USNews: WH advisers concerned that Bush "looks like he doesn't have control over the government"

[sabra]

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_070727.htm

<snip>

Aides Want Bush To Show He's In Control

Senior Bush advisers tell the US News Political Bulletin that President Bush's best hope for recovering from his slump in the polls -- and proving he isn't a lame duck -- is to demonstrate that he remains a player on the Washington scene,. "The real problem for Bush now," says a senior administration official, "is that it looks like he doesn't have control over the government." He has endured a series of setbacks recently that suggest he is heading toward irrelevance in Washington -- at least that's the way many mainstream media outlets are portraying his situation. Among setbacks: continuing bad news from Iraq, the defeat of his immigration bill, the continuing harsh criticism of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and this week's contempt citations from the House Judiciary Committee directed at White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former legal counsel Harriet Miers over executive privilege.

White House officials say Bush will emerge from the doldrums as he begins to confront the Democrat-controlled Congress with vetoes of spending bills that he considers excessive. They also expect him to get a lift in the polls for being a strong leader, at least in the view of conservatives, as he continues to block anti-war legislators in Congress from requiring a fast withdrawal from Iraq.

[babylonsister]

1. Looks like? Ya think?? nt

[blogslut]

2. Thre ya go. Image trumps everything

These people have no souls

[Atman]

4. "Heheheh...and if it takes killin' another 40 or 50,000 people, well so be it!"

The man is a fucking monster.

.

[bdamomma]

3. maybe we should show him who is in control?

[City Lights]

5. Everyone already knows King Hiss 'n Piss is a PINO.

And once again, all they're concerned about is appearance. :eyes:

[Clark2008]

16. Prince in Name Only?

More accurate than "pResident," doncha think?

[atreides1]

6. Okay

As a co-equal branch he's not supposed to have "control" over the government, but I guess just because the Repukes basically kissed his ass from 2002 until 2006 and did everything that he wanted
some people have made the mistake of thinking that he "controls" the government.

[Kagemusha]

12. Um, I'm as big a Bush basher as anyone but, he's the President.

Just because his control isn't supposed to be absolute shouldn't imply that the chief executive officer serving the People is not in control, period.

If you're trying to convince me that the Constitution mandates that no one be in charge, I'm sorry, you're reading is wildly different from that of the vast majority of learned experts that I've read from about the issue, including the words of various founding fathers. Presidents should be accountable, and held in check, but suggesting they shouldn't be in control (albeit not absolute as I said) just sounds wildly off.

[ShaneGR]

7. Lift in the polls.....

These people are clearly spending too much time in Washington.

[MADem]

8. Those aides are whistling past the graveyard, I think!! nt

[The Magistrate]

10. That They Are, Ma'am

Here, particularly:

They also expect him to get a lift in the polls for being a strong leader, at least in the view of conservatives, as he continues to block anti-war legislators in Congress from requiring a fast withdrawal from Iraq.

[KharmaTrain]

9. More Whistling Past The Graveyard

Sure gotta be a tough life being a corporate media stenographer these days...especially those zombies assigned to Tony Snow's White House of Horrors. I think I heard the same bullshit last year...wasn't Booshie supposed to "rebound" before the mid-terms and make Rove's "Math" happen?

File this under red meat for Faux Opinion and the hate radio crowd...buck 'em up that this regime will continue to "fight"...which means lie, obstruct and steal. So this is news?

Personally, I hope they keep running the manchild out as the more people see him, the more repulsed they are by him. The more they see a McCain next to him or any Repugnican, it's campaign gold in '08 for the Democrats. Unlike Clinton who united the right wing...but never lost his base, boooshie now fights to keep above 50% in his 25% universe.

Booshie will want to play a game of chicken in September...he'll veto everything and effectively not only shut the government down, but force this country into a financial crisis as the budget won't be approved in time for the fiscal year. It will be a deliberate ploy...a combination of a hissy-fit as he's sure to have his war for profit threatened...and as a political progaganda weapon for the GOOP primaries...the only thing most Repugnicans care about right now.

[KurtNYC]

11. He's 85% dictator -- that ain't enough?!!!

controls the DOJ, the SCOTUS and the media. Seems like way too much control to me.

[mmonk]

13. The best leaders manage, not try and control everything.

[jimshoes]

14. But first, he's got a vacation

to go on.

[Marr]

15. That's because he doesn't have control of the government, nor is he supposed to.

He's the head of one coequal branch of government, and still beholden to the law. When he tries to usurp powers from the other two branches, when he ignores subpoenas and creates sweeping new powers for himself by fiat, he is acting outside of the Constitution. He is acting illegally.

I wish these people would take a Civics class.

[Subdivisions]

17. Po' widdle dick-tater...

"Among setbacks: continuing bad news from Iraq, the defeat of his immigration bill, the continuing harsh criticism of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and this week's contempt citations from the House Judiciary Committee directed at White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former legal counsel Harriet Miers over executive privilege."

Let's not forget to add Rove and Jennings subpoenas :D

[Perky]

18. Not into giving advice to the Chimpster but...

Best thung he could do at the monet is fire Gonzales....would make him lokk in charge, albiet about a year late....H would not take a hit from his meager base for doing and would signal to the othe 75% of the country and the congress that he does care once in blue moon what we think.

[Old and In the Way]

19. Did anyone clear this with Cheney? nt

[benld74]

20. Hell he doesn't look in control when he,,,

Is riding his bike - Wrecked in England, put cop in hospital
Is riding his Segway - Almost impossible NOT to ride yet he falls off
Is cutting brush on his 'Ranch'- Who puts the sharp objects in his hands?
Etc
Etc
Etc
Anyone have more?

[Phredicles]

21. Is eating a damn pretzel, now that you mention it.

[Ganja Ninja]

23. continuing bad news from Iraq,...

the defeat of his immigration bill, the continuing harsh criticism of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and this week's contempt citations from the House Judiciary Committee directed at White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former legal counsel Harriet Miers over executive privilege.


Failure upon failure upon failure! I'd say he's definitely in charge.

[bdamomma]

22. Maybe we should present ourselves as share holders

and we are not happy with his performance and fire him, since he thinks he running a corporation instead of a country.