By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A minority president no more, President Bush (news - web sites) sketched a second-term agenda Thursday that includes fighting the worldwide war on terror and seeking tax overhaul and fundamental changes in Social Security (news - web sites) at home.
"I've earned capital in this election and I'm going to spend it for what I've told the people I'd spend it on," he said.
Bush also pledged to pursue the foreign policy that was a flashpoint in the presidential campaign and has sparked criticism by some American allies in Europe.
"There is a certain attitude in the world by some that says that it's a waste of time to try to promote free societies in parts of the world," he said, a reference to Iraq (news - web sites) in particular. "I've heard that criticism," he said.
"Remember, I went to London to talk about our vision of spreading freedom throughout the greater Middle East and I fully understand that that might rankle some and be viewed by some as folly."
Told by a reporter that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) had died, Bush said he intended to "continue to work for a free Palestinian state that's at peace with Israel." Later reports said that Arafat, in a coma in Paris, was still alive.
Bush sidestepped questions about changes in his Cabinet and potential vacancies in the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) recently disclosed he was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer.
"I haven't made any decisions on the Cabinet yet," Bush said. Nor about his top staff, he added. Changes are widely expected in both, possibly at the Justice Department (news - web sites) and State Department.
As for the nation's highest court, he said, "There's no vacancy for the Supreme Court and I will deal with a vacancy when there is one."
Bush fielded questions after securing re-election in a campaign framed by the war in Iraq and economic issues at home. Nearly complete returns gave him 51 percent of the popular vote ? a contrast to 2000, when he lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College (news - web sites).
For the second straight day, he pledged to reach out to those who opposed his re-election.
"The campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results. I will reach out to every one who shares our goals," he said.
"Democrats want a free and peaceful world," he said at one point.
He opened his first postelection news conference by prodding the lame duck Congress that meets later this month to send him an overdue spending bill. He also called for approval of legislation to overhaul the nation's intelligence apparatus to help protect against another attack.
Turning his attention to the new Congress, where Republicans gained seats in Tuesday's elections, he said he wants legislation to fundamentally reorder Social Security and the tax system.
Bush has long advocated changes in Social Security to permit workers to invest a portion of their own payroll taxes in individual retirement accounts. The proposal is intensely controversial, and opposed by many Democrats who argue it would undermine the finances of a system originally established to provide pensions to retirees.
"I earned capital in the campaign and now I intend to spend it," he said. "And I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I would spend it on."
His comment about earning political capital reflected the reality of an election in which he won a second term and his party gained seats in both the House and Senate.
At the same time, the Democratic minority has enough seats in the Senate to block legislation by filibuster, and it will be up to the Democrats to decide how often to use that power.
The president began his day by meeting with his Cabinet. After the news conference, he looked ahead to a weekend trip to Camp David, where he said he would consider personnel changes for the second term.
"It's inevitable there will be changes," he said, adding that speculation about switches were a "great Washington sport."
He cautioned against participating in it, saying he hadn't made any decisions.
Earlier, Bush took congratulatory calls from the presidents of Iraq, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Poland and Russia and the prime ministers of Israel and Italy, and convened a meeting of his Cabinet.
The president told the Cabinet, "We've still got work to do."
"We're here for a reason," the president said. "It is a privilege to sit around this table."
Bush also invited campaign workers to the White House for a thank-you celebration.
His second term secured, Bush asked the 55 million people who voted to oust him from office to get behind him.
In a victory speech late Wednesday, Bush said reaching his goals "will require the broad support of Americans." He asked Kerry's disappointed supporters to back him ? even though many of his proposals are anathema to those who opposed his re-election.
"I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust," he said. "When we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
WASHINGTON - A minority president no more, President Bush (news - web sites) sketched a second-term agenda Thursday that includes fighting the worldwide war on terror and seeking tax overhaul and fundamental changes in Social Security (news - web sites) at home.
"I've earned capital in this election and I'm going to spend it for what I've told the people I'd spend it on," he said.
Bush also pledged to pursue the foreign policy that was a flashpoint in the presidential campaign and has sparked criticism by some American allies in Europe.
"There is a certain attitude in the world by some that says that it's a waste of time to try to promote free societies in parts of the world," he said, a reference to Iraq (news - web sites) in particular. "I've heard that criticism," he said.
"Remember, I went to London to talk about our vision of spreading freedom throughout the greater Middle East and I fully understand that that might rankle some and be viewed by some as folly."
Told by a reporter that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) had died, Bush said he intended to "continue to work for a free Palestinian state that's at peace with Israel." Later reports said that Arafat, in a coma in Paris, was still alive.
Bush sidestepped questions about changes in his Cabinet and potential vacancies in the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) recently disclosed he was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer.
"I haven't made any decisions on the Cabinet yet," Bush said. Nor about his top staff, he added. Changes are widely expected in both, possibly at the Justice Department (news - web sites) and State Department.
As for the nation's highest court, he said, "There's no vacancy for the Supreme Court and I will deal with a vacancy when there is one."
Bush fielded questions after securing re-election in a campaign framed by the war in Iraq and economic issues at home. Nearly complete returns gave him 51 percent of the popular vote ? a contrast to 2000, when he lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College (news - web sites).
For the second straight day, he pledged to reach out to those who opposed his re-election.
"The campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results. I will reach out to every one who shares our goals," he said.
"Democrats want a free and peaceful world," he said at one point.
He opened his first postelection news conference by prodding the lame duck Congress that meets later this month to send him an overdue spending bill. He also called for approval of legislation to overhaul the nation's intelligence apparatus to help protect against another attack.
Turning his attention to the new Congress, where Republicans gained seats in Tuesday's elections, he said he wants legislation to fundamentally reorder Social Security and the tax system.
Bush has long advocated changes in Social Security to permit workers to invest a portion of their own payroll taxes in individual retirement accounts. The proposal is intensely controversial, and opposed by many Democrats who argue it would undermine the finances of a system originally established to provide pensions to retirees.
"I earned capital in the campaign and now I intend to spend it," he said. "And I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I would spend it on."
His comment about earning political capital reflected the reality of an election in which he won a second term and his party gained seats in both the House and Senate.
At the same time, the Democratic minority has enough seats in the Senate to block legislation by filibuster, and it will be up to the Democrats to decide how often to use that power.
The president began his day by meeting with his Cabinet. After the news conference, he looked ahead to a weekend trip to Camp David, where he said he would consider personnel changes for the second term.
"It's inevitable there will be changes," he said, adding that speculation about switches were a "great Washington sport."
He cautioned against participating in it, saying he hadn't made any decisions.
Earlier, Bush took congratulatory calls from the presidents of Iraq, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Poland and Russia and the prime ministers of Israel and Italy, and convened a meeting of his Cabinet.
The president told the Cabinet, "We've still got work to do."
"We're here for a reason," the president said. "It is a privilege to sit around this table."
Bush also invited campaign workers to the White House for a thank-you celebration.
His second term secured, Bush asked the 55 million people who voted to oust him from office to get behind him.
In a victory speech late Wednesday, Bush said reaching his goals "will require the broad support of Americans." He asked Kerry's disappointed supporters to back him ? even though many of his proposals are anathema to those who opposed his re-election.
"I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust," he said. "When we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
