By: Jordan Rowe
What would the past decade have looked like without former President George W. Bush? The man's entire presidency was a pickle, beginning with his defeat of Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election. In what was the closest election ever, Bush's lawyers finally got through to the Supreme Court, and the recount was stopped in Florida. He signed a major tax cut shortly after making it to the White House, and American's began to buy into the Bush presidency. In one of this country's darkest hours (9/11), Bush shined like a beacon. He went on national tv the night of the attacks to assure the American people, promising justice on the perpetrators. Many credited his win in 2004 to his handling of the attacks. And so we invaded Afganishan in pursuit of Osama Bin Laden. His approval ratings were the highest of any President ever...over 90%! But, war waged on and we began fighting on two fronts, invading Iraq because of the suspicion of weapons of mass destruction. Mission Accomplished...or so it seemed. Little did Bush realize that 6 years after he stood on the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared our mission in Iraq finished that we'd still be there. Bush's popularity began to decline, but was above 50% at the time of the 2004 election. Kerry swithed sides and Bush weathered another storm for the better. Katrina hit in 2005 and devastation was wide spread in New Orleans. Picking up the pieces was the job of FEMA director Michael Brown, though he didn't have slighest clue of what was going on in the city. Either did Bush. Remember this statement..."Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!" Brown was fired days later and Bush looked like a baffoon. From there it just continued to spiral out on 43...the economic crisis was the final nail in the coffin for many folks. Even when he made a step in the right direction, he drew criticism. For example, Bush received no credit for the surge's success in Iraq. And what about Bushisms...they seemed to increase in severity as his presidency continued. Maybe he just stopped caring after he was re-elected in '04? Make no mistake, Bush had a rough couple of years in the Oval Office. But, when you think back to what went down in the decade...through the best of times and worst of times...Bush was there in the spotlight, directing, for better or worse.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Unlike most who may blog here, I also recall decades other than the double zeros, and I can tell you...you won't have an appreciation for the time you've come of age in until you're older. So it was with me and the 80s/90s.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't trade growing up when I did for all the gold in Ft. Knox. Hopefully the younger folks will come to feel the same about the aughts.
It certainly has been the darkest decade at least of my life. I do feel bad that students may not be aware there were times with much less strife...political, social, technological, etc. But it's been a positive decade in lots of ways. Maybe it's best to focus on the positive going forward into the new millennium. Hard to do in such a 'times so uncertain,' as Don Henley said.
I'm asking students to post their most memorable event from the decade. In trying to do that myself, I realize what a strange task that is.
Of all things, the one I keep coming back to for myself is driving back to Bowling Green, Ky. in March, 2000 after going to Memphis for the first time to set up plans to go to the Ph.D. program there.
Ending one chapter of my life, personal and academic, and getting ready to embark on another...everything seemed at once full of possibility and full of questions. It was exhilarating to be alone in the dark on I-40 with so much ahead, and so much behind.
Plenty of bad and plenty of good in the 10 years since, for me and for the world. But I prefer to remember the aughts that way...always at the edge of something...waiting to see what it would be, and what we all would become.