George W. Bush
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
</div>| George Walker Bush | |
| Image:George-W-Bush.jpeg <small/> | |
| | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2001 | |
| Vice President(s) | Dick Cheney |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bill Clinton |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
| | |
| Born | July 6 1946 (age 62) Image:Flag of the United States.svg New Haven, CT, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Laura Welch Bush |
| Religion | United Methodist |
| Signature | Image:GeorgeWBush Signature.svg |
George Walker Bush (born July 6 1946) was inaugurated on January 20, 2001 as the forty-third President of the United States, and re-elected as president in the 2004 election. He was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. A member of the politically influential Republican Bush family, he is the eldest son of the 41st U.S. President, George Bush, grandson of the former U.S. Senator from Connecticut, Prescott Bush, and elder brother to Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida.
George W. Bush was president during the September 11, 2001 attacks and responded by declaring a global War on Terrorism. In early October 2001 he ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and destroy Al-Qaeda.<ref>President Bush's address to joint session of Congress (September 20, 2001).</ref> In March 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, asserting that Iraq was in violation of UN Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass destruction and had to be disarmed by force.<ref>Powell, Colin (February 5, 2003). U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council. Whitehouse.gov. Retrieved on 2006-05-25.</ref> Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, Bush committed the U.S. to establishing democracy in the Middle East, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref>President discusses freedom in Iraq and Middle East (November 6, 2003).</ref>
A self-described "war president,"<ref name="War President">Transcript for Feb. 8th. MSNBC (2004-02-08). Retrieved on 2006-09-09.</ref> Bush won re-election in 2004 after an intense and heated election campaign, becoming the first candidate to win a majority vote in 16 years.<ref name="16 years">Bush First President in 16 Years to Win Popular Majority. NewsMax.com (2004-11-03). Retrieved on 2006-10-01.</ref> Since his re-election, he has received increasingly heated criticism, even from former allies, on the Iraq War, Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandals, as well as domestic issues such as federal funding of stem cell research, Hurricane Katrina, and controversies such as NSA warrantless surveillance activities and the Plame affair. According to polls of job approval rating, his popularity has significantly declined from its record heights after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which contributed to what Bush called the "thumping" of the GOP in the 2006 mid-term elections.<ref>Bush admits Republicans took a "thumping" (Reuters) (November 8,2006).</ref>
Contents |
Early life
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Bush was the first child of George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush. His paternal ancestors emigrated from Somerset in the West Country of England in the seventeenth century. Bush's parents moved from Connecticut to Texas when he was two years old. He was raised in Midland and Houston, Texas, with his four siblings, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. Another younger sister, Robin, died in 1953 at the age of three from leukemia.<ref>George Walker Bush. Famous Texans. famoustexans.com (2005-02-03). Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref> Bush's grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator, and his father served as U.S. President from 1989 to 1993. George W. Bush is sometimes mistakenly referred to as George Bush, Jr; this is not correct as his father is known as George H. W. Bush. His brother Jeb was twice elected governor of Florida. The Bush family has a long-standing and strong involvement in the U.S. Republican Party.
Bush attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and, following in his father's footsteps, was accepted into Yale University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1968. At the same time, he worked in various Republican campaigns, including his father's 1964 and 1970 Senate campaigns in Texas. As a college senior, Bush became a member of the secretive Skull and Bones society. By his own characterization, Bush was an average student.<ref>Associated Press. "Self-Deprecating Bush Talks to Yale Grads", FOXNews.com, 2001-05-21. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref>
In May 1968, at the height of the ongoing Vietnam War, Bush was accepted into the Texas Air National Guard. After training, he was assigned to duty in Houston, flying Convair F-102s out of Ellington Air Force Base.<ref>York, Byron. "Bush's National Guard Years", The Hill, 2004-09-09. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref> Throughout his political career, Bush has been criticized over his induction and period of service. Critics allege that Bush was favorably treated due to his father's political standing, and that he was irregular in attendance. Bush took a transfer to the Alabama Air National Guard in 1972 to work on a Republican senate campaign, and in 1974 he obtained permission to end his six-year service obligation six months early to attend Harvard Business School, receiving an honorable discharge.
There are a number of accounts of substance abuse and otherwise disorderly conduct by Bush from this time. Bush has admitted to drinking "too much" in those years and described this period of his life as his "nomadic" period of "irresponsible youth".<ref name="Life-changing">Romano, Lois, George Lardner Jr. "Bush's Life-Changing Year", The Washington Post, 1999-07-25. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref> On September 4, 1976, at the age of 30, Bush was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He pleaded guilty, was fined $150, and had his driver's license suspended until 1978<ref>2000 Driving Record. Department of the Secretary of State of Maine (2000-11-02). Retrieved on 2006-08-09.</ref> in Maine.<ref>Fallout From A Midnight Ride. Time Magazine (2000-11-13). Retrieved on 2006-09-08.</ref> Bush was able to keep his drunk driving arrest a secret throughout his years as governor of Texas.<ref name="CNNDUI">Staff and wire reports. "Bush acknowledges 1976 DUI charge", CNN, 2000-11-02. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref><ref>"The Smoking Gun: Archive", thesmokinggun.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.</ref>
After obtaining an MBA from Harvard University (Bush is the only US President to serve holding a Master of Business Administration degree<ref>GWB: HBS MBA. The American Thinker. www.americanthinker.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.</ref>), Bush entered the Oil industry in Texas. In 1977, he was introduced by friends to Laura Welch, a young schoolteacher and librarian. After three months of courting, Bush married Laura and settled in Midland, Texas. His twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were born in 1981. Bush also left his family's Episcopal Church to join his wife's Methodist Church. Today, they are members of the congregation of the Highland Park United Methodist Church, near Dallas.<ref>The Jesus Factor. WGBH. PBS. Retrieved on 2004-05-06.</ref>
In 1978, Bush ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 19th Congressional District of Texas. Facing Kent Hance of the Democratic Party, Bush stressed his energy credentials and conservative values in the campaign. Hance, however, also held many conservative views, opposing gun control and strict regulation; he portrayed Bush as being out of touch with rural Texans. Bush campaigned hard and was an effective fundraiser, but lost by 6,000 votes. Hance later became a Republican and donated money to Bush's campaign for Governor of Texas in 1993.<ref name= NewsMine>"Bush Wasn't Always a Front-Runner", Associated Press, 1999-10-17. Retrieved on 2006-07-27.</ref>
Bush returned to the oil industry, becoming a senior partner or chief executive officer of several ventures, such as Arbusto Energy ('arbusto' means bush in Spanish), Spectrum 7, and Harken Energy. These ventures suffered from the general decline of oil prices in the 1980s that had affected the industry and the regional economy, but he remained active through mergers, acquisitions and consolidations of his firms. Bush credits a reinvigorated faith life as helping him abandon alcohol (in 1986), and face other personal and professional difficulties. Bush began studying the Bible and Christian philosophy, and participating in church and community study groups. Following a personal meeting and exchange with Reverend Billy Graham, he became a born-again Christian.<ref name="Life-changing"/>
Bush moved with his family to Washington, D.C. in 1988, to work on his father's campaign for the U.S. presidency. With colleagues Lee Atwater and Doug Wead, he helped to develop and coordinate a political strategy for courting conservative Christians and evangelical voters, who were seen as key to winning the nomination and the election. Delivering speeches at rallies and fundraisers, Bush met with representatives of conservative and religious organizations on behalf of his father.
Returning to Texas, Bush purchased a share in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in April 1989, where he served as managing general partner of the Rangers for five years. He was active in the team's media relations and in securing the construction of a new stadium, which opened in 1994 as The Ballpark in Arlington. Bush actively led the team's projects and regularly attended its games, often choosing to sit in the open stands with fans. Bush's role with the Rangers gave him prominent media exposure and attention, as well as garnering public, business and political support. The Rangers were mostly successful while Bush was a leader of the organization. During his tenure, the Rangers acquired Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who was popular with the fans during the last years of his career. The team nearly won its first division title in 1994, before a strike shortened the season. In 1989, Bush presided during the trade of the eventually famous Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox. The eventual sale of Bush's share in the Texas Rangers brought him over $15 million from his initial $800,000 investment.
George W. Bush is the first president to have run a marathon. Before running for governor of Texas he completed the 1993 Houston Marathon in 3:44:52 for a pace of about 8:36/mile. He had been running since he was 26, and before taking office, ran 15 to 30 miles a week.<ref>20 Questions for President George W. Bush. Runners World. runnersworld.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-15.</ref>
He is often referred to by the nickname "Dubya", playing on a stereotyped and generalized Southern pronunciation of the letter W.
Governor of Texas
| | |
| 46th Governor of Texas | |
| Term of office: | January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000 |
|---|---|
| Lieutenant Governor: | Bob Bullock, Rick Perry |
| Predecessor: | Ann Richards |
| Successor: | Rick Perry |
| Born: | July 6, 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, USA |
| Political party: | Republican |
| Profession: | Businessman, politician |
| Spouse: | Laura Bush |
With his father's election in 1988, speculation had arisen amongst Republicans that Bush would enter the 1990 gubernatorial election, but this was offset by Bush's purchase of the Rangers baseball team and personal concerns regarding his own record and profile. Following his success as owner and manager of the Rangers, Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 election, even as his brother Jeb first sought the governorship of Florida. Winning the Republican primary easily, Bush faced incumbent Governor Ann Richards, a popular Democrat who was considered the easy favorite, given Bush's lack of political credentials.
Bush was aided in his campaign by a close coterie of political advisors that included Karen Hughes, a former journalist who was his communications advisor; John Allbaugh, who became his campaign manager, and Karl Rove, a personal friend and political activist who is believed to have been a strong influence in encouraging Bush to enter the election. Bush's aides crafted a campaign strategy that attacked Governor Richards' record on law enforcement, her political appointments, and her support of liberal political causes. Bush developed a positive image and message with themes of "personal responsibility" and "moral leadership". His campaign focused on issues such as education (seeking more accountability for schools over student performance), crime, deregulation of the economy, and tort reform. The Bush campaign was criticized for allegedly using controversial methods to disparage Richards. Following an impressive performance in the debates, however, Bush's popularity grew. He won with 52 percent against Richards' 47 percent.<ref>Wayne Slater, James Moore (2003). Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential. USA: Wiley, 210.</ref>
As governor, Bush successfully sponsored legislation for tort reform, increased education funding, set higher standards for schools, and reformed the criminal justice system. Under his leadership, Texas executed 152 prisoners, more than under any other governor in modern American history; critics such as Helen Prejean argue that he failed to give serious consideration to clemency requests.<ref name="executions">The New York Review of Books: Death in Texas.</ref> School finance was considered a sensitive issue at the time by politicians and the press. The state financed its school system through property taxes. Seeking to reduce the high rates to benefit homeowners while increasing general education funding, Bush sought to create business taxes, but faced vigorous opposition from his own party and the private sector. Failing to obtain political consensus for his proposal, Bush used a budget surplus to push through a $2 billion tax-cut plan, which was the largest in Texas history and cemented Bush's credentials as a pro-business fiscal conservative.<ref>Wayne Slater, James Moore (2003). Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential. USA: Wiley, 233-36.</ref>
Bush also pioneered faith-based welfare programs by extending government funding and support for religious organizations providing social services such as education, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and reduction of domestic violence. Governor Bush signed a memorandum on April 17, 2000 proclaiming June 10 to be Jesus Day in Texas, a day where he "urge[d] all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need."<ref>Texas State (2005-03-11). Jesus Day (JPEG). Texas State Archives. PBS. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Although Bush was criticized for violating the constitutional separation of church and state ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."), his initiative was popular with most people across the state, especially religious and social conservatives.
In 1998, Bush won re-election in a landslide victory with nearly 69% of the vote, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected for two consecutive four-year terms (before 1975, the gubernatorial term of office was two years).<ref>Associated Press. "Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins in landslide", CNN, 1998-11-03. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref>
2000 presidential election
As one of the most popular governors in the nation, Bush was seen in the media and the Republican Party as a strong potential contender for the U.S. presidential election in 2000. Bush had personally envisioned running for the presidency since his re-election, and upon announcing his candidacy, he immediately became the Republican front-runner and raised the largest amount in campaign funds.
Bush labeled himself a "compassionate conservative," a term coined by University of Texas professor Marvin Olasky, and his political campaign promised to "restore honor and dignity to the White House". Bush proposed lowering taxes in response to a projected surplus, while promising a balanced budget. He supported participation of religious charities in federally funded programs, and promoted education vouchers, national education reform, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and structural changes to the United States armed forces. Bush's foreign policy campaign platform supported a stronger economic and political relationship with Latin America and especially Mexico, free trade and reduced involvement in "nation-building" and other minor military engagements indirectly related to U.S. interests. Bush also pledged to expand the National Missile Defense initiative and to reform Social Security and Medicare.
Bush's campaign was managed by Rove, Hughes and Albaugh, as well as by other political associates from Texas. He was endorsed by a majority of Republicans in 38 state legislatures. After winning the Iowa caucus, Bush was handed a surprising defeat by U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona in the New Hampshire primary. During his campaign, Bush was criticized for visiting the controversial Bob Jones University, which bore a reputation for a bias against Catholicism and a ban on interracial dating.<ref>Jackson, Derrick. "At Bob Jones U., A Disturbing Lesson About The Real George W.", Common Dreams Newscenter, 2000-02-09. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Bush then won the South Carolina primary, severely crippling the momentum McCain had picked up with his win in New Hampshire. McCain countered by winning in Michigan. However, McCain inexplicably decided to criticize Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell just before the Virginia primary, stirring the ire of religious conservatives. Bush went on to win the Virginia Primary and then, a week later, he captured nine of thirteen Super Tuesday state primaries, effectively clinching the Republican nomination. He chose Dick Cheney, a former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Defense, as his running mate. His campaign was endorsed by prominent Republicans such as Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell, who assumed roles as advisers on issues of national security and foreign relations. While stressing his successful record as governor of Texas, Bush's campaign attacked the Democratic nominee, incumbent Vice President Al Gore, over gun control and taxation. Bush criticized the Kyoto Protocol(although in 1998 the Senate vote to participate in the treaty was 0 for and 95 against), championed by Gore, citing the decline of the industries in the Midwestern states, such as West Virginia, and resulting economic hardships.
In the televised Republican presidential debate held in Des Moines, Iowa on December 13 1999, all of the participating candidates were asked "What political philosopher or thinker do you most identify with and why?" Unlike the other candidates, who cited former Presidents and other political figures, Bush responded, "Christ, because He changed my heart." Bush's appeal to religious values is believed to have aided his election, since those who said they "attend church weekly" gave him 56% of their vote in 2000 (and 63% of their vote in 2004).<ref>"How Americans Voted", The Gallup Organization, 2004-11-05. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.The Gallup Organization, "How Americans Voted," 5 November 2004</ref>
On election day, November 7, 2000, Bush won key midwestern states such as Ohio, Missouri, and Arkansas. He also clinched Gore's home state of Tennessee, New Hampshire, and the erstwhile Democratic bastion of West Virginia. Television networks initially called the state of Florida for Gore, then withdrew that projection and later called the state, along with the entire election, for Bush. Finally, it was declared that the results were too close to call. Sometime after the networks reported that Bush had won Florida, Gore conceded the election, and then rescinded that concession less than one hour later. The vote count, which favored Bush in preliminary tallies, was contested over allegations of irregularities in the voting and tabulation processes. Because of Florida state law, a state-wide machine recount was ordered. Although it narrowed the gap, the recount still left Bush in the lead. Eventually, four counties in Florida which had large numbers of presidential undervotes began a manual hand recount of ballots. On December 8, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that every county with a large number of undervotes would perform a hand recount. On December 9, in the Bush v. Gore case, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the statewide hand recount. The machine recount showed that Bush had won the Florida vote - making it the 30th of the 50 states he carried.<ref>State Elections Offices (2001-11-07). 2000 OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS. Public Disclosure Division, Federal Election Commission. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Despite having lost the nationwide popular contest by more than half a million votes,<ref>2000 Presidential General Election Results</ref> he won 271 electoral votes to Gore's 266. This made him the first President elected despite a popular vote loss since Benjamin Harrison in 1888.<ref>"The Electoral College: How It Works" Grolier.com</ref>
First term
President George W. Bush was regarded by his political opponents and many in the media as lacking a popular mandate, having lost the popular vote. Upon assuming office, Bush appointed Andrew Card as his Chief of Staff, Karl Rove as his political advisor and Karen Hughes as White House communications director. He appointed Colin Powell as Secretary of State, Paul O'Neill as Secretary of the Treasury, and Donald Rumsfeld as the Secretary of Defense.
His appointment of former Senator John Ashcroft as Attorney General was intensely criticized by Democrats because of Ashcroft's opposition of abortion and support for social and religious conservative causes concerning gay rights and capital punishment. Despite this, Ashcroft was confirmed, and Bush was lauded by conservatives.
Domestic policy
On his first day in office, Bush moved to block federal aid to foreign groups that offered counselling or any other assistance to women in obtaining abortions.<ref>Office of the Press Secretary. "Memorandum for Restoration of the Mexico City Policy", The White House, 2001-01-22. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Bush also successfully pushed for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, enacted in 2003 with some bi-partisan support but criticized by pro-choice groups as incursive on legalized abortion rights.
Days into his first term, Bush announced his commitment to channeling more federal aid to faith-based service organizations. Bush created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to assist faith-based service organizations. Critics claimed that this was an infringement of the separation of church and state.<ref>Buckley, Thomas E.. "Church, State and the Faith-Based Initiative", America, The National Catholic Weekly, 2002-11-11. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref><ref>Brancaccio, David. "Faith-based Initiatives", God and Government, NOW, PBS, 2003-09-26. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref>
Following a national controversy over the recognition of same-sex marriages in San Francisco and Massachusetts, Bush announced his opposition to the recognition of same-sex marriage, but supported allowing states to recognize civil unions. He endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This amendment failed to gain enough votes to pass.
Bush staunchly opposes euthanasia. He supported Ashcroft's decision to file suit against the voter-approved Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in favor of the Oregon law.<ref name=OregonEuthanasia>Johnson, Kevin. "Federal judge backs Oregon suicide law", USAToday, 2002-04-18. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> As governor of Texas, however, Bush had signed a law which gave hospitals the authority to take terminally ill patients off of life support against the wishes of their spouse or parents, if the doctors deemed it medically appropriate.<ref name=RighttoDie>Knight Ridder, Newsday. "As governor, Bush signed right-to-die law", Seattle Times, 2005-03-22. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> This became an issue in 2005, when the President signed controversial legislation forwarded and voted on by only three members of the Senate to initiate federal intervention in the court battle of Terri Schiavo.<ref name=Schiavo>Babington, Charles, Allen, Mike. "Congress Passes Schiavo Measure", The Washington Post, 2005-03-21. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref>
Bush's domestic agenda carried forward themes of increased responsibility for performance from his days as Texas governor, and he worked hard to lobby the adoption of the No Child Left Behind Act, with Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy as chief sponsor. The legislation aims to close the achievement gap, measures student performance, provides options to parents with students in low-performing schools, and targets more federal funding to low-income schools. NCLBA has been a source of ongoing controversy. Critics argue that Bush has underfunded his own program, and Kennedy himself has claimed: "The tragedy is that these long overdue reforms are finally in place, but the funds are not."<ref>W. James Antle III. "Leaving No Child Left Behind", The American Conservative, 2005-08-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> Many educational experts are critical of the reforms in question, claiming that NCLB allows some students to flee failing public schools instead of improving those schools.<ref>Harvard Graduate School of Education. "No Child Left Behind?", HGSE News, 2002-06-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> Others contend that NCLBA's focus on "high stakes testing" and quantitative outcomes is counterproductive.<ref> Raising Standards or Raising Barriers? Edited by Gary Orfield and Mindy L. Kornhaber. The Century Foundation Press. May 1, 2001</ref> Bush increased funding for the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health in his first years of office, and created education programs to strengthen the grounding in science and mathematics for American high school students. However, funding for NIH failed to keep up with inflation in 2004 and 2005, and was actually cut in 2006, the first such cut in 36 years.<ref>Committee on Appropriations – Democratic Staff. "President Bush and House Republicans Undermine Life Saving Health Research", U.S. House of Representatives, 2006-09-12. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref>
Bush promoted increased de-regulation and investment options in social services, leading Republican efforts to pass the Medicare Act of 2003, which added prescription drug coverage to Medicare and created Health Savings Accounts, which would permit people to set aside a portion of their Medicare tax to build a "nest egg". The elderly group, AARP worked with the Bush Administration on the program and gave their endorsement. Bush said the law, estimated to cost US$400 billion over the first 10 years, would give the elderly "better choices and more control over their health care".<ref>"President Signs Medicare Legislation", The White House, 2003-12-08. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref>
In the wake of the Columbia space shuttle disaster, on January 14 2004 Bush announced a major re-direction for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.<ref name=NewVisionNASA>"President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program", The White House, 2004-01-14. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> 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.
President Bush supports stem cell research, but only to the extent that human embryos are not destroyed in order to harvest additional stem cells.<ref>"President Vetoes H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005"", The White House, 2006-06-19. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> His supporters see this as a principled stand for the rights of human embryos; one to which the President has remained true despite heavy criticism. In 2004, more than two hundred Republican and Democratic members of Congress sent President Bush a letter<ref>"letter re: August 2001 executive order", Congress of the United States, 2004-04-28. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> asking him to change the August 2001 Executive Order “that has crippled stem cell research in our country.”<ref>"DeGette: President's Policy Has Chilling Effect on Stem Cells", Office of Congresswoman Diana DeGette, 2004-04-28. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> On February 27, 2004, after expressing disapproval of administration policy, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn was removed from the President's Council on Bioethics, prompting allegations that President Bush had violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, which requires committees to be “fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented.” In response to this and other controversies, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a statement entitled Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science.<ref>"Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science", The Union of Concerned Scientists, 2004-07-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref> Meanwhile, the National Right to Life Committee has commended President Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, a bill that would have allowed the destruction of human embryos created via in vitro fertilization.<ref>"National Right to Life Commends Sustained Veto of Funding for Research that Kills Human Embryos, Rebukes 154 House Members for Rejecting Ethical Alternatives", National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), 2004-07-19. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.</ref>
Bush signed the Amber Alert legislation into law on April 30 2003, which was developed to quickly alert the general public about child abductions using various media sources.<ref>"Bush signs child protection bill", CNN Inside Politics, 2003-05-01. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.</ref> On July 27 2006 Bush signed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act which establishes a national database requiring all convicted sex offenders to register their current residency and related details on a monthly instead of the previous yearly basis. Newly convicted sex offenders will also face longer mandatory incarceration periods.<ref>Lee, Davidson. "Bush signs, Hatch praises new Child Protection Act", DeseretNews, 2006-07-28. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.</ref>
Economic policy
Facing opposition in Congress, Bush held town hall-style public meetings across the nation to increase public support for his plan for a $1.3 trillion tax cut. Bush and his economic advisers argued that unspent government funds should be returned to taxpayers. With reports of the threat of recession from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Bush argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs. In the end, five Senate Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans in approving Bush's $1.35 trillion<ref>Wallace, Kelly. "$1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law", CNN InsidePolitics archives, 2001-06-07. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> tax cut program — one of the largest in U.S. history.
During his first term, Bush sought and obtained Congressional approval for two additional tax cuts: the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. These acts increased the child tax credit and eliminated the so-called "marriage penalty." Arguably, cuts were distributed disproportionately to higher income taxpayers through a decrease in marginal rates, but the change in marginal rates was greater for those of lower income, resulting in an income tax structure that was more progressive overall. Complexity was increased with new categories of income taxed at different rates and new deductions and credits, however; at the same time, the number of individuals subject to the alternative minimum tax increased since it had remained unchanged.
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; this attracted criticism both from his fellow conservatives and from nations affected. The steel tariff was later rescinded under pressure from the World Trade Organization. A negotiated settlement to the softwood lumber dispute was reached in April 2006, and the historic seven-year deal was finalized on July 1 2006.
Foreign policy
The Bush administration withdrew US support for several international agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal Court, and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) with Russia. It pursued a national missile defense which was previously barred by the ABM treaty and was never ratified by Congress.<ref>"President Bush Speech on Missile Defence", Federation of American Scientists, 2001-05-01. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Bush publicly condemned Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, naming North Korea one of three states in an "axis of evil," and saying that "[t]he United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."<ref>2002 State of the Union Address</ref> Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework of October 1994."<ref>Pollack, Jonathan. "The United States, North Korea, and the End of the Agreed Framework." Naval War College Review, Summer 2003, Vol. LVI, No. 3.</ref> Bush also boldly expressed U.S. support for the defense of Taiwan following the stand-off in March 2001 with the People's Republic of China over the crash between an EP-3E American spyplane and a Chinese air force jet, leading to the detention of U.S. personnel. In 2003-04, Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in Haiti and Liberia to restore order and oversee a transition to democracy.
Bush emphasized a "hands-off" approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in wake of rising violence and the alleged failure of the Clinton Administration's efforts to negotiate. Bush denounced Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his support of the violence and militant groups. But prompted by European leaders, he became the first American President to embrace a two-state solution in which an independent Palestine would exist side-by-side with Israel. Bush sponsored dialogue between Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas but continued his boycott of Arafat. Bush also supported Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and lauded the democratic elections held in Palestine following Arafat's death.
In his State of the Union Address in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy for global emergency AIDS relief, the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. Bush announced $15 billion for this effort—$3 billion per year for five years—but requested less in annual budgets, though some members of Congress added amendments to increase the requested amounts. The emergency relief effort is led by U.S. Ambassador Randall L. Tobias, former CEO of Eli Lilly and Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State. At the time of the speech, $9 billion was earmarked for new programs in AIDS relief for the 15 countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, another $5 billion for continuing support of AIDS relief in 100 countries where the U.S. already had bilateral programs established, and an additional $1 billion towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Almost one quarter of the $15 billion went to religious groups that tend to emphasize sexual abstinence over condom use.<ref>Associated Press. "Quarter Of Bush's $15 Billion For AIDS Going To Christian Groups", The Huffington Post, 2006-01-29. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> This budget represented more money contributed to fight AIDS globally than all other donor countries combined.
Bush condemned the attacks by militia forces on the people of Darfur, and denounced the killings in Sudan as genocide.<ref>Jim VandeHei. "In Break With U.N., Bush Calls Sudan Killings Genocide", The Washington Post, 2005-06-02. Retrieved on 2006-07-25.</ref> Bush said that an international peacekeeping presence was critical in Darfur, but opposed referring the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.
Wars
The September 11 terrorist attacks were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida when Chief of Staff Andrew Card informed him that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Following news of a second collision, Bush remained with the class for seven minutes while they finished reading a story. He then flew to air bases in Louisiana and Nebraska before returning to Washington, D.C. in the late afternoon. That evening, he addressed the nation from the Oval Office, promising a strong response to the attacks but emphasizing the need for the nation to come together and comfort the families of the victims. On September 14, he visited the World Trade Center site, meeting with Mayor Rudy Giuliani and firefighters, police officers and volunteers. In a moment captured by press and media, Bush addressed the gathering via megaphone from atop a heap of rubble:
| I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon. |
Afghanistan
On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces initiated bombing campaigns that led to the November 13 arrival of Northern Alliance troops in Kabul. By December 2001, the UN had organized both the Bonn agreement, which instated the Afghan Interim Authority chaired by Hamid Karzai, and the ISAF, a multinational fighting force whose numbers and territory have since steadily increased.
In 2003, after it became apparent that the Taliban was amassing new funds and recruits, NATO assumed ISAF control.<ref>Taliban Appears To Be Regrouped and Well-Funded. Christian Science Monitor (2003-05-08). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.</ref> By 2005, NATO had moved into western and southern parts of the country, and in 2006, requesting increased international cooperation, it announced expansion of operations to eastern Afghanistan.<ref>Afghanistan & the United Nations. UN News Centre: Afghanistan (2006-01-01). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.</ref><ref>Statement by the Secretary General on expansion of NATO’s operation in Afghanistan. NATO: Press Release (2006-10-11). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.</ref>
Large-scale offensives such as the 2006 Operation Mountain Thrust had limited success against a Taliban insurgency larger, fiercer, and better organized than expected.<ref>World Cannot Give Up on Afghanistan, Coalition Officials Say. U.S. Dept. of Defense (2006-06-28). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.</ref><ref>Frustrated Karzai toughens stance. BBC News (2006-07-22). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.</ref><ref>Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency'. USA Today (2006-07-22). Retrieved on 2006-06-19.</ref> Bin Laden and the Afghan leader of the Taliban, Mohammed Omar, remained at large as of November 2006. In October 2006, NATO broadened security operations to include every province in the country. Foreign troops in the region numbered more than 41,000 in October 2006.<ref>Rumsfeld, Donald (2006-10-07). Afghanistan: Five Years Later. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2006-06-19.</ref> In a September, 2006 address to the UN, President Bush pledged his continuing support for the Afghan people: "We'll help you defeat these enemies and build a free Afghanistan that will never again oppress you, or be a safe haven for terrorists."<ref>President Bush Addresses United Nations General Assembly. The White House (2006-09-26). Retrieved on 2006-06-19.</ref>
Iraq
- Main article: Iraq War
Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi disarmament mandates, precipitating a diplomatic crisis. On November 13 2002, under UN Security Council Resolution 1441, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. There was controversy over the efficacy of inspections and lapses in Iraqi compliance. UN inspection teams departed Iraq upon U.S. advisement given four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.<ref>Associated Press. "U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq", USA Today, 2003-03-17. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> The U.S. initially sought a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the use of military force pursuant to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.<ref>United Nations (2003-02-13). Enforcement Measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. United Nations Charter. United Nations. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Upon facing vigorous opposition from several nations (primarily France and Germany), however, the U.S. dropped the bid for UN approval and began to prepare for war; Benjamin Ferenccz, a former chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials argued that for these actions Bush, with his Administration, could be prosecuted for war crimes.<ref>Jan Frel. "Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?", AlterNet, 2006-07-10. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.</ref> Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, as well as leaders of several nations made similar statements, implying that the attack constitutes a war crime.<ref>"Iraq war illegal, says Annan", BBC, 2004-09-16. Retrieved on 2006-07-11.</ref> The war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the United Kingdom) who were designated the "coalition of the willing".<ref>Schifferes, Steve. "US names 'coalition of the willing'", BBC, 2003-03-18. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref>
The invasion of Iraq commenced on March 20, 2003, ostensibly to pre-empt Iraqi WMD deployment and remove Saddam from power, and was completed on May 1, 2003 when U.S. forces took control of Baghdad. The success of U.S. operations increased Bush's popularity, but the U.S. forces would be challenged by public disorder, as well as increasing insurgency led by pro-Saddam and Islamist groups. The Bush Administration was assailed in subsequent months following the report of the Iraq Survey Group, which, apart from a few stockpiles, did not find the large quantities of weapons that the regime was believed to possess. On December 14, 2005, while discussing the WMD issue, Bush stated that "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong."<ref>Times Online, agencies. "Bush: we went to war on faulty intelligence", Times Online, 2005-12-14. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.</ref> Bush would nevertheless remain unwavering when asked if the war had been worth it, or whether he would have made the same decision if he had known more. U.S. efforts in Iraq would become the centrepiece of Bush's expressed vision to promote democracy as a means to discourage and defeat terrorists, by removing radical regimes and fostering social and economic development. However a 2006 National Intelligence Estimate (a consensus report of the heads of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies) asserted that the Iraq war had increased Islamic radicalism and worsened the terror threat.<ref>"Report Stirs Debate on Terror Fight", New York Times, 2006-09-24. Retrieved on 2006-09-25.</ref> Bush and his top officials told early October 2006 that the United States must press on with war in Iraq. They accuse critics, including some Democrats, who call for a U.S. troop pullout or a timetable for withdrawal, of advocating a policy of 'cut-and-run'.<ref>"Stay-the-course not U.S.'s only Iraq option: Baker", 2006-10-08. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.</ref>
On October 21, 2006, Bush held a video teleconference with Vice President Cheney and military commanders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, to discuss the Iraq War. Bush admitted that there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq and would modify plans but not the overall strategy.<ref>"President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney, on screen, and military commanders.", 2006-10-21. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.</ref><ref>"Bush Reviews Iraq War Strategy as Violence Mounts (Update1)", 2006-10-21. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.</ref>
On November 28, 2006, facing mounting criticism for his Iraq war policy, Bush told the NATO Summit 2006 in Latvia that "We'll continue to be flexible, and we'll make the changes necessary to succeed. But there's one thing I'm not going to do: I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete."<ref>"President Bush Discusses NATO Alliance During Visit to Latvia", The White House, November 28, 2006.</ref>
Campaign for re-election
Bush commanded broad support in the Republican Party and did not encounter a primary challenge. He appointed Kenneth Mehlman as campaign manager, and the campaign political strategy was devised by Karl Rove.<ref>An Interview With Karl Rove. NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. PBS (2004-08-01). Retrieved on 2006-09-09.</ref> Bush outlined a 2004 agenda that included a strong commitment in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, cutting the budget deficit in half, promoting education, tort reform, social security and national tax reform. Bush emphasized his social conservatism by arguing for the Federal Marriage Amendment. In most of his speeches, Bush also stressed a vision and commitment for spreading freedom and democracy across the world.
Having had great success at fundraising, the campaign began running television and radio advertisement campaigns across the nation against Democratic candidates, including Bush's emerging opponent, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Kerry and other Democrats attacked Bush on the conduct of the war in Iraq, perceived excesses of the USA PATRIOT Act and for allegedly failing to stimulate the economy and job growth, as well as controversies surrounding Bush's service in the National Guard. Bush emphasized his leadership in war and national security challenges, evoking the patriotism and passion aroused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Bush campaign portrayed Kerry as a staunch liberal who would raise taxes, increase the size of government, and fail to oppose a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Bush campaign continuously criticized Kerry's allegedly contradictory statements on the war in Iraq, and claimed Kerry lacked the decisiveness and vision necessary for success in the war on terrorism. Popular politicians such as Rudy Guiliani, John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and conservative Democrat Zell Miller campaigned actively for Bush, who traveled across the country delivering speeches at three to four different locations on most days. The campaign organized a large group of volunteers and focused its efforts on swing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Bush carried 31 of 50 states for a total of 286 Electoral College votes.
