President Bush, in a news conference this morning, made the following statement.
I've reassured the House and Senate leaders that I intend to work with the new Congress in a bipartisan way to address issues confronting this country. I invited them to come to the White House in the coming days to discuss the important work remaining this year and to begin conversations about the agenda for next year.
Sounds benign enough, right?
Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
Listen up Representative Pelosi, Senator Reid, and other Democratic members of congress. President Bush does not want to work with you. He understands that Democrats now control congress and he wants one thing, and one thing only.
To set the agenda.
Let that sink in for a moment.
If there is anything we have learned over the past six years, it is that Bush and his administration have a grossly inflated view of the powers bestowed to the Executive branch of government. And the one thing they have continually shown is that they are always, and I mean always, seeking ways to expand those powers.
Bush realizes he has lost his "Rubberstamp Congress". He can no longer drive the lawmaking process. He can no longer rule both the Executive and Legislative branches from his throne in the Whitehouse.
Unless we let him.
I don't care what legislation the President proposes. I don't care if it is one of our favorite issues, minimum wage, environment, election reform, stem cells, lobbying reform, border security, or whatever. Do not listen. Ignore him. This administration needs to hear the following message loudly and clearly.
You don't set the agenda anymore Mr. President. We do.
We need to send him the message that Congress is the "decider". We need to make him understand that the Constitution gives him only two options, sign or veto. We need to make it absolutely clear to him what the founders of this country intended. Congress expresses the will of the people. By passing legislation, Congress takes the will of the American people and turns it into orders. And the President's duty is one thing and one thing only. To carry out those orders.
So again I say to the new Democratic majority in Congress. Listen up. You are the ones who set the agenda, not the President. The American people have spoken. They want someone else to take the helm. They have handed the wheel to the Democrats. And they expect us to steer this country to a better place.
This is the message that the Democratic majority must make absolutely crystal clear to this President.
We will deal with the minimum wage. On our timetable. It is part of our agenda. Not yours.
We will deal with the environment, global warming, and dependence on oil. On our timetable. It is part of our agenda. Not yours.
We will deal with health care. On our timetable. It is part of our agenda. Not yours.
We will deal with these, and all the other things, because they are part of our agenda Mr. President. Not yours.
The American people have delivered a crisp and clear message. Congress, governing at the consent of those Americans, will act on that message.
And you, Mr President, will do as you are told.