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A Recuperating Duck: George Bush had a pretty good month of May.
The Weekly Standard ^ | 06/05/06 | William Kristol

Posted on 05/26/2006 5:55:18 PM PDT by Pokey78

FOR A PRESIDENT who is (allegedly) the lamest of lame ducks, George W. Bush had a pretty good month of May. Not quite a merry month of May. Certainly not a Lerner-and-Loewe-like lusty month of May. But a pretty good month, and perhaps a sign of better things to come.

To wit:

Congress extended, and the president signed, the wildly successful supply-side tax cuts on interest and dividend income originally passed in 2003. The new tax rates are now in force until 2010, providing helpful certainty for the economy and the markets, and forcing Democrats in this year's congressional elections, and in the 2008 presidential election, either to accept a core element of Bush's economic policy, or to be for raising taxes.

Speaking of the economy . . . last week the Commerce Department revised first quarter growth up to 5.3 percent. Not too lame. Then we learned that new home sales had risen in April, suggesting a reasonably soft landing for the housing market. And gas prices even began to drift down. How much longer can people talk themselves into thinking the economy's in bad shape?

They can talk themselves into a frenzy about illegal immigration, of course. But on this issue, the Senate managed--contrary to the conventional wisdom of late April--easily to pass a sensible and comprehensive immigration reform bill. And House Republicans now show some signs of coming to realize that talk radio is not always the best source of policy guidance. Enough of them may come to realize that passing legislation they regard as flawed would be better than going home to the voters having achieved nothing. So Bush could have an immigration reform signing ceremony to look forward to in the fall.

Meanwhile, on the personnel front, new chief of staff Josh Bolten seems to have improved White House performance, and Tony Snow took over as press secretary to rave reviews. Michael Hayden was easily confirmed by the Senate as CIA Director--as all the hoopla over warrantless wiretapping and data mining of phone records came to nothing. The imminent departure of John Snow as Treasury Secretary--though Snow has actually done a creditable job--will allow for the announcement of a fresher face (perhaps Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez) sometime soon.

The administration also got reenergized on the judicial front, shepherding Brett Kavanaugh through to confirmation to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. If a Supreme Court seat comes open in a month, the administration seems prepared, with (sources say) a short list of well vetted and well qualified conservative candidates.

The silly flap over the FBI search, pursuant to a judicial warrant, of Rep. William Jefferson's office serves as a reminder that, for all the talk of the dire consequences of the Abramoff scandal for the GOP, congressional scandals are not limited to the Republican party. Indeed, Jefferson's refusal to yield to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's plea to quit his position on the Ways and Means committee suggests some disarray in Democratic ranks.

In the meantime, the May 15 deadline for signing up for the Medicare prescription drug benefit passed with some 90 percent of eligible seniors enrolled, and most of them telling pollsters they're pretty happy. Given early rumblings that the program might be a nightmare of red tape, this is good news for the administration.

What about the world, and the war? There is a new Iraqi government, and we saw an impressive display of resolution on the Iraqi front by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair at their press conference last Thursday night. The president seems to have resisted calls to draw down troops precipitately, correctly understanding that he will get no credit for losing Iraq with 100,000 troops rather than 135,000. The bad news is that there has been no apparent reconsideration of military strategy. There has been no attempt to take advantage of the existence of a new Iraqi government to launch a more aggressive counterinsurgency, with additional U.S. troops, in order to help put the Iraqi government and its army on a path to real progress and victory.

As for Iran, the State Department seems to remain in charge of U.S. policy, and unwilling to come to grips with the urgency and gravity of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's challenge. Iran and Iraq are very likely to define the historical judgment on the Bush presidency. So these foreign policy splotches on the picture of a rosy May painted above are important. But if the president realizes he really isn't a lame duck, and that he has two and half years left, two and half years in which his foreign policy can either succeed or fail--he can begin to turn his attention to reenergizing that foreign policy in June.

--William Kristol


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006agenda; bush43; gwb; jobapproval; jumpedtheshark; kristol; term2
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To: Texas_Jarhead

I've heard some things about it that sound pretty bad. But, I'm quite sure, those are in there to make the Dems feel they have something to use as bargaining chips, and the House will be sure to strip out the crazy stuff with some Senate Rep help. I know I'm sounding optimistic, and it may not happen at all. We'll just have to see.


21 posted on 05/26/2006 6:25:25 PM PDT by n-tres-ted (Remember November!)
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To: SIDENET

He may not be a lame duck.But with his stance on immigration,it may well be his Swan song ?


22 posted on 05/26/2006 6:25:37 PM PDT by dbrew2u
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To: Defiant
The anti-Bush screed out there is really amazing....

He had a good month overall and even the republicans cannot see straight. They will ignore the approval of a judge and a new CIA director, they will ignore good economic news, progress in Iraq and the fruits of a good staff shake up to continue to gripe about immigration.

The horse is out of the barn folks. You will not see whole scale deportations of people. The public won't go for it, the media will sink it and if conservatives want to abandon him now then be prepared to accept what the democraps are offering which is going to be worse. I am not pleased to find us in this situation but the repubs are going to have to find something to compromise on which is the ugly truth about politics.

Otherwise expect Congressional investigations up the ass, blatant interference in judicial business and impeachment hearings come January 25th next year.
23 posted on 05/26/2006 6:25:47 PM PDT by misterrob
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To: Pokey78
George Bush will begin to loose his conservative base of support in the Pubbie party if he does not secure the border, allow the FBI to investigate Jefferson( screw making deals with the Dems, just run over them by vote), get extremely tough with Iran through a negotiated talk process, and enforce current laws against illegal aliens and their plantation owner employers who enslave them.

According to the majority of Conservatives, our president did not have a good May, he knuckled under to the Dems and their RINO traitors in the Senate.

Good May ? NOT!

Our president is a good man listening to the wrong people.

Conservatives are as mad as a swarm of wasps and it won't be over until the Senate RINOS are either unseated or otherwise disempowered.

24 posted on 05/26/2006 6:26:09 PM PDT by Candor7
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To: Pokey78
If a Supreme Court seat comes open in a month, the administration seems prepared, with (sources say) a short list of well vetted and well qualified conservative candidates.

In-ter-est-ing.

So what does Kristol know with that not so subtle hint there?

I have heard other rumors of a possible SC opening, but I didn't think it would come as soon as a month.

Perhaps someone is thinking of retiring? Or someone got some bad health news?


25 posted on 05/26/2006 6:26:51 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: ken5050

I was thinking the same thing you were.


26 posted on 05/26/2006 6:27:47 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: dbrew2u
He may not be a lame duck.But with his stance on immigration,it may well be his Swan song ?

It's not an immigration problem for Bush. It has always been about his vision for a "new America".

THE "NEW AMERICAN"

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.

George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

You can read the speech here.

Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:

In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster

27 posted on 05/26/2006 6:29:42 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!!!)
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To: Defiant
May 2006 will go down as the end of his support from conservatives, his "read my lips" moment. Sure, we may work with him on judicial appoointments and the WOT, but he's no longer viewed in the same light by conservatives. He's no longer trusted, I think would be the best way to express it.

You got a frog in your pocket?

28 posted on 05/26/2006 6:31:34 PM PDT by sinkspur ( Don Cheech. Vito Corleone would like to meet you......Vito Corleone.....)
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To: elhombrelibre

He needs to handle this Marine atrocity story correctly. For once, he should let the press do their thing for the next couple of days and then let them have it. Place himsel on the side of the military and the AMerican people.

Say this will not be tolerated but 99.9 %our military is outstanding. he needs to take charge of this issue. No mush talk.


29 posted on 05/26/2006 6:32:36 PM PDT by Patriot from Philly
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To: n-tres-ted

The House will stand firm..Most amazing thing today, RINO Chris Shays, who's been targeted by the Dems this fall, is from a very liberal district in CT..which Kerry carried..earlier this year he announced support of the Senate bill.he's been back home, doing his twon meetings..remember, he did them during the impeachment, to get a sense of what his district felt on the issue..weell today he publicly and happily announced he had competely reversed his opinin..now he fully supports the House bill..why?..because loud and clear, his constituents have told him that first, they want the borders sealed, then they'd focus on the other stuff..and look at the 4 Dems who voted against the Senate bill..Stabenow, Byrd, Nelson, and I forget the 4th..all of who are up this year,....


30 posted on 05/26/2006 6:33:34 PM PDT by ken5050 (GWB, Reagan, Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, freed hundreds of millions.# of Nobel PeacePrizes: ZERO)
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To: SkyPilot

We were speculating during the last SC confirmation battle that Stevens might well retire after this term. Despite his liberal record, dhe has long said privatyely that he is Republican, and wants his successor to be nominated by a Republican president...If he waits until after the November election, and it goes badly for the GOP..Bush wiull never get a nominee through the Senate..and if BUZZY also decides to step down..well..


31 posted on 05/26/2006 6:36:26 PM PDT by ken5050 (GWB, Reagan, Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, freed hundreds of millions.# of Nobel PeacePrizes: ZERO)
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To: Pokey78

Sad to say this, but good for the President is apparently not good for the rest of the country.


32 posted on 05/26/2006 6:38:28 PM PDT by rbg81
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To: Defiant
"the Senate managed--contrary to the conventional wisdom of late April--easily to pass a sensible and comprehensive immigration reform bill"

Sensible? NOT A CHANCE. Bush has lost his support here (with the exception of Afghanistan, IRaq, and Gitmo). GOP beware

33 posted on 05/26/2006 6:39:39 PM PDT by Paladin2 (If the political indictment's from Fitz, the jury always acquits.)
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To: Patriot from Philly

I do hope the press doesn't try to smear all servicemen and women in Iraq if we do learn that some Marines committed mass murder. I can see them trying to imply it's Bush's fault.


34 posted on 05/26/2006 6:41:04 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (The MSM is "the propaganda arm of our enemies." - Jack Kelly)
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To: ken5050

Dorgan - ND


35 posted on 05/26/2006 6:42:01 PM PDT by Paladin2 (If the political indictment's from Fitz, the jury always acquits.)
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To: Cyber Liberty

Things looked different in 2000 during the primaries. We had eight years of Clinton and there was a real possibility of four of Gore. It wasn't clear that Bush was the man he'd turn out to be.


36 posted on 05/26/2006 6:42:32 PM PDT by RedRover
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To: Paladin2

Ah, thanks..or as Rush calls him.."Helmet head.."


37 posted on 05/26/2006 6:43:10 PM PDT by ken5050 (GWB, Reagan, Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, freed hundreds of millions.# of Nobel PeacePrizes: ZERO)
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To: ken5050

I think the timing reflects the end of the SCOTUS term. If Ginsburg or Stevens were going to retire, it would likely be at end of term to try to allow sufficient time to confirm a replacement. I think that, this close to the end of the Bush Presidency, though, they'll likely try to hold out past 2008. Although, Stevens has supposedly said that since he was appointed by a Republican he wants to retire under one (that's assuming, of course that you can consider Jerry Ford a Republican!)


38 posted on 05/26/2006 6:48:25 PM PDT by MarcusTulliusCicero
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To: Pokey78

Pass the Orange Baste, this Duck is almost cooked.

TT


39 posted on 05/26/2006 6:49:27 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET)
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To: SmoothTalker

You misunderstand. In Kristol's world, that IS sensible.


40 posted on 05/26/2006 6:50:05 PM PDT by MarcusTulliusCicero
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