posted on June 9, 2005 08:33:47 PM new
President Bush's Stubbornness May Be Hindering Him
By Judy Keen and Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY
According to Merriam-Webster:
stub·born: performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner
WASHINGTON -- President Bush is a stubborn man.
He said so himself in March, when he vowed to continue pressing for changes to Social Security despite the qualms of Congress and the public. "I'm going to be stubborn on this issue," he said in Iowa.
He demonstrated his persistence again Wednesday, when he gave another speech promoting changes he wants to make in Social Security. "My strategy is pretty simple: Explain the problem to the American people, and keep explaining it and explaining it," he told the Association of Builders and Contractors.
Bush's stubbornness has served him well in the past. Charlie Black, a Republican strategist, notes that Bush's biggest legislative successes, such as tax cuts, education policy and creation of a Medicare prescription-drug benefit, were the result of Bush "sticking to his guns." But there are signs his determination to do things his way is beginning to be counterproductive, and the stakes are high. Without progress on his agenda, he risks being viewed as a lame duck when he needs an aura of invincibility: He'll almost certainly face a battle with Congress this year over a Supreme Court nominee.
Bush doesn't have a lot to show for the 18 weeks in which he's been making regular speeches to promote his Social Security proposals. Congress isn't racing to enact his plan to allow younger workers to invest part of their taxes in stocks and bonds. Polls show support has dropped since he's been promoting the plan. Bush has said he's open to all ideas, but insists that investment accounts be a part of the changes. He's not getting his way lately on other issues, either:
•Despite his adamant objections, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted May 25 to overturn his ban on federal funding of stem cell research. Bush's stance puts him on the other side of the issue from former first lady Nancy Reagan, and the vote was a rebuke from his own party that could undercut his clout.
•There was near-meltdown on Capitol Hill when he insisted on renominating 10 judicial candidates Democrats blocked last year. In the effort to push them through, Bush's handpicked Senate leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee, threatened to end the use of the filibuster against judicial nominees — a move that even some Senate Republicans opposed.
Bush did win confirmation of some judges; the latest, California judge Janice Rogers Brown, was confirmed Wednesday to the federal appeals court. But a bipartisan deal preserved the filibuster, incensed conservatives and empowered moderates.
** Linda, just so you know, they are doing a poll on AOL about this...bet you can't wait for bigpeepa's results
Personally, I don't see it as 'being stubborn' but rather as doing what a good leader does. He decides what's in the best interest of the American people and then sets out his plan. He's willing to hear other ideas, of which lately the dems have none to offer , but he continues pushing what he thinks needs to be done.
I've always called that perseverance..you just keep going until you reach your goal...never giving up.
And I agree with your writer in one area...it HAS served him well. And I think it will again on the SS issue too. Just going to take longer than he initally thought it would. But that's part of what I like about him, he's not a quitter and he doesn't base or decide his policies on 'polls'.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on June 9, 2005 09:35:43 PM new
lol Libra...I know the nerve, right???
Now he cant post it himself!!
But he can get to post the upcoming AOL poll results!! lmao!! and I am sure he will. Right up his alley!
Linda, although I cant hardly stand it sometimes, I've always admired a certain bullheadedness in people! Its a catch 22
posted on June 9, 2005 09:55:13 PM new
I don't know, dbl. To me bullheadedness is different. To me that's like saying whether I'm right or I'm wrong...I'm not changing my opinion...my position...because I said it and I'm not backing down.
Whereas perservance is like I know I'm on the 'right road' I just have to keep pushing on....but that person hold no doubt it IS the right road.
Whether other's agree or not...isn't the point...but that the person, themself truly believes it.
I don't know if that made any sense or not....but there is a difference between the two, to me.
posted on June 9, 2005 10:08:29 PM new
Hey Girls sorry to disappoint you all, I don't make the polls I just post them. That way you can all read up on how well your President is doing.
BTW, dbl & Linda_K, did you see the article about the G.O.P. taking PORN campaign money. Pretty sleazy don't ya think for a Party that is all about Family Values and Morals.
I hope you girls didn't miss the Basketball game tonight it was a good one.
posted on June 10, 2005 02:19:25 AM new
bigpeabrain...that was in another post-why are you repeating it here? Whats the matter,nothing else to b*tch about?????????
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
[ edited by classicrock000 on Jun 10, 2005 02:20 AM ]
posted on June 10, 2005 03:08:31 AM new
Hi Linda. Yes, there is a difference between the two, but the outcome is usually the same: they get their way! Seriously, I understand what you are saying.
bigpeepa, dont forget to post the results cause this is the last time I'm doing your job for you!
posted on June 10, 2005 04:59:18 AM new
Classic, I posted about the Porn money going to the G.O.P. In case Linda_K and dbl didn't happen to see the other post. I am interested to hear from them what they think about their party of morals and family values taking porn money.
About my bitching, don't worry classic. I am sure this President and his party will give me along with the majority of the American people lots more to #*!@ about.
posted on June 10, 2005 05:37:30 AM new
dont worry it Big-I'M SURE they read it-what annoys me is that a couple of posters in here(do I dare so who??)repeatedly post the same post over and over when no one gives a rats ass to begin with.You only have to post the same post once-you dont have to keep repeating it...your point is taken,and I'm not talking about you specifically
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on June 11, 2005 04:50:30 PM new
I think the same of AOL's polls as I do AOL. They suck.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on June 11, 2005 09:12:19 PM newYou only have to post the same post once-you don't have to keep repeating it...your point is taken,and I'm not talking about you specifically
You have to give those people some credit, classic. They learned how to repeat the same thing over and over from leader of the "campaign of fear".
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
President George Bush: "Over time the truth will come out."
President George Bush: "Our people are going to find out the truth, and the truth will say that this intelligence was good intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind."
Bush was right. The truth did come out and the facts are he misled Congress and the American people about the reasons we should go to war in Iraq.
"See, In my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over again for the truth to sink in...to kind of catapult the propaganda...George W. Bush May 24, 2005...
9/11 Security Remember 9/11 Taxes too high for the wealthy Remember 9/11 Terrorists Remember 9/11 Turning Corners Remember 9/11 Keeping America Safe Remember 9/11 Liberal Media Remember 9/11 Activist Judges Remember 9/11 WMD's Remember 9/11 No, regime change Remember 9/11 I meant humantarian mission Remember 9/11 Sorry I really meant Spreading Democracy Remember 9/11 Saving Social Security Remember 9/11 No Child Left Behind Remember 9/11 Patriot Act Good Remember 9/11 Democrats are obstructionists Remember 9/11 DeLay being persecuted Remember 9/11 Clinton's fault Remember 9/11 Hillary could have stopped September 11 attacks Remember 9/11 Faulty intel, not lies Remember 9/11 Government needs to keep out Remember 9/11 Except when we need to arrest you with no evidence Remember 9/11 The air is clean Remember 9/11 Toby Keith rules Remember 9/11 Ann Coulter is hot Remember 9/11 Malkin isn't, but she says good things Remember 9/11 CNN biased Remember 9/11 Fox fair and balanced Remember 9/11 Not torture, just intense interrogations Remember 9/11 We respect the Qu'ran Remember 9/11 Wished they were Christians Remember 9/11 France and Germany are sissies Remember 9/11 Remember Poland Remember 9/11 Forget Poland the pulling out bastards Remember 9/11 Gays hurt sanctity of marriage Remember 9/11 Stem cell research immoral Remember 9/11 We hate fags Remember 9/11 Gays caused 9/11 Remember 9/11 Abortion also caused 9/11 Remember 9/11 The Constitution says... Remember 9/11 Who cares what the Constitution says Remember 9/11 Gays cause abortions Remember 9/11 Support the troops Remember 9/11 Drive Hummers Remember 9/11 W deserves a 3rd term Remember 9/11 Economy good Remember 9/11 Trees bad Remember 9/11 Did I mention that the world is different since September 11 Remember 9/11
Remember 9/11
posted on June 12, 2005 09:02:30 AM new
I guess the majority doesnt like it when the minority rises up to revolt against those in power. Seems like the majority are starting to loose control of their dictatorship.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
President George Bush: "Over time the truth will come out."
President George Bush: "Our people are going to find out the truth, and the truth will say that this intelligence was good intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind."
Bush was right. The truth did come out and the facts are he misled Congress and the American people about the reasons we should go to war in Iraq.
