George W. Bush

[웃 910]

was the 43rd President of the United States, serving from 2001 to 2009, and the 46th Governor of Texas, serving from 1995 to 2000. Bush is the eldest son of President George H. W. Bush, who served as the 41st President, and Barbara Bush, making him one of only two American presidents to be the son of a preceding president.^[4] After graduating from Yale University in 1968, and Harvard Business School in 1975, Bush worked in oil businesses. He married Laura Welch in 1977 and unsuccessfully ran for the House of Representatives shortly thereafter. He later co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team before defeating Ann Richards in the 1994 Texas gubernatorial election. In a close and controversial election, Bush was elected President in 2000 as the Republican candidate, defeating then-Vice President Al Gore in the Electoral College.^[5]

Eight months into Bush's first term as president, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. In response, Bush announced a global War on Terrorism, ordered an invasion of Afghanistan that same year and an invasion of Iraq in 2003. In addition to national security issues, Bush promoted policies on the economy, health care, education, and social security reform. He signed into law broad tax cuts,^[6] the No Child Left Behind Act, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and Medicare prescription drug benefits for seniors. His tenure saw national debates on immigration and Social Security.^[7]

Bush successfully ran for re-election against Democratic Senator John Kerry in 2004, in another relatively close election. After his re-election, Bush received increasingly heated criticism from conservatives^[8][9][10] and liberals. In 2005, the Bush Administration dealt with widespread^[11][12] criticism over its handling of Hurricane Katrina.^[13] In December 2007, the United States entered its longest post-World War II recession.^[14][15] This prompted the Bush Administration to take more direct control of the economy, enacting multiple economic programs intended to preserve the country's financial system. Though Bush was popular within the U.S. for much of his first term,^[16] his popularity declined sharply during his second term.^{[17][18][19][20]}

After leaving office, Bush returned to Texas and purchased a home in a suburban area of Dallas, Texas. He is currently a public speaker and is writing a book about his presidency.^[21]

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Post-presidency

George and Laura Bush wave to a crowd of 1000 at Andrews Air Force Base before their final departure to Texas, January 20, 2009

Following the inauguration of Barack Obama, Bush and his family boarded a presidential helicopter typically used as Marine One to travel to Andrews Air Force Base.^[339] Bush, with his wife, then boarded an Air Force Boeing VC-25 for a flight to a homecoming celebration in Midland, Texas. Because he was no longer President, this flight was designated Special Air Mission 28000, instead of Air Force One. After a welcome rally in Midland, the Bushes returned to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, by helicopter.^[339] They bought a home in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, where they planned to settle down.^[340]

Since leaving office, Bush has kept a relatively low profile.^[341] However, he has made appearances at various events throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area, most notably when he conducted the opening coin toss at the Dallas Cowboys first game in the team's new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.^[342] An April 6, 2009, visit to a Texas Rangers game, where he gave a speech thanking the people of Dallas for helping them settle in (and specifically, the people of Arlington, where the game was held), was met with a standing ovation.^[343]

His first speaking engagement occurred on March 17, 2009, in Calgary, Alberta. He spoke at a private event entitled "A conversation with George W. Bush" at the Telus Convention Centre and stated that he would not criticize President Barack Obama and hoped he succeeds, specifically stating, "[President Obama] deserves my silence."^[344][345] During his speech, Bush announced that he had begun writing a book, which is expected to be published under the title Decision Points in 2010.^[21] The book will focus on "12 difficult personal and political decisions" Bush faced during his presidency.^[21] On May 29, 2009, Bush and former President Bill Clinton appeared at a policy discussion at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, moderated by Frank McKenna, the former Canadian Ambassador to the United States.^[346]

Bush made a video-taped appearance on the June 11, 2009, episode of The Colbert Report during the show's trip to Baghdad, Iraq. Bush praised the troops for earning a "special place in American history" and for their courage and endurance. He joked that it would come in handy, saying, "I've sat through Stephen's stuff before," in reference to Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner as well as The Colbert Report's history of satirising Bush's administration.^[347]

On August 29, 2009, Bush, with his wife Laura, attended the funeral of Senator Ted Kennedy.^[348] Bush made his debut as a motivational speaker on October 26 at the "Get Motivated" seminar in Dallas.^[349]

In the aftermath of the shooting that took place on November 5, 2009, at the Fort Hood U.S. Army post in Texas, Fox News revealed that Bush and his wife had paid an undisclosed visit to the survivors and victims' families the day following the shooting, having contacted the base commander requesting that the visit be private and not involve press coverage.^[350] The Bushes own a property less than 30 minutes from Fort Hood and spent one to two hours at the base.

In January 2010, at President Barack Obama's request, Bush and former President Bill Clinton established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund to raise contributions for relief and recovery efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.^[351]

When asked in February 2010 about his low profile since leaving office, Bush replied "I have no desire to see myself on television... I don't want to be a panel of formers instructing the currents on what to do. ... I'm trying to regain a sense of anonymity. I didn't like it when a certain former president — and it wasn't 41 (George H.W. Bush) or 42 (Bill Clinton) — made my life miserable." Bush was referring to 39th President Jimmy Carter, who was an outspoken critic of Bush throughout his presidency.^[352]

On June 2, 2010, Bush established a Facebook page.^[353]

Also on June 2, 2010, during a speaking engagement at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bush referred to the waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, saying "I'd do it again to save lives."^[354]

Edited July 7, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[Jenn! 918]

####### is going on in OT these days?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

[Nina~ 431]

####### is going on in OT these days?

Charles ruined it

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I must say this. Bush wasn't the brightest man, but he stuck to his convictions even when the population was generally against him. He may not have been a good president, but I honestly believe he is a good man who honestly wanted to try and make things better.

Let the Sousuke bashing begin lol.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Sousuke

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

Charles ruined it

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I must say this. Bush wasn't the brightest man, but he stuck to his convictions even when the population was generally against him. He may not have been a good president, but I honestly believe he is a good man who honestly wanted to try and make things better.

So was Frank Spencer.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

So was Frank Spencer.

True.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]