Bush Presses Second Term Agenda

President Bush answers questions during a news conference at the White House. (Gereald Martineau - The Washington Post)

Regarding the prospect of an imminent offensive by U.S. Marines in Iraq against insurgents in the rebel-held city of Fallujah, Bush said, "In order for Iraq to be a free country, those who are trying to stop the elections and stop a free society from emerging must be defeated." He said U.S. forces are working with the Iraqi interim government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi toward that end.

"We will work closely with the government," Bush said. "It's their government, it's their country. We're there at their invitation. But I think there's a recognition that some of these people . . . must be defeated."

Bush began the news conference by saying he was reaching out to the entire nation, including the White House press corps.

"This week the voters of America set the direction of our nation for the next four years," he said. "I'm honored by the support of my fellow citizens, and I'm ready for the job."

Bush said all Americans, including Democrats, have a stake in the continuing war on terrorism, and he pledged to extend a hand to them as well as to foreign governments that opposed his decision last year to invade Iraq.

"Every civilized country also has a stake in the outcome of this war" on terrorism, Bush said. "Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy, and we have common duties to protect our peoples," as well as to fight disease, hunger and poverty around the world.

"I'll continue to reach out to our friends and allies . . . to promote development and progress, to defeat the terrorists, and to encourage freedom and democracy as alternatives to tyranny and terror." Bush said.

As for his domestic agenda, he said, "With the campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results. I'll reach out to everyone who shares our goals."

In later remarks, however, he suggested that bipartisanship might sometimes have to take a back seat to the hardball realities of achieving his goals.

Saying that there is "a certain practicality to life here in Washington," Bush stressed, "When we get a bill moving, it is important to get the votes. And if politics starts to get in the way of getting good legislation through, that's just part of life here. But I'm also focused on results."

Asked about a "religious divide" in the country between conservative Christians who were among his strongest supporters and nonreligious Americans who tended to favor Kerry, Bush said, "My answer to people is I will be your president regardless of your faith, and I don't expect you to agree with me, necessarily, on religion. As a matter of fact, no president should ever try to impose religion on our society."

Answering a question about a possible future appointment to the Supreme Court, Bush said, "I will deal with the vacancy when there is one."

There has been no vacancy on the Supreme Court since 1994, but Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's treatment for thyroid cancer has raised questions about his ability to continue serving, and several other justices are reportedly considering retiring.

Bush reiterated his statements during the campaign that he would pick justices who know "the difference between personal opinion and a strict interpretation of the law." He said anyone interested in knowing the kind of judges he would pick should "look at the record" of his past appointments to federal courts.

Bush held the news conference after a morning Cabinet meeting at the White House, where he said he discussed the broad agenda for his second four-year term.

"I reminded them that even though our election just ended, we've still got work to do," Bush told reporters as he sat at a table with Cabinet members and top advisers, including Vice President Cheney.