US President George W. Bush met for lunch with House Democratic
leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer at the White House on
Thursday, after Republicans lost control of Congress in Tuesday's
elections.
From the Oval Office, Bush said he congratulated Pelosi on
becoming the first woman House speaker, calling the occasion
historic for the country.
Since the elections, Bush has taken reconciliatory steps to
improve ties with Democrats. He called Pelosi early Wednesday to
congratulate the Democrats on their sweep and invited Pelosi and
Hoyer for lunch at the White House.
Bush said he had a "very constructive and very friendly
conversation" with Pelosi and Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat in
the House, discussing a wide-ranging of important issues.
"When you win, you have a responsibility to do the best you can
for the country," he said.
Bush said he and Democrats did not agree on every issue, but
they agreed to address challenges facing the country "in a
constructive way."
"We won't agree on every issue, but we do agree ... that we will
do our very best to address big problems," he said.
A harsh critic of the Bush administration, Pelosi said the two
sides "extended the hand of friendship, of partnership to solve the
problems facing our country, the challenges that America's working
families face."
On the Iraq issue, Bush affirmed that he is open to any
suggestions on Iraq following the Democrats' control of Congress in
midterm elections.
"Whatever party you come from, we all have a responsibility to
ensure that these troops have the resources and support they need
to prevail," Bush said after a cabinet meeting.
Following the fall of Congress to the Democrats, Bush vowed not
to pull US troops out of Iraq.
Bush has acknowledged that the Democrats' victory is a sign that
Americans are frustrated by the Iraq quagmire.
With a Democrat-controlled Congress, the last two years of
Bush's presidency may prove to be very difficult for the White
House, making Bush a 'lame duck' president. The Bush administration
would have to seek support from Democrats to move forward with its
legislative agenda, and Democrats would exert more pressure on the
president to adjust unpopular policies.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2006)
