Bush Hoping to Win More Battles in 2006

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush, bruised by months of setbacks, enters the new year hoping to win congressional battles over tax cuts and immigration, get rebellious Republicans back in step and nurture a new democracy in Iraq — the make-or-break issue of his legacy. Expect the president to bring in 2006 the same way he ended the old: Trumpeting good economic news and talking, reassuringly, about Iraq where excitement over a historic ballot has been tempered by growing disenchantment with the war and a death toll of U.S. troops that tops 2,160.

The war in Iraq and sluggish diplomatic efforts to deter the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea will continue to dominate foreign policy for the president, who plans a trip early in the new year to India.

At home, Bush will be after the Senate to confirm Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court in January. He also wants immigration reform, including a guest worker program.'

Absent from his to-do list is a plan to overhaul the tax code. White House advisers say there may be some efforts to simplify it, but a sweeping restructuring would need more discussion. Also off the list is revamping Social Security, the one-time centerpiece of Bush's domestic agenda that failed to gain traction even though he crisscrossed the country to win support for it.

:toast:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051226/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_looking_ahead

[LiberalPartisan]

1. So much for political capital

Bush is going to have the longest lame-duck period of any president - his entire 2nd term.

[Radio_Lady]

6. Wonderful quote!

I'll use it whenever I can, LiberalPartisan!

[0007]

2. Where there's hope there's dope and that's what we have

in the White House.

[fshrink]

3. And my hope for 2006

is that, somehow, one in the long list of abuses, some illegal and/or unconstitutional, carried out by this administration will be investigated enough to send him packing.

[MuseRider]

8. I don't think you pack

for prison. :shrug: MY fondest wish for the new year and the battle I wish to see is the one we have prying his ass outta our Oval Office.

[w13rd0]

18. Bush would pack...

...he'd have to take his "special pillow" to bite on...

Bush is a cheerleading pillow-biter.

[bemildred]

4. "Bush hoping to avoid impeachment in 2006."

"Bush hoping to avoid military defeat in 2006".
"Bush hoping to avoid further economic decay in 2006."
"Bush hoping to avoid political revolt in 2006."

Just a few observations from the "reality based" community.

[Eric J in MN]

5. I want a filibuster against Samuel Alito. He's that bad.

If the Republicans use the "nuclear option," whatever. Hopefully, the current Supreme Court will say the "nuclear option" is unconstitutional. One with Alito would uphold the "nuclear option."

More on Alito at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/31/103834/50

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. The details that have come out in the last week or so...

...overturning Roe v. Wade, supporting the government spying on its citizens...

I though Harriet Miers was simply not qualified for the job. I didn't see any chance at all of a "nuclear option" to shoe-horn her into the position.

But Scalito?

THAT'S a fight worth fighting.

:patriot:

[babylonsister]

11. Alito is one potentially scary dude. Here's a thread that

ties him into the wiretapping mess:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5676319

[TheGunslinger]

7. Doesn't "more" imply he's one won so far?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. One more example of the mainstream media acting as "enabler"...

...but at least it wasn't Chris Matthews philosophizing over Bush "glimmering with sunny nobility."

[darkism]

21. That was the way I first read it, but also consider...

...it COULD be intended as ** "hopes to win more , (because he lost so often this year)."

So the headline can slant either way depending on which way you read it.

[SHRED]

9. He can hope in one hand...

...and crap in the other...and then see which one fills up first.

:toast:

[Cha]

16. Now there a good wish for

2006! :toast:

[meti57b]

13. LATIMES: Bush, GOP Downsize Ambitions for 2006

Bush, GOP Downsize Ambitions for 2006
The election year is seen as a time to play it safe and think smaller after a bad start to a new term.
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — For the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress, the tumult of 2005 has been an object lesson in the political risks of thinking big.

Bush began the year with grand ambitions to overhaul the sacrosanct Social Security program, rewrite the entire tax code, bring stability to war-torn Iraq and retain expanded law-enforcement powers to fight terrorism — and fell far short, dividing his own party and taking a beating in the polls.Chastened by the experience and eager to play it safe in an election year, Republicans are preparing for a new year of thinking small.

Instead of reworking the entire tax code, Republicans will be gratified if they can just make current tax cuts permanent. A bill to tighten border security is in the works, but a more ambitious plan to curb illegal immigration is in doubt. An early priority of Senate Republicans? The arcane issue of asbestos litigation.

"This is an exhausted administration," said Michael Tanner, an analyst with the libertarian Cato Institute who worked with the White House to promote its Social Security plan. "It's going to be very hard for this administration to come out with a big new initiative."
===snip===

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-agenda25dec25,1,2963140.story

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

15. We REALLY dodged a bullet on his "Fair & Simple Tax" agenda...

Anyone remotely familiar with my posts knows that I have been DU's resident "Paul Revere" on this item. He really, REALLY wanted to decimate what's left of the middle class while adding more coins to the coffers of his "base."

:patriot:

[aquart]

22. This is the paper that fired the good columnist and hired the creep?

[Oversea Visitor]

14. Round 5 Ding

As Bush step into the ring for another bout, one has to wonder he he last this bout. Well bush only 3 more rounds and you home free.

His opponent OBL look at him and smile, dont forget the war on terror, yup say bush and start swinging, got him bush yell, got the sucker on the pecker, he smirks, OBL say you doing great nice job there is one behind you, bush duck and say look no WMD, and unleash a haymaker, did a spin and fall flat on his face, and say to OBL, woah that sucker punch hard, OBl say eeh bush boy that was the refree you punch, bush say dont blame me, he was in the way, dumb fool know better than to walk into my punch hehe. Then OBL yawn and say seriously bush when can we start boxing each other, I mean this one suppose to be a match between you and me. Wait wait bush say let me finish off with all this others first then we can have tea. Ok OBL say and added whee damn hot in here and pull of his mask. Bush yell at OBL " PUT THAT DAMN MASK BACK ON MY PET PIGGY " "Oops" say rove, "lucky me no one watching" . No problems just dont let Fitz catch you say bush and hey spin me a few more target this fun heehaaw."

Dick and Rum look at each other at the ringside and say "How much more do we need " " Cant take more of this crap"

[Maggie_May]

17. I predict 2006 his poll numbers sink lower than ever

This economy is on very shaking ground. Higher energy cost is killing everyone. I won't even get into this disastrous Iraq war. Bush is done in 2006.

[smomfr]

19. Their ¨POLITICS of PARANOIA¨

seems to be losing steam. People are starting to fear dumbya´s agenda more than they fear the terrorists.

[MisterP]

20. he's a chimp with the Screaming Mimis--what's he going to "win"?

[Charlie Brown]

23. The "guest worker program" will be DOA

The extremists in the House and Senate will never permit it to happen.

[olddad56]

24. "nurture a new democracy in Iraq ", I'd settle for the old one here.

This corporate fascism isn't good for you and I.