George W. Bush is on the road again …today in Atlanta…selling his trillion-dollar tax cut plan to the American people. On Tuesday night, the President took center stage in his first address to a joint session of Congress.
He talked about issues he ran on during the campaign – increasing education spending, strengthening the military, and government support for faith-based organizations. But his main goal was to outline his plan for a 1.6 trillion dollar across the board tax cut. The address to Congress marked Bush’s debut as a President setting forth his legislative agenda to the nation. Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to President Clinton, noted that a president’s first budget speech is really “his last campaign speech.” “From now on, Panetta said, the task is governing”, not campaigning. The controversial plan is shaping up as Bush’s first defining battle with Congress, the outcome of which could well be determined by public opinion.
So Connection listeners, what’s YOUR opinion? What do you think about George Bush’s address Tuesday night? Did his renowned personal charm come across the small screen to you?
(Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
Guests:
Ceci Connolly, National Political Reporter for “The Washington Post”, Wayne Slater, Austin Bureau Chief for “The Dallas Morning News” and Earl Black, Professor of Political Science at Rice University in Houston, TX