George W. Bush Presidency Notes

George W. Bush and the 2000 Election

• Presidential Controversy: The 2000 presidential election was marked by controversy as George W. Bush won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote.
  • Electoral Votes: Bush needed Florida's 25 electoral votes to secure the presidency.
  • Ballot Disputes: A disputed count in Florida featured "hanging chads" where ballots were not fully punched.
  • Supreme Court Ruling: The case "Bush vs. Gore" reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately stopped the recount with a narrow 5-4 vote, confirming Bush's win by just 537 votes.
  • Final Tally: Bush won the Electoral College 271 to 266, but Al Gore received over 500,000 more popular votes.

Bush's Conservative Shift

• Political Leanings: Contrary to expectations of being a centrist like his father, President Bush adopted more conservative policies.
  • Social Policies:
    • Withdrew support from international health programs that sanctioned abortion.
    • Limited stem cell research perceived as essential for advancements in diseases like Parkinson's.
    • Implemented tax cuts benefiting wealthier Americans.
• Influence of Minor Candidates: Ralph Nader's candidacy impacted the election results, drawing votes away from Gore similar to how Ross Perot affected Clinton's election.

Political Landscape

• Divided Congress: The Senate was split 50 to 50, with Republicans having a majority in the House.
  • State Divisions: The nation was characterized by red (conservative) and blue (liberal) states, with the coasts typically leaning blue.
  • Calls for Reform: Discussions regarding reforming the Electoral College and standardizing voting processes emerged.
  • Voting Methods: Early calls for electronic voting machines and mail-in voting were initiated.

Bush's Presidency Overview

• Unique Position: Bush was the first U.S. president since John Quincy Adams to have a presidential father.
  • Compassionate Conservatism: Bush advocated as a "compassionate conservative", promoting tax cuts while empowering community organizations to support the needy.
• Background:
  • Raised in Texas but born in New England, aimed to shed his father’s elitist image and adopt a friendly, approachable persona.
  • Successful businessman, previously owned a baseball team, but struggled with alcohol and drugs before finding sobriety through faith.

Policy Highlights

• Social Issues: Bush was known for opposing abortion and calling for a right to life amendment.
  • Faith-Based Programs: Promoted programs run by faith-based organizations to assist low-income individuals instead of reliance on federal support.
• Regulatory Actions:
  • Lowered environmental regulations and withdrew from the Kyoto Accords, reflecting a conservative approach to climate change.
  • Opened up oil drilling in the Alaskan wilderness and lifted bans on offshore drilling.

Globalization and Economy

• Economic Trends: A noted increase in globalization occurred, impacting American jobs as companies outsourced manufacturing abroad.
  • Union Decline: Membership in unions decreased due to globalization.
  • Economic Inequality: Stagnation of middle-class wages from the 1980s to the early 2000s, leading to a necessity for dual incomes in households to maintain a middle-class lifestyle.
• Tax Cuts: Bush's tax cuts were large, totaling $1.3 trillion, and were primarily aimed at wealthier Americans, increasing budget deficits.

September 11 Terrorist Attacks

• Date of Significance: September 11, 2001, marked a pivotal moment in U.S. history with terrorist attacks on American soil.
  • Details of Attacks:
    • Two planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center towers, a third into the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.
    • Over 3,000 lives lost in the attacks.
  • Bipartisan Heroics: Passengers on Flight 93 staged a revolt against hijackers, sacrificing their own lives to prevent additional attacks on government buildings.
• Bush's Response:
  • Launched the "War on Terror" primarily targeting Al Qaeda and the Taliban, leading to the invasion of Afghanistan followed by Iraq in 2003.

Domestic Impact of 9/11

• Legislation: The Patriot Act was quickly passed, raising concerns about civil liberties due to increased surveillance and government powers.
  • Homeland Security: Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security to secure borders and oversee domestic security measures.
  • Flight Security: Introduction of stringent security measures at airports as a direct response to the attacks.