Bush to Congress: Get to work
Bush did not have kind words for Congress Monday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - At a press conference Monday morning, President Bush told reporters that, after returning from a two-week break for Thanksgiving, Congress had just two more weeks before going another break at the end of the year.
“That’s not really a lot of time to squeeze in nearly a year’s worth of unfinished business,” said Bush.
But, Bush didn’t stop there in his criticism of Congress. Calling the pro forma sessions held by the Senate “a political maneuver designed to block my ability to make recess appointments,” Bush chided Congress for holding a series of 30-second Senate sessions held in the last two weeks. “If thirty seconds is a full day, no wonder Congress has got a lot of work to do,” the President added.
Bush said Congress should spend the next two weeks working on a bill to fund U.S. combat troops, an extension of wiretapping legislation, a revision of the alternative minimum tax, and the 11 outstanding spending bills necessary to fund the federal government’s operations.
Despite his desire to get action out of Capitol Hill, Bush made it clear that he would not tolerate what he considered unnecessary appropriations in any spending bills presented to him. “If they send me an irresponsible spending bill, I will veto it.”
Bush also told reporters Monday that as the end 2007 approaches, Congress has “little to show for it.”
Related: Senate holds quickie session to frustrate bush
Related: Senate holds another quick session
- CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart
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There is a simple way to insure that the Democrats get things done in Congress: Give them a veto proof majority. Vote out the Republican obstructionists, and then maybe the will of the people can really be done. Incidentally, did anyone notice that Bush was at his ranch on Veteran's Day, and sent his vice president to reperesent him in the official ceremonies honoring our war casualities? This from a guy who claims that honoring the troops is America's most sacred duty. Besides barbecuing, of course. This hypocrite would be amusing if he weren't so disgusting.
Brandon, Tampa, FL
hahahaha great post
Michael in Orlando:
The best thing that could happen to this nation is for idiots like you to be chained together and dropped into the deepest ocean. From your post, one can only surmise that your IQ is about the same as your hat size. You hero, Bush is the worst and most corrupt president in history and your party has shown over and over again that they are corrupt, bigoted and totally incompetent.
Let me see if I've got this straight? Congress took two weeks off for Thanksgiving? Then, in two weeks Congress will take another break for Christmas? How long will that break be, a month, two months? What work does Congress do? Besides the Dems and Repubs sniping each other I mean. Let's see, while the Congress takes two week breaks, the rest of the country is lucky if they get two days. Wow, all those Congresspeople are REALLY earning the $400,000 a year we pay them aren't they?
Jr., California
its so great all the people blaming congress for the problems...and we're winning?? lol why because there isnt as many troops dying as there was 6 months ago? this isnt a video game its politics. also as you go down these lists of blogs you see the approval rating estimates from all the anti-congress bloggers go from 30% to 11% and now its 1% lol what are you people taking polls in your house?
I'm in agreement with you Michael of Orlando, FL. Frankly, I thought the poster from Montpelier, VT makes a good case with his comment...
"The best thing that could happen to this nation is for idiots like you to be chained together and dropped into the deepest ocean. From your post, one can only surmise that your IQ is about the same as your hat size".
...to grant Vermont the right to secede from the Union. These idiots (like AJ)constantly complain about the integrity and moral compass of elected Republican officials...as if there's a dime's worth of difference between the two Political Parties in those terms...and continue to believe that we as a nation should entrust these morons by socializing more and more of our lives.
Michael, Orlando FL
the majority party just became the majority party! the republicans have led us down this path of failure. and do you even understand what you are talking about when you say "war on terror"?? its as baseless as a "war on drugs" you cant fight ideas with a military it has never worked before what makes you think it will work now? look what happened when the romans tried to extinguish chrisitans!!! but thats what a big part of this country does make cliams like "war on terror" like its a videogame where you kill all the bad guys and win the game! thats not how it is in real life you are fighting ideas so when you make a martyr out of 1 of them 1000 more pop up......the thing i love the most about these arguments is that the republicans will finally lose and we will have a chance to fix there mess!!!
The American people will make them work, when most of them lose their seats. Congress has done nothing for the American people. That is rep. or dem, the dollar has fallen, price of food going up and min wage stays the same. Where is the help for US? They are and most of the people blogging here, to busy blaming and and pointing the finger at each other. Do something for a real change and do it for US.
From your comments I can understand why you are a "Former US Army Officer". Passed over were we? Fitness Report not up to snuff, perhaps. BTW your assessment of the past 8 years is way off base and highly biased.
The military is going to start shutting down military bases in Europe and Democratic districts to fund the combat troops. They are it's highest priority.
The Harry and Nancy show is playing a game that we will all lose...
Bush is a liar. He has no credibility. Good for our Congress for sticking to their guns. We need to get out of Iraq yesterday.
A DO NOTHING PRESIDENT? SOLD US DOWN THE RIVER TO CHINA, JUST LOVED WOMEN IN OFFICE!! CLINTON!!!!!!! NOT BUSH HE WANTS TO PROTECT US !!!
Just what is this man's agenda? He chides congress for trying to extend benefits for children's health care and in the same breath, chides them for not approving his multibillion dollar train wreck of a escapade in Iraq.
His own intelligence services tell him Iran is not building a bomb and really couldn't build one for 10 years and yet he keeps up with his provocative comments. Does he think the american people will be tricked again after Iraq?
Thank God we only have one more year left of him. Let's just hope and pray he doesn't do anything stupid until then. It will take years to repair the damage he had done as it is.
I have absolutely no problem with President Bush taking vacations. In fact, I wish he would just stay down on his ranch and cut brush for the rest of his term. We would all be better off. Texas deserves to have him all to themselves. And, while we are at it, lets all pitch in and buy Cheney a few shotguns and a year's supply of ammo to keep him busy out in the field. Who knows, he may bag a few more of his neo-con buddies.