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Jewish World Review May 2, 2005 / 23 Nisan, 5765 Bush's press conference a mixed bag By Joe Scarborough
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The President's first primetime press conference in a year was a political mixed bag for an administration that is not used to losing.
The President shocked his skeptics by rolling up political victories in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
In his first term, George W. Bush saw more of his agenda passed by Congress than any other president since Lyndon Johnson.
But that was then. This is now.
Gas prices are at all time high, John Bolton's UN nomination is in jeopardy, Social Security reform is dead on arrival, and the President's approval ratings have never been lower.
With that grim backdrop, President Bush used his press conference to push a new means test for Social Security.
That's like trying to sell pictures of Hillary Clinton at a Young Republicans Convention.
Means testing means a cut in benefits for millions of Americans. The last time Republicans tried to cut Social Security benefits in 1983, it led massive political losses for the GOP— effectively ending the Reagan Revolution.
The next time Republicans tried to reform a middle class entitlement program was when my class tried to reform Medicare.
Democrats, led by Bill Clinton, shamelessly demagogued the issue and effectively killed the Gingrich Revolution.
If Republicans were to pass the President's proposed means testing plan, the President would see the Senate go Democratic in 2006.
Forget the merits of the plan. Democrats are not in the mood to be statesmen. They will seek every political advantage they can against a White House that has effectively undercut their effectiveness as a party over the past five years.
Expect the GOP leaders on Capitol Hill to say "Thanks, but no thanks" to the President's reform plan in the coming weeks.
They were willing to do what it took to get him re-elected last year. But they are not willing to pass a plan that will lead to the end of their political careers
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Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) hosts “Scarborough Country,” 10 p.m. ET, weeknights on MSNBC. He is the author of the recently published "Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day : The Real Deal on How Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Other Washington Barbarians are Bankrupting America". (Click HERE to purchase. Sales help fund JWR.)Comment by clicking here. © 2005, MSNBC |
Arnold Ahlert | |||||||||||
