Posted on 03/14/2006 1:57:06 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
WASHINGTON - President Bush tried to steady his presidency yesterday by urging Americans to support the Iraq war for the long haul, but a bigger boost for a limping White House may have come from a rogue Democrat. As promised, Bush launched another political offensive aimed at resurrecting his slumping agenda and rebuilding support for an increasingly unpopular war.
The four-week strategy, which he previously tried with some temporary success in December, began with a speech aimed at linking the war on terrorism to Iraq - this time without Bush uttering unfounded optimism.
"I wish I could tell you that the violence is waning and that the road ahead will be smooth," Bush admitted. "It will not. There will be more tough fighting and more days of struggle, and we will see more images of chaos and carnage in the days and months to come."
Bush's job approval rating dropped for a fourth straight week in the CNN/USA Today Gallup Poll, sinking to 36% support.
With those numbers, Bush's tactic might have been seen as an act of desperation, but Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) pulled the political stunt of the day by asking the Senate to censure Bush over the National Security Agency's domestic spying.
After Feingold made his pitch on the Senate floor, Senate GOP leader Bill Frist of Tennessee called his bluff and urged a vote.
Fearing a backlash, Democrats instantly blocked the vote, worried they would give back political gains made from Bush's recent blunder on the Dubai ports deal. They later tried to say they didn't abandon Feingold.
"What you are seeing is Democrats of every stripe coming forward to point out the dangerous incompetence of the Bush administration's policies," said Rebecca Kirszner, spokeswoman for the Senate Democratic war room.
Republicans were tickled by Feingold's maneuver. "If he wants to change the subject to this, we'd be happy to talk about it," said a senior Bush official.
Another top Bush aide who had predicted Democrats would do something to take the heat off Bush was gleeful over Feingold's move. "The saving grace for us is just how inept they are," he said.
Over the next eight months, it may come to be proven that this absurd "stunt" by the foolishly opportunistic Feingold will help to keep Congress in Republican hands. What an arrogant *ss he was yesterday.
Feisty, eh? I'm going to have to compile a list of the two ways MSM can choose to describe any give individual or group. The difference between racist demagogue and civil rights firebrand seems to depend largely on skin color.
I heard New Orleans Mayor Nagin's remarks that God wanted New Orleans to be majority black (whites need not apply) characterized as 'candid'.
Just like they didn't abandon Murtha a couple months ago.
This Feingold silliness isn't going to help Bush, because very few Americans even know about it. In contrast, Americans heard all about the Dubai ports deal. And Bush took a beating over it.
Good morning..just wondering what's your take on the GOP primary race for Frist's seat?
Seems more and more the case that those seeking election as Democrat candidates have criteria to meet...
#1 - Preferred drop out of anger management class
Give Russ a break. This stunt was all about keeping himself to the left of Ol' Crusty.
Well yes, he succeeded, but to most of real American voters, this is a bad move and will look real stupid right around November.
Thanks...any early polls?
True to form, the Dems ran away from their plan to run away.
Fearing debate, Foolsgold was even a bigger fool by cutting and running from the Senate floor.
"Even tho, Bill Frist is my senator and, I would never vote for him as president he may have gotten a new spine over the weekend in Memphis at the So. leadership conference."
I agree...Frist does have a spine but he's so inconsistent with showing it. That bothers me and I won't be voting for him, either. Frist is nuts on some issues and he's scary.
You'd figure that someone (Rove?) would sit the two down and try to broker a deal..
"A lousy politician, but a great heart surgeon!!!! Most of the time we should just stick to what we do best."
I'm sure he is...one of the finest. I can't see him continuing his practice if he was the POTUS, though. Can you see him with an open chest on the table, getting a call that "Iran dropped the big one, Mr President"?
Nah..he'll never win a primary. IMO, physicians should never be in charge of an organization or a country.
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