Bush Has Faced Failure in First 100 Days

May 2, 2005

Denver, CO – Over the weekend President Bush passed the first 100 days mark of his second term. After winning the November 2004 election Bush set out an ultra-conservative agenda for his second term. Despite the GOP control of Congress, President Bush has faced failure during the first 100 days.

Republicans are beginning to realize that the American public is not supporting their agenda. Instead of enjoying their majority in Washington, Republicans are under a dark cloud of dropping public support, questions of ethics and a Democratic minority that is standing firm in blocking disastrous conservative policies.

“Americans are concerned about the failed leadership of the Republican Party,” said Pat Waak, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. “Republicans are not addressing the important issues that are impacting the lives of Americans. Instead of focusing on rising gas prices, Republicans are more concerned about getting their conservative judicial nominations through the Senate.”

Bush began his second term with a commitment to working with both parties to address Social Security and judicial nominees. 100 days into his second term Bush has failed to promote national support for either his privatization plan or his plan to end the filibuster process in the Senate.

According to recent national polls, Americans overwhelming oppose President Bush’s Social Security agenda. Despite Bush’s attempt to sell his idea for private accounts during his “60 Cities in 60 Days Tour”, only 31% of American agree with Bush’s plans for Social Security. Now Republicans are joining Democrats to oppose Bush’s Social Security agenda. There is clear evidence that Bush is failing to sell America on private accounts.

Bush has also failed to push his ultra-conservative judges through the Senate. The Senate has approved 206 of 216 federal judges nominated by Bush. After getting re-elected, Bush believed that he would be able to move forward the remaining 10 nominees, considered by Democrats to be unwilling to set aside their personal beliefs to rule without bias.

In response to Democratic opposition to these 10 ultra-conservative judicial nominations, Republican Leader Bill Frist has threatened to invoke the “nuclear option”, which would silence the voice of the minority party during the nomination process. According to a recent ABC/Washington Post poll, nearly half of Americans agree that the minority party in the Senate should be allowed to use the filibuster process to block presidential judicial nominations.

“Democrats have been fair in reviewing President Bush’s judicial nominees,” said Waak. “It is clear that Republicans are willing to stop at nothing to get their way; even if it means silencing the voices of the minority party.”

Americans are not satisfied with Bush’s second term agenda. Over 50 percent of Americans disapprove with the job President Bush is doing. This represents a 16 percent drop in public support since his first term in office.