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Bush retreats to ranch, readies to launch agenda
NY Times/timesargus ^ | January 1, 2006 | DAVID E. SANGER

Posted on 01/01/2006 12:32:44 PM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesargus.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2006agenda; bamc; biasedheadline; bush; bush43; davidesanger; davidsanger; godblessourpresident; mediacraticparty; newyorktimes; nye; nyt; nytimes; nytimesbias; prairiechapel; sanger; westernwhitehouse
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To: q_an_a
what part of SS reform and tax bill that you wanted did President Bush leave out of 2005?

I liked the reforms he proposed. Did you not?

As for immigration he has sent to congress three programs, which one did they vote on?

What programs did he send to Congress? Guest worker programs?

41 posted on 01/01/2006 1:30:50 PM PST by Principled
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To: ncountylee

Can't believe anything printed in the Times unless it's verified by two independent sources.


42 posted on 01/01/2006 1:31:00 PM PST by popdonnelly
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To: MNJohnnie
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

What is more like DU?

Discussing issues one believes could damage the party, or
Namecalling, denial, and blindly following?

43 posted on 01/01/2006 1:33:39 PM PST by Principled
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To: Reagan Man
President who never really believed in limited government. Lousy legacy.

Simply amazing how the Freepers who most continually rant at Bush, demonstrate such complete ignorance of basic US Political facts. Amazing how every single post for the Whine All The Time Caucus is a rant about Bush and spending. I guess no one ever explained that the fundamental principal of US Politics is CONGRESS controls the purse strings. Amazing how these self styled "Fiscal Conservatives" never ever seem able to actually say anything about the REAL source of the current fiscal indiscipline, the US Congress.

Congress continually adds as much as 1/3 to the Bush Annual Budget Plan year after year after year but the same old Freepers never seem able to hold CONGRESS accountable of ANYTHING. Guess someone should educate them that we are a Constitutional Republic, not the Presidential Dictatorship of their imagination.

Bush has ONE vote, he can either accept or reject what Congress sends him. Amazing how supposedly intelligent people never seem to grasp the reality that vetoing a bill is NO guarantee that the bill that is sent back by Congress will not be WORSE! Hard to decide which is more amusing their ignorance of fundamental political reality or their arrogance is posting dozens of threads daily to show off their complete lack of even basic understanding.

44 posted on 01/01/2006 1:34:33 PM PST by MNJohnnie (We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)
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To: Principled

Thank you for proving my point about you.


45 posted on 01/01/2006 1:35:19 PM PST by MNJohnnie (We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)
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To: ncountylee
They are preparing to dispute vigorously and quite publicly the broader legal critique, offered by some Democrats, the American Civil Liberties Union and some Republicans, that the president acted beyond his authority as commander in chief.

The NYT trying to frame the ACLU, a known socialist organization with ulterior motives, as being on par with the legislative branch of this country. And it goes on, the useful idiots that buy this rag lapping it up. Thank G_d their readership is sinking like a rock.

46 posted on 01/01/2006 1:36:40 PM PST by 101st-Eagle
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To: Ichneumon

I love it! May I send you a few editions of Madison, WI's "Capitol Times" for your birdie? Same paper, slightly different name. ;)


47 posted on 01/01/2006 1:37:57 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: MNJohnnie
I don't know what point that is.

Is it "wrong" in your view to indicate that I believe immigration and SS reform will damage repubs in spite of the president's obvious efforts?

48 posted on 01/01/2006 1:40:01 PM PST by Principled
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To: ncountylee

Personally I'd like to see Bush and his lieutenants start taking on the democRAT politicians who have coninually been bashing him. Many Americans would support him in this endeavor.


49 posted on 01/01/2006 1:40:42 PM PST by KenmcG414 (wHAT'ST)
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To: ncountylee

Personally? I'm totally ready for him to "launch" a few people "to the moon, Alice!"

I think when we next greet Dubya we're going to see a refreshed, invigorated kick-@ss President...even if he did have to spend part of his holiday with his Mother-in-Law.

(Whom, I am certain, is as lovely and gracious as Sweet Laura!)


50 posted on 01/01/2006 1:40:48 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Principled
Yea, spending all your time shooting at your own side is such a winning Political strategy. Amazing that Conservatives ever win. I guess we should thank our stars the Democrats are so politically incompetent when so many on "our side" insist on being acting as THEIR propagandists
51 posted on 01/01/2006 1:42:28 PM PST by MNJohnnie (We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)
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To: MNJohnnie
IMO it is wise to identify problem areas - not to "foam" or whatever you said, but to fix them.

I am amused at the people who refuse to acknowledge that there could be anything that needs to be worked on.

The post to which you reacted to so vehemently indicated a problem with immigration and SS/tax reform.

If you think I'm the only one who thinks that, you're quite wrong and probably haven't been here too long.

52 posted on 01/01/2006 1:46:53 PM PST by Principled
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To: MNJohnnie
I guess no one ever explained that the fundamental principal of US Politics is CONGRESS controls the purse strings.

Another fundamental fact is that the president can use a thing called a "veto".

53 posted on 01/01/2006 1:47:22 PM PST by glorgau
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To: ncountylee
Oh, gosh, no bias here. Nope, not even a smidge.

I've rarely seen so many emotionally-charged, innuendo-producing words and phrases is one article. A few excerpts follow, admittedly not always in context, and with the various emphases by me. Pay attention to the subliminal messages:

Bush retreats... has stayed in nearly complete isolation on his ranch here... never even ventured into this little town of 600, not even to the cheeseburger joint that he often uses as a political tool...

... recent raucous debate over Iraq... After his days of silence here... he argued that in Iraq, American forces were "overcoming earlier setbacks" — a reference to early errors in Iraq that he was long loath to acknowledge... worst slide in his approval ratings since the beginning of his presidency... Iraqi election, whose results are still in flux...

... he insisted that, even with tax cuts, his government was "staying on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009," but he made no mention of the fact that his Treasury secretary, John W. Snow, asked Congress on Thursday to raise the debt limit again, the fourth time in Bush's presidency, so that the government can borrow more money...

... only one of the gathering clouds in his dealings with a Republican Congress that has been uncommonly unruly in recent months... effort to deflect a congressional investigation into a secret executive order he issued in 2002 authorizing domestic spying follows a strategy Bush tried — and ultimately retreated from...

... bypass the secret court designed to authorize wiretapping efforts inside the United States...the president acted beyond his authority as commander in chief...Bush's decision to admit that he authorized the program...

... But they are clearly worried about the minor revolt among Republicans...

... president is accused of circumventing existing law...

... There is also considerable risk for a president who only a month ago found his approval ratings hovering around 35 percent...his options are limited by Iraq...

... moved the spotlight from a horrible place for the president to not a bad place at all. But only for a while.

An absolutely amazing effort by the New York Times, even by their sleazy standards.

54 posted on 01/01/2006 1:54:01 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina (I've upped my standards! Up yours!)
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To: Arizona Carolyn
Hate to say I was wondering the same thing...

Actually, I was wondering more why the MSM was not wondering where Cindy was doing her grieving this Holiday season, rather than worrying about the Bush retreat. Guess Cindy's doings are only relevant when things are not going well in Iraq.

55 posted on 01/01/2006 1:56:46 PM PST by operation clinton cleanup
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To: southernnorthcarolina

Except for the extreme left blogs, this is the worst MSM example that I have seen


56 posted on 01/01/2006 1:57:40 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: glorgau

Be careful pointing out facts! You'll soon be branded a DU troll by someone.


57 posted on 01/01/2006 2:01:59 PM PST by Principled
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To: ncountylee

Isn't it just special that MSM uses the word "retreats"?

Funny that the word is not used when referring to their DemoRAT pals, who we all know are big-time white flag wavers!


58 posted on 01/01/2006 2:07:36 PM PST by KeyLargo
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To: MNJohnnie
If there is anyone on Free Republic who exhibits a proclivity for ignorance and arrogance, its you, mister status quo centrist.

It's simply amazing how you go out of your way on thread after thread, making endless excuses for this President on issues where he has clearly made the wrong policy decision. The fact you have no problem with a so called conservative GOP POTUS who spends like a liberal, expands government like a Democrat and turns a blind eye to an open borders policy like a good libertarian, says as much about you, as it does about GW Bush.

If you dare to listen to the truth, instead of posting the same juvenile diatribes on a routine basis, you just may learn something. Somehow, I don't think its possible, but miracles do happen from time to time.

Fact. PresBush is the leader of the GOP. Fact. The GOP has a governing majority that controls Congress. Fact. The House controls the purse strings. Fact. PresBush hasn't used his veto power once since taking office. Fact. PresBush has expanded the federal bureaucracy like no POTUS since LBJ. Fact. PresBush has spent the taxpayers money like no POTUS in US history. Fact. Not once in five years has PresBush properly addressed the immigration problems of open borders and illegal migration into the US from Mexico.

Instead of making excuses for PresBush and denounce conservatives for speaking out, try taking a course in political science and getting yourself informed. Right now you're one of the most uninformed individuals posting on this forum.

If you want to be known as a Bush cheerleader, fine. Just don't expect to ever be taken seriously by this FReeper. When you can debate the issues, instead of offering up foolish drivel, look me up. Until then, have fun spinning your web of lies and distortions.

59 posted on 01/01/2006 2:13:35 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: ncountylee

A Hate Slime.


60 posted on 01/01/2006 2:15:19 PM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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