Political positions of George W. Bush
George W. Bush's political positions have been expressed in public statements, and through his actions in the executive roles of governor of Texas and president of the United States.
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Governor of Texas
President of the United States
Policies
Appointments
First term
Second term
Presidential campaigns Post-presidency
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Economic policy
Fiscal policy and taxation
George Bush supports enacting generous tax cuts in the model of Ronald Reagan's supply-side fiscal policies. He believes this helps the economy at large.
Energy policy
George Bush supports nuclear power and expanded domestic drilling.[1] Bush pledged to work toward reduced reliance on foreign oil by reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing alternative fuel production.[2] He lifted a ban on offshore drilling in 2008,[3] and said at the time, "This means that the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil reserves is action from the U.S. Congress."[3] 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 hydrogen fuel cells... 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."[4]
In 2008, Bush announced that the United States would commit $2 billion towards an international fund to promote clean energy technologies, 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."[5]
Entitlement reform
Bush supports the privatization of Social Security by allowing individuals to set up personal retirement accounts.[6] He also supported the expansion of Medicare to cover prescription drugs using private insurance through his Medicare Part D program.[7]
Free-market capitalism
Bush generally supports free-market capitalism, but claims to understand the importance of government involvements in private financial affairs if they are projected to have a negative impact on the economy as a whole. In November 2008, Bush claimed, "Our aim should not be more government. It should be smarter government."[8]
During the beginning of his first term, Bush enacted corporate tax cuts in the hopes that the economy would flourish as a result.[9] Later, in 2008, Bush supported major bailout plans for mortgage lenders and auto makers who were facing bankruptcy.[10] Bush also enacted the first major economic stimulus in the face of an economy on the down-turn, which handed free checks to all private tax-paying citizens.[11]
Trade
Bush is a supporter of free trade, calling on nations to embrace free trade.[12]
Health care
Bush supports a free-market health care system, and opposes a universal health plan.
In 2004, Bush planned a health care program that he said would cover as many as 10 million people who lack health insurance at a cost of $102 billion over the next decade.[13]
Foreign policy
Iraq War
On March 19, 2003, Bush ordered an invasion of Iraq, launching the Iraq War. That night, he addressed the nation, stating that he decided to invade Iraq "to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger".[14] The United States and its allies charged that Saddam Hussein's government possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and thus posed a serious and imminent threat to the security of the United States and its coalition allies.[15][16] This assessment was supported by the U.K. intelligence services, but not by other countries such as France, Russia and Germany. It was later and after the war revealed that there were never any weapons of mass destruction and this was confirmed by multiple international and national commissions.[17][18][19]
Axis of evil
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, Bush declared the nations of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq, as well as "their terrorist allies", part of the axis of evil for their alleged support of terrorism.[20][21]
Homeland security
After the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, President Bush founded the Cabinet Department of Homeland Security. He initially opposed it,[22][23][24][25] arguing that the department placed an unnecessary bureaucratic burden on the U.S. government.[23] Bush changed his mind in June 2002 to approve of the proposal,[25] however its creation was delayed due to disagreements in Congress over labor protection and the role of trade unions in the department.[26][27][28] The department was created on November 25, following the passage of the Homeland Security Act.
Civil liberties
Anti-terrorism and domestic surveillance
Bush is a supporter of anti-terrorist surveillance and information-gathering methods.[29] In 2001 he signed into law the Patriot Act.[29]
Habeas corpus
The November 13, 2001, Presidential Military Order gave the President of the United States the power to detain suspects, suspected of connection to terrorists or terrorism as an unlawful combatant. As such, it was asserted that a person could be held indefinitely without charges being filed against him or her, without a court hearing, and without entitlement to a legal consultant. Many legal and constitutional scholars contended that these provisions were in direct opposition to habeas corpus and the United States Bill of Rights.
Gun laws
Although generally an opponent of gun control, Bush has shown support for certain gun-restrictive policies.[30] Following a shooting spree in Atlanta in July 1999, Bush announced his support for a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips and an increase of the legal age for firearms from 18 to 21, calling these "reasonable measures."[30][31] As governor of Texas, Bush initiated a program to provide Texas handgun owners with free trigger locks in May 2000, and pledged to push for the initiative on a nationwide scale if elected president.[32][33][34] In 2003, Bush declared that he would seek a renewal of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban which was due to expire the following year,[35] however it was later reported that he had "seemed disinclined" to push for it in Congress.[36] Bush signed into law the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in October 2005.[37]
Social policy
Education: No Child Left Behind
President Bush proposed No Child Left Behind on January 23, 2001, just three days after his first inauguration. It was coauthored by Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) and George Miller (D-CA) and Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH). The United States House of Representatives passed the bill on May 23, 2001 (voting 384–45), and the United States Senate passed it on June 14, 2001 (voting 91–8). President Bush signed it into law on January 8, 2002.
Abortion
Bush has a strong pro-life stance, consistently opposing abortion while supporting parental notification for minor girls who want abortions, the Mexico City Policy, a ban on intact dilation and extraction (commonly known as partial-birth abortion), adoption tax credits, and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.[38] Running for Congress in 1978, Bush had said that the decision to have an abortion should be a woman's personal decision, but he declared that he was pro-life in 1994.[39]
Death penalty
Bush supports the death penalty. As Governor of Texas, he allowed 152 executions.[40] He commuted the sentence of one prisoner on death row, Henry Lee Lucas, on June 15, 1998.[41]
Environment
Bush opposed the Kyoto Protocol, saying that the treaty neglected and exempted 80 percent of the world's population[42] and would have cost tens of billions of dollars per year.[43] Bush announced the Clear Skies Act of 2003,[44] aimed at amending the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution through the use of emissions trading programs. The initiative was introduced to Congress, but failed to make it out of committee.
Bush has said that global warming is real[45] and has noted that it is a serious problem, but he asserts there is a "debate over whether it's manmade or naturally caused".[46] He announced plans to reaffirm the United States' commitment to work with major economies, and, through the United Nations, to complete an international agreement that will slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases; he stated, "this agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride."[47]
LGBT issues
Bush opposed same-sex marriage. During his 2004 reelection campaign, he called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage in the United States but allow for the possibility of civil unions on the state level.[48] He also stated in the famous Wead tapes that he would not "kick gays" and worried his refusal to do so might upset his evangelical supporters, and that "I think it is bad for Republicans to be kicking gays."[49]
Prayer in public schools
Bush supported "voluntary, student-led prayer" but not "teacher-led prayers."[50]
See also
References
- David E. Sanger (May 17, 2001). "In energy plan, Bush urges new drilling, conservation and nuclear power review". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020.
- Full text (and video) of 2007 State of the Union address
- "Bush lifts executive ban on offshore oil drilling". CNN. July 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- "President Bush Discusses Energy". The White House. June 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- "Increasing Our Energy Security And Confronting Climate Change". The White House.
- Dugas, Christine (September 3, 2004). "Bush renews call for privatization". USA Today.
- Bruce Bartlett. "Medicare Part D: Republican Budget-Busting". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020.
- Mahnoush H. Arsanjani, et al. (ed.), Looking to the Future, BRILL, 2010, p. 281.
- "Bush Tax Cuts". Investopedia. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020.
- "TIMELINE: Crisis on Wall Street". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013.
- "Bush signs stimulus bill; rebate checks expected in May". CNN. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
- McDonnell, Patrick J. (November 23, 2008). "Bush promotes free trade at Asia-Pacific summit in Peru". The Boston Globe.
- Connolly, Ceci (August 22, 2004). "Bush Health Care Plan Seems to Fall Short". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- "President Bush Addresses the Nation" (Press release). Office of the Press Secretary. 2003-03-19. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- Center for American Progress (January 29, 2004) "In Their Own Words: Iraq's 'Imminent' Threat" americanprogress.org
- Senator Bill Nelson (January 28, 2004) "New Information on Iraq's Possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction", Congressional Record
- "Britain Releases Pre-Iraq War Dossier Used by Tony Blair". Associated Press via Foxnews.com. 2008-02-18.
- Bernstein, Richard; Michael R. Gordon (2006-03-02). "German help on Iraq lasted months". International Herald Tribune.
- Dougherty, Jill (2004-06-18). "Russia 'warned U.S. about Saddam'". CNN.
- "Text of President Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address". The Washington Post. January 29, 2002. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020.
- "2002 State of the Union Address". C-SPAN. January 29, 2002.
- "RITTGERS: Abolish the Department of Homeland Security". The Washington Times. September 16, 2011. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- Fred Kaplan (July 22, 2020). "Break Up the Department of Homeland Security". Slate. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush to Sign Homeland Security Bill". Government Technology. November 25, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush signs Homeland Security law". University of Baltimore. November 26, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Talks on Homeland Security Bill Delayed". The Washington Post. October 3, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush's Security Bill Foes Give Up". Los Angeles Times. November 13, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush, GOP leaders prevail on homeland bill labor rules". Government Executive. November 13, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Text: Bush Signs Anti-Terrorism Legislation". The Washington Post. October 25, 2001. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
- "Bush, Usually Opponent of Gun Control, Backs 2 Restrictions Proposed in Congress". The New York Times. August 28, 1999. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020.
- "Bush Backs Some Gun Control". Associated Press. August 28, 1999. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE GUN ISSUE; Bush Offers Texas Handgun Owners Free Trigger Locks". The New York Times. May 13, 2000. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush to provide free gun locks". United Press International. May 12, 2000. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020.
- "Bush Announces Free Gun Trigger Lock Program". Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2000. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020.
- "Irking N.R.A., Bush Supports The Ban on Assault Weapons". The New York Times. May 8, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020.
- "How Congress Screwed Up And Let The Assault Weapons Ban Expire". Business Insider. December 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 17, 2012.
- "Statement on S. 397, the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act"". The White House. October 26, 2005.
- OnTheIssues
- Corn, David. "Bush's Abortion Flip-Flop? | The Nation". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2006-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-08-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Letter from the President to Senators Hagel, Helms, Craig, and Roberts". Office of the Press Secretary. March 13, 2001.
- "Summary of the Kyoto Report—Assessment of Economic Impacts". Energy Information Administration. July 16, 2002. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011.
- "Executive Summary—The Clear Skies Initiative". The White House. February 14, 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- "Interview with President Bush". White House Transcript. Politico. 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
Q. Mr. President, for the record, is global warming real? A. Yes, it is real, sure is.
- "Press Conference". The White House. June 26, 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- Reuters/AFP (January 29, 2008). "State of the Union:Bush fights for spotlight". Archived from the original on July 18, 2008.
- "Bush amendment proposal prompts strong reaction". CNN. February 25, 2004.
- In Secretly Taped Conversations, Glimpses of the Future President, David D. Kirkpatrick, The New York Times, February 20, 2005
- Positions of the Republican and Democratic party on public school prayer
- Bush, George W. (2010). Decision Points. New York: Crown Publishers. pp. 117–19. ISBN 978-0-307-59061-9.