Bush Can't Change Topics

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs

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Despite the administration's emphasis on issues such as health care, energy policy, education and immigration, the war in Iraq continued to cast the biggest shadow over President Bush's sixth State of the Union address. In front of a Democratic Congress and a nation increasingly frustrated with his handling of the war, the president attempted to shift at least some attention toward a domestic agenda — and retain his relevancy for the final two years of his presidency.

In the days leading up to the speech, the White House sought to emphasize the new health care proposal it contained, a plan to reduce the nation's gasoline consumption and other areas related to hearth and home. In his speech, the president attempted to issue a call for bipartisanship on these issues, telling Congress, "our citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on — as long as we are willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done."

That's a popular theme in today's divided government, but one that's easier to talk about than to implement while the war continues to hang like a fog over everything else. Attempts at broadening the national conversation are unlikely to burn through the haze, leaving this president occupying a lonely place in today's political discussion.

The latest CBS News poll, released Monday, shows that the war is by far seen as the most important issue facing the country — and strong majorities are pessimistic about it. Just 29 percent of respondents support the president's plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, while 50 percent support blocking funding for the surge. Add to that the 75 percent who say the war is going badly for the United States and the 62 percent who don't believe there will ever be peace in that country and it adds up to a pretty bleak outlook for the president.

Not surprisingly, the war was the dominant theme of the Democratic response, delivered by newly-elected Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia. A star of last year's midterm elections for the party, Webb stumped for office in a pair of his son's military combat boots and made them the image of his campaign. He delivered his party's response as his son, Jimmy, sat stationed in Iraq and left little doubt of where Democrats stand. "The President took us into this war recklessly," Webb said, adding, "we are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable — and predicted — disarray that has followed."

The sentiment of the response sends a clear message, but also highlights some of the pressures within the party about how far to go in opposing the war. Polls show most Americans, especially Democrats, favor some kind of withdrawal, but there isn't a clear consensus on how best to accomplish it — immediate withdrawal, a slower pullback or stopping funding altogether. The party's course of action may not be clear yet, but the Democrats' opposition to the war has solidified.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, who just announced the start of her presidential bid, best exemplifies the tensions which exist within her party. Criticized for being too supportive of the president's course in the past, Clinton has become increasingly critical of the war and more supportive of efforts to change the president's course. Still, her past support is something that will continue to be an issue in the campaign as candidates compete for the core party supporters who are its most staunch opponents.

While Iraq has roiled Democrats almost since it began in 2003, the stakes now are highest and divisions most sharp among Republicans. Opposition to Mr. Bush's approach is growing within the GOP caucus on the Hill. Sen. John Warner, one of the party's wise men on foreign policy and military affairs, has introduced a resolution opposing the president's troop increase — one of the clearest signals yet of the growing dissatisfaction within Mr. Bush's own political family.

The split already threatens to damage the party in future elections. At the presidential level, Sen. John McCain, once viewed as one of the strongest GOP hopefuls, has become vulnerable on the issue of Iraq. McCain has long favored sending more troops and has become the principle supporter of Bush's proposal. But McCain has been equally critical of the administration, telling a political Web site on Tuesday that the war had been "terribly mishandled."

Within the chamber sat 33 senators and an entire House of Representatives facing re-election in two years for whom last November's losses loom large. Republicans, still smarting from the loss of their majority, face difficult terrain as long as the war continues and unless the nation's support unexpectedly turns around. The president's continued push to send more troops to Iraq isn't likely to make it any easier for his party, and a renewed focus on domestic issues won't take the war off of the nation's mind. Even as President Bush's remaining time in office ticks away, it's clear that the war in Iraq will continue to impact our politics long after he's gone.

[walt1944-2009]

The state of the union speech was nothing more than a Republican neocon political advertisement about how great and wonderful life is for everyone in this country and we should bring that same life to other nations, LIKE IRAQ!! And it looks like Bush is doing just that!! Aren't we lucky to have such a great mind in the White House and he surrounded with other minds just as great as his!

Take health care, for example. Let everyone go out and buy health insurance so your employer won't have to provide it and have it eat into his profits. No matter how you intend on paying $1,000 to $2,000 a month for it, because King George is going to give you a tax break AT THE END OF THE YEAR! MAYBE!! And who care about the millions of people the insurance companies won't insure, like smokers, the overweight, those who have a pre-existing condition, in short, everyone that an insurance company would consider "High Risk". Too Bad for them, right George?!

I guess when you come from an influential, millionare family, those points really don't matter; in fact who cares about the shrinking middle class and the poor; we have to keep the wealthy ones healthy; right, George?!

[middleman8]

Surge ? surge ? what the h--l is a "surge"?
In ww1, ww2, and Korea when you put more troops into a battle to recapture territory or save face it was called "counter attack". More twisted meaning from Bush and Company.

[newtc]

President Bush asks us to give his new strategy a chance. But his surge of troops will be the fourth since the war started. Why now? Follow the money. War profiteers and oil interests have benefited hugely from the war in Iraq. Could the real purpose of the war be to reduce/stabilize oil production from Iraq so that OPEC can increase prices, to the ultimate benefit of Saudis and oil companies? Saddam Hussein undermined OPEC attempts to increase oil prices by cranking up production when OPEC agreed to reduce theirs. Granted, he was a vicious despot and should have been brought to justice years ago, but Bush and Cheney%u2019s motives likely had more to do with money than with helping Iraq. The war has lowered Iraq oil production which allowed OPEC to gain control over the market. If Saudi Arabia is close to depleting their oil resources, they%u2019ll want to get the most money that they can out of the final few years of extraction. Hence, a need for an extension of the American presence in Iraq.

President Bush%u2019s lack of victory in Iraq is a huge victory for the Saudis, with soaring profits during the last few years. The question is: How long will we be tricked into financing their economic windfall? The President%u2019s surge plan is nothing more than a prolongation of conflict. It buys more time for oil interests, but only delays the sectarian warfare of people brainwashed into suicide-bombing their fellow citizens. Let%u2019s support our troops by bringing them home.

[bluestardad]

Wait unit one U.S. Soldier is shown on Video Pleading for their lives while someone cuts off their head! Then you will see how the American People deal with our Elected Officials that have sent us to this war and supported this surge after we voted for withdrawl.

[johnshaft4]

The "topics" are smoke screens to divert attention/investigation into who is getting all of the money from the 500% increase in Afghan opium production.
Remember Iran Contra and S. American cocaine (and Fox 'News Hero' Col. Oliver North)?
Remember heroin and 'Nam?
The Bush Afghan Drug Cartel must be making a killing...

[jjreding-2009]

George Bush is well on his way to the distinction of being the first president in history to have approval ratings in the teens. By the time his term ends (if we survive the next two years of his agenda) he will be the lowest rated president ever to tarnish the White House.

[macusweil]

Main Entry: neo.con (ser.va.tive)
Pronunciation: 'nE-O-k&n
Function: noun or adjective
1 a : of or relating to a person or strategy of pretending
to follow traditional conservatism with little or no true interest
in such philosophy simply for personal, political or economic gain.

[grumpas]

I heard snippet's of his plan for health care! And if any of it is true it's just as dumb as the rest of his ideas! What I heard was people like myself who have insurance will have to pay more in income tax to cover those who don't have insurance! I already pay through the nose for those who go to the emergency room and hospital who can't afford to pay! We have been doing this for years now! We never get out of not paying our bills because we are strapped for money! The health care system doesn't take a loss people like myself do! All I need is to pay again in taxes for health care! So I am going to make an effort to find out and let my Representative's know about it!

[karlimhof]

olebd

Well Bush did call for a increase in the crude oild stockpile. It wouldn't surprise me if this was coming directly out of Iraq.
Posted by olebd at 07:13 AM : Jan 24, 2007

Would be of interest to know how much Iraki crude is coming into the country - maybe US customs?

[observantx]

Against all hope, I watched the president%u2019s speech last night.

When he was done, I was profoundly disappointed. He threw out a few feel good tidbits about energy, which, considering his track record, were hypocritical at best. As for health care, another attempt to keep insurance and drug companies rolling in dough while sick people languish and are impoverished. For the past 6 years, He and his administration abandoned their appointed roles as leaders of this country to be the obedient servants of the oil, health insurance, drug companies, K Street and Wall Street.,

As for supporting the troops in Iraq, this president, his vice president, and his former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, were AWOL. Planning for the aftermath was restricted to the logistics for a photop landing on an aircraft carrier and a brave speech in front of a large banner. From the onset, there were insufficient troops, unarmored vehicles, unsecured ammo dumps, no translators, no standing orders to control looting and mayhem, and little sense of urgency regarding rebuilding the country. The only urgency seen was in the speed in awarding no-bid contracts to the vice president%u2019s former business partners at Haliburton.

Another chance to make the war work? Sorry George, we can%u2019t afford to kill more brave service men and women for your ego or your legacy. You had plenty of time and resources and you wasted them all. And speaking of waste, your speech was a waste of time.