Bush's agenda during lame-duck session

President Bush pledged to put bitter campaign disputes aside and work together with the Democrats who will rule Capital Hill next year. At the same time, Bush is pressing for an aggressive agenda to pass items deeply controversial to Democrats while Congress remains in Republican hands for the next two months.

On Thursday, Bush called on the GOP-led Congress to pass the warrantless eavesdropping bill, which retroactively authorizes the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on phone calls between people in the United States and suspected terrorists overseas without a court order.

Also on Thursday, President Bush resubmitted John Bolton's nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to the Senate, where it has stalled for over a year. Bolton, strongly opposed by Democrats, assumed the post last year in a recess appointment, which does not require a Senate vote. His temporary appointment will expire in January, unless the Senate confirms him in a formal vote or President Bush finds another cleaver way for Bolton to keep his position.