Bush finds spending 'political capital' no easy task

[struggle4progress]

May 26, 2005, 7:43AM

As poll numbers drop and setbacks rise, the president is struggling to get his agenda passed

By JULIE MASON

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - So far this week, President Bush has faced mutiny within his party over stem cell research and Social Security, received the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and was forced to accept a compromise on judicial appointments. And it's not even Friday yet.

Having declared after his re-election that his "political capital" would would help achieve the passage of his ambitious second-term agenda, Bush now is facing a politically costly battle to get it done.

"His ratings are down, the (Iraq) war is not going well, he's not winning on Social Security, and I think you are seeing something happening in Congress that hasn't happened in a long time, which is re-centering," said Bob Stein, Rice University political scientist and pollster. "I don't think it's going well for him."

At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan has been batting away questions about whether the president's agenda is in trouble. <snip>

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3198754

I say kick his stupid agenda out the front door, down the steps, and into the street ...

[kainah]

1. think how stunned he probably is

For 4 years, he got everything he wanted, the way he wanted it. And suddenly, nothing's working that way anymore. It's delicious to imagine the kind of temper tantrums he is probably throwing when he's all alone.

Spoiled children and frat boys -- two groups of people you don't want to piss off. And he's both rolled into one. Dick must be spending a lot of time babysitting these days.

[babylonsister]

3. That is a delicious image!

I wish I thought he were that intelligent to be bothered, but I have a very low opinion.

[roseBudd]

10. I remember the stories about the raging he was doing during the campaign..

as reported in CapitolHillBlue by unannamed sources. Lots of cussing.

[HawkerHurricane]

2. Political capital?

What Political Capital? The man won by a few percentage points... that means almost as many people oppose him as supported him... and do you rememeber him talking about 'changing social security' during the campaign? Me neither.
He used a tiny victory to claim a mandate, and tried to make major changes, only to discover that some of the people who voted for him didn't want him to make those changes, never mind the people who voted against him.

[struggle4progress]

5. But these stories are so much fun ...

:D

[jayctravis]

7. The Political Capital he TOLD us he had, silly!

[Jack Rabbit]

4. It's real hard to spend political capital

It's real hard to spend political capital when it is about a real as Saddam's biochemical arsenal.

[struggle4progress]

6. I'm kinda enjoyin the prospect of W wandering the land fer the next ..

.. few years, admonishin the faithful to "catapult the propaganda" whilst the more-or-less normal folks becomes increasin'ly disgrustled with The Ownership Society ..

[funflower]

8. I'd rather see him fighting impeachment (after we win big in 06)!

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. I never understood his 'political capital' remark in the first place

It implies that he had helped other (presumably Republican) candidates, and that they now owed him - so he could call in favours from them. BUt I got the impression (from the UK, so maybe I was wrong) that he was the one struggling to get re-elected, and he had to deploy all his cabinet ministers to shore up his vote, and he needed McCain and other to give him public shows of support.

If anything, I think he built up some political debts - which some, such as McCain, are now wanting repaid.

[Demeter]

11. He SquanderedThat Capital In 3 Months

Because he has no sense of time, money, propriety, or common sense. And certainly, his total lack of concern and good-will towards anyone with a net worth below his own is showing more each day.