LAT: He's Not Walking Like a Lame Duck

[DeepModem Mom]

He's Not Walking Like a Lame Duck
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer


....Bush's doggedness is one of many assets he has retained in his second term, and he has needed it of late as his top priorities have run into heavy weather in Congress. Democratic critics see Bush's recent troubles as evidence that he has become a lame duck who has lost leverage with lawmakers.

But many analysts — including foes of the White House — say it is premature to write off a president who holds a formidable array of political and institutional tools — and who is determined to use them.

"I don't think he is a lame duck," said Nelson Polsby, a political scientist at UC Berkeley and a Bush critic. "A lame duck is harmless, someone who people disregard because they think he can't be harmful. He still has plenty of potentiality to make trouble."

Bush's ability to influence U.S. foreign policy remains largely unchallenged. He is poised to leave a decisive imprint on the Supreme Court. Among Republicans, he is even more popular than was the icon of American conservatism, Ronald Reagan, at this point in his second term.

And despite tensions with the Republican-led Congress, Bush still enjoys a deep reservoir of goodwill among fellow Republicans for having led the party to strong congressional gains in the 2002 and 2004 elections....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-duck3jun03,0,91171.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Oreo]

1. He's too stupid to know he's lame

But many analysts — including foes of the White House — say it is premature to write off a president who holds a formidable array of political and institutional tools — and who is determined to use them.

The only tool Bush is holding is JimJeff GuckertGannon's

[Igel]

27. Maybe.

I had a friend who was too stupid to be a grad student. He said some things over the years that betrayed a complete lack of comprehension of his field. Some questions and comments were too silly, we thought he was pulling our leg, but, no, he really didn't get it. Even after taking some classes two or three times.

Could he write a dissertation? Like expecting a very small, barely frozen snowball to survive on the sun's surface.

However, his dissertation was published as part of a European book series last year. Took him 40+ hours a week for over four years. Should have taken a year and a half. It's not a bad dissertation.

[dbt]

2. No. He walks like a CHIMPANZEE with a corncob up its ass!

[MisterP]

21. we walks like that Bigfoot video, with the same arm-swing even!

[quiet.american]

3. Hmn... more popular than Reagan?

I would be interested to see on what evidence the article bases this statement. It's not the general impression an approval rating of 46% gives.

More popular than Reagan amongst the Kool-Aid drinkers is something I would be more likely to believe.

[onehandle]

6. "Among Republicans, he is even more popular"

I believe it. Selfish morons love their own.

[quiet.american]

8. Distinguishing between Republicans and Kool-Aid drinkers

Granted, it's a very difficult benefit of the doubt to give, however, if indeed Bush is more popular amongst the general Republican population than just amongst the glaze-eyed BushFish-tians, it truly would seem his approval rating would be higher than 46%.

[Triana]

4. Because he's not a lame duck

"A lame duck is an elected official currently in office whose replacement has been chosen, but not yet formally sworn in. Whether an official in this position should refrain from using some or all of their powers is somewhat controversial." --from wikipedia.

[daleo]

5. He can still bomb, attack and invade foreign countries

And no doubt will.

[realFedUp]

7. I consider this an opinion piece

it should have been on the Op/Ed page.

Have I said lately how fed up I am with
the LA Times?

[progressivebydesign]

10. OMG! I assumed this WAS an editorial!!!! Ridiculous!! n/t

[yorkiemommie1]

25. they had a fluff piece about tom cruise and his gf

on the editorial page yesterday.

[Massachusetts]

15. Agreed!

[rockedthevoteinMA]

9. Of course he's not walking like a lame duck. If we all lived in an

alternate reality, we would be doing much better too. I don't think I know anyone who is as out of touch with reality as this moran.

[goclark]

11. I canceled my subscription to the pro bush LA Times

Robert Scheer is the only sane one left on a once wonderful paper.

[SoCalDem]

12. Doggedness in him; is petulance in anyone else

He has no nuance. He is a doltish, singleminded lousy excuse for a human being.

[GreenArrow]

13. he's walking with Dame Luck

.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. Good one. As he has all his life.... nt

[GreenArrow]

16. yep,

I've never seen anyone so lucky. He's charmed.

[KansDem]

17. More writings by Janet Hook...

• Doyle McManus and Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times staff writers: "Four years ago, George W. Bush won his first term with fewer votes than his opponent, but governed as if the nation had granted him a clear mandate to pursue conservative policies. This time, Bush can claim a solid mandate of 51% of the vote, which made him the first presidential candidate to win a clear majority since 1988 -- a point Bush aides made repeatedly Wednesday."

I wonder if Ms. Hook is another media whore hellbent on making Bush look good. No mention of the election fraud that occurred during the election "which made him the first presidential candidate to win a clear majority since 1988."

[not fooled]

19. WTF???? Hook(-er) needs a math lesson

since when does 51% (even assuming it's real) = a solid majority which would translate into a mandate?

Last time I checked, 51% is barely over half. Janet Hooker needs remedial math help.

[KansDem]

26. I wondered the same thing myself...

If it were Bill Clinton they were writing about, then it would read "self-professed mandate..."

Oh, and here is the link (I forgot to include it :))
http://mediamatters.org/items/200411040009

[bushisanidiot]

18. If it walks like a monkey, talks like a monkey, plays with poo like a

monkey... it's a monkey.

[ElectroPrincess]

20. Please don't degrade the simians ...

Even chimps can be somewhat charming and likable. Not *. He's a moronic BEASTIE (remember "Lord of the Flies" in Project English). Sure there's many other similar fortunate son a**holes like his persona in the world, but they're NOT President of the USA. Gee, we're screwed until the sheeple are awakened.

Dubya is adored by people who love money, authority and absolute power. These people magically think that THEY, in particular, are cut from a better cloth. :puke:

[neuvocat]

22. That's true. Its more like he's got crotch-rot.

[DeepModem Mom]

24. Yeah, or like he's been riding a horse -- which we KNOW...

he does not.

[hippiegranny]

23. but if it writes like a lap dog

it is definitely a lap dog.

[Jade Fox]

28. He can't read the writing on the wall....

Bush has never been connected to a little thing the rest of us like to
call Reality.