire menagerie/zoo with you.
“He’s the only man in the WORLD with the balls to take the fight to terrorists all around the world, just to keep our sorry behinds safe.”
And leaves our own boarders open for terrorists to enter and all other dangerous trash filtering in from Central and South America.
Thank you for your in-depth view of the entire picture of terrorism.
And that is just one area.
Regards.
You know whats funny, for a while now, we have heard people like you deride GWB over and over again, but look at what we have as the list of candidates to succeed him...none of which (with probably the exception of Romney) can shine his shoes...Please...When GWB leaves he will be missed....time does everything.
What a pathetic comment, maybe it's just you thats not worth it. Sheesh.
The August timeframe for checks in the mailbox seems more realistic than May..
We are talking about a gubamint bent on borrowing and spending themselves and the rest of us into oblivion, after all.
“…but look at what we have as the list of candidates to succeed him…”
In actuality, we never chose Bush as the Republican leader. He was chosen for us…we the voters. We had no say. It then became the lesser of two evils, Bush or Gore.
The only thing that made it palatable was Cheney. He wisely has kept a low profile for 8 years and has behaved the gentleman that he is to include his wonderful wife. Had he been called upon to take over the presidency, I am sure he would have done a magnificent job. But it is still not the end. There is time should he have to assuming control.
So he only shot one person…a lawyer. No lose.
The same thing is happening today. Wake up. This same thing that happened 8 years ago is happening today. This fraud is not new.
Regards.
Don*t you even think about this invasion of our borders, and our sovereignity?? We hear figures all the time of how many illegals are here, 20 million and counting, most are from Mexico and farther south but how many are OTP (other than peaceful!) Muslims? We are being overrun, and there is a significant number of Republicans who have encouraged Bush to allow it for the sake of profit!
lose = loss.
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