Bush, Kennedy join forces on immigration.
By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — As he presses for legacy-building immigration legislation, President Bush finds himself aligned with the same unlikely ally who helped enact his first major domestic initiative. That would be Sen. Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who played a crucial role in crafting and passing the No Child Left Behind Act, the president's massive effort to overhaul education policy.
In a speech to the Associated General Contractors of America on May 2, Bush acknowledged Kennedy as a key player in the talks that are culminating this week, when the Senate opens an immigration debate. "I appreciate the leadership he's taken," Bush said.
Kennedy returned the favor on Saturday, praising Bush's call for a new immigration policy in the president's weekly radio address. "I thank President Bush for addressing the nation on this critical issue and emphasizing the common goals that we share," he said.
As in their earlier partnership, both men are trying to keep the outer ideological edges