President George W. Bush
Highlights of Accomplishments and Results
The Administration of President George W. Bush: 2001-2009
51 pages
The Gist:
Before the curtain falls on his presidency, George W. Bush has something to say. This White House report attempts the Sisyphean task of commemorating the legacy of an Administration with an approval rating in the 20s. To push the boulder up the hill, the report unspools a highlight reel of the Administration's accomplishments, from No Child Left Behind to the dissemination of $16 billion in food aid to blighted countries. Framing the text are stats-laden "Did You Know?" boxes, snapshots of the President looking presidential (glad-handing seniors, holding babies, hammering nails) and inspiring section headers describing Bush's achievements ("Established the Freedom Agenda to Spread Hope Through Liberty") that read as handpicked epitaphs. The slim volume is punctuated by a list of "100 Things Americans May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record." In its last days, the Bush Administration is marshaling one last case for the policies it has doggedly stuck to.
The Highlights:
1. On fighting the War on Terrorism: "In Afghanistan, the United States and our allies removed the regime that harbored the terrorists who plotted the 9/11 attacks. As a result, more than 25 million Afghans are free; the terrorist training camps have been shut down; and Afghanistan has become an ally in the war on terror. Today Afghanistan has a democratically elected President, a national assembly, a market economy ... Although Afghanistan still faces serious challenges, the international community is working together to help this emerging democracy succeed."
2. On keeping America safe after the atrocities of 9/11: "More than seven years have passed without another attack on our soil. This is not for lack of trying on the part of the terrorists. Since 9/11, the United States and our allies have stopped deadly terrorist plots, including a 2002 plot to hijack an airplane and fly it into the tallest skyscraper in Los Angeles, a 2003 plot to hijack and crash multiple planes into targets on the East Coast, and a 2006 plot to blow up multiple passenger jets traveling from London."
3. On combating disease in Africa: "The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history ... The next phase of the program will support treatment for a total of at least 3 million people, the prevention of 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million people ... [Additionally,] The President's Malaria Initiative is on track to reduce malaria deaths by half in 15 targeted countries across Sub-Saharan Africa."
The Lowdown:
It's not drinking the GOP Kool-Aid to say that much good has been accomplished on Bush's watch — just as it's obvious that this press release carefully sidesteps the Administration's calamitous failures, from the economy to Hurricane Katrina. But whether this review of the past eight years spurs applause or outrage, anyone attempting to take stock of Bush's policies should know which ones he's putting on his résumé. He might prefer that we postpone appraisals — history, as he likes to say, will be his judge — but one last clear-eyed argument for his legacy is warranted. It's not as though the President's critics lack fodder for a compelling rebuttal.
The Verdict: Skim