Bush retreats to ranch, readies to launch agenda

NY Times/timesargus ^ | January 1, 2006 | DAVID E. SANGER

[ncountylee]

CRAWFORD, Texas — For six days, President Bush has stayed in nearly complete isolation on his ranch here — just mountain-biking and brush-clearing, the White House insisted daily, and seeing only one visitor, his mother-in-law, Jenna Welch. He never even ventured into this little town of 600, not even to the cheeseburger joint that he often uses as a political tool to show that he is in touch with his neighbors.

But on New Year's Day, after a brief stop at an Army hospital in San Antonio to visit wounded soldiers, Bush is scheduled to return to the White House earlier than usual from his break and start a campaign to set the tone for 2006 and, perhaps, the remainder of his presidency.

As part of an ambitious strategy the White House has mapped out for the next four weeks, Bush has scheduled two major speeches — one on the economy on Friday in Chicago, another on Iraq — ahead of the State of the Union address, which is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 31. By the time he appears before Congress, Bush's aides are hoping, two of the immediate challenges the president faces — the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. and the permanent renewal of the Patriot Act — will be behind him.

[Trajan88]

Probably @ a Ritz-Carlton resort with the tab being picked up by George Soros &/or Michael Moore.

[Reagan Man]

"The notion that Bush could or should unveil a new domestic agenda at the State of the Union speech is really ridiculous," Kristol said. "He has to play the cards he has been dealt and play a winning hand with those cards," on issues including the war in Iraq, the linked debate over the Patriot Act and wiretapping at home, and the Alito nomination.

If Kristol is right, then the notion of PresBush stepping up and advancing policies to control spending, shrink government and reversing an open border policy that encourages illegal immigration, isn't in the cards. Pathetic.

That means Bush43 will go down as a remarkable leader in the WOT, but a fiscally irresponsible President who never really believed in limited government. Lousy legacy.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

By the way, my conclusion is reinforced by the article's very first sentence, which speaks of W spending the first six days of his holiday in isolation.

Again, the Times attempts to depict Pres. Bush as harried, perhaps depressed, cut off from the world. This is consistent with the Newsweek cover of Bush in a Bubble. MSM negative spin.

[NormsRevenge]

Funny how the left is fascinated with the word "retreat".

--

How FRench of them.

The effete elite sound defeat and retreat themselves, how neat. :}

[operation clinton cleanup]

Or a Holiday Inn Express... but more likely a couch in one of her worshipers basement.

[shrinkermd]

When? Now.

What? Survive and Thrive.

How? Take the battle to them.

Good luck to the President. He has to work without much MSM actual reporting to secure the high ground for his Administration and the people. His adversaries should be recognized for what they are--people who would take the country down in order to score political points.

This means no quarter, aggressive campaigning and no mercy or understanding for treachery or cowardice.

[Bosco]

NYT = Copperhead Paper

[Arizona Carolyn]

Hate to say I was wondering the same thing...

[manwiththehands]

"He never even ventured into this little town of 600, not even ... "

Nope. Never. Not even. Never never never ever ever ever not even one single solitary time ...

Never.

[DieHard the Hunter]

So this story tells me that your President mountain-bikes, visits wounded soldiers and eats cheeseburgers.

Nothing wrong with any of that. He'd fit right in with me and my mates.

[tongue-tied]

I emailed the president/editor to ask why they printed this as news vice on the editorial page. Also asked how they could possibly wonder why their readership is in decline. I'll keep you posted as to my rely.

[Mike Darancette]

I love the title.

[Berlin_Freeper]

"For six days, President Bush has stayed in nearly complete isolation on his ranch here"


The LibIdiot Media sound like they are totally fixated with President Bush's every single waking moment, and in a seriously unhealthy way.

They don't even sense how abnormal they look to the rest of us, this is amazing to witness.

[ncountylee]

I emailed the president/editor to ask why they printed this as news

Great idea, will join you.

[MNJohnnie]

Amazing how many misstatements and out right falsehoods the NY DNC Times manages to cram into one Editorial.

[nmh]

Notice the negative wording on the title alone ...

"RETREATS" as in defeat

and

"launch an AGENDA".

THese people sicken me. Bush is NOT defeated and isn't "launching an agenda" - but rather staying the course on what his plans has been ALL ALONG. Finish the job and leave Iraq.

[MNJohnnie]

wonder if he'll pretend there is no illegal immigration problem and no tax reform/SS problems poised to remove the republican majorities?

I wonder if old "Conservatives" will wake up in 2006 to how stupid it is for them to post day after day nothing but foaming at the mouth rants at their OWN side. Curious why they do NOT just move over to Democrat Underground since their retoric shows them over on that side intellectually

[nmh]

"That is the 'subliminal' message that the Times is seeking to convey."

Sure is!

I didn't get past the title to read the sloop. The NYT is truly a paper of all the "news" that is unfit to print. They disgust me.

I often get calls for a free subscription to them for a limited time ... I tell them I wouldn't want that rag of paper seen in my recycle. Then they hang up on me.

[Ichneumon]

I actually like the NYTimes -- it's wonderfully absorbent:

[TASMANIANRED]

I hope he come right back, kicking ass and taking names.