President Bush outlined his administration’s second-term agenda in a news conference held Thursday at the White House.
Less than 24 hours after giving his victory speech to the nation, Bush indicated he would continue fighting the worldwide war on terror, while at the same time seeking tax and Social Security reform.
Bush said that he would continue to pursue his foreign policy, which has been criticized by some American allies in Europe. The president also called for Congress to overhaul the nation’s intelligence system to help protect against another possible attack.
In his news conference, Bush also referred to spending the capital he had earned during his campaign. Last week, Dr. Ken Mijeski, chair and professor of political science at ETSU shared his thoughts on that statement and gave an analysis about the election and the president’s news conference.
Addressing the worldwide war on terror, Mijeski said, “I think [Bush] will continue to do what he’s been doing.
“With Iraq, he will continue to try to bring some kind of order and peace to a place that was relatively orderly before it was invaded, and it will probably take 10 years to do that.”
Mijeski said that Bush will probably “do his darndest” to make sure that the Islamic militants don’t take over and create what they really want to – an Islamic state.
“His argument about political capital, and given the existing foreign policy ideology, I would guess that there would even be some greater extension of U.S. military presence.” Mijeski said.
“Domestically, he’ll push for and possibly get permanent tax cuts for everybody to help boost the economy.
“What I think critics of this policy would suggest is that the deficits are actually being driven not by recession, but by the policy itself. The more you cut taxes, the fewer taxes there are to collect, and the more you’re going to go into debt.”
In his news conference, the president said, “I haven’t made any decisions,” when questioned about his cabinet.
Mijeski said he didn’t have a crystal ball, but when asked about the possible departures of Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Attorney General John Ashcroft, Mijeski said, “If Colin Powell stays, he’ll continue to be, or what appears to be, the odd man out. The reluctant warrior.”
“It’s hard for me to imagine him staying now.” Mijeski said. “We went into Iraq without any kind of an alliance, and even though he’s on record, along with Condoleeza Rice, we later have evidence which actually shows an absence of correct data.”
About Rumsfeld, Mijeski said, “I think his political capital is down.”
On Ashcroft, Mijeski said he had no thoughts. Signals coming out of Washington indicate that he will submit his resignation to the president sometime in the next several weeks.
“[Bush] has to deal with the Senate,” Mijeski said. “He’s got a majority there, but it’s not clear that all Republicans share that perspective.
“Perhaps the more important arguments are the dozens and dozens of appointment to all the lower federal courts. Such a small percentage of cases ever get to the Supreme Court that all you need to do is take care of who you want in the lower courts, the appellate courts, the appeals courts. By and large, very few cases ever get past the appeals court.”
Since there is no way to foresee or gauge the Senate vote, the only thing certain is that the president will be pushing real hard for certain candidates.
“There’s going to be a lot of pressure particularly on the new republicans to go along, but it’s not always that easy,” Mijeski said.
Mijeski was asked about an escalation of the crisis in the Middle East should Yasser Arafat die anytime soon. “The crisis will go on, whether Arafat is in good health, or dead,” he said.
“To help deal with the continuing and volatile situation in the Middle East, I think the United States will pursue the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq, one way or another.”
“Given that probability, I would guess that the kind of hostility from insurgent groups will continue for many years to come. I see it as a long-term horrible mess.
“As we’ve learned, you can take down a city, but you can’t stop insurgents.”
In his victory speech, President Bush asked the 55 million who voted against him to get behind him. For the second straight day, he pledged to reach out to those who opposed his re-election.
“The campaign is over,” Bush said. “Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort … I will reach out to every one who shares our goals.
“Democrats want a free and peaceful world.”
Mijeski was asked if he saw any signs of a bipartisan effort among those who voted against Bush. “I don’t see that,” he said. “I see some enormous divisions that don’t have a lot of over lapping.
“I think it will be difficult, at least in terms of public opinion. The division still exists.”
Heather Laurendeau, a psychology major and Kerry supporter, feels the economy and the war in Iraq took a backseat in many voters’ minds.
“I voted for Kerry, and I think the majority of those who voted for him, voted that way because they disliked President Bush.
“They voted out of fear. It was the fear of terrorism, not the economy or the war in Iraq which ultimately guided their votes, and as long as the voters dislike Bush there will be that division.
“We need some pre-emptive measures in our economy before it all goes south,” she said.
Mijeski feels the reason many people supported Bush is his style. “It’s a style that basically says to Europe: ‘Either you’re with us in the war on terror, or you’re not with us. And if you’re not with us, we can forget about you; or either you’re for the right to life, or you’re against us,'” he said.
“I can’t imagine him changing that style, because that’s the appeal he had on a lot of people who elected him.
Laurendeau feels Bush was not elected for his policies, but for his moral values.
“Even though he was elected mainly for his moral values, I still don’t agree with his policies,” she said. “He is the president, and I will respect him for that, and I will support the troops in Iraq, even though I don’t support the war effort.”
Bush won a second term and his party gained seats in both the House and Senate. His comments about earning political capital are reflected in the reality of the election, but it can still be up to the Democrats to determine just how that capital is spent.
Bush sidestepped a question about the cost of the war in Iraq, saying that his administration would present Congress with a “realistic assessment” of the funding that is needed.
Congressional aides have stated that the administration is likely to ask lawmakers for an additional $75 billion to pay for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Bush spent the past weekend at Camp David, where he said he would be considering changes for his second term in office. Before departing for Camp David he said, “It’s inevitable there will be changes. The speculation about change is the Great Washington Sport.”
Sometime in the next several weeks, the electors who represent the Electoral College, will meet in their state capitals to cast their ballots. The state electoral ballots are then opened and counted before a joint session of Congress during the first week of January.

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