George W. Bush--The First 30 Months

7-1-2003 | Justshe

[justshe]

The Summer of Our Discontent with George W. Bush

The amount of discontent being expressed toward President George W. Bush on Free Republic seems to be increasing exponentially. 

For the purpose of discussion, I have attempted to to draw up 2 lists.  The first list is of accomplishments or 'directions' this administration is going.  The second list, is for those items or behaviors many would like to see addressed or changed.  I have made every attempt to list as many items as I could recall....or find by perusing MANY threads.  I am sure I have missed some items.

Obviously, some of you will think some items on each list are not correct,  that they should either NOT be listed, or are listed on the wrong list.   Either way, it IS a start. 

I have gleaned these items from multiple threads and posts going back over two years on Free Republic.  These are NOT listed in any 'time-line' order.

If you have individual ping lists.....please use them to facilitate the widest possible discussion.  

Presidency of George W. Bush    --the first 30 months                                            

Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.

Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court.

Killed the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses.

Reversed Clinton's move to strike Reagan's anti-abortion Mexico Policy.

Killed Clinton's CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California.

Killed Clinton's "ergonomic" rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules that would have shut down every home business in America.

Passed 2 tax cuts----1 of which was the largest tax-Dollar value tax cut in history

Pushed through TWO raises for our military.

Increased Defense Dept funding which had deteriorated during the previous 8 years

Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit

Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers.

Ordered Attorney-General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, NOT a leftist-imagined "collective" right.

Successfully executed 2 wars:  Afghanistan and Iraq.   50 million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes  now live in freedom.

Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the Presidency

Reorganized bureaucracy...after 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency:  the Department of Homeland Security.

Initiated discussion on Social security and individual investment accounts.

Improving govt. efficiency with .8 million jobs put up for bid...weakening unions and cutting undeserved pay raises. Wants merit based promotions/raises only.

Executed a WAR ON TERROR by getting world-wide cooperation to track funds/terrorists (has cut off much of the terrorist's funding and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network) 

Stopped foreign aid that would be used to fund abortions.

Ended abortions on military bases

Signed E.O. reversing Clinton policy of not requiring parental consent under the Medical Privacy Act

Told the United Nations we weren't interested in their plans for gun control.

Set to sign Partial Birth Abortion Ban

Orchestrated Republican control of the White House, the House AND the Senate.

Killed the liberal ABA's role in vetting federal judges for Congress.

GWB signed an executive order enforcing the Supreme Court's Beck decision (re: union dues being used for political campaigns against individual's wishes)

Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed

Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.

Signed the LARGEST nuclear arms reduction in world history with Russia

Initiated comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE was critical.

Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the first ten ABM silos in Alaska, so that America will have a defense against North Korean nukes

Turning around an inherited economy in recession.

Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.

Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains

In process of eliminating IRS marriage penalty.

Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people

Signed into law the CFR legislation (under dark of night)

Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations)

Reorganized the INS in an attempt to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.

Signed trade promotion authority

Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa

Urging Medicare Reform

Urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits

Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims

Submitted comprehensive energy plan--awaits Congressional action. ( works to develop cleaner technology,  produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy)

Endorses and promotes The Responsibility Era ("In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you've got a problem, blame somebody else -- to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make; you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you're responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. "   -----this quote was too good to leave out)

Started the USA Freedom Corps

Pushing for passage of Prescription Drug Benefit package for Seniors which will have 'means' testing with a goal towards privatization of Medicare and CHOICES based on current Federal Employee Health benefits program.

Initiated review of all federal agencies with a goal to eliminate federal jobs (review to be done by September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of federal gov while increasing private sector jobs.

Part of coalition (Russia, Israel, Palestine, USA)  for Israeli/Palestinian  "Roadmap to Peace"

Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become The League of Nations ( in other words, completely irrelevant)

Nominated strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.

Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary clean-up of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger. 

As part of the national forests clean-up,  the President restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges)  and removed the need for an EIS (Enivironmental Impact Statement) before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.

Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.

Cut federal spending on libraries by $39 million.

Cut $35 million in funding for doctors to get advanced pediatric training.

Cut funding for research into renewable energy sources by 50%.

Revoked rules that reduced the acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water.

Blocked rules that would require federal agencies to offer bilingual assistance to non-English speaking persons

Proposed to eliminate new marine protections for the Channel Islands and the coral reefs of northwest Hawaii

Cut funding for research into cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks by 28%

Suspended rules that would have strengthened the government's ability to deny contracts to companies that violated workplace safety, environmental and other federal laws.

Approved the sending of letters by Interior Department appointee Gale Norton to state officials soliciting suggestions for opening up national monuments for oil and gas drilling, coal mining, and foresting.

Appointed John Negroponte -- an unindicted high-level Iran Contra figure to the post of United Nations Ambassador.

Abandoned a campaign pledge to invest $100 million for rainforest conservation.

Reduced by 86% the Community Access Program for public hospitals, clinics and providers of care for people without insurance.

Rescinded a proposal to increase public access to information about the potential consequences resulting from chemical plant accidents.

Suspended rules that would require hardrock miners to clean up sites on public lands.

 Cut $60 million from a Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America program for public housing.

Proposed to eliminate a federal program, designed and successfully used in Seattle, to help communities prepare for natural disasters

Eliminated funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program, which encourages farmers to maintain wetlands habitat on their property.

Cut program to provide childcare to low-income families as they move from welfare to work.

Cut a program that provided prescription contraceptive coverage to federal employees (though it still pays for Viagra).

Cut $700 million in capital funds for repairs in public housing

Appointed Otto Reich -- an un-indicted high-level Iran Contra figure -- to Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.

Cut the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency by $500 million.

Proposed to curtail the ability of groups to sue in order to get an animal placed on the Endangered Species List

Rescinded the rule that mandated increased energy-saving efficiency regulations for central air conditioners and heat pumps.

Abandoned campaign pledge to regulate carbon dioxide, the waste gas that contributes to global warming.

Gutted the White House AIDS Office.

Renegotiated a free trade agreement with Jordan to eliminate workers's rights and safeguards for the environment.

Cut the Community Oriented Policing Services program

Allowed Interior Secretary Gale Norton to shelve citizen-led grizzly bear re-introduction plan scheduled for Idaho and Montana wilderness

Continues to hold up federal funding for stem cell research projects

Makes sure convicted misdemeanor drug users cannot get financial aid for college, though convicted murderers can

Refused to fund continued cleanup of uranium-slag heap in Utah

Refused to fund continued litigation of the government's tobacco company lawsuit.

Signed a bill making it harder for poor and middle-class Americans to file for bankruptcy, even in the case of daunting medical bills

Cut $15.7 million earmarked for states to investigate cases of child abuse and neglect

Helped kill a law designed to make it tougher for teenagers to get credit cards

Canceled 2004 deadline for automakers to develop prototype high mileage cars.

Earmarked $4 million in new federal grant money for HIV and drug abuse prevention programs to go only to religious groups and not secular equivalents

Reduced the Low Income Home Assistance Program by 40%; it aided low-income individuals who need assistance paying energy bills

Told U.N. "NO" re: global tax

Items still to be accomplished and/or addressed

Allow sunsetting of AWB

Fix illegal immigration issues and border control

Limit/eliminate  federal entitlement programs

Cut size of federal budget

Shrink federal government job force

Hate all Dems and do not treat them civilly

Don't appoint any homosexuals to public office

Don't meet with Grover Norquist--or Muslims--or Homosexuals

Kill all terrorists in Israel

Drop the idea of a Palestinian state

"Eliminate"  all Palestinians

Need means testing on Senior Rx legislation

Get the United States out of the United Nations

Banish the United Nations from U.S. soil.

Stop all foreign aid.

Stop all foreign aid to the Palestinians

Eliminate  Steel and Wood tarrifs

Talk non-stop, at every opportunity, about judicial nominees and lack of Senate vote.

Push Frist out.....bring back Trent Lott

Fire Karl Rove

Fire Colin Powell

 

 

 

 

 

[Scenic Sounds]

I guess he'll still do it even though his contention is that President Bush is many things other than a right wing conservative.

I must say, that is an impressive list.

What I've never seen, though, is any kind of affirmative description by TLB of his own political philosophy. I have real doubts about his being a "right wing conservative." He's done that wing of the party too much damage, IMO. ;-)

[justshe]

Thanks...yes, added some of those items. Hard to separate what are actual 'need to still do or address' from some items that have already been done, but have caused heartburn for some.

For example, Homeland Security, CFR, Farm Bill and Education bill were listed on the things GWB HAS done....and thus are not waiting to be done or addressed.

I supposed I could list all of those as 'need to rescind' under the second list.

[deport]

I'd say your list is too short.

---

LOL..... yep I'd guess it's a few floors short of the pent house kinda like his elevator...

[Cyber Liberty]

Was Neville your fault, toots?

[Scenic Sounds]

I love your tag line. ;-)

So, who do you anticipate you'll be voting for in November, 2004?

[ravingnutter]

he did not stop abortions on military bases

Actually, according to the info I have read, since 1979, "abortion is not provided by U.S. military hospitals except in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the life of the woman". The Senate tried to add amendments to the 2003 Defense spending bill that would have allowed abortions on overseas bases. Sen. Patty Murray's (D-WA) amendment would have also repealed the ban on abortion in military hospitals in the United States. These amendments were eventually removed under a Bush veto threat. So while he did not ban it, he threatened to veto the repeals of these bans. All of his campaign literature stated that he supported the ban. Maybe we should revise the statement rather than eliminating it...such as "supporteed and upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals".

[NittanyLion]

I supposed I could list all of those as 'need to rescind' under the second list.

That might work, if you're planning to reference the list going forward.

You should probably add federalization of airport security screeners too. :-)

[Constantine XIII]

Don't you just want to take all of these single-issue people and smack 'em upside the head? ;p

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah, I'd like to know that, too. These lovelies who refer to the party of Bush as "Republocrats" never seem to have a viable alternative candidate (Pat Buchanan: Please Stop Laughing).

It's easy to complain loudly when one has dealt oneself out of the loop by insisting on an extreme.

[justshe]

That makes sense. Will await OldHoosier's comments re: amending this item. THANKS!

[justshe]

You should probably add federalization of airport security screeners too.

Under which list...it is a done deal. So it could be listed twice...once as 'done' and once as 'rescind'. :-)

[wardaddy]

I'm with you. I like the way you've expressed yourself.

I'm neither a Bushbot who will not tolerate any dissent (we have a few of those). Nor, am I unaware of the only electable alternative which WOULD be much worse and is quite relevant.

I think I expected a bit more rightist action from W domestically but given the magnitude of the sudden cataclysm dumped in his lap, I'm willing to rationalize the domestic shortcomings in leiu of his foreign policy and warmaking efforts...for now.

The honour and dignity restoration is also something not to be dismissed lightly.

The problem many FReepers including my self had is simply this:

Anyone who say 80% shares our world view and cultural values cannot get elected today in America. The reasons for that are myriad and will have to be attacked for generations and we may (in fact probably) fail.

W's biggest failure in my view is his lack of action on illegal immigration. He obviously fears the Hispanic Gorilla in the Closet and thinks he can tame it. I'm very skpetical. Were they all Cubans or perhaps South American professionals, it would be easy but these are purely economic refugees and the numbers are staggering and the institutional trending for them to go into urban clusters and remain Democrat is already well noted. He seems to brim with confidence which is good but I think he is wrong on this one....quite wrong actually.

I give him an A on foreign policy (aside from the African AIDs nuttiness which is great PR but will be a huge waste)

I'd give him a C+/B- on domestic simply in comparison to the Dems who would naturally recieve Fs.

He deseves nods for his judiciary attempts.

[jmc813]

If you have individual ping lists.....please use them to facilitate the widest possible discussion.

As you wish. A ping for some loserdopians and JBT's.

[The Old Hoosier]

That is correct. However, the Murray amendment (and the Sanchez amdt in the House) was defeated on an up-or-down vote, not removed because of a veto threat. In any case, Bush did not stop abortions on military bases.

[Southack]

"Detention of US Citizens without charges or representation, suspected terrorists or not, if they are US citizens, they are protected by the constitution.
Jose Padilla "

That's actually not true in all circumstances.

For instance, prior to WW2 Adolph Hitler put out a call for all true Aryans worldwide to come defend the Fatherland. More than 1,000 American citizens answered his call by going to Germany and enlisting in the Wehrmacht (Army).

But then after Pearl Harbor, Germany declared war on the U.S. There were now American citizens in Germany at war with America herself.

When our soldiers encountered these American citizens, they were shot on sight on the battlefield, or captured and imprisoned as prisoners of war.

But interestingly enough, the Surpreme Court ruled that those American citizens were **NOT** entitled to the protections of the U.S. Constitution. So those "American" POWs were not given attorneys. They could not sue for bail. They could not call witnesses. They were not entitled to trials.

Later, a small group of those Aryan-Americans were brought to the U.S. mainland by a German U-boat to conduct sabatoge. They were dressed in civilian clothes, and they were captured by American police, not military forces.

Again the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such battlefield combatants, even though some were American citizens, had no civilian rights under the U.S. Constitution. They were given military trials/tribunals, and several (but not all) were executed.

So, can U.S. citizens be detained without trials and without attorneys? Well, the answer, historically at least, has been "yes" if they are battlefield cambatants.

One of the 9/11/01 terrorists was an American citizen, for instance. Certainly there would have been no crime if an innocent American on his hijacked aircraft had executed that particular person without trial, even though the perp in question was a U.S. Citizen.

Nor do we stop battles, either in America or in foreign lands, to give U.S. citizens like Taliban Johnny a trial or an attorney. Such battlefield combatants are dealt with at our convenience, under such rules and procedures as we deem necessary.

The moral to this story is that taking up arms **against** America is a good way to lose your Constitutional protections.

[TLBSHOW]

Democrat Dr. Ruth Campaigns for Bush

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/7/1/103428

[Southack]

I like your lists, but sadly the tone of half a dozen or so "permanent" Bush Bashers will refuse to acknowledge that Bush has done much good for Conservatives, no matter how many times you list his achievements for us.

It's very similar to how the Rats behave on DU and in the media, where Bush must always be portrayed from the worst possible angle.

In fact, it's eerily similar to how the Rats are always bashing Bush.

Hmmm...

[newgeezer]

So, who do you anticipate you'll be voting for in November, 2004?

What was true in 2000 is sure to be true in '04. ("The reality is, a vote for anyone other than [the Republican is] at least in effect a vote for even more socialism under President [Democrat].")

I've used use my vote to make a conservative statement only when I'm certain I'm not helping elect a liberal. The last two times were in the Iowa caucuses for Alan Keyes. If Keyes was a third-party candidate in the '00 General Election, I'd have voted for Bush to keep Gore from winning.

It's not particularly satisfying. But, it's a nod to reality.

[Sabertooth]

you could have shortened your list to one line...."Consider the alternative.."

It's SOP, after all.

[ken5050]

ya know, I was just trying to add a little humor, and you should see all the hate mail I got...