The New Presidential Report Card

I first wrote up a Presidential report about 6 months ago, so now that another semester has passed, it's time to see what has advanced. I think Bush was a stronger leader when he first entered office but he's been getting advice and criticsm from many sides whom have many interests. Hence, why he values loyalty over everything else. Bush's actions 2000-2002 have been saving his Presidency so far, but the prognosis seems to be that he is weak. He will likely be a lame duck.


Foriegn Policy: B

So where are we in Iraq? Three years on it seems to be the status quo. What about Iran? Five bucks says we attack in October.



Jorge Boosh.

Immigration: F

Jorge Boosh. He constantly insults hard-working Americans by saying that illegal immigrants do the jobs that Americans don't want to do. Perhaps in his Andover education he never had to do any hard work, but many of us had less desirable jobs at some point.

Federal Spending: F

Bush has been completely ineffectual in curbing Congress's appetite for pork spending. The country cannot sustain large deficits forever.


Taxes: B-

While Bush's original tax policy deserves high marks, he still has made no effort to make these cuts permanent. Many will be expiring over the next 4 years. He could easily press for more tax cuts now that he has a friendly Senate, but he hasn't. Since he's spent like a drunken sailor, there are chances that he'll leave office and the cuts will expire. The next President will let the cuts expire and taxes will go up without anyone having to raise taxes. The other possibility is that they'll do it right before an election.


Economy: B

I still maintain that the economy could have fallen into a big depression like 30s if the President had made poor choices. As I said 6 months ago, the collapse of the bubble coupled with 9/11 could have done the economy in. However, the large budget deficits caused by constant Congress

Judicial Nominations: B

While I'd give Roberts a "B" pick (mostly due to his anonyminity), and Alito an "A", Bush only picked Alito after getting hammered by every sane person who objected to him hiring his personal lawyer whom had no judicial experience.

Gun Rights: B+

The President has been a supporter of the second amendment, but he really hasn't had to stick his neck out for them. If it was the media topic of the day, with the liberal press attacking him, I'm not sure if he would stand strong or cave.

Social Conservatism: B

There hasn't been any real issues one way or another to chance opinion from last semster.

Education: B-

There hasn't been any real issues one way or another to chance opinion from last semster.

Social Security: B-

I generally liked his plan for Social Security, but lack of leadership in other areas reverberated when he tried to push through Social Security reform. If he was really a strong respected leader of the Republican party, chances are weasely members of Congress wouldn't have had the gall the go against him.


OVERALL: C-

What we say in summary? Slightly below average. He has 2.5 years left, in which to salvage his declining legacy.