Bush Tells Nation: Here's What I'm Going to Jam Down Your Throat.

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Bush Tells Nation: Here's What I'm Going to Jam Down Your Throat. 11/5

 

 

 

Bush Pledges to Make Changes to Tax Code

 

Thu Nov 4, 6:49 PM ET

 

 

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

 

WASHINGTON - Contending Americans have embraced his conservative

agenda, President Bush (news - web sites) pledged Thursday to

aggressively pursue major changes in Social Security (news - web

sites), the tax code and medical malpractice awards, working with

Democrats if they are receptive and leaving them behind if they're not.

 

" I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I

intend to spend it, " Bush said a day after a decisive victory that

made him the first president in 68 years to win re-election and gain

seats in both the House and Senate.

 

" I'll reach out to everyone who shares our goals, " said Bush, who 24

hours earlier had promised to try to win over those who voted for his

Democratic opponent.

 

Buoyant and relaxed on Thursday, Bush cracked jokes at his first

postelection news conference and said he had not decided on any

changes in his Cabinet for the second term. He took congratulatory

calls from world leaders from Russia, Poland, Iraq (news - web sites),

Afghanistan (news - web sites), Israel and Italy before flying to Camp

David for four days of rest after the grueling campaign.

 

As U.S. forces in Iraq mobilize for an all-out offensive in Fallujah

and other Sunni militant strongholds, the president refused to say how

much the war would cost or whether he planned to increase or cut troop

strengths. " I have yet to hear from our commanders on the ground that

they need more troops, " the president said. He is expected to ask

Congress early next year for up to $75 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan

and operations against terrorism.

 

The president was unapologetic about the unpopularity of his decisions

in many world capitals, such as his commitment to spread democracy in

the Middle East. " Listen, I've made some very hard decisions:

decisions to protect ourselves, decisions to spread peace and

freedom. " The war on terror would remain a priority, he said.

 

Bush said that at home, he had set an unmistakable direction for the

country and he emphasized anew he does not foresee the need for any

tax increase despite big budget deficits.

 

Coming from a campaign that offered clear policy choices, Bush said,

" When you win, there is a feeling that the people have spoken and

embraced your point of view, and that's what I intend to tell the

Congress. " He urged lawmakers to show discipline on spending bills and

to enact an intelligence reform bill when they return to town later

this month.

 

On Capitol Hill, Democrats were stunned by some unexpected losses in

the Senate and the defeat of their leader, Tom Daschle, an 18-year

veteran. Republicans also gained seats in the House. Democrats

promised to challenge Bush's priorities.

 

" What the president is doing in fiscal policy is weakening the

country, making us more vulnerable. It's so strange, " said Sen. Kent

Conrad (news, bio, voting record) of North Dakota, top Democrat on the

Senate Budget Committee. " There's no free lunch, and at the end of the

day our country will have a tremendous price to pay for this profligacy. "

 

Said Bush, " I readily concede I've laid out some very difficult issues

for people to deal with. And I would hope to be able to work with

Democrats to get this done. "

 

In setting priorities, Bush said some issues would be at the front of

the line simply because they have been at the center of the political

arena before. Capping medical malpractice limits, a prized goal of

Republicans, will be one of his first proposals because it " had been

debated and got thwarted a couple of times, " the president said.

 

Education initiatives could move quickly, too, Bush said, while Social

Security reform " will require some additional legwork. "

 

Another divisive issue, reforming the complicated U.S. tax system, is

" going to take a lot of legwork to get something ready for a

legislative package. I fully understand that, " the president said. He

has avoided specifics but has said ideas such as a national sales tax

deserve study.

 

" I've earned capital in this election _and I'm going to spend it for

what I told the people I'd spend it on, which is — you've heard the

agenda: Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward,

education, fighting and winning the war on terror, " the president said.

 

Complaining about political bitterness and division, Bush said there

was " a certain practicality to life here in Washington. And that is,

when you get a bill moving, it is important to get the votes, and if

politics starts to get in the way of getting good legislation through,

you know, that's just part of life here. "

 

He said he was hoping for bipartisan support but focused on results.

 

 

 

In an election where voters said moral values were the primary issue,

Bush cautioned against suggestions that the United States was becoming

politically divided by religion.

 

" I will be your president regardless of your faith, and I don't expect

you to agree with me necessarily on religion, " Bush said. " As a matter

of fact, no president should ever try to impose religion on our

society. ... The great thing that unites is the fact you can worship

freely if you choose, and if you — you don't have to worship. "

 

___

 

Who does he think that he is bullshitting? This guy uses " God " to get

what he wants. He doesn't even go to church.