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WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush, bearing the weight of six years in office, down in the polls and under fire from all sides, is kicking off his last two years in office with a subdued, more humble tone.
It was in evidence yesterday at his State of the Union speech. Gone was the swagger of years past, giving way to pledges to work with Democrats who he had kept at arm's length until they took control of the US Congress.
"Our citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on, as long as we are willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done," Bush said.
A crisis-laden presidency, barely under way when the September 11 attacks shook America and continuing through wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has taken its toll on Bush, 60. The hair is grayer, the face more wrinkled.
"What has been remarkable to me is that the responsibilities of the job quickly show up in the eyes, expressions and lines on presidential visages. Bush didn't have that look, until now," said Linda Fowler, a professor of government at Dartmouth College.
Bush's main goal is to persuade Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill to give him another chance to stabilize Iraq. He also pushed plans aimed at making health care more affordable and reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.
New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, a frequent Bush critic, told NBC's "Imus in the Morning" show that Bush looked tired at the big speech.
"Usually, you can really feel the excitement in the room, whether you agree with the president or not. This one: totally flat," Schumer said.
Critics aside, Bush might take some comfort from a snap CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted after his speech. It found that more than three-quarters of Americans who watched the address had a positive reaction to it, although the reaction was more muted from that in past years.
"I found Bush's subdued tone a great deal more effective than swagger that has characterized several of his previous State of the Union addresses and may even contribute to a modest lift in his approval ratings," said Stephen Hess, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.
Bush managed to work successfully with Democrats when he was governor of Texas. Will he be able to do it this time?
Republican strategist Scott Reed said Bush's appeal for bipartisanship was important. "It's a new day in town, there's a couple new sheriffs in the Congress, and it was important to show that he can work with them and govern," Reed said.
The day after he made his plea on Iraq, a resolution against his plan to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq passed on a largely party-line vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with only Republican voting for it. The resolution now goes to the full Senate for a vote next week.
The congressional resolutions are not binding, but represent an embarrassment for Bush and would make him look politically isolated.
His domestic ideas drew scepticism, but not an overwhelming rejection. Some lawmakers saw them as a good place to start negotiations.
Former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer, a strong supporter of his former boss, said he believed Bush's subdued tone came from a recognition that his proposals face a tough road ahead in a Democratic-controlled Congress.
"I think it's because he's savvy enough to recognise that now that he's said these things, with a Democratic Congress the prospects for getting things done are relatively small," Fleischer said. "Unlike last year when he was unpopular, he at least had hopes that a Republican Congress would take action."
- REUTERS
