Bush Pushes Big Ideas Into The Background

Washington Post: Realities Of Final Year In Office Result In Modest State Of The Union

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Peter Baker.

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Gone were the grand dreams of remaking Social Security, immigration law or the tax code. In their place were modest initiatives, such as hiring preferences for military spouses. The economic package targeted tax breaks to low- and middle-class workers. And the foreign policy stressed Middle East peacemaking and diplomacy with rogue nations.

President Bush took office with so much derision for the outgoing president that critics defined his attitude toward governing as ABC -- "anything but Clinton." He would not play "small ball," he declared, nor would he coddle North Korea or waste time mediating between the Israelis and Arabs. But as he delivered his final State of the Union address last night, Bush increasingly appeared to be adopting some of his predecessor's approach.

Turning the corner into his last year in office with the nation already voting on who might succeed him, Bush is recalibrating what remains possible in a Congress controlled by the opposition and rethinking the most effective way to get what he wants on the international front. While aides insist he is not dwelling on his legacy, the "unfinished business" agenda he outlined seemed geared toward consolidating past achievements and focusing strategically on where he can win a few more.

"At some point, you realize you're coming to the end of your time in office, and you've got to start making a determination what your legacy is going to be," said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.). "And some of the broader, sweeping things you wanted to do at the beginning simply aren't going to be achieved."

For a president who has always favored boldness, it amounts to a dramatic shift. Just a year ago, Bush in the same chamber defied the new Democratic majority with his decision to send more troops to Iraq and challenged lawmakers to overhaul the immigration system. The past year demonstrated that Congress could not force him to change course in Iraq, but neither could he bend it to his will in the domestic arena.

So last night, Bush focused on extending or cementing past initiatives, such as pumping $30 billion more into his anti-AIDS projects in Africa, reauthorizing his No Child Left Behind education program, extending $2 billion in aid to other countries developing clean-energy technology and codifying his policies that steer more federal funds to religious charities. And he reintroduced ideas that have gone nowhere in the past, such as banning cloning, providing health-care tax breaks and making permanent his first-term tax cuts.

His requests were fairly small-bore. He asked for $300 million for scholarships for inner-city students to attend private schools, proposed allowing troops to transfer unused education benefits to relatives, and said he will meet with Canadian and Mexican leaders in New Orleans. On Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, he challenged Congress, which has rejected his proposals, to come up with its own ideas.

"By the State of the Union of the eighth year, reality is the guest in the balcony," said Michael Waldman, Bill Clinton's former chief White House speechwriter. "For him to aim for big-altitude, swing-for-the-fences moments at a time when both parties are competing for who could turn the page from his presidency faster would look silly."

The full-throttle intensity of the presidential campaign framed Bush's speech and underscored his challenge at this point. The address to Congress came two days after a Democratic primary in South Carolina and just 10 hours before polls were to open in Florida. No president has delivered a State of the Union with the campaign to succeed him so far along.

"He's totally eclipsed," said Elaine Kamarck, who was a senior adviser to former vice president Al Gore. "Nothing he says is going to be important for anything that happens in the next 12 months. The speech is a nonevent."

White House officials reject that, of course. Presidential counselor Ed Gillespie called Bush's final-year agenda "forward-looking" and "action-oriented." Gillespie and other Bush advisers point to energy legislation passed at the end of last year and the deal with House Democrats over a $150 billion economic stimulus package last week as evidence of Bush's continued political capacity.

While he acknowledged that the window for action on Capitol Hill is closing, Gillespie said he hopes it will remain open until the political conventions this summer. If anything, he argued, the campaign may act as a magnet for partisan fervor, allowing room for those back in Washington to sit down and figure out some issues. "With the presidential campaign being as heated, maybe I'm naive, but I think that may be to our benefit," Gillespie said.

Bush enjoys one other advantage that no predecessor has had in eight decades: Since neither he nor his vice president is running, he has more freedom to focus on his agenda. William A. Galston, another Gore adviser, recalled the tension of Clinton's last year in office. "You have to ask yourself at every stop along the way -- 'If I do X as president, how is that going to affect the odds that my administration is going to receive the ultimate vindication, which is my vice president elected to succeed me?' " Galston said. "And I don't think George Bush has felt that at all."

As it happens, the campaign has focused attention on the question of presidential legacies, although as much on Ronald Reagan's and Clinton's as on Bush's. With Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) debating the meaning of Reagan's impact versus her husband's, and Republican candidates heading to Reagan's library tomorrow to argue about who is more like the Gipper, Bush often seems left on the sideline. At the same time, some Republicans said the recent debate highlights how fluid history can be, with Bush's best hope for validation lying someday in the future.

"Legacies are constantly changing. Historical reputations are constantly changing," said Frank J. Donatelli, who was White House political director under Reagan. "If we were talking about Ronald Reagan in 1987, that was Iran-contra. There was even talk of impeachment. But obviously that isn't the lasting reputation. What President Bush would hope is that history judges him like Harry Truman."

At the moment, though, he does bear some resemblance to Clinton. After years of confrontation with North Korea, Bush made a deal to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program, a pact that in some ways mirrors Clinton's agreement in the 1990s. After years of eschewing direct involvement in Middle East peace talks, he has embarked on an intensive personal effort to reach a deal by the end of his presidency.

Not everyone appreciates the approach. Conservatives have assailed the turnabout in policy, although some pin the blame on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rather than criticizing Bush. "I think the State Department's policies resemble Clinton's," said John R. Bolton, Bush's former U.N. ambassador. "I think Bush focuses on Iraq, where his policies are not Clintonian. Too bad there's not more of him to go around."

Either way, Bush recognizes that time is short and his opportunities to shape events more limited with each passing day. "I'm on a timetable," he told reporters during his trip to the Middle East this month. "I've got 12 months."

[pakaal]

The Republicans want "bipartisanship" now? Let''s see how they''ve practiced what they''ve preached the last 7 years or so....

To support the new Bush-supported FISA law:
GOP - 48-0
Dems - 12-36

To compel redeployment of troops from Iraq:
GOP - 0-49
Dems - 24-21

To confirm Michael Mukasey as Attorney General:
GOP - 46-0
Dems - 7-40

To confirm Leslie Southwick as Circuit Court Judge:
GOP - 49-0
Dems - 8-38

Kyl-Lieberman Resolution on Iran:
GOP - 46-2
Dems - 30-20

To condemn MoveOn.org:
GOP - 49-0
Dems - 23-25

The Protect America Act:
GOP - 44-0
Dems - 20-28

Declaring English to be the Government''s official language:
GOP - 48-1
Dems - 16-33

The Military Commissions Act:
GOP - 53-0
Dems - 12-34

To renew the Patriot Act:
GOP - 54-0
Dems - 34-10

Cloture Vote on Sam Alito''s confirmation to the Supreme Court:
GOP - 54-0
Dems - 18-25

Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq:
GOP - 48-1
Dems - 29-22

[sgtrds]

-Remember when you walked the dog, a few months ago, you were to send your dog feelings to the President. Well, all I said here is leave it to the dog. Not yourself.

Posted by grazinggoat at 05:08 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Awww now, you''re not asking me to tone down the hate are you? No can do!

[grazinggoat]

-Please Randy, please retain yourself, at least emotionally!

Posted by grazinggoat at 02:43 PM : Jan 29, 2008

?

Posted by SgtRDS at 03:26 PM : Jan 29, 2008

-Remember when you walked the dog, a few months ago, you were to send your dog feelings to the President. Well, all I said here is leave it to the dog. Not yourself.

[sgtrds]

-Please Randy, please retain yourself, at least emotionally!

Posted by grazinggoat at 02:43 PM : Jan 29, 2008

?

[cptdeuce]

It is truly funny how people throw their woes on the administration. Most people have not really suffered any heartache or personal loss but will complain anyway. Bemoaning troubles at the national level is quite funny and until you visit some place (like Iraq), you really have NO Clue and seriously have no right to ***. Things could be much worse and then I could understand some bellyaching. But to the average person, things are not that bad. If you lost a job, then go out and find another, but many complaining just sit on their lazy A$$ and whine like a child. I understand many people have had friends and family killed or extremely injured in these conflicts - I have too but that does not give people the right to just complain. If you have suffered, my heart goes out to you; if you haven''t then get back on track and stop blaming everything on Bush-Cheney.

[b-easy63]

No," Ramsey said. "Bonds aren''''t necessarily safe, particularly when the Fed is pushing rates down. Bonds under-performed stocks for 70 years. Don''''t try to time the market, pulling in and out of ''''safe'''' investments. Lots of statistics prove that if you invest steadily, you''''ll win in the end."


Actually, that is not true: the truth is: "If some of us invest in the right stocks steadily, they will win in the end, if you invest in the wrong stock--you can lose everything you have. I took a class where the example of what a person would have had if they had invested in certain stocks in 1929 and after-- We were given copies of 1929 stock market and today''''s market to track the companies and growth. MOST IMPRESSIVE!!!

BUT then I asked these 3 questions

1. In looking at some of the stocks that no longer were in today''''s paper, I asked what happened to the people who invested in the wrong companies--THEY LOST EVERYTHING

2. I then asked how many of the companies that existed in 1929 are still here--about 13%. So 87% went belly up?

3. Last question, about what % of people in the market lost everything or almost everything? 87%.

It is a cr@@@@P shoot--those who think they will win WANT the rest to keep playing to make THEIR pot bigger. The only way to keep the shell game going is just like any other pyramid scheme--gotta get more to buy into it and you can make more if your gamble pays off.

[grazinggoat]

Bush is the most useless prick that ever lived. He is lower then scum. He''''s the stuff maggots puke up. The 2nd greatest day in American history will be the day he''''s out of office and the greatest will be when they someday lay him down in the ground. I hope I live long enough to stand in the long line of people waiting to pis*s on his grave then.
Posted by SgtRDS at 12:51 PM : Jan 29, 2008

-Please Randy, please retain yourself, at least emotionally!

[vmcneal2]

It''s amazing to me that some people still try to defend Bush. What has he done besides screw up....Oh I fogot "mission accomplished"... Unless you''ve been living under a rock for the past 7 years you have to know that Bush was(is) the worst President in modern history.

[tucano2]

A phrase or headline that combines "Mr. Bush" and "Big Ideas" just doesn''t make any sense at all.

[sgtrds]

America has far too many followers these days and it is leaders that we need.

Posted by cptdeuce at 02:00 PM : Jan 29, 2008

We sure haven''t had any leaders for the past 7 years.

[cptdeuce]

Again, more hate filled words from people who have no clue (leftyintexas). Unless you have personally suffered, get off your high horse and do something except whine and complain like a little brat. Many of these soap opera attitudes are from inproper upbringing and they should have been stopped as a child. Either put up or shut up. America has far too many followers these days and it is leaders that we need.

[rowdytexan2]

Our Congress had to stymie itself to keep the Bush idiot son from further ruining our country. It was the only way to render him somewhat powerless. The Iraq debacle was already done, and attempts by our legislators to bring conclusion on the debacle were stymied by Bush and Cheneys Neocon senators.

Bush''s threatening rhetoric thank goodness, has fallen on deaf ears. The war on terrorism has not rendered anybody any safer and Bush''s stepbrother Osama remains at large. And in a few months his reign of terror will be over.

The fact that the rest of his days should be spent in a federal penitentary will be overlooked for some odd reason, and instead of some God, he will wind up in a nursing home gumming his food and having his depends changed just like everyone else. And then he will for real get to talk to God and account for his genocide of innocents for greed and his lies to do so.

[vmcneal2]

I didn''t even watch last night. 7 years of Bush BS is more than any American should have to endure. Bye Bye President Bush and don''t let the door *** hit ya on the way out.

[sgtrds]

"Bush Pushes Big Ideas Into The Background"

Unfortunately we can''t push him into the background. While it''s great that this bas***** only has a year left to go that''s a lot of time for someone as bat-sh*it crazy as him and Cheney to do a LOT of damage. We still need to keep a close eye on these as*sholes.

[newz4i]

"Bush Pushes Big Ideas Into The Background"

Biggest idea pushed into the background is, "I''m the decider."

[sgtrds]

Bush is the most useless prick that ever lived. He is lower then scum. He''s the stuff maggots puke up. The 2nd greatest day in American history will be the day he''s out of office and the greatest will be when they someday lay him down in the ground. I hope I live long enough to stand in the long line of people waiting to pis*s on his grave then.

[jon2012-2009]

Honestly I think they are no different than some of us. Bush has been such a total failure you just can''''t find the words. Can anyone find anything this loser has accomplished?
Posted by MCVet at 10:29 AM : Jan 29, 2008

He has advanced the cause of conservatism. This means tax cuts for the rich, financial enrichment and sweetheart deals for the well-connected, dismantling of some of the constitutional protections for civil liberties, thrashing of our standing and goodwill around the world, a divided America, a record of deception unprecedented in a democracy, skyrocketing deficits. That''s just off the top of my head.

[frankson2]

THE MAN IS NOTHING BUT AN EMPTY SUIT....PERIOD

[steeepe]

"The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our Government, but in the spirit and determination of our people."

Bush has certainly demonstrated that by wrecking the government and turning it from a force of cohesive good to an inept, despised, bloated grab bag for his greedy friends. The "spirit and determination of our people" will hopefully ensure that another idiot like Bush is never elected.

[sevenveils]

Katrina is a disaster because of the local politics in that area. They neglected problems in New Orleans for years, and then when the big storm hit - they turn and run attacks against President Bush. Shame on them. - cptdeuce

You omit many important facts, like how the levees are built and maintained by the Army Corp. of Engineers. And how the Bush administration not only refused to fund improvement projects to address the glaring problems modeled in the perfect storm, a scientific simulated exercise 2 years prior to the real one, Bush went on in denial and cut desperately needed funds for maintenance of the already under budgeted levees and pumping stations to help pay for the tax cuts he gave the rich.
Son''t forget how the Gov of LA called a national emergency eraly in the storm and how FEMA and King George turned it into another mission accomplished PR opportunity all while the water was still rising.

And Please DO NOT FORGET: The Gov of LA could not call out the LA National Guard because they were all in Iraq. The LA National Guard was shipped back stateside about a month after the disaster to help.