Bush Energizes, Dazzles Congressional Republicans
Feb 3 12:50pm ET
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
By Thomas Ferraro
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Reuters) - True, it is early. But President George W. Bush has energized and even bedazzled fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill, including some who doubted him.
In fact, the only order Bush has issued so far that they have openly defied is when the new president told them to stop cheering.
"Sit down, sit down ... thank you ... sit down, sit down," Bush implored them as he began a speech on Friday at the opening of a weekend retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia, by House and Senate Republicans.
"He's amazing," gushed Sen. Tim Hutchinson, an Arkansas Republican. "He is changing the tone in Washington just as he promised to do. And he is doing it without retreating, but instead being willing to listen, listen to both sides."
"A lot of people in Washington had doubts about George Bush, including some Republicans," Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, said on Saturday.
"There is an arrogance in Washington. People think unless you are from Washington, you can't understand how it works," said Gregg.
But Gregg said the former Texas governor and son of former President George Bush has quickly begun to show he has the know-how to function well in the nation's capital.
"The president has remained focused on what he wants to do, and I'm hearing people say in meetings now, 'Hey this guy is the real deal,"' Gregg said.
During much of the White House campaign, Bush kept his distance from congressional Republicans, perhaps because polls showed the public had their doubts about lawmakers.
Yet since taking office on Jan. 20, Bush has had a number of meetings with Democratic as well as Republican lawmakers.
"I hear from my Democratic friends that he is really disarming," said Sen. Kit Bond, a Missouri Republican. "He invites them in, says 'let's talk' and then listens."
Indeed, a number of Democrats, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the party's failed vice presidential nominee last year, have publicly said they expect to be able to work with Bush, at least on matters like education.
LINE IN THE SAND
But they have also drawn lines in the sand, saying they would, for example, staunchly oppose federal vouchers that could be used to send children to private school and tax cuts largely for the rich.
In his meeting with Republicans on Friday, Bush again trumpeted his agenda -- cutting taxes, upgrading schools, strengthening Medicare and Social Security and bolstering national defense.
And to more applause, he said he wanted to work in a spirit of cooperation not confrontation. A similar line won applause hours earlier at a meeting with Senate Democrats in Washington.
House Republican Whip Tom DeLay, who is from Texas, said Bush told members in Williamsburg not to seek retribution against Senate Democrats for their bruising treatment of John Ashcroft before confirming him as attorney general.
"Get over it guys," DeLay quoted Bush as saying. "Let's not hold any hard feelings. Ashcroft was confirmed. I didn't like the way he was treated. Ashcroft didn't like he was treated. But so what? Let's move on. We have a lot of work to do."
Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican, said Bush, in greeting him in Williamsburg, joked about the disputed White House race that turned largely on disputed ballots in Florida.
"Hey, there is my man Mark Foley from the home of the hanging chad," Foley quoted Bush as saying.
Said Foley, "You can't help but like him. He's so comfortable with himself. He knows he's no wordsmith. He doesn't try to throw his knowledge in your face. But he really is charming and knows what he wants to do."
With Bush as president, Republicans, for the first time since 1953, simultaneously control, the White House, Senate and House.
"This is a new adventure for us," said Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, chairman of the House Republican Conference.
In introducing Bush at the Republican retreat on Friday, Watts said, "We thank you for being the man for such a time as this. We are delighted you are part of our team."
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