Posted on 04/24/2002 6:03:55 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
WENTWORTH, S.D. (AP) -- President Bush, at the dusty epicenter of this year's battle for control of the Senate, politely shared a stage Wednesday with political nemesis Tom Daschle -- then turned to scoop up $350,000 to put him out of the Senate majority leader's job.
``Tom, I'm honored you'd come,'' Bush told Daschle in a pulled-punches speech that had the president thanking the South Dakota Democrat who more often takes White House blame for Senate inaction on the Bush agenda.
The Democrats' one-vote grip on the Senate has frustrated Bush on everything from drilling for oil in the Arctic wilds to putting conservative judges on the federal bench.
Wind-whipped rural Wentworth (pop. 200) was the unlikely stage bringing together four players in overlapping political high drama: Bush, Daschle, Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson and GOP Rep. John Thune.
There was Bush, who recruited Thune over a White House dinner last year to run against Johnson and, in one of the nation's hottest political contests, maybe tilt the Senate back into Republican control. ``He's a man with whom I can work,'' Bush said.
There, too, was Daschle. He is putting his own considerable statewide muscle behind Johnson and weighing a run at Bush's job in 2004.
After a warm handshake and pat on the back from a smiling Bush, Daschle told reporters in the Dakota Ethanol warehouse: ``He said he'd kiss me but people would talk.''
Bush joked to the crowd of South Dakota agriculture leaders about the ``quality time'' he and Daschle spend together.
``I invite him to the Oval Office for breakfast. He doesn't eat much, I want you to know, which is good for my wallet,'' the president said.
He called for swift Senate action to deliver him a farm bill and enhanced powers in negotiating free trade deals -- and also thanked Daschle for having promised as much.
Bush, who won the White House on a campaign to ``change the tone'' of Washington politics, also credited Daschle for his work getting an ethanol-promoting provision into omnibus energy legislation destined for Bush's signature.
The most demanding Bush got was when he said, ``We need to put aside all the posturing, all the noise, and for the good of American agriculture, get a trade bill to my desk and get a farm bill to my desk.''
``The more markets that are open for U.S. farmers and ranchers the better off our economy will be,'' Bush said.
Earlier this month, he demanded that the Senate pass the trade measure by Monday, a deadline that came and went with no action -- and no presidential comment.
Daschle and Johnson arrived at Dakota Ethanol, surrounded by vacant dirt fields, well after Bush was already behind closed doors talking with local farmers. The two Democrats took stage-right seats in the audience and, along with everyone else in the front row, got a presidential handshake before Bush continued on to Sioux Falls and the real business of the day.
His fund-raising reception for Thune at the Sioux Falls Convention Center set a state record. ``We've got a lot on our plate and I hope to have this good man beside me in the United States Senate,'' Bush told some 300 donors. ``We've got a war to win.''
Johnson was dismissive of the impact Bush could have on the Senate race. ``I wanted to be here to personally welcome the president and make sure that he understands that our hospitality is really right there for him,'' Johnson told reporters.
The president stopped in South Dakota en route to a long weekend on his Texas ranch, where he was meeting Thursday with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and, over lunch on Friday, stroking the Republican Party's biggest financial supporters. On Monday, Bush continues on to New Mexico and California to raise money for Republicans there.
Typical of the 'HOLE and his lackey, ain't it? Crash a Presidential event.
Johnson was dismissive of the impact Bush could have on the Senate race.
Yeah, well, the voters of South Dakota will be dismissive of Johnson come November. Won't that be sweet?
Now THAT is CLASS, WIT AND STYLE! GO GW!!
Well, you AP Ditz, just who in the hell is to blame for Senate inaction on the Bush agenda - Newt Gingrich? Geeeesh.
By the way, Fox News reported tonight that Dasshole had to find his own way to SD today, since there was no room on Air Force One. It's a 747 for crying out loud!!! Way to go W. I suspect that Dasshole and a bunch of others got the message.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Hadn't heard that one!!! Way to Go, W!! Make the 'HOLE, the PREMIERE mental munchkin of the 21st century, find his own way back to South Dakota!
BWA HA HA HA!
Love it, I love it! Thanks.I haven't had a chance to see the evening news yet.
"Tom, I'm honored you'd come," Bush told Daschle.."
Wonderful to see the president showing the same kind of cool he showed during the debate when Gore tried to intimidate him by acting like a macho dog in heat.
"I invite him to the Oval Office for breakfast..."
Seems the president is going out of his way to change the tone in Washington....So much for Daschle's complaint that the president doesn't talk to him or include him.
I'm not surprised, considering how lispy Daschle talks.
Just like Napoleon.
LOL It's late...I almost typed what automatically jumped into my head when I read "tiny man" ______ you fill in the blank.
Sorry, there's only one proper use for ethanol, and it doesn't involve driving.
largest amount ever from the other one in Sioux Falls...... His fund-raising reception for Thune at the Sioux Falls Convention Center set a state record.
Did they have a booster seat for Dasshole?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.