Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991 TAG: 9103070562
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: WALTER R. MEARS ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Far more.
So when the cheering finally stopped at a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, Bush laid out peacetime challenges to rival those set, and won, in the war against Iraq.
His main aims, all against long odds:
A comprehensive peace settlement to end the chronic conflict between the Arab states and Israel.
Enactment in 100 days, by a Democratic Congress, of domestic proposals of the Republican administration.
An economic comeback from the recession now that "Americans can move forward to lend, spend and invest" without the fears and uncertain- ties stirred by the Persian Gulf crisis.
An end to ingrained congressional ways of doing business on defense and foreign policy issues. Bush said there should be no more "micro-management" of weapons, of decisions on closing military bases, or on foreign and defense aid.
In keeping with the victory mood, Congress applauded. But it is less likely to give up its sway over the contracts and bases that are political prizes back home.
"We cannot lead a new world abroad if, at home, it's politics as usual on American defense and diplomacy," Bush said. It was a new version of an old presidential lament about congressional intrusions in matters every administration wants to manage for itself.
Bush's popularity ranks higher than any president before him, and he seeks to translate that strength into action, swiftly, before time and new problems can erode the triumph of the Persian Gulf War.
"We're coming home now - proud. Confident. Heads high," Bush said. "There is much that we must do at home and abroad. And we will do it. We are Americans."
There was no equal-time rebuttal on this address to Congress and the nation, and no Democratic reservations on display, not even when Bush repeated much of his State of the Union agenda for domestic legislation and asked for its enactment, quickly.
"If our forces could win the ground war in 100 hours, then surely the Congress can pass this legislation in 100 days," Bush said to applause that will be long forgotten when it comes time for congressional votes.
For on that, too, the opposition will be back soon.
The Democrats run Congress, and they intend to make domestic legislation their sales point for the 1992 campaign. On civil rights, highway legislation, a crime bill and other items on the Bush list, they'll push their own measures on their own terms.
There's no guarantee that even a 9-to-1 approval rating in the polls can be translated into votes in Congress. But, said Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, chairman of the party's Senate campaign committee, it should help.
"Every time the president asks Congress to vote on the crime bill or the transportation or the education bill, Democrats are having to cast a vote as to whether they support or oppose a popular president. And when the president is popular, it always makes it harder to oppose him," Gramm said after a White House meeting Tuesday.
by CNB