Thursday at 10 a.m., President George Walker Bush was inaugurated into his second term. President Bush's first term is marked with an uncomfortable unfolding of events that alienated even the most moderate liberals.
The war in Iraq, for example, which was started under false pretenses, is still considered controversial throughout the world. Condoleeza Rice, during her cordial interview with the Senate on Tuesday, tried to justify the war, only to contradict herself and the previous Bush administration, according to Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Bush's plans for his second term do not look hopeful for Democrats either. He is looking at some major changes in tax policies and Social Security while he tries to replace the billions of dollars that this country now claims as its deficit due to his conflict with Saddam and Iraqi supporters. However, that topic is for another day, another column.
Why does Bush see his second term as a time to make these drastic changes?
Right after the election, Bush said, "A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us."
That statement almost convinced me, and others with the same political stance, that Bush was interested in compromise.
Then "Dubya" goes and says, "The people made it clear what they wanted."
How is 51 percent a clear definition of what the people wanted? It is true that 51 percent is not the 48 percent to 48 percent tie that Bush held with Gore in the 2000 election, but it most certainly is not a declaration of confirmation that Bush's policies are ideal to the entire American public, or even half.
Bush's campaign, which focused on social and financial issues, was not the selling point for many of his voters. Polls printed in U.S. News and World Report showed that many people who disagree with some of Bush's ideas voted for him because they did not like Kerry. According to a related article in the magazine, typical comments from Democrats who backed Bush focused on Kerry's lack of enthusiasm and hard-lined stances.
Bush's second term will be interesting to observe. According to another article in U.S. News and World Report, second terms have a notorious trend to be scandalous. Richard Nixon was coping with the Watergate scandal, Ronald Reagan had to go through the Iran-contra scandal, and Clinton was involved in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Bush has an incredible amount of issues riding on his second term that could make his name either famous or infamous.
Bush cannot rely solely on the Republicans to support his legislative ideas. He must also find support from at least a few Democratic party members. His focus needs to move closer to the middle if he wants to achieve at least some of his goals during this term. The religious right can only go so far, Mr. President.
Write to Jessica at jfkerman@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
