Bush Schmoozes Dems, but Analysts Expect Battles

Feb. 3, 2007 — -- President Bush today addressed the House Democratic Caucus in humble and conciliatory tones, but without concessions on his most controversial policies.

Setting a cooperative tone from the start, the president apologized for mangling the party's name in his State of the Union address.

"I referred to something as the Democrat Party," said Bush. He drew guffaws when he added, "Now look, my diction isn't all that good. I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party."

Bush, who has been referring to the "Democrat Party" for years, did not make that mistake again. He referred to the "Democratic" Party three times in his brief address in historic Williamsburg, Va.

"I'm looking forward to working with you," Bush said. "I know you probably heard that, and you doubt whether it's true. It's true."

In a closed-door session, according to one Democrat in the room, the president said if a pollster asked him if he approved of the conduct of the war, "They'd have to put me down as a 'no.'"

Yet Democrats said while the president is talking a new talk, he's walking the same old walk. He stuck to his controversial proposal to offer tax breaks for health care. The plan funds the added benefit by taxing the most expensive plans, such as those costing more than $15,000 for a family.

"I ask you to carefully consider the idea that we have put out," Bush said. "I've already heard from some members who thought it was a lousy idea. I understand that.  But please look at it in depth as a way to address an issue that concerns us all, and that is, not enough people having health insurance."

He also stood by his plan to boost troop numbers in Iraq by 21,500.

"I put out a plan that has caused a lot of debate on Iraq," Bush said. "I took a lot of time thinking about how best to achieve an objective of a country governing and sustaining and defending itself, a country that will be an ally in this war on terror.  I listened to many members here.  I listened to members of my own party.

"I listened to the military," he added, "and came up with a plan that I genuinely believe has the best chance of succeeding."

Analysts predicted a collision between Bush and the newly Democrat-controlled Congress over those and other issues.

"We're going to have a big tug of war over the war," said Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. "We're going to have sizeable conflicts over taxes."

The Democratic Congress plans to closely scrutinize the president's 2008 budget, which he is expected to outline on Monday.

"Whatever is in the budget -- defense or otherwise -- will have to be justified," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after Bush's address. "The days of the blank check -- for example for the Iraq war -- are over."

Also on Monday, the Senate takes up a measure condemning the troop increases in Iraq. And one presidential hopeful said today that Democrats should go further.

"It is time for us to clearly say the war must end and our troops must be brought home now," said Tom Vilsack, a Democratic presidential candidate and former Iowa governor, who went further than most Democrats by saying the party should use the power of the purse to cut off funding for the war.

"Not eventually," Vilsack said of ending the war. "Immediately."