George W. Bush

Presidency

Foreign policy and security

During his first presidential visit to Europe in June 2001, Bush came under criticism from European leaders for his rejection of the Kyoto Protocol. In 2002, Bush came out strongly against the treaty as harmful to economic growth in the United States, stating: "My approach recognizes that economic growth is the solution, not the problem." http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020214-5.html

Related Topics:
Europe - Kyoto Protocol - Treaty - Economic growth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The administration also disputed the scientific basis for the treaty. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010611-2.html In November 2004, Russia ratified the treaty, giving it the required minimum of nations to put it into force without ratification by the United States.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During his campaign, Bush's foreign policy platform included support of a stronger economic and political relationship with Latin America, especially Mexico, and a reduction in involvement in "nation-building" and other small-scale military engagements that were not directly related to U.S. interests. However, after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, the administration focused much more on foreign policy in the Middle East.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nearly a month after the attacks, on October 7, 2001, the United States and its allies commenced aerial bombing and launched a war against Afghanistan to topple the Taliban regime, which the Bush Administration charged with harboring Osama bin Laden. This action had strong international support, and the Taliban government folded quickly after the invasion. Subsequent nation-building efforts in concert with the United Nations under Afghan president Hamid Karzai have had mixed results; bin Laden was not apprehended or killed, and (as of 2005) is still at large. A sizeable contingent of troops and advisors remains into 2005. See U.S. invasion of Afghanistan for details. Democratic elections were held on October 9, 2004. There were allegations of flawed registration and validation, and 15 of the 18 presidential candidates threatened to withdraw, but international observers called the elections "fairly democratic" at the "overall majority" of polling centers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the week following the attacks on the twin towers in Manhattan in September 2001, President Bush made a brief but celebrated speech near the site of the collapsed buildings while surrounded by site workers. CNN reported that "As he stood on a pile of rubble in Manhattan, some people in the crowd shouted they couldn't hear him." http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/america.under.attack In his speech he asserted that those who had carried out the attacks would soon be "hearing from all of us".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On December 14, 2001, Bush withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which had been a bedrock of U.S.-Soviet Union nuclear stability during the Cold War, arguing it was no longer relevant. Bush has since then focused resources on a ballistic missile defense system. The proposed system has been the subject of much scientific criticism. Field tests have been mixed, with both some successes and failures. It is scheduled to start deployment in 2005. A ballistic missile defense system will not stop cruise missiles, or missiles transported by boat or land vehicle. Hence, many critics of the system believe it is an expensive mistake, built for the least likely attack, a nuclear tipped ballistic missile. Bush has also increased spending on military research and development and the modernization of weapons systems, but cancelled programs such as the overbudgeted XM2001 Crusader self-propelled artillery system and the Comanche helicopter. The administration also began initial research into bunker-busting nuclear missiles.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In July of 2002, Bush cut off all funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Bush claimed that the UNFPA supported forced abortions and sterilizations in the People's Republic of China.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Iraq

Since the 1998 enactment of the Iraq Liberation Act, stated U.S. policy had been to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. After the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration argued that the situation in Iraq had now become urgent. The Administration contended that Saddam Hussein was a threat to U.S. interests, destabilized the Middle East, inflamed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gave financial support to terrorists and had WMD. While many members of previous U.S. administrations and other governments have come to agree with these assertions, another alleged motive given for the invasion of Iraq has been over the issue of petroleum, which has created further controversy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A controversy has also arisen over evidence of Iraq's armaments presented during the buildup to war. Conflicting intelligence reports noted that Saddam's regime had tried to acquire nuclear material and the U.S. argued that it had not properly accounted for biological weapons and chemical weapons material that it was known to possess, potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in violation of U.N. sanctions. There is debate between supporters and opponents of the war about whether the U.S. had any evidence that Iraq possessed WMD and whether they had any evidence of ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. http://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1593607,00.html However, on September 30, 2004, the U.S. Iraq Survey Group Final Report concluded that, "ISG has not found evidence that Saddam Husayn (sic) possessed WMD stocks in 2003, but the available evidence from its investigation—including detainee interviews and document exploitation—leaves open the possibility that some weapons existed in Iraq although not of a militarily significant capability." http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/2004/isg-final-report/isg-final-report_vol1_rsi-06.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush contended that Saddam might deliver WMD to terrorists such as Al-Qaeda. Beginning in 2002 and escalating in spring 2003, Bush pressed the UN to act on its disarmament mandates to Iraq, precipitating a diplomatic crisis. He began by pushing for UN weapons inspections in Iraq, which the UN instituted under UN Security Council Resolution 1441. Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. There were occasional lapses in cooperation and limits on inspections set by the Iraqi government, leading to intense debate over the efficacy of inspections. Four days before the commencement of full-scale hostilities, the United States advised U.N. weapons inspectors to leave Iraq, and they departed the country. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm After Saddam's capture, interrogators asked him, "If you had no weapons of mass destruction then why not let the U.N. inspectors into your facilities?" Saddam replied, "We didn’t want them to go into the presidential areas and intrude on our privacy.". To date, no WMDs have been uncovered in Iraq.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Within the Bush administration, (now former) United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, urged that the United States not go to war without clear UN approval. The administration examined the possibility of seeking an additional UN Security Council resolution to authorize the use of military force pursuant to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, but abandoned the idea in the face of opposition from the majority of Security Council members and the public threat of a veto from France (cf. The UN Security Council and the Iraq war). Instead, the United States assembled a group of about forty nations, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Poland, which Bush called the "coalition of the willing".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has declared he shares a close political relationship with the United States known as the "Special Relationship" was asked by several parts of the media and anti-war protesters in Britain to apologize for backing his friend Bush just prior to the 2005 UK General Election, he declined, saying "I can't say sorry, I have nothing to be sorry about, I believe I did the right thing".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The coalition invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, citing many Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1441%20(2002)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOChttp://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1205%20(1998)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOChttp://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1137%20(1997)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOChttp://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1134%20(1997)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

Related Topics:
March 20 - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1115%20(1997)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1060%20(1996)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/949%20(1994)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/778%20(1992)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/715%20(1991)&Lang=E&Area=RESOLUTION, the current and past lack of Iraqi cooperation with those resolutions, Saddam's intermittent refusal to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors, Saddam's alleged attempt to assassinate former president George H. W. Bush in Kuwait, and Saddam's violation of the 1991 cease fire agreement. The coalition argued that these resolutions authorized the use of force. Other world leaders, such as Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, disagreed and called the war illegal. The primary stated goal of the war was to stop Iraq from deploying and developing WMD by removing Saddam from power. See 2003 invasion of Iraq for full coverage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The coalition was highly successful against the conventional Iraqi armed forces, and soon defeated the recognized Iraqi military. After the declared end of major combat operations on May 1, 2003, however, an insurgency caused substantially more problems than U.S. leaders had originally anticipated. The American public's support for Bush's handling of the Iraq War declined as an armed insurgency against coalition forces became more organized. A bipartisan intelligence review found no credible evidence that Saddam Hussein possessed WMD, although the report did conclude that Hussein's government was actively attempting to acquire technology that would allow Iraq to produce WMD's as soon as U.N. sanctions were lifted. The report also concluded that Saddam's missiles had a range greater than that allowed by the UN sanctions. The report found "no collaborative relationship" between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda. Bush has defended his decision, arguing that "The world is safer today." http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/09/28/blair_echoes_bush_no_regrets_over_iraq_war?mode=PF Other disputed issues have included questions about the biased selection and/or distortion of pre-war intelligence reports, democratization of the Middle East, relationship to the War on Terror, effect on the United States' relationship with European powers and on the role and function of the United Nations, debate over nation building, and the impact on nearby countries such as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The decision-making process of the Bush administration was the subject of a classified British document from July 22, 2002, known as the Downing Street memo, which became public in May 2005. In it, the British Head of the Secret Intelligence Service, Sir Richard Dearlove, reported on his visit to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2002:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The National Security Council had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.

Related Topics:
Military action - National Security Council - Publishing - Regime

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some critics charged that the Downing Street memo was a "smoking gun", claiming it proved that Bush already committed to attacking Iraq at a time when he publicly stated that he had not yet made up his mind on the issue. The existence of this debate, however, does not negate the opposing contextual events which preceded it; Bush denied this aspect of the Downing Street memo and re-asserted that he had not yet made up his mind to go to war at the time in question. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050607-2.html Several political pundits claimed that the phrase "fixed around the policy" was ambiguous and did not insinuate that administration was cherry picking the evidence, rather it simply meant the administration was "preparing" the intelligence for presentation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From June until October, 2002, there were long, protracted negotiations with members of the Security Council. The U.S. finally received a unanimous vote for U.N. Resolution 1441. Then, there were further negotiations to secure a second resolution culminating in Colin Powell's presentation to the U.N. in February 2003. The information in the "Downing Street memo" does seem to fit the timeline for information gathering operations within the Bush Administration.

Related Topics:
Negotiation - U.N. Resolution 1441

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Military spending

Of the $2,400,000,000,000 (USD) budgeted for 2005, about $401,000,000,000 (USD) http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040202-0301.html (roughly 16.7%) is planned to be spent on defense. Adjusted for inflation, this sum is the highest military budget since the late 1990s, but is roughly comparable to the average during the Cold War. http://www.d-n-i.net/charts_data/evolution_of_the_fy_2003_budget.htm

Related Topics:
Budget - Defense - Inflation - Cold War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Political ideology

Bush's political philosophy is decidedly neo-conservative. While he has often used the term "compassionate conservatism" to describe his ideology, some people believe this label is not wholly appropriate considering his record. More established ("Beltway") conservatives have criticized Bush for his willingness to incur enormous budget deficits through tax breaks for wealthy Americans and massive spending. In his 2005 inaugural address he outlined his new foreign policy, National Security Strategy of the United States of America (pdf). Bush supporters see this policy as a necessary rejection of "balance of power" politics and a redefinition of America's role in certain global fora. Critics of Bush see it as a withdrawal of America from internationalism and consensus.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush's foreign policy is heavily influenced by the neo-conservative think tank Project for the New American Century (PNAC), as evidenced by the presence of PNAC founders Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld at the highest positions in his administration, and the fact that PNAC's Clinton-era position that "American policy cannot continue to be crippled by a misguided insistence on unanimity in the UN Security Council," http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraqclintonletter.htm and that the President should lead the overthrow of Saddam Hussein with or without the support of the United Nations, was subsequently implemented, over the objections of non-PNAC members of the National Security Council.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Management style

Bush is famous for placing a high value on loyalty, and the result has been an administration with peerless

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

message discipline. President Bush maintains a "hands-off" style of management which he

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

believes prevents him from being tangled by intricacies that hinder sound decision making. "I'm confident in my management style. I'm a delegator because I trust the people I've asked to join the team. I'm willing to delegate. That makes it easier to be President," he said in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC in December of 2003. However, critics contend that Bush is willing to overlook mistakes http://www.newshounds.us/2004/05/28/gen_sanchez_gets_promoted.phphttp://devilstower.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/14/131832/042 made by loyal subordinates, and that Bush has surrounded himself with "yes men". http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/11/16/cia/index_np.html

Related Topics:
Diane Sawyer - ABC - Subordinate - Yes men

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush also has performed many of his presidential duties from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. As of August 4, 2005, Bush had visited the ranch 51 times during his time as President, accruing 325 days away from the White House and nearly reaching Reagan's eight-year record of 335 days in 5.5 years. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4785289 Critics contend that he takes more vacation than any president in history, but officials respond that his longest visit to Crawford, in August 2005, included only one week of actual respite in the five-week visit.

Related Topics:
Crawford, Texas - August 4 - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Domestic policy

Faith-based initiatives

In early 2001, Bush worked with Republicans and social conservatives in Congress to pass legislation changing the way the federal government regulated, taxed and funded charities and non-profit initiatives run by religious organizations. Although prior to the legislation it was possible for these organizations to receive federal assistance, the new legislation removed reporting requirements that required the organizations to separate their charitable functions from their religious functions. Bush also created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/

Related Topics:
Legislation - Federal government - Regulate - Charities - Religious - Organizations

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union have criticized Bush's faith-based initiative program, arguing that it involves government entanglement with religion and favoritism to religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Diversity and civil rights

Bush is opposed to the legal recognition of same-sex marriages, but supports the establishment of civil unions ("I don't think we should deny people rights to a civil union, a legal arrangement" - ABC News October 26, 2004), and has endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would define marriage as being the union of one man and one woman. Bush reiterated his disagreement with the Republican Party platform that opposed civil unions, and said that the issue of civil unions should be left up to individual states. In his February 2, 2005, State of the Union address he repeated his support for the constitutional amendment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush is the first Republican President to have appointed an openly gay man to serve in his administration http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/04/10/MN198145.DTL (Scott Evertz as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy), and the first President to see one such appointment, that of openly gay Ambassador to Romania Michael E. Guest, receive Congressional confirmation. Bush has claimed to support the executive order issued by Bill Clinton banning employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but Scott Bloch, whom Bush chose as Special Counsel in 2003, does not feel he has the legal authority to enforce the ban. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/24/AR2005052401496.html During his 2000 campaign trail he met with the Log Cabin Republicans, a first for a Republican Presiential candidate. The organization endorsed him in 2000 but not in 2004.

Related Topics:
Michael E. Guest - Scott Bloch - Log Cabin Republicans

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush has gained a slight increase in support from African-Americans during his presidency. Although he only got 9% of the black vote in 2000, he received nearly 12% in 2004, with the increased black vote in Ohio giving the victory to Bush over Kerry. Some claim Bush has opposed most forms of affirmative action. Although Bush expressed appreciation for the Supreme Court's ruling upholding the selection of college applicants for purposes of diversity, his Administration filed briefs against it. Bush has said he opposes quotas and racial preferences, but that the private and public sector should be encouraged to reach out to minorities. Bush has met with the National Urban League as President, but has not yet met with the NAACP as a group since he became president (though he did address the NAACP at its 2000 convention in Baltimore as a presidential candidate, and he met with outgoing NAACP President and former Congressman, Kweisi Mfume on December 21, 2004).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In his first term, Bush appointed Colin Powell as Secretary of State, who became the first African-American man to serve in that position. He was succeeded by Condoleezza Rice in 2005, who became the first African-American woman to hold the post, and has been called the "Most Powerful

Related Topics:
Colin Powell - Secretary of State - African-American - Condoleezza Rice

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Woman in the World". In 2005, he appointed Alberto Gonzalez as the United States Attorney General, the first Hispanic to hold that position. In summary, Bush has appointed more women and minorities to high level positions within his administration than any other U.S. President.

Related Topics:
Alberto Gonzalez - United States Attorney General - Hispanic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Economy

During his first term Bush sought and obtained Congressional approval for three major tax cuts, which increased the standard income tax deduction for married couples, eliminated the estate tax, and reduced marginal tax rates, and are currently scheduled to expire a decade after passage. Bush has asked Congress to make the tax cuts permanent. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, by 2003 these tax cuts had reduced total federal revenue, as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to the lowest level since 1959. http://www.cbpp.org/10-21-03tax.htm

Related Topics:
Congressional - Tax cut - Income tax - Deduction - Married - Estate tax - Marginal tax rate - Gross Domestic Product

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recession, the Bush tax cuts, and increases in outlays for the military and the Department of Homeland Security all contributed to record budget deficits during the Bush administration. The annual deficit reached record current-dollar levels of $374,000,000,000 in 2003 and $413,000,000,000 in 2004. National debt, the cumulative total of yearly deficits, rose from $5.7 trillion (58% of GDP) to $7.9 trillion (68% of GDP) under President Bush, as compared to the $2.7 trillion total debt owed when Ronald Reagan left office, which was 52% of the GDP. Bush himself said in a "Meet the Press" interview aired Sunday, February 8, 2004, "The recession started upon my arrival. It could have been some say February, some say March, some speculate maybe earlier it started, but nevertheless it happened as we showed up here."

Related Topics:
Department of Homeland Security - Budget deficit - Ronald Reagan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In an open letter to Bush in 2004, more than 100 professors of business and economics at U.S. business schools ascribed this "fiscal reversal" to Bush's "policy of slashing taxes - primarily for those at the upper reaches of the income distribution". http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_14283.shtml Bush's supporters have countered that, primarily because of the doubling of the value of the child tax credit, "7,800,000 low and middle-income families had their entire income tax liabilities erased by the cuts." http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/102.html

Related Topics:
Professor - Business - Economics - Child tax credit

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to the "baseline" forecast of federal revenue and spending by the Congressional Budget Office (in its January 2005 Baseline Budget Projections,http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=6060&sequence=2 the budget deficits will decrease over the next several years. In this projection the deficit will fall to 368,000,000,000 (USD) in 2005, 261,000,000,000 (USD) in 2007, and 207,000,000,000 (USD) in 2009, with a small surplus by 2012. The CBO noted, however, that this projection "omits a significant amount of spending that will occur this year--and possibly for some time to come--for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for other activities related to the global War on Terrorism." The projection also assumes that the Bush tax cuts "will expire as scheduled on December 31, 2010". If, as Bush has urged, the tax cuts were to be extended, then "the budget outlook for 2015 would change from a surplus of 141,000,000,000 (USD) to a deficit of 282,000,000,000 (USD)".

Related Topics:
Congressional Budget Office - U.S. military - Iraq - Afghanistan - War on Terrorism - December 31 - 2010

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inflation under Bush has remained at about 2-3% per year. The recession and a drop in some prices led to concern about deflation from mid-2001 to late-2003. More recently, high oil prices have caused concern about increasing inflation. So far, the economy has withstood these threats.

Related Topics:
Inflation - Deflation - High oil prices

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Employment has increased moderately under President Bush according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics after decreasing following the dot.com bust and the 9/11 terrorist attack. Employment (seasonally adjusted) based on the household survey (includes self-employed) was 137,771,000 in January 2001; it dropped to 136,128,000 in April 2002, and has increased to 142,449,000 in August 2005. http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab1.htm Seasonally adjusted employment based on Establishment Data (non-farm corporate payroll data) was 132,454,000 in January 2001, it dropped to 129,827,000 in May 2003, and increased to 133,999,000 in August 2005. http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cesbtab1.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The economy has added jobs for 28 consecutive months, but the employment level remained below the pre-Bush level until January 2005 when it reached 132,573,000 based on Establishment Data. Based on Household Survey Data employment levels exceeded pre-Bush levels in June 2003 when it reached 137,775,000.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The seasonally adjusted Unemployment Rate under Bush started at 4.2% in January 2001, peaked at 6.3% in June 2003, and retreated to 4.9% in August 2005. http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab1.htm Using unadjusted numbers, the unemployment rate under Bush started at 4.7% in January 2001, peaked at 6.5% in June 2003, and retreated to 4.9% in August 2005.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rise in GDP since the recession was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity, in part due to layoffs of underutilized workers. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups.

Related Topics:
GDP - Budget

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While the GDP recovered from the recession early in Bush's term, poverty has since worsened according to the United States Census Bureau. The percent of the population below the poverty level increased in each of Bush's first four years, while it decreased for each of the prior seven years to a 26-year low. Poverty was at 12.7% in 2004. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/histpov/hstpov2.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Social security

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush called for major changes in Social Security (United States), identifying the issue as a priority early in his second term. From January through April of 2005, he toured the country, stopping in over 50 cities across the union with an argument that there is a "crisis", a view disputed by critics as being manufactured. Initially, Bush emphasized his proposal for partial privatization, which would allow individual workers to invest a portion of their Social Security Tax (FICA) into personal retirement accounts. The main idea behind this privatization of Social Security is to allow workers to actually own the money they place into retirement, as with the existing social security system, a person who passes on loses all benefits they paid for, and the benefits are non-transferable, even to family members.

Related Topics:
Social Security (United States) - Privatization - Retirement

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One criticism of this approach was that it would actually worsen the imbalance between revenues and expenses that Bush pointed to as a looming problem. In addition, many Democrats opposed changes that they felt were turning Social Security into a welfare program that would be politically vulnerable. Some even claim that the point of Bush's plan is to benefit private companies, and that it would turn Social Security into just another insurance program.

Related Topics:
Revenue - Expense - Welfare

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Health

Bush signed the Medicare Act of 2003, which added prescription drug coverage to Medicare (United States), subsidized pharmaceutical corporations, and prohibited the Federal government from negotiating discounts with drug companies. President Bush said the law, estimated to cost 400,000,000,000 (USD) over the first 10 years, would give the elderly "better choices and more control over their health care". Seniors can buy a Medicare-approved discount card for $30 or less to help offset the increasing costs of prescription drugs. The legislation also adds prescription drug coverage to the federal health insurance program for the elderly, starting in 2006. The bill encourages insurance companies to offer private plans to millions of older Americans who now receive health care benefits under terms fixed by the government, an idea against which several Democrats have lashed out.

Related Topics:
Medicare Act of 2003 - Medicare (United States)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2003, having declared his aim to "promote a culture of life". The law never was enforced, having been ruled unconstitutional by three District Courts. One of these rulings has been upheld by an Appeals Court. The federal law would have prohibited Intact dilation and extraction procedures "in which the person performing the abortion partially vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery". Several liberal and conservative critics alike feel that the law is merely a political gesture, as a fetus could technically be aborted inside of the womb and removed thereafter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Education

In January of 2002, Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act, with Senator Ted Kennedy as chief sponsorhttp://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/03/16/bush_relaxes_rules_on_teacher_standards/, which targets supporting early learning, measures student performance, gives options over failing schools, and ensures more resources for schools. Critics (including John Kerry and the National Education Association) say schools were not given the resources to help meet new standards, although the House Committee on Education and the Workforce said in June, 2003 that in three years under the Bush administration the Education Department's overall funding would have increased by 13,200,000,000 (USD). http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press108/06jun/edspending062003.htm Some state governments are refusing to implement provisions of the act as long as they are not adequately funded. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52720-2004Feb18.html In January of 2005, USA Today reported that the United States Department of Education had paid $240,000 to African-American conservative political commentator Armstrong Williams "to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same." http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse_x.htm Williams did not disclose the payments, and has since acknowledged them but refuses to return the money.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The House Education and Workforce Committee stated, "As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act, signed by President Bush on January 8, 2002, the Federal government today is spending more money on elementary and High School (K-12) education than at any other time in the history of the United States". http://www.house.gov/ed_workforce/issues/108th/education/funding/summary.htm

Related Topics:
No Child Left Behind Act - January 8 - 2002 - High School - Education

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Science

On December 19, 2002, Bush signed into law H. R. 4664, far-reaching legislation to put the National Science Foundation (NSF) on a track to double its budget over five years and to create new mathematics and science education initiatives at both the pre-college and undergraduate level. http://www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports/public-policy-reports-2002_12_20.html

Related Topics:
December 19 - 2002 - National Science Foundation - Mathematics - Science - Education - Undergraduate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush opposes, and has limited the funding of, embryonic stem cell research. Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research was first approved under Clinton on 19 January, 1999,http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9901/19/stem.cell.research/ but no money was to be spent until the guidelines were published. The guidelines were released under Clinton on August 23, 2000. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/08/24/NIH.stem.cell/ They allowed use of unused frozen embryos. On August 9, 2001, before any funding was granted under these guidelines, Bush announced modifications to the guidelines to allow use of only existing stem cell lines. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-2.html While Bush claimed that more than 60 embryonic stem cell lines already existed from privately-funded research, scientists in 2003 said there were only 11 usable lines, and in 2005 that all lines approved for Federal funding are contaminated and unusable. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/05/24/stem.cells/ Adult stem cell funding has not been restricted. Some scientists have repeatedly criticized the Bush administration for reducing funding for scientific research and setting restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. In February 2004, over 5,000 scientists (including 48 Nobel Prize winners) from the Union of Concerned Scientists signed a statement "opposing the Bush administration's use of scientific advice". They stated that "the Bush administration has ignored unbiased scientific advice in the policy-making that is so important for our collective welfare" http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1320http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5722898/.

Related Topics:
Stem cell research - 19 January - 1999 - August 23 - 2000 - Embryo - August 9 - 2001 - Research - Nobel Prize - Union of Concerned Scientists

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On January 14, 2004, Bush announced a major re-direction for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Known as the Vision for Space Exploration, it calls for the completion of the International Space Station by 2010 and the retirement of the space shuttle while developing a new spacecraft called the Crew Exploration Vehicle under the title Project Constellation. The CEV would be used to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2018, with the objective of establishing a permanent lunar base, and eventually sending future manned missions to Mars. http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/14/bush.space/index.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although the plan was met with a largely tepid reception,http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/8572141.htm?1c the budget eventually passed with a few minor changes after the November elections. In January 2005 the White House released a newhttp://www.ostp.gov/html/SpaceTransFactSheetJan2005.pdf Space Transportation Policy fact sheet, which outlined the administration's space policy in broad terms and tied the development of space transport capabilities to national security requirements.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In August 2005, Bush took a controversial stance on the teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in science classes, which critics contend amounts to the insertion of religion into science classes (see Evolution and creationism debate). Intelligent design is also claimed by some to be unsuitable for science class because it has not found acceptance in the mainstream scientific community, and is simply a less controversial way to insert religious dogma into public school classrooms.

Related Topics:
Intelligent design - Evolution and creationism debate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On February 18, 2004, the scientific watchdog group the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report entitled Scientific Integrity in Policymakinghttp://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/reports-scientific-integrity-in-policy-making.html alleging that the Bush administration "has suppressed or distorted the scientific analyses of federal agencies to bring these results in line with administration policy" to an extent that is "unprecedented." The report was signed by over 7,000 scientists, including 49 Nobel laureates, 63 recipients of the National Medal of Science, and 154 members of the National Academy of Sciences.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Environment

Bush signed the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002, authorizing the federal government to begin cleaning up pollution and contaminated sediment in the Great Lakes, as well as the Brownfields Legislation in 2002, accelerating the cleanup of abandoned industrial or brownfield sites.

Related Topics:
Pollution - Great Lakes - Brownfield

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush's environmental record has been attacked by most environmentalists, who charge that his policies cater to industry demands to weaken environmental protections. Environmental groups note that many Bush Administration officials, in addition to Bush and Cheney, have ties to the energy industry, automotive industry, and other groups that have fought against environmental protections. In December 2003, Bush signed legislation implementing key provisions of his Healthy Forests Initiative; environmental groups have charged that the plan is simply a giveaway to timber companies. Another subject of controversy is Bush's Clear Skies Initiative, which seeks to reduce air pollution through expansion of cap-and-trade programs. Opponents say that instead of reducing air pollution, the initiative will allow utilities to pollute more than they do currently.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Partially due to gas price hikes, Bush proposed tapping the oil reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a particularly sensitive ecosystem due to its arctic location. Some claim that it is the last untouched wilderness left in the US, and that the majority of oil dug from the refuge will be sent to foreign countries, such as Japan, where larger profits can be made by domestic oil companies.

Related Topics:
Oil - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Wilderness

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush has opposed the Kyoto Protocol saying it would harm the U.S. economy. Bush said it is unfairly strict on the U.S. while being unduly lenient with developing countries, especially China and India. Bush stated, "The world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol." He has also questioned the science behind the global warming phenomenon, insisting that more research be done to determine its validity. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010611-2.html (See America's Kyoto protocol position.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Immigration

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bush proposed an immigration bill that would have greatly expanded the use of guest worker visas. His proposal would match employers with foreign workers for a period up to six years; however workers would not be eligible for permanent residency ("green cards") or citizenship. The bill is opposed by certain Democrat Senators such as Barbara Boxer and Edward M. Kennedy.

Related Topics:
Immigration - Guest worker - Visas - Employer - Foreign worker - Barbara Boxer - Edward M. Kennedy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trade

Bush's imposition of a tariff on imported steel and on Canadian softwood lumber was controversial in light of his advocacy of free market policies in other areas, and attracted criticism both from his fellow conservatives and from nations affected. The steel tariff was later rescinded under pressure from the World Trade Organization. The softwood lumber dispute is still ongoing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Major appointees

Cabinet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Supreme Court appointments

Bush appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John G. Roberts, Jr. – Chief Justice, 2005
Harriet E. Miers – (pending confirmation), 2005

Major legislation signed

;2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*June 7: Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*September 18: Authorization for Use of Military Force

Related Topics:
September 18 - Authorization for Use of Military Force

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*September 28: United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*October 26: USA PATRIOT Act

Related Topics:
October 26 - USA PATRIOT Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*November 28: Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act

Related Topics:
November 28 - Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*January 8: No Child Left Behind Act

Related Topics:
January 8 - No Child Left Behind Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*March 9: Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002

Related Topics:
March 9 - Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*March 27: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Related Topics:
March 27 - Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*May 13: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

Related Topics:
May 13 - Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*July 30: Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Related Topics:
July 30 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*October 16: Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*November 25: Homeland Security Act of 2002

Related Topics:
November 25 - Homeland Security Act of 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*March 11: Do-Not-Call Implementation Act

Related Topics:
March 11 - Do-Not-Call Implementation Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*April 30: PROTECT Act of 2003 (Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act) (see also Age of consent) http://judiciary.senate.gov/special/S151CONF.pdf

Related Topics:
April 30 - PROTECT Act of 2003 - Age of consent

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*May 27: United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*May 28: Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*September 3: United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*September 3: United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*November 5: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

Related Topics:
November 5 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*December 8: Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*December 16: Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*April 1: Unborn Victims of Violence Act (Laci and Conner's Law)

Related Topics:
April 1 - Unborn Victims of Violence Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*February 18: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

Related Topics:
February 18 - Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*April 20: Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005

Related Topics:
April 20 - Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*August 2: Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*August 8: Energy Policy Act of 2005

Related Topics:
August 8 - Energy Policy Act of 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:*August 10: (SAFETEA)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

◄ George W. Bush: Presidential campaigns

George W. Bush: Public perception and assessments ►

~ Table of Content ~

►	Introduction
►	Biography
►	Filmography
►	Latest News
►	Photo Gallery
►	Message Board
►	Education, military service, and early personal life
►	Religious beliefs and practices
►	Business and early political career
►	Presidential campaigns
►	Presidency
►	Public perception and assessments
►	See also
►	Media
►	References
►	Notes
►	Further reading and information
►	External links
►	Contact George W. Bush
►	Goodies & Collectibles
►	Posters & Prints

~ What's Hot ~

~ Community ~

►	History Forum Come and discuss about History, Civilizations, Historical Events and Figures
►	History Web-Ring A community of sites, blogs and forums dedicated to History. Do not hesitate to submit your site.
►	Theiapolis People! Latest people news, biographies, filmographies, photo gallery, message board.

This site is part of an Internet Web-ring Community hosted at World of Newave
Previous - List: history - Home: history - Forum: history - Join - Next

Some of the information on this page come from a Wikipedia article
and are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Lexicon - Privacy Policy - Spiritus-Temporis.com ©2005.