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  1. #1
    Senior Member Dixie's Avatar
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    Bush reaches out to Democrats

    http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/16621327.htm

    Bush reaches out to Democrats

    Wire Reports

    THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/EVAN VUCCI

    (Picture)
    With Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats in control of Congress, bipartisanship has become a must for President Bush.

    WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- President Bush, forced by necessity to reach out to some of his strongest adversaries, appealed directly to House Democrats on Saturday to work with him to reform the immigration system, limit the cost of Social Security, curb the consumption of gasoline and balance the federal budget.

    Visiting the Democrats' annual retreat for the first time since 2001, the president told lawmakers that they can accomplish "big things" by working together and sought to defuse any tensions with self-deprecating humor. He opened his public remarks with an allusion to his tendency to mispronounce the name of the rival party by calling it the Democrat Party, seen by many party activists as a calculated insult.

    "I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party," Bush said to laughter. The Democrats rose to applaud Bush before and after his speech.

    Those in attendance had a rare opportunity to directly question the president, using a private session after Bush's speech to press him on Iraq.

    According to some Democrats present, Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., asked Bush about her concern that the military is fighting a war without the rest of the country sharing the sacrifice. Bush said he disagreed with that. He said the war is psychologically draining for the entire country and, according to the Democrats there, said it is "sapping our souls."

    One of the primary topics at the retreat at the Kingsmill Resort was how to legislate opposition to Bush's overhauled Iraq strategy, which involves adding 21,500 troops to the 132,000 who were there before the surge began.

    Democrats have not settled on the approach for any anti-war resolution or on what action to take if the buildup fails to halt the violence.

    Bush explained how he settled on his proposal. "I listened to many members here. I listened to members of my own party. I listened to the military and came up with a plan that I genuinely believe has the best chance of succeeding," he said.

    Bush said opposing him on the war -- as many in the room do -- does not mean "you don't share the same sense of patriotism I do.

    "You know, I welcome debate in a time of war and I hope you know that," the president said.

    This report includes material from The Washington Post and The Associated Press.
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  2. #2
    Senior Member moosetracks's Avatar
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    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    WILLIAMSBURG -- President Bush and House Democrats got off to a good start in finding common ground yesterday at the Democrats' annual retreat -- with Mr. Bush saying they even share a bond in having been shot in the back by Republicans on immigration.

    "You are not the only one with arrows in your back," the president said during a closed-door question-and-answer session with the House Democratic Caucus, according to two individuals who were in the room.


    He was responding to Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, who said Republicans had been merciless during last year's elections in attacking Democrats on border security. He asked Mr. Bush to win more Republican support for the Democrats' preferred bill.


    To a round of applause, the president said he will fight for a bill that does not deport illegal aliens. Mr. Bush said it would be a mistake to miss the opportunity for reform this year and let the issue enter the 2008 election campaign, when he worried it would become too political.

    Immigration is one issue on which Mr. Bush may fare better with Democrats in control than with his own party. But, dependent on Democrats for his final two years, the president has made overtures on a host of other issues during the past month that he hopes can come to fruition under the new regime.


    Yesterday, Democratic leaders said he convinced them he wants to work with them on some issues.


    Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Democrat, said Mr. Bush's acknowledgment of global warming in his State of the Union address and of growing "income inequality" in a speech on Wall Street last week both bode well, as did his admission that the Iraq war isn't going well and his early steps to increase education spending.


    "We had plenty of common ground, which the president was willing to acknowledge," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said after the session.


    During her introduction, she invoked Lincoln's second inaugural address calling for reconciliation between the North and South "with malice toward none, with charity for all."


    She said Democrats can work with Mr. Bush on what she called the "three i's" -- immigration, energy independence and innovation for the economy.

    The president broke the ice with Democrats by explaining his use of the term "Democrat Party" during his State of the Union address last month. The phrase had angered some lawmakers, who consider it a slur.
    "Look, my diction isn't all that good," Mr. Bush explained, drawing chuckles. "I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language, and so, I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party."


    The president assured Democrats he doesn't question their patriotism for disagreeing with his Iraq policy.

    "You can get that thought out of your mind, if that's what some believe," he said, to a smattering of applause.
    That's a change from the past, when Mr. Bush has wondered whether his political opponents would "forget the lessons of September 11th." And it's a sharp departure from the midterm campaign last year, when Republicans accused Democrats of favoring a "cut-and-run" strategy.


    The president drew the biggest applause when he talked about spending on AIDS in Africa and keeping pressure on Sudan to find a solution to the mass killing and displacement in the Darfur region of that northeast African nation.

    He faced six questions during the closed portion, including why his new Iraq plan would succeed when past troop surges have failed, what he plans to do about the size of the national debt, and whether he would agree to mandatory caps on carbon emissions to curb global warming.


    Mr. Bush didn't outright reject caps, but said his focus on technology is a smarter approach. He also said Kyoto treaty-style caps, such as ones that Europeans have adopted, have failed and said fast-growing Asian countries won't participate in that solution, anyway, leaving technology as the only path.


    Mr. Bush also was asked why he didn't mention Hurricane Katrina or veterans during his State of the Union address. He compared those issues to the national park system, saying he didn't talk about it either, but still considers it important.


    One person in the room said Mr. Bush "sounded very defensive" on Katrina.
    It was the first time since 2001 that the president addressed one of the Democratic caucus' annual retreats. He spoke to both House and Senate Democrats that year.


    Mr. Bush was so warmly received yesterday that he stayed in the room to shake hands for a half-hour after he was done answering questions.


    Protesters weren't allowed at the King's Mill resort, where the gathering took place, but they congregated on a corner just outside the complex.
    "Stop funding; start impeaching; mandate peace" read the painted slogan on the back of one panel truck driving the streets nearby.

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/national ... -3185r.htm



    Don't let up on the Republicans.....continue to let them know that Bush has deserted them and gone to the Democrat's side!
    Do not vote for Party this year, vote for America and American workers!

  3. #3
    Senior Member moosetracks's Avatar
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    Letters to the Editor
    Submit a letter to the editor. Your letter will be considered for publication, provided you include your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you.
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/contact-us/



    Let's flood the Washington Times with letters to the Editor, about Bush losing the rest of his Republican Base by tying in with the Democrats on illegal immigration!

    Who's ready?
    Do not vote for Party this year, vote for America and American workers!

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