Detroit Free Press: Hoekstra criticizes Bush for division

For once, Pete Hoekstra goes after his fellow Republican instead of trying to place all of the blame on the Democrats.

A key Republican member of Michigan's congressional delegation criticized President George W. Bush on Tuesday for not developing better relations among Democrats, saying they could have come in handy with the administration facing almost daily pressure on a growing number of fronts.

"This is a relationship business," Rep. Pete Hoekstra, a Holland Republican, told the Free Press on Tuesday after he said on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" that Bush has never appreciated the importance of relationships with the opposition party."

It's too late," he said. "This is the stuff you do when you're riding at 80%" favorability ratings.

A CBS/New York Times poll taken this month showed Bush's favorability rating at 30%.