2008 Woodie Awards
Bush Sets Bigger Goals for 2nd Term
An ambitious outline of the president's renewed conservative agenda is revealed.
Tiffany Farmakis
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: News
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Securing the mandate that eluded him in the 2000 elections, President George W. Bush became the first Republican to win re-election since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Bush asked the 55 million people who voted against him to support his agenda.
"I will do all I can do to deserve your trust," he said. "When we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
Bush has reduced his agenda to four or five major goals.
Bush's most notable goal is a restructuring of Social Security that would allow younger workers to invest withholdings in the stock market.
Some argue that despite solid Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, changes in Social Security will be dealt cautiously.
"Members [of Congress] are terrified that the Democrats will accuse them of doing major surgery and endangering peoples' benefits," said Ross K. Baker, a congressional scholar at Rutgers University.
Bush also vowed to continue the fight against terrorism, secure stable democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and "uphold our deepest values and family and faith."
Other items on Bush's agenda include cutting the record $413 billion deficit in half, a constitutional ban on gay marriage and moving "this good hearted nation toward a culture of life."
"I am angered by the rest of the country's ignorance," said Valley student Karen Blanch. "We've just voted in a president who's more concerned with our morals than dealing with the rising un-employment rate and the billion dollar deficit he created. What's between the American public's ears- a 'this space for rent sign?'"
Bush defends his administration and notes his growth while in office. "I've been wisened to the ways of Washington," he said at his post-election news conference. "I really didn't come here just to hold the office - just to say, 'Gosh, it was fun to serve.' I came here to get some things done."
Bush asked the 55 million people who voted against him to support his agenda.
"I will do all I can do to deserve your trust," he said. "When we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
Bush has reduced his agenda to four or five major goals.
Bush's most notable goal is a restructuring of Social Security that would allow younger workers to invest withholdings in the stock market.
Some argue that despite solid Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, changes in Social Security will be dealt cautiously.
"Members [of Congress] are terrified that the Democrats will accuse them of doing major surgery and endangering peoples' benefits," said Ross K. Baker, a congressional scholar at Rutgers University.
Bush also vowed to continue the fight against terrorism, secure stable democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and "uphold our deepest values and family and faith."
Other items on Bush's agenda include cutting the record $413 billion deficit in half, a constitutional ban on gay marriage and moving "this good hearted nation toward a culture of life."
"I am angered by the rest of the country's ignorance," said Valley student Karen Blanch. "We've just voted in a president who's more concerned with our morals than dealing with the rising un-employment rate and the billion dollar deficit he created. What's between the American public's ears- a 'this space for rent sign?'"
Bush defends his administration and notes his growth while in office. "I've been wisened to the ways of Washington," he said at his post-election news conference. "I really didn't come here just to hold the office - just to say, 'Gosh, it was fun to serve.' I came here to get some things done."
