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George
W Bush
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Description
As President of the United
States, G.W.Bush has predictably attained supporters and critics on his
rise to power. His supporters would point to the sons father; George Bush,
and his role as President, arguing a successive dynasty could be entrusted,
G W Bush`s 'successful' role as Governor of Texas, and his former role
as Director in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all serving to demonstrate
G W Bush`s credentials as a good potential President.
Effect
on Capitalism
G W Bush made his financial
success from a number of deals; one of the most controversial being at
Harken Energy, where GWB served as a consultant on the board. In selling
$825,560 worth of Harken shares on the 22 June,1990, shortly before the
announcement of a major trading loss at the company, he violated Securities
and Exchange Commission laws by not declaring the sale, and in presenting
the sale in May 1991, sparked an SEC investigation. Despite the SEC defining
insider trading as "Corporate officers, directors, and employees who
traded the corporation's securities after learning of significant, confidential
corporate developments," no action was taken against GWB (Hedges:
1992).
Effect
on Democracy
Finally 'elected' in January
2001, after a recount in a state where G W Bush`s own brother was the
acting Governor, was a difficult pill for Democrats the world over to
swallow, with some remarking it was remarkably like the elections held
in Latin America, which the USA had deemed not to recognise as the true
democratic will of the people (Allende`s Government in Chile - 1972 for
example).
George Bush Snr was also asked to step down, by Judicial Watch, from a
large defence contracting company; Carlyle Group, due to the natural conflict
of his son`s Presidency. (Ruppert: 2001). Ruppert goes further in detailing
further democratic abuses and the Bush family spanning 3 generations and
ranging from support of the Nazis to the Iran Contras.
Summary
The
pedigree of George W Bush is in a precarious balance between those that
support him, as the son of a former US President, ex State Governor for
Texas, and ex CIA Director, and that justifies their position. His critics
claim he is a drunk, (Washington Post) guilty of Insider trader at Harken
(Hedges:
1992), and a cheat in the US Elections 2000 (Ruppert 2001). Whichever path you accept GW
Bush has had tremendous influence in American politics, not least as a
result of his father`s presidency, and that dynasty is likely to continue.
Conclusions
GW
Bush made a reputation for himself in executing many prisoners in his
role as State Governor of Texas, demonstrating his ruthlessness. He claims
to be reformed from what he called the "wild years." The Harken episode
has revealed an, at best, ignorance for the law, if not scant disregard,
with the USA elections 2000 being decided where his brother had control
of the voting process. The whole history is beginning to combine into
a Bushgate, in advance, which only the future can hold as to its accuracy.
Copyright
S Coleman 2001 30/11/2001
| Hedges, S.J. (1992)
"The Colour of Money" US News and World Report, US Online Ruppert, M.C. (2001) |
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