42 George W alker Bush 2001

42. George “W”alker Bush 2001 - 2009 (R) Birth/Death: 1946 - retired in Texas Elected from: Texas Vice President: Dick Cheney

• • (1) The 2000 Election/ Supreme Court Intervention FL’s 25 electoral votes were in question. Bush led the popular vote in FL by < 2, 000. FL law required a recount. Supreme Court – December 12, 2000 – Bush v. Gore awarded FL to Bush. – 1 st president in over 100 years to win Electoral vote, but not the popular vote. (4 th ever) (notice Gore lost Tennessee where he’s from) AL GORE

Nominee: George W. Bush • Party: Republican • Home state: Texas • Running mate: Cheney • Electoral vote: 271 • States carried: 30 • Popular vote: 50, 456, 002 • Percentage: 47. 87% Total electoral votes = 538. Total electoral votes needed to win = 270 Voting age population 205, 815, 000 only 51. 3% voted Albert A. Gore Democratic Tennessee Lieberman 266 20+DC 50, 999, 897 48. 38% FYI: Ralph Nader- the 3 rd party got 2, 882, 955 popular votes… could that have made a difference? ? ? . . . They would have voted D

Election results by county. Kinda cool looking

(2) Sept. 11, 2001 • 8 months into Bush’s first term • 19 terrorists (under bin Laden’s orders) • 2 airline passenger jets into the Twin Towers (NYC) • 1 into the Pentagon (DC), and one on way to DC that was taken over by passengers and crashed in PA. (thought to be headed to Congress or White House) • 3, 000 Americans die within an hour and a half. Rudy Giuliani becomes “America’s Mayor. ”

• Osama bin Laden's declaration of a holy war against the United States, and a fatwā signed by bin Laden and others calling for the killing of American civilians in 1998, are seen by investigators as evidence of his motivation to commit such acts. • Bin Laden and fellow Al-Qaeda leaders are believed to be hiding near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas. • Bin Laden is Wahhabi Muslim, had married four women and fathered roughly 25 or 26 children. ? ? • Bin Laden has consistently dwelt on the need for violent jihad to right what he believes are injustices against Muslims perpetrated by the United States and sometimes by other non. Muslim states, the need to eliminate the state of Israel, and the necessity of forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East. He has also called on Americans to "reject the immoral acts of fornication (sex outside of marriage)and homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, and usury (high interest rates), " in an October 2002 letter. Born: March 10, 1957 (age 53)

(3) No Child Left Behind • Education plan to increase efforts to fully educate every child. • Schools are held more accountable (state testing) • Federal and state governments have increased education spending. • (This is why the 6 of us are a little stressed out right now. ) 20 more days!!!Aghhhhhh

(4) Invasion of Afghanistan: • Beginning of George W’s “War on Terrorism” • Purpose: to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. • Oct. 7, 2001: US and Great Britain begin strategic air strikes.

• The U. S. -led Coalition is credited with removing the Taliban from power and seriously crippling al. Qaeda and associated militants in both Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. • U. S. has maintained its presence in Afghanistan ever since, fighting continued opposition by Muslim extremists.

(5) USA Patriot Act (2001) • " Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" • The Act expanded the authority of US law enforcement agencies for the stated purpose of fighting terrorism in the United States and abroad. • Very Controversial- supposedly “suppresses civil liberties”

The Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expands the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadens the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.

(6) Widespread Roman Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal (2002) • Allegations made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively Roman Catholic priests, monks, and nuns. • Only an estimated 0. 2% of Roman Catholic priests have been proven to be abusers. (that is only 2/10 ths of a %. . . But it was a big deal)

(7) Enron/ World Com/ Big Business Bankruptcy (2002) • Enron- Energy Co. out of Houston, TX – Employs/ Investors lost millions because of accounting fraud – Inflated profits and assets • World Com- Telecommunication Co. out of Clinton, MS – CEOs took money (loan) and inflated assets – Bernie Ebbers: CEO now serving a 25 year jail sentence!

(8) Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster • Feb. 1, 2003 • Caused by damage sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation from the external fuel tank peeled off during the launch 16 days earlier, puncturing the edge of the wing. • Upon re-entry, hot gases entered the wing, destroying the support structure. The shuttle disintegrated over Texas.

(9) Invasion of Iraq/ Capture of Saddam Hussein (2003) • March 20, 2003 - US and GB forces invade Iraq after the UN would not invade. • The Iraqi military was defeated, and Baghdad fell on April 9. • On May 1, U. S. declared the end of major combat operations, terminating the Ba’ath’s party rule and removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from office. • Coalition forces ultimately captured Saddam Hussein on Dec. 13, 2003.

(10) Presidential Election of 2004 • [R] GW Bush (TX)/ Cheney- 286 electoral votes (62, 040, 610 popular vote) • [D] John Kerry (MA)/ John Edwards- 251 electoral votes (59, 028, 444 pop vote) • Issue- WAR ON TERROR

(11) US hands over power to Iraqi Interim Gov’t (2004) • US and Coalition Allies created this gov’t as a “caretaker” gov’t to govern Iraq • Iraq has continued to see several different gov’ts over the past 6 years. More stable now Interim President Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, right, is sworn in Monday by Iraqi Chief Justice Midhat Al-Mahmodi.

(13) Dec. 26, 2004 - Tsunami • Undersea earthquake in Indian Ocean • Killed 225, 000 people in 11 countries • Former presidents Clinton and GHW Bush led relief efforts

(12) Social Security Problems (2005) • Soc Sec was in fear of bankruptcy (people are living longer!!!) • W. suggested allowing citizens to take Soc Sec taxes and place them in secured investments. • Plan did not catch on • social security is still in jeopardy.

• In 1950, there were 16 workers to support every one beneficiary of Social Security. • Today, there are only 3. 3 workers supporting every Social Security beneficiary. • In 2008 – just two short years ago– baby boomers will begin to retire. And over the next few decades, people will be living longer and benefits are scheduled to increase dramatically. By the time today’s youngest workers turn 65, there will only be 2 workers supporting each beneficiary. Under the current system, today’s 30 -year-old worker will face a 27% benefit cut when he or she reaches normal retirement age.

(14) Hurricane Katrina (2005) • August 23, 2005 - Category 5 • Costliest and one of deadliest in history • Gulf Coast • Over 1800 people killed • Haley and Ray Did somebody say something about buses? There’s gonna be a lot of wurter!

(15) Saddam Hussein is convicted & hanged (2006) • Dec. 13, ’ 03: Captured by U. S. forces • Brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government set up by U. S. -led forces. • Nov. 5, ’ 06: Convicted of executing 148 Iraqi Shi'ites sentenced to death by hanging. “Where is my • Dec. 30, ’ 06: Executed by the new Iraqi government “I’m the King of the World!” stunt double? !!” “RUH- ROH!”

(16) Bush Vetoes stem-cell research - ‘ 06 • "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others, " …"It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect. So I vetoed it. " • The Stem Cell Bill would have loosened the restrictions on federal funding for stem-cell research. • House Republican leaders tried to override the veto, but that vote fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority. (above) President Bush holds a child who was adopted while an embryo.

Kyoto Protocol • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at fighting global warming. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. "

(17) Hezbollah/Lebanon/ Israel (2006) a 34 -day military conflict in Lebanon And northern Israel. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. (The conflict started on 12 July 2006, and continued until a United Nations-brokered ceasefire went into effect in the morning on 14 August 2006, though it formally ended on 8 September 2006 when Israel lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon. ) The conflict began When Hezbollah militants purposely fired rockets at Israeli border towns

Remember the term LAME DUCK? • GHWB “Daddy Bush” was one, Jimmy Carter was one, Herbert Hoover was one… what was it? • When the President loses the next election, the other political party is now in office, and Americans wish the old guy would get out and let the new guy start • George “W” Bush is not considered to be a Lame Duck because he did not actually run for reelection- but American’s want the Republicans out and to give Obama and the Democrats a try.

42 George W alker Bush 2001 — 2009 R