Posted on 12/12/2005 6:59:15 AM PST by misterrob
President Bush is returning to his conservative agenda after being distracted from his message the past few months by hurricanes, an anti-war mother and a failed Supreme Court nomination.
The White House, which already is planning next month's State of the Union address, is preparing an agenda that will highlight progress in the Iraq war, economic expansion, immigration reform, tax cuts, tax-code reform and spending restraint.
"What you will see more of next year is the president going back to the basics -- winning the war and growing the economy and creating jobs," White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy said.
"The president certainly spent the last week doing that and will do so next year. He is going to go back to the basics."
The president and his team of communications advisers actually got back to basics when they were half a world away last month during a trip to Asia. The White House went on the offensive on Iraq, rebuking a Democratic congressman for suggesting that U.S. forces be withdrawn from Iraq immediately.
But last week, Republicans on Capitol Hill told Mr. Bush at a congressional retreat that the administration was losing the message battle. The next day, Mr. Bush made an unscheduled statement in the White House Rose Garden about positive economic news, which included strong job gains and falling gasoline prices.
The president then delivered the second of four scheduled speeches to detail the White House strategy for victory in Iraq before the fledgling democracy's elections Thursday, citing specific progress.
The strategy appears to have paid off. A New York Times-CBS News poll conducted Dec. 2-6 showed the president's approval rating at 40 percent, up from 35 percent in October.
(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...
One other comment that struck me is the amount of Congressmen who are up for reelection and who are not willing to support a conservative agenda on taxes, SS reform, spending, etc..
Nah, someone just woke up and smelled the coffee.
We'll know they're listening when there's an immigration proposal that doesn't reward illegals.
We know that someone is listening when there's a bill that kicks people off of welfare who could be working in one of those jobs that "no one wants to do".
I'd sure love to know what happened to him over his vacation in August. It was as if someone was feeding him 'stupid-pills'. Actually, I think it started when his SS Reform agenda was given the bums-rush.
I can't wait for the speech. Let me guess "we are a nation of laws, blah, blah, but, America is a nation of immigrants..." You take it from there.
Compare that to Dean's quote from Meet the Press when asked about the Dem's agenda.
Right now it's not our job to give out specifics.
Ummmm....maybe because you have NO AGENDA OR PLAN? This administration and the GOP in general, would do well to shut off the TV and put away the newspapers for awhile. Stick to the basics and your ideas will produce results for the country and the party.
Yeah, one month of good PR work and his numbers are up 5 points. He better keep this up.
We were a nation of immigrants who brought laws with them from England. Lately it seems we are a nation of immigrants who think it is okay not to follow them.
Think that is when it started too. His effort on SS reform was half assed, in the spring. And after that he just stopped fighting back. He became that GOP punching bag, not answering any charges and everything became rudder less. Someone had to be feeding him stupid pills, because this years effort was pretty damned near close to an F.
Good grief, you guys just never seem to stop.
They might even become Republicans again.
On what?
The party itself has lacked leadership, vision and focus. It has definitely drifted leftward. No clear message on Iraq, no responding to the disgusting rhetoric from the Democrats, refusal to get real on deficits and immigration and no real leadership on Katrina. The last two weeks have been a hell of a lot better in my opinion.
On what? All we wanted all year is for someone to light a fire under their @$$es. 35-40% approval ratings are just no good. I am glad to finally see him come out every week now. He needs to continue this effort.
His "conservative" agenda? What's that?
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