Posted on 06/19/2005 8:22:03 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Five months after President Bush was sworn in for another four years, his political authority appears to be ebbing, both within his own party, where members of Congress are increasingly if sporadically going their own way, and among Democrats, who have discovered that they pay little or no price for defying him.
In some cases, Mr. Bush is suffering mere political dings that can be patched up, like the votes by the House this past week to buck him on withholding dues to the United Nations and retaining a controversial provision of the USA Patriot Act.
In others, the damage is more than cosmetic, as in the case of stem cell research, an issue on which a good portion of his party is breaking with him. In a few instances - most notably the centerpiece of his second-term agenda, his call to reshape Social Security - he is dangerously close to a fiery wreck that could have lasting consequences for his standing and for the Republican Party.
On Monday, Mr. Bush will face another test of his clout, when the Republican-controlled Senate tries again to overcome Democratic opposition and confirm John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. And with his poll numbers sinking as voters grow more restive about Iraq and the economy, he faces additional big challenges in coming weeks and months, from legislative battles over energy, trade and immigration to the possibility of a divisive Supreme Court confirmation fight...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Obviously this article's chief intention is to make things worse.
But it does concisely state a problem that some of us were pointing out on an earlier thread: "Democrats . . . have discovered that they pay little or no price for defying him."
Unfortunately that is true. You can't run a zoo like the U.S. congress unless you punish anyone who steps out of line, Democrat or Republican. Being nice doesn't cut it.
this is sad. I guess there are 10 or 11 repubs that have decided to run for president.They sure know how to kill their own party.
If I were Bush, I would refuse to fund raise for these people.
I don't think they are making things worse. This is a republican problem and they are doing it to themselves
Bush has always played Mr. Nice Guy. He'd rather have a failed second term than change his spots. And of course, like most people, he tells himself he doesn't have to make the hard choice -- that everything will work out fine, even if it doesn't. This isn't leadership.
If Bush was an actual conservative maybe he wouldn't have some people on the Right oppose him. The Left always will because he isn't one of them either.
Social Security - I want it reformed.
Congress Opted out of Social Security in 1982. They do not pay into Social Security. BUT - if eligible, will still receive SS payments as early as 62 yr. old. For my children, I want a better retirement program than SS. They should be able to invest their monies, like Congress can, into private growth accounts.
The War on Terrorism.
MSM seems to forget President Bush first went into Afghanistan before Iraq. My opinion is that it is just the beginning and because President Bush started with Afghanistan before moving into Iraq other countries of evil will fold before we begin on them, which we will and should. I know if this had been started by a Democrat President the MSM would be praising instead of hating.
A shredder was used, please tell me it was not true --
I'm proud President Bush had the courage to see and act upon a tyrant who was killing his own men, women and children by gross actions. A shredder was used by Sadam on his people, these atrocities and others had to be stopped. When we entered Baggdad the prisons were emptied of small children, mothers and fathers. They are learning to protect themselves, providing for themselves and they voted. Can you imagine not being able to vote. We have vote fraud in this country, but at least we can work to stop it and we can vote.
Saddam had WMD.
You know it, I know it, Congress knows it, and the MSM know it. The question to ask is where are they. Or --- if any questions are needed asking why, why after so many clinton years of 'Saddam has WMD' isn't the MSM questioning the Dems.
Stem Cell and Embryonic Stem Cell ----
I do not believe in abortions as a means of birth control. I do not believe in cloning a baby for study or use. In my heart a child is created upon conception.
I do not know what the rest of the article said so ----
Our Borders -
What I wish President Bush would change are our borders. I never thought I would say this - but I want them closed. Not because Pat Buchanan says.
I heard an anouncer say we need the people from Mexico because no one will do the work here. What! have we become so proud to clean houses, take care of children, do yard work. OR, OR is it because the families - notice I did not say the rich - do not want to pay the salaries, and medical. With some working parents who want help if they had to pay full salaries could not afford to work. I say GOOD!!!! your children need YOU at home not a babysitter. No one will care for and love your child like it's mother.
Yea, he played Mr Nice guy with Saddam and Osama. You have no clue what you are talking about. You don't think reforming SS is a hard choice? You don't think going to war is a hard choice? what DO you think is a hard choice? Congress is sitting on their fat butts only wanting to make nice easy choices that make them poll well. All they can think about is getting elected again. They have abandoned the president to their own selfishness.
OK..why?
I agree with you. No one wants to see the writing on the wall because it is not what they want to hear. The libs are wanting to make us into a pacifist country and let anyone and everyone come here and tell us what to do, and I tell you, some people who say they are conservative are going to lay down and let it happen.
I agree that Congress has too many selfish pigs. And I agree that Bush has shown courage and determination in some aspects of the war on terror. Toppling Saddam is the greatest presidential action since the first Gulf War. But on other occaasions, Bush has been too much of a nice guy,
especially with the Rats.
It's better than the first gulf war. Saddam should have been removed then. Do you see what is going on around the world? The Lebonese people now want democracy. People see what we have and now they want it too. This did not happen with Bush being a poor leader. Bush is a nice guy, he is that way by nature and he misread washington politics when he went in, thinking he could treat them like he treated Texas democrats. It is unfortunate that his leadership depends not only on him, but on the party. If the party takes his influence away, then he will have a very difficult time doing anything. This is why we need to keep the heat on our congress people to stop putting their selfish agendas ahead of THEIR leader. We have to call them like heck so they don't kill our party.
All this is true, but Bush also needs to "keep the heat on" Congress. My impression is that he generally doesn't.
Constantly repeating that he wants them to pass his program and confirm his nominees is merely stating the obvious. It's not "heat."
"All this is true, but Bush also needs to "keep the heat on" Congress. My impression is that he generally doesn't. "
This is one of the reasons he goes on the road so much. Do you notice what states he goes to? Most of them are states who have congress people who represent them who are not supportive as much. He is depending on people to call their congresspeople and tell them they want these things passed/not passed. I do wish he would be more aggressive with his words, but generally he depends on "the people" quite a bit and expects us to do what we need to do if we like his policies.
You got my vote!
You people would find something to complain about no matter what he did.
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