George H. W. Bush

vs.
Michael Dukakis

wh
la

Domestic policies
  • Massive debt from Reagan Adminsitration: Restore and increase taxes of institute still more cuts
  • Environmental issues
  • Civil rights
  • Women's rights and gender issues
Foreign policy
  • Collapse of Soviet Union..."peace dividend"?
  • Without energy alternatives, Mideast looms in importance
  • Persistent concerns about reversing "the Vietnam syndrom"



  Results....
  • Further cuts in social services...praising volunteerism as a "thousand points of light"
  • "No new taxes" means spending just inceases national debt...to be paid by future generations
  • Environmental concerns reduced to energy questions
  • Symbolic concessions with images of women and minority figures
  • Dan Quayle and focus on "culture wars"
First Gulf War as measure of result....
  • Disinformation in the buildup and justification for the war
  • Media demonstrates complete subservience and direct accountability only to the government 
  • Consolidation of partisan "news"
  • Paradox of access to international sources