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42. George Walker Bush 2001- Present (R) Birth/Death: 1946Elected from: Texas Vice President: Dick Cheney (1) The 2000 Election/ Supreme Court Intervention • • • • FL’s 25 electoral votes were in question. Bush led the popular vote in FL by < 2,000. FL law required a recount. Supreme Court – December 12, 2000 – Bush v. Gore awarded FL to Bush. – 1st president in over 100 years to win electoral vote, but not the popular. • • • • • • • • Nominee: George W. Bush Party: Republican Home state: Texas Running mate: Cheney Electoral vote: 271 States carried: 30 Popular vote: 50,460,110 Percentage: 47.9% Albert A. Gore Democratic Tennessee Lieberman 266 20+DC 51,003,926 48.4% (2) Sept. 11, 2001 • 8 months into Bush’s first term • 19 terrorists (under bin Laden’s orders) • 2 airline passenger jets into the Twin Towers (NYC) • 1 into the Pentagon (DC), and one on way to DC that was taken over by passengers and crashed in PA. • 3,000 Americans die within an hour and a half. Rudy Giuliani becomes “America’s Mayor.” (3) No Child Left Behind • Education plan to increase efforts to fully educate every child. • Schools are held more accountable (state testing) • Federal and state governments have increased education spending. (4) Invasion of Afghanistan: • Beginning of George W’s “War on Terrorism” • Purpose: to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. • Oct. 7, 2001: US and Great Britain begin strategic air strikes. • The U.S.-led Coalition is credited with removing the Taliban from power and seriously crippling al-Qaeda and associated militants in both Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. • U.S. has maintained its presence in Afghanistan ever since, fighting continued opposition by Muslim extremists. (5) USA Patriot Act (2001) • " Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" • The Act expanded the authority of US law enforcement agencies for the stated purpose of fighting terrorism in the United States and abroad. • Very Controversial- supposedly “suppresses civil liberties” (6) Enron/ World Com/ Big Business Bankruptcy (2002) • Enron- Energy Co. out of Houston, TX – Employs/ Investors lost millions because of accounting fraud – Inflated profits and assets • World Com- Telecommunication Co. out of Clinton, MS – CEOs took money (loan) and inflated assets – Bernie Ebbers: CEO now serving a 25 year jail sentence! (7) Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster • Feb. 1, 2003 • Caused by damage sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation from the external fuel tank peeled off during the launch 16 days earlier, puncturing the edge of the wing. • Upon re-entry, hot gases entered the wing, destroying the support structure. The shuttle disintegrated over Texas. (8) Invasion of Iraq/ Capture of Saddam Hussein (2003) • March 20, 2003- US and GB forces invade Iraq after the UN would not invade. • The Iraqi military was defeated, and Baghdad fell on April 9. • On May 1, U.S. declared the end of major combat operations, terminating the Ba’ath’s party rule and removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from office. • Coalition forces ultimately captured Saddam Hussein on Dec. 13, 2003. (9) Presidential Election of 2004 • [R] GW Bush (TX)/ Cheney286 electoral votes • [D] John Kerry (MA)/ John Edwards251 electoral votes • Issue- WAR ON TERROR (10) US hands over power to Iraqi Interim Gov’t (2004) • US and Coalition Allies created this gov’t as a “caretaker” gov’t to govern Iraq • Iraq has continued to see several different gov’ts over the past 4 years. Interim President Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, right, is sworn in Monday by Iraqi Chief Justice Midhat Al-Mahmodi. (11) Dec. 26, 2004- Tsunami • Undersea earthquake in Indian Ocean • Killed 225,000 people in 11 countries • Former presidents Clinton and GHW Bush led relief efforts (12) Social Security Problems (2005) • Soc Sec was in fear of bankruptcy (people are living longer!!!) • W. suggested allowing citizens to take Soc Sec taxes and place them in secured investments. • Plan did not catch on • Dems gain control of Congress in 2006social security is still in jeopardy. • In 1950, there were 16 workers to support every one beneficiary of Social Security. • Today, there are only 3.3 workers supporting every Social Security beneficiary. • In 2008 – just three short years from now – baby boomers will begin to retire. And over the next few decades, people will be living longer and benefits are scheduled to increase dramatically. By the time today’s youngest workers turn 65, there will only be 2 workers supporting each beneficiary. Under the current system, today’s 30-year-old worker will face a 27% benefit cut when he or she reaches normal retirement age. (13) Hurricane Katrina (2005) • August 23, 2005- Category 5 • Costliest and one of deadliest in history • Gulf Coast • Over 1800 people killed • Haley and Ray There’s gonna Did somebody say something about buses? be a lot of wurter! (14) Saddam Hussein is convicted & hanged (2006) • Dec. 13, ’03: Captured by U.S. forces • Brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government set up by U.S.-led forces. • Nov. 5,’06: Convicted of executing 148 Iraqi Shi'ites sentenced to death by hanging. • Dec. 30, ’06: Executed “RUH- ROH!” “I’m the King of the World!” “Where the %$#&* is my stunt double?!!” ***Widespread Roman Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal (2002) • Allegations made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively Roman Catholic priests, monks, and nuns. • An estimated 0.2% of Roman Catholic priests have been proven to be abusers. (16) Bush Vetoes stem-cell research - ‘06 • "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," …"It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect. So I vetoed it." • The Stem Cell Bill would have loosened the restrictions on federal funding for stem-cell research. • House Republican leaders tried to override the veto, but that vote fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority. (above) President Bush holds a child who was adopted while an embryo.