Bush strategy: bash Democratic Congress

Source: ap

Bush strategy: bash Democratic Congress

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 42 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush's agenda these days is not subtle: Blast Democratic lawmakers for ineptitude. Then find a way to do it again.

Even with the factors working against him — record-low approval ratings, fading public attention and dwindling time in office — Bush still talks like a leader whose hand has never been stronger. Backed by a veto power that's hard to override, Bush has taken to blistering Congress in a remarkably relentless fashion.

The latest scolding came Thursday. Bush accused Democrats of forgetting the lingering terrorist threat and putting the nation at risk. Then he prodded Congress to give him what he wants — confirmation of his attorney general, a revamped government surveillance law and defense spending bills he can support.

This was a year that began with Bush talking of getting a targeted agenda through Congress; now, Congress is the target. It started when Bush challenged lawmakers to get him major spending bills by the Oct. 1 start of the 2008 budget year. When that didn't happen, he went on the offensive and has not stopped.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_bashing_congress_3

There are downsides for Bush's veto strategy.

"You have to view a veto as essentially a negative act, not a positive act," said Ken Duberstein, who was Ronald Reagan's last chief of staff. "I would suggest to you right now that the American people are looking for a way for the administration and the Congress to work things out together. Vetoes are not working things out. There is a danger that if you use it not surgically, but as a blanket, you become a negative influence."

Bush's blame-Congress strategy also holds some peril for Republican lawmakers.

Every time they vote to uphold his veto, as they did on the children's health insurance bill, they risk alienating potential voters.

"If the Republicans in Congress want to go to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and stand with the president again, I'll pay their cab fare," Emanuel said. "I'll drive the bus over. Let's make it a daily event. Stay as close as you can to the president's policies. I'd pay for that."

Republicans in the Senate must defend nearly twice as many seats in next year's elections as Democrats. And the challenge is only growing steeper for Republicans, as an increasing number of GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate plan to retire rather than run again — putting even more GOP seats in play.

that bashing from Bu$h would be for the Dem's to keep his temper tantrums in the public eye every chance they get. Keep sending him legislation that the majority of Americans want passed and let him keep sinking Republic ships (re-election chances) through the next year. That could give new meaning to "lame duck President" and "leaving office", as in, when Bu$h/Cheney leave they take the Republic Party with them and ANY chance for Republic's getting elected for a couple of generations.

but as we all know we have no voice. So bush's message gets out there and picked up over and over and over by the right wing spewers.

be a fine start - it is an occupation not a war.

then helpless nancy and hapless harry should convene all dems in congress and lay down the law, come up with a unified strategy and common phraseology, and act like a true opposition party that opposes in a unified way using unified themes and methods.

Msongs

Remember last year's mid-terms when the lame duck dictator TRIED to SCARE the voters by catapulting FEAR over and over, day in, day out...

Bush** is mentally ill.

Impeach.

and put in his place.

I just can't believe it...they let a dufus out manuever them...and here I thought Dems had more Brains...I guess I was wrong..

Who knew??? The Negative Forces are winning due to the folding of the Positive Forces into a wimpy pile of shit.

Let Chaos reign....Anarchy, here we come....

:shrug:

when he takes to the bully pulpit.

That seems to be working.