LAT: Bush's (Congressional) Agenda on Slow Track (Dems "play hardball")

[DeepModem Mom]

THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Bush's Agenda on Slow Track
With Democrats united and the GOP divided, the White House faces a congressional logjam. Election-year politics are a key factor, experts say.

By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — After three years of getting most of the major legislation he wanted through a cooperative Congress, President Bush is coming up almost empty-handed this year as he heads into the homestretch of his reelection campaign.

Capitol Hill has turned into a sinkhole for the unfinished business on Bush's agenda, which includes bills to spur domestic energy production, crack down on lawsuits, extend his 2001 tax cuts and liberalize immigration rules.

Bush and his GOP allies blame the Democrats for the stalemate, as the minority party has become more united and stubborn in its opposition to White House initiatives.

But many issues, such as highway funding and additional tax cuts, have languished not just because of Democratic obstruction but also because of divisions among Republicans — between the House and Senate, moderates and conservatives, and Bush and congressional leaders.

Last week's Senate debate on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was symptomatic of the many forces conspiring to turn this year into a legislative bust for the White House. Despite Bush's strong push for the amendment — a crowd pleaser for his party's conservative wing — it met with resounding defeat in the face of solid Democratic opposition and a divided Republican Party....

***

Democrats have played an especially tough game of hardball. They have blocked several judicial nominations from coming to a vote, even though a majority would vote to confirm some of them. They have delayed conference committees needed to draft final versions of legislation. And to spotlight their agenda, they have threatened to pepper every major bill with unrelated amendments, such as measures that would increase the minimum wage and allow importation of cheaper prescription drugs....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bushcong19jul19,1,2053811.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Hekate]

1. It's about time

But it's still going to take a looooong time and a complete shift in the balance of power in the House and Senate to undo the extreme damage done since 2000. And Bush -- if he can't get something through the legislative branch, he frequently writes an executive order or appoints someone while Congress is not in session.

Hekate

[truthisfreedom]

2. things are looking up! bush is finished. like father, like son. one term

and he's done!

[Kolesar]

3. I bet the rail-trail funding will get lost in the shuffle

Our GOOP congressman gets headlines for trails and highway projects, but nobody ever publishes when the projects get killed due to the Congressional gridlock. We had two projects for $1 Million and $1.4 Million in my area. Oh well.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

4. Sure is a good job...

... being done by Daschle and Pelosi. Why does everything have to be put out in brass tack details for some to understand what is/has been going on in the halls of the Congress.

[dusty64]

5. The media is

also feeding the Democratic "obstructionist" propaganda line. Did it ever cross their minds's that maybe its cause the extreme right agenda is evil and wrong?

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Good point! Is it the Dems' patriotic duty to pass the Bush agenda? No!

Quite the opposite --

[Old and In the Way]

7. It's the Republican moderates in Congress that are starting to

obstruct the radical RW Republican agenda. Perhaps it's because it's an election year or maybe they are waking up to the damage this agenda is creating in this country. Irregardless, I think this is where the seeds of the Republican self-destruction lie.

I'd like nothing better than to see a the shrinking moderate/progressive Republicans become independent or better, become Democrats, so as to help Kerry get this country out of the hands of Corporate Oil and the Religious Con artists that call the shots in this Party today.

[newyawker99]

8. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

WASHINGTON — After three years of getting most of the major legislation he wanted through a cooperative Congress, President Bush is coming up almost empty-handed this year as he heads into the homestretch of his reelection campaign.

Capitol Hill has turned into a sinkhole for the unfinished business on Bush's agenda, which includes bills to spur domestic energy production, crack down on lawsuits, extend his 2001 tax cuts and liberalize immigration rules.


It couldn't happen to a nicer guy! :bounce: :nopity:

[Cocoa]

9. GOP Congress distancing itself from Bush

but too late! They're stuck with the Worst President Ever hanging around their necks!

[Triana]

10. Good for the Dems - 'bout time they grew a spine...

...now, if we can get a majority in the House or Senate again and keep playing hardball, and get a Dem Prez, we'll actually get somewhere - progress is a dirty word to Republicans and we'll have to make it in spite of, and not because of them. Regression is more their thing.

[struggle4progress]

11. kick

:kick:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Yes, it's all the minority party's fault.

:eyes:

[opihimoimoi]

13. Its Bushies Destiny to lose in one term..... besides that, he is doing

all in his power to lose it....its in the cards and in him, he wants to lose...then he can go back to Crawford,, prolly sell the damn pig farm and retire in Houston or Austin.

He is Toast. His Pub Masters are having a Hissy fit.....