Some in G.O.P. Call on Bush to Focus on Governing

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/27/politics/27bush.html

Some in G.O.P. Call on Bush to Focus on Governing


By RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Published: June 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, June 26 - President Bush and his hard-charging political team, which seemed to make all the right moves in winning re-election last year, have stumbled when it comes to governing in a second term, many Republicans say, leaving the White House scrambling to get back on track.

Even as they expressed continued support for Mr. Bush and his goals, influential Republicans said Karl Rove and the White House political operation have been slow to shift from campaign mode, with its base-energizing positions, to an approach that allows for more compromise and increases the probability of Mr. Bush signing legislation that directly addresses the everyday concerns of voters.

"The tone has been too much of a permanent campaign," said Newt Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker. "When you're the minority, you need to fight. When you're the governing majority, you need to produce."

In discussing the White House's problems, Republicans cited a variety of assumptions and decisions that have not worked out as Mr. Bush and his team had planned. They said the administration may have overestimated how much of a mandate Mr. Bush had coming out of last year's campaign, underestimated the willingness of the Democrats to stand up to him and relied too much on a belief that he could force Congress into action by taking his case directly to the people.

<</SNIP>>

[AlCzervik]

1. Hilarious! They're calling on him to start Presidentin!

Hello gop, i believe you were part of the empty suit picking process.

[bemildred]

2. That's just hilarious coming from "shut down the government" Newt. nt

[yorkiemommie1]

3. he can pose

he can joke, he can snicker. he canNOT govern!

[DeepModem Mom]

4. I make this point again and again -- they do not govern --

they never intended to govern. They seized power in order to implement their extremist agenda, and to enrich their supporters/enablers. They don't perform the basic task of government, protecting the citizenry: example, mad cow!

[MichiganVote]

5. What? No more Schaivo? Fewer air trips? No more vacations?

World domination?
Imperialism?
NeoPadre of the Christian world?
Townhall meetings for republicans only the WE ALL pay for?

Sure, Bush will do that...in a pigs ear he will!!

[zinndependence]

6. duh!

He may have overestimated his mandate....do ya think?!?!

What a waste these past 5 years have been!

[rodeodance]

10. I do not want him to govern MORE-look what he has done so far-NCLB

to 'reform' the schools a---textbooks on how to pass tests are booming. Heath 'reform--we got perscription drugs with pharmaceutical companies making the most profit. the list goes on and on.

[Pithy Cherub]

7. GOP to pResNit: You are failing your 6 month probationary time!

The people are getting restless and pretty soon they are going to demand stuff like investigations, apologies and accountability. We may be forced to fire your pResidential ass so, please don't make us!
A begging GOP!
:rofl:

[gratuitous]

8. Good one! The GOP actually govern!

That's a hot one.

[wisteria]

9. Bush had no mandate other than the Iraq War issue and appeasing

the far right religious groups who expected to be paid back for helping him get elected. Didn't they read the numbers after the election? Bush's win wasn't by that much!

[Inland]

11. Look at the description of things the repubs think the WH got wrong....

"In discussing the White House's problems, Republicans cited a variety of assumptions and decisions that have not worked out as Mr. Bush and his team had planned. They said the administration may have overestimated how much of a mandate Mr. Bush had coming out of last year's campaign, underestimated the willingness of the Democrats to stand up to him and relied too much on a belief that he could force Congress into action by taking his case directly to the people."

So, what did the WH get right? What strategic error did they NOT make? Not get us in a quagmire, but that was LAST year.

[drdtroit]

12. G.O.P.

Greedy Old Plutocrats

[quaoar]

13. We'd all be a lot better off

if Bush would just take a three-year vacation.

[BadGimp]

14. priceless quote

"They said the administration may have overestimated how much of a mandate Mr. Bush had coming out of last year's campaign.."

no kidding..there never was any mandate