George W. Bush Presidency How does Bush deal with issues of the 2000s?

2000 Election Vice-president Al Gore (D) vs. Gov. George W. Bush (R) 270 electoral votes needed to win, many feel winner of Florida (25 elec votes) will win Presidency However, confusion over the ballot in Palm Beach, Florida

Bush Wins Presidency Mass confusion on election night 2000 over who won Florida VQ: Who do networks say won Florida for at first and what happens later that night? However, network projections wrong again, race is less than a few thousand votes, triggers automatic machine recount VQ: What do many Gore voters feel happened? Machine recount gives Bush state by 327 votes, Gore challenges the vote wants a hand recount Recount starts, Bush sues to stop it VQ: What is argued about chads? Bush v. Gore: US Supreme Court halts recount- Bush wins

Bush Domestic Policy Bush takes Clinton surplus and gives it back to American people ($300 a tax payer) Bush gets tax cuts passed, argues they will stimulate economy Taxes cut 25-35% based on income (rich get bigger cut) Gets Congress to pass “No Child Left Behind” 1.All students must be proficient by Federal dollars can be cut if schools don’t meet AYP 3.States must develop was to measure test scores (API) 4.No new federal dollars for the program

World Trade CenterRadical Islamic group called Al-Qaeda hijack two planes. Using box cutters smuggled on board they take over the planes and crash them into the World Trade Center Results of 9/112001: US will invade Afghanistan to remove Taliban who supported Osama Bin Laden 2001: Patriot Act will allow US Gov new powers such as no-warrant wire taps 2003: VP Cheney makes case Iraq was involved in 9/11 and has WMDS – Bush invades Iraq September 11 th, 2001 Pentagon & Pennsylvania Two more planes are also hijacked, one hits the Pentagon in Washington. The other was headed for the White House but passengers took over the plane and crashed it into a field in Shanksville, PA

2008 Financial Crisis Bush wins re-election in 2004, despite War in Iraq However by 2008 economy is showing signs of distress Housing Bubble Bursts 1.People getting “sub-prime” mortgages (can’t pay for it) 2.Home prices overvalued 3.Flexible interest loans, start low get higher 4.People defaulting on mortgages, banks losing money Banking Crisis Major banks failing, other businesses failing due to risky loans Bush & Congress pass TARP – up to $700 billion in tax money to helped troubled institutions Economy is faltering Next President will be left with huge debt, two wars and possible depression