After having a week to recover from the election, Americans are now wondering what the next four years will bring.
In his victory speech last week, President Bush outlined his agenda, giving prominence to Iraq and the war on terror. The president referenced a continued interest in bills controversial in the past, such as one which permits drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, although Bush promised to work with Democrats.
Despite this promise, Trevor Parry-Giles, professor of political communication at the University of Maryland, argued Bush will still attempt to pass bills important to him, pointing out to he has had four years to reach across the aisle.
\I don't see any evidence from the last four years that that's going to change,"" Parry-Giles said. ""That's what they've been getting for the last four years when there wasn't a strong majority.""
However, bills will not necessarily pass through Congress, he said, because the Senate is unlikely to approve controversial measures, including some Supreme Court nominations.
""If something extremely controversial were to happen,"" he said, ""I think what you would find is that the 60 senators you would need to override or end discussion would disappear.""
Central to Bush's next term is his approach to terrorism and the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bush is likely to make few, if any, changes to his foreign policy, according to Parry-Giles.
""Why should he change? Americans seem to have validated saying they like that foreign policy,"" he said. ""And as he said, he has earned political capital and he plans to spend it. In terms of foreign policy, that means more of the same.""
While his foreign policy may not fundamentally change, Anthony Arend, professor of government at Georgetown University, said Bush may seek support from the United Nations and other countries.
""Look at the way the administration responded immediately after Sept. 11 with [Secretary of State] Colin Powell building an international coalition against al-Qaida and the Taliban,"" Arend said. ""With the election behind him and the conservative base secured, I can see very likely the president would move in that direction.""
Bush will need to make new appointments to his cabinet before acting on any important policies, as other resignations are rumored to follow Attorney General John Ashcroft's yesterday; Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has also expressed a desire to leave. Regardless of who replaces Ridge, according to William Daddio, professor of sociology at Georgetown University, the department will continue to evolve.
""I think they're making strides,"" Daddio said. ""Whoever had the job first had a monumental job. People realize it's a process that's going to take a long time.""
