Bush Scales Back Agenda as Clout Ebbs: He "can't drive things, but he can stop things."

[DeepModem Mom]

Bloomberg News: Bush Scales Back Agenda to Schools, Trade, Energy as Clout Ebbs
By Edwin Chen

....Once the champion of big reforms, Bush in twilight is on the defensive and pushing secondary initiatives. Instead of partial privatization of Social Security, which died in 2005, or overhauling immigration, which was killed this year, he wants to: roll back Democrats' social spending; enact a limited expansion of his No Child Left Behind school testing program; push modest energy programs that reduce dependence on foreign oil; win approval of a handful of regional free-trade deals.

While Bush may prevail in some spending fights, few politicians or historians say much of his scaled-back agenda is achievable in the waning days of an unpopular presidency. ``With that bully pulpit, you can never rule him out,'' said Senator Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican. ``But no, I don't think he'll get anything more done.''

Weakened by low job-approval ratings, Bush has little choice but to lower his sights. ``The president can't drive things'' in his current position, said George Edwards, a political scientist at Texas A&M University in College Station. ``But he can stop things.''

By hardening his position on compromise with the Democratic congressional majority, Bush may face increased partisan rancor and gridlock for his remaining 18 months in office. He's already threatening to veto eight of 12 congressional appropriations bills and wants to block popular measures that expand children's health-care programs and fatten farm subsidies....

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Bush risks overdoing his line-in-the sand strategy, said Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based policy research organization. ``He thinks that will revive his base and improve his standing. It's more likely to lead to Republican defections.''

Edwards, of Texas A&M, says Bush has exhausted his ability to persuade voters to change their minds. Said Edwards: ``His ability to sway public opinion is zero.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aU50JTPfGqsM

[MADem]

1. Isn't that rather cheerfully damning!!!!! How delightful!! Boxed in, no way out! nt

[xxqqqzme]

2. a box he made himself.

I'm certain he's comfy in there banging his hard head against the side.

[MADem]

3. Works for me!!! nt