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| George w. Bush is a dick | |||
| {{otherpeople|George Bush|George Bush}} | |||
| {{use mdy dates}} | |||
| {{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}{{pp-move-indef}} | |||
| {{active editnotice}} <!-- See ] --> | |||
| {{Infobox President | |||
| |image=George-W-Bush.jpeg | |||
| |imagesize=250px | |||
| |alt=A portrait shot of a smiling older male looking straight ahead. He has short grey hair, and is wearing a dark navy blazer with a blue styled tie over a white collared shirt. In the background is an American flag hanging from a flagpole. | |||
| |order=] | |||
| |office=President of the United States | |||
| |term_start=January 20, 2001 | |||
| |term_end=January 20, 2009 | |||
| |vicepresident=] | |||
| |predecessor=] | |||
| |successor=] | |||
| |order2=46th | |||
| |office2=Governor of Texas | |||
| |term_start2=January 17, 1995 | |||
| |term_end2=December 21, 2000 | |||
| |lieutenant2=]<small> (1995–1999)</small><br />]<small> (1999–2000)</small> | |||
| |predecessor2=] | |||
| |successor2=] | |||
| |birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1946|7|6}} | |||
| |birth_place=] | |||
| |birthname=George Walker Bush | |||
| |nationality=American | |||
| |party=] | |||
| |spouse=] | |||
| |children=]<br />] | |||
| |occupation=]<br />(], ]) | |||
| |alma_mater=]<small> (])</small><br />]<small> (]) | |||
| |residence=], ], Texas<br />], Texas | |||
| |religion=] (before 1977)<ref>{{cite news|last=Seelye|first=Katharine Q.|title=Bush Celebrates Easter at an Outdoor Service|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/16/us/bush-celebrates-easter-at-an-outdoor-service.html|work=New York Times|date=July 6, 2009|accessdate=April 16, 2001}}</ref><br />]<small> (after 1977)</small><ref name="um"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Cooperman|first=Alan|title=Openly Religious, to a Point|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A24634-2004Sep15?language=printer|work=The Washington Post|date=September 15, 2004|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| |net worth=$8–21 million (])<ref>{{cite news|last=Kakutani|first=Michiko|title=Bush Profiled: Big Ideas, Tiny Details|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/books/05kaku.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 5, 2007|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| |signature=GeorgeWBush Signature.svg | |||
| |website=<br /><br /> ''Archived'' | |||
| |footnotes= | |||
| |branch=]<br />] | |||
| |serviceyears=1968–1974 | |||
| |rank=] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''George Walker Bush''' ({{Audio-IPA|lang=US English|En-us-George Walker Bush.ogg|/ˈdʒɔrdʒ ˈwɔːkər ˈbʊʃ/}}; born July 6, 1946) was the ] ], serving from 2001 to 2009, and the ], serving from 1995 to 2000. | |||
| Bush is the eldest son of President ], who served as the ] President, and ], making him one of only two American presidents to be the son of a preceding president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=6 |title=Life Portraits |publisher=American Presidents |date= |accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> After graduating from ] in 1968, and ] in 1975, Bush worked in ] ]es. He married ] in 1977 and unsuccessfully ran for the ] shortly thereafter. He later co-owned the ] ] team before defeating ] in the ]. In a ], Bush was elected President in 2000 as the ] candidate, defeating then-] ] in the Electoral College.<ref>{{cite web| erl=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/13/gore.ends.campaign/index.html | title=Gore concedes presidential election}}</ref> | |||
| Eight months into Bush's first term as president, the ] occurred. In response, Bush ] a global ], ordered an ] that same year and an ] in 2003. In addition to national security issues, Bush promoted policies on the economy, health care, education, and social security reform. He signed into law broad ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes/|work=CNN|title=$1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law|date=June 7, 2001|accessdate=October 21, 2007}}</ref> the ], the ], and ] prescription drug benefits for seniors. His tenure saw national debates on ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html|title=March 18, 2003 Presidential Letter|publisher=The White House|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=March 19, 2003}}; {{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030205-1.html|date=February 5, 2003|title=U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council|first=Colin|last=Powell|publisher=The White House|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Bush successfully ran for re-election against ] ] ] in ], in another relatively close election. After his re-election, Bush received increasingly heated ] from ]s<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12643666/|title=Republican right abandoning Bush|publisher=MSNBC|date=May 5, 2006|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=40D3433B-3048-5C12-00051A3BF2F9403A|title=Republican candidates begin snubbing Bush|date=June 20, 2007|author=David Paul Kuhn and Jonathan Martin|publisher=Politico|accessdate=May 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184608,00.html|title=Illegal Immigration, Unchecked Spending Siphon Conservatives From GOP Base|publisher=FOXNews.com|author=Kelley Beaucar Vlahos|date=February 13, 2006|accessdate=May 11, 2008}}</ref> and ]. In 2005, the Bush Administration dealt with widespread<ref>{{cite news|author=From Mike M. Ahlers CNN Washington Bureau|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/14/fema.ig/index.html|title=Report: Criticism of FEMA's Katrina response deserved - April 14, 2006|publisher=CNN.com|date=2006-04-14|accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/hurricaneprep_05-09-06.html|title=Online NewsHour Update: Amid Widespread Criticism, Government Prepares for Next Hurricane Season - May 9, 2006|publisher=PBS|date=2006-05-09|accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> criticism over its handling of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/609550|title="Katrinagate" fury spreads to US media | WORLD News|publisher=Tvnz.co.nz|date=2005-09-07|accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> In December 2007, the United States entered its longest post-] recession.<ref name="longest1">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE4BM49M20081223|title=SF Fed Economics see longest recession since WW2|accessdate=April 24, 2009|date=April 24, 2009|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Emily Kaiser |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5090QL20090110 |title=Economists see longest recession since World War Two, Reuters, January 10, 2009 |publisher=Reuters.com |date=2009-01-10 |accessdate=2010-04-20}}</ref> This prompted the Bush Administration to take more direct control of the economy, enacting multiple economic programs intended to preserve the country's financial system. Though Bush was popular within the U.S. for much of his first term,<ref name="Gallup">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/106426/Bush-Job-Approval-28-Lowest-Administration.aspx|title=Bush Job Approval at 28%, Lowest of His Administration|accessdate=January 20, 2009|date=April 11, 2008|publisher=Gallup}}</ref> his popularity declined sharply during his second term.<ref name="wapo ratings">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/custom/2006/02/02/CU2006020201345.html|title=President Bush's Approval Ratings|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Bush: Job Ratings">{{cite web|url=http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm|title=Bush: Job Ratings|publisher=Pollingreport.com|accessdate=October 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="The National Economy">{{cite web|url=http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/|title=The National Economy|publisher=Americanresearchgroup.com|accessdate=October 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="gallup high">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/4924/Bush-Job-Approval-Highest-Gallup-History.aspx|title=Bush Job Approval Highest in Gallup History|publisher=Gallup.com|accessdate=October 20, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| After leaving office, Bush returned to Texas and purchased a home in a suburban area of ]. He is currently a public speaker and is writing a book about his presidency.<ref name="NYTBook"/> | |||
| {{TOC limit|limit=3}} | |||
| == Childhood to mid-life == | |||
| {{Main|Early life of George W. Bush}} | |||
| Born in ], Bush was the first child of ] and ] (née Pierce). He was raised in ] and ], with his four siblings, ], ], ] and ]. Another younger sister, ], died from ] at the age of three in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famoustexans.com/georgewbush.htm|title=George Walker Bush|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=February 3, 2005|work=Famous Texans}}</ref> Bush's grandfather, ], was a ] from ].<ref>, '']''. Retrieved February 12, 2010.</ref> Bush's father, ], served as ] from 1981 to 1989 and U.S. President from 1989 to 1993. Bush is of primarily ] and ] descent, and also has distant ], ], ] and ] ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/political/bush.html |title=Ancestry of George W. Bush |publisher=Wargs.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-20}}</ref> | |||
| === Education === | |||
| As a child, Bush attended public schools in ] until the family moved to ] after he completed seventh grade. He then went to ], a ] in ], for two years.<ref>Bush, then the ], was the commencement speaker at St. John's Academy in 1995: {{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/40090/tsl-40090.html|title=An Inventory of Press Office Speech Files at the Texas State Archives, 1986, 1989-2000, undated (bulk 1995-2000)|accessdate=May 1, 2008|publisher=Texas State Library and Archives Commission}}</ref> | |||
| Bush finished his high school years at ], a boarding school (then all-male) in ], where he played ] and during his senior year was the head cheerleader.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/bush/stories/bush/|title=George W. Bush: Living the Bush Legacy|accessdate=March 18, 2007|date=October 29, 2000|work=CNN|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070311040821/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/bush/stories/bush/ |archivedate = March 11, 2007|deadurl=yes}}{{wayback|url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/bush/stories/bush/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/061000wh-bush.html|title=George W. Bush's Journey ''The Cheerleader'': Earning A's in People Skills at Andover|author=]|work=The New York Times|date=June 10, 2000|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> Bush attended ] from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a ] degree in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewbush/|title=Biography of President George W. Bush|accessdate=June 23, 2009|publisher=The White House}}</ref> During this time, he was a member of ], being elected the fraternity's president during his senior year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bush072799.htm|title=Bush: So-So Student but a Campus Mover|author=Lois Romano and George Lardner Jr.|work=The Washington Post|date=July 27, 1999|accessdate=April 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/11584|title=DKE & YPU: Filling precedential shoes|author=Jessica Feinstein and Jennifer Sabin|work=The Yale Daily News|date=October 7, 2004|accessdate=April 8, 2009}}</ref> Bush also became a ] of the ] society as a senior.<ref>Bush, George W., A Charge to Keep, (1999) ISBN 0-688-17441-8</ref> Bush was a keen ] player, and was on Yale's 1st XV.<ref>Cain, Nick & Growden, Greg "Chapter 21: Ten Peculiar Facts about Rugby" in ''Rugby Union for Dummies'' (2nd Edition), p297 (pub: John Wiley and Sons, ], England) ISBN 978-0-470-03537-5</ref> He characterized himself as an average student.<ref>{{cite news|author=Associated Press|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,25229,00.html|title=Self-Deprecating Bush Talks to Yale Grads|work=Fox News Channel|date=May 21, 2001|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}; {{cite news|work=Inside Politics|url=http://www.insidepolitics.org/heard/heard32300.html|title=Bush/Gore Grades and SAT Scores|date=June 17, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Beginning in the fall of 1973, Bush attended the ], where he earned an ]. He is the only U.S. President to have earned an ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2004/02/gwb_hbs_mba.html|title=GWB: HBS MBA|accessdate=September 1, 2008|publisher=The American Thinker}}</ref> | |||
| === Texas Air National Guard === | |||
| {{See also|George W. Bush military service controversy}} | |||
| ] | |||
| In May 1968, Bush was commissioned into the ].<ref name=wpbushguardquestion>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7372-2004Feb2?language=printer|title=Bush's Guard Service In Question|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Romano|first=Lois|date=February 3, 2004|work=The Washington Post|pages=A08}}</ref> After two years of active-duty service while training,<ref name="lardner19990728">Lardner, George Jr. and Lois Romano. "" ''Washington Post'', July 28, 1999.</ref> he was assigned to Houston, flying ] ] with the ] out of ].<ref name=wpbushguardquestion /><ref>{{cite news|first=Byron|last=York|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/flashback/york200408261025.asp|title=The Facts about Bush and the National Guard|work=National Review Online|date=August 26, 2004|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> Critics, including former ] Chairman ] and ], have alleged that Bush was favorably treated due to his father's political standing, citing his selection as a pilot despite his low pilot aptitude test scores and his irregular attendance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7372-2004Feb2.html|title=Bush's Guard Service In Question|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=February 3, 2004|author=Lois Romano|publisher=Washington Post}}</ref> In June 2005, the ] released all the records of Bush's Texas Air National Guard service, which remain in its official archives.<ref name=USDoDbushrecords>{{cite news|publisher=Department of Defense|url=http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/bush_records/index.html|title=Official DoD service records of Texas Air National Guard member George Walker Bush|date=June 17, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In late 1972 and early 1973, he ] with the ] of the ], having moved to ] to work on the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Republican ].<ref>, '']'', October 26, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2010.</ref><ref>Walker, Jessica M., , '']'', February 13, 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2010.</ref> In October 1973, Bush was discharged from the Texas Air National Guard and transferred to ] in the ]. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve on November 21, 1974, at the end of his six-year service obligation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brit Hume, Mara Liasson, Jeff Birnbaum, Charles Krauthammer|title=The All-Star Panel Discusses John Kerry's Shifting Positions on Iraq War Spending|work=Fox News Network (transcript)|date=July 9, 2004}}</ref> | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| == Marriage and family == | |||
| {{See also|Bush family}} | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1977, he was introduced by friends at a backyard barbecue to ], a school teacher and librarian. Bush proposed to her after a three-month courtship and they were married on November 5 of that year.<ref name="readherlips">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/bush/profile.html|title=Read her lips: Literacy efforts on first lady's agenda|date=April 8, 2001|accessdate=May 25, 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref> The couple settled in ]. Bush left his family's ] to join his wife's ].<ref name="um">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/etc/script.html|title=The Jesus Factor|accessdate=September 1, 2008|work=]|publisher=]}}</ref> In 1981, Laura Bush gave birth to ] daughters, ] and ];<ref name="readherlips"/> they graduated from high school in 2000 and from the ] and ], respectively, in 2004. | |||
| Prior to his marriage, Bush had multiple episodes of alcohol abuse.<ref name="Life-changing">{{cite news|first=Lois|last=Romano|coauthors=George Lardner Jr|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bush072599.htm|title=Bush's Life-Changing Year|work=The Washington Post|date=July 25, 1999|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> In one instance, on September 4, 1976, he was arrested near his family's summer home in ] for ]. He pleaded guilty, was fined ]150 and had his ] ] suspended until 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushdmv1.html|title=2000 Driving Record|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=November 2, 2000|publisher=Department of the ]}}; {{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998465,00.html|title=Fallout From A Midnight Ride|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=November 13, 2000|work=Time Magazine}}</ref> Bush's alleged ] is less clear; when asked questions about past alleged ], Bush has consistently refused to answer. He defended his refusal to answer in a publicized ] saying that he feared setting a bad example for the younger generation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/politics/20talk.html|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=October 1, 2009|title=In Secretly Taped Conversations, Glimpses of the Future President | first=David D. | last=Kirkpatrick | date=February 20, 2005}}></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6999665/|title=Bush feared past ‘mistakes’ would cost him|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=October 1, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4282799.stm|title=Bush hinted at use of marijuana|publisher=BBC|accessdate=October 1, 2009|date=February 21, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| Bush says his wife has had a stabilizing effect on his life,<ref name="readherlips"/> and attributes influence to her in his 1986 decision to give up alcohol.<ref name=turningpoint>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2000/01/23/george_w_bush/|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012215629/http://boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2000/01/23/george_w_bush/|archivedate=October 12, 2007|title=Turning Point: George W. Bush, A Legacy Reclaimed|author=Leonard, Mary|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=January 23, 2000|work=The Boston Globe}}</ref> While Governor of Texas, Bush said of his wife, "I saw an elegant, beautiful woman who turned out not only to be elegant and beautiful, but very smart and willing to put up with my rough edges, and I must confess has smoothed them off over time."<ref name="readherlips"/> | |||
| == Early career == | |||
| {{Main|Professional life of George W. Bush}} | |||
| In 1978, Bush ran for the ] from ]. His opponent, ], portrayed him as being out of touch with rural Texans; Bush lost the election by 6,000 votes (6%) of the 103,000 votes cast.<ref name= NewsMine>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991017/aponline114059_000.htm|title=Bush Wasn't Always a Front-Runner|work=The Washington Post|date=October 17, 1999|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> He returned to the oil industry and began a series of small, independent oil exploration companies.<ref name="msn">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761581479/george_bush.html|title=George Bush|accessdate=August 3, 2008|publisher=MSN Encarta|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5kwppnbYX|archivedate=October 31, 2009|deadurl=yes}}</ref> He created ],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Stone|first=Peter H.|title=Big oil's White House pipelines|journal=National Journal|date=July 4, 2001|issue=33|id=ISSN: 03604217|page=1042}}</ref> and later changed the name to Bush Exploration. In 1984, his company merged with the larger ], and Bush became chairman.<ref name="msn"/> The company was hurt by a decline in oil prices, and as a result, it folded into ].<ref name="msn"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Carlisle, John K|title=George Soros's Plan to Defeat George Bush|work=Human Events|date=January 3, 2004}}</ref> Bush served on the board of directors for Harken.<ref name="msn"/> Questions of possible ] involving Harken arose, but the ] (SEC) investigation concluded that the information Bush had at the time of his stock sale was not sufficient to constitute insider trading.<ref name="msn"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0721-02.htm|title=Files: Bush Knew Firm's Plight Before Stock Sale|work=The Washington Post|date=July 21, 2002|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Bush moved his family to Washington, D.C. in 1988 to work on his father's campaign for the U.S. presidency.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bush|first=George W.|authorlink=|coauthors=Bill Adler|title=The Quotable George W. Bush: A Portrait in His Own Words|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7407-4154-8|oclc=237927420}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=PBS|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2000/bush/wead.html|title=George W. Bush and the religious right in the 1988 campaign of George H.W. Bush|date=June 17, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> He worked as a campaign adviser and served as liaison to the media;<ref name="msn"/> he assisted his father by campaigning across the country.<ref name="msn"/> Returning to Texas after the successful campaign, he purchased a share in the ] baseball franchise in April 1989, where he served as managing general partner for five years.<ref name=TexRngrs>{{cite web|last=Farrey|first=Tom|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/bush/timeline.html|title=A series of beneficial moves|publisher=ESPN|date=November 1, 1999|accessdate=March 4, 2009}}</ref> He actively led the team's projects and regularly attended its games, often choosing to sit in the open stands with fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/modern/bush-p04.html|title=George W. Bush in Little League uniform|publisher=Texas State Library and Archives Commission|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The sale of Bush's shares in the Rangers in 1998 brought him over ]15 million from his initial $800,000 investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makethemaccountable.com/tax/BushTaxes1998.pdf|title=1998 Tax return|format=PDF|accessdate=September 1, 2008|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080624184111/http://www.makethemaccountable.com/tax/BushTaxes1998.pdf |archivedate = June 24, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> | |||
| In December 1991, Bush was one of seven people named by his father to run his father's 1992 Presidential re-election campaign as "campaign advisor".<ref>{{cite news|title=Seven Who Will Manage Bush's 1992 Presidential Campaign|date=December 6, 1991|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/06/us/seven-who-will-manage-bush-s-1992-presidential-campaign.html|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> The prior month, Bush had been asked by his father to tell White House chief of staff ] that he should resign.<ref>{{cite news|title=The White House: Clearing the Decks|author=Jack E. White and Laurence I. Barrett|date=December 16, 1991|work=Time Magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,974468,00.html?promoid=googlep}}</ref> | |||
| == Governor of Texas == | |||
| {{Main|George W. Bush as Governor of Texas}} | |||
| ], at the dedication of the ], November 1997.]] | |||
| As Bush's brother, ], sought the governorship of Florida, Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 Texas ] election. His campaign focused on four themes: ] reform, ], crime reduction, and education improvement.<ref name="msn"/> Bush's campaign advisers were ], ], and ].<ref name="SlaterBrain">{{cite book|last=Wayne Slater|first=James Moore|year=2003|title=Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-471-42327-0|page=210}}</ref> | |||
| After easily winning the ] primary, Bush faced popular ] ] Governor ].<ref name="msn"/><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1528876/Ann-Richards.html|title=Ann Richards|publisher=Telegraph (UK)|date=September 15, 2005|accessdate=November 25, 2008 | location=London}}</ref> In the course of the campaign, Bush pledged to sign a bill allowing Texans to obtain ]. Richards had vetoed the bill, but Bush signed it after he became governor.<ref name="concealed carry">{{cite news|last=Tapper|first=Jake|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/08/11/gun/index1.html|work=Salon News|title=Guns and Money|date=August 11, 1999|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> According to '']'', the race "featured a rumor that she was a ], along with a rare instance of such a tactic's making it into the public record — when a regional chairman of the Bush campaign allowed himself, perhaps inadvertently, to be quoted criticizing Richards for appointing avowed homosexual activists' to state jobs".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200411/green/3|title=Karl Rove in a Corner|author=Joshua Green|publisher=The Atlantic|date=November 2004|accessdate=November 25, 2008}}</ref> ''The Atlantic'', and others, connected the lesbian rumor to Karl Rove,<ref>{{cite web|author=Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/29/MNG62FG6UM1.DTL|title=CIA Leak Probe: Libby Indicted / Powerful aide Rove could still feel heat from investigation|publisher=Sfgate.com|date=October 29, 2005|accessdate=January 22, 2009}}</ref> but Rove denied being involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-16/news/don-t-mess-with-texas/|title=Los Angeles News - Don’t Mess With Texas - page 1|publisher=LA Weekly|date=September 16, 2004|accessdate=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Bush won the general election with 53.5% against Richards' 45.9%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/politics/gubernatorial.pdf|format=PDF|work=Texas Almanac|title=Elections of Texas Governors, 1845–2006}};<br />{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761581479/George_Bush.html|work=MSN Encarta|title=George Bush|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5kwppnbYX|archivedate=October 31, 2009|deadurl=yes}}</ref> | |||
| Bush used a budget surplus to push through Texas's largest tax-cut (]2 billion).<ref name="SlaterBrain"/> He extended government funding for organizations providing education of the dangers of alcohol and drug use and abuse, and helping to reduce ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://holt.house.gov/pdf/CRSonVAWADec2005.pdf|format=PDF|title=Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding|date=December 1, 2005|publisher=] - The ]|accessdate=May 24, 2009|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080730212509/http://holt.house.gov/pdf/CRSonVAWADec2005.pdf |archivedate = July 30, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> Critics contended that during his tenure, Texas ranked near the bottom in environmental evaluations, but supporters pointed to his efforts to raise the salaries of teachers and improved educational test scores.<ref name="msn"/> | |||
| In 1998, Bush won re-election with a record<ref name="msn"/> 69% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|author=Associated Press|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/03/election/governors/texas|title=Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins in landslide|work=CNN|date=November 3, 1998|accessdate=June 30, 2006|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060515081611/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/03/election/governors/texas |archivedate = May 15, 2006|deadurl=yes}}</ref> He became the first governor in Texas history to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms.<ref name="msn"/> For most of Texas history, governors served two-year terms; a ] extended those terms to four years starting in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_3_1.html|title=Texas Politics - The Executive Branch|publisher=Texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu|date=|accessdate=January 22, 2009}}</ref> In his second term, Bush promoted faith-based organizations and enjoyed high approval ratings.<ref name="msn"/> He proclaimed June 10, 2000 to be ] in Texas, a day on which he "urge all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/art/pop_jesusday.jpg|title=Jesus Day proclamation|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=March 17, 2000|format=JPEG}}</ref> | |||
| Throughout Bush's first term, national attention focused on him as a potential future presidential candidate. Following his re-election, speculation soared.<ref name="msn"/> Within a year, he decided to seek the Republican nomination for the presidency. | |||
| == Presidential campaigns == | |||
| === 2000 Presidential candidacy === | |||
| {{Main|United States presidential election, 2000}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] after filing to run for the presidency]] | |||
| ==== Primary ==== | |||
| In June 1999, while Governor of Texas, Bush announced his candidacy for President of the United States. With no ] running, Bush entered a large field of candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination consisting of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| Bush portrayed himself as a ]. He campaigned on a platform that included increasing the size of the ], cutting taxes, improving education, and aiding minorities.<ref name="msn"/> By early 2000, the race had centered on Bush and McCain.<ref name="msn"/> | |||
| Bush won the ], but, although he was heavily favored to win the ], he trailed McCain by 19% and lost that primary. However, the Bush campaign regained momentum and, according to political observers, effectively became the front runner after the ], which according to '']'' made history for its negativity; ''The New York Times'' described it as a ].<ref name="anatomy">{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Richard H.|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/21/the_anatomy_of_a_smear_campaign/|title=The anatomy of a smear campaign|publisher=The Boston Globe|date=March 21, 2004|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hook|first=Janet|coauthor=Michael Finnegan|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/17/nation/na-mccain17|title=McCain loses some of his rebel edge|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=March 17, 2007|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Steinhauer|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/us/politics/19mccain.html&OQ=_rQ3D1&OP=6078ead7Q2FQ7CF0)Q7C@Q25Q2ADiQ25Q25Q3EHQ7CHXX.Q7CRXQ7CRrQ7CQ2BDQ7CQ7DQ25Q3CBQ3EBQ2ADQ7CRrkQ2AQ2AQ3FBQ2FQ22_Q3EkQ3C|format=Registration required|title=Confronting Ghosts of 2000 in South Carolina|publisher=The New York Times|date=October 19, 2007|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== General election ==== | |||
| On July 25, 2000, Bush surprised some observers by asking ], a former ], ], and ], to be his ]. Cheney was then serving as head of Bush's Vice-Presidential search committee. Soon after, Cheney was officially nominated by the Republican Party at the ]. | |||
| Bush continued to campaign across the country and touted his record as Governor of Texas.<ref name="msn"/> Bush's campaign criticized his Democratic opponent, incumbent Vice President ], over ] and taxation.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sack, Kevin and Toner, Robin|date=August 13, 2000|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/us/2000-campaign-record-congress-gore-selected-issues-ready-for-prime-time.html|title=The 2000 Campaign: The Record; In Congress, Gore Selected Issues Ready for Prime Time|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| When the election returns came in on November 7, Bush won 29 states, including Florida. The closeness of the Florida outcome led to a ].<ref name="msn"/> The initial recount also went to Bush, but the outcome was tied up in courts for a month until reaching the ].<ref>, 531 U.S. 98 (2000). Retrieved February 12, 2010.</ref> On December 9, in the '']'' case, the Court reversed a ] ruling ordering a third count, and stopped an ordered statewide hand recount based on the argument that the use of different standards among Florida's counties violated the ] of the ].<ref name="msn"/> The machine recount showed that Bush had won the Florida vote by a margin of 537 votes out of six million cast.<ref name=2000results>{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm|title=2000 Official General Election Presidential Results|accessdate=September 1, 2008|month=December|year=2001|publisher=Federal Election Commission}}</ref> Although he received 543,895 fewer individual votes than Gore nationwide, Bush won the election, receiving 271 ] to Gore's 266.<ref name=2000results/> | |||
| === 2004 Presidential candidacy === | |||
| {{Main|United States presidential election, 2004}} | |||
| ] | |||
| In 2004, Bush commanded broad support in the Republican Party and did not encounter a primary challenge. He appointed ] as campaign manager, with a political strategy devised by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec04/rove_9-01.html|title=An Interview With Karl Rove|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=August 1, 2004|work=NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|publisher=PBS}}</ref> Bush and the Republican platform included a strong commitment to the wars in ] and ],<ref name="platform04"/> support for the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2004_GOP_Platform_Civil_Rights.htm|title=2004 Republican Party Platform: on Civil Rights|accessdate=August 20, 2008|publisher=OnTheIssues.org}}</ref> a renewed shift in policy for constitutional amendments banning ] and ],<ref name="platform04"/><ref>After initial comments made in March, there was no statement on the latter issue until June. {{cite news|last=Rosenberg|first=Debra|title=A Gay-Marriage Wedge|work=Newsweek|volume=143|issue=26|date=June 28, 2004|page=8}}</ref> reforming ] to create private investment accounts,<ref name="platform04"/> creation of an ],<ref name="platform04"/> and opposing mandatory carbon emissions controls.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=OntheIssues.org|title=2004 Republican Party Platform: on Energy & Oil|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2004_GOP_Platform_Energy_+_Oil.htm|accessdate=August 20, 2008}}</ref> Bush also called for the implementation of a ] for immigrants,<ref name="platform04">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/25/us/2004-campaign-republican-agenda-draft-gop-platform-backs-bush-security-gay.html|title=The 2004 Campaign: The Republican Agenda; Draft GOP Platform Backs Bush on Security, Gay Marriage, and Immigration|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=August 25, 2004|work=The New York Times|author=Kirkpatrick, David D}}</ref> which was criticized by conservatives.<ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=August 26, 2004|author=Kirkpatrick, David D|title=The 2004 Campaign: The Platform; Conservatives Mount Stem Cell and Immigration Challenges|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/us/2004-campaign-platform-conservatives-mount-stem-cell-immigration-challenges.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2}}</ref> | |||
| The Bush campaign advertised across the U.S. against Democratic candidates, including Bush's emerging opponent, ] Senator ]. Kerry and other Democrats attacked Bush on the ], and accused him of failing to stimulate the economy and job growth. The Bush campaign portrayed Kerry as a staunch ] who would raise taxes and increase the size of government. The Bush campaign continuously criticized Kerry's seemingly contradictory statements on the war in Iraq,<ref name="msn"/> and argued that Kerry lacked the decisiveness and vision necessary for success in the ]. | |||
| In the election, Bush carried 31 of 50 states, receiving a total of 286 ]. He won an ] of the popular vote (50.7% to his opponent's 48.3%).<ref name="16 years">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/04/uselections2004.usa16|title=And now... four more years|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=November 4, 2004|work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Julian | last=Borger}}</ref> The previous President to win an absolute majority of the popular vote had been Bush's father in the 1988 election. Additionally, it was the first time since ]'s ] that a Republican president was elected alongside re-elected Republican majorities in both Houses of Congress. Bush's 2.5% margin of victory was the narrowest ever for a victorious incumbent President, breaking ]'s 3.1% margin of victory against ] in the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Turow|first=Scott|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26059-2004Dec25.html|title=A Dominant GOP? How So?|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=December 26, 2004|work=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>"Bush had a smaller electoral-vote margin than any re-elected president since 1916 (Woodrow Wilson), and every president re-elected since Wilson" An Election Breakwater? In 2002 and 2004, only 98% of incumbents were re-elected. Appalled, incumbents are working to eliminate that awful 2%. February 27, 2006 Newsweek</ref> | |||
| == Presidency == | |||
| ] | |||
| {{Main|Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States|George W. Bush's second term as President of the United States}} | |||
| Bush was sworn in as president on January 20, 2001. Though he originally outlined an ambitious domestic agenda, his priorities were significantly altered following the ] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54556-2004Sep1.html|title=From His 'Great Goals' of 2000, President's Achievements Mixed|accessdate=June 19, 2009|date=September 2, 2004|work=The Washington Post|author=Milbank, Dana}}</ref> Wars were waged in Afghanistan and later Iraq while significant debates regarding immigration, healthcare, Social Security, economic policy, and treatment of terrorist detainees took place within the United States. Over an eight year period, Bush's once-high approval ratings<ref name="gallup high"/> steadily declined throughout his Presidency while his disapproval numbers increased significantly over the same time frame.<ref name="wapo ratings"/> During 2007, the United States entered into the longest post World War II recession and the administration responded by enacting multiple economic programs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Krasny|first=Ron|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE4BM49M20081223|title=SF Fed Economics see longest recession since WW2|accessdate=April 24, 2009|date=April 24, 2009|work=Reuters}}</ref> | |||
| === Domestic policy === | |||
| {{Main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration}} | |||
| ==== Economic policy ==== | |||
| {{Main|Economic policy of the George W. Bush administration}} | |||
| Facing opposition in Congress, Bush held town hall-style public meetings across the U.S. in 2001 to increase public support for his plan for a ]1.35 trillion ] program—one of the largest tax cuts in U.S. history.<ref name="msn"/> Bush argued that unspent government funds should be returned to taxpayers, saying "the surplus is not the government’s money. The surplus is the people’s money."<ref name="msn"/> With reports of the threat of recession from ] ], Bush argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kelly|last=Wallace|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes|title=$1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law|work=CNN InsidePolitics archives|date=June 7, 2001|accessdate=June 30, 2006}}</ref> Others, including the Treasury Secretary at the time ], were opposed to some of the tax cuts on the basis that they would contribute to budget deficits and undermine ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5510.htm|title=CBS Interviews Former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> By 2003, the economy showed signs of improvement, though job growth remained stagnant.<ref name="msn"/> | |||
| Under the Bush Administration, real ] grew at an average annual rate of 2.5%,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bea.gov/national/xls/gdpchg.xls|title=Gross Domestic Product|publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> considerably below the average for business cycles from 1949 to 2000.<ref name="Price">{{cite web|url=http://www.epi.org/briefingpapers/168/bp168.pdf|format=PDF|author=Price, L|date=October 25, 2005|title=The Boom That Wasn’t: The economy has little to show for $860 billion in tax cuts|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Price & Ratner">{{cite web|url=http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/webfeatures_snapshots_20051026/|author=Price, L., Ratner, D|date=October 26, 2005|title=Economy pays price for Bush's tax cuts|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Bush entered office with the ] at 10,587, and the average peaked in October 2007 at over 14,000. When Bush left office, the average was at 7,949, one of the lowest levels of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=%5EDJI|title=Historical Prices for Dow Jones Industrial Average|publisher=Yahoo! Finance}}</ref> ] originally rose from 4.2% in January 2001 to 6.3% in June 2003, but subsequently dropped to 4.5% as of July 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab1.htm|title=Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey|publisher=]|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> Adjusted for inflation, ] dropped by $1,175 between 2000 and 2007,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/23/news/economy/middle_class/index.htm|title=Middle class: 'On the edge'|publisher=CNN|first=Tami|last=Luhby|date=July 24, 2008|accessdate=July 24, 2008}}</ref> while Professor Ken Homa of Georgetown University has noted that "after-tax median household income increased by 2%"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kenhoma.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/from-clinton-to-bush-after-tax-household-income-is-up/|title=From Clinton to Bush, after-tax household income is up!|publisher=The Homa Files|first=Ken|last=Homa}}</ref> The poverty rate increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 12.3% in 2006 after peaking at 12.7% in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/histpov/hstpov2.html|title=Historical Poverty Timeline|publisher=]|accessdate=December 31, 2006}}</ref> By October 2008, due to increases in domestic and foreign spending,<ref>Greenburg, Jan Crawford. Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court, 2007, Penguin Books, p. 273</ref> ] had risen to $11.3 trillion,<ref>, Small Business Services CPA Group, Inc.</ref><ref>, The Associated Press, November 9, 2008</ref> an increase of over 100% from the start of the year 2000 when the debt was $5.6 trillion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.pdf|format=PDF|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070628072448/http://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.pdf|archivedate=June 28, 2007|title=Revenues, Outlays, Surpluses, Deficits, and Debt Held by the Public, 1962 to 2006|publisher=]|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/sep/02/spending-and-the-national-debt/|title=Spending and the National Debt|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=September 2, 2007|work=The Washington Times}}</ref> By the end of Bush's presidency, unemployment climbed to 7.2%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/schedule/archives/empsit_nr.htm|title=2008 Employment Situation|publisher=]|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> The perception of Bush's effect on the economy is significantly affected by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/|title=American Research Group's survey|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| In December 2007, the United States entered the longest post-] recession,<ref name="longest1"/> which included a ], a ], ], and a declining dollar value.<ref>{{cite news|last=Guodong|first=Du|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/27/content_7679604.htm|title=dollar hits record low against euro, oil prices rally|publisher=Xinhua|date=February 27, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> In February, 63,000 jobs were lost, a five-year record.<ref>Aversa, Jeannine, , Most in 5 Years, Feeding Recession Fears", Associated Press, March 7, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7176255.stm|title=Recession in the US 'has arrived'|publisher=BBC News|date=January 8, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> To aid with the situation, Bush signed a $170 billion economic stimulus package which was intended to improve the economic situation by sending tax rebate checks to many Americans and providing tax breaks for struggling businesses. The Bush administration pushed for significantly increased regulation of ] and ] in 2003,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/11/business/new-agency-proposed-to-oversee-freddie-mac-and-fannie-mae.html|title=New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=September 11, 2003|author=Stephen Labaton|work=The New York Times}}</ref> and after two years, the regulations passed the House but died in the Senate. Many Republican senators, as well as influential members of the Bush Administration, feared that the agency created by these regulations would merely be mimicking the private sector’s risky practices.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/21admin.html?pagewanted=4 |title=The Reckoning - Bush’s Philosophy Stoked the Mortgage Bonfire|date=December 20, 2008|page=4 of 6|first=JO|last=BECKER|coauthors=SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and STEPHEN LABATON | work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="admin crisis">{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-1461|title=H.R. 1461 (109th): Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005|date=May 25, 2005}}{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/20/business/prexy.php|title=Bush can share the blame for financial crisis|accessdate=October 9, 2008|date=September 20, 2008|author=Landler, Mark and Sheryl Gay Stolberg|work=International Herald Tribune}}</ref> In September 2008, ] beginning ] the government takeover of ] followed by the collapse of ]<ref>See ] for details and citations.</ref> and a federal bailout of ] for $85 billion.<ref>See ] for details and citations.</ref> | |||
| Many economists and world governments determined that the situation became the worst financial crisis since the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=Larry|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/18/creditcrunch.marketturmoil1|title=A financial crisis unmatched since the Great Depression|date=March 18, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009 | work=The Guardian | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,424361,00.html|title=Worst Financial Crisis Since '30s, With No End Yet in Sight|publisher=Fox News|date=September 18, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Additional regulation over the housing market would have been beneficial, according to former ] Chairman ].<ref>{{cite news|work=The Washington Post|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102300193.html|accessdate=December 9, 2008|date=October 24, 2008|title=Greenspan Says He Was Wrong On Regulation|author=Irwin, Neil and Amit R. Paley}}</ref> Bush, meanwhile, proposed a ] to buy back a large portion of the U.S. mortgage market.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7625727.stm|title=Bush hails financial rescue plan|accessdate=September 22, 2008|date=September 20, 2008|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Vince Reinhardt, a former Federal Reserve economist now at the American Enterprise Institute, said "it would have helped for the Bush administration to empower the folks at Treasury and the Federal Reserve and the comptroller of the currency and the ] to look at these issues more closely", and additionally, that it would have helped "for Congress to have held hearings".<ref name="admin crisis"/> | |||
| In November 2008, over 500,000 jobs were lost, which marked the largest loss of jobs in the United States in 34 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1137020|publisher=The Boston Herald|title=Employers cut 533K jobs in November, most in 34 years|agency=Associated Press|date=December 5, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the last four months of 2008, 1.9 million jobs were lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf|title=Bureau of Labor Statistics|format=PDF|date=January 9, 2009}}</ref> By the end of 2008, the U.S. had lost a total of 2.6 million jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/09/news/economy/jobs_december/index.htm|first=David|last=Goldman|title=Worst year for jobs since '45|publisher=CNN Money|date=January 9, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Education and health ==== | |||
| Bush undertook a number of educational priorities, such as increasing the funding for the ] and ] in his first years of office, and creating education programs to strengthen the grounding in science and mathematics for American high school students. Funding for the NIH was cut in 2006, the first such cut in 36 years, due to rising inflation.<ref>{{cite news|author=] —Democratic Staff|title=President Bush and House Republicans Undermine Life Saving Health Research|publisher=United States House of Representatives|date=September 12, 2006|accessdate=October 11, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| ] into law, January 2002]] | |||
| One of the administration's early major initiatives was the ], which aimed to measure and close the gap between rich and poor student performance, provide options to parents with students in low-performing schools, and target more federal funding to low-income ]. This landmark education initiative passed with broad bipartisan support, including that of Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 15, 2009|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/n/no_child_left_behind_act/index.html|accessdate=Jan. 9, 2010 | first=Sam | last=Dillon}}</ref> It was signed into law by Bush in early 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020108-1.html|title=President Signs Landmark No Child Left Behind Education Bill|date=January 8, 2002|publisher=The White House|accessdate=May 5, 2008}}</ref> Many contend that the initiative has been successful, as cited by the fact that students in the U.S. have performed significantly better on state reading and math tests since Bush signed "No Child Left Behind" into law.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR2007060502684.html|title=Scores Up Since 'No Child' Was Signed|accessdate=May 30, 2008|date=June 6, 2007|work=The Washington Post|author=Paley, Amit R}}</ref> Critics argue that it is underfunded<ref>{{cite news|author=W. James Antle III|url=http://www.amconmag.com/article/2005/aug/01/00025/|title=Leaving No Child Left Behind|work=The American Conservative|date=August 1, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> and that NCLBA's focus on "high stakes testing" and quantitative outcomes is counterproductive.<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/features/pierce07012002.html|title=No Child Left Behind?|work=HGSE News|date=June 1, 2002|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}; {{cite book|title=Raising Standards or Raising Barriers?|author=Edited by Gary Orfield and Mindy L. Kornhaber|publisher=The Century Foundation Press|date=May 1, 2001}}</ref> | |||
| After being re-elected, Bush signed into law a Medicare drug benefit program that, according to ], resulted in "the greatest expansion in America's ] in forty years;" the bill's costs approached $7 trillion.<ref>Greenburg, Jan Crawford, Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court, 2007, Penguin Books, p. 274</ref> In 2007, Bush opposed and vetoed ] (SCHIP) legislation, which was added by the Democrats onto a war funding bill and passed by Congress. The SCHIP legislation would have significantly expanded federally funded health care benefits and plans to children of some low-income families from about six million to ten million children. It was to be funded by an increase in the cigarette tax.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Abramowitz and Jonathan Weisman|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/03/AR2007100300116_pf.html|title=Bush Vetoes Health Measure|work=The Washington Post|date=October 4, 2007|accessdate=October 9, 2007}}</ref> Bush viewed the legislation as a move toward the liberal platform of socialized health care, and asserted that the program could benefit families making as much as ]83,000 per year who did not need the help.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/washington/04bush.html|title=Bush Vetoes Child Health Bill Privately|work=The New York Times|date=October 4, 2007|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Social services and Social Security ==== | |||
| Following Republican efforts to pass the ], Bush signed the bill, which included major changes to the ] program by providing beneficiaries with some assistance in paying for prescription drugs, while relying on private insurance for the delivery of benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nls.org/conf2004/summary-medicare-act-2003.htm|title=Summary of Medicare Act of 2003|accessdate=August 20, 2008|publisher=Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.|year=2004}}</ref> The retired persons lobby group ] worked with the Bush Administration on the program and gave their endorsement. Bush said the law, estimated to cost ]400 billion over the first ten years, would give the elderly "better choices and more control over their health care".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031208-2.html|title=President Signs Medicare Legislation|publisher=The White House|date=December 8, 2003|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ] Academy ], May 2007]] | |||
| Bush began his second term by outlining a major initiative to reform Social Security,<ref name="ss-msnbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6903273/|title=Bush pushes his Social Security overhaul|accessdate=August 20, 2008|publisher=MSNBC|date=February 16, 2005|author=Wolk, Martin}}</ref> which was facing record deficit projections beginning in 2005. Bush made it the centerpiece of his domestic agenda despite opposition from some in the U.S. Congress.<ref name="ss-msnbc"/> In his ], Bush discussed the potential impending bankruptcy of the program and outlined his new program, which included partial privatization of the system, personal Social Security accounts, and options to permit Americans to divert a portion of their Social Security tax (]) into secured investments.<ref name="ss-msnbc"/> Democrats opposed the proposal to partially privatize the system.<ref name="ss-msnbc"/> | |||
| Bush embarked on a 60-day national tour, campaigning vigorously for his initiative in media events, known as the "Conversations on Social Security", in an attempt to gain support from the general public.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28120-2005Mar11.html|title=Social Security: On With the Show|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker|date=February 12, 2005|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Despite the energetic campaign, public support for the proposal declined<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f944a850-b830-11d9-bc7c-00000e2511c8,_i_rssPage=80fdaff6-cbe5-11d7-81c6-0820abe49a01.html|title=Bush shifts approach on Social Security reform|accessdate=September 9, 2007|date=April 28, 2005|work=The Financial Times}}</ref> and the House Republican leadership decided not to put Social Security reform on the priority list for the remainder of their 2005 legislative agenda.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/060105/social.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20051205090810/http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/060105/social.html|archivedate=December 5, 2005|title=Social Security in Limbo|work=The Hill|date=June 1, 2005|author=Patrick O'Connor}}</ref> The proposal's legislative prospects were further diminished by the political fallout from the ] in the fall of 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hurricane dims Bush's hopes on Social Security|date=September 22, 2005|last=Yeager|first=Holly|url=http://news.ft.com/cms/s/00d6ee20-2b9f-11da-995a-00000e2511c8.html|accessdate=September 9, 2007|work=The Financial Times}}</ref> After the Democrats gained control of both houses of the Congress as a result of the 2006 midterm elections, the prospects of any further congressional action on the Bush proposal were dead for the remainder of his term in office. | |||
| ==== Environmental and energy policies ==== | |||
| {{Main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration#Environment}} | |||
| Upon taking office in 2001, Bush stated his opposition to the ], an amendment to the ] Convention on Climate Change which seeks to impose mandatory targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, citing that the treaty exempted 80% of the world's population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010314.html|title=Letter from the President to Senators Hagel, Helms, Craig, and Roberts|publisher=Office of the Press Secretary|date=March 13, 2001}}</ref> and would have cost tens of billions of dollars per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/kyoto/economic.htm|title=Summary of the Kyoto Report—Assessment of Economic Impacts|publisher=Energy Information Administration|date=July 16, 2002}}</ref> He also cited that the Senate had voted 95–0 in 1997 on a resolution expressing its disapproval of the protocol. | |||
| In 2002, Bush announced the ],<ref name="EXsummary">{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/02/clearskies.html|title=Executive Summary—The Clear Skies Initiative|publisher=The White House|date=February 14, 2002|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> aimed at amending the ] to reduce air pollution through the use of ] programs. It was argued, however, that this legislation would have weakened the original legislation by allowing higher levels of pollutants than were permitted at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sierraclub.org/cleanair/clear_skies.asp|publisher=The ]|title=Clear Skies Proposal Weakens the Clean Air Act|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The initiative was introduced to Congress, but failed to make it out of committee. | |||
| Bush has said that he believes that ] is real<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview with President Bush|work=White House Transcript|publisher=Politico|date=May 13, 2008|accessdate=May 14, 2008|quote=Q. Mr. President, for the record, is global warming real? A. Yes, it is real, sure is.|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10316_Page3.html}}</ref> and has noted that it is a serious problem, but he asserted there is a "debate over whether it's man-made or naturally caused".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060626-2.html|title=Press Conference|publisher=The White House|date=June 26, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The Bush Administration's stance on global warming has remained controversial in the scientific and environmental communities. Critics have alleged that the administration<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6341451|title=NASA Scientist Rips Bush on Global Warming|publisher=MSNBC|date=October 27, 2004|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/17/60minutes/main1415985_page2.shtml|title=60 Minutes: Rewriting the Science|publisher=CBS News|date=March 19, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> misinformed the public and did not do enough to reduce ] and deter ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Hell or High Water|first=Joe|last=Romm|publisher=William Morrow|year=2006|isbn=9780061172120|oclc=77537768}}; Romm calls Bush's "don't rush to judgment" and "we need to ask more questions" stance a classic delay tactic. Part 2.</ref> | |||
| In 2006, Bush declared the ] a national monument, creating the largest marine reserve to date. The ] comprises 84 million acres (340,000 km²) and is home to 7,000 species of fish, birds, and other marine animals, many of which are specific to only those islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13300363/|title=Bush creates world’s biggest ocean preserve|publisher=MSNBC|date=June 16, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The move was hailed by conservationists for "its foresight and leadership in protecting this incredible area".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.org/initiatives/marine/press/press2489.html|title=The Nature Conservancy Applauds President Bush for Creating World’s Largest Marine Conservation Area in Hawaii|publisher=]|date=June 16, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In his ], Bush renewed his pledge to work toward diminished reliance on foreign oil by reducing ] consumption and increasing ] production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html|title=President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address|publisher=The White House|date=January 23, 2007|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Amid high gasoline prices in 2008, Bush lifted a ban on ].<ref name="drilling-cnn">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/14/bush.offshore/|title=Bush lifts executive ban on offshore oil drilling|accessdate=August 3, 2008|publisher=CNN|date=July 14, 2008}}</ref> The move was largely symbolic, however, as there is still a federal law banning offshore drilling. Bush said, "This means that the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil reserves is action from the U.S. Congress."<ref name="drilling-cnn"/> Bush had said in June 2008, "In the long run, the solution is to reduce demand for oil by promoting alternative energy technologies. My administration has worked with Congress to invest in gas-saving technologies like advanced batteries and ]s.... In the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil. And that means we need to increase supply, especially here at home. So my administration has repeatedly called on Congress to expand domestic oil production."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080618.html|title=President Bush Discusses Energy|date=June 18, 2008|accessdate=August 3, 2008|publisher=The White House}}</ref> | |||
| In his ], Bush announced that the U.S. would commit ]2 billion over the next three years to a new international fund to promote clean energy technologies and fight climate change, saying, "Along with contributions from other countries, this fund will increase and accelerate the deployment of all forms of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations like India and China, and help leverage substantial private-sector capital by making clean energy projects more financially attractive." He also announced plans to reaffirm the United States' commitment to work with major economies, and, through the ], to complete an international agreement that will slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of ]es; he stated, "This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23125585-401,00.html|title=State of the Union:Bush fights for spotlight|author=Reuters/AFP|date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Stem cell research and first use of veto power ==== | |||
| Federal funding for medical research involving the creation or destruction of human ]s through the ] and the ] has been forbidden by law since the passage in 1995 of the ] by Congress and the signature of President ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/briefs/stemcells/index.shtml|title=AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research|accessdate=September 1, 2008|publisher=]}}</ref> Bush has said that he supports adult ] research and has supported federal legislation that finances adult stem cell research. However, Bush did not support ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-2.html|title=President Discusses Stem Cell Research|publisher=Office of the President}}</ref> On August 9, 2001, Bush signed an executive order lifting the ban on federal funding for the 71 existing "lines" of stem cells,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/NIHFedPolicy.asp|title=NIH's Role in Federal Policy Stem Cell Research|publisher=]|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> but the ability of these existing lines to provide an adequate medium for testing has been questioned. Testing can only be done on twelve of the original lines, and all of the approved lines have been cultured in contact with mouse cells, which creates safety issues that complicate development and approval of therapies from these lines.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,472876,00.html|title=Stem Cells in Limbo|work=TIME Magazine|date=August 11, 2003|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> On July 19, 2006, Bush used his ] power for the first time in his presidency to veto the ]. The bill would have repealed the ], thereby permitting federal money to be used for research where stem cells are derived from the destruction of an embryo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/19/stemcells.veto/|title=Bush Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Bill|publisher=CNN|date=September 25, 2006|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Immigration ==== | |||
| ] near the ], United States-Mexico border, November 2005]] | |||
| In 2006, Bush urged Congress to allow more than twelve million ] to work in the United States with the creation of a "temporary guest-worker program". Bush did not support ] for illegal immigrants,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/06/bush-calls-immi.html|title=Bush Calls Immigration Bill "Amnesty"|date=June 26, 2007|accessdate=May 30, 2008|publisher=ABC}}</ref> but argued that the lack of legal status denies the protections of U.S. laws to millions of people who face dangers of poverty and exploitation, and penalizes employers despite a demand for immigrant labor. | |||
| The President also urged Congress to provide additional funds for border security and committed to deploying 6,000 ] troops to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/29/bush.immigration/|title=Bush takes tough talk on immigration to Texas|accessdate=September 9, 2006|publisher=CNN|date=November 29, 2005}}</ref> In May-June 2007, Bush strongly supported the ] which was written by a bipartisan group of Senators with the active participation of the Bush administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070517-7.html|title=Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform|date=May 17, 2007|publisher=The White House}}</ref> The bill envisioned a legalization program for undocumented immigrants, with an eventual path to citizenship; establishing a guest worker program; a series of border and work site enforcement measures; a reform of the green card application process and the introduction of a point-based "merit" system for green cards; elimination of "chain migration" and of the ]; and other measures. Bush contended that the proposed bill did not amount to amnesty.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286705,00.html|date=June 26, 2008|accessdate=May 30, 2008|title=Senate Votes to Continue Work on Immigration Reform Compromise|author=Garrett, Major and Trish Turner}}</ref> | |||
| A heated public debate followed, which resulted in a substantial rift within the Republican Party, the majority of conservatives opposed it because of its legalization or amnesty provisions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5449.html|title=Talk radio helped sink immigration reform|work=Politico.com|date=August 20, 2007}}</ref> The bill was eventually defeated in the Senate on June 28, 2007, when a ] motion failed on a 46-53 vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/immigration-bill-goes-down-in-defeat-2007-06-28.html|work=The Hill|title=46-53, immigration bill goes down in defeat|author=Klaus Marre|date=June 28, 2007}}</ref> Bush expressed disappointment upon the defeat of one of his signature domestic initiatives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/28/immigration.congress/index.html|title=Senate immigration bill suffers crushing defeat|publisher=CNN}}; {{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070628-7.html|title=President Bush Disappointed by Congress's Failure to Act on Comprehensive Immigration Reform|date=June 28, 2007|publisher=The White House}}</ref> The Bush administration later proposed a series of immigration enforcement measures that do not require a change in law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070810.html|title=The White House Fact Sheet: Improving Border Security and Immigration Within Existing Law|date=August 10, 2007|publisher=The White House}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Hurricane Katrina ==== | |||
| {{Main|Political effects of Hurricane Katrina}} | |||
| ], which was one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, struck early in Bush’s second term. Katrina formed in late August during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and devastated much of the north-central ] of the United States, particularly ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Knabb, Richard D; Rhome, Jamie R.; Brown, Daniel P|date=December 20, 2005|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina: August 23–30, 2005|publisher=National Hurricane Center}}</ref> | |||
| ] Mayor ] on September 2, 2005 after viewing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina]] | |||
| Bush declared a state of emergency in ] on August 27,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana|publisher=The White House|date=August 27, 2005}}</ref> and in ] and ] the following day;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Mississippi|publisher=The White House|date=August 28, 2005}}; {{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828-3.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Alabama|publisher=The White House|date=August 28, 2005}}</ref> he authorized the ] (DHS) and ] (FEMA) to manage the disaster, but his announcement failed to spur these agencies to action.<ref name=dyson>{{cite book|last=Dyson|first=Michael Eric|authorlink=Michael Eric Dyson|title=Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster|publisher=Basic Civitas|year=2006|isbn=978-0-465-01761-4|page=57}}</ref> The eye of the hurricane made landfall on August 29, and New Orleans began to flood due to levee breaches; later that day, Bush declared that a major disaster existed in Louisiana,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050829-2.html|title=Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Louisiana|publisher=The White House|date=August 29, 2005}}</ref> officially authorizing FEMA to start using federal funds to assist in the recovery effort. On August 30, DHS Secretary ] declared it "an incident of national significance",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050831-2.html |title=Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan|date=August 31, 2005|publisher=The White House|accessdate=February 14, 2008}}</ref> triggering the first use of the newly created ]. Three days later, on September 2, National Guard troops first entered the city of New Orleans.<ref name="tpm">{{cite web|url=http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/katrina-timeline.php|title=TPM Hurricane Katrina Timeline|date=September 20, 2005|publisher=TPM|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> The same day, Bush toured parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and declared that the success of the recovery effort up to that point was "not enough".<ref name=USAToday-Katrina>{{cite news|title=National Guard descends on New Orleans, giving evacuees hope|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-02-katrina_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=September 3, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| As the disaster in New Orleans intensified, critics charged that Bush was misrepresenting his administration's role in what they saw as a flawed response. Leaders attacked Bush for having appointed apparently incompetent leaders to positions of power at FEMA, notably ];<ref>{{cite news|last=Hsu|first=Spencer S.|coauthor=Susan b. Glasser|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501590.html|title=FEMA Director Singled Out by Response Critics|work=]|date=September 6, 2005}}</ref> it was also argued that the federal response was limited as a result of the ]<ref name="ArmyTimesDeployment">{{cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1066780.php|title=Overseas deployments hinder Guard hurricane presence|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Pete Yost, Associated Press|date=August 30, 2005|work=Army Times}}</ref> and Bush himself did not act upon warnings of floods.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/katrinatranscript-0828.pdf|format=PDF|page=Page 6|title=Transcript, Presidential Videoconference Briefing|date=August 28, 2005 | work=USA Today | accessdate=May 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/katrinatranscript-0828.pdf|format=PDF|page=Page 5|title=Transcript, Presidential Videoconference Briefing|date=August 28, 2005 | work=USA Today | accessdate=May 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." George W. Bush to ], '']'', September 1, 2005.</ref> Bush responded to mounting criticism by accepting full responsibility for the federal government's failures in its handling of the emergency.<ref name="tpm"/> It has been argued that with Katrina, Bush passed a political tipping point from which he would not recover.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.bush11jan11,0,4421944.story|page=Page 1|title=Katrina response called 'tipping point' for Bush|date=January 11, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Midterm dismissal of U.S. attorneys ==== | |||
| {{Main|Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy}} | |||
| During Bush's second term, a controversy arose over the ] midterm dismissal of seven ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uspolitics.about.com/od/electionissues/i/attorney_firing.htm|title=The Firing Of US Attorneys — Nefarious Or Business As Usual?|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Gill|first=Kathy|date=March 22, 2007|publisher=About.com}}</ref> The White House maintained that the U.S. attorneys were fired for poor performance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070307/oppose07.art.htm|title=They lost my confidence|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales|date=March 7, 2007 | work=USA Today}}</ref> Attorney General ] would later resign over the issue, along with other senior members of the Justice Department.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html|title=Embattled Gonzales Resigns|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Eggen|first=Dan|coauthors=Michael Fletcher|date=August 28, 2007|publisher=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=] |accessdate=October 9, 2007|author=]|date=August 26, 2007|publisher=United States Department of Justice|quote=Please accept my resignation as Attorney General of the United States, effective September 17, 2007}}</ref> The ] issued ]s for advisers ] and ] to testify regarding this matter, but Bush directed Miers and Bolten to not comply with those subpoenas, invoking his right of ]. Bush has maintained that all of his advisers are protected under a broad executive privilege protection to receive candid advice. The Justice Department has determined that the President's order was legal.<ref>, Reuters (March 1, 2008).</ref> | |||
| Although Congressional investigations have focused on whether the Justice Department and the ] were using the U.S. Attorney positions for political advantage, no official findings have been released. On March 10, 2008, the Congress filed a federal lawsuit to enforce their issued subpoenas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/03/house-judiciary-panel-files-civil.php|title=House judiciary panel files civil lawsuit to enforce Miers, Bolten subpoenas|accessdate=May 30, 2008|date=March 10, 2008|author=Porter, Patrick|publisher=Jurist Legal News and Research}}</ref> On July 31, 2008, a ] judge ruled that Bush's top advisers were not immune from Congressional subpoenas.<ref>{{cite news|last=Apuzzo |first=Matt |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-31-2444639400_x.htm |title=Federal judge rules Bush's aides can be subpoenaed, USA Today, July 31, 2008 |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2008-07-31 |accessdate=2010-04-20}}</ref> | |||
| In August 2009, Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testified before the House Judiciary Committee. A Justice Department inquiry into the firing of U.S. attorneys concluded that political considerations played a part in as many as four of the dismissals.<ref>{{dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| === Foreign policy === | |||
| {{Main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}} | |||
| ] and Canada's Prime Minister ] stand in front of ] in ], March 30, 2006]] | |||
| ] | |||
| During his Presidential campaign, Bush's ] platform included support for a stronger economic and political relationship with ], especially Mexico, and a reduction of involvement in "]" and other small-scale military engagements. The administration pursued a ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/010501bush.html|title=President Bush Speech on Missile Defense|publisher=]|date=May 1, 2001|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| After the ], Bush launched the ], in which the United States military and an international coalition ]. In 2003, Bush launched the ], which he described as being part of the War on Terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/30/bush.excerpts/index.html|title=Key points from Bush speech|publisher=CNN|date=November 30, 2005|accessdate=January 19, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| Those invasions led to the toppling of the ] regime in Afghanistan and the removal of ] from power in Iraq as well as the ], with surveys indicating between ], excluding the tens of thousands of civilians in Afghanistan.<ref name=update> by Opinion Research Business, January 2008</ref><ref>. September 2007. Opinion Research Business. PDF report: </ref><ref> (2007). Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref> | |||
| Bush began his second term with an emphasis on improving strained relations with European nations. He appointed long-time adviser ] to oversee a global public relations campaign. Bush lauded the pro-democracy struggles in ] and ]. | |||
| In March 2006, a visit to India led to renewed ties between the two countries, reversing decades of U.S. policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-02-nuclear-pact_x.htm |title=Nuclear deal announced as Bush visits India |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=2006-03-02 |accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> The visit focused particularly in areas of ] and counter-terrorism cooperation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060302-5.html|title=U.S.-India Joint Statement|date=March 2, 2006|publisher=The White House|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> This is in stark contrast to the stance taken by his predecessor, Clinton, whose approach and response to India after the 1998 nuclear tests was that of sanctions and hectoring. The relationship between India and the United States was one that dramatically improved during Bush's tenure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29825.html |title=Roemer key to U.S.-India relationship - Daniel Libit and Laura Rozen |publisher=Politico.Com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| Midway through Bush's second term, it was questioned whether Bush was retreating from his freedom and democracy agenda, highlighted in policy changes toward some oil-rich former Soviet republics in central Asia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html|title=Retreat From the Freedom Agenda|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Diehl|first=Jackson|date=April 24, 2005|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> | |||
| ==== September 11, 2001 ==== | |||
| {{Main|September 11 attacks}} | |||
| ] in New York, September 14, 2001]] | |||
| The ] were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. That evening, he addressed the nation from the ], 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 ], meeting with ] ], firefighters, police officers, and volunteers. Bush addressed the gathering via a ] while standing on a heap of rubble, to much applause: {{cquote|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010914-9.html|date=September 14, 2001|title=President Bush Salutes Heroes in New York|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref>}} | |||
| In a September 20 speech, Bush condemned ] and ], and issued an ] to the ] regime in Afghanistan, where bin Laden was operating, to "hand over the terrorists, or ... share in their fate".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html|date=September 20, 2001|title=Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== War on Terrorism ==== | |||
| {{Main|War on Terrorism}} | |||
| ] ] with the ].]] | |||
| After September 11, Bush announced a global ]. The Afghan Taliban regime was not forthcoming with Osama bin Laden, so Bush ordered the ] to overthrow the Taliban regime.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/20/gen.bush.transcript/|date=September 20, 2001|title=Transcript of President Bush's address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday night, September 20, 2001|accessdate=June 23, 2009 | work=CNN}}</ref> In his January 29, 2002, ] address, he asserted that an "]" consisting of ], ], and ] was "arming to threaten the peace of the world" and "pose a grave and growing danger".<ref name=sotu2002>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html|date=January 29, 2002|title=President Delivers State of the Union Address|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> The Bush Administration proceeded to assert a right and intention to engage in ], also called ], in response to perceived threats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/|title=National Security Council|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> This would form a basis for what became known as the ]. The broader "War on Terror", allegations of an "axis of evil", and, in particular, the doctrine of preemptive war, began to weaken the unprecedented levels of international and domestic support for Bush and United States action against al Qaeda following the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob1.htm|title=President Bush: Job Ratings|publisher=Polling Report.com|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| Some national leaders alleged abuse by U.S. troops and called for the U.S. to shut down the ] and other such facilities. Dissent from, and criticism of, Bush's leadership in the War on Terror increased as the war in Iraq expanded.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cumings|first=Bruce|coauthors=Ervand Abrahamian, Moshe Ma'oz|title=Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth About North Korea, Iran, and Syria|publisher=New Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-59558-038-2|oclc=62225812}}</ref><ref>Lopez, George, "Perils of Bush's Pre-emptive War Doctrine", ], October 3, 2003.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss5.html |title=Prevent Our Enemies from Threatening Us, Our Allies, and Our Friends with Weapons of Mass Destruction |publisher=Whitehouse.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-20}}</ref> In 2006, a ] expressed the combined opinion of the United States' own intelligence agencies, concluding that the Iraq War had become the "] for ]ists" and that the jihad movement was growing.<ref> CNN, September 26, 2006.</ref><ref> ], September 24, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ==== Afghanistan ==== | |||
| {{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–present)}} | |||
| ] of ] appear together in 2006 at a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in ].]] | |||
| On October 7, 2001, U.S. and Australian forces initiated bombing campaigns that led to the arrival on November 13 of ] troops in ]. The main goals of the war were to defeat the ], drive ] out of Afghanistan, and capture key al Qaeda leaders. In December 2001, the Pentagon reported that the Taliban had been defeated<ref name="taliband">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/world/nation-challenged-military-campaign-taliban-defeated-pentagon-asserts-but-war.html|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=December 11, 2001|author=Shanker, Tom and Eric Schmitt|work=The New York Times|title=A Nation Challenged; Military Campaign; Taliban Defeated, Pentagon Asserts, but War Goes On}}</ref> but cautioned that the war would go on to continue weakening Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders.<ref name="taliband"/> Later that month the ] had installed the ] chaired by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/isaf.cfm|title=Fact Sheet: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan|publisher=]|date=February 14, 2002|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm|title=More Dutch troops for Afghanistan|publisher=BBC News|date=February 3, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Efforts to kill or capture al Qaeda leader ] failed as he escaped a battle in December 2001 in the mountainous region of ], which the Bush Administration later acknowledged to have resulted from a failure to commit enough U.S. ground troops.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62618-2002Apr16|title=U.S. Concludes bin Laden Escaped at Tora Bora Fight|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=April 17, 2002|publisher=Washington Post | first1=Barton | last1=Gellman | first2=Thomas E. | last2=Ricks}}</ref> Bin Laden and al Qaeda's number two leader, ], as well as the leader of the Taliban, ], remain at large. | |||
| Despite the initial success in driving the Taliban from power in ], by early 2003 the Taliban was regrouping, amassing new funds and recruits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0508/p01s02-wosc.html?related|title=Taliban Appears To Be Regrouped and Well-Funded|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=May 8, 2003|publisher=]}}</ref> In 2006, the ] appeared larger, fiercer and better organized than expected, with large-scale allied offensives such as ] attaining limited success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=285|title=World Cannot Give Up on Afghanistan, Coalition Officials Say|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=June 28, 2006|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5107816.stm|title=Frustrated Karzai toughens stance|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=July 22, 2006|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-19-taliban-afghanistan-cover_x.htm?csp=34|title=Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency'|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=July 22, 2006|publisher=USA Today | first=Paul | last=Wiseman}}</ref> As a result, Bush commissioned 3,500 additional troops to the country in March 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031001397.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=May 31, 2008|author=Baker, Peter|date=March 11, 2007|page=A11|title=Additional Troop Increase Approved}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Iraq ==== | |||
| {{Main|Iraq War}} | |||
| Beginning with his January 29, 2002, State of the Union address, Bush began publicly focusing attention on Iraq, which he labeled as part of an "]" allied with terrorists and posing "a grave and growing danger" to U.S. interests through possession of ].<ref name=sotu2002/> | |||
| In the latter half of 2002, CIA ] contained assertions of ]'s intent of reconstituting nuclear weapons programs, not properly accounting for Iraqi ] and ], and that some Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm|title=Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs|accessdate=|year=2002|month=October|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB129/index.htm|title=CIA Whites Out Controversial Estimate on Iraq Weapons|publisher=The National Security Archive|date=July 9, 2004|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Contentions that the Bush Administration manipulated or exaggerated the threat and evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities would eventually become a major point of criticism for the president.<ref>Judis, John B. and Ackerman, Spencer, “The Selling of the Iraq War”, '']'', June 2003.</ref><ref>Hersh, Seymour M., "The Stovepipe", '']'', October 27, 2003.</ref> | |||
| In late 2002 and early 2003, Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi ] mandates, precipitating a ]. In November 2002, Hans Blix and ] led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, but were forced to depart the country four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm|title=U.S. advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq|publisher=]|date=March 17, 2003|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The U.S. initially sought a ] resolution authorizing the use of military force but dropped the bid for UN approval due to vigorous opposition from several countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/chapterVII.htm|title=Enforcement Measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=]|date=February 13, 2003|work=]|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ] Lieutenant Ryan Philips, in the flight suit he wore for his ] aboard the ] in 2003.]] | |||
| The war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the United Kingdom), designated the "]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Schifferes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm|title=US names 'coalition of the willing'|publisher=BBC|date=March 18, 2003|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The invasion of Iraq commenced on March 20, 2003, and the Iraqi military was quickly defeated. The capital, ], fell on April 9, 2003. On May 1, Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The initial success of U.S. operations increased his popularity, but the U.S. and allied forces faced a growing insurgency led by sectarian groups; Bush's "]" speech was later criticized as premature.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031006/|title=Mission Not Accomplished|publisher=Time|date=October 6, 2003|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> From 2004 until 2007, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that there was a full scale ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Colin Powell says Iraq in a 'civil war'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/29/powell.iraq/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=November 29, 2006|accessdate=February 17, 2007|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070211072616/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/29/powell.iraq/index.html |archivedate = February 11, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref> Bush's policies met with criticism, including demands domestically to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. The 2006 report of the bipartisan ], led by ], concluded that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating". While Bush admitted that there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq,<ref>{{cite news|author=Times Online|coauthors=agencies|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article764622.ece|title=Bush: we went to war on faulty intelligence|publisher=Times Online|date=December 14, 2005|accessdate=June 23, 2009|location=London}}</ref> he maintained he would not change the overall Iraq strategy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/images/20061021_d-0072-515h.html|title=President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney, on screen, and military commanders|date=October 21, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at9X1Z7oilgY|title=Bush Reviews Iraq War Strategy as Violence Mounts (Update1)|date=October 21, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ].]] | |||
| In January 2005, free, democratic elections were held in Iraq for the first time in 50 years.<ref name="iraq votes">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.main/index.html|title=Sporadic violence doesn't deter Iraqi voters|publisher=CNN|date=January 31, 2005|accessdate=May 31, 2008|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.main/index.html |archivedate = February 25, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> According to Iraqi National Security Advisor ], "This is the greatest day in the history of this country."<ref name="iraq votes"/> Bush praised the event as well, saying that the Iraqis "have taken rightful control of their country's destiny".<ref name="iraq votes"/> This led to the election of ] as ] and ] as ]. A referendum to approve a constitution in Iraq was held in October 2005, supported by the majority ] and many ].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173349,00.html|title=Iraq Constitution Passes in Referendum|date=October 25, 2005|accessdate=May 31, 2008|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> | |||
| On January 10, 2007, Bush addressed the nation from the ] regarding the situation in Iraq. In this speech, he announced a ], as well as a job program for Iraqis, more reconstruction proposals, and ]1.2 billion for these programs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16558652/page/1/|title=Admitting strategy error, Bush adds Iraq troops|publisher=]|date=January 11, 2007}}</ref> On May 1, 2007, Bush used his ] for only the second time in his presidency, rejecting a congressional bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|coauthors=Zeleny, Jeff|title=Bush Vetoes Bill Tying Iraq Funds to Exit|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/washington/02policy.html|work=New York Times|date=May 1, 2007}}</ref> Five years after the invasion, Bush called the debate over the conflict "understandable" but insisted that a continued U.S. presence there was crucial.<ref>, ''CNN'', March 19, 2008.</ref> | |||
| In March 2008, Bush praised the Iraqi government's "bold decision" to launch the ] against the ], calling it "a defining moment in the history of a free Iraq".<ref>, ''CNN'', March 28, 2008.</ref> He said he would carefully weigh recommendations from his commanding General ] and Ambassador ] about how to proceed after the end of the military buildup in the summer of 2008. He also praised the Iraqis' legislative achievements, including a pension law, a revised de-Baathification law, a new budget, an amnesty law, and a provincial powers measure that, he said, set the stage for the ].<ref>, ''CNN'', March 27, 2008.</ref> | |||
| On July 31, 2008, Bush announced that with the end of July, American troop deaths had reached their lowest number—thirteen—since the war began in 2003.<ref name="cuts-nyt">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html|title=Citing Stability in Iraq, Bush Sees Troop Cuts|date=August 1, 2008|accessdate=August 3, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Myers, Steven Lee and Sabrina Tavernise}}</ref> Due to increased stability in Iraq, Bush announced the withdrawal of additional American forces.<ref name="cuts-nyt"/> This reflected an emerging consensus between the White House and the Pentagon that the war has "turned a corner".<ref name="cuts-nyt"/> He also described what he saw as the success of the 2007 troop surge.<ref name="cuts-nyt"/> | |||
| ==== Surveillance ==== | |||
| Following the events of September 11, Bush issued an executive order authorizing the ] which included allowing the ] to monitor communications between suspected terrorists outside the U.S and parties within the U.S. without obtaining a warrant as required by the ].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Briefing by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and General Michael Hayden|publisher=The White House|date=December 19, 2005|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051219-1.html|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> As of 2009, the other provisions of program remained highly classified.<ref name=IG>{{cite report|url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/17267628/Unclassified-Report-on-the-Presidents-Surveillance-Program|title=Unclassified Report on the President’s Surveillance Program|format=Scribd|author=Inspectors General of the DoD, DOJ, CIA, NSA, and ODN|date=July 10, 2009|accessdate=July 11, 2009|quote=The specific intelligence activities that were permitted by the Presidential Authorizations remain highly classified, except that beginning in December 2005 the President and other Administration officials acknowledged that these activities included the interception without a court order of certain international communications where there is "a reasonable basis to conclude that one party to the communication is a member of al-Qa'ida, affiliated with al-Qa'ida, or a member of an organization affiliated with al-Qa'ida."}}</ref>) Once the ] ] questioned its original legal opinion that FISA did not apply in a time of war, the program was subsequently re-authorized by the President on the basis that the warrant requirements of FISA were implicitly superseded by the subsequent passage of the ].<ref>U.S. Department of Justice White Paper on NSA Legal Authorities. {{cite web|url=http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/nsa/dojnsa11906wp.pdf|format=PDF|title=Legal Authorities Supporting the Activities of the National Security Agency Described by the President|date=January 19, 2006}}</ref> The program proved to be ], as critics of the administration, as well as organizations such as the ], argued that it was illegal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gonzales defends wiretaps amid protest|work=CNN|date=January 26, 2006|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/24/nsa.strategy/index.html|accessdate=September 2, 2007}}; {{cite news|title=Lawyers Group Criticizes Surveillance Program|work=The Washington Post|date=February 14, 2006|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021302006.html|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> In August 2006, a U.S. district court judge ruled that the ] was unconstitutional,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101410.html|title=Judge Asked to Suspend Ruling Against Wiretaps|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=February 9, 2006|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> but on July 6, 2007, that ruling was ] by the ] on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Court dismisses lawsuit on spying program|publisher=Reuters|date=July 6, 2007|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0642400020070706|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> On January 17, 2007, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales informed U.S. Senate leaders that the program would not be reauthorized by the President, but would be subjected to judicial oversight.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gonzales|first=Alberto|url=http://en.wikisource.org/AG_letter_to_Senate_leaders_regarding_FISC_decision_and_conclusion_of_Terrorist_Surveillance_Program|title=Letter from the AG to the Senate leaders|date=January 17, 2007|work=Wikisource|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Interrogation Policies ==== | |||
| Bush authorized the ] to use ] as one of several ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Talev|first=Margaret|coauthor=Marisa Taylor|date=April 23, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009|url=http://www.theolympian.com/795/story/829926.html|title=Bush-era interrogations: From waterboarding to forced nudity|publisher=The Olympian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/secret-interrogation-memos-to-be-released/|title=Obama Releases Interrogation Memos, Says C.I.A. Operatives Won’t Be Prosecuted|publisher=The New York Time|date=April 16, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-torture7feb07,1,3156438.story|work=The Los Angeles Times|accessdate=May 30, 2008|author=Miller, Greg|title=Waterboarding is legal, White House says|date=February 7, 2008}}</ref> Between 2002 and 2003 the CIA considered certain enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to be legal based on a secret Justice Department legal opinion arguing that terror detainees were not protected by the ]' ban on torture.<ref name="cbs-waterboard">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/08/national/main3807334.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3807334|title=Cheney Defends U.S. Use Of Waterboarding|accessdate=May 1, 2008|date=February 8, 2008|publisher=CBS News}}</ref> The CIA had exercised the technique on certain key terrorist suspects under authority given to it in the ] from the Attorney General, though that memo was later withdrawn.<ref name=certain_olc>{{cite web|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/documents/memostatusolcopinions01152009.pdf|title=Memorandum for the Files from Steven G. Bradbury, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Re: Status of Certain OLC Opinions Issued in the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001.|first=Steven G.|last=Bradbury|authorlink=Steven G. Bradbury|accessdate=March 19, 2009|publisher=]|date=January 15, 2009|accessdate=May 12, 2009}}</ref> While not permitted by the ] which assert "that harsh interrogation tactics elicit unreliable information",<ref name="cbs-waterboard"/> the Bush administration believed these enhanced interrogations "provided critical information" to preserve American lives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/05/india.terrorism|title=CIA admit 'waterboarding' al-Qaida suspects|publisher=www.guardian.co.uk|accessdate=February 21, 2008|last=Tran|first=Mark | location=London | date=February 5, 2008}}</ref> Critics, such as former CIA officer Bob Baer, have stated that information was suspect, "you can get anyone to confess to anything if the torture's bad enough."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Investigation/story?id=1322866|accessdate=July 26, 2009|title=CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described|authors=BRIAN ROSS and RICHARD ESPOSITO|date=November 18, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| On October 17, 2006, Bush signed into law the ],<ref name="detainee">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-28-congress-terrorism_x.htm|title=Bush's detainee interrogation and prosecution plan approved by Senate|accessdate=September 1, 2008|agency=Associated Press|date=September 28, 2005|work=USA Today}}</ref> a law enacted in the wake of the ] decision on '']'', {{ussc|548|557|2006}},<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/28/opinion/28thu1.html|title=Rushing Off a Cliff"|work=The New York Times|date=September 28, 2006}}</ref> which allows the U.S. government to prosecute ] by military commission rather than a standard trial. The law also denies them access to '']'' and bars the ] of detainees, but allows the president to determine what constitutes torture.<ref name="detainee"/> | |||
| On March 8, 2008, Bush ]ed H.R. 2082,<ref>http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2082.ENR:</ref> a bill that would have expanded Congressional oversight over the intelligence community and banned the use of waterboarding as well as other forms of interrogation not permitted under the ], saying that "the bill Congress sent me would take away one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/08/bush.torture.ap/|title=Bush vetoes bill banning waterboarding|publisher=CNN|accessdate=April 11, 2008|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080413141632/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/08/bush.torture.ap/ |archivedate = April 13, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> In April 2009, the ACLU sued and won release of the secret memos that had authorized the Bush administration's interrogation tactics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/24/cia.torture/index.html|title=Presiouvly secret torture memo released|publisher=CNN|accessdate=July 23, 2009 | date=July 24, 2008}}</ref> One memo detailed specific interrogation tactics including a footnote that described waterboarding as torture as well as that the form of waterboarding used by the CIA was far more intense than authorized by the Justice Department.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/bush-memo-footnotes-defin_n_188008.html|title=Bush memo footnotes define waterboarding as torture|publisher=huffington post|accessdate=July 26, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== North Korea ==== | |||
| {{Main|North Korea–United States relations}} | |||
| Bush publicly condemned ] of ], naming North Korea one of three states in an "]", and saying that "the United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."<ref name=sotu2002/> Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the ]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2003/Summer/art1-su3.htm|title=Pollack, Jonathan. "The United States, North Korea, and the End of the Agreed Framework". ''Naval War College Review'', Summer 2003, Vol. LVI, No. 3.|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2003/Summer/art1-su3.htm|archivedate=August 18, 2006}}</ref> North Korea's October 9, 2006, ] of a nuclear device further complicated Bush's foreign policy, which centered for both terms of his presidency on " the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world".<ref name=sotu2002/> Bush condemned North Korea's position, reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula", and stated that "transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States", for which North Korea would be held accountable.<ref name="cuts-nyt">{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061009.html|title=President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test|date=October 9, 2006|accessdate=June 23, 2009|work=The White House}}</ref> On May 7, 2007, North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear reactors immediately pending the release of frozen funds held in a foreign bank account. This was a result of a series of three-way talks initiated by the United States and including China.<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270397,00.html|title=North Korea Ready to Shut Down Reactor 'Immediately'|publisher=]|date=May 7, 2007|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> On September 2, 2007, North Korea agreed to disclose and dismantle all of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S.: North Korea agrees to shut down nuke facilities|agency=Associated Press|publisher=CNN|date=September 2, 2007|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/koreas.nuclear.ap/index.html|accessdate=September 2, 2007|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070917103449/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/koreas.nuclear.ap/index.html |archivedate = September 17, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref> By May 2009, North Korea had restarted its nuclear program and threatened to attack South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCurry|first=Justin|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/27/north-korea-threat-attack-south|publisher=Guardian.co.uk|title=North Korea restarts nuclear reactor and threatens to attack south|date=May 27, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Syria ==== | |||
| Bush expanded economic sanctions on ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bush expands sanctions on Syria|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7244088.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=February 16, 2008|date=February 14, 2008}}</ref> In early 2007, the ], acting on a June 2005 ], froze American bank accounts of Syria's Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Electronics Institute, and National Standards and Calibration Laboratory. Bush's order prohibits Americans from doing business with these institutions suspected of helping spread ]<ref>. Registration required. January 4, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2009.</ref> and being supportive of terrorism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/2003/25778.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|accessdate=May 31, 2008|title=Syria and Terrorism|date=October 30, 2003|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080515051905/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/2003/25778.htm |archivedate = May 15, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> Under separate executive orders signed by Bush in 2004 and later 2007, the Treasury Department froze the assets of two Lebanese and two Syrians, accusing them of activities to "undermine the legitimate political process in Lebanon" in November 2007. Those designated included: Assaad Halim Hardan, a member of ]'s parliament and current leader of the Syrian Socialist National Party; Wi'am Wahhab, a former member of Lebanon's government (Minister of the Environment) under Prime Minister Omar Karami (2004–2005); Hafiz Makhluf, a colonel and senior official in the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and a cousin of Syrian President ]; and Muhammad Nasif Khayrbik, identified as a close adviser to Assad.<ref>, The Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2009.</ref> | |||
| ==== Assassination attempt ==== | |||
| On May 10, 2005, ], a native Georgian who was born to a family of ethnic Armenians, threw a live ] toward a podium where Bush was speaking at ] in ], ]. Georgian President ] was seated nearby. It landed in the crowd about {{convert|65|ft|m|0}} from the podium after hitting a girl, but it did not detonate. Arutyunian was arrested in July 2005, confessed, was convicted and was given a life sentence in January 2006.<ref>{{cite news|coauthors=Chilcote|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/01/11/georgia.grenade/index.html|title=Bush grenade attacker gets life|publisher=CNN|date=January 11, 2006|accessdate=January 3, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Other issues ==== | |||
| ], and ] meet at the Red Sea Summit in ], ], June 4, 2003]] | |||
| Bush withdrew U.S. support for several international agreements, including the ] (ABM) with Russia. Bush emphasized a careful approach to the conflict between ] and the ]; he denounced ] leader ] for his support of violence, but sponsored dialogues between Prime Minister ] and Palestinian National Authority President ]. Bush supported Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and lauded the democratic elections held in Palestine after Arafat's death. | |||
| Bush also expressed U.S. support for the defense of ] following the stand-off in April 2001 with the People's Republic of China over the ], when an ] ] collided with a ] ], leading to the detention of U.S. personnel. In 2003–2004, Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in ] and ] to protect U.S. interests. Bush condemned the ] by militia forces on the people of ] and denounced the killings in ] as ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jim VandeHei|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101725.html|title=In Break With U.N., Bush Calls Sudan Killings Genocide|work=The Washington Post|date=June 2, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> Bush said that an international ] presence was critical in Darfur, but opposed referring the situation to the ]. | |||
| ] meeting with Bush on April 1, 2008.]] | |||
| In his ] in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy for global emergency ] relief, the ]. Bush announced ]15 billion for this effort.<ref>{{cite news|author=Associated Press|url=http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2009/01/mersontip.html|title=News Tip: AIDS Relief in Africa is One of Bush's Most Visible Legacies, Says Duke Expert|work=Office of News & Communication, Duke University|date=January 14, 2009|accessdate=January 30, 2009}}</ref> This program is believed by some{{Who|date=January 2010}} to be a positive aspect of Bush's legacy across the political spectrum. | |||
| On June 10, 2007, he met with Albanian Prime Minister ] and became the first president to visit Albania.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/world/europe/10cnd-prexy.html?hp|title=Bush is Greeted Warmly in Albania|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|work=The New York Times|date=June 10, 2007}}</ref> Bush has voiced his support for the ] of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2008/February/20080219131902idybeekcm0.4052851.html|title=Bush Hails Kosovo Independence|date=February 19, 2008|publisher=america.gov|accessdate=September 19, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In 2002, Bush opened the ] ]. Departing from previous practice, he stood among a group of U.S. athletes rather than from a ceremonial stand or box, saying: "On behalf of a proud, determined, and grateful nation, I declare open the Games of Salt Lake City, celebrating the Olympic Winter Games."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020209-2.html|title=President Bush Opens 2002 Olympic Games|date=February 8, 2002|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> In 2008, in the course of a good-will trip to Asia, he attended the ] in Beijing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26131736/|title=Bush: Olympics "exceeded my expectations"|agency=Associated Press|date=August 11, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| === Judicial appointments === | |||
| ==== Supreme Court ==== | |||
| {{Main|George W. Bush Supreme Court candidates}} | |||
| Following the announcement of ] ] ]'s retirement on July 1, 2005, Bush nominated ] to succeed her. On September 5, following the death of ] ], this nomination was withdrawn and Bush instead nominated Roberts for Chief Justice to succeed Rehnquist. Roberts was confirmed by the Senate as the 17th Chief Justice on September 29, 2005. | |||
| On October 3, 2005, Bush nominated White House Counsel ] for O'Connor's position; after facing significant opposition, she asked that her name be withdrawn on October 27. Four days later, on October 31, Bush nominated federal appellate judge ] for the position and he was confirmed as the 110th Supreme Court Justice on January 31, 2006. | |||
| ==== Other courts ==== | |||
| {{Main|List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush}} | |||
| In addition to his two Supreme Court appointments, Bush appointed 61 judges to the ] and 261 judges to the ]s. Each of these numbers, along with his total of 324 judicial appointments, is third in American history, behind both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Bush experienced a number of ], as 39 people nominated to 27 ] were blocked by the ] either in the ] or on the Senate floor using a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081006-5.html|title=President Bush Discusses Judicial Accomplishments and Philosophy|date=October 6, 2008|publisher=The White House|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| === Public image and perception === | |||
| ==== Domestic ==== | |||
| {{Main|Public image of George W. Bush}} | |||
| {{See also|Efforts to impeach George W. Bush}} | |||
| [[File:George W Bush approval ratings.svg|thumb|right|{{legend|#4A7EBB|approve}} | |||
| {{legend|#BE4B48|disapprove}} | |||
| {{legend|#98B954|unsure}} | |||
| ]/'']'' Bush public ]ing from February 2001 to January 2009. Blue denotes approve, red disapprove and green unsure. Large increases in ] followed the September 11 attacks, the beginning of the ] and the capture of ]]] | |||
| ===== Image ===== | |||
| Bush's upbringing in ], his accent, his vacations on his Texas ranch, and his penchant for country metaphors contribute to his folksy, American ] image.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/08/halberstam200708|title=The History Boys|publisher=]|accessdate=January 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name=BBCcowboy>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2968176.stm|title=Bush revels in cowboy speak|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=January 28, 2009|date=June 6, 2003}}</ref> "I think people look at him and think ]", says Piers Morgan, editor of the British '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/01/30/europe.bush.rodgers.otsc/|title='John Wayne' president has critics|publisher=Cable News Network LP|accessdate=January 28, 2009 | date=January 30, 2003}}</ref> It has been suggested that Bush's accent was an active choice, as a way of distinguishing himself from Northeastern intellectuals and anchoring himself to his Texas roots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/texan/drawl/|title=Drawl or Nothin'|publisher=MACNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> Both supporters and detractors have pointed to his country persona as reasons for their support or criticism.<ref name=BBCcowboy/> | |||
| Bush's intellectual capacity has been ] by the media,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/19/AR2006081900568_pf.html|title=Pundits Renounce The President|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Baker|first=Peter|date=August 20, 2006|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> comedians, and other politicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-401414/Blair-feels-betrayed-Bush-Lebanon.html|title=Blair 'feels betrayed by Bush on Lebanon'|accessdate=September 1, 2008|last=Walters|first=Simon|date=August 19, 2006|work=The Daily Mail}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/Election/bush011401.htm|title=Bush gets bad rap on intelligence|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=January 14, 2001|work=The St. Cloud Times}}</ref> Detractors tended to cite linguistic errors made by Bush during his public speeches, which are colloquially termed as ]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/nov/04/uselections2000.usa5|title=Bush, in his own words|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Jacob Weisberg|date=November 4, 2000|publisher=The Guardian | location=London}}</ref> Editorials in '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' have referred to Bush as "the worst president ever".<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilentz|first=Sean|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9961300/the_worst_president_in_history?year=2006|date=April 21, 2006|title=The Worst President in History|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate=June 23, 2009|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080822122622/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9961300/the_worst_president_in_history |archivedate = August 22, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Horton|first=Scott|url=http://harpers.org/archive/2008/04/hbc-90002804?year=2008|date=April 2008|title=Worst.President.Ever|work=Harper's Magazine|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Von Hoffman|first=Nicholas|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070226/howl?year=2007|date=February 14, 2007|title=The Worst President Ever|work=The Nation|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gutman|first=Huck|url=http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0708-27.htm?year=2005|date=July 8, 2005|title=The Worst US President Ever?|work=CommonDreams.org|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Foner|first=Eric|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101509.html|title=He's The Worst Ever|publisher=Washingtonpost.com|date=December 3, 2006|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| In contrast to his ], who was perceived as having ], Bush embraced larger visions and was seen as a man of larger ideas and associated huge risks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/12/politics/12LETT.html?ex=1389243600&en=72a6159980245012&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND|title=Bush Gets ’Vision Thing’ and Embraces Big Risks|accessdate=October 9, 2009|publisher=New York Times | first=Elisabeth | last=Bumiller | date=January 12, 2004}} {{dead link| date=June 2010 | bot=DASHBot}}</ref> | |||
| ===== Approval ===== | |||
| Bush's popularity was highly variable during his two terms. He began his presidency with ] near 50%.<ref name=ApprovalRatingsOverTime>{{cite web|url=http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/cgi-bin/hsrun.exe/Roperweb/PresJob/PresJob.htx;start=HS_fullresults?pr=Bush|title=Job Performance Ratings for President Bush|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Roper Center|year=2006}}</ref> After the ], Bush gained an approval rating of 90%,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/opinion/polls/main4728399.shtml|title=Bush's Final Approval Rating: 22 Percent|accessdate=209-01-29|date=January 16, 2009|publisher=CBS}}</ref> maintaining 80–90% approval for four months after the attacks. It remained over 50% during most of his first term.<ref name="Gallup"/> | |||
| In 2000 and again in 2004, ''Time'' magazine named George W. Bush as its ], a title awarded to someone who the editors believe "has done the most to influence the events of the year".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998831,00.html|title=Person of the Year|author=Nancy Gibbs|accessdate=March 19, 2008|work=TIME Magazine | date=December 25, 2000}}; {{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/personoftheyear/2004/story.html|title=Person of the Year|author=Nancy Gibbs and John F. Dickerson|accessdate=March 19, 2008|work=TIME Magazine | date=December 19, 2004}}</ref> In May 2004, Gallup reported that 89% of the Republican electorate approved of Bush.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/11872/Deconstructing-Drop-Bushs-Job-Approval-Rating.aspx|title=Deconstructing the Drop in Bush’s Job Approval Rating|date=June 1, 2004|publisher=Gallup Organization|accessdate=August 19, 2008}}</ref> However, the support waned due mostly to a minority of Republicans' frustration with him on issues of spending, illegal immigration, and Middle Eastern affairs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-15-rice-request_x.htm|title=Republicans criticize Rice over Bush Mideast policy|accessdate=September 1, 2008|agency=Associated Press|date=February 15, 2006 | work=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
| Within the ], according to an unscientific survey, the president was strongly supported in the 2004 presidential elections.<ref name="military support">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-03-bush-troops_x.htm|title=Troops in survey back Bush 4-to-1 over Kerry|accessdate=May 9, 2008|author=Moniz, Dave|date=October 3, 2004|work=USA Today}}</ref> While 73% of military personnel said that they would vote for Bush, 18% preferred his Democratic rival, ].<ref name="military support"/> According to Peter Feaver, a ] political scientist who has studied the political leanings of the U.S. military, members of the armed services supported Bush because they found him more likely than Kerry to complete the War in Iraq.<ref name="military support"/> | |||
| Bush's approval rating went below the 50% mark in AP-Ipsos polling in December 2004.<ref Name="Taipei Times">{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/03/10/2003351719|title=Bush's job approval rating creeps up in AP-Ipsos poll|work=Taipei Times|date=March 10, 2007|accessdate=September 1, 2008|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080613223621/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/03/10/2003351719 |archivedate = June 13, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> Thereafter, his approval ratings and approval of his handling of domestic and foreign policy issues steadily dropped. Bush received heavy criticism for his handling of the ], his ] and to the ], ], the ], and ] controversies.<ref name="Unchecked and Unbalanced">{{cite news|last=Kakutani|first=Michiko|title=Unchecked and Unbalanced|work=The New York Times|date=July 6, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/books/06book.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Polls conducted in 2006 showed an average of 37% approval ratings for Bush,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm|title=President Bush—Overall Job Rating|work=Polling Report|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> the lowest for any second-term president at that point of his term since ] in March 1951, when Truman's approval rating was 28%,<ref Name="Taipei Times"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Silva, Mark|url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/03/bushs_secondter.html|title=Bush's second-term slump|work=Chicago Tribune|date=March 7, 2007|accessdate=April 27, 2007}}</ref> which contributed to what Bush called the "thumping" of the ] in the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/news/usnN07478317.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070810120940/http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/news/usnN07478317.html|archivedate=August 10, 2007|date=November 8, 2006|title=Bush admits Republicans took a "thumping" (Reuters)}}</ref> Throughout 2007, Bush's approval rating hovered in the mid-thirties,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/|title=President Bush Job Approval|accessdate=September 1, 2008|publisher=RealClearPolitics}}</ref> although in an October 17, 2007, ] poll, Bush received a lower approval rating of 24%,<ref name="Reuters Poll">{{cite news|last=Whitesides|first=John|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1624620720071017?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews|title=Voters unhappy with Bush and Congress|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> the lowest point of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/popularity.php?pres=43&sort=time&direct=ASC&Submit=DISPLAY|title=Presidential Job Approval for Harry Truman|accessdate=March 15, 2008|publisher=The American Presidency Project}}</ref> | |||
| ]By April 2008, Bush's disapproval ratings were the highest ever recorded in the 70-year history of the ] for any president, with 69% of those polled disapproving of the job Bush was doing as president and 28% approving.<ref name='USAToday April 21, 2008-bushrating'>{{cite news|first=Susan|last=Page|title=Disapproval of Bush breaks record|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-21-bushrating_N.htm|work=USA Today|accessdate=April 23, 2008 | date=April 22, 2008}}</ref> In September 2008, in polls performed by various agencies, Bush's approval rating ranged from 19%—the lowest ever<ref></ref>—to 34%.<ref name="The National Economy"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm|title=President Bush – Overall Job Rating in national polls|accessdate=September 22, 2008}}</ref> and his disapproval rating stood at 69%.<ref name="wapo ratings"/><ref name="Bush: Job Ratings"/><ref name="The National Economy"/><ref name="gallup high"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/106741/Bushs-69-Job-Disapproval-Rating-Highest-Gallup-History.aspx|title=Bush's 69% disapproval rating Highest in Gallup History|accessdate=January 23, 2008}}</ref> Bush left the White House as one of the most unpopular American presidents, second in unpopularity only to ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Saad|first=Lydia|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/113770/Bush-Presidency-Closes-34-Approval-61-Disapproval.aspx|title=Bush Presidency Closes With 34% Approval, 61% Disapproval|work=Gallup.com|date=January 14, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harnden|first=Toby|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4292377/Barack-Obama-inauguration-President-Elect-invokes-spirit-of-Martin-Luther-King.html|title=Barack Obama inauguration: President-Elect invokes spirit of Martin Luther King|work=Telegraph.co.uk|date=January 19, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> | |||
| In response to his poll numbers and "worst president" accusations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9961300/the_worst_president_in_history|title=The Worst President in History|accessdate=September 1, 2008|year=2006|work=Rolling Stone|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080822122622/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9961300/the_worst_president_in_history |archivedate = August 22, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22070368-28737,00.html|title=Defending the home front|accessdate=September 1, 2008|year=2007|work=]}}</ref> Bush said, "I frankly don't give a damn about the polls.... To assume that historians can figure out the effect of the Bush administration before the Bush administration has ended is ... in my mind ... not an accurate reflection upon how history works."<ref name="Fox News">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330234,00.html|title=Transcript: President Bush on 'FOX News Sunday'|publisher=Fox News|date=February 11, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In 2006, 744 professional historians surveyed by New York-based ] regarded Bush's presidency as follows: Great: 2%; Near Great: 5%; Average: 11%; Below Average: 24%; Failure: 58%.<ref name="Siena_2006"> (PDF). Siena Research Institute. May 1, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2008.</ref> Thomas Kelly, professor emeritus of American studies at Siena College, said that "In this case, current public opinion polls actually seem to cut the President more slack than the experts do."<ref name="Siena_2006"/> Similar outcomes were retrieved by two informal surveys done by the ] in 2004<ref name="HNN04poll">McElvaine, Robert S. May 17, 2004. Retrieved June 6, 2008.</ref> and 2008.<ref name="HNN08poll">McElvaine, Robert S. April 1, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2008.</ref> | |||
| A March 13, 2008, poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press reported that 53% of Americans—a slim majority—believe that "the U.S. will ultimately succeed in achieving its goals" in Iraq.<ref name="cbs up">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/13/politics/politico/main3933699.shtml|publisher=CBS|title=Support For Iraq War Highest Since 2006|accessdate=May 29, 2008|date=March 13, 2008}}</ref> That figure was up from 42% in September 2007 and the highest since 2006.<ref name="cbs up"/> | |||
| Calls for Bush's ] were made, though most polls showed a plurality of Americans did not support the president's impeachment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/third_of_americans_want_bush_impeached/|title=Rasmussen Poll: Third of Americans Want Bush Impeached|author=Joyner, James|accessdate=May 29, 2008|publisher=OutsideTheBeltway.com, OTB Media|date=December 12, 2005}}</ref> The reasoning behind impeachment usually centered on the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.corporate.findlaw.com/dean/20051230.html|title=George W. Bush as the New Richard M. Nixon: Both Wiretapped Illegally, and Impeachably|author=John W. Dean|date=December 30, 2005|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> the Bush administration's justification for the war in Iraq,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alternet.org/story/16434|title=A Firm Basis for Impeachment|author=Robert Scheer|date=July 18, 2003|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> and alleged violations of the ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothschild|first=Matthew|url=http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0308-33.htm|title=Grounds for Impeachment|publisher=CommonDreams.org|date=March 8, 2006|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> ] ], a Democrat from ], introduced 35 articles of impeachment on the floor of the House of Representatives against Bush on June 9, 2008, but ] ] declared that impeachment was "off the table".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/09/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4167427.shtml|title=Kucinich Offers Impeachment Articles Against Bush|last=Bresnahan|first=John|publisher=CBS News|date=June 9, 2008|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==== Foreign perceptions ==== | |||
| ] of the ] in late 2006]] | |||
| Bush has been criticized internationally and targeted by the global anti-war and anti-globalization campaigns, particularly for his administration's foreign policy.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Die außenpolitischen Positionen der Parteien im Bundestagswahlkampf 2002|year=2002|author=M. Overhaus, S. Schieder|journal=Politik im Netz|url=http://www.deutsche-aussenpolitik.de/daparchive/dateien/2002/01300.pdf|language=German|format=PDF|volume=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=CBC News|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/realitycheck/americans.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071013152857/http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/realitycheck/americans.html|archivedate=2007-10-13|title=Was the American ambassador meddling in a Canadian election?|publisher=CBC.ca Reality Check Team|date=December 14, 2005|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Views of him within the ] are more negative than previous American Presidents, with France largely opposed to what he advocated.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walt|first=Vivienne|title=French see Bush as the ugly American|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-02-13-france-usat_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=February 13, 2003|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| Bush was described as having especially close personal relationships with ] and ], although formal relations were sometimes strained.<ref> Marcela Sanchez (March 3, 2006).</ref><ref> (August 15, 2002).</ref><ref> Ewen MacAskill, Hugh Muir, and Julian Borger in ], ''The Guardian'' (November 11, 2003).</ref> Other leaders, such as Afghan president ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/world/asia/26afghan.html&OQ=_rQ3D2Q26orefQ3Dslogin&OP=1aa239b9Q2FQ5EPQ5CIQ5EQ2FQ60A)qQ60Q60ioQ5Eovv_Q5EvQ25Q5EopQ5EPQ60qQ22Q2FQ5Ek)RkQ5Eopk6-8kQ3DQ5D8iSQ22|format=Registration required|title=Afghan Leader Criticizes U.S. on Conduct of War|accessdate=June 23, 2009|last=Gall|first=Carlotta|date=April 26, 2008|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> Ugandan president ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article5951|title=Uganda’s president criticizes Bush administration’s handling of war in Iraq|last=Wasswa|first=Henry|date=October 14, 2004|accessdate=June 23, 2009|publisher=Sudan Tribune}}</ref> Spanish prime minister ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/mar/16/usa.iraq|title=Spanish leader accuses Bush and Blair|last=Tremlett|first=Giles|date=March 16, 2004|accessdate=June 23, 2009|publisher=Guardian.co.uk | location=London}}</ref> and Venezuelan president ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/21/usa.venezuela|title=Chávez attacks 'devil' Bush in UN speech|World news|The Guardian|publisher=The Guardian|author=Ed Pilkington in New York|accessdate=October 20, 2008 | location=London | date=September 21, 2006}}</ref> have openly criticized the president. Later in Bush's presidency, tensions arose between himself and ], which has led to a cooling of their relationship.<ref name=LeeryofPutin>{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060721-9999-1n21usrussia.html|title=Bush, White House now leery of Putin as Russian turns back on democracy|accessdate=September 1, 2008|author=Condon, George E. Jr.|date=July 21, 2006|publisher=San Diego Union Tribune|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080524084052/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060721-9999-1n21usrussia.html |archivedate = May 24, 2008|deadurl=yes}}</ref> | |||
| In 2006, a majority of respondents in 18 of 21 countries surveyed around the world were found to hold an unfavorable opinion of Bush. Respondents indicated that they judged his administration as negative for world security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbcpoll.html|title=In 18 of 21 Countries Polled, Most See Bush’s Reelection as Negative for World Security|accessdate=September 1, 2008|year=2004|publisher=] and ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/04/world/main604135.shtml|title=Polls: World Not Pleased With Bush|accessdate=September 1, 2008|date=March 4, 2004|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2007, the ] reported that during the Bush presidency, attitudes towards the United States and the American people became less favorable around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1019|title=America’s Image in the World: Findings from the Pew Global Attitudes Project|date=March 14, 2007|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ] to ] during a visit to the ], June 2004]] | |||
| A March 2007 survey of Arab opinion conducted by Zogby International and the ] found that Bush was the most disliked leader in the Arab world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldpoliticsreview.com/Article.aspx?id=594|title=Middle East Opinion: Iran Fears Aren't Hitting the Arab Street|author=Peter Kiernan|date=March 1, 2007|publisher=World Politics Review Exclusive}}</ref> | |||
| The ]'s 2007 Global Attitudes poll found that out of 47 countries, a majority of respondents expressed "a lot of confidence" or "some confidence" in Bush in only nine countries: ], India, ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="pew research">{{cite web|date=June 27, 2007|publisher=]|url=http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/256topline.pdf|title=Pew Global Attitudes Project: Spring 2007, Survey of 47 Publics, Final 2007 Comparative Topline|accessdate=September 1, 2008|format=PDF}}</ref> | |||
| During a June 2007 visit to the predominantly Muslim<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf |title=Pew Research Center-A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-20}}</ref> ]an nation of ], Bush was greeted enthusiastically. Albania has a population of 3.6 million, has troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the country's government is highly supportive of American foreign policy.<ref name="albania">{{cite news|date=June 10, 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6738055.stm|title=Bush greeted as hero in Albania|publisher=BBC|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> A huge image of the President now hangs in the middle of the capital city of ] flanked by Albanian and American flags.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 10, 2007|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10919634|publisher=]|title=Bush Gets Warm Reception in Albania|accessdate=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The Bush administration's support for the independence of Albanian-majority ], while endearing him to the ], has troubled U.S. relations with ], leading to the February 2008 torching of the U.S. embassy in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/europe/24iht-kosovo.1.10332489.html?_r=1|title=Serbian official blames U.S. for recent violence|publisher=New York Times|date=December 4, 2008 | first=Dan | last=Bilefsky | accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| == Post-presidency == | |||
| ] | |||
| Following the ], Bush and his family boarded a presidential helicopter typically used as ] to travel to ].<ref name="leaving">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/20/ex-president-bush-wife-leave-washington-texas/|title=Ex-President Bush and Wife Leave Washington for Texas|accessdate=January 20, 2009|date=January 20, 2009|publisher=Fox News|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Bush, with his wife, then boarded an Air Force ] for a flight to a homecoming celebration in ]. Because he was no longer President, this flight was designated Special Air Mission 28000, instead of ]. After a welcome rally in Midland, the Bushes returned to their ranch in ], by helicopter.<ref name="leaving"/> They bought a home in the ] neighborhood of ], Texas, where they planned to settle down.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Angela K.|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6696351|title=Enthusiastic Crowds Welcome Bush Back to Texas|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=January 21, 2009|publisher=ABC News}} {{dead link| date=June 2010 | bot=DASHBot}}</ref> | |||
| Since leaving office, Bush has kept a relatively low profile.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/08/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5072127.shtml|title=Laura Bush Discusses Her Husband's Low Profile|accessdate=June 8, 2009|date=July 28, 2009|publisher=CBS News}}</ref> However, he has made appearances at various events throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area, most notably when he conducted the opening coin toss at the ] first game in the team's new ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/2009/09/coin-toss-from-george-and-laura-bush-was-a-brief-taste-of-luck-for-cowboys-fans.html|title=Coin toss from George and Laura Bush was a brief taste of luck for Cowboys fans|accessdate=October 10, 2009|date=September 21, 2009|publisher=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}</ref> An April 6, 2009, visit to a ] game, where he gave a speech thanking the people of Dallas for helping them settle in (and specifically, the people of Arlington, where the game was held), was met with a standing ovation.<ref>{{cite web|author=8:10 p.m. ET|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30074152/|title=Bush throws first pitch at Rangers game - Baseball- nbcsports.msnbc.com|publisher=MSNBC|date=2009-04-06|accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| His first speaking engagement occurred on March 17, 2009, in ], ]. He spoke at a private event entitled "A conversation with George W. Bush" at the ] Convention Centre and stated that he would not criticize President Obama and hoped he succeeds, specifically stating, " deserves my silence."<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29743567/|title=Bush says Obama 'deserves my silence'|accessdate=June 23, 2009|date=March 17, 2009|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Allen|title=Bush promises not to attack Obama|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20160.html|publisher=Politico|date=March 18, 2009|accessdate=March 18, 2009}}</ref> During his speech, Bush announced that he had begun writing a book, which is expected to be published under the title ''Decision Points'' in 2010.<ref name="NYTBook">{{cite news|title=Bush Book on Decisions Is Set for 2010|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/politics/19bush.html|accessdate=March 23, 2009|date=March 19, 2009|author=Motoko Rich|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> The book will focus on "12 difficult personal and political decisions" Bush faced during his presidency.<ref name="NYTBook"/> On May 29, 2009, Bush and former President ] appeared at a policy discussion at the ], moderated by ] who was the former ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/us/politics/30bush.html?_r=1|work=The New York Times|title=Bush-Clinton Policy Talk Strikes a Congenial Tone|first=Jim|last=Rutenberg|date=May 30, 2009|accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| Bush made a video-taped appearance on the June 11, 2009, episode of '']'' during the show's ] to ], ]. Bush praised the troops for earning a "special place in American history" and for their courage and endurance. He joked that it would come in handy, saying, "I've sat through ] stuff before," in reference to Colbert's ] at the 2006 ] dinner as well as ''The Colbert Report's'' history of criticizing Bush's administration.<ref>{{cite news|author=]|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hL_Z4p4xMek1-baeGd_QsoBHMkBwD98P6CV80|title=Troops in Iraq hailed by Bush on 'Colbert Report'|publisher=google.com|date=June 12, 2009|accessdate=June 23, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| On August 29, 2009, Bush, with his wife ], attended the funeral of Senator ].<ref name="pols">{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20090830funeral_mass_unites_pols/|title=Funeral mass unites pols|last=Weir|first=Richard|date=August 30, 2009|work=]|accessdate=August 30, 2009}}</ref> Bush made his debut as a motivational speaker on October 26 at the "Get Motivated" seminar in Dallas.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603185_pf.html|title=Bush's first stand on a new podium|last=Jordan|first=Mary|date=October 26, 2009|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=November 10, 2009}}</ref> | |||
| In the aftermath of the ] that took place on November 5, 2009, at the ] U.S. Army post in Texas, Fox News revealed that the former President and his wife had paid an undisclosed visit to the survivors and victims' families the day following the shooting, having contacted the base commander requesting that the visit be private and not involve press coverage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/07/george-w-bush-secretly-visits-fort-hood-victims/|title=George W. Bush Secretly Visits Fort Hood Victims|date=November 7, 2009|accessdate=November 18, 2009|publisher=Fox News Channel}}</ref> The Bushes own a property less than 30 minutes from Fort Hood and spent one to two hours at the base. | |||
| In January 2010, at the request of President Obama, Bush and former President Bill Clinton established the ] to raise contributions for relief and recovery efforts following the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/16/haiti.earthquake/|title=Presidents Clinton, Bush lead effort to raise funds for Haiti|date=January 16, 2010|accessdate=January 16, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref> | |||
| When asked in February 2010 about his isolation and low profile since leaving office, Bush replied "I have no desire to see myself on television... I don't want to be a panel of formers instructing the currents on what to do. ... I'm trying to regain a sense of anonymity. I didn't like it when a certain former president -- and it wasn't (]) or (]) -- made my life miserable." Bush was referring to 39th President ], who was an outspoken critic of President Bush throughout his presidency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/02/hes-back-w-in-washington-for-bush-cheney-reunion/1|title=He's back: W in Washington for Bush-Cheney reunion - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency|publisher=Content.usatoday.com|date=2010-02-26|accessdate=2010-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| On June 2, 2010, Bush established a ] page.<ref name="bbc_fb">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10221253.stm|title=George W Bush joins social networking giant Facebook|accessdate=2010-06-02|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|year=2010|month=June}}</ref> | |||
| Also on June 2, 2010, during a speaking engagement at the Economic Club of ], Bush referred to the ] of ], saying "I'd do it again to save lives."<ref>{{Cite news|title='I'd do it again' former President Bush tells Grand Rapids crowd about waterboarding terrorists |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/06/id_do_it_again_former_presiden.html|date=June 2, 2010|first=Ted|last=Roelofs|work=]|separator=,|accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| {{Portal box|Texas|Government of the United States|Biography}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | |||
| <!-- DO NOT ADD A SCROLL-BAR TO THESE REFERENCES-IT BREAKS THE FORMATTING --> | |||
| <!-- Don't add <div class="references-small"> either, this is included in the template already --> | |||
| {{Reflist|3}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{Sisterlinks|George W. Bush|s=Author:George Walker Bush}} | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * - ], maintains content from January 20, 2009 | |||
| * {{cite web|url=http://www.gop.com/About/Bio.aspx?id=1|title=Republican National Committee biography|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070414215908/http://www.gop.com/About/Bio.aspx?id=1|archivedate=April 14, 2007}} | |||
| * - video slideshow by ''Time Magazine'' | |||
| * | |||
| * {{Imdb name|0124133}} | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| ;Academic | |||
| * Abramson, Paul R., John H. Aldrich, and David W. Rohde. ''Change and Continuity in the 2004 and 2006 Elections'' (2007), 324pp | |||
| * Allard, Scott W. "The Changing Face of Welfare During the Bush Administration." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 304-332. Issn: 0048-5950 | |||
| * Barone, Michael. ''The Almanac of American Politics'' (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010), highly detailed coverage of electoral politics and Congress. | |||
| * Berggren, D. Jason, and Nicol C. Rae. "Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush: Faith, Foreign Policy, and an Evangelical Presidential Style." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly.'' 36#4 2006. pp 606+. | |||
| * Campbell, Colin, Bert A. Rockman, and Andrew Rudalevige, eds.. ''The George W. Bush Legacy'' Congressional Quarterly Press, 2007, 352pp; 14 essays by scholars | |||
| * Congressional Quarterly. ''CQ Almanac Plus'' highly detailed annual compilation of events in Congress, White House, Supreme Court, summarizing the weekly "Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report". (annual, 2002–2009) | |||
| * Conlan, Tim and John Dinan. "Federalism, the Bush Administration, and the Transformation of American Conservatism." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 279-303. Issn: 0048-5950 | |||
| * Corrado, Anthony, E. J. Dionne Jr., Kathleen A. Frankovic. ''The Election of 2000: Reports and Interpretations'' (2001) | |||
| * Daynes, Byron W. and Glen Sussman. "Comparing the Environmental Policies of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush." ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(2): 163-179. Issn: 1535-4738 | |||
| * Desch, Michael C. "Bush and the Generals." ''Foreign Affairs'' 2007 86(3): 97-108. Issn: 0015-7120 Fulltext: ] | |||
| * Eckersley, Robyn. "Ambushed: the Kyoto Protocol, the Bush Administration's Climate Policy and the Erosion of Legitimacy." ''International Politics'' 2007 44(2-3): 306-324. Issn: 1384-5748 | |||
| * Edwards III, George C. and Philip John Davies, eds. ''New Challenges for the American Presidency'' New York: Pearson Longman, 2004. 245 pp. articles from ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' | |||
| * Edwards III, George C. and Desmond King, eds. ''The Polarized Presidency of George W. Bush'' (2007), 478pp; essays by scholars; | |||
| * Fortier, John C. and Norman J. Ornstein, eds. ''Second-term Blues: How George W. Bush Has Governed'' (2007), 146pp | |||
| * Graham John D. Bush on the Home Front: Domestic Policy Triumphs and Setbacks'' (Indiana University Press, 2010) 425 pages; covers taxation, education, health care, energy, the environment, and regulatory reform. | |||
| * Greenstein, Fred I. ed. ''The George W. Bush Presidency: An Early Assessment'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003 | |||
| * Greenstein, Fred I. “The Contemporary Presidency: The Changing Leadership of George W. Bush A Pre- and Post-9/11 Comparison” in ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' v 32#2 2002 pp 387+. | |||
| * Gregg II, Gary L. and Mark J. Rozell, eds. ''Considering the Bush Presidency'' Oxford University Press, 2004. 210 pp. British perspectives | |||
| * Hendrickson, Ryan C., and Kristina Spohr Readman, "From the Baltic to the Black Sea: Bush's NATO Enlargement." ''White House Studies.'' (2004) 4#3 pp: 319+. | |||
| * Hilliard, Bryan, Tom Lansford, and Robert P Watson, eds. ''George W. Bush: Evaluating the President at Midterm'' SUNY Press 2004 | |||
| * Jacobson, Gary C. “The Bush Presidency and the American Electorate” ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' v 33 #4 2003 pp 701+. | |||
| * Jacobson, Gary C. "Referendum: the 2006 Midterm Congressional Elections." ''Political Science Quarterly'' 2007 122(1): 1-24. Issn: 0032-3195 Fulltext: ] | |||
| * Milkis, Sidney M. and Jesse H.Rhodes. "George W. Bush, the Party System, and American Federalism." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 478-503. Issn: 0048-5950 | |||
| * Moens, Alexander ''The Foreign Policy of George W. Bush: Values, Strategy, and Loyalty.'' Ashgate, 2004. 227 pp. | |||
| * Rabe, Barry. "Environmental Policy and the Bush Era: the Collision Between the Administrative Presidency and State Experimentation." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 413-431. Issn: 0048-5950 | |||
| * Sabato, Larry J. ed. ''The Sixth Year Itch: The Rise and Fall of the George W. Bush Presidency'' (2007), experts on the 2006 elections in major states | |||
| * Strozeski, Josh, et al. "From Benign Neglect to Strategic Interest: the Role of Africa in the Foreign Policies of Bush 41 and 43." ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(1): 35-51. Issn: 1535-4738 | |||
| * Wekkin, Gary D. "George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush: Puzzling Presidencies, or the Puzzle of the Presidency?" ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(2): 113-124. Issn: 1535-4738 | |||
| * Wong, Kenneth and Gail Sunderman. "Education Accountability as a Presidential Priority: No Child Left Behind and the Bush Presidency." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 333-350. Issn: 0048-5950 | |||
| ;Pro-Bush | |||
| * Barnes, Fred. ''Rebel-in-Chief: How George W. Bush Is Redefining the Conservative Movement and Transforming America'' (2006) | |||
| * Draper, Robert. ''Inside the Bush White House: The Presidency of George W. Bush'' (2007) | |||
| * Hughes, Karen. ''George W. Bush: Portrait of a Leader,'' (2005) | |||
| * Gerson, Michael J. ''Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't)'' (2007) | |||
| * ]. ''Plan of Attack'' (2003) on Iraq war | |||
| ;Anti-Bush | |||
| * Bartlett, Bruce. ''Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy'' (2006), conservative attack by former aide | |||
| * Ferguson, Michaele L. and Lori Jo Marso. ''W Stands for Women: How the George W. Bush Presidency Shaped a New Politics of Gender'' (2007) | |||
| * Greenspan, Alan. ''The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,'' (2007), memoir by powerful chairman of the Federal Reserve | |||
| * Moore, James. and Wayne Slater. ''Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential.'' 2003. | |||
| * Suskind, Ron. ''The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O’Neill'' (2004), complaints of ex Treasury Secretary | |||
| ;Bush aides | |||
| * Stephen F. Hayes. ''Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President'' (2007) | |||
| * Mabry, Marcus. ''Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power'' (2007) | |||
| ; Primary sources | |||
| * , complete series online; important analysis of current trends and policies, plus statistical tables | |||
| * George W. Bush. ''George W. Bush on God and Country: The President Speaks Out About Faith, Principle, and Patriotism'' (2004) | |||
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| {{Persondata | |||
| |NAME=Bush, George Walker | |||
| |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bush, George, Jr.; Bush Jr. | |||
| |SHORT DESCRIPTION=43rd ] | |||
| |DATE OF BIRTH=July 6, 1946 | |||
| |PLACE OF BIRTH=], ] | |||
| |DATE OF DEATH= | |||
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Revision as of 14:23, 14 June 2010
George w. Bush is a dick