Congressional setbacks, low ratings could limit Bush's effectiveness

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11737173.htm
WASHINGTON - Back-to-back legislative setbacks this week raised questions about President Bush's clout in Congress and his effectiveness for the rest of his term.

On Monday, a bipartisan group of moderates forced the Republican-controlled Senate to compromise on the president's judicial nominees. On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives ignored Bush's veto threat and voted to expand federal stem cell research involving human embryos.

Neither vote was a clear-cut defeat for Bush, but taken together, they remind that the president is racing against time. At risk is his ambitious agenda, including big changes to Social Security, an overhaul of the federal tax system and a new national energy policy. Even before he took the oath of office for a second term in January, Bush estimated that he had about 18 months, at most, before his power started to wane.

Now some in Washington are revising calculations of the timetable.
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[Shoeempress]

1. If it limps like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a lame duck

[Massacure]

9. DAMNIT! HE'S A CHIMPANZEE, NOT A FRICKEN DUCK!!!

:P

[yorkiemommie1]

13. no matter how many times i see these

the resemblance still amazes

( some of them are new to me )

[drduffy]

11. But the Bush

administration will continue to wage war and will continue to kill our children for mid east oil control and the attempt for hegemony of the world. Stopping them will require more than his being a 'lame duck'.

[jobycom]

2. Stupidity and arrogance probably limit it more. nt

[Goldeneye]

3. If 51% is a mandate....

than 33% is still reasonably good.:silly:

[Art_from_Ark]

4. The less effective, the better

[DuaneBidoux]

5. Limit his "effectiveness" = limit his destruction

Of course getting at least one house of congress back in 06 would be the best answer.

[Gloria]

6. Well, the Democrats may be willing to help him out by

making a Soc. Sec. deal.....as Buzzflash says today: ARE THEY NUTS?

[Miss Chybil]

7. Did I miss the part where he was effective? I always thought he was

affected - never effective.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Let's hope so

[jamesinca]

10. Congress has its lowest ratings in 10 years

The last time that congress scored this low the Repugs had a stampede with Newt Gingrich and took a few dozen seats in the House and almost 10 seats in the Senate, no incumbent Repug lost his seat that year. I believe that Bill Clinton is the only president that has not lost seats of his party in congress during year 6. I may be wrong on that, but for some reason I think that is the way it has worked so far. So I like to think that opportunity is knocking and we Dem's need to get off our behinds answer the door and take a few dozen seats in the House and about 10 seats in the Senate. Facing an opposing party majority in both houses would be well beyond the ability of Bush. He is not Reagan or Clinton.

[drduffy]

12. The Bush

administration will continue to wage war and will continue to kill our children for mid east oil control and the attempt for hegemony of the world. Stopping them will require more than his being a 'lame duck'.

[Demeter]

14. Anything that Limits Bush Effectiveness Is A PLUS

Everything that man touches turns to crap or worse.