Dubya 1000
21-02-2006, 02:55
Here's an essay I had to write for my government and politics class. Currently, we're studying the Presidency, and we had to analyze Bush. What do you think of it?
The Bush Presidency
This essay will discuss several aspects of the institution of the Presidency, and relate them to the presidency of George Walker Bush. The topics that will be considered are presidential style and character, effectiveness of leadership in all roles as president, his leadership and success in domestic and foreign policy issues, and his relationship with the press and the American people.
The style of a president is his "habitual way of performing his three political roles: rhetoric, personal relations, and homework." Each president maintains a balance between these three characteristics, but some are used more frequently than others. For instance, some presidents are considered to be primarily rhetoricians, some often engage in informal dealing, and some "devote their energies mainly to study and cogitation." George Bush resembles the second category, personal relations, more than any other. He values loyalty in his administration, and he is loyal in return. This is evident in some of Bush's controversial appointments and nominations, like John Bolton as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, and John Ashcroft as Attorney General. John Bolton is a member of the neoconservative think-tank Project for the New American Century, and he is also a severe critic of the United Nations. Harriet Miers was nominated to the Supreme Court by George Bush as the replacement for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, although she withdrew from the nomination after encountering strong opposition and criticism from various political groups, especially conservative groups that are considered to be George Bush's base. Miers has close personal ties to George Bush, and this was the primary reason for her nomination. John Ashcroft is a social conservative and he was harshly criticized by various left-wing groups, although he has been replaced by Alberto Gonzales.
A president's character "is the way the president orients himself toward life-not in the moment, but enduringly." There are four general types of presidential character: active-positive, active negative, passive-positive, and passive-negative. Active-positive presidents typically enjoy power and they use it aggressively and effectively. Thomas Jefferson is an example of an active-positive president. Active-negative presidents exercise power aggressively, but they receive little "emotional reward for that effort." John Adams was an active-negative president. Passive-positive presidents emhasize cooperation rather than conflict. They maintain a non-partisan atmosphere and they seek to reconcile political differences. James Madison was a passive-positive president. Passive-negative presidents tend to withdraw from "politicking." They are in politics because they have a sense of duty, not because they wish to exercise power. George Washington was a passive-negative president.
George Bush is an active-positive president. He aggressively uses power, and he isn't hesitant about expanding it. He was able to get Congress's approval for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and he was able to get several key domestic bills passed. Also, active-positive presidents are typically partisan presidents. George Bush is a partisan president based on his nominees to important positions, his steadfast support for Republican Party principles and his harsh criticism of leaks about the NSA wiretapping program. In addition, George Bush strongly believes that he must use his power and inherent role as protector of the people to combat and prevent terrorism, hence the Patriot Act, and using the National Security Agency to monitor communication between suspects in the United States and other countries.
As the Chief Executive , George Bush has had mixed results. He has been successful in many of his nominees, with the notable exception of Harriet Miers, but his administration has been tarnished by the Valerie Plame leak affair, and FEMA's mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina. Also, Bush created the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for protecting American people from harm and property from damage.
As Chief of State, Bush has had to take on the roles of head of state and head of government. He has had some successes and failures as head of government in pushing through legislation he considers important, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Patriot Act, as well as the renewal of the Patriot Act. As head of state, his popularity has been a roller-coaster ride. At times, he was extremely popular in the polls, and at other times, his ratings decreased significantly.
As Commander in Chief, Bush has had more success than in any other presidential role. He managed to get support for the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and he has revitalized the Central Intelligence Agency. Bush restarted the "Star Wars" program which researches and develops technology that can intercept incoming foregn missiles.
As Chief Diplomat, George Bush has developed a doctrine of pre-emptive attack, which he used as the rationale for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. This means that Bush will send United States soldiers into countries that he believes harbors terrorists or a danger to the security of the United States. This is a radical departure from the policy of deterrence and mutually assured destruction that prevailed during the Cold War. Bush adopted the doctrine of pre-emptive attack after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush called Iran, Iraq, and North Korea an "axis of evil" and a danger to world peace. He takes a tough stance against these countries. An agreement was reached between North Korea and the United States in 2005 in which North Korea promised not to develop its nuclear weapons in exchange for food and other aid from the United States, China, and several other countries.
As Chief Legislator, George Bush has had his share of successes and failures. One notable failure was his effort to reinvent the Social Security system. The No Child Left Behind Act and the Patriot Act are two notable successes, as are the tax cuts that Congress has enacted. Although Bush presides over a Republican-controlled Congress, he was unable to get it to pass provisions in the energy acts, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes, a conflict between the president and Congress materializes out of differences over executive privelege, the theory that a president doesn't have to disclose information to Congress if it pertains to national security. Currently, there is such a conflict between Bush and various elements of Congress over the NSA wiretapping program. Bush refuses to give up the full details of the program to Congress, citing fears that it will weaken the United States in the war on terror.
As Chief of Party, Bush has done a consistent job. He supports Republican principles such as a strong defense, a strong private sector, free trade, gun-ownership rights, and a ban on same-sex marriage. Bush has increased defense spending, and he has advocated the privatisation of Social Security. Also, he let the 1994 ban on assault weapons go unrenwned, as well as supporting a ban on same-sex marriage. However, Bush has been criticised by some Democrats for working too closely with Republicans and not including Democrats. He has also been criticised for creating a deficit and enlargening the federal bureaucracy. Some Republicans consider this to be against the Republican principle of small government.
As the nation's popular leader, Bush's level of success has been marked by extreme highs and dismal lows. He started his first term with a 60% approval rating. Eight months later, this rose to 85%, after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Thereafter, it steadily decreased until the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when it reached a high of 70%. He hasn't surpassed his pre-invasion approval rating since then. When Bush began his second term, his approval rating was 49%. Bush reached his lowest approval rating, 36%, during the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, although it has risen somewhat. However, Bush's approval rating is currently less than 50%. He has been the subject of scorn and satire due to his mispronounciations during speeches, and he has been criticized for his slow response to Hurricane Katrina. However, Bush's solid performance in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center reassured many people, and he's viewed as someone who will look after American interests in foreign affairs.
George Bush has been partially successful in both domestic and foreign affairs. In domestic affairs, he passed some important bills. These include the No Child Left Behind Act, the Patriot Act and its subsequent renewal, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and the faith based initiative. In addition, he was successful is cutting taxes. Bush was unsuccessful in privatising Social Security and in his initiative to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Also, he has come under criticism because of his faith based initiative, which critics fear would erase the seperation of church and state.
Likewise, in foreign policy, Bush has had success and failure. Through the idea of pre-
emptive intervention, Bush believes that he can safeguard America from terrorists by overthrowing
the governments that support or condone terrorism. He used this theory for the invasion of Iraq,
claiming that there were weapons of mass destruction. However, Bush has come under severe
crticism for this military action because no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, and some critics claim that even if there were weapons of mass destruction, they were greatly exagerated. The Bush administration also came under criticism for its handling of the Iraq war amid allegations that not enough soldiers were sent during the invasion, the inaction of United States soldiers during looting by some Iraqis in the first few months after Saddam Hussein was removed from power, and the fact that many soldiers did not have sufficient body armor. In addition, critics contend that the Bush administration didn't plan for the post-invasion insurgency, that the war is against international law because the United Nations Security Council didn't authorize it and that infrastructure efforts have failed, thus fueling the insurgency. Prisoner humiliation and abuses in the Abu Gharib prison only worsened the situation. Similiar arguments have been made about the occupation of Afghanistan. Much of that country is still ruled by tribal chiefs, and there are too few United States soldiers to keep order in some areas. However, there have also been some encouraging successes in both Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been successful elections in Iraq, the Iraqis have written a new constitution, and Saddam Hussein was captured by United States soldiers. Hussein is now being tried in an Iraqi court for various human rights abuses that he committed when he was the dictator of Iraq. In Afghanistan, the Islamic fundamentalist regime known as the Taliban was overthrown, and many Al Qaida operatives have been killed or captured, although Osama bin Laden is still at large. Additionally, Bush believes that by setting up a successful and prosperous democracy in Iraq, the rest of the Middle East will take notice and reform. Ultimately, this is supposed to eliminate terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism. The recent electoral victory of Hamas in Jordan, an orginazation that engaged in terrorism against Israel, will test this theory.
Bush's relationship with the press and the American people, like his approval ratings, experienced highs and lows. His first press secretary, Ari Fleischer, maintained a contentious atmosphere at White House briefings. He was criticised because he would call some individuals unpatriotic based on their remarks about the Bush administration. Fleischer resigned in 2003. The current White House press secretary is Scott McClellan. He has been criticised because he is sometimes unwilling to give up information, especially about the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping. Also, he has come under criticism for the perceived belated disclosure of Vice Presidend Richard Cheney's hunting accident.
Bush's relationship with the American people is also a mixed success. After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and before the Iraq war, he was immensely popular, but since then his support has declined, with the result that he's not very popular right now. Most of the reason for his downfall can be attributed to the mishandling of the Iraq war, and the incompetence of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent aftermath. Bush sells himself as a "protector." During the 2004 election, he repeatedly stated that he doesn't "flip-flop" on issues and that he will look after American interests and protect America from future terrorist attacks. The fact that there have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 2001 helps Bush's credibility.
The Bush Presidency
This essay will discuss several aspects of the institution of the Presidency, and relate them to the presidency of George Walker Bush. The topics that will be considered are presidential style and character, effectiveness of leadership in all roles as president, his leadership and success in domestic and foreign policy issues, and his relationship with the press and the American people.
The style of a president is his "habitual way of performing his three political roles: rhetoric, personal relations, and homework." Each president maintains a balance between these three characteristics, but some are used more frequently than others. For instance, some presidents are considered to be primarily rhetoricians, some often engage in informal dealing, and some "devote their energies mainly to study and cogitation." George Bush resembles the second category, personal relations, more than any other. He values loyalty in his administration, and he is loyal in return. This is evident in some of Bush's controversial appointments and nominations, like John Bolton as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, and John Ashcroft as Attorney General. John Bolton is a member of the neoconservative think-tank Project for the New American Century, and he is also a severe critic of the United Nations. Harriet Miers was nominated to the Supreme Court by George Bush as the replacement for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, although she withdrew from the nomination after encountering strong opposition and criticism from various political groups, especially conservative groups that are considered to be George Bush's base. Miers has close personal ties to George Bush, and this was the primary reason for her nomination. John Ashcroft is a social conservative and he was harshly criticized by various left-wing groups, although he has been replaced by Alberto Gonzales.
A president's character "is the way the president orients himself toward life-not in the moment, but enduringly." There are four general types of presidential character: active-positive, active negative, passive-positive, and passive-negative. Active-positive presidents typically enjoy power and they use it aggressively and effectively. Thomas Jefferson is an example of an active-positive president. Active-negative presidents exercise power aggressively, but they receive little "emotional reward for that effort." John Adams was an active-negative president. Passive-positive presidents emhasize cooperation rather than conflict. They maintain a non-partisan atmosphere and they seek to reconcile political differences. James Madison was a passive-positive president. Passive-negative presidents tend to withdraw from "politicking." They are in politics because they have a sense of duty, not because they wish to exercise power. George Washington was a passive-negative president.
George Bush is an active-positive president. He aggressively uses power, and he isn't hesitant about expanding it. He was able to get Congress's approval for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and he was able to get several key domestic bills passed. Also, active-positive presidents are typically partisan presidents. George Bush is a partisan president based on his nominees to important positions, his steadfast support for Republican Party principles and his harsh criticism of leaks about the NSA wiretapping program. In addition, George Bush strongly believes that he must use his power and inherent role as protector of the people to combat and prevent terrorism, hence the Patriot Act, and using the National Security Agency to monitor communication between suspects in the United States and other countries.
As the Chief Executive , George Bush has had mixed results. He has been successful in many of his nominees, with the notable exception of Harriet Miers, but his administration has been tarnished by the Valerie Plame leak affair, and FEMA's mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina. Also, Bush created the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for protecting American people from harm and property from damage.
As Chief of State, Bush has had to take on the roles of head of state and head of government. He has had some successes and failures as head of government in pushing through legislation he considers important, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Patriot Act, as well as the renewal of the Patriot Act. As head of state, his popularity has been a roller-coaster ride. At times, he was extremely popular in the polls, and at other times, his ratings decreased significantly.
As Commander in Chief, Bush has had more success than in any other presidential role. He managed to get support for the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and he has revitalized the Central Intelligence Agency. Bush restarted the "Star Wars" program which researches and develops technology that can intercept incoming foregn missiles.
As Chief Diplomat, George Bush has developed a doctrine of pre-emptive attack, which he used as the rationale for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. This means that Bush will send United States soldiers into countries that he believes harbors terrorists or a danger to the security of the United States. This is a radical departure from the policy of deterrence and mutually assured destruction that prevailed during the Cold War. Bush adopted the doctrine of pre-emptive attack after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush called Iran, Iraq, and North Korea an "axis of evil" and a danger to world peace. He takes a tough stance against these countries. An agreement was reached between North Korea and the United States in 2005 in which North Korea promised not to develop its nuclear weapons in exchange for food and other aid from the United States, China, and several other countries.
As Chief Legislator, George Bush has had his share of successes and failures. One notable failure was his effort to reinvent the Social Security system. The No Child Left Behind Act and the Patriot Act are two notable successes, as are the tax cuts that Congress has enacted. Although Bush presides over a Republican-controlled Congress, he was unable to get it to pass provisions in the energy acts, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes, a conflict between the president and Congress materializes out of differences over executive privelege, the theory that a president doesn't have to disclose information to Congress if it pertains to national security. Currently, there is such a conflict between Bush and various elements of Congress over the NSA wiretapping program. Bush refuses to give up the full details of the program to Congress, citing fears that it will weaken the United States in the war on terror.
As Chief of Party, Bush has done a consistent job. He supports Republican principles such as a strong defense, a strong private sector, free trade, gun-ownership rights, and a ban on same-sex marriage. Bush has increased defense spending, and he has advocated the privatisation of Social Security. Also, he let the 1994 ban on assault weapons go unrenwned, as well as supporting a ban on same-sex marriage. However, Bush has been criticised by some Democrats for working too closely with Republicans and not including Democrats. He has also been criticised for creating a deficit and enlargening the federal bureaucracy. Some Republicans consider this to be against the Republican principle of small government.
As the nation's popular leader, Bush's level of success has been marked by extreme highs and dismal lows. He started his first term with a 60% approval rating. Eight months later, this rose to 85%, after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Thereafter, it steadily decreased until the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when it reached a high of 70%. He hasn't surpassed his pre-invasion approval rating since then. When Bush began his second term, his approval rating was 49%. Bush reached his lowest approval rating, 36%, during the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, although it has risen somewhat. However, Bush's approval rating is currently less than 50%. He has been the subject of scorn and satire due to his mispronounciations during speeches, and he has been criticized for his slow response to Hurricane Katrina. However, Bush's solid performance in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center reassured many people, and he's viewed as someone who will look after American interests in foreign affairs.
George Bush has been partially successful in both domestic and foreign affairs. In domestic affairs, he passed some important bills. These include the No Child Left Behind Act, the Patriot Act and its subsequent renewal, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and the faith based initiative. In addition, he was successful is cutting taxes. Bush was unsuccessful in privatising Social Security and in his initiative to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Also, he has come under criticism because of his faith based initiative, which critics fear would erase the seperation of church and state.
Likewise, in foreign policy, Bush has had success and failure. Through the idea of pre-
emptive intervention, Bush believes that he can safeguard America from terrorists by overthrowing
the governments that support or condone terrorism. He used this theory for the invasion of Iraq,
claiming that there were weapons of mass destruction. However, Bush has come under severe
crticism for this military action because no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, and some critics claim that even if there were weapons of mass destruction, they were greatly exagerated. The Bush administration also came under criticism for its handling of the Iraq war amid allegations that not enough soldiers were sent during the invasion, the inaction of United States soldiers during looting by some Iraqis in the first few months after Saddam Hussein was removed from power, and the fact that many soldiers did not have sufficient body armor. In addition, critics contend that the Bush administration didn't plan for the post-invasion insurgency, that the war is against international law because the United Nations Security Council didn't authorize it and that infrastructure efforts have failed, thus fueling the insurgency. Prisoner humiliation and abuses in the Abu Gharib prison only worsened the situation. Similiar arguments have been made about the occupation of Afghanistan. Much of that country is still ruled by tribal chiefs, and there are too few United States soldiers to keep order in some areas. However, there have also been some encouraging successes in both Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been successful elections in Iraq, the Iraqis have written a new constitution, and Saddam Hussein was captured by United States soldiers. Hussein is now being tried in an Iraqi court for various human rights abuses that he committed when he was the dictator of Iraq. In Afghanistan, the Islamic fundamentalist regime known as the Taliban was overthrown, and many Al Qaida operatives have been killed or captured, although Osama bin Laden is still at large. Additionally, Bush believes that by setting up a successful and prosperous democracy in Iraq, the rest of the Middle East will take notice and reform. Ultimately, this is supposed to eliminate terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism. The recent electoral victory of Hamas in Jordan, an orginazation that engaged in terrorism against Israel, will test this theory.
Bush's relationship with the press and the American people, like his approval ratings, experienced highs and lows. His first press secretary, Ari Fleischer, maintained a contentious atmosphere at White House briefings. He was criticised because he would call some individuals unpatriotic based on their remarks about the Bush administration. Fleischer resigned in 2003. The current White House press secretary is Scott McClellan. He has been criticised because he is sometimes unwilling to give up information, especially about the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping. Also, he has come under criticism for the perceived belated disclosure of Vice Presidend Richard Cheney's hunting accident.
Bush's relationship with the American people is also a mixed success. After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and before the Iraq war, he was immensely popular, but since then his support has declined, with the result that he's not very popular right now. Most of the reason for his downfall can be attributed to the mishandling of the Iraq war, and the incompetence of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent aftermath. Bush sells himself as a "protector." During the 2004 election, he repeatedly stated that he doesn't "flip-flop" on issues and that he will look after American interests and protect America from future terrorist attacks. The fact that there have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 2001 helps Bush's credibility.