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| | == Bill Clinton == | | == Bill Clinton == |
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| − | By 1992, President George H.W. Bush's popularity was falling fast. The economy was failing. He had signed burdensome legislation into law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which required small businesses to comply with costly new regulations for citizens having physical or mental disabilities. Buildings were required to install elevators, for example, and create other accommodations like setting aside many parking spaces set aside for people having disabilities. Lawyers could enter retail stores, spot something not in compliance with the new regulations, and file expensive lawsuits against the businesses with demands for payment of the lawyers own attorneys' fees. While everyone wanted to do more for the disabled, this federal legislation created countless lawsuits and expenses. The U.S. Supreme Court used the ADA to order the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to drop its ban on golf carts at events so that a golfer who claimed he had a rare circulatory problem could compete while using a golf cart!<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5513/is_/ai_n21474458</ref> | + | By 1992, President George H.W. Bush's popularity was declining quickly, primarily due to a downturn in the economy but also due to shortcomings in his leadership. Both liberals and conservatives disliked his policies, and he never connected with voters. He had signed burdensome legislation into law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which required small businesses to comply with costly new regulations for citizens having physical or mental disabilities. Buildings were required to install elevators, for example, and create other accommodations like setting aside many parking spaces set aside for people having disabilities. Lawyers could enter retail stores, spot something not in compliance with the new regulations, and file expensive lawsuits against the businesses with demands for payment of the lawyers own attorneys' fees. While everyone wanted to do more for the disabled, this federal legislation created countless lawsuits and expenses. The U.S. Supreme Court used the ADA to order the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to drop its ban on golf carts at events so that a golfer who claimed he had a rare circulatory problem could compete while using a golf cart!<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5513/is_/ai_n21474458</ref> |
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| | Conservatives supported a candidate (Pat Buchanan) to challenge Bush for the Republican nomination, and Bush was crushed in a three-way contest in the fall. Democrat Bill Clinton won 43% of the vote, Bush won 37%, and independent third-party candidate Ross Perot (a wealthy businessman from Texas concerned about the budget deficit) won 19%. | | Conservatives supported a candidate (Pat Buchanan) to challenge Bush for the Republican nomination, and Bush was crushed in a three-way contest in the fall. Democrat Bill Clinton won 43% of the vote, Bush won 37%, and independent third-party candidate Ross Perot (a wealthy businessman from Texas concerned about the budget deficit) won 19%. |
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| | + | Bill Clinton became a controversial president who served for eight years but never won even 50% of the vote. In 1993, his wife (the "First Lady") Hillary Clinton led a massive committee-based effort for the government to take over the health care system, which is about 1/7th of the nation's economy. Physicians, pro-lifers and the insurance industry helped defeat Hillary's complex plan in Congress. Also in 1993, terrorists linked to radical Muslims set off truck bomb under World Trade Center in attempt to knock down the two massive towers. Fortunately, only six were killed. |
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| | Bill Clinton 1992-2000: Dem. Pres. hurt by failed health care plan and Monica Lewinski sex scandal; 1st budget surplus in years | | Bill Clinton 1992-2000: Dem. Pres. hurt by failed health care plan and Monica Lewinski sex scandal; 1st budget surplus in years |
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| | """Don't ask, don't tell""" 1993: Clinton wanted ban on gays in military lifted; military refused and excludes gays; protested by gay movement | | """Don't ask, don't tell""" 1993: Clinton wanted ban on gays in military lifted; military refused and excludes gays; protested by gay movement |
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| − | Health care reform "1993: Hilary Clinton led team to take over health care. Physicians, pro-lifers help defeat complex plan in Congress"
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| − | World Trade Center bombing 1993: terrorists linked to radical Muslims set off truck bomb under World Trade Ctr in attempt to destroy it; six killed
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| | Brady Bill 1994: federal gun control requiring criminal background check and five-day waiting period for handgun purchasers | | Brady Bill 1994: federal gun control requiring criminal background check and five-day waiting period for handgun purchasers |