As Senate Deal Sinks, So Does Bush’s Power

[kskiska]

Source: NYT

The breakthrough on the “grand bargain” on immigration a few weeks ago had brought new life to a White House under siege, putting a long-sought goal suddenly within reach. After many grim months, there was almost giddiness at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

But that early euphoria only made the grand bargain’s grand collapse on Thursday night all the more of a blow, pointing up a stubbornly unshakable dynamic for President Bush in the final 19 months of his term: With low approval ratings and the race to succeed him well under way, his ability to push his agenda has faded to the point where he can fairly be judged to have entered his lame duck period.

In all, 38 of the 48 Senate Republicans effectively voted against the White House on the crucial procedural vote on the immigration bill, leaving the president’s No. 1 domestic priority somewhere between stalled and dead.

The White House has similarly been through a sharp reversal on the domestic politics of the Iraq war. After receiving a lift last month in the defeat of Democratic efforts to link war finances to Iraq withdrawal dates, the White House acknowledged Friday that it could not renominate Mr. Bush’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, because of expected opposition on Capitol Hill.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/09/washington/09bush.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[rocktivity]

1. Bush got EXACTLY what he wanted out of the immigration bill--NOTHING.

People are streaming into this country illegally to work at wages which undermine American labor, much to the delight of his big business backers. It wasn't broken, so they only pretended that they were interested in fixing it.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Patchuli]

2. Not to nitpick but

it's not his country or he wouldn't treat it so $hitty. He could not care less...

[rocktivity]

3. LOL, that was a typo--I've corrected it to "THIS country!"

:rofl:
rocknation

[w4rma]

8. No. Bush wanted this bill, hardcore. This bill was pro-cheap labor. (nt)

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Why is anyone surprised when the lifetime failure continues to fail!!!

It should shock no one. This is the idiocy of the bought-off, Bush supporting media. There is no reason whatsoever why this man is capable of leading a trip to the bathroom, never mind the country. It isn't a case of low expectations - it should be NO expectations!

[ginnyinWI]

6. and he's getting just what he deserves.

It was always "my way or the highway" between him and the repub Congress. Now they have no reason at all to stick with him. He's been a catastrophe to their party. They have no reason to prop him up, and indeed more reason to distance themselves.

He can't even keep his party united and with him, much less the nation, and much, much less the world community of nations. Leader of the free world? Ha--ha--ha.

But somehow it gives me no satisfaction. The damage is too horrendous.

[19jet54]

7. Everything he touches turns to shit...

... I guess it's true, crap floats to the top?

[nolabels]

9. Apply water and a little sunshine............

and god(s)little planet turns green :hurts:

[19jet54]

17. Only if you sterilize it first...

... fecal matter is the most vile, disease ridden substance there is; especially human; especially his!

[LiberalFighter]

10. What would happen if he was ruler of Iraq?

I'm sure that it wouldn't require some outside country to "oust" him from office.

[rocktivity]

11. What do you mean, "IF Bush was ruler of Iraq?"

rocknation

[LiberalFighter]

12. Not that way...

He would have to live and eat in Iraq. Live among the people.

[smiley_glad_hands]

5. This is what i like to hear.

No more power for the power hungry. Withdrawal is a bitch aint it.

[jazzjunkysue]

13. Glad to hear the White House lives under a failure mentality.

These charlatans are finally having to face it: They're fakers. They're losers. 38 of 48 GOP senators voted against their great decider.

Halleluia. Too bad they sold us to the Saudi Royal family 6 years ago. This kind of legislating is 6 years overdue.

[Doctor_J]

14. I'll believe that when Gonzo or Cheney gets the boot.

until then these are minor skirmishes. He needs to take a hit on something major.

[Speaker]

16. .

He needs to take a hit on something major.

This could be a major hit. If duhbya can't deliver the union busting slave labor from Mexico, his corporate backers will be very angry. They might be forced to pay the fair market value for labor, and cut the CEO's bonus from $50 million to $30 million. They will be very angry with the 'pubbies.

[gratuitous]

15. I haven't read up too much on this issue

But what was the "grand bargain"? I've seen about five or six different features that different people wanted from "immigration reform," not all of them consistent with each other. What was the "desired" outcome? I watched ABC News last night, and while they were happy to blame "extremists" on the right and the left, nobody could quite articulate what they thought an immigration bill should look like. Guest workers? Amnesty? Route to citizenship? Forced return? Nobody seemed to have a clue.

Was this a solution in search of a problem?

[Theduckno2]

18. Ah, for those heady days in November 2004...

...when George Bush had all that "political capital".

He then proceeded to step on the "third rail" of U.S. politics, Social Security.

He seems to think that his opinion holds some great weight. Charlie McCarthy could have been dressed in a tuxedo, but you wouldn't hire him as a fashion consultant!