18/05: Not a bad week for the President
Category: Politics
Posted by: A Waco Farmer
Some bad news:
Wolfowitz.
No confidence vote and other embarrassments brewing for Gonzales and Justice.
On the other hand, this week offered some much-appreciated bright spots for the President.
1. The economy continues to hum along. The predicted Depression has yet to materialize. New records on Wall Street this week.
2. The President is getting closer on an immigration bill. He has worked long and hard for something substantial in this regard. He sees progress in this area as key to his presidency.
3. He is winning the battle with Congress over Iraq. Once again, the village idiot is out-generaling the Democratic brain trust. I cannot imagine that delicious scenario ever getting old for him--no matter how many times it happens.
4. Tony Blair visited this week.
It is nice when an old and loyal friend comes to town. It must be some comfort to the tongue-tied President that the most articulate man on the world scene today has the same approval rating in Britain as the President has in the USA.
It must be comforting to discuss the future of the world from the perspective of the TRUMAN balcony.
It must help to hear the following words.
Blair on Bush:
"Thank you also for the strength of your leadership over the past few years. You have been a strong leader at a time when the world needed strong leadership. You've been unyielding and unflinching, and determined in the fight that we face together. And I thank you for that."
More personal:
"I've admired him as a President and I regard him as a friend."
A Blair Observation:
"[P]eople understand that there is a battle that we are fighting around the world today. [I]t's a battle about the type of values that govern the world in the early 21st century. You don't win those battles by being a fair-weather friend to your ally, you don't win those battles by being hesitant or withdrawing support for each other when the going gets tough. You don't win those battles by losing the will to fight if your enemy's will to fight is very strong, and very powerful."
Bush on Blair:
"What I know is the world needs courage. And what I know is this good man is a courageous man.
"Thanks for coming."
Amen to that.
Press Conference transcript here.
AFTER THOUGHT: And, don't forget to catch the "George and Tony Show," which the players have down to a high art now, finishing each other's sentences and playing the straight man for one another:
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: In Europe...if you want to get the easiest round of applause, get up and attack America, you can get a round of applause if you attack the President, you get a --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Standing ovation. (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Yes. And...
Wolfowitz.
No confidence vote and other embarrassments brewing for Gonzales and Justice.
On the other hand, this week offered some much-appreciated bright spots for the President.
1. The economy continues to hum along. The predicted Depression has yet to materialize. New records on Wall Street this week.
2. The President is getting closer on an immigration bill. He has worked long and hard for something substantial in this regard. He sees progress in this area as key to his presidency.
3. He is winning the battle with Congress over Iraq. Once again, the village idiot is out-generaling the Democratic brain trust. I cannot imagine that delicious scenario ever getting old for him--no matter how many times it happens.
4. Tony Blair visited this week.
It is nice when an old and loyal friend comes to town. It must be some comfort to the tongue-tied President that the most articulate man on the world scene today has the same approval rating in Britain as the President has in the USA.
It must be comforting to discuss the future of the world from the perspective of the TRUMAN balcony.
It must help to hear the following words.
Blair on Bush:
"Thank you also for the strength of your leadership over the past few years. You have been a strong leader at a time when the world needed strong leadership. You've been unyielding and unflinching, and determined in the fight that we face together. And I thank you for that."
More personal:
"I've admired him as a President and I regard him as a friend."
A Blair Observation:
"[P]eople understand that there is a battle that we are fighting around the world today. [I]t's a battle about the type of values that govern the world in the early 21st century. You don't win those battles by being a fair-weather friend to your ally, you don't win those battles by being hesitant or withdrawing support for each other when the going gets tough. You don't win those battles by losing the will to fight if your enemy's will to fight is very strong, and very powerful."
Bush on Blair:
"What I know is the world needs courage. And what I know is this good man is a courageous man.
"Thanks for coming."
Amen to that.
Press Conference transcript here.
AFTER THOUGHT: And, don't forget to catch the "George and Tony Show," which the players have down to a high art now, finishing each other's sentences and playing the straight man for one another:
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: In Europe...if you want to get the easiest round of applause, get up and attack America, you can get a round of applause if you attack the President, you get a --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Standing ovation. (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Yes. And...
