Bush took out his box of Crayola’s and penned an op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal> Some highlights:
Together, we have a chance to serve the American people by solving the complex problems that many don’t expect us to tackle, let alone solve, in the partisan environment of today’s Washington. To do that, however, we can’t play politics as usual.
You see, when the Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, all is fine. When Democrats control Congress, it is "partisan". Note to George: the 2006 elections was a signal from the electorate that they are through with "politics as usual".
Our priorities begin with defeating the terrorists who killed thousands of innocent Americans on September 11, 2001–and who are working hard to attack us again. These terrorists are part of a broader extremist movement that is now doing everything it can to defeat us in Iraq.
The extremist movement is broader now because we went into Iraq, George.
In the days ahead, I will be addressing our nation about a new strategy to help the Iraqi people gain control of the security situation and hasten the day when the Iraqi government gains full control over its affairs. Ultimately, Iraqis must resolve the most pressing issues facing them. We can’t do it for them.
Which is why you’re going to send in even more U.S. troops?
It is also a fact that our tax cuts have fueled robust economic growth and record revenues.
The economy is growing but only the wealthiest are benefiting from it, George.
One important message I took away from the election is that people want to end the secretive process by which Washington insiders are able to slip into legislation billions of dollars of pork-barrel projects that have never been reviewed or voted on by Congress.
There was another important message from the 2006 election, and it had to do with Iraq. Did you get that?
Our Founders believed in the wisdom of the American people to choose their leaders and provided for the concept of divided and effective government. The majority party in Congress gets to pass the bills it wants. The minority party, especially where the margins are close, has a strong say in the form bills take. And the Constitution leaves it to the president to use his judgment whether they should be signed into law.
Somebody’s been watching Schoolhouse Rock. Good for you, Mr President.
That gives us a clear challenge and an opportunity. If the Congress chooses to pass bills that are simply political statements, they will have chosen stalemate. If a different approach is taken, the next two years can be fruitful ones for our nation.
*cough*Terri Schiavo*cough*