:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::

:: 4.29.2005 ::

:: RE George II ::

Bush vs. The Press
From The Washington Post
By Howard Kurtz

Why have Bush's numbers reached the lowest point of his presidency?

Everyone's got a theory, just as everyone is now floating a theory on whether he helped himself at last night's rarity of a prime-time press conference.

One thing is clear: the 47 percent president (according to ABC/WP) hasn't gotten off to a rip-roaring start for someone who took his second oath of office just 3-1/2 months ago.

A popular view, endorsed by David Broder , is overreaching. Bush used much of his capital pushing a divisive Social Security plan that seems to be going nowhere fast. He's still pushing big tax cuts despite a scary deficit. He rammed through a bankruptcy bill and tort-law measure to pander to his business base. And he went along with the GOP charge to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case, which proved to be quite unpopular with the country. Oh, and Iraq is still a mess.

Read more here.

ALSO
Wrap-Up: Bush Holds Prime-Time News Conference
NPR (audio), D.C

AND
His Social aims

Before a prime-time audience and against a loss of force on issue, Bush touts benefit plan for low-income retirees.

Democrats have called private accounts a deal-killer and last night showed no new interest in coming to the bargaining table, leaving the ultimate effect of Bush's new proposals unclear.

"All the president did tonight was confirm that he will pay for his risky privatization scheme by cutting the benefits of middle-class seniors," said a joint statement by House and Senate Democratic leaders.


posted by me

:: 8:51:00 AM [+] ::
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