I'm a moderate who voted for Kerry. I've decided to try really hard to accept Bush and embrace him as president. Watching this speech I am failing miserably. He's making it clear that it's his way or the highway.
'I have Political Capital and I intend to spend it. Just like the last election.' You know, these are things they are not supposed to say in public.
yeah you would have figured the election win would give him a confidence boost, but each question brings such barely coherent rambling that CNN international has actually stopped showing the live press conference
went something like this: reporter - what will be the first piece of legislation you want to pass? W - (long pause) ummm... well (long pause, mouth agape) ummm... the first writeup: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20041104/ap_on_el_pr/bush
I think Bush probably overestimates the amount of political capital he has at the moment, at least on economic policy. I don't expect that Democratic senators will feel much public pressure to go along with Bush's plans on Social Security, lawsuit limitations, tax reform, bankruptcy reform, and so forth.
But unless the new Minority Leader actually has a spine, they aren't likely to do enough to make a difference.
Daschle had his issues, but I think he was actually a pretty effective obstructionist on most things. I think Reid will do OK. Of course, it's possible that Bush now has the numbers to push a lot of crazy stuff through without any help from Democrats or the New England Republican moderates - but's thats not really a question of "political capital" as I understand the term.
He kept saying "and I will work closely with those that share my point of view". I felt immediatly excluded.
It's nice to see that he is reaching out across the aisle.... to drop a flaming bag of poop. I have a word for the outgoing Dems: "There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people." Did I just quote The Replacements? Oh god.
Holy Shirt. I was hoping you misheard or that he didn't actually say that, but the article posted below confirms... "things they are not supposed to say in public" indeed.
In normal circumstances, yes, your smiley notwithstanding. But the lame ducks now have a chance to lame duck like a mother********er until they leave office - they can stop worrying about the electorate and do something for a change.
There will be no reaching across the aisle. Democrats and progressives need to obstruct. A bunker-defense, if you will. It's not likely the Democratic leadership has the cojones to do that, so it is up to the progressives to keep the Republican porkfest in check.
I can't speak for ITN, but apparently, the Red Staters think Congress wasn't generating enough pork and there was too much fiscal responsiblity.
I wouldn't know. I've never been on one. If you'd like to share your bad experiences, I think Free For All is probably a better forum.