Posted on 04/02/2006 4:52:01 PM PDT by mathprof
George W. Bush is taking time to explain himself, open up to the public in new ways and court the U.S. Congress as he tries to breathe life into a presidency beset by sagging ratings and influence.
With a job-approval rating under 40 percent, Bush, who went to his Crawford ranch for a quiet weekend, has a long way to go. Aides acknowledge it will take a while to rebuild his image, and much will depend on the outcome of the Iraq war.
White House staffers, who have long limited the president's appearances to speeches and photo opportunities with little contact with regular people, are now inclined to let Bush be Bush.
He is talking at length. His March 21 news conference lasted nearly an hour. A Freedom House speech with questions from the audience in Washington on Wednesday went on for an hour and a half.
Bush even took questions from gray-haired retirees at a senior citizens' home recently and they asked some tough ones. More such sessions are planned.
``The president enjoys the open question-and-answer formats,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. ``The more we can put him in settings where people can get a better sense of his thinking and his beliefs, the better.'' SNIP
Democrats are not impressed by the more-open Bush. ``The president can give all the speeches he wants but nothing will change the fact that his Iraq policy is wrong,'' said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
By-the-way, are you into retroactive impeachment? Just thought you might want to alter the legacy of that evil Mexican-loving, border-ignoring, business-enabling, amnesty-signing Ronald Maximus Reagan!
You're right. The "immigration" so-called discussion has gone over and into the arena of punishments which remind me of retroactive tax increases.
LOVE that you think the NYTimes is right, RMan, and that you have the audacity to put your agreement with the looney left in print.
Reveals who you really are.
You don't need me to tell you that the open border issue is going to be the death knell for a lot of Republicans in November. All you've gotta do is read the posts on FreeRepublic. This McCain-Kennedy bill is amnesty by another name. If our party stands for that, then why not vote Democratic? It's crazy. And if McCain is going to be Bush's successor, then I'm getting off the bus.
My issues and concerns are not single-issue: Mine are comprehensive. And in this regard, President Bush is an outstanding and good President and I wish he could serve another term.
We do not relfect the voting of the electorate.
You know, I believe that Reagan genuinely believed that his plan would work. I just don't get that impression with Bush. All you have to do is look at the results of Reagan's policy, and you should know enough not to try it a second time. I don't think Reagan would be on board this time.
If you use immigration as your 'Impeach Bush' (leftist) mantra, you have to rely on lies and inaccurate information.
And in doing so, you diminish the importance of the issue.
In other words, you hurt, not help in the solution of the problem.
"We do not relfect the voting of the electorate."
That is very true. But a Republican can't win without conservative support.
Let Bush talk more, and more bluntly.
Dump McClellan and Bartlett.
Please tell me Bush's advisors aren't turning to "The West Wing" for strategy ideas.
Revisionist history = LEFTIST
Am I wrong about that??
Yeah, but I'm not leading the charge to impeach Bush. I'm just trying to get the conservatives to do something about immigration. And frankly, I'm at the Pat Buchanan point--I don't care if it's legal or illegal--just stop it.
Um, why yes he has. I can name three thus far and they were not noobs.
The Right went so far Right and the Left so far Left they met somewhere (I was going to say at Ross Perot's Funny Farm a la Rush, but I'm restraining myself.) :0), ohio. It had to happen. Law of Physics or some such.
Brilliant.........you may want to rethink your LEFTIST "Impeach Bush" mantra.....
It has NO place of FR........according to the owner of the forum.
There are so many MORE items on the table with regards our relationship with Mexico than simply "illegals" coming across. YES, that is a problem. Is it the only problem? NO~!
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