George Bush on how he thinks he’ll be remembered:
I think I’ll be remembered as a guy who was dealt some pretty tough issues and I dealt with them head-on and I didn’t try to shy away. I helped this country protect itself, and at the same time was unabashed at spreading certain values to others— the main one being liberty.
The Bush White House has issued a report on the “Highlights of Accomplishments and Results of the Administration of George W. Bush.”
Its inherent bias aside, I thought it was interesting because for all the negative things which occurred in the last eight years, a lot of good things have also occurred. (Note: This is not everything that is included in the booklet. For example, I did not include items such as “President Bush worked to reduce America’s dependence on oil” or attempts characterize the recent bailout as a positive.)
That said, here’s George Bush’s attempt at defending his record:
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, the United States and our allies removed the regime that harbored the terrorists who plotted the 9/11 attacks. As a result, more than 25 million Afghans are free; the terrorist training camps have been shut down; and Afghanistan has become an ally in the war on terror.
Today Afghanistan has a democratically elected President, a national assembly, and a market economy. Women are voting and starting their own businesses. Millions more children are in school, including girls who were once banned from the classroom.
President Bush and President Karzai established the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council in 2002 to help give Afghan women the opportunity to improve their lives and rebuild their country. First Lady Laura Bush made three trips to Afghanistan to underscore America’s commitment to this work. Although Afghanistan still faces serious challenges, the international community is working together to help this emerging democracy succeed.
Iraq
In Iraq, the United States led a coalition to remove a dictator who murdered his own people, invaded his neighbors, and threatened the United States. Because our coalition acted to remove Saddam Hussein, 25 million Iraqis are free; the Iraqi people have the most progressive constitution in the Arab world; and Iraq has become an ally in the war on terror.
With Saddam Hussein gone from power, the coalition’s mission turned to helping the Iraqi people defend their freedom against violent extremists. When the battle in Iraq reached a pivotal point, the President rejected calls for retreat. Instead, in January 2007, he ordered a new strategy supported by a surge in forces. This historic decision dramatically reduced violence and created the conditions for political and economic progress to take place.
Also highlighted is George Bush’s support for democratic revolutions in Lebanon, Ukraine and Georgia, elections in Pakistan and recognition of Kosovo as an independent country.
Bush was the first American President to support a two-state solution with a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine living side-by-side in peace.
The United States completed a historic civil nuclear agreement with India, reshaping the relationship between the world’s two largest democracies.
Major Legislation
The President worked with Congress to enact four major pieces of homeland security related legislation:
1. The USA Patriot Act;
2. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act;
3. The Protect America Act; and
4. Modernization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
More than 20 Federal agencies were merged together to create the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
International Development
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history. Since the President launched this initiative in 2003, PEPFAR has supported life-saving treatment for more than 2.1 million people and care for more than 10.1 million people worldwide.
The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) is on track to reduce malaria deaths by half in 15 targeted countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007 alone, the PMI reached more than 25 million people with lifesaving treatment and prevention services, and this good work continues.
Taxes
President Bush enacted the largest tax relief in a generation. For only the third time in history, Americans received across-the-board tax relief. Tax rates fell for everyone who pays income taxes, and more than 13 million Americans saw their income taxes eliminated altogether. The President worked with Congress to double the child tax credit, reduce the marriage penalty, and put the death tax on the road to extinction.
Trade
When President Bush took office in 2001, the United States had free trade agreements (FTAs) in force with only three countries. Today, America has agreements in force with 14 countries, and Congress has approved FTAs with another three. These agreements have benefited American farmers, workers, and small business owners.
R&D
The Federal government has increased its investment in research and development to a record $143 billion – an increase of 57 percent from 2001.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
This law asks states to set measurable standards and hold schools accountable for ensuring every child learns to read and do math at grade level. Six years after NCLB became law, the results are clear. According to the Nation’s Report Card, fourth-grade students achieved their highest reading and math scores on record, and eighth-grade students achieved their highest math scores on record. African-American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs in reading and math, and the achievement gap has narrowed.
Health Care
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. Under this program, private drug plans compete against each other to provide coverage for beneficiaries. This competition has helped drive down prices. The average premiums in 2008 were 40 percent lower than the original estimates. Overall, the projected spending for the program between 2004 and 2013 is 38 percent lower than originally expected—a reduction of about $240 billion.
Through Health Saving Accounts (HSAs), Americans of all ages have put away money for routine medical expenses free of taxes. The number of individuals covered by HSA-eligible plans at small businesses increased by 70 percent in 2008.
Did You Know?
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured and is in custody.
Iraqi forces have taken over security responsibilities from U.S. forces in more than two thirds of Iraqi provinces and helped reduce attacks to the lowest level in more than four years.
More than six million children now attend Afghan schools, compared to fewer than one million in 2001; a third of these are girls who were previously barred from attending school.
The Afghan economy has doubled since 2001.
President Bush implemented the largest reorganization of the Federal national security apparatus since 1947.
More than 400 individuals and entities that posed a threat to America had assets frozen, transactions blocked, or were isolated from the U.S. financial system.
The increase in defense funding is the largest increase since the Truman Administration.
Intelligence experts believe the 2006 plot to blow up multiple passenger jets traveling from London was only weeks from being carried out.
The President launched a global threat reduction program that has removed enough material for more than 30 nuclear bombs from sites around the world.
President Bush persuaded Libya to disclose and dismantle all aspects of its WMD and advanced missile programs and renounce terrorism.
The Administration dismantled the A.Q. Khan nuclear proliferation network, which had previously spread sensitive nuclear technology and capability to Iran and North Korea.
To protect against the danger of rogue regimes armed with ballistic missiles, the Administration withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and made missile defense operational.
This Administration halved the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile by 2007—five years ahead of schedule.
The President’s Proliferation Security Initiative united more than 90 nations to cooperate to stop of the spread of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials.
The United States persuaded the UN Security Council to require all UN members to take enforcement actions against the proliferation of WMD and related materials.
The President increased the budget for the National Endowment for Democracy by more than 150 percent since 2001.
The United States provided more than $1.5 billion in new funding for humanitarian and peacekeeping aid to Darfur.
President Bush directed all senior U.S. officials serving in undemocratic countries to maintain regular contact with political dissidents and democracy activists to help give them a voice.
Since 2001, the United States has provided $16 billion in food aid.
The MCC has now signed agreements, which seek transformational change in the development of recipient countries, for $6.7 billion in grant funding for 35 countries.
The President committed $1 billion through the African Education Initiative and the Initiative for Expanded Education for the World’s Poorest Children to educate children in poor nations.
The United States has provided $10 billion for international disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts since 2001.
The President’s tax relief helped fuel growth that led to the largest three-year increase in revenues in 26 years.
A family of four earning $40,000 kept an average of $2,000 more of their own money in 2007 thanks to the President’s tax relief.
Americans with the highest incomes—the top five percent—pay a greater share of the total Federal income tax burden today than they did before the President’s tax relief.
Growth in exports, to a record $1.6 trillion, accounted for about half of U.S. economic growth in 2007.
U.S. agriculture exports were $92.4 billion in 2007, up 74 percent from 2000.
After-tax per-capita income increased 12 percent from 2000 to 2007.
NCLB helped increase the percentage of first graders reading at grade level in 44 of 50 States.
President Bush created a $100 million Teacher Incentive Fund to reward teachers who improve student achievement in high-need school districts.
1.2 million more students are attending college in the 2008-09 year compared to 2001-02 thanks to a near doubling of Pell Grant funding to $16.2 billion and an increase of the largest maximum Pell Grant award to $4,700.
The number of charter schools in the United States has doubled since 2000, thanks in part to an infusion of Federal funding.
Nearly 10 million Americans are enrolled in private Medicare Advantage programs, and virtually every county in America has a private plan option.
Among seniors, the satisfaction rate with the drug benefit is close to 90 percent.
The President added preventive screening to Medicare to help diagnose illnesses earlier.
Since 2001, more than 1,200 community health centers have opened or expanded nationwide.
Nearly seven million more Americans now have coverage in HSA-eligible plans.
The President’s first Executive Order established the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Similar offices were established at 11 Federal agencies, and 35 Governors now have State offices or liaisons of their own.
More than 515,000 children received after-school tutoring through Supplemental Educational Services, many from faith-based and community providers.
In response to Hurricane Katrina, National Service programs have given more than 5.4 million hours of service, directing 405,000 volunteers in recovery efforts.
In 2007 alone, more than 2,200, or 87 percent, of partners in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief were indigenous groups, and nearly one-quarter were faith-based.
The President also signed a GI Bill for the 21st century. This legislation significantly expanded education benefits and allowed those who have defended our country to transfer unused benefits to their spouses or children.
The President committed more than $6 billion to modernize and expand VA facilities.
VA’s polytrauma system of care was expanded to 22 network sites and clinic support teams to provide state-of-the-art treatment to injured veterans closer to home.
Under this Administration, DoD, in cooperation with VA, created the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury to take advantage of cutting-edge medical technology.
Ethanol production quadrupled from 2000 to 2007, and nearly $1 billion was invested to advance cellulosic ethanol made from switchgrass, wood chips, and other non-food sources.
This Administration launched the Nuclear Power 2010 Program and other significant efforts that helped encourage industry to submit 17 applications for 26 new nuclear reactors in the United States.
The President’s $2 billion commitment to the Coal Research Initiative was fulfilled three years early.
$1.2 billion was invested in hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle research and development.
Between 2001 and 2008, the United States committed more than $22 billion total to climate change technology research.
The new Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument protects more than 7,000 species. More than 220 Preserve America grants were awarded in more than 650 communities in all 50 States to protect America’s cultural and natural heritage.
Record funding was provided to repair and improve our national parks through the President’s National Parks Centennial Initiative, a priority of First Lady Laura Bush.
Thanks in part to the creation of Project Safe Neighborhoods and innovative programs for enforcing Federal firearm laws, the overall rate of reported crimes reached a 30-year low in 2007.
Many things can happen in eight years. Many of his listed “Did you know..” stats could definitely be listed as narrow-sighted blunders when viewed from a wider context. Ethanol is not an accomplishment. As far as every other listed “accomplishment” goes, I guess it depends on which side of the aisle you are to view which skew of statistics. Afghanistan and Iraq may be viewed as an accomplishment without the civilian casualty statistics. However, once you add civilian deaths due to military reasons or to our failed infrastructure reconstruction, the “accomplishment” renders itself simply an energy/security endeavor gone bad. When you list Bush’s legacy as such, it seems like he accomplished quite a bit. Unfortunately, most of his legacy is going to be retracted by a much more forward-thinking president. That formidable list of Bush’s “accomplishments” really point out how much work is truly before President Obama. Once again, we might achieve a manageable deficit, protection of the environment instead of corporatism, and friendship with the rest of the world. We can only hope.
Afghan economy doubled due to opium, not freedom from the Taliban. Wow! All of these need a context.
You are correct that a lot of these “accomplishments” are eye of the beholder type things. The ethanol statement is not one of them. I assume your concern is carbon emissions.
Ethanol itself is not carbon neutral because, as of today, the energy which is used to produce it most likely comes from carbon producing sources. As more renewable sources are hooked into the electrical grid however, ethanol slowly becomes greener.
Simply put, if the energy used to produce ethanol doesn’t emit carbon, then ethanol is carbon neutral. Ethanol should and will be an expanded part of the energy infrastructure, especially if a bio-dieselish jet fuel can be economically produced.
Expanded ethanol production is definitely an accomplishment, even if the other parts of a carbon neutral infrastructure have not been built out yet.
I believe this was from his last morning address:
“Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks,” said Bush, long saddled with low public approval ratings. “There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.”
I believe this is very true, its easy for all us to sit back and say this was wrong, or this is what should have been done, etc. But I would never want to have to face any of the decisions Bush had to make in the last years. And I do believe he made them with our future safety mind. I watched part of the interview with his dad, he made a comment that the president’s job is not a popularity contest.
And even with all the economy woes going on, they still say that a terriorist attack is still our biggest threat. Can you imagine what we don’t know, that they do? And what would happen to this nation if it did.
I don’t think we can afford to have “friendship with the rest of the world.” particularly those parts of the world that want us, you know, dead?
“Hi, I’m the USA, how are you? Want to be friends?”
“BOOM”
“Goodbye USA, nice knowing you”.
And don’t kid yourself into thinking this had anything to do with Bush. Clinton was pretty well liked by most of the world and we got 9/11. The people who hate us will hate us whether we have a “forward thinking” President or not. Their hatred is not some rational or logical construct that can be easily attributed to the man in power.
It’s an emotional thing built on hundreds of years of racial misunderstanding and decades of indoctrination.
Sure – Many of these “Did you know” facts are viewed positively by many, skeptically by others. That is what Bush derangement syndrome is all about. If you can’t read these facts (including the fact that 500 tons of enriched “yellowcake” uranium was removed from Iraq) and recognize that many positive things happened under the Bush administration, then you ARE suffering from Bush derangement syndrome. I am not a fan of Bush, especially for the huge increase in government spending and his lack of willingness to take the actions required to halt the millions of bad loans that are blowing up our economy, but I certainly see the thwarting of 20 attacks, the ouster of the Hussein regime in Iraq and the 0 successful attacks against the U.S. as accomplishments.
I think we are failing to realize that through all of Bush’s accomplishments in the U.S., they’re all pretty much overshadowed by the BILLIONS of dollars blown on a war in Iraq that we had no business starting. Saddam was NOT behind 9/11. Why were we there?? We found no weapons supposedly being hid. Meanwhile here at home almost every sector of our own government was swirling in the toilet. The money spent fighting in Iraq could have gone a long way here in the U.S. Our leader thought it would be better to play world police than to focus on the growing issues here at home like the rising homeless rates, sinking economy, rising gas prices, illegal immagration, rising medical cost, illegal drug trade, etc. Clean your own house before trying to clean someone else’s. Cudos to Obama for trying to clean up the uattended mess here at home first.
To address what was said by gtwillia: Allof the things you mentioned about domestic policy during the Bush administration were being addressed. The search for wmd’s in Iraq was based upon intelligence from the previous (Clinton) administration and all of the major players from Clinton, Himself, Gore, Hillary, etc. each testified that Saddaam had those weapons. The economy he inherited was not in the best of shape (considered a recession by most economists). During year’s 2, 3, and 4 of his first term of office and years 1 and 2 of his second term, the economy was robust, and growing. Virtually every economic indicator was positive. Only after the election of 2006 when the democrats took back control of congress did the economy go south. Certainly Bush should have been more out front in taking the leadership to overturn the democratic policies that led to the housing crisis.
The other issues you mentioned: rising homeless rates, sinking economy, rising gas prices, illegal immagration, rising medical cost, illegal drug trade, etc. These were all being addressed. What is interesting – you mentioned illegal immigration being a problem. It appears to me that the olicies of the Obasma administration are not going to address this issue in a way that will bring any relief, other than perhaps granting amnesty to millions of illegals.
Bush had his limitations but he was much more effective as a leader than this latest and poorest excuse of a president.
Wow, all of those facts… for OTHER countries. I guess George Bush didn’t bind to the fact that “Charity begins at home and spreads abroad.” Have any of you once thought, “What if United States needs assistance… who WILL COME TO OUR AID after all of this “misdirected” spending ON THEM? WOULD THEY HELP US THE WAY WE HELPED THEM? If you consider China helping us… WRONG!!
Whilst he has accomplished these things INTERNATIONALLY… look at what has happened to our home front since then. United States have people homeless, starving, out of jobs (BROKE!), missing children, elder abuse, runaways, weakened education system, lost of homes to foreclosures (Which there were many homeowners who was ON TIME and CURRENT with their mortgage payments!), banks/insurance/wall street milking the working class, CEO being paid millions (Even when the company does bad!), jobs going overseas, drugs still running rampant oh and yeah… Huricane Katerina. I could go on forever, but I want to grab your attention.
Now, I do believe that some people in the country do have a problem with the President and First Lady being African Americans (And the possibility that he is Muslim.). Another point, is that President, First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady all have education. Although all of their education may not focus directly on economics, statistics and strategies in running United States, they have the expertise academically. Unfortunately their experience in running this country is almost two years.You cannot expect a new individual to do this and that “right away” because these processes takes time and understanding… in order to show the people in “layman terms” what is going on. What the people don’t understand is that the republicans do not or hardly use ANY REAL POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS that Obama has done in a short time. They are busy with receiving serious money from the companies to throw mud and use the “Karl Rove Strategy” to play on the people minds making them fearful and ready to “jump on the band wagon” at first misgivings. This way, they can spend (Waste money.) with negative advertising against the President and other Democrats (Funny how they don’t advertise other parties.). The republicans don’t sincerely care about United States… they only care about “getting theirs” and screw everybody else.
So in having the republicans in office and assisting and helping other countries, it’s not even “rocket science” to know why this country “down-spiraled” at a speed and volume that it would eventually go into recession no matter what anybody new does. These things TAKES TIME and COOPERATION from other parties, to bring this country back, but even better.
“Charity begins abroad and spreads home…” is what has happened and will continue to happen if people start looking more and bringing up more facts, When I say facts, I don’t mean bring Sarah Palin into the equation. I mean people who have actually “seen action” on a Federal Level, not state. I can only imagine how their daughters worry about their father. Wondering why people loved him and the family in the beginning, they later hate them. For what reasons?
Bush may have done these things, but at what price? I’ll tell you what price… Our country’s turmoil. Not paying attention to his own country men. In eight years he brought this country near “total economic ruins”, but why did Obama decided to run? It wasn’t about “making history” of being the first African American President (Remember, the people voted him in office.} It wasn’t about “being paid.” It wasn’t about “executive privileges.” It was about “Change” and as he mentioned it time and time again DURING his Presidential Campaign, “There will be some changes that will be easy and some hard.” The point is to stick to the plan.
Then with the “KNOWN” factor – that you ca not please everybody.
Now let me tell you what the republicans strategies are; #1. They have millions of dollars to blast the Democrats in a fancy way with advertising and media, but do it within six months of primary elections. #2. Not USE any POSITIVE accomplishments that Obama with others have achieved (Use it in the negative advertising or news.). #3. Now that there have been a record turnout of voters in 2008, use the “mutated” Karl Rove Maneuver Strategy and scare the be wits out of people in leading them from “the truth” in garnishing more votes.
#4. “Let’s have some Tea shall we?” Said the republicans.
#5. Get back to the Pre-Obama era and start making more money by being deceptive, falsely convincing, jiving, and pretending to care about the constituents of United States.
I shouldn’t have to continue on this. If you’re smart and want a brighter future for United States, PAY ATTENTION! And remember, This “mess” was already made in the previous Presidency of eight years. So is it fair to say that Obama has failed when some of you KNOW that it’s barely two years into his Presidency? Why don’t you tell your senators and representatives to WORK with Obama? People have a funny way of setting up the blame. Yes it was nice in 2006 and the Democrats did not have policies that caused this melt down to happen. Show me proof of that, and show me proof of how rich majority of the republicans became. I don’t recall Bush coming up with the ideas of tax relief and such things, which Clinton had established.
Stop all the bellyaching and help President Obama and Vice President Biden do his job and stop letting this be one-sided. You republicans need to learn how to share responsibilities without any power-trip, “monetary compensation” and be TRUE with this country through thick and thin with NO HIDDEN AGENDAS, meaning “The Truth shall set you free.”
Have a beautiful day/night everyone!!
Marco, couldn’t have done better myself. Hit it on the button! My comments are the accomplishments of Bill Clinton! We had the strongest Economy in a generation.Longest economyexpansion in U.S. history. In 1992 defecite was 290 billion in 2000 had surplus of 167 billion dollars. Even after adjusting for inflation. Paid down debt 142 billion. Public debt paid down to 2.4 trillion dollars. On this track would eliminate the national debt by 2013. Over 21.2 million jobs created, most jobs ever. 248,000 per month. Under Bush and Reagan 52,000 and 167,000 respectively. Wages were up 6.8 percent. could go on and on!!