President Bush (kind Of) Makes An Appearance At Democrats' Retreat

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — President Bush headlined last year's House Democratic retreat here at the Kingsmill Resort in a peace offering of sorts to the new majority. He didn't make the trek this year, despite his new-found goodwill for the party in power. But he was still here in spirit — in the form of a young boy on the Internet.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, working on the recommendation of his children, started this year's retreat by showing members an Internet video of a young boy impersonating Will Ferrell impersonating the president. Bush, err, Ferrell, err, the young boy, left the members in stitches and garnered a standing ovation as he tried to debunk global warming in a three-minute video that should soon be a YouTube phenomenon (if it's not already).

The rest of the discussion, however, has been far more prosaic, focusing instead on the economy, foreign policy and the campaign landscape heading into the next election, when Democrats must defend their majority for the first time since bouncing Republicans from power.

Four Democratic governors — Chet Culver in Iowa, Joe Manchin in West Virginia, Martin O'Malley in Maryland and Bill Richardson in New Mexico — briefed lawmakers on the state of their local economies, encouraging members to enact job training legislation and consider infrastructure funding that could create jobs throughout their states. And Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to address the group tomorrow.

The lawmakers here at the tidewater resort will also attend briefings on infrastructure issues, new environmental industries and the impact the economic downturn will have on American families. Emanuel said House Democrats will work to pass legislation extending the temporary expansion on the loan limits federal agencies can insure, easing credit markets to relieve some of current pressures.

And Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) did not rule out some of the additions members of the Senate Finance Committee included to an economic stimulus package that passed the House on Tuesday, particularly additional money for seniors who do not make a taxable income. "We'll look at what they put on it," Hoyer said.