Bush As Governor

A reader commented that George W. Bush was a good governor. So I have decided to look into that. I count as good everything a man does. I have never been biased or one sided so I will present all of the facts.

As governor, Bush successfully sponsored legislation for tort reform, increased education funding, set higher standards for schools, and reformed the criminal justice system. School finance was considered a sensitive issue at the time by politicians and the press. The state financed its school system through property taxes. Seeking to reduce the high rates to benefit homeowners while increasing general education funding, Bush sought to create business taxes, but faced vigorous opposition from his own party and the private sector. Failing to obtain political consensus for his proposal, Bush used a budget surplus to push through a $2 billion tax-cut plan, which was the largest in Texas history and cemented Bush's credentials as a pro-business fiscal conservative.

Also, as governor, he thought it was acceptable to mock a woman he decided to put to death. Just before her execution date, Karla F. Tucker appealed for clemency on the grounds that she had become a born-again Christian. Bush's reply: " `Please,' Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, `don't kill me.' " To mock a woman about to be executed is vicious and uncalled for behavior more appropriate for criminals.

George W. Bush had a plan to privatize Social Security - a lose-lose-lose proposal that could result in multi-trillion dollar debts, massive government bailouts, and the elimination of a guaranteed retirement benefit. When he was asked if people could lose money under his plan, Bush replied "Maybe, Maybe Not." When asked questions of this magnitude, a flighty response is uncalled for and cause for concern.

And finally, as governor, he said all of these things.

7/1... "Unfairly but truthfully, our party has been tagged as being against things. Anti-immigrant, for example. And we're not a party of anti-immigrants. Quite the opposite. We're a party that welcomes people." -- Cleveland, Ohio
"The fundamental question is, 'Will I be a successful president when it comes to foreign policy?' I will be, but until I'm the president, it's going to be hard for me to verify that I think I'll be more effective." -- Wayne, Michigan, reported by Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times, June 28, 2000.
6/10... "If you're asking me whether or not as to the innocence or guilt or if people have had adequate access to the courts in Texas, I believe they have." -- Response to an AP Reporter
5/18..."[Rudy Giuliani] has certainly earned a reputation as a fantastic mayor because the results speak for themselves. I mean, New York's a safer place for him to be." -- The Edge With Paula Zahn
5/14... "The fact that he relies on facts--says things that are not factual--are going to undermine his campaign." -- New York Times
2/20..."I don't want to win? If that were the case why the heck am I on the bus 16 hours a day, shaking thousands of hands, giving hundreds of speeches, getting pillared in the press and cartoons and still staying on message to win?" -- Newsweek (Feb. 28 edition)
5/10..."I think we agree, the past is over." - On his meeting with John McCain, Dallas Morning News.
5/5..."It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."--In answer to the charge that, as Texas governor, he did not make up a state budget, -- Reuters.
4/26..."I hope we get to the bottom of the answer. It's what I'm interested to know." -- On Elian negotiations, AP.
3/2... "I've got a record, a record that is conservative and a record that is compassionated." -- NYT Debate Transcript
2/23..."It is not Reaganesque to support a tax plan that is Clinton in nature." (Los Angeles) -- Slate, 2/29
2/25... "After he had failed a reporter's pop quiz last fall about foreign leaders, including the name of the Indian prime minister, Mr. Bush winced today when a moderator mentioned the words "pop quiz." Jokingly, Mr. Bush dared the moderator to ask him the name of the Indian president. "Do you know who the president of India is?" the moderator asked obligingly. "Vajpayee," Mr. Bush said, grinning and looking pleased with himself. But Atal Behari Vajpayee is the prime minister of India; the president is K. R. Narayanan." -- New York Times, 2/26

So there are the true facts. Use them as you wish.