President Feels Emboldened, Not Accidental, After Victory

nytimes.com ^ | November 8, 2004 | ELISABETH BUMILLER

[crushelits]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 - One trademark of President Bush's first term was his aversion to news conferences, which his staff says he often treated like trips to the dentist. So on the morning after Mr. Bush's re-election, Dan Bartlett, the White House communications director, was taken aback when the president told him he was ready to hold a news conference that Mr. Bartlett had suggested, win or lose, the week before.

"I didn't have to convince him or anything," Mr. Bartlett said. "Without me prompting him, he brought it up."

It was a small but telling change for a president whose re-election has already had a powerful effect on his psyche, his friends and advisers say.

They say Mr. Bush's governing style may change as well, although they acknowledge it is too early to tell if victory will lift what critics call the chip on his shoulder and make him more magnanimous - or whether it will simply create a more imperial president.

One thing is certain: Four years after the disputed election of 2000, Mr. Bush is reveling in winning the popular vote and feels that he can no longer be considered a one-term accident of history.

"It's a huge validation for him," said Thomas Rath, a New Hampshire Republican leader who is close to the Bush family. "There was always this set of issues about the first victory. This is real, this is palpable. I think it's empowering, I think it's a relief and I think the political options he has will be different."

[Rocko]

Give 'em hell, George!

[Graybeard58]

President Feels Emboldened

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[nmh]

"Of course, Mr. Bush faces enormous problems, many of his own making. Most immediately, he must move to begin extracting American forces from Iraq even with the assault on Falluja under way, and he must push for an expensive plan to overhaul Social Security without the money in the Treasury to do it."

Still poking their bias into things ... You can NOT "extract" American forces BEFORE the job is done and certainly NOT during an assault.

If we do NOT "overhaul" SS we will have hell to pay later. The idea to START privatizing SS will make it LESS costly and with tax breaks MORE revenue to fund what we promised.

[Soul Seeker]

I'm so happy for him.

As good as his victory is for our country and for us, personally it has to have brought him some peace. It cannot have been easy to have been President under all the circumstances he has endured from the 2000 election onward. On a personal level I'n glad that this man has been vindicated against enormous odds.

[pierrem15]

Of course, Mr. Bush faces enormous problems, many of his own making. Most immediately, he must move to begin extracting American forces from Iraq even with the assault on Falluja under way, and he must push for an expensive plan to overhaul Social Security without the money in the Treasury to do it.

You see guys, the "reality based community" (who wouldn't know what end of a rifle to point at the enemy) already knows the war is lost, and won't be happy until a neo-Baathist regime is installed.

Which is why a majority of the American people just told them to go eff themselves.

[wizardoz]

Bloom, Dubya. Bloom like deadly nightshade. Do it. Do it. Do it.

[pierrem15]

hehe, Bush is not going to "overhaul" Social Security, he's going to drive a stake through the heart of that FDR-era cash-sucking vampire.

[elizabetty]

Spend your Capital Mr. President!!

[Patriot Hooligan]

Enjoy President Bush, you have earned it, and after the past year in a half you deserve it. God bless you!

[GeekDejure]

I single handedly won the cold war, I double handedly won the hot war, and I underhandedly won the Vietnam war! That is to say, I am a supercalifragalistic, ultramegamagnificient war hero, and I've got all the medals to prove it !!!

George W. Bush will NOT keep me from attaining me lifelong dream of being president of the United States. My concession is legally meaningless, and right now my aids are busy removing the manhole covers from every sewer that surrounds the White House. Very soon I will squat down over one of those cover-less manholes and perform my own patented brand of KERRyORISM !!!

I have stuffed myself with 20 pounds of baked beans (covered with Heinz Ketchup, of course), and when I squat down over one of those holes and boom away with multiple magnificently melodious farts it will blow the roof off the White House !!!

Yes, I'm the "SEWERSIDE BOOMER" !!!

My name is JOhnKERry and I approve this message !!!

.

Heh Heh Heh (dirty laugh)

[vannrox]

MESSAGE FROM LAURA INGRAHAM:

STOP SPECTER NOW--WE NEED YOU: Liberal Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, who bailed on the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork in 1987, and who ardently describes himself as pro-abortion rights, is slated to become the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee unless you act now. We need you to call your Republican senator and make your views on this heard asap. Contact Senate Judicary Committee members by clicking here and click here for the numbers of your all Republican senator(s). If your state is represented only by Democrats, call Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist's office at 202 224 3344.

[HomeFree]

"I'm so happy for him. As good as his victory is for our country and for us, personally it has to have brought him some peace. It cannot have been easy to have been President under all the circumstances he has endured from the 2000 election onward. On a personal level I'n glad that this man has been vindicated against enormous odds."

You couldn't have said it better, Soul Seeker! I read that over 1M Christian East Indians prayed for President Bush to be reelected!! I know that the prayers of believing Americans, and the prayers of the rest of the world were felt by him! THAT's what drove him on, and THAT's what will give him strength to get that hard work done in his second term!

[Libertina]

Takes the cake for a ridiculous headline. A person can feel accidental? PLEASE send these "journalists" back to school.

[RasterMaster]

Talk and act as if you have a buffalo-chip on your shoulder, Mr. President. Those who gave you a mandate expect as much....and besides, it drives the DUmmocrats up the wall!

[plushaye]

The MSM dubbed him "The Accidental President" after the 2000 election. I still have the Time or Newsweak mag with that cover. President Bush, however, never thought of himself that way, and never governed that way. The MSM and Dems thought he would be a lame duck. When he didn't act that way, it drove them nuts.

Now when the MSM talks about how he will be a lame duck after the 2006 mid-term elections, I discount it. They've never understood President Bush's style of governance and they never will.

[Bush gal in LA]

Go W! I cant seem to wipe the smiles off my face.I hope you feel as proud as I do. Ill never forget this wonderful week!Thank you GOD!