Bush's Democrats (THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT W)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 5, 2006 | ROBERT NOVAK SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[Chi-townChief]

Bush's Democrats

Some Democratic members of Congress who have been trashing President Bush, including several African Americans, arrived at the House up to 45 minutes ahead of President Bush's State of the Union address in order to get aisle seats for his speech.

When Bush walked in shortly after 9 p.m., the Democrats on the aisle were as eager as the Republicans opposite them to shake hands with the president. African-American Democrats Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas engaged in hugs and kisses with Bush. He shared a joke that caused Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who had formerly challenged Bush's 2004 electoral votes from Ohio, to laugh uproariously.

A footnote: Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, now the House's top African American as the newly elected chairman of the Democratic Caucus, was the only member of the House Democratic leadership to keep his seat and not rise in applause during Bush's address.

Bush's Democrats II

Rep. Jane Harman of California, ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee, was on her feet clapping in response to nearly all of President Bush's national security applause lines Tuesday night while fellow Democrats generally kept their seats. An exception was the president's defense of wiretapping, where Harman shook her head vigorously and stayed seated.

Sen. Ben Nelson, Bush's most consistent Democratic supporter in the Senate, was often alone on his side of the aisle in rising to applaud the president. Nelson, up for re-election this year in heavily Republican Nebraska, also praised Bush's address in television interviews after the speech.

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, a sharp critic of Bush, clapped and started to rise when the president called for renewal of the Patriot Act. But he stayed down when he noted that Democrats around him were keeping their seats.

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[Fresh Wind]

Just a guess, but I think I know where the TV cameras are pointing when the president walks in.

[GeorgeW23225]

I totally agree.

There is no reason that the President of the United States needs to get in the gutter with those political whores and pimps.

President Bush stays
"above" it all, and the pandering, can I please have your autograph democRATS look like fools..........

[Ditter]

You are right, I apologize to loons everywhere.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, a sharp critic of Bush, clapped and started to rise when the president called for renewal of the Patriot Act. But he stayed down when he noted that Democrats around him were keeping their seats.

Ah, yes..."Mr. Principled" Chuckles Schumer; he'll stand, but only if everyone else stands. What a statesman. (rolling eyes)