Posted By: Judy Smith
Holly RosenkrantzWed Nov 8, 4:10 PM ET
Nov. 8 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said his
Republican Party took ``a thumping'' in yesterday's congressional
elections and vowed to work -- within limits -- with the new
Democratic leaders of Congress.
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``I believe on a lot of issues, we can find common ground,''
Bush said today at a White House news conference. ``There's
significant difference between common ground and abandoning
principles.''
Democrats picked up at least 27 seats to control the House
and are within one unresolved race of capturing the Senate. The
change in control will force Bush to make compromises if he is to
move forward on his agenda in his final two years in office.
The biggest change in direction Bush offered today was
accepting the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,
which he said would bring a ``fresh perspective'' to the war inIraq. Bush said Rumsfeld would be replaced by former CIA Director
Robert M. Gates.
Bush said his priorities remained the same: renewing the No
Child Left Behind education law, which expires next year, and
overhauling entitlement programs to deal with future funding
shortfalls.
He said he had ``a good chance'' of achieving an overhaul of
the nation's immigration laws that would include the guest-worker
program he has promoted since he was governor of Texas. That
proposal was blocked this year by House Republicans. It has
support from many Democrats in both chambers and some Republicans
in the Senate.
Tax Cuts
Bush made no mention of his push to make permanent the tax
cuts enacted during his first term. The extension of those tax
cuts, set to expire by the end of his term in office, was a
central theme of his speeches while campaigning for Republican
candidates. He told audiences that Democrats would allow tax
rates to rise and would block his efforts to combat terrorism.
``I thought when it was all said and done, the American
people would understand the importance of taxes and the
importance of security,'' Bush said today. ``But the people have
spoken, and now it's time for us to move on.''
Bush said he invited the new Democratic leaders of Congress
to come to the White House to discuss next year's political
agenda. ``You'll see a lot of meetings with Democrats and a lot
of discussion with Democrats,'' he said. ``Obviously we've got a
lot of work to do with some members of Congress.''
Pelosi
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's statements on the
campaign trail that he was dangerous, incompetent and a liar were
little more than hyperbole, he said. Pelosi is in line to become
speaker of the House.
``I understand where campaigns end and I know where
governing begins,'' Bush said. ``People say unfortunate things at
tomes, but if you hold grudges in this line of work you're never
going to get anything done.''
Still, Bush didn't endorse any items on the Democratic
Congress's agenda, such as raising the minimum wage, cutting
interest rates on student loans, broadening stem-cell research
and rolling back tax cuts.
He also said he would continue to ``speak plainly'' about
what he views as the priorities for the country: winning the war
on terrorism, and improving the economy.
``I didn't come to Washington just to occupy the office,''
he said.
To contact the reporters on this story:
Holly Rosenkrantz in Washington at
hrosernkantz@bloomberg.net
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