Wow, you pack a lot into a few words. I wish I had that gift!
As much as I want to believe that Bush will fight or try to outmaneuver the Dems, we have to go back and look at his first two years, after Jumpin' Jim Jeffords gave the Senate back to the Dems.
Bush would go along to get along. A lot of good it did him. The Dems ran over him from every direction they could and Bush just smiled and took it. It was only on occasion that he actually tried to put up a fight. Look at the success the Dems have already had - they have forced Bush to agree to change his plan for Iraq - a change that means several advisors are losing their jobs.
Bush's last 2 years will end up looking very much like his first 2 years. He is going to continue to try to reach out to the Dems . . . . . and he will keep pulling back a bloody stump. What Bush and too many conservatives fail to realize is that the Dems have declared war on the US and conservatives and will do everything they can to remain in power. After all, they believe that it is their birthright - just as Gore believed that the presidency was his for the asking because his father told him it was.
President Bush did what he had to do .. and he took the hits (many from our side) because he understands what is at stake and what we will face if we don't take a stand and fight
What (IMO) he didn't expect (nor did I) was that the voters would turn on him and put the dems in charge of congress
You can bet he (nor I) will make that mistake again
Yes, there are rino's in Congress .. but even with those rino's we had some wiggle room
Now there is none.
We either call the Dems bluff or we don't
The question is .. are we prepared for it?