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{{Infobox President
| name=George Walker Bush
| image=George-W-Bush.jpeg
| order=43rd ]
| term_start=], ]
| final term ends= ], ]
| vicepresident=]
| predecessor=]
| successor= Incumbent
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1946|07|6}}
| birth_place={{flagicon|USA}} ], ], ]
| party=]
| spouse=]
| religion=]
| signature=GeorgeWBush Signature.svg
}}'''George Walker Bush''', a member of the politically influential ] ], was born on ] ]. He was inaugurated on ], ] as the 43<sup>rd</sup> ], and re-elected as president in the 2004 election. He was the 46th ] from 1995 to 2000. He is the eldest son of the 41st ], ], grandson of the former ] from ], ], and elder brother to ], ].

George W. Bush was president during the ] and responded by declaring a global '']''. In early October 2001 he ordered the ] to overthrow the ] and destroy ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/20/gen.bush.transcript/
|year=September 20, 2001|title=President Bush's address to joint session of Congress}}</ref> In March 2003, Bush ordered the ], asserting that Iraq was in violation of ] regarding ] and had to be disarmed by force.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030205-1.html| year=February 5, 2003| title=U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council|first=Colin| last=Powell| publisher=Whitehouse.gov| accessdate=2006-05-25}}</ref> Following the overthrow of ]'s regime, Bush committed the U.S. to establishing ], starting with Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031106-2.html| year=November 6, 2003| title=President discusses freedom in Iraq and Middle East}}</ref>

A self-described "war president,"<ref name="War President">{{cite web
| url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
| title = Transcript for Feb. 8th
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = ]
| publisher = MSNBC
}}</ref> Bush won ] after an intense and heated election campaign, becoming the first candidate to win a majority vote in 16 years.<ref name="16 years">{{cite web
| url = http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/11/3/22753.shtml
| title = Bush First President in 16 Years to Win Popular Majority
| accessdate = 2006-10-01
| date = ]
| publisher = NewsMax.com
}}</ref> Since his re-election, he has received increasingly heated criticism, even from former allies, on the ], ] and ] scandals, as well as domestic issues such as federal funding of ] research, ], and controversies such as ] activities and the ]. According to polls of job ], his popularity has significantly declined from its record heights after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which contributed to what Bush called the "thumping" of the ] in the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/news/usnN07478317.html|year=November 8,2006|title=Bush admits Republicans took a "thumping" (Reuters)}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{main|Early life of George W. Bush|Professional life of George W. Bush}}
]

Born in ], ], Bush is the eldest son of ] and his wife ]. His ] ancestors emigrated from ] in the ] of ] in the seventeenth century. Bush's parents moved from ] to ] when he was two years old. He was raised in ] and ], with his four siblings, ], ], ], and ]. Another younger sister, ], died in 1953 at the age of three from ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.famoustexans.com/georgewbush.htm
| title = George Walker Bush
| accessdate = 2006-06-27
| date = ]
| work = Famous Texans
| publisher = famoustexans.com
}}</ref> Bush's grandfather, ], was a ], and his father served as U.S. President from 1989 to 1993. George W. Bush is sometimes mistakenly referred to as George Bush, Jr. Since his father goes by George H. W. Bush, this is not applicable. His brother Jeb is a two-term governor of Florida. The Bush family has a long-standing and strong involvement in the U.S. Republican Party.

Bush attended ] in ] and, following in his father's footsteps, was accepted into ], where he received a ] degree in history in 1968. At the same time, he worked in various Republican campaigns, including his father's 1964 and 1970 Senate campaigns in Texas. As a college senior, Bush became a member of the secretive ] society. By his own characterization, Bush was an average student.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,25229,00.html
|title = Self-Deprecating Bush Talks to Yale Grads
|publisher = FOXNews.com
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref>

In May 1968, at the height of the ongoing ], Bush was accepted into the Texas ]. After training, he was assigned to duty in Houston, flying ] ] out of ].<ref>{{cite news
|first = Byron
|last = York
|url = http://www.hillnews.com/york/090904.aspx
|title = Bush's National Guard Years
|publisher = The Hill
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref> Throughout his political career, Bush has been criticized over his induction and period of service. ] that Bush was favorably treated due to his father's political standing, and that he was irregular in attendance. Bush took a transfer to the ] Air National Guard in 1972 to work on a Republican senate campaign, and in 1974 he obtained permission to end his six-year service obligation six months early to attend ], receiving an honorable discharge.

There are a number of ] and otherwise disorderly conduct by Bush from this time. Bush has admitted to drinking "too much" in those years and described this period of his life as his "nomadic" period of "irresponsible youth".<ref name="Life-changing">{{cite news
|first = Lois
|last = Romano
|coauthors = George Lardner Jr
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bush072599.htm
|title = Bush's Life-Changing Year
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref> On ], ], at the age of 30, Bush was arrested for ] of ] near his family's summer home in ], ]. He pleaded guilty, was fined $150, and had his ] suspended until 1978<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushdmv1.html
| title = 2000 Driving Record
| accessdate = 2006-08-09
| date = ]
| publisher = Department of the Secretary of State of Maine
}}</ref> in Maine.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998465,00.html
| title = Fallout From A Midnight Ride
| accessdate = 2006-09-08
| date = ]
| work = Time Magazine
}}</ref> Bush was able to keep his drunk driving arrest a secret throughout his years as governor of Texas.<ref name="CNNDUI">{{cite news
|author = Staff and wire reports
|url = http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/02/bush.dui
|title = Bush acknowledges 1976 DUI charge
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushdui1.html
|title = The Smoking Gun: Archive
|publisher = thesmokinggun.com
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref>

After obtaining an ] from ] (Bush is the only US President to serve holding a ] degree<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=3378
| title = GWB: HBS MBA
| accessdate = 2006-10-16
| work = The American Thinker
| publisher = www.americanthinker.com
}}</ref>), Bush entered the ] in Texas. In 1977, he was introduced by friends to ], a young schoolteacher and librarian. After three months of courting, Bush married Laura and settled in ]. His twin daughters, ] and ], were born in 1981. Bush also left his family's ] Church to join his wife's ] Church. Today, they are members of the congregation of the Highland Park United Methodist Church, near Dallas.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/etc/script.html
| title = The Jesus Factor
| accessdate = 2004-05-06
| work = WGBH
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref>

] with their daughters, ] and ], in 1990.]]

In ], Bush ran for the ] from the ]. Facing ] of the ], Bush stressed his energy credentials and conservative values in the campaign. Hance, however, also held many conservative views, opposing gun control and strict regulation; he portrayed Bush as being out of touch with rural Texans. Bush campaigned hard and was an effective fundraiser, but lost by 6,000 votes. Hance later became a Republican and donated money to Bush's campaign for ] in 1993.<ref name= NewsMine>{{cite news
|url = http://newsmine.org/archive/cabal-elite/w-administration/w-bush/bush-loses-congress-election-1978-texas.txt
|title = Bush Wasn't Always a Front-Runner
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-27
}}</ref>

Bush returned to the oil industry, becoming a senior partner or chief executive officer of several ventures, such as ] ('arbusto' means bush in Spanish), ], and ]. These ventures suffered from the general decline of oil prices in the 1980s that had affected the industry and the regional economy, but he remained active through mergers, acquisitions and consolidations of his firms. Bush credits a reinvigorated faith life as helping him abandon alcohol (in 1986), and face other personal and professional difficulties. Bush began studying the ] and ], and participating in church and community study groups. Following a personal meeting and exchange with Reverend ], he became a ] Christian.<ref name="Life-changing"/>

Bush moved with his family to ] in 1988, to work on his father's campaign for the U.S. presidency. With colleagues ] and ], he helped to develop and coordinate a political strategy for courting conservative Christians and ] voters, who were seen as key to winning the nomination and the election. Delivering speeches at rallies and fundraisers, Bush met with representatives of ] and religious organizations on behalf of his father.

Returning to Texas, Bush purchased a share in the ] baseball franchise in April 1989, where he served as managing general partner of the Rangers for five years. He was active in the team's media relations and in securing the construction of a new stadium, which opened in 1994 as ]. Bush actively led the team's projects and regularly attended its games, often choosing to sit in the open stands with fans. Bush's role with the Rangers gave him prominent media exposure and attention, as well as garnering public, business and political support. The Rangers were mostly successful while Bush was a leader of the organization. During his tenure, the Rangers acquired Hall-of-Fame pitcher ], who was popular with the fans during the last years of his career. The team nearly won its first division title in 1994, before a strike shortened the season. In 1989, Bush presided during the trade of the eventually famous ] to the ] ]. The eventual sale of Bush's share in the Texas Rangers brought him over $15 million from his initial $800,000 investment.

George W. Bush is the first president to have run a marathon. Before running for governor of Texas he completed the 1993 Houston Marathon in 3:44:52 for a pace of about 8:36/mile. He had been running since he was 26, and before taking office, ran 15 to 30 miles a week.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.runnersworld.com/footnotes/gwbush/20questions.html
| title = 20 Questions for President George W. Bush
| accessdate = 2006-08-15
| work = Runners World
| publisher = runnersworld.com
}}</ref>

He is often referred to by the ] "Dubya", playing on a stereotyped and generalized ] of the letter W.

==Governor of Texas==
{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|<div style="display:none;">}} {{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|| |{{error:not substituted|Infobox Governor}}<div style="display:none;">}}{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|</div></div>}}{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 23em; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;" cellpadding="3"
|+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''George W. Bush'''
|- style="text-align: center;"
{{#if: Texasgovbush.jpg|
{{!}} colspan="2" {{!}}<!--Image needed (previous Image:Texasgovbush.jpgwas removed). --> <br style="clear:both" />}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |46<sup>th</sup> ]
|-
! Term of office:
| <span style="white-space: nowrap;">], ]</span> &ndash; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">], ]</span>
|-
{{#if: ], ]|
! ]:
{{!}} ], ]}}
|-
! Predecessor:
| ]
|-
! Successor:
| ]
|-
! Born:
| <span style="white-space: nowrap;">], ]</span><br>], ]
|-
{{#if: |
! Died:
{{!}} <span style="white-space: nowrap;"></span><br>}}
|-
! Political&nbsp;party:
| {{political party w logo|{{ #switch: ]
| Democratic
| Democratic Party
| ]
| ]
| ]
| ]
}}
|-
{{#if: ], ]|
! Profession:
{{!}} ], ]}}
|-
{{#if: ]|
! Spouse:
{{!}} ]}}
|-
{{#if: |
{{!}} colspan="2" style="font-size: smaller; border-top: 1px solid;" {{!}} }}
|}

With his father's election in 1988, speculation had arisen amongst Republicans that Bush would enter the 1990 ] election, but this was offset by Bush's purchase of the Rangers baseball team and personal concerns regarding his own record and profile. Following his success as owner and manager of the Rangers, Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 election, even as his brother Jeb first sought the governorship of Florida. Winning the Republican primary easily, Bush faced incumbent Governor ], a popular Democrat who was considered the easy favorite, given Bush's lack of political credentials.

Bush was aided in his campaign by a close coterie of political advisors that included ], a former journalist who was his communications advisor; ], who became his campaign manager, and ], a personal friend and political activist who is believed to have been a strong influence in encouraging Bush to enter the election. Bush's aides crafted a campaign strategy that attacked Governor Richards' record on law enforcement, her political appointments, and her support of liberal political causes. Bush developed a positive image and message with themes of "personal responsibility" and "moral leadership". His campaign focused on issues such as education (seeking more accountability for schools over student performance), crime, deregulation of the economy, and ]. The Bush campaign was criticized for allegedly using controversial methods to disparage Richards. Following an impressive performance in the debates, however, Bush's popularity grew. He won with 52 percent against Richards' 47 percent.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wayne Slater
| first = James Moore
| year = 2003
| title = Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
| publisher = Wiley
| location = USA
| ISBN = 0-471-42327-0
| pages = 210
}}</ref>

As governor, Bush successfully sponsored legislation for tort reform, increased education funding, set higher standards for schools, and reformed the ] system. Under his leadership, Texas executed 152 prisoners, more than under any other governor in modern American history; critics such as ] argue that he failed to give serious consideration to clemency requests.<ref name="executions">{{cite web|url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17670|title=The New York Review of Books: Death in Texas}}</ref> School finance was considered a sensitive issue at the time by politicians and the press. The state financed its school system through property taxes. Seeking to reduce the high rates to benefit homeowners while increasing general education funding, Bush sought to create business taxes, but faced vigorous opposition from his own party and the private sector. Failing to obtain political consensus for his proposal, Bush used a budget surplus to push through a $2 billion tax-cut plan, which was the largest in Texas history and cemented Bush's credentials as a pro-business fiscal conservative.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wayne Slater
| first = James Moore
| year = 2003
| title = Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
| publisher = Wiley
| location = USA
| ISBN = 0-471-42327-0
| pages = 233-36
}}</ref>

Bush also pioneered ] by extending government funding and support for religious organizations providing social services such as education, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and reduction of domestic violence. Governor Bush signed a memorandum on ], ] proclaiming ] to be ] in ], a day where he "urge all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/art/pop_jesusday.jpg
| title = Jesus Day
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = Texas State
| date = ]
| format = JPEG
| work = Texas State Archives
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref> Although Bush was criticized for violating the constitutional ] ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."), his initiative was popular with most people across the state, especially religious and social conservatives.

In 1998, Bush won re-election in a ] with nearly 69% of the vote, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected for two consecutive four-year terms (before 1975, the gubernatorial term of office was two years).<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/03/election/governors/texas
|title = Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins in landslide
|publisher = CNN
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

==2000 presidential election==
{{main|United States presidential election, 2000}}
] greets President-elect Bush at the White House in late December of 2000.]]

As one of the most popular governors in the nation, Bush was seen in the media and the Republican Party as a strong potential contender for the U.S. presidential election in 2000. Bush had personally envisioned running for the presidency since his re-election, and upon announcing his candidacy, he immediately became the Republican front-runner and raised the largest amount in campaign funds.

Bush labeled himself a "]," a term coined by ] professor ], and his ] promised to "restore honor and dignity to the ]". Bush proposed lowering taxes in response to a projected surplus, while promising a balanced ]. He supported participation of ] ] in federally funded programs, and promoted ]s, national education reform, ] in the ], and structural changes to the ]. Bush's ] campaign platform supported a stronger economic and political relationship with ] and especially ], free trade and reduced involvement in "]" and other minor military engagements indirectly related to U.S. interests. Bush also pledged to expand the ] initiative and to reform ] and ].

Bush's campaign was managed by Rove, Hughes and Albaugh, as well as by other political associates from Texas. He was endorsed by a majority of Republicans in 38 state legislatures. After winning the ], Bush was handed a surprising defeat by U.S. Senator ] of ] in the ]. During his campaign, Bush was criticized for visiting the controversial ], which bore a reputation for a ] and a ban on ].<!-- unsourced and ambiguous Bush apologized to the Archbishop while clarifying that he did not endorse the university's controversial measures--><ref>{{cite news
|author = ]
|url = http://www.commondreams.org/views/020900-101.htm
|title = At Bob Jones U., A Disturbing Lesson About The Real George W.
|publisher = Common Dreams Newscenter
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush then won the ] primary, severely crippling the momentum McCain had picked up with his win in New Hampshire. McCain countered by winning in Michigan. However, McCain inexplicably decided to criticize ] and ] just before the Virginia primary, stirring the ire of religious conservatives. Bush went on to win the Virginia Primary and then, a week later, he captured nine of thirteen ] state primaries, effectively clinching the Republican nomination. He chose ], a former ] and ], as his ]. His campaign was endorsed by prominent Republicans such as ] and ], who assumed roles as advisers on issues of national security and foreign relations. While stressing his successful record as governor of Texas, Bush's campaign attacked the Democratic nominee, incumbent Vice President ], over ] and taxation. Bush criticized the ](although in 1998 the Senate vote to participate in the treaty was 0 for and 95 against), championed by Gore, citing the decline of the industries in the ] states, such as ], and resulting economic hardships.

In the televised Republican presidential debate held in ] on ] ], all of the participating candidates were asked "What political ] or thinker do you most identify with and why?" Unlike the other candidates, who cited former Presidents and other political figures, Bush responded, "], because He changed my heart." Bush's appeal to religious values is believed to have aided his election, since those who said they "attend church weekly" gave him 56% of their vote in 2000 (and 63% of their vote in 2004).<ref>{{cite news
|title = How Americans Voted
|publisher = The Gallup Organization
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}The Gallup Organization, "How Americans Voted," 5 November 2004</ref>

On election day, ], ], Bush won key midwestern states such as ], ], and ]. He also clinched Gore's home state of ], ], and the erstwhile Democratic bastion of ]. Television networks initially called the state of ] for Gore, then withdrew that projection and later called the state, along with the entire election, for Bush. Finally, it was declared that the results were too close to call. Sometime after the networks reported that Bush had won Florida, Gore conceded the election, and then rescinded that concession less than one hour later. The vote count, which favored Bush in preliminary tallies, was contested over allegations of irregularities in the voting and tabulation processes. Because of Florida state law, a state-wide machine recount was ordered. Although it narrowed the gap, the recount still left Bush in the lead. Eventually, four counties in Florida which had large numbers of presidential undervotes began a manual hand recount of ballots. On ], the ] ruled that every county with a large number of undervotes would perform a hand recount. On ], in the '']'' case, the ] stopped the statewide hand recount. The machine recount showed that Bush had won the Florida vote - making it the 30th of the 50 states he carried.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm
| title = 2000 OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = State Elections Offices
| date = ]
| publisher = Public Disclosure Division, Federal Election Commission
}}</ref> Despite having lost the nationwide popular contest by more than half a million votes,<ref></ref> he won 271 ] to Gore's 266. This made him the first President elected despite a popular vote loss since ] in 1888.<ref></ref>

==First term==
{{main|George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States}}

President George W. Bush was regarded by his political opponents and many in the media as lacking a popular mandate, having lost the popular vote. Upon assuming office, Bush appointed ] as his ], ] as his political advisor and ] as White House communications director. He appointed ] as ], ] as ], and ] as the ].

His appointment of former Senator ] as ] was intensely criticized by Democrats because of Ashcroft's opposition of ] and support for social and religious conservative causes concerning ] and ]. Despite this, Ashcroft was confirmed, and Bush was lauded by conservatives.

===Domestic policy===
{{main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
] into law.]]

On his first day in office, Bush moved to block federal aid to foreign groups that offered counselling or any other assistance to women in obtaining abortions.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Office of the Press Secretary
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20010123-5.html
|title = Memorandum for Restoration of the Mexico City Policy
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush also successfully pushed for the ], enacted in 2003 with some ] support but criticized by ] groups as incursive on legalized abortion rights.

Days into his first term, Bush announced his commitment to channeling more federal aid to faith-based service organizations. Bush created the ] to assist faith-based service organizations. Critics claimed that this was an infringement of the ].<ref>{{cite news
|first = Thomas E.
|last = Buckley
|url = http://www.americamagazine.org/gettext.cfm?articleTypeID=1&textID=2601&issueID=411
|title = Church, State and the Faith-Based Initiative
|publisher = America, The National Catholic Weekly
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|first = David
|last = Brancaccio
|url = http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/churchandstate2.html
|title = Faith-based Initiatives
|work = God and Government
|publisher = ], ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

Following a national controversy over the recognition of same-sex marriages in ] and ], Bush announced his opposition to the recognition of same-sex marriage, but supported allowing states to recognize ]. He endorsed the ] to the ], which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This amendment failed to gain enough votes to pass.

Bush staunchly opposes ]. He supported Ashcroft's decision to file suit against the voter-approved ], which was ultimately decided by the ] in favor of the Oregon law.<ref name=OregonEuthanasia>{{cite news
|first = Kevin
|last = Johnson
|url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/04/17/court-suicide.htm
|title = Federal judge backs Oregon suicide law
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> As governor of Texas, however, Bush had signed a law which gave hospitals the authority to take terminally ill patients off of ] against the wishes of their spouse or parents, if the doctors deemed it medically appropriate.<ref name=RighttoDie>{{cite news
|author = Knight Ridder
|coauthors = Newsday
|url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002215324_texaslaw22.html
|title = As governor, Bush signed right-to-die law
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> This became an issue in 2005, when the President signed controversial legislation forwarded and voted on by only three members of the Senate to initiate federal intervention in the court battle of ].<ref name=Schiavo>{{cite news
|first = Charles
|last = Babington
|coauthors = Allen, Mike
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51402-2005Mar20.html
|title = Congress Passes Schiavo Measure
|publisher = The Washington Post
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

Bush's domestic agenda carried forward themes of increased responsibility for performance from his days as Texas governor, and he worked hard to lobby the adoption of the ], with Democratic Senator ] as chief sponsor. The legislation aims to close the achievement gap, measures ] performance, provides options to parents with students in low-performing schools, and targets more federal funding to low-income ]. NCLBA has been a source of ongoing controversy. Critics argue that Bush has underfunded his own program, and Kennedy himself has claimed: "The tragedy is that these long overdue reforms are finally in place, but the funds are not."<ref>{{cite news
|author = W. James Antle III
|url = http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article.html
|title = Leaving No Child Left Behind
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Many educational experts are critical of the reforms in question, claiming that NCLB allows some students to flee failing public schools instead of improving those schools.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Harvard Graduate School of Education
|url = http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/features/pierce07012002.html
|title = No Child Left Behind?
|publisher = HGSE News
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Others contend that NCLBA's focus on "high stakes testing" and quantitative outcomes is counterproductive.<ref> ''Raising Standards or Raising Barriers?'' Edited by Gary Orfield and Mindy L. Kornhaber. The Century Foundation Press. May 1, 2001</ref> Bush increased funding for the ] and ] in his first years of office, and created education programs to strengthen the grounding in science and mathematics for American high school students. However, funding for NIH failed to keep up with inflation in 2004 and 2005, and was actually cut in 2006, the first such cut in 36 years.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Committee on Appropriations – Democratic Staff
|url = http://www.house.gov/appropriations_democrats/pdf/2006-7-26-NIH-paper.pdf#search=%22bush%20nih%20funding%22
|title = President Bush and House Republicans Undermine Life Saving Health Research
|publisher = U.S. House of Representatives
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref>

Bush promoted increased de-regulation and investment options in social services, leading Republican efforts to pass the ], which added prescription drug coverage to Medicare and created ], which would permit people to set aside a portion of their Medicare tax to build a "nest egg". The elderly group, ] worked with the Bush Administration on the program and gave their endorsement. Bush said the law, estimated to cost US$400 billion over the first 10 years, would give the elderly "better choices and more control over their health care".<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031208-2.html
|title = President Signs Medicare Legislation
|publisher = The White House
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

In the wake of the ], on ] ] Bush announced a major re-direction for the ].<ref name=NewVisionNASA>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040114-3.html
|title = President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program
|publisher = The White House
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Known as the ], it calls for the completion of the ] by 2010 and the retirement of the ] while developing a new ] called the ] under the title ]. The CEV would be used to return American ]s to the ] by 2018.

President Bush supports stem cell research, but only to the extent that human embryos are not destroyed in order to harvest additional stem cells.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060719-5.html
|title = President Vetoes H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005"
|publisher = The White House
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> His supporters see this as a principled stand for the rights of human embryos; one to which the President has remained true despite heavy criticism. In 2004, more than two hundred Republican and Democratic members of Congress sent President Bush a letter<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.house.gov/degette/news/releases/040428.pdf
|title = letter re: August 2001 executive order
|publisher = Congress of the United States
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> asking him to change the August 2001 Executive Order “that has crippled stem cell research in our country.”<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.house.gov/degette/news/releases/040428.html
|title = DeGette: President's Policy Has Chilling Effect on Stem Cells
|publisher = Office of Congresswoman Diana DeGette
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> On February 27, 2004, after expressing disapproval of administration policy, Dr. ] was removed from the ], prompting allegations that President Bush had violated the ] of 1972, which requires committees to be “fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented.” In response to this and other controversies, the ] released a statement entitled ''Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science''.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.ucar.edu/oga/pdf/Integrity.pdf#search=%22stem%20cell%22
|title = Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science
|publisher = The Union of Concerned Scientists
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Meanwhile, the ] has commended President Bush’s veto of the ], a bill that would have allowed the destruction of human embryos created via ''in vitro'' fertilization.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nrlc.org/Killing_Embryos/Release071906.html
|title = National Right to Life Commends Sustained Veto of Funding for Research that Kills Human Embryos, Rebukes 154 House Members for Rejecting Ethical Alternatives
|publisher = National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref>

Bush signed the ] legislation into law on ] ], which was developed to quickly alert the general public about ]s using various media sources.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/30/bush.amber/index.html
|title = Bush signs child protection bill
|publisher = ] Inside Politics
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-31
}}</ref> On ] ] Bush signed the ] which establishes a national database requiring all convicted sex offenders to register their current residency and related details on a monthly instead of the previous yearly basis. Newly convicted sex offenders will also face longer mandatory ] periods.<ref>{{cite news
|first = Davidson
|last = Lee
|url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640198190,00.html
|title = Bush signs, Hatch praises new Child Protection Act
|publisher = DeseretNews
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-31
}}</ref>

====Economic policy====

] while looking out a window of ], ].]]

Facing opposition in Congress, Bush held town hall-style public meetings across the nation to increase public support for his plan for a $1.3 trillion tax cut. Bush and his economic advisers argued that unspent government funds should be returned to taxpayers. With reports of the threat of recession from Federal Reserve Chairman ], Bush argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs. In the end, five Senate Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans in approving Bush's $1.35 trillion<ref>{{cite news
|first = Kelly
|last = Wallace
|url = http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes
|title = $1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law
|publisher = ] InsidePolitics archives
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> tax cut program &mdash; one of the largest in U.S. history.

During his first term, Bush sought and obtained Congressional approval for two additional tax cuts: the ] and the ]. These acts increased the ] and eliminated the so-called "marriage penalty." Arguably, cuts were distributed disproportionately to higher income taxpayers through a decrease in ], but the change in marginal rates was greater for those of lower income, resulting in an income tax structure that was more progressive overall. Complexity was increased with new categories of income taxed at different rates and new deductions and credits, however; at the same time, the number of individuals subject to the ] increased since it had remained unchanged.

Bush's imposition of a ] and ] was controversial in light of his advocacy of ] ] in other areas; this attracted criticism both from his fellow ] and from nations affected. The steel tariff was later rescinded under pressure from the ]. A negotiated settlement to the softwood lumber dispute was reached in April 2006, and the historic seven-year deal was finalized on ] ].

===Foreign policy===
{{main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
] ], and former ] ] meet at the ] in ], ] on ], ].]]

The Bush administration withdrew US support for several international agreements, including the ], the ], and the ] (ABM) with ]. It pursued a ] which was previously barred by the ABM treaty and was never ratified by Congress.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/010501bush.html
|title = President Bush Speech on Missile Defence
|publisher = Federation of American Scientists
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush publicly condemned ] of ], naming North Korea one of three states in an "]," and saying that "he United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."<ref></ref> Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the ]."<ref></ref> Bush also boldly expressed U.S. support for the defense of ] following the stand-off in March 2001 with the ] over the crash between an ] ], leading to the detention of U.S. personnel. In 2003-04, Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in ] and ] to restore order and oversee a transition to democracy.

Bush emphasized a "hands-off" approach to the conflict between ] and the ]s in wake of rising violence and the alleged failure of the Clinton Administration's efforts to negotiate. Bush denounced Palestinian leader ] for his support of the violence and militant groups. But prompted by European leaders, he became the first American President to embrace a two-state solution in which an independent Palestine would exist side-by-side with Israel. Bush sponsored dialogue between Prime Ministers ] and ] but continued his boycott of Arafat. Bush also supported Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and lauded the democratic elections held in Palestine following Arafat's death.

] with George W. Bush inspects the ] Honor Guards during the latter's 8-hour ] to the ] in October 2003]]

In his ] in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy for global emergency ] relief, the ]. Bush announced $15 billion for this effort&mdash;$3 billion per year for five years&mdash;but requested less in annual budgets, though some members of Congress added amendments to increase the requested amounts. The emergency relief effort is led by U.S. Ambassador ], former ] of ] and ] at the ]. At the time of the speech, $9 billion was earmarked for new programs in AIDS relief for the 15 countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, another $5 billion for continuing support of AIDS relief in 100 countries where the U.S. already had bilateral programs established, and an additional $1 billion towards the ]. Almost one quarter of the $15 billion went to religious groups that tend to emphasize sexual abstinence over ] use.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/29/quarter-of-bushs-15-bil_n_14689.html
|title = Quarter Of Bush's $15 Billion For AIDS Going To Christian Groups
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> This budget represented more money contributed to fight AIDS globally than all other donor countries combined.

Bush condemned the ] by militia forces on the people of ], and denounced the killings in ] as ].<ref>{{cite news
|author = Jim VandeHei
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101725.html
|title = In Break With U.N., Bush Calls Sudan Killings Genocide
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-25
}}</ref> Bush said that an international ] presence was critical in Darfur, but opposed referring the situation in Darfur to the ].

==Wars==
The ] were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida when Chief of Staff ] informed him that a plane had crashed into the ] in ]. Following news of a second collision, Bush remained with the class for seven minutes while they finished reading a story. He then flew to air bases in ] and ] before returning to ] in the late afternoon. That evening, he addressed the nation from the ], promising a strong response to the attacks but emphasizing the need for the nation to come together and comfort the families of the victims. On ], he visited the ], meeting with Mayor ] and firefighters, police officers and volunteers. In a moment captured by press and media, Bush addressed the gathering via megaphone from atop a heap of rubble:

] in ], ], ]: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."]]

{{cquote|I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.}}In a September 20, 2001 speech, President Bush condemned ] and ], and issued the ] regime in Afghanistan an ultimatum to "hand over the terrorists, or ... share in their fate."<ref></ref>

===Afghanistan===
{{main|2001 war in Afghanistan}}

On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces initiated bombing campaigns that led to the November 13 arrival of ] troops in ]. By December 2001, the ] had organized both the ], which instated the ] chaired by ], and the ], a multinational fighting force whose numbers and territory have since steadily increased.

In 2003, after it became apparent that the Taliban was amassing new funds and recruits, ] assumed ISAF control.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0508/p01s02-wosc.html?related | title = Taliban Appears To Be Regrouped and Well-Funded | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = ] | publisher = Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> By 2005, NATO had moved into western and southern parts of the country, and in 2006, requesting increased international cooperation, it announced expansion of operations to eastern Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/afghan/un-afghan-history.shtml#postsept | title = Afghanistan & the United Nations | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = ] | publisher = UN News Centre: Afghanistan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-117e.htm | title = Statement by the Secretary General on expansion of NATO’s operation in Afghanistan | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = ] | publisher = NATO: Press Release}}</ref>

Large-scale offensives such as the 2006 ] had limited success against a ] larger, fiercer, and better organized than expected.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=285 | title = World Cannot Give Up on Afghanistan, Coalition Officials Say | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = ] | publisher = U.S. Dept. of Defense}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5107816.stm | title = Frustrated Karzai toughens stance | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = ] | publisher = BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-19-taliban-afghanistan-cover_x.htm?csp=34 | title = Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency' | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = ] | publisher = USA Today}}</ref> Bin Laden and the Afghan leader of the Taliban, ], remained at large as of November 2006. In October 2006, NATO broadened security operations to include every province in the country. Foreign troops in the region numbered more than 41,000 in October 2006.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100601373.html | last = Rumsfeld | first = Donald | title = Afghanistan: Five Years Later | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = ] | publisher = Washington Post}}</ref> In a September, 2006 address to the UN, President Bush pledged his continuing support for the Afghan people: "We'll help you defeat these enemies and build a free Afghanistan that will never again oppress you, or be a safe haven for terrorists."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/afghanistan/index.html | title = President Bush Addresses United Nations General Assembly | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = ] | publisher = The White House}}</ref>

===Iraq===
:''Main article: ]''

Following the overthrow of the Taliban, President Bush also promoted urgent action in Iraq, stating that Iraqi President ] possessed ] (WMD), and that in the post 9/11 world it was too dangerous to allow unstable regimes to possess weapons that could "potentially fall into the hands of ]." Bush argued that Saddam, through his continued violation of the ] Cease Fire Agreement and ] ], ], 707, 715, ], 1115, 1134, 1137, ], and ], was a threat to U.S. security, destabilized the ], inflamed the ], and financed various terrorist organizations. ] reports asserted that Saddam Hussein had tried to acquire ], had not properly accounted for Iraqi ] and ] material in violation of ], and that some Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.<!--Reference no longer online--><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm
| title = Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs
| accessdate =
| year = 2002
| month = October
| publisher = ]
}}</ref> ] Lieutenant Ryan Philips, in the flight suit he wore for his ] aboard the ] in 2003.]]

Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi ] mandates, precipitating a ]. On ] ], under ], Hans Blix and ] led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. There was controversy over the efficacy of inspections and lapses in Iraqi compliance. UN inspection teams departed Iraq upon U.S. advisement given four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm
|title = U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq
|publisher = USA Today
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30 }}</ref> The U.S. initially sought a ] resolution authorizing the use of military force pursuant to Chapter VII of the ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/chapterVII.htm
| title = Enforcement Measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = United Nations
| date = ]
| work = ]
| publisher = United Nations}}</ref> Upon facing vigorous opposition from several nations (primarily ] and ]), however, the U.S. dropped the bid for UN approval and began to prepare for war; Benjamin Ferenccz, a former chief prosecutor of the ] argued that for these actions Bush, with his Administration, could be prosecuted for ]s.<ref>{{cite news
| author =
| url = http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/38604/
| title = Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?
| publisher = ]
| date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-10
}}</ref> ], ], as well as leaders of several nations made similar statements, implying that the attack constitutes a war crime.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3661134.stm
|title = Iraq war illegal, says Annan
|publisher = BBC
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-07-11
}}</ref> The war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the ]) who were designated the "]".<ref>{{cite news
|first = Steve
|last = Schifferes
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm
|title = US names 'coalition of the willing'
|publisher = BBC
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

The invasion of Iraq commenced on ], ], ostensibly to pre-empt Iraqi WMD deployment and remove Saddam from power, and was completed on ], ] when U.S. forces took control of ]. The success of U.S. operations increased Bush's popularity, but the U.S. forces would be challenged by public disorder, as well as increasing insurgency led by pro-Saddam and Islamist groups. The Bush Administration was assailed in subsequent months following the report of the ], which, apart from a few stockpiles, did not find the large quantities of weapons that the regime was believed to possess. On ], ], while discussing the WMD issue, Bush stated that "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong."<ref>{{cite news
|author = Times Online
|coauthors = agencies
|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1930698,00.html
|title = Bush: we went to war on faulty intelligence
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush would nevertheless remain unwavering when asked if the war had been worth it, or whether he would have made the same decision if he had known more. U.S. efforts in Iraq would become the centrepiece of Bush's expressed vision to promote democracy as a means to discourage and defeat terrorists, by removing radical regimes and fostering social and economic development. However a 2006 ] (a consensus report of the heads of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies) asserted that the Iraq war had increased Islamic radicalism and worsened the terror threat.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/washington/25terrorcnd.html
|title = Report Stirs Debate on Terror Fight
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-09-25
}}</ref> Bush and his top officials told early ] ] that the ] must press on with war in ]. They accuse critics, including some ], who call for a U.S. troop pullout or a timetable for withdrawal, of advocating a policy of 'cut-and-run'.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1209492.php/Stay-the-course_not_U.S.s_only_Iraq_option_Baker
| title = Stay-the-course not U.S.'s only Iraq option: Baker
| date = ]
| accessdate = 2006-10-08}}</ref>

On ], ], Bush held a video teleconference with Vice President ] and military commanders in the Roosevelt Room of the ], to discuss the ]. Bush admitted that there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq and would modify plans but not the overall strategy.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/images/20061021_d-0072-515h.html
| title = President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney, on screen, and military commanders.
| date = ]
| accessdate = 2006-10-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at9X1Z7oilgY
| title = Bush Reviews Iraq War Strategy as Violence Mounts (Update1)
| date = ]
| accessdate = 2006-10-22}}</ref>

On November 28, 2006, facing mounting criticism for his Iraq war policy, Bush told the ] in ] that "We'll continue to be flexible, and we'll make the changes necessary to succeed. But there's one thing I'm not going to do: I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061128-13.html | title=President Bush Discusses NATO Alliance During Visit to Latvia | publisher=The White House | date=November 28, 2006}}</ref>

==Campaign for re-election==
]
{{main|United States presidential election, 2004}}
Bush commanded broad support in the Republican Party and did not encounter a primary challenge. He appointed ] as campaign manager, and the campaign political strategy was devised by Karl Rove.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec04/rove_9-01.html
| title = An Interview With Karl Rove
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = ]
| work = NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref> Bush outlined a 2004 agenda that included a strong commitment in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, cutting the budget deficit in half, promoting education, tort reform, social security and national tax reform. Bush emphasized his ] by arguing for the Federal Marriage Amendment. In most of his speeches, Bush also stressed a vision and commitment for spreading ] and democracy across the world.

Having had great success at fundraising, the campaign began running television and radio advertisement campaigns across the nation against Democratic candidates, including Bush's emerging opponent, ] Senator ]. Kerry and other Democrats attacked Bush on the conduct of the war in Iraq, perceived excesses of the USA PATRIOT Act and for allegedly failing to stimulate the economy and job growth, as well as controversies surrounding Bush's service in the National Guard. Bush emphasized his leadership in war and national security challenges, evoking the patriotism and passion aroused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Bush campaign portrayed Kerry as a staunch ] who would raise taxes, increase the size of government, and fail to oppose a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Bush campaign continuously criticized Kerry's allegedly contradictory statements on the war in Iraq, and claimed Kerry lacked the decisiveness and vision necessary for success in the war on terrorism. Popular politicians such as Rudy Guiliani, John McCain, ], and ] ] campaigned actively for Bush, who traveled across the country delivering speeches at three to four different locations on most days. The campaign organized a large group of volunteers and focused its efforts on ]s such as ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Bush carried 31 of 50 states for a total of 286 ] votes.

==Cabinet==
{{main|George W. Bush administration}}
].]]

{| class=wikitable
! Office !! Name !! Term
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
!bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3"|
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']'''<ref>On November 8, 2006, Rumsfeld tendered his resignation with no set date for his departure. The Senate is expected to hold a confirmation hearing for Rumsfeld's nominated successor, ], in December 2006.</ref> || 2001&mdash;
|-
| || ''']''' ||not in office (Secretary-designate)
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2003
|-
| || ''']''' || 2003&ndash;2006
|-
| || ''']''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2006
|-
| || ''']''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' ||2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2003
|-
| || ''']''' || 2004&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2006
|-
|-
|| || ''']''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|] || ''']''' || 2003&ndash;2005
|-
| || ''']''' || 2005&mdash;
|}

==Second term==
{{main|George W. Bush's second term as President of the United States}}
], ] by ] ], watched on by ] Laura Bush and their daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush, as well as Senate Majority Leader ] and Speaker of the House ].]]
Bush was ] for his second term on ], ]. The ] was administered by ] ]. Bush's inaugural address centered mainly on a theme of spreading freedom and democracy around the world:

''We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world...The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it....From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?''

For his second term, Bush assembled what is regarded as one of the most diverse U.S. cabinets in history, with the appointments of the first Hispanic American U.S. ] and ], as well as making ] the first ] woman to head the U.S. State Department. Bush retained Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose dismissal had been demanded by many in the U.S. Congress. During a visit to the ] on ], ], ] attempted to assassinate Bush. Arutinian threw a grenade which eventually landed in the large crowd some 18.6 meters (61 feet) from the podium where Bush was delivering a speech, but failed to detonate.

In August 2005, with his nomination of the controversial ] as ] filibustered by ], Bush took the rarely-used expedient of installing him via a ]. ] ] criticized this action as an abuse of Presidential power.<ref>, ''The Washington Post''</ref>

In 2006, Bush replaced long-time chief of staff ] with ] and undertook major staff and cabinet changes with the stated intention of revitalizing his Administration.

In November 2006, Bush announced plans to replace Secretary of Defense ] with former CIA Director ], in response to pressure from the midterm elections and military publications.

===Domestic policy===
].]]
{{main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration}}

President Bush began his second term by outlining a major initiative to reform Social Security, which was facing record deficit projections beginning in 2005. Bush made it the centerpiece of his agenda despite contrary beliefs in the media and in the U.S. Congress, which saw the program as the "]," with the American public being suspicious of any attempt to change it. It was also widely believed to be the province of the Democratic Party, with Republicans in the past having been accused of efforts to dismantle or privatize it. In his 2005 State of the Union Address, Bush discussed the allegedly impending bankruptcy of the program and attacked political inertia against reform. He proposed options to permit Americans to divert a portion of their Social Security tax (FICA) into secured investments, creating a "nest egg" that he claimed would enjoy steady growth. Despite emphasizing safeguards and remaining open to other plans, Bush's proposal was criticized for its high cost, and Democrats attacked it as an effort to partially privatize the system, and for leaving Americans open to the whims of the market. Bush embarked on a 60-day national tour, campaigning vigorously for his initiative in media events ("Conversations on Social Security") in a largely unsuccessful attempt to gain support from the general public.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28120-2005Mar11.html
| title = Social Security: On With the Show
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
| date = ]
| publisher = The Washington Post
}}</ref> According to at least one poll, Bush failed to convince the public that the Social Security program was in crisis.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2005-02-07-poll-results.htm#socsec
| title = USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = ]
| publisher = USA Today
}}</ref>

] look over the ] site during a visit to ] in ] to mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.]]

In 2006, Bush somewhat shifted focus to re-emphasize immediate and comprehensive immigration reform. Going beyond calls from Republicans and conservatives to secure the border, Bush demanded that Congress create a "temporary guest-worker program" to allow more than 12 million ] to obtain legal status. Bush continues to argue that the lack of legal status denies the protections of U.S. laws to millions of people who face dangers of poverty and exploitation, and penalizes employers despite a demand for immigrant labor. On ], ], Bush proposed expanding "Basic Pilot," an online system to allow employers to easily confirm the eligibility of new hires; creating a new identification card for all foreign workers; and increasing penalties for businesses that violate immigration laws. Bush urged Congress to provide additional funding for border security, and committed to deploying 6,000 ] troops to the ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/29/bush.immigration/
| title = Bush takes tough talk on immigration to Texas
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = CNN
| date = ]
}}</ref>

On ], ], Bush created the 75th, and largest, ] in U.S. history and the largest ] in the world with the formation of the ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060615-6.html
| title = President Bush Establishes Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = White House Office of the Press Secretary
| date = ]
}}</ref>

On ], ], Bush used the first ] of his presidency against the ]. The ] would have granted federal funding to scientists engaging in ] derived from discarded human ], and would have overridden the president's policy of only allowing federal funding of research on 21 ] lines that existed prior to ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/washington/19cnd-stem.html
| title = In First Veto, Bush Blocks Stem Cell Bill
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = David Stout
| date = ]
| publisher = The New York Times
}}</ref>

In 2005-06, Bush emphasized the need for comprehensive energy reform and proposed increased funding for research and development of renewable sources of energy such as ], ], ] and ]. Bush proposed the ] which seeks to support increasing competitiveness of the U.S. economy, with greater development of advanced technologies, as well as greater education and support for American students.

Bush appointed First Lady Laura Bush to oversee an initiative to improve opportunities and education for inner-city boys.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4492617
| title = Laura Bush: Putting Boys in the Spotlight
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| last = Norris
| first = Michele
| date = ]
| publisher = NPR
}}</ref>

On ], ], in response to a question about teaching ] in public schools, Bush seemed to endorse the ]'s ] approach. He answered, "I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/050822ta_talk_hertzberg
| title = Mired
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| last = Hertzberg
| first = Hendrik
| date = ]
| work = The New Yorker
}}</ref> The National Academy of Sciences and the established scientific community regard this stance as politically motivated. These groups point out that ] is based on the religious concepts found in ], and does not constitute valid science.

On ], ] Bush signed the Pension Protection Act, which increased fines for companies that underpay money to ], making such underpayments unprofitable.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Office of the Press Secretary
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060817-1.html
|title = President Bush Signs H.R. 4, the Pension Protection Act of 2006
|publisher = ]
|date = ]
|accessdate = 2006-09-23
}}</ref>

That same day, a U.S. district court judge in ] ruled that warrantless and otherwise congressionally unauthorized eavesdropping on telephone calls under the Terrorist Surveillance Program were unconstitutional. The judge agreed to place her ruling on hold pending an appeal. A hearing was scheduled for ]; the outcome was ???.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101410.html
| title = Judge Asked to Suspend Ruling Against Wiretaps
| accessdate = 2006-09-21
| date = ]
| work = The Washington Post
}}</ref>

On 28 August 2006 Congress approved a bill that made the detainee ] program legal.<ref name="detainee">{{cite web
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-28-congress-terrorism_x.htm
| title = Bush's detainee interrogation and prosecution plan approved by Senate
| accessdate = 2006-09-29
| author = The Associated Press
| date = ]
| publisher = USA Today
}}</ref> The bill was in response to the Supreme Court's decision in June that the program is illegal.<ref name="detainee"/> It was the second time Bush tried to approve it through Congress.<ref name="detainee"/> Bush signed the bill into law on ], ] as the ].

====Hurricane Katrina====
{{main|Political effects of Hurricane Katrina}}
One of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history, ], struck early in Bush’s second term. Katrina was the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the third-strongest landfalling U.S. hurricane on record. Katrina formed in late August during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and devastated much of the north-central ] of the United States, particularly ]<ref> Knabb, Richard D; Rhome, Jamie R.; Brown, Daniel P (December 20, 2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina: 23-30 August 2005 (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.</ref>

President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi two days before the hurricane made landfall. After the hurricane reached ground, Bush mobilized the Coast Guard and National Guard to help rescue the approximately 60,000 people stranded in New Orleans.

Both local and federal governments were vehemently criticized for their response to Katrina, which was considered insufficient and disorganized. Criticisms of Bush focused on three main issues. First, leaders from both parties attacked the president for having appointed incompetent leaders to positions of power at ], the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most notably ].<ref>, ], ], ]</ref> Second, many people argued that the inadequacy of the federal response was the result of the ] and the demands it placed on the armed forces and the federal budget.<ref name="ArmyTimesDeployment">{{cite web
| url = http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1066780.php
| title = Overseas deployments hinder Guard hurricane presence
| accessdate = 2005-09-29
| author = Pete Yost, AP
| date = ]
| publisher = ArmyTimes.com
}}</ref> Third, in the days immediately following the disaster, President Bush denied having received warnings about the possibility of floodwaters overflowing the levees protecting New Orleans.<ref>"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." George W. Bush to Diane Sawyer, ''Good Morning America'', Sept. 1, 2005.</ref> However, the presidential videoconference briefing of Aug. 28 shows ] warning the President that it was "obviously a very, very grave concern."<ref></ref> Critics claimed that the President was misrepresenting his administration's role in what they saw as a flawed response.

===Foreign policy===
] in the ] with British Prime Minister ] to attend a press conference in the ] in 2006 discussing the ].]]
] and ]'s Prime Minister ] stand in front of the ] archaeological ruins ], ].]]
{{main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
Bush began his second term with an emphasis on improving strained relations with ]an nations. He appointed long-time advisor ] to oversee a global public relations campaign to improve the image of the U.S. and significantly increased development aid to countries with a focus on encouraging democracy and ]. Bush strongly lauded the pro-democracy struggles in ] and ] and the election of ] as president of the ]. He led international pressure against ] to withdraw troops from ]. In March 2006, Bush visited India, leading to renewed ties between the two countries, particularly in areas of nuclear energy and counterterrorism cooperation.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060302-5.html
| title = U.S.-India Joint Statement
| accessdate = 2006-09-28
}}</ref>
Bilateral relations between the U.S.A. on the one hand and Germany and Canada on the other also improved following the election of conservative governments in those countries. However, midway through Bush's second term, many analysts observed a retreat from his freedom and democracy agenda, highlighted in policy changes toward some oil-rich former Soviet republics in central Asia.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html
| title = Retreat From the Freedom Agenda
| accessdate = 2006-09-14
| last = Diehl
| first = Jackson
| date = ]
| work = Washington Post
}}</ref>

] of ] and ] of ], both undemocratically elected and fiercely ], received official state visits to the White House,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060428.html
| title = President Bush Welcomes President Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the White House
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = ]
| work = Transcript from The Oval Office
| publisher = Office of the Press Secretary
}}</ref> along with increased economic and military assistance.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html
| title = Retreat From the Freedom Agenda
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = ]
| publisher = The Washington Post
}}</ref> The President had encouraged both leaders to hold free and fair elections early on in his second term, but in fact neither leader carried out significant reforms.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/27/world/main1075785.shtml
| title = Azerbaijan Protests Face Crackdown
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = ]
| publisher = CBS News
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/235340A7-FE24-4C1F-97E5-CEC841B6A0CD.html
| title = Supporters Of Slain Kazakh Oppositionist Open Probe
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = ]
| publisher = Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.perspicacityonline.com/Articles/2005/01/Kuzbekistan050118.htm
| title = Setback for Democracy in Kazakhstan
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = ]
| publisher = Perspicacity Press Online
}}</ref> The democratic election of the Hamas organization in the parliamentary elections of the ], along with democratic gains in legislatures for the ] in ] and ] in ], all of whom are seen as terrorist organizations by the United States, also contributed to a far less aggressive approach to democratic reform world-wide from the Bush administration. Reports in late 2006 suggested that pro-democracy groups across the ] had become "pessimistic about the prospects for meaningful reform."<ref>{{cite web
| url =
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-10-12T173325Z_01_N12321486_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-DEMOCRACY.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C2-TopNews-newsOne-5
| title = U.S. seen retreating from democracy push
| accessdate = 2006-10-12
| last = Morgan
| first = David
| date = 2006-10-12
| work = Reuters
}}</ref>

Iraqi elections and a referendum to approve a constitution were held in January and December 2005. Initial media reports of high voter turnout were overestimateda<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO501F.html
| title = Iraqi Elections: Media Disinformation on Voter Turnout?
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| last = Chossudovsky
| first = Michel
| date = ]
| work = Centre for Research on Globalisation
}}</ref>, and were later estimated at less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.markdanner.com/nyreview/042805_Iraq_election.htm
| title = Iraq: The Real Election
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| last = Danner
| first = Mark
| date = ]
| work = The New York Review
}}</ref> Since then, the fighting in Iraq escalated, and the country appeared to be on the brink of, if not already engaged in, civil war. Bush's leadership against global terrorism and in the war in Iraq met increasing criticism, with increasing demands within the United States to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. Sectarian violence and political deadlock in Iraq, and the deaths of more than 2,700 U.S. soldiers, increased negative impressions of Bush's leadership and the situation in Iraq. Allegations of abuse by U.S. troops accompanied calls from European and Asian leaders to shut down detention centers in ] and elsewhere. Bush firmly defended his policies and progress in Iraq. He paid a surprise visit to Iraq following the death of terrorist leader ] and the appointment of a new government.

====North Korea====

{{main|United States-North Korea relations}}

North Korea's October 9, 2006 ] of a nuclear device further complicated President Bush's foreign policy, which centered for both terms of his presidency on " the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world."<ref></ref> The reported test, which according to the ] Director General "creates serious security challenges not only for the East Asian region but also for the international community,"<ref></ref> intensified criticisms that the President took neither military nor diplomatic measures to oppose North Korea's acquisition of ]. These criticisms date back at least to the 2003 resignation of Special Envoy to North Korea Charles Pritchard, who claimed that "the Bush administration's refusal to engage directly with the country made it almost impossible to stop Pyongyang from going ahead with its plans to build, test and deploy nuclear weapons."<ref>Qtd. in Efron, Sonni. "Ex-Envoy Faults U.S. on N. Korea." ''Los Angeles Times'' Sept. 10, 2003.</ref> On October 11, 2006, in his first extended press conference since the North Korean announcement of a nuclear detonation, President Bush contested the more specific criticism that his endorsement since the test of a policy of attempting "all diplomatic measures before we commit our military" in North Korea is an abandonment of his policy of military force in response to the potential threat of WMD-possession in Iraq. Posing to himself the pre-emptive, follow-up question, "why did you use military action in Iraq," President Bush responded, "And the reason why is because we tried the diplomacy."<ref></ref> President Bush condemned North Korea's claim, reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," and stated that "transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States," for which North Korea would be held accountable.<ref></ref>

==Legislation and programs==
{{main|George W. Bush legislation and programs}}

==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist|2}}

==See also==
*]
*]
{{GWB}}

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|George W. Bush}}
*
*

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</div>

{{Persondata
|NAME=Bush, George Walker
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bush, George, Jr.; Bush Jr.
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=43rd ]
|DATE OF BIRTH=], ]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=], Connecticut
}}

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Revision as of 03:00, 2 December 2006

lol he's dumb