Favorable or Unfavorable #115: George W. Bush

[vcczar]

Pres. George W. Bush (TX-R). Whether one thinks he was a disaster or a success, he's probably going to be seen as the most consequential US president in international history books in the year 2050 since the Cold War. The War on Terror totally changes the world, and the Patriot Act changed America. His presidency also aligns when the internet, cell phones, laptops, smoking bans and other things become more available to the public. Indeed, world changing on an Industrial Revolution scale. 

His actions:

Bush, George W	1994	Defeats incumbent Gov of TX Richards, the last Dem gov of TX (as of 2023)
Bush, George W	2000	Wins controversial 2000 election, despite losing popular vote, after several recounts
Bush, George W	2001	Signs Bush Tax cut of 2001
Bush, George W	2001	Presides during 2001 terrorist attacks in NY, PA, DC/VA
Bush, George W	2001	re-institutes Reagan-era Mexico City policy on abortion
Bush, George W	2001	Inaugurates War on Terror by order invasion of Afghanistan
Bush, George W	2001	Signs Patriot Act
Bush, George W	2001	Creates White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives
Bush, George W	2001	Announces that US will not implement Kyoto Protocol
Bush, George W	2001	Bans Fed funds for stem cell research via exec order
Bush, George W	2002	Withdraws from ABM Treaty w/ Russia
Bush, George W	2002	Signs Help America Vote Act
Bush, George W	2002	signs SORT Treaty with Russia
Bush, George W	2002	Signs McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform
Bush, George W	2002	Presides as Clinton surplus turns into Bush deficit
Bush, George W	2002	Announces Bush Doctrine; US will use preemptive attacks on countries harboring terrorists
Bush, George W	2002	Labels Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as "Axis of Evil."
Bush, George W	2002	Signs Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in reaction to Enron scandal
Bush, George W	2002	Calls for war against Iraq, on weak assumption of tie to Bin Laden and WMDs
Bush, George W	2002	Signs Homeland Sec Act, creating Dept of HL Sec and new cabinet office
Bush, George W	2002	Signs Iraq War resolution
Bush, George W	2002	Signs No Child Left Behind
Bush, George W	2003	Orders invasion of Iraq
Bush, George W	2003	Signs Medicare overhaul bill
Bush, George W	2003	Signs Prison Rape Elimination Act
Bush, George W	2003	Outlines major funding for AIDs relief in regions such as Africa
Bush, George W	2003	Presides as the Iraq War, transitions into a messy Civil War, after initial quick capture
Bush, George W	2003	Presides during the US capture of Saddam Hussein
Bush, George W	2003	Mission Accomplished gaffe; despite no WMDs or connection to Bin Laden
Bush, George W	2003	Supports Conservative call for Federal Marriage Amendment, but this never passes
Bush, George W	2003	Signs Partial-Birth Abortion ban
Bush, George W	2003	Signs Bush Tax cut of 2003
Bush, George W	2003	Begins AIDS Relief initiative that proves highly popular and successful
Bush, George W	2004	Controversial incidents, mostly regarding torture and abuse, emerge at Abu Ghraib and Guantanomo Bay, etc
Bush, George W	2004	Wins reelection
Bush, George W	2005	Hurricane Katrina; criticized for slow and inadequate response
Bush, George W	2005	Drops attempts to partially privatize Social Security after years of opposition
Bush, George W	2005	CIA Leak Scandal results in Scooter Libby being convicted on four counts
Bush, George W	2005	Appts Roberts as ChJ of the SC
Bush, George W	2005	Compelled to withdraw the nomination of the inexperienced Miers to the SC
Bush, George W	2005	Has grenade thrown at him while in the nation of Georgia, but it fails to detonate
Bush, George W	2005	Vetoes Stem Cell Research bill
Bush, George W	2006	Signs Military Commissions Act, that allows president to define what is and what isn't torture
Bush, George W	2006	Appts Alito to the SC
Bush, George W	2006	Presides as sectarian violence spreads in Iraq
Bush, George W	2006	Controversial dismissal of 7 US Attorneys
Bush, George W	2007	Efforts to pass bipartisan immigration fails after several attempts, despite efforts from many.
Bush, George W	2007	Vetoes bill calling for total withdraw of troops in Iraq
Bush, George W	2007	Vetoes Stem Cell Research bill a 2nd time
Bush, George W	2007	Vetoes bill to expand the Childen Health Insurance Program
Bush, George W	2007	Signs Fair Minimum Wage Act
Bush, George W	2007	Authorizes troops surge in Iraq despite calls to withdraw from Iraq
Bush, George W	2007	Presides as the country falls into The Great Recession
Bush, George W	2008	Has shoe thrown at him during press conference in Baghdad, highlighting his unpopularity in Iraq
Bush, George W	2008	Signs Economic Stimulus Package to help combat Great Recession
Bush, George W	2008	Signs the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Bush, George W	2008	Signs Emergency Econ. Stabilization Act, creating TARP to bail out banks
Bush, George W	2010	Begins tagteaming with Bill Clinton on humanitarian causes, such as Haiti relief
Bush, George W	2011	In rare public comment on Obama, criticizes withdraw of troops in Iraq
Bush, George W	2015	Suggest US needs boots on the ground to combat ISIS during interview
Bush, George W	2015	Active campaigner for his brother Jeb's presidential campaign
Bush, George W	2016	Refuses to vote for Trump, leaving ballot blank
Bush, George W	2017	Attends Trump's inauguration, calling Trump's speech "some weird shit."
Bush, George W	2020	Refuses to endorse Trump or attend GOP Conv; writes in Condoleezza Rice for president in general
Bush, George W	2021	Publicly condemns Jan 6th insurrection

[vcczar]

I stupidly voted for him in 2000 when I first became old enough to vote and instantly regretted it. I did it only because I was also from TX. Voted Kerry in 2004 and never voted GOP again. I only lightly opposed him until about 2003 or 2004. The Iraq War really turned me against him and the GOP. It took Obama to get me excited about the Democrats.

I'm conflicted over whether Trump or Bush is a worse president. 

I do approve Bush's post-presidency. His Global AIDS Relief Fund and his Do Not Call List are his two food accomplishments as president, in my opinion.