Humbly, Bush asks for action - and pronto

President George W. Bush, buoyed by elections giving his Republican Party control of the United States Congress, has demanded an early vote on a homeland security department, and pledged to offer a jobs package early next year to try to revive the stumbling US economy.

Bush, who avoided gloating after mid-term elections, struck a humble pose at his first formal solo news conference in four months, saying he did not claim a mandate.

"Now that the voters have spoken, I urge the members of both political parties to come together to get things done for the American people," said Bush, who has been credited with helping Republicans in key races with a final 15-state, 17-city marathon campaign dash.

Wednesday's elections added to Republican control of the House of Representatives and gave Bush's party command of the Senate, but not by a wide enough majority to avoid having to work with Democrats.

Bush made clear, however, that he would push for some items that were held up by the Democratic-led Senate, placing a top priority on creation of a department of homeland security proposed in the wake of the last year's September 11 attacks.

Senate Democrats blocked the legislation over labour issues vital to the party's core union supporters.

Bush said he wanted a lame-duck session of Congress, which returns next week, to approve the new department before adjourning for the year.

Democrats on the campaign trail hit Bush hard on the state of the economy to little effect on election day.

But mindful of the economy's impact on his own father's doomed re-election campaign in 1992, Bush said he would offer a plan to generate jobs.

"We have a responsibility to strengthen the economy so people can find work. We're working to keep this economy moving," he said.

He gave no specifics, except to say he would work with the new Congress to pass "new growth and jobs packages early next year."

On the other side of the political fence Dick Gephardt, Democrat leader in the House, has confirmed he will be stepping down - the first scapegoat for his party's disastrous showing.

With recriminations already flying and under intense pressure to step aside to allow new leadership to come through, Gephardt made clear he would not be seeking a sixth term in the job.

In the short-term, Gephardt's decision will make for a battle between veteran representatives Nancy Pelosi, of California, and Martin Frost, of Texas, to take control of the Democrat leadership in the House.

But Gephardt's decision also marks what is certain to be a round of fierce infighting within the party about its future direction and tactics.

So far there have been no challengers to Tom Daschle, the Democrat leader in the Senate, but it is far from clear whether he wants to carry on in the job.

Despite still licking their wounds, Democrats also need to rapidly start thinking about the 2004 presidential election. Before these elections both Gephardt and Daschle were expected to announce their intention to run for the White House.

Bush said yesterday he would keep Vice-President Dick Cheney as his running mate in a 2004 re-election campaign, quashing lingering speculation about a replacement.

- INDEPENDENT, REUTERS

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