While Americans eagerly vote for the next president, here’s a sobering reminder: As of Tuesday, George W. Bush still has 77 days left in the White House — and he’s not wasting a minute. President Bush’s aides have been scrambling to change rules and regulations on the environment, civil liberties and abortion rights, among others — few for the good. Most presidents put on a last-minute policy stamp, but in Mr. Bush’s case it is more like a wrecking ball. We fear it could take months, or years, for the next president to identify and then undo all of the damage. Here is a look — by no means comprehensive — at some of Mr. Bush’s recent parting gifts and those we fear are yet to come.
CIVIL LIBERTIES We don’t know all of the ways that the administration has violated Americans’ rights in the name of fighting terrorism. Last month, Attorney General Michael Mukasey rushed out new guidelines for the F.B.I. that permit agents to use chillingly intrusive techniques to collect information on Americans even where there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
Agents will be allowed to use informants to infiltrate lawful groups, engage in prolonged physical surveillance and lie about their identity while questioning a subject’s neighbors, relatives, co-workers and friends. The changes also give the F.B.I. — which has a long history of spying on civil rights groups and others — expanded latitude to use these techniques on people identified by racial, ethnic and religious background.
THE ENVIRONMENT The administration has been especially busy weakening regulations that promote clean air and clean water and protect endangered species.Mr. Bush, or more to the point, Vice President Dick Cheney, came to office determined to dismantle Bill Clinton’s environmental legacy, undo decades of environmental law and keep their friends in industry happy. In coming weeks, we expect the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule that would weaken a program created by the Clean Air Act, which requires utilities to install modern pollution controls when they upgrade their plants to produce more power. Interior also is awaiting E.P.A.’s concurrence on a proposal that would make it easier for mining companies to dump toxic mine wastes in valleys and streams.
ABORTION RIGHTS Soon after the election, Michael Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, is expected to issue new regulations aimed at further limiting women’s access to abortion, contraceptives and information about their reproductive health care options.
Existing law allows doctors and nurses to refuse to participate in an abortion. These changes would extend the so-called right to refuse to a wide range of health care workers and activities including abortion referrals, unbiased counseling and provision of birth control pills or emergency contraception, even for rape victims.
While Mr. Bush leaves office on Jan. 20, 2009, he has only until Nov. 20 to issue “economically significant” rule changes and until Dec. 20 to issue other changes. Anything after that is merely a draft and can be easily withdrawn by the next president. Unfortunately, the White House is well aware of those deadlines.
Great, NOW he decides to get busy…wouldn’t this be a good time for him to go on one of those extended vacations he’s famous for?
Thanks Mr. Justin
Let’s see what history has to say in about 20 years.
We need a STOP BUSH NOW movement.
I’ll wager that 20 years from now history will say: “Some idiots and dead enders, the refuse of the putrid corpus of the Religious Right Captured Grand Old Party said: ‘Let’s see what history has to say in about 20 years.'”
only skimmed the article, but ….
“undo decades of environmental law..”
President Reagan was accused of that very thing. So either Reagan/Bush Sr. killed the environment or Bush Jr. did, not both. Unless Clinton was just that good at working with Newt on getting environmental issues passed.
Now, he just needs to do some last minute pardons of fugitive felons who gave $ to library to make his Presidency complete. 😉
Will they be out of prison by then?
Can whoever wins just can the last four years? McCain or Obama just say , yeah Bush is an asshole, all this he did is no longer valid
#7 Yes.
#6 Fugitives are called that because they haven’t been caught yet.
We need a GO 4 IT BUSH! movement.
REAL MEN STILL LIKE BUSH. Girly men still like girly men.
This almost sounds like I am defending the current Repubs (and I don’t mean to) —- however, do you really think all of what ‘W” did could have been done without Pelosi and Reid’s (or Daschle’s and etc) approval?
Do you really think Obamer will fix it (even as I write this, I know there are some who do believe he will and that in itself is pretty scary) if he wins.
All of those bastards are, if not corrupt and ‘on the take’, they getting all they can while the getting is good.
When I voted today, if they were in office (except for my Senator who voted against the bailout – and that is only reason I voted for him), I voted for the other guy.
Good luck to us – many fear we may need it.
That picture is hysterical.
Ben Franklin was right, we (I should say you) elected moron in George Bush and look what happened.
#5 – too true, too true.
The pardons will be truly astounding. Just a quick perusal of the scandals that have developed these last 2 terms…
http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/actions_administration.htm
Clinton was condemned for his 218 lame duck pardons. I’ll be Dubyas’ will be double that, and hardly mentioned.
#12 Bush could grant 160 pardons before he leaves and still be below Clinton’s final year and way below for the entire presidency.
It will be interesting to see who he pardons though. I think Keith Obberführer on MSNBC will cover it. That is if they haven’t locked him up by then.
Hey Hhopper didn’t that movement start 3 years ago?
So Bush has only 16 days left to start bombing Iran?
Isn’t there should be a Revolution every 20 years.
We’re way over due!
Again, let history judge in the context of a post Obama world. It’s my guess that this far left radical Marxist will do more, lasting damage to this country than any of us could even imagine. The mistakes of Bush/Cheney years, and there are many, and the lies and corruption of the Clinton(s), will pale in comparison.
#13, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath,
Look for Bush to pardon everyone he insisted help in the “war on terrorism”. I think it will be closer to the several thousands.
The only problem with that is by pardoning his own henchmen, they would have to admit they committed a crime. I don’t think Bush can pardon himself.
One of the benefits of a Democrat President is that the media and the left will act more responsibly. They will ‘own’ the war, and will stop talking it down. One example is the New York Times today talking about Guantanamo prison.
Bush’s approval ratings (as of October 29, 2008)
#19 MikeN said
“One of the benefits of a Democrat President is that the media and the left will act more responsibly.”
In your dreams! Someone better give someone a dictionary, they think they act responsibly today.
#20 – I wonder how many of the approvers work for Halliburton, Blackwater, … let’s just say all big corporations (big drug, big oil, big military industrial complex, etc…). I would say that just about covers the 26%.
#17 Obama is far left? Surely you jest? Mao was far left, Lenin was far left, but Obama?
Get some perspective, fellah!
#22 – Carcarius – I wonder how many of the approvers work for Halliburton, Blackwater, … let’s just say all big corporations (big drug, big oil, big military industrial complex, etc…). I would say that just about covers the 26%.
Sounds about right. 😀
Hugh – That was his point. He believes its a valid comparison. Rush + co tell him so.
all the religious fanatics, including Mr. Bush, should be driven out of politics.
#26 “all the religious fanatics, including Mr. Bush, should be driven out of politics.”
Like Obama with his church and wanting to expand Bush’s gov funded faith based initiatives?
#17 – LinusVP
>>It’s my guess that this far left radical
>>Marxist will do more, lasting damage to this
>>country than any of us could even imagine.
You think Obama and Biden are “far left readical Marxists”???
Haw!
Man, have you got a fucking problem! I don’t even think Anal Cyst Limbaugh could bring himself to say THAT!!
#28 – Mister Mustard – You think Obama and Biden are “far left readical Marxists”???
I wouldn’t be surprised if he do… My fundamentalist neighbor strongly believe Obama is a terrorist….
Yeah, he’s a far left radical Marxist, just like his buddy Bill Ayers.
Obama has expressed support for redistribution forced by the courts.