Transformed by Crisis The Presidency of George W. Bush and American Politics

by McMahon, Kevin J.; Rankin, David M.; Kraus, Jon

• ISBN13: 9781403965929
• ISBN10: 1403965927
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-08-21
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

The presidency of George W. Bush has been a curious one: born in contention, challenged by the most dramatic foreign directed attack on American soil, and transformed by a combination of crisis and conflict that has generated considerable support domestically. And yet, while much attention has been focused on the Bush administration's external policies, how it has pursued its goals and had its effects on the domestic scene has been as important. Examining the push and pull of the Bush presidency by looking especially at domestic dynamics, the authors look at the tendency towards centralizing power and its implications for American politics. From the midterm elections of 2002, where the Republicans scored historic victories, to relations with the press, and from executive branch relations with Congress to increased federal involvement in education, the authors examine and shed light on crucial issues. This book examines how words and deeds in a time of crisis will define the Bush presidency's place in American politics and history.

Author Biography

Jon Kraus is Professor of Political Science, Kevin J. McMahon is Associate Professor of Political Science, and David M. Rankin is Assistant Professor of Political Science, all at SUNY Fredonia.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Contributors	ix
1. September 11th and Bush's Presidency	1	(8)
Jon Kraus
2. The 2000 Presidential Election of George W. Bush: The Difficult Birth of a Presidency	9	(20)
James E. Campbell
3. Ordinary Events and Extraordinary Times: The 2002 Congressional Elections	29	(22)
Donald Beachler
4. The Press, the Public, and the Two Presidencies of George W. Bush	51	(22)
David M. Rankin
5. Changing the Tone? Congressional-Presidential Relations in the Second Bush Administration	73	(28)
Colton C. Campbell and Robert P. Watson
6. Mastering Presidential Government: Executive Power and the Bush Administration	101	(18)
Shirley Anne Warshaw
7. Crisis and the Pursuit of Conservatism: Liberty, Security, and the Bush Justice Department	119	(22)
Kevin J. McMahon
8. Gun Rights for Terrorists? Gun Control and the Bush Presidency	141	(26)
Robert J. Spitzer
9. Acting Like a Colossus: Bush's Foreign Policy, Unilateralism, and the Pursuit of Primacy	167	(32)
Jon Kraus
10. The Challenges Ahead: George W. Bush and the 2004 Election	199	(10)
Kevin J. McMahon and David M. Rankin
Index	209