Flanked by Republican Sens. Pete V. Domenici (N.M.) and John McCain (Ariz.), Bush invited Democrats "to come to the table" to help devise a solution to shore up Social Security's finances. "I believe there will be bad political consequences for people who are unwilling to sit down and talk about the issue," he said.

These comments sounded like partisan political threats to me. When you can't sell something on its merits, then do what the schoolyard bully does--get a couple of your buddies rounded up and threaten your opponent.

I think less of Domenici and McCain for being a party to these tactics.