Analysis: Political confrontation likely

Yahoo News (AP) ^ | November 8, 2006 | TERENCE HUNT

[John Carey]

President Bush was left weakened and more isolated than at any time in his presidency by Tuesday's Democratic thumping of Republicans. He offered Democrats gestures of reconciliation — and capitulated to demands for Donald H. Rumsfeld's removal — but history suggests his last two years will be filled with more confrontation and challenges.

Except for rare instances, Bush has ignored Democrats in Congress during his first six years in the White House and has relied on Republican might to ram through legislation. Although he came to Washington promising to be a uniter rather than a divider, the partisan bitterness and acrimony only got worse.

Suddenly, that's supposed to change on a dime. Bush is supposed to forget that Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), the incoming House speaker, called him dangerous, incompetent and an emperor with no clothes. Democrats are supposed to forget that a combative Bush said "terrorists win and America loses" if the Democrats won on Tuesday.

Bush invited Pelosi to a makeup luncheon Thursday. "She's not going to abandon her principles and I'm not going to abandon mine," the president said. "But I do believe we have an opportunity to find some common ground to move forward on."

The president's turnabout was dictated by Washington's seismic shake-up of power. Democrats suddenly hold the whiphand in Congress, controlling both the House and the Senate for the first time in 12 years.

[nitzy]

Losing the election has consequences.

If the Dems took your advice in '00, '02, and '04 they would not have control of congress today. He absolutely needs to keep fighting. Every victory that we achieved, the Dems fought us and made us spend our political capital. By the time Nov. 7th rolled around we were dead broke. If Bush gives them any easy liberal victories without exacting some toll he will be letting conservatism down.

[GoLightly]

I don't say he has to stop fighting. He has to pick his battles carefully.

[nitzy]

He has to pick his battles carefully

I agree. He should only fight all legislation proposed by Democrats and moderate Republicans..; )

[GoLightly]

Thanx, I needed that! Looks like the moonbats *have* run amok.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1735359/posts?page=22#29

[blondee123]

What did you expect him to do? Totally ignore the will of the people?

I don't understand your question! The will of the people about what? He should have listened to the will of his conservative base & acted on illegals. There are already laws on the books for illegals, but they aren't being enforced!!!

[GoLightly]

The electorate is divided. There is very little political capital in W's hand right now. He needs to spend what he has judiciously. Immigration was never his strong suit. His strengths are in other areas, which means the people who voted for him, voted for reasons other than his position on immigration.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda was yesterday. The open border party got more votes than the fence builders. Do not expect to see any funding provided for the fence. How do we move forward with that reality?

[Lancey Howard]

Bush invited Pelosi to a makeup luncheon Thursday. "She's not going to abandon her principles and I'm not going to abandon mine," the president said. "But I do believe we have an opportunity to find some common ground to move forward on."

Huh? Spell it out, President Bush.... WHAT common ground could you possibly share with that San Fransicko scumbag? Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure the Republican base won't like it.

[Jimmy Valentine]

This writer is full of it. If anything Bush has been too conciliatory, e.g. No Child Left Behind which he let Kennedy write and the Medicare expansion program.

If he were any more conciliatory, we would all be singing "The Internationale" as our national anthem.