[tom h]

By the way, this reporter missed another obvious angle to Bush's strategy. And that is that dividends are by and large received by the elderly as part of their fixed income, and that by making this a centerpiece of his stimulus bill he will be winning over a constituency that is traditionally in the Democratic camp.

What a great idea! Win over the elderly by their pocketbooks and perhaps move some of them to the Republican column, or at least make them inclined to vote Republican. This helps ensure more GOP gains in 2004 and also makes passage of more comprehensive tax reform easier. It will also send the a--holes that run AARP into conniptions.

Never, never underestimate our President. Don't forget that he won his first term as Governor of Texas by a squeaker, but when he ran a second time he had the entire state eating out of his hand, such that the Speaker of the Assembly (a Democrat) endorsed Bush for his second term.

[JohnEBoy]

What I like is when GWB gets BOTH parties talking about TAX CUTS! Democrats are arguing that their tax cut package is better. Hooray!

I remember when Clinton in '93 had all the Democrats raising taxes and all the Republicans voting against it and Al Gore had to cast the deciding vote. And your comments about AARP are right on. When Clinton raised taxes on seniors' social security (by taxing 80% of it instead of 50%) and doing it retroactively, I could not believe that AARP supported that stupid proposal. For that reason alone, I will never be a member.

[CyberAnt]

And ... he learned how to deal with the dims from watching Reagan and his dad (12 years). I'd say that was a great "school" from which to learn.

[N. Theknow]

By the way, this reporter missed another obvious angle to Bush's strategy. And that is that dividends are by and large received by the elderly as part of their fixed income, and that by making this a centerpiece of his stimulus bill he will be winning over a constituency that is traditionally in the Democratic camp.

It would have been even better if he had eliminated the income tax on Social Security benefits which were enacted by the Dems and Toon.

[TexasBarak]

such that the Speaker of the Assembly (a Democrat) endorsed Bush for his second term.

That was the Lt. Governer (the late Bob Bullock). Anyhow, we don't have an "assembly" here- we have a House and Senate form of legislature.