Wars, economy dominate Bush speech and Virginia reaction: Democrats said they saw nothing new in President Bush's agenda

By David Lerman

WASHINGTON - While he pleaded for bipartisan cooperation in his final State of the Union address, President Bush offered nothing Monday night that appeared likely to heal the partisan divide among Virginia lawmakers.

Bush, suffering from weak public approval ratings in the final year of his presidency, claimed success at reducing violence in Iraq and stressed the need for speedy passage of an economic stimulus plan to jump-start a sluggish economy.

Democrats said they saw nothing new in his agenda that would signal a major course correction for a country seeking change.

"This speech was defensive and filled with political positioning," said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. "I don't think it was addressing the problems we're really facing."

Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, said he was disappointed by Bush's Iraq plans, which suggested continued U.S. troop presence for potentially years to come.

"We need a different way of doing business," Scott said. "We need to have a plan to end the war. We didn't hear anything that would result in the war ending and people coming home."

Republicans generally applauded Bush's approach to Iraq and the war on terrorism.

"I think the president was right on," said freshman Rep. Robert Wittman, R-Westmoreland, whose district includes part of the Peninsula. "There are a lot of good things going on in Iraq. He was realistic, but I really feel good about the future prospects of Iraq."

Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, likewise endorsed the president's assessment of Iraq, but offered a cautious reaction to Bush's economic stimulus plan. The measure includes tax rebates to about 117 million families and tax breaks to businesses. Bush is pushing for quick passage of the plan without changes.

"The devil's in the details," Forbes said. "We've seen some concepts they've had, but concepts aren't good enough. We haven't seen the details. I can't tell you if I would support it."

Forbes said he viewed the speech as a challenge to a Congress that has been bitterly divided along party lines.

"The message was: Stop the partisan wars that you have, roll up your sleeves and work on bipartisan solutions."

Asked whether a new spirit of comity would be possible in an election year, Forbes expressed doubt but said, "Hope springs eternal."

Webb, a vocal critic of the Iraq war, faulted Bush for not offering a broader plan to end the war, even as violence is subsiding.

"When the president tries to look at Iraq separate from the region, he is not being honest about the difficulties we face," Webb said. "We have failed again with this administration to put the right diplomatic initiatives in place."

For the first time in three years, Virginia politicians took a back seat at Bush's address.

Last year, Webb was tapped to deliver the Democratic response to the president's speech, just months after the freshman senator waged a come-from-behind victory over former Republican Sen. George Allen.

Two years ago, congressional leaders bestowed the honor on Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, whose Democratic victory in 2005 gave Democrats bragging rights heading into the 2006 mid-term elections.

This year, the Democratic response was delivered by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who, like Kaine, is a Democrat elected in a conservative "red" state.

Kaine attended Bush's address in the House chamber Monday as a guest of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But the governor was there solely as a spectator this time.