President Bush Builds Impressive Record of Accomplishment

At his July 8 press conference, President Bush called on Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority, tough new corporate accountability legislation, and his proposal to create the Department of Homeland Security. In the month of accomplishments following the President’s press conference, Congress took action on all three.

This is just the latest chapter in a Presidency of accomplishments. History shows that most Presidents in their first term achieve one or two major domestic accomplishments. In less than two years, President Bush will have signed at least four major priorities into law.

Strengthening Homeland Security. The President has signed legislation to increase aviation security, enhance border security, improve protections from bioterrorism, and expand the ability of law enforcement to prevent terrorism. The President proposed and the House of Representatives passed legislation creating the new Department of Homeland Security – the most significant transformation of the U.S. government in over a half-century.

Winning the War Against Terrorism. The President signed legislation to help win the war against terrorism, pay our troops, strengthen airport security and help New York City recover from the terrorist attacks. Both the House and Senate have passed the President's historic increases in defense spending to boost national security.

Protecting Pensions. The President’s proposed pension reforms will give Americans more control over their pensions and better access to investment advice. The House of Representatives passed pension reform on April 11.

Reducing America’s Dependence on Foreign Oil. The President sent Congress his comprehensive and balanced plan to increase energy conservation, create new American jobs, and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The House passed energy legislation on August 2, 2001 and the Senate passed energy legislation on April 25.

Issuing a National Call to Service. The President created the USA Freedom Corps to foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since then, interest in volunteer service has skyrocketed. The USA Freedom Corps is matching volunteers with organizations in record numbers to prepare for crises at home, help those in need, and extend American compassion around the world.

Protecting Family Farmers and Promoting Agriculture. On May 13, the President signed legislation into law creating a safety net for the American farmers who feed our Nation and much of the world.

Rallying America’s Armies of Compassion. The President’s faith-based proposal to rally America’s armies of compassion to help those most in need passed the House on July 19.

Cleaning Up Our Environment. The President signed brownfields legislation that will encourage the restoration and redevelopment of old industrial properties - cleaning up our environment, creating new jobs and protecting small businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

Helping Seniors to Afford Prescription Drugs. While the Senate remains mired in debate, the President has taken action by proposing a prescription drug discount card for seniors that will help reduce expensive drug bills. The House passed a plan to provide prescription drugs to seniors on June 28.

Reforming the Campaign Finance System. The President signed legislation to improve our campaign finance system.

Oh, I guesss I'll have to pick up that ~~$100 bill~~ pro-Bush FR article. There are two sides to every story, Murphy's law, double-edged swords, and the Law of Unintended Consequences that we should keep in mind. Even these Bush victories have their down sides.

Education reform: Accountability is welcomed by competent teachers, of course, but invariably the schools that repeatedly fail are remanded to GREATER state control. "From the frying pan and into the fire" comes to mind.
(Tax relief: a good start, and a great job of humilitaing the Dems who opposed it, but it will never be just until the 16th is reversed.)
Trade Promotion Authority: more power to the federal government (surprise, surprise), and yet another attempt to try to control the economy... always a bad idea.
Homeland Security: ensuring American citizens compliance seems to be a greater focus than harassing Islamicist terrorists
Winning the War on Terror: ditto
Reducing Oil Dependence: a "plan to increase energy conservation" means controlling our Demand, not increasing the supply by opening up the Gulf, ANWAR, and nuclear plants. Yet again, control rather than FReedom.
Issuing a National Call to Service: "The President created the USA Freedom Corps" is eerily reminiscent of Clinton's paid volunteer program. Also, anything that "extend[s] American compassion around the world" should be immediately suspect.
Protecting Family Farmers and Promoting Agriculture: Meaningless until the enviralmentalists stranglehold is broken. Klamath is the premiere case.
Rallying America’s Armies of Compassion: isn't rallying American compassion (for the second time this list) just Clinton's "feeling your pain" writ large? Admittedly, using the "bully pulpit" to encourage actual volunteerism (rather than Clinton's salaried and politically abused variety) is a noble use of Presidential influence, but that is as far as it should go. Creating more (small) layers of federal bureaucracy and calling it a "major domestic accomplishment" is where this goes too far.
Helping Seniors to Afford Prescription Drugs: More Socialism... NOT something to be proud of.
Reforming the Campaign Finance System: The system did NOT need to be reformed. Congresspersons who broke the finance laws should be punished just as severly as the corporate heads in the accounting scandals. Unfortunately, this is simply reinforcing the notion that instead of arresting legislative criminals, we should just change the laws. The there are the ridiculous limitations on non-politicians (that's us) from buying air-time at election time. Yet again, control, rather than FReedom.

Always remeber Reagan's truism: Government is the problem, not the solution. When I found FR smashing the major media's defenses of the Clintonian abuse and Socialism, and exposing his sycophants and lap-dog legislators for their hypocrisy, I was overjoyed. I'm sad to see many here now defending the very same empty words and actions, simply because it is one of "our guys" who is behind them.

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