February 11, 2009 4:44 PM
- Text
Bush Undaunted On Immigration, Gonzales
(AP)
President Bush was on Air Force One headed back to Washington, and back to a pair of bitter political disputes that have been dragging on for months.
The president wrapped up his eight-day European tour in Bulgaria, where he turned Monday, even before his departure, from adulation in the Balkans to the difficulties back home, saying his stalled immigration overhaul would be revived and his embattled attorney general would not fall under a Senate vote of no confidence.
"I believe we can get it done," Mr. Bush said of the immigration bill that has run into deep trouble on Capitol Hill. "I'll see you at the bill signing."
The president spoke at a news conference on the last stop of his eight-day trip in Europe, where he's been warmly welcomed in Bulgaria, and previously in Albania. Mr. Bush said that, upon returning to Washington, he would make a trip to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby lawmakers in person on immigration.
He dismissed a planned Senate vote against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as purely political. "I'll make the determination as to whether he's effective," Mr. Bush said.
After his news conference with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Mr. Bush walked up to a group of Bulgarian government officials to shake hands. He seemed to bask in the affectionate attention here given his low poll standings at home.
Mr. Bush's comments on immigration reflected his determination to pass a bill to give millions of unlawful immigrants a path to citizenship. It is a top priority for the remainder of his presidency.
"Now, it's going to require leadership from the Democrat leaders in the Senate, and it's going to require me staying engaged and working with Republicans who want a bill," the president said.
Mr. Bush travels back to Washington Monday after a swing through Europe that took him to the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Italy, Albania and Bulgaria.
When he returns, he'll face continuing controversy over Gonzales.
The Senate on Monday plans to debate a one-sentence measure that declares that Gonzales "no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people." It could be Congress' last effort to force Gonzales' ouster.
"They can have their votes of no-confidence but it's not going to make the determination about who serves in my government," Mr. Bush said.
The no-confidence vote follows months of investigations and the disclosure of internal Justice Department documents that contradicted Gonzales' initial assertions that the firing of federal prosecutors was not politically motivated or directly coordinated with the White House.
Once again, Mr. Bush was asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprise counterproposal to the U.S. plan for a missile shield in Eastern Europe, based in the Czech Republic and Poland. Putin proposed instead a system anchored around a Soviet-era radar installation in Azerbaijan.
"I don't know whether it's technologically feasible," Mr. Bush said of Putin's idea, promising a review by experts.
The president wrapped up his eight-day European tour in Bulgaria, where he turned Monday, even before his departure, from adulation in the Balkans to the difficulties back home, saying his stalled immigration overhaul would be revived and his embattled attorney general would not fall under a Senate vote of no confidence.
"I believe we can get it done," Mr. Bush said of the immigration bill that has run into deep trouble on Capitol Hill. "I'll see you at the bill signing."
The president spoke at a news conference on the last stop of his eight-day trip in Europe, where he's been warmly welcomed in Bulgaria, and previously in Albania. Mr. Bush said that, upon returning to Washington, he would make a trip to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby lawmakers in person on immigration.
He dismissed a planned Senate vote against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as purely political. "I'll make the determination as to whether he's effective," Mr. Bush said.
After his news conference with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Mr. Bush walked up to a group of Bulgarian government officials to shake hands. He seemed to bask in the affectionate attention here given his low poll standings at home.
Mr. Bush's comments on immigration reflected his determination to pass a bill to give millions of unlawful immigrants a path to citizenship. It is a top priority for the remainder of his presidency.
"Now, it's going to require leadership from the Democrat leaders in the Senate, and it's going to require me staying engaged and working with Republicans who want a bill," the president said.
Mr. Bush travels back to Washington Monday after a swing through Europe that took him to the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Italy, Albania and Bulgaria.
When he returns, he'll face continuing controversy over Gonzales.
The Senate on Monday plans to debate a one-sentence measure that declares that Gonzales "no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people." It could be Congress' last effort to force Gonzales' ouster.
"They can have their votes of no-confidence but it's not going to make the determination about who serves in my government," Mr. Bush said.
The no-confidence vote follows months of investigations and the disclosure of internal Justice Department documents that contradicted Gonzales' initial assertions that the firing of federal prosecutors was not politically motivated or directly coordinated with the White House.
Once again, Mr. Bush was asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprise counterproposal to the U.S. plan for a missile shield in Eastern Europe, based in the Czech Republic and Poland. Putin proposed instead a system anchored around a Soviet-era radar installation in Azerbaijan.
"I don't know whether it's technologically feasible," Mr. Bush said of Putin's idea, promising a review by experts.
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