The Presidency of George W. Bush (9/11/01 - 9/11/11)

[justW353]

On the night of September 10, 2001, President George W. Bush went to sleep in his hotel suite in Sarasota, Florida.  The next morning, after visiting a classroom of school children at Booker Elementary School, the President returned to Washington, where, upon meeting with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, he was informed that a CIA investigation had led to the arrest of an Egyptian national named Mohamed Atta.  The investigation had begun in late August, when Israeli Mossad had given the Agency a list of people they believed were involved in attacks in the near future.  Atta was arrested in Maryland with his companion, Saudi national Hani Hanjour.

In the coming days, Hanjour would crack under FBI interrogation, and 18 men would be arrested in what could have been the worst American tragedy since the attack on Pearl Harbor.  On September 20, the FBI announced the arrests, and implicated Osama bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist group Al Qaeda, and the mastermind of the USS Cole and 1998 Embassy Bombings, as the man behind this plot.  It would later be revealed that the Al Qaeda agents had booked tickets on planes and planned to use them as projectiles to strike the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon and Capitol Building in Washington D.C. on September 24, 2001.

Osama bin Laden, purported mastermind of the September 24th plot

 In a statement released to the press, President Bush praised the fine work of the CIA and FBI, and vowed to defeat those who would seek to destroy America.  President Bush ordered CIA director George Tenet to dedicate resources to undermine Al Qaeda's operations with the specific target of capturing or killing their leader, Osama bin Laden.  President George W. Bush went to sleep in the White House on September 20, 2001, with a stable economy, a 55% approval rating, and a nation at peace.

View of Lower Manhattan - September 20, 2001

[justW353]

Two things:

1).  I wanted to wait until the 10th anniversary, but I decided to post this now.

2).  I hope this isn't seen as tasteless.  I feel like some people could see it as such, but the tragedy of 9/11 defined the Bush Presidency, and I was interested to see how Bush would have ran this country had it not occurred.

This is not an optimistic story about pretending 9/11 never happened:  this is a speculative history on Bush policy had 9/11 not taken place.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I really wanna see this.

[Jack1475]

Our country is full of traitors who do not understand patriotism or support the war on terror.  George W Bush may well have been the greatest president to ever live!

[justW353]

Our country is full of traitors who do not understand patriotism or support the war on terror.  George W Bush may well have been the greatest president to ever live!

...Good to know.

[Paul Kemp]

This seems to be very well written so far. I'm interested.

[Simfan34]

Has this ever been done before? A really fascinating premise.

[Paul Kemp]

Has this ever been done before? A really fascinating premise.

Yes but not to success, like most timelines.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Our country is full of traitors who do not understand patriotism or support the war on terror.  George W Bush may well have been the greatest president to ever live!

Yeah, post like that are not taken lightly here. I know from experiance, Im fairly new myself I am apparently a traitor for supporting Ron Paul right? Dont get me started on Israel/Iran either, Im the only non Israeli hack in the Tea Party down here in South Florida.

Anyway, great timeline Cant wait to see how Bush fairs in 2004.

[justW353]

On October 18, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, had been killed while crossing the Pakistani border into Afghanistan several days earlier.  Ironically, the terrorist leader was killed by a Tomahawk cruise missile launched by the USS Cole, the same American  destroyer bin Laden's organization had attacked, on the one year anniversary of that attack.  In an address made in the White House Rose Garden, the President pledged that "any person who threatens the security of the United States of America will meet the same fate" as bin Laden.

President Bush announces the death of Osama bin Laden

In private briefings, President Bush had learned that the CIA believed bin Laden was being protected by members of the Pakistani government.  However, he was quickly tracked down, after an American element deep within Pakistan's intelligence circles relayed information that bin Laden was returning to Afghanistan from Islamabad, Pakistan, where he had been receiving medical attention.  The government of Afghanistan condemned the attack, declaring bin Laden a martyr and claiming the attack had violated their sovereignty, calling it equivalent to an act of war.

On November 6, New York City Public Advocate Mark Green defeated billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg to be elected Mayor of New York City, replacing the controversial and embattled Mayor, Rudy Giuliani.  Meanwhile, on November 20, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law.  The act, a historic education reformation, had received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress.  

President Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act, November 2001

On December 1, 2001, a Gallup poll revealed that President Bush carried a 61% approval rating.

[justW353]

In January of 2002, President Bush made the first of several trips to sub-Saharan Africa he would take during his Presidency, visiting Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, and Nigeria.  During his visit to South Africa, following a meeting with former President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela, President Bush announced a plan with the ambitious goal of cutting HIV/AIDS related deaths on the African continent in half by the end of 2015. 

"...A cure will be found for AIDS...but until that moment, the people of the world must do all they can to help those afflicted with this terrible disease..." - President George W. Bush[/img]

President Bush proved relatively successful in pushing legislation through Congress, despite deep partisan divides within both chambers.  On March, 27, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold) was signed into law by the President after passing in the Senate several days earlier.  However, with both chambers of Congress essentially split in two between Democrats and Republicans, the Bush Administration was forced to shelve most of their policy proposals.

On May 31, Governor Howard Dean of Vermont became the first Democrat to announce their candidacy for President in 2004.  The popular (and mostly unknown) Governor ran on a ticket focused on implementing a universal healthcare system, reforming the tax code to benefit middle class families, and ensuring the future solvency of Social Security and welfare programs.

Governor Howard Dean announces his candidacy for President of the United States

On June 1, polling showed President Bush held approval ratings in the mid-60 percents.  Remarkably, the President had an approval rating above 50% in all 50 states.

[Simfan34]

Wonderful! Do go on. Hopefully the good times will continue.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

When you get to the primaries, please do a date by date development, at least until a winner becomes apparent.

[justW353]

Do you guys mind if I just skip to the midterm elections?  Not a whole lot is going to happen between June and November, although you can assume the economy remains stable, the world stays peaceful, and President Bush remains popular.

[Napoleon]

I don't care just keep going!

[justW353]

2002 Midterm Elections
Part I:  Senate Elections

The 2002 Midterm Elections were held on November 5.  With a popular incumbent President, a stable economy and a nation at peace, the Republican Party hoped to build on their House majority and win back control of the US Senate.  However, with history firmly on the side of the opposition party, they faced an uphill battle.

President Bush proved to be a valuable commodity to Republican candidates, raising millions of dollars and delivering thousands of votes for his party's candidates.  With approval ratings in the mid-60s, the President would become a treasured asset to Republican candidates.

In Alabama, incumbent Republican Jeff Sessions would be easily reelected over his challenger, State Auditor Susan Parker.  In Alaska, GOP Senator Ted Stevens would be reelected with just under eighty percent of the popular vote.  However, in Arkansas, Democratic state Attorney General Mark Pryor would defeat embattled Republican Tim Hutchinson.

In Colorado, Republican Wayne Allard would be reelected.  In Delaware, influential Democratic Senator Joe Biden won reelection to his sixth term in the US Senate.  In Georgia, Democratic Senator Max Cleland was able stave off his challenger, Congressman Saxby Chambliss, to be reelected to his second term.

Senator Max Cleland of Georgia

Incumbents (Larry Craig, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Pat Roberts, Mitch McConnell) would be reelected in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky, respectively.  However, in Louisiana, after a close race Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu was defeated by her challenger, Congressman John Cooksey.

Senator-Elect John Cooksey of Louisiana

Incumbents were reelected in Maine (Susan Collins), Massachusetts (John Kerry), Michigan (Carl Levin), Minnesota (Paul Wellstone), Mississippi (Thad Cochran), Missouri (Jeanne Carnahan), Montana (Max Baucus), New Mexico (Pete Domenici), Nebraska (Chuck Hagel), Oklahoma (Jim Inhofe), Oregon (Gordon Smith), and Rhode Island (Jack Reed).

In New Hampshire, Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen won a narrow victory over Congressman John Sununu.  In New Jersey, former Senator Frank Lautenberg defeated a relatively unknown Republican opponent.  In North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole, the wife of former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, was elected to replace retiring Senator Jesse Helms.  In South Carolina, Republican Congressman Lindsay Graham was elected to replace retiring President Pro Tempore Strom Thurmond.  After heavy campaigning by President Bush, Republican Congressman John Thune was able to defeat Senator Tim Johnson by less than 200 votes to be elected the Junior Senator from South Dakota.

Senator-Elect Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire

Senator-Elect John Thune of South Dakota

In Tennessee, retiring Republican Senator Fred Thompson was replaced by the Republican former Governor of the state, Lamar Alexander.  In Texas, Republicans were able to hold the seat vacated by Phil Gramm, as state Attorney General John Cornyn defeated his Democratic challenger.  Incumbents John Warner (R), Jay Rockefeller (D), and Mike Enzi (R), won reelection in their respective states (Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming).

Overall, both parties won two seats, breaking even, with party divisions in the Senate remaining the same.  The Democratic caucus would continue to control the United States Senate, with 51 seats to the Republicans' 49.  Senator Tom Daschle would remain the Senate Majority Leader for the foreseeable future.  While disappointed, the Republican party remained hopeful they would be able to build on their majority in the House of Representatives.

Next:  The House results

[justW353]

Please comment if you like, or dislike, or don't care.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Please comment if you like, or dislike, or don't care.

Like.

[Pingvin]

Please comment if you like, or dislike, or don't care.

Like.