What Political Capital?Some Question Whether President Is a Lame Duck

[underpants]

Source: ABC GMA

President Bush, once known as the cocky Texas cowboy, made a brief comeback during his whirlwind overseas tour, but he likely will receive a different, and less friendly, reception as he arrives back in Washington.

And some may be surprised to learn Democrats are not the only ones feeling unfriendly.

Bush may be emboldened by the warm welcome he received in Albania, but if the late-night comics are anything to go by, he's due for a major reality check.

With Democrats controlling Congress and Bush's sagging approval ratings, the president's domestic agenda has been gutted. There is no prospect of Social Security reform and little hope for immigration.

"I think the president has some fight left in him, but it is also going to be necessary to reach across the aisle and try and rekindle some of that good spirit," said Linda Chavez, CEO of the Center for Equal Opportunity.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3269038

[PSPS]

1. I agree that bush's future attacks on america will be repelled, but...

... I don't see any hope of democrats undoing any of the damage he's already inflicted on the country. Sure, there won't be bush's prized destruction of social security, but the torture and killing and vote fraud will apparently continue unabated.

[mac56]

2. Well, thanks for that.

May as well just give up, I guess.

[Dhalgren]

3. I say we fight just as hard as the Democratic congress!

Oh... :rofl:

[earthside]

4. What has changed?

Indeed ... what has actually changed since last November's elections?

Bush may or may not get anymore parts of his domestic agenda enacted (although Dems like Kennedy and Salazar want to help him and the national Chamber of Commerce pass a low-wage act, aka "immigration reform') ... but the Iraq-occupation continues; the Patriot Act stills stands; Gitmo is still open; you still can't carry lip balm onto an airliner; global warming mitigation is still resisted; the deficit still bigger everyday; Gonzo is still Attorney General; impeachment is off the table -- the Bush status quo is just as extant now as ever.

Sure, there are some Congressional investigations, but the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate seem incapable of creative, aggressive action to start taking back the country from the neocons, Bushites and mega-transnational corporations.

Is it any surprise that the approval ratings for Congress are falling ... and it does seem that Bush still has the upper-hand in the propaganda battles.

It is very frustrating ... my hunch is that the Dems limpness and impotence comes from the campaign financing system that has basically co-opted their desire to exert real leadership. What else explains their willingness to support Bush on the most anti-labor, pro-corporate legislation ever proposed ... the amnesty, guest worker scheme? They want campaign contributions from all those special interests.

The only way to change this is for average voters to start rewarding with support, small donations and votes, those candidates and elected officials who denounce the current way of doing campaigning. If Kucinich and Gravel and Gore were leading all the Dem presidential polls, maybe the establishment insiders would see that real change is what Americans want ... but then again, with billions of dollars in profits in their pockets, maybe not.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. maybe someone from Congress could explain to us

are they going to admit they have special interests?

Kucinich, Gore, Gravel and some others are what the Democratic Party should be made of but instead we have republican lite who are frightened of their own shadow.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. I think the problem is he is still winning

the list of scandals and wrongdoings is as long as a football field and yet there he is still winning. I don't think he is that lame because he has a stranglehold on the media. The propaganda is still being churned out. The GOP are still winning even though they have less Congresspeople.

Something needs to happen (in a manner of speaking only) so 'the stake is been finally driven through the heart of the vampire'

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Lame duck? Peking Duck is more like it

Even his own party is leaving him to hang by his feet in the breeze.

Now, if only Congress would fry him up proper.

[Hugin]

8. "Pressed Duck"

:D

[beyurslf]

9. He's lame anyway.

[ejbr]

10. Reach across the aisle?

Is that doublespeak for terrifying the lilly-livered Democrats into giving in to his 28%, selfish, idiotic, appallingly indifferent will? If so, I agree!

[Doctor_J]

11. I haven't seen him rebuffed on anything yet

He's only vetoed one bill, the war rolls merrily on, and no one from the admin has been driven from office. We still don't know who tried to kill Daschle & Leahy, who committed TREASON by leaking Valerie Plame's ID, or why Jeff Gannon was in the WH every day for a year w/o a credential. the media still refuse to call him and the rest of the admin on any of the ethical debacles that we internet readers know of.

Not that lame.

[XtraProudDem]

12. Comeback?

There is NO evidence that Bush has made any kind of "comeback." Let's see the poll numbers.

[Lautremont]

13. The "comeback" is based on the fact that only HALF the US flags

along Il Dunce's parade route in Albania were hung backwards. If he were in real trouble, they all would have been backwards.

At this point, it's the little things that keep a pretzeldent's toes tapping.

[underpants]

14. Welcome to DU

:hi: