Posted on 08/03/2005 2:30:21 PM PDT by rface
President George W. Bush is not letting his lame duck status stop him from displaying an arrogance of power.
When a Texas newspaper reporter told him, "Power is perception," Bush corrected him, saying, "Power is being president."
In fact, Bush is proving that a lame duck has a lot of power to do what he wants to do since he doesn't have to be re-elected and, therefore, is answerable to no one.
Furthermore, he indicates he could care less whether he goes up or down in public opinion polls. With more than three years left in his presidency, the president's only political constraints may come from members of his own party.
In recent days, Bush has seen Senate Republican leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., take issue with him on stem cell research and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., put off action on his unpopular plan to transform the Social Security system.
When elected for a second term, Bush gloried in having a vast supply of political capital and assured the country that he intended to use it.
Defying warnings and appeals from several quarters, including most Democrats and many State Department officials, Bush sent John Bolton to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. It was an "in your face" move.
Bolton -- who served in Bush's first term as undersecretary of state for arms control -- carries a lot of baggage that should not belong in a diplomat's portfolio.
Bolton is a bully and was accused of abusing subordinates and twisting intelligence. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice decided not to name him as her chief deputy.
Bush told a gathering of Texas journalists Monday with some pomposity that "Bolton's standing in the world depends upon my confidence in Bolton, and I've got a lot of confidence in Bolton."
In another sign that he thinks he can call his own shots, Bush has defaulted on his promise to reporters that he would hold a news conference once a month. He held none in June and July, despite the fact that there are many questions out there, including a draining war which is rarely mentioned at the White House.
Ignoring the White House press corps is one thing, but it seems that he showed an enormous disrespect for 123 members of Congress who signed two letters to the White House May 5 and June 15 asking for certain documents on the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq.
The last letter -- personally delivered to the White House gate by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif. -- also sought an explanation of the Downing Street Memo, a British document which indicated that the U.S. and Britain agreed by the summer of 2002 to attack Iraq. That was months before Bush sought congressional authority to take military action.
The memo, written by a high-ranking British official after returning from a visit to Washington, also said that U.S. officials were deliberately manipulating intelligence to justify the war.
The lawmakers did not receive even the courtesy of a reply from the president.
For the 50th time since he assumed the presidency in 2001, Bush Tuesday flew to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for a vacation and to bask in several legislative victories.
Among them was the passage of the Central American Trade Agreement, despite strong labor and Democratic opposition.
He plans to fly to New Mexico to sign the $14.5 billion energy legislation that provides billions in tax breaks to the oil, natural gas and coal industries. The new law is designed to promote the production of non-traditional and alternative fuels.
He also won passage of the nearly $300 billion highway and mass-transit bill that is expected to build new roads and create new jobs.
Meantime, he is expected to win a victory when the Senate confirms John Roberts for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, although close scrutiny of Roberts' record will give pause to anyone who cares about civil rights, affirmative action or abortion rights.
Bush is feeling powerful and satisfied these days, but I doubt that mood is matched by the people who know there is a war going on.
(Helen Thomas can be reached at the e-mail address hthomas@hearstdc.com).
Very good point and I'd agree this is part of it. It's about the press, both left and right, trying to control what a President can or cannot do in his second term. In fairness to some of the right I think a lot of them have just bought into the myth.
I personally have never believed it. Very rarely would a President be a 'lame duck' with the powers at his disposal. IMO, if much doesn't get done during second terms, it's because presidents give up and coast. This one will take knocks and keep going until he gets some form of what he wants.
Imagine, getting all that stuff done and appointing the people that he has the power to appoint.
Yeah Helen, Just who the heck does Bush think he is, the President?
This is spot on. This President is not "lame." The message is clear to the opposition. They get elected to do things for their constituents, and the only way they can get what they want is to get along with the President, not vice versa. If they want to throw tantrums and obstruct, delay, and generally make asses of themselves, then they can't complain when their programs or wishes get swept under the political rug.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Translation: How dare Bush act as if he's President just because he's President...
This explains why all President Bush's appointments were confirmed so quickly.
Here's the thing Helen, in Texas they call that walking. Pay more attention when the President speaks next time, 'kay?
"Bush is feeling powerful and satisfied these days, but I doubt that mood is matched by the people WHO KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAR GOING ON."
Bush walks like a man. Kerry "swaggered" like the big insecure phony that he is/was.
Who knows or will admit or acknowledge that there's a real war going on besides real Americans, conservatives or Republicans? Certainly not the "liberals", Dims, left wingers, Hollywood or blue staters?
And by the way,...who hijacked the true blue color, the so called blue states are really the commie red star states. The colors should be reversed.
"a war going on"? But, but,...I thought the Dims and "liberals" were against war and were for "peace"?!!!
As if the libs have ever supported resisting oppression and tyrnanny or would ever do what's necessary or tough to do the right thing to support freedom.
Geez, what a mind! Helen sez President Bush is "defying warnings and appeals from several quarters, including most Democrats..." Which part of his winning a second term requires him to listen to dimocrats, or worry about his poll numbers? Dopey dims are all parading around like the president owes them big time. Are they really that stupid? Or have they simply perfected their ability to look that way?
Helen really ought to go home and stay there. That would be assuming that she has a home...perhaps not.
The lame duck period can be stretched if nobody is listening to the president any more, i.e. he has no political power left. That obviously isn't happening in this case.
Good thing Clinton was never "accused of abusing subordinates "
oh wait...
...When a Texas newspaper reporter told him, "Power is perception created or twisted by television and newspapers," President Bush corrected him, saying, "Power is being president President for three more years, and, hahaha there's not a goldurn thing you can do about it".
1. The Establishment Clause does not create a "wall of separation." That unfortunate phrase was a figment of Thomas Jefferson's fertile mind, and he wasn't at the Constitutional Convention. Therefore, we should clarify the First Amendment by adding the following sentence: "The purpose of this Amendment is not to create a secular society. Therefore, no judge shall seek to create such a society by interpreting this Amendment based on statements made after the fact by a man who played no part in the preparation of this Amendment."
2. The Second Amendment should be amended by adding the following sentence: "What part of the phrase "shall not be abridged" do you not understand Mrs. Brady?"
3. The Tenth Amendment could be amended by adding the phrase "and we really mean it" to the end of it.
4. We could at least consider repealing the 19th and 26th Amendments.
5. The Commerce Clause could be amended by adding the word "significant" between the word "regulate" and the word "commerce."
I'm sure you all have other suggestions.
America would be SUCH a pleasant place to live if Ms Thomas would shuffle off the stage, nevermore to appear.
And, there are a coulple of other old bitties she should take with her!
Cheney or someone could put out a bogus news release that Cheney IS running for president. HEY IT IS WORTH A TRY. She PROMISED.
Love the title to the article!....
"Lame Duck Bush Has Swagger, Not Waddle: President Continues To Do As He Pleases"
True, but as I stated, that is a rare occurence for any President. Jimmy Carter might have fit, but I don't have the knowledge to back it up.
And as I've stated about this President, in a center right country with the strong loyalty the base evidences toward this man at this stage ranking higher than Reagan at this stage? That is where his capitol is derived from. The MSM can't affect that, they haven't the credibilty to resonate with the base.
There, now we have the truth.
Helen falls in the ever-growing category of "psychotic leftists" - all leftists are confused and delusional, by definition, but for many like Helen being wildly wrong has transformed into being obsessively, pathetically incapable of even considering new facts. She cannot even offer a simple, accurate description of the insignificant "Downing Street" memo, and she describes the depraved charlatans Conyers and Lee as though they are people worthy of anything more than contempt..... Helen lost it all long ago. Now if only Dick Cheney would run in '08, but Helen, like Alec Baldwin, would fail to deliver on her hopeful promise....
It doesn't take a marketing genius to realize that if the media wants any kind of credibility, they wouldn't be offering Helen Thomas as the face and brains of the mainstream media -- unless she was the best they've got. No -- you'd want to bury those skeletons as far from the cameras and spotlight as possible -- alive if not already dead. Who's in charge of the mainstream media public relations department and campaign to improve their "image?" Michael Moore or Michael Jackson?
About the only good Helen Thomas does, is give us an insight into the all-consuming Arab hatred for American life and success -- that savage rage and fury to destroy every shred of decency, beauty and order in this world -- as long as they're alive, and taking everything down with them if they have to, and have a chance to. No, mainstreamers, the public will have to overrule your choice for Miss Mainstream Media Universe -- and have you all vote one more time, even if everyone else in the contest stubbornly insists on voting for themselves. We need just one person to change their vote and break the standoff so that Helen will not win on the 53rd ballot as someone's perverse idea of a gag. Your magnanimity is again greatly appreciated in helping us restore our credibility.
Acting Presidential is an abuse of power, but taking advantage of interns isn't, huh Helen?
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