Sen. Clinton outlines legislative agenda for the "dynamic center" [View All]

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Clinton Outlines Legislative Priorities

Sen. Clinton Outlines Legislative Priorities While Deflecting Talk of 2008 Run for White House

By BETH FOUHY
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday outlined an ambitious agenda of legislative priorities while continuing to deflect questions about her presumed presidential ambitions.

"I will look at the possibilities, but I ... haven't really had the time to talk to people about it," Clinton told a breakfast gathering hosted by the Association for a Better New York. "It's been a busy election season that worked out well, so I will think about it. I'm open to thoughts."

Clinton was returning to Washington on Monday to participate in a lame-duck session of Congress in which lawmakers will tackle several pieces of unfinished business before ceding control of both the Senate and House to Democrats early next year.

But the New York senator was clearly looking ahead to the next Congress, which she, like other Democrats, has vowed will operate on a more bipartisan basis than it had under Republican control.

"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and work with our Republican counterparts. Our country works best when we govern from the vital, dynamic center," she said.

But Clinton still had bitter words for President Bush and his political advisers, including lead strategist Karl Rove, for creating a polarized environment that had stifled debate or disagreement.

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