Bush sees need to reach out

2006-11-08 19:24

Washington - President George W Bush - licking his wounds from his Republican Party's stinging defeat in congressional elections - held out an olive branch on Wednesday to Democrats as he faced two difficult final years in office.

Bush telephoned Democratic leaders early on Wednesday to congratulate them on legislative wins a day earlier and voice his will to work with them, the White House said.

The US president invited the likely house of representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and another ranking Democrat, Steny Hoyer, to lunch at the White House on Thursday.

In his calls, Bush "expressed a strong spirit of goodwill and co-operation, and they all pledged to work together," the spokesperson, Dana Perino, said.

Reaching out to Democrats is not something Bush has been accustomed to in his six years in office, with his Republicans running the show in both houses of congress.

But that has all come crashing down.

Tony Fratto, another White House spokesperson, said Bush was "obviously disappointed, but ready to move ahead in a bipartisan way".

Rumsfeld

"The congress has changed, but the issues don't," he added.

The challenges could come fast. Rahm Emanuel, an architect of the Democrats' victory, said early on Wednesday they would push Bush immediately for a new approach on Iraq - including demanding the replacement of defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"We think Iraq is the single greatest national security challenge in over two generations.

"We know this can't be solved by trying to politicise this," Emanuel told NBC television, adding that the Democrats were backed by many Republicans in wanting Rumsfeld out.

The Democratic surge will shape Bush's last two years in office as well as the battle to replace him in November 2008 elections.

A Democratic House could alter tax and spending legislation and trade agreements, conduct investigations into issues such as the flawed case for war in Iraq and call Bush aides to testify at public hearings.

- AFP