Freshman Year: Obama vs. Bush

The Buildup

Yes Mr. President, it does indeed seem as though the nation who once thought you a fool, is feeling some remorse. A recent Gallup poll conducted this month reveals that in the hypothetical situation of an election between former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama would be statistically tied. The poll found that 48% of those questioned would reelect President Obama while 46% would choose President Bush instead. How is it that one of the most unpopular presidents in our country's history could possibly beat one of the most popularly elected presidents in modern times?
With the recent appearance of the "Miss Me Yet?" billboards and Obama's slipping poll numbers, now nationally under 50%, the question begs to be answered: who had the better freshman year?

I did some research compounding a database of all the major achievements and failures of each administration in its infancy, starting from the day of inauguration, always January 20th, and ended the research on January 20th of the following year. Below are listed the highlights and low-lights of each term, read the political heavy weight match-up and enjoy!

In the Right Corner: Dubya

After being elected in one of the closest, and most disputed, elections in recent memory, President George W. Bush wasted no time in attempting to establish the legitimacy of his administration. In his first days he retracted the U.S.'s support of the Kyoto Protocol, an internationally binding environmental policy, and also announced his support for adult stem cell research and his ambivalence towards using any other strains. Within his first five months in office, he campaigned for and achieved bipartisan support for his massive education bill, No Child Left behind. Joined by Senator Ted Kennedy, the bill passed through both houses garnering nearly unanimous support in the Senate (91-8) and healthy support in the House (384-45).

During this time he also achieved tax cuts for nearly every tax bracket and established an overall more progressive tax system. A few months later the tragedy of September 11th would shake the nation and Bush would find new resolve, and his central issue: the War on Terror. His approval rating soared, to a near 98%, one of the highest ratings ever.

At the close of his first year, he provided the Bush Doctrine during his first State of the Union Address and he presented America with his vision for his nation. He closed the year with a favorable rating hovering in the low 60's and having completed around 25% of his campaign promises. Anyone who can accomplish all that while spending a near 42% of his first year while on vacation at his Texas ranch, is pretty good if you ask me.

In the Left Corner, the Young, the Charismatic: Barack Obama

Riding the wave of popular discontent, Barack Hussein Obama became one of the most popularly elected Democratic presidents in modern history, receiving 52% of the vote. He stormed into office and began his change: changing the policy on Guantanamo Bay and beginning the Healthcare debate almost simultaneously. However, during his first year that's where he left these issues, in discussion. The Healthcare Bill was not passed until his first year was over and his plan for the Guantanamo detainees was stonewalled by his own party. However, he did almost instantly remove the ban on stem cell research, thus countering his predecessor.

His first big battle as president however, came from his supporting and signing of the $787 billion dollar bailout plan that has received mixed reviews from both sides of the aisle, merely days after its passing. With uncertain successes being reported, it is a victory, but a shallow one, especially with unemployment still hovering near or at 10%. He also announced the extraction date from Iraq and a new troop surge in Afghanistan. These have been popular in general with both parties and viewed positively by most of the nation. Yet, some view the success in Iraq, and the recent elections there, as a vindication of sorts for President Bush.

At the close of his freshman year, the President stood at a solidly falling approval rating somewhere in the mid to low 50's. Out of 503 tallied promises made during his campaign he has kept around 24%. However, the nation has yet to await the presentation of the Obama Doctrine and to learn in just what direction the President sees his nation heading.

Ding, Ding, Ding! And the Winner is...

Well, that's debatable. It depends on what one sees as being most important. Do you value the discourse and constant campaigning that has since resulted in what some have called the biggest domestic policy bill since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or do you value the bipartisan support that created No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which has resulted in the increase in reading and mathematical test scores across the nation? They have both kept roughly the same number of campaign promises so neither can claim they are more honest that the other.

For me it comes down to the fact that not only did Bush get NCLB passed with bipartisanship, but he also established tax cuts affecting nearly everyone in the United States, retaliated swiftly to the first strike on U.S. soil since W.W. II, and established his vision for the future. The fact that he did all of that, while still spending entire months at a time on vacation still impresses the hell out of me! So for me it's Bush and as for a word of advice to our dear President Obama, I say, "step it up!"

Later,
Cody 

(Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images)