In his final year as being United States President, George W. Bush is a president with dual legacies. Ed Henry, CNN’s White House correspondent explains that he was struck at how it’s a mixed back for the president in regards to three key issues: relationship with the Democratic congress, wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the United States economy.
With 2008 being George W. Bush’s final year in office, how he handles these affairs will go a long way toward possibilities for him in 2009 after stepping down as United States President.
In regards with the relationship to the Democratic-controlled Congress, it will affect Bush’s domestic plans in 2008. Things can possibly be achieved in 2008 because both he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have incentive to come together on a few issues.
While Bush needs some achievements in his legacy, the Democrats need accomplishments to reach out to voters for the 2008 Presidential elections.
Bush’s domestic legacy is thin. His only domestic achievement is the Medicare prescription program he signed into law. The “No Child Left Behind” law is struggling to be reauthorized as it has been under criticism with some conservatives.
However, Bush has proven that he’s not a lame duck president and that he has a lot of clout by using the veto pen. The slim majority held in Congress makes Bush’s clout in the government much stronger.
This is the one reason the Democrats have failed time after time to change the policy regarding Iraq. As a reaction, Bush got $70 billion in new war funds for Iraq and Afghanistan. This is something the Democrats did not want to happen.
In terms of major domestic achievements, Bush might have to hold restraint in using the veto pen. At the same time, the Democrats will have to meet Bush halfway.
Iraq and Afghanistan sends a mixed picture. While the surge of troops improved the security, little progress has been made concerning the politics of Baghdad. Most of the attention has focused on Iraq with little of it focused on Afghanistan.
In the case of Bush’s legacy, everything is a Pandora’s Box.