The US president also was sensitive to complaints by fiscal conservatives, who object to the raise in the debt ceiling and the bailout for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders. Some, but not all, were mollified by the bill's establishment of a regulator with stronger reins over the two companies and the new "consultative" role overseeing the companies for the Federal Reserve.

Bush withdrew his veto threat early last week, saying hurting homeowners could not wait for the outcome of a veto showdown that would take weeks -- though he predicted he would have won that fight.

The White House cast Bush's quiet signing of the bill as an act of expedience, not camouflage.

Press secretary Dana Perino said the early morning action was Bush's first opportunity to sign because the bill was transmitted to the White House on Tuesday night. She also noted that most bills are signed without formal ceremonies -- though that is usually the case because they are minor measures, not legislation of this magnitude.

Bush's action seemed to indicate he wanted to play both sides: avoid being seen as not helping middle America in a crisis and avoid too close an association with a bill that many in the GOP opposed.

"We recognize that there were many people who did not support the bill. We agreed with them on almost every count when it came to that," Perino said.

She said the bill that set for signing ceremony Wednesday -- one to triple money to fight AIDS and other diseases around the world -- was the better choice for such attention.

"I would dare say that that deserves a larger signing ceremony than anything else that was passed this week in Congress," she said.

(Chinadaily.com.cn via agencies July 31, 2008)