Is George W Bush ready for the White House?

George W Bush has filled the key cabinet posts two weeks ahead of his inauguration as US president.

Mr Bush has selected the most ethnically diverse cabinet in US history. Some Democrat critics argue that it also is one of the most conservative.

He has been meeting business leaders to outline his economic policies. He also spoke to key members of Congress in an attempt to pave the way for future cooperation.

How has George W Bush handled the transition period so far? Is he ready for the White House? What do you think of his team?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

I'm reassured by the appearance of old but competent faces

John Dawson, USA

George Bush will do fine. His only problem is that he is terrible talking to the press. I'd much rather have a man that is surrounded by experienced, intelligent Americans than some glib president surrounded by a bunch of politically diverse ideologues. America will be fine and so will the world if they let his team get in there and start to work without constant, disrupting "assessments" by the press and public. For my money, I'm reassured by the appearance of old but competent faces.
John Dawson, USA

George W. Bush selfishly put his own desire to be president ahead of the democratic rights of Florida voters to have their votes counted and ahead of the rights of all Americans to democratically elect a President. That can't be good for a country so proud of its democratic traditions.
Paul Mulett, UK

Bush will do just fine. I think that he will bring The US closer to the centre of the political spectrum. People don't seem to understand that we are the United States of America and that we vote as states. Many tend to see the US as one entity, but in fact, politically, we are fifty states under a Federal Republic. Anyone that doesn't think that Bush won the election needs to read the US Constitution.
Bryan, USA

Mr Bush is far better prepared to be President of the United States than Bill Clinton ever was. He has carefully chosen a cabinet that is qualified, diverse and has been selected by merit of what they have accomplished rather than their ethnic background.
Keith McMillen, USA

Of course he's not ready. We need a Philosopher-King, perhaps recruited from the faculty of a top European university.
Bryn Lane, USA

Bush isn't dumb. He is just not intellectually curious about anything. Most past presidents have come into office with a lifelong interest in America's history and the world in general. Bush has neither, and our country and the world will suffer greatly for it. Better enjoy the environment, your civil rights, and the strong economy - the party's almost over.
Steve Koeppel, USA

Since when did ignorance qualify as a point of view

Owen Courreges, Texas, USA

Of course Bush is prepared to lead. His cabinet appointments were superb, showing Bush's characteristic intelligence and prudence. As a resident of Texas who has lived through Bush's tenure as governor, I am saddened to see individuals with no experience being governed under the man judging his qualifications. Since when did ignorance qualify as a point of view? Bush will have a good first hundred days because he is well prepared for the job ahead. Just ask Texas.
Owen Courreges, Texas, USA

Praising Bush for putting together his Cabinet in such a short time is laughable. Does anyone think these jobs weren't promised LONG before November 7th? Do you honestly think Colin Powell was surprised to be nominated? The true powers "behind the throne" had told Bush who he would be "choosing" when the time came. All he had to do was practice pronouncing their names and remember which post was which!
Anne, USA

Ready for the White House? You must be kidding! First of all, let us not forget that George Bush was appointed by a partisan Supreme Court, and not elected by the people. All one has to do is watch this poor soul try to navigate through a session with the press to determine that he is not competent to be President. Had he had a different father, we would not be having this discussion. Not only is his lack of experience and intelligence scary, it is also telling that he apparently has no desire to learn. But get ready for the environmental issues, women's rights, gay rights to all suffer; at the expense of what? Star wars revisited? Please! Your question is interesting in that it presupposes that George Bush is actually in charge.
Penny Marshall, USA

This is a successful man at whatever he has done from Harvard business school to the oil business and governing Texas. He won 2400 of the USA's 3100 counties, you could walk on them from East to West, he has the bulk of middle America behind him not the chattering classes and the liberal elite maybe but who cares. He has shown great skill in forming a modern representative cabinet full of ability and will do what he does best -manage by consent and consensus. Go for it Dubya!
G.O.P Mann, England

Mr Bush is ready to be the 43rd President of the USA

Malani Lungu, Malawi

Most of us did not want Mr Bush to be the most powerful man in the world, but it all turned out different. The truth here is that Mr Bush is ready to be the 43rd President of the USA and with the help of an experienced Cabinet and his old man on his side, I strongly feel that the man will manage.
Malani Lungu, Malawi

Bush has essentially assembled the kind of team that Dick Cheney and his Daddy's old cronies urged him too. The only twist is that they've managed to find some minority and female faces to make the bitter pill of their substantially conservative stances a little easier to swallow for all those Americans who are still angered over Al Gore having the election stolen from him.
Edward W, USA

The children can go home now. The adults are back to run the Government.
Philip Grebner, USA

George W. is NOT ready to run anything

Uiya Kipkorir, USA

George W. is NOT ready to run anything. I think this country is in for some very tough times. Dubya is going into office ignorant of the fact that he lost the election (and as we will find out later, the electoral vote too).
What also worries me is his lack of foreign policy. Great, he has Condeleeza Rice and Colin Powell, both brilliant, but their fields of interest lie in the Cold War!
Uiya Kipkorir, USA

Well, if he really does move on his plans for tax cuts and to revamp the pitiful condition of America's public schools, I'd say he's off to a flying start.
Erich, USA

I am encouraged by many of the choices President Bush has made for his cabinet. They demonstrate his ability to lead a diverse and competent team. Honestly, who can say that General Powell and Senator Ashcroft do not represent diversity in political philosophy? In the personal dimension, I am especially proud of Arab-American and African-American contributions to the building of America (and the Republican Party). Bush is stretching past this sloganeering to find some of the most intelligent and capable candidates demonstrates his readiness to lead. Let's let him lead.
Timoteo, USA (roots in the Congo)

He is inheriting some very good people from his father's old administration

Josh Brandon, Australia

Personally, I believe Al Gore won the Electoral College as well as the popular vote. When Bush was "called" the winner on election night, I honestly could not believe it. However I must admit, that while I still think Gore won and would be a much better President than Bush, the 30+ days of the Florida recount at least gave me time to get used to the POSSIBILITY of Bush getting the job. Now that he has it, I am more comfortable with the idea and while I can't say I agree with a lot of his nominations for cabinet, he is inheriting some very good people from his father's old administration.

Bush may not be ready as a person, but as a leader, he will be ably supported by some very good staff members and so he will have the stability of his cabinet to make him ready, willing and able to lead the country. Where it goes from there is anyone's guess.
Josh Brandon, Australia

Most people who have commented seem to have pre-judged President Bush based on what others have said he is like, or what they feel that he will be like, rather than what he's actually done so far! Are they ready to change their minds if he does a good job? Or are we just in for four years of bitching, whatever he does, because he isn't a liberal (and/or is religious)?
Dave, Ex-pat in Belgium

If Dubya puts an end to our vacillation then he will have done one good thing already

Ron Bentham, UK

Bush is in the best tradition of the reactionary right. Be that as it may the one thing that affects the UK is we shall now have to decide who to get into bed with, US or EC. So if Dubya puts an end to our vacillation then he will have done one good thing already. Give me Uncle Sam any day..
Ron Bentham, UK

The fact that G.W. Bush is not a great speaker in public creates a mistaken impression that he is dumb. Bill Clinton is a brilliant speaker at ease with large audiences, and what? What did he really accomplish in Somalia, Kosovo, Ireland, China, Iraq, Mid East? Did he save (read: reform) social security? Did he reverse dangerous decay of the U.S. armed forces? Did he reform health care system despite many promises? I find it quite ironic that a "dumb conservative" has created so quickly a cabinet so diversified and consisting of such competent people Clinton could only dream about. Dubya is a modest man, fully aware of his limitations. This will make him much better (and less dangerous) president than vain and arrogant Clinton.
Mirek Kondracki, USA

Sure, he's filled the posts. What I can't understand is why he's getting applauded for filling them FAST. Since when has "do it fast" become more important than "do it RIGHT"?
Guru S., CT, USA

As a business manager I recognise the excellent leadership style shown by George Bush. The bottom line is that Bush is smart enough to surround himself with excellent people - a sign of an outstanding leader. Liberal Democrats are frightened that Mr. Bush and his Administration will expose the lies of the Clinton Administration regarding social issues.
Dave Andreson, USA

There is surely a distinction to be drawn (with Bush or with anyone else) between his competence and his political philosophy. To date George W Bush appears to have passed the "competence" test (quick, decisive, able to delegate, able to balance a ticket, confident enough to not be deflected by criticism of his penchant for trusted and experienced advisers). The sad bit is that the political route he seeks is not one that is good for the US or for the rest of the world. He is showing much of the energy and determination of the great Franklin Roosevelt, but sadly, there's no "new deal" from Dubya.
Chris W Drew, UK

Good to hear the liberals moan once again

Charles P, U.S.

Good to hear the liberals moan once again. The Bush cabinet is more experienced and more diverse than any in modern history, including the Clinton years. It is obvious that the "leftists" among you will not be pleased at anyone or anything Bush does from this point to the end of his administration. Clinton's administration, in large by example, has proved to be one of the most corrupt in our history. His foreign policy was mostly self indulgent, and has been made clear that he has little to no respect to our men and women in uniform. His attorney general has not carried out her duties because of political views or perhaps just political fear. So, go ahead and attack the Bush cabinet if it makes you feel better. Thankfully we finally have an administration that will be reflective of what made America great, and not another sniffling, apologetic bunch of "one-world" liberals, whom have erode this nation's prestige and pride.
Charles P, U.S.

It's a shame that many people are so easily led by the liberal-biased US news reports (mostly TV). George Bush has got no credit for significant education improvements in Texas while governor. Several key Texas Democrats have and are backing his ideas based on his performance while Governor. He has been disparaged by the US media to the point that everything he does or will try to do is labelled as radical or right-wing before he has even been inaugurated.
Anyone will tell you that a good CEO (or President) surrounds him or herself with the best managers they can find and then gives them the freedom to work. A president is the guidance system, not the booster rocket. George Bush may not be the best speaker in the world, but his ideas are solid and he has appointed the muscle to get things done.
Bill Walsh, USA

Just a note to Mikko Toivonen of Finland. Americans have not chosen Bush, five of our Supreme Court Justices did! Half a million more Americans voted for VP Gore and it seems increasingly clear as the media review uncounted ballots in Florida that Bush's razor-thin Electoral College margin is a fraud! Not since 1877 has a Presidency been so thoroughly compromised by the means of its installation!
Mitchell Howard, USA

No, George Bush is not ready to be President. Fortunately for him, he won't have to do much. Just make speeches, smile and wave for the cameras, and hope that the public doesn't notice who's REALLY running the country. I'm truly ashamed to be a US citizen.
Doug Black, USA

The Bush Cabinet appointments show a man totally in hock to his backers. The overall cast of his team is conservative with a capital C. The most depressing aspect of his appointments and potentially the most problematical is the number of his advisors who are from his father's era and some are from the Ford administration. Their ideas and world-view were set in the Cold War era, the danger is their solutions will show no insight into the new world conditions. Bush has already shown himself to be deluded into thinking because America is the "sole remaining Super Power", he can do what he wants in the world. I would have thought that he would have learned from Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia, that an ant can eat an elephant.
Brian Binney, UK

Being a "Brit" living in Texas, I have seen much of George Bush Jnr's work, some good, some bad. Like most politicians he is not perfect, but any man who can piece together a cabinet in such a short time, with such a wide ethnic spectrum demands respect - especially when the media has continually insisted that it could not be done. As far as I can see, the only real similarity that will exist between George Bush Jnr's government and that of his father is the name. Let's not be too hasty to judge him, everybody has to prove themselves, and it is wrong of us to judge a man who has not yet been able to do this.
Matt West,TX, USA

GWB spoke about the economy on TV last night. He had trouble stringing a couple of words together let alone a whole coherent sentence. He will never be ready for the White House. The US is in for a difficult four years. I only hope he has the sense to listen to advisors rather than make a decision on his own. His father seemed fairly clued up, just goes to show that some things are not inherited.
Alex, NZ (ex-pat)

Surely the most powerful man in the world should be a bit more inspiring

Andy, UK

My own opinion is that George Dubya worries me. His foreign policies seem to be non-existent, apart from the fact he wants to pull US troops out of trouble spots - this in itself will only mean the rest of us (particularly the UK) will have to send more troops in. Also, the comments made by him after the interest rates were cut yesterday, seem to be being made by a man simply jumping on the bandwagon of praise. He doesn't seem to have a clue what to say if it's not been written for him already in a speech. Surely the most powerful man in the world should be a bit more inspiring.
Andy, UK

Mr. Bush has said several times he is "not afraid" to surround himself with skilled, experienced figures. Not afraid? He means afraid not to. This cabinet will be a saving counterbalance to Bush's woeful lack of knowledge and experience on national and international issues. And don't congratulate Bush for the smooth transition, praise Bush's experienced transition team leader, Dick Cheney. Also, regarding the skin-deep diversity of Bush's cabinet, each member is a vigorous supporter of Bush's views regarding the specific office over which they each preside, making this cabinet one of the most uniformly conservative in history, even by US standards. This cabinet is no different than it would be had he actually won the vote and had a mandate.
Mitch Nolen, USA

Going into hysterics before George Bush has even set foot into office is childish and immature

Sandra Parmer, USA

After eight years of watching the mental giant from Arkansas reduce America's credibility - George Bush is going to be great! But Americans, have been brain washed into accepting mediocrity, half truths, high taxes and hatred of other Americans with new ideas. Americans will need to be shaken-up before they open their minds to question the established political and news media motives. They will have to see for themselves that George Bush has integrity and was elected twice by no-nonsense Texans for governor. That he graduated from Yale with an MBA, flew jet aircraft in the military, owned his own business and speaks a second language. Going into hysterics before George Bush has even set foot into office is childish and immature. He has already put together an "A Team" for his Cabinet and associates with a higher class of people than did Clinton.
Sandra Parmer, USA

Although his party's successful attempt to stop recounts was outrageous, I think Dubya should be given a chance. Everyone made fun of Reagan, but he stopped the Cold War. Just ask Gorbachev.
Ray Marsh, Australia

It doesn't matter what the skin colour of Bush's team is. What matters is their competency and their agenda. Bush seems wholly incompetent, and his agenda is unpleasant, to say the least. Repressive conservatism is repressive conservatism, whatever the ethnicity of its executors.
Khan, UK

Bush is a mindless puppet of the establishment. Of course he's ready.
Wil, Canada

I don't think that he's ready for the White House

Cormac McGaughey, USA

I don't think that he's ready for the White House. He has made several controversial appointments and these will be met with hostility. His economic plans don't appear to have been fully thought out and may well tumble the US back into recession.
Cormac McGaughey, USA

President-elect Bush has demonstrated his executive ability by completing his cabinet nominations over two weeks before the end of a significantly shortened transition period. This is in strong contrast to President Clinton, who did not complete his cabinet nominations until something like 6 weeks AFTER his inauguration. W is ready with a strong, competent team behind him.
David Schultz, USA

Get ready for more theatrics such as nods, winks, charming smiles and the glinting-eye-evasion of tough questions. I find it amusing that the only people in the US that don't think Bush is a buffoon usually are the same people that thought Reagan was a good president. Maybe we'll put 'em both on Mt. Rushmore.
Eric Bell (ex-UK), USA

I believe Bush Jr has done a great job ever since he became president-elect

Zulfiqar Ali, Pakistan/ USA

I believe Bush Jr has done a great job ever since he became president-elect. The way he's handling the whole transition period is really commendable. He has chosen an excellent team, all very well qualified for their designated posts. I personally like his choice of Ms Rice as a national security advisor. As far as the question relating to his readiness for the White House is concerned, it's my opinion that only time will tell, although I have a very strong feeling that he's going to be just fine, with no major problems.
Zulfiqar Ali, Pakistan/ USA

It may be ethnically diverse, but the common factor between them is that they are all George Bush Senior people. Do we really want a repeat of that era?
Alan Rowell, UK

My only consolation in a (another) Bush presidency is that Congress is so evenly divided. I see the Democrats (and moderate Republicans) as a firewall against any far-right agenda. Democrats will take back the House and Senate in 2002 so we only have to hold the fort for two more years!
Lisa, Washington, DC

"Come the millennium, month 12, In the home of greatest power, The village idiot will come forth, To be acclaimed the leader." Nostradamus, 1555.
Ben Ashley, France, Paris (British)

It doesn't take a genius to be President - look at Reagan. Equally if Americans want such a heartless government (which they actually don't, though that's another story) then it's their country. What bothers me is Star Wars - and here Dubya's blinked world view will affect the rest of us. Isn't it obvious this is just a wheeze to fuel the armaments industry? Hasn't it been proven those missiles can't hit anything anyway? And what if terrorists just choose to send their bomb by FedEx? No fancy satellite system is going to stop that!
Nick, UK

He has done an excellent job, it is a pity the press will not admit this fact.
Richard T. Ketchum, USA

As an African American and a "minority". I am not jumping up and down. Condelezza Rice, Linda Chavez, Spence Abraham, are minorities that have done more harm to their own ethnic groups and to whites than helping them. Their colour and position is irrelevant. I detest school vouchers and so does a great percentage of the American public.

I admire Powell for reaching out to African Americans and other minorities to work in the state department. Something the others have not and will not do. This is not about minority rights; but for the rights of the working class. Although the cabinet may be diverse. The Christian Coalition is waiting to pounce. Campaign Finance reform. Not if big business can help it. Democrats are not perfect. It is the extreme views of the Republicans I detest the most.
A Butler, USA

George Bush is as ready to be President of the United States as he has been prepared to be by those who engineered his election. Ethnic and gender diversity is no substitute for political and ideological diversity. The Bush administration will represent a massive swing to the right.
Michael A. Lewis, US

Bush is more than ready. By his appointment of qualified individuals of both sexes and from such diverse ethnicity, he has essentially "shut up" the Democrats whose support for minorities and women was, and has been only pure rhetoric throughout Clinton's term. By such appointments, not only does Bush display his respect for people with merit, but also blows away the absurd Affirmative Action Act, which is demeaning in that it is essentially a hand out. I believe Bush's term will be most certainly enviable.
Tahir Nawab, NY, USA

Bush has already assembled his cabinet more quickly and diversely than Clinton

Darren Eliker, USA

One of the most significant mistakes Democrats and critics of George W. Bush will make is to underestimate the man's intelligence. The same thing happened during the debates where Bush surprised everyone by significantly holding his own against Gore who was expected to thrash his opponent. Bush has already assembled his cabinet more quickly and diversely than Clinton with a resoluteness not seen in his predecessor.

Bush is a free thinker and decision maker with a talent for placing the right people in the right job, not by special preference but rather qualification. A good leader doesn't have to have all the answers, but wisely surrounds himself with sound advisors. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris, explains the reason for an apparent lack of intelligence is simply a difference in style. Bush thinks in terms of a big idea and lets others work the details while Clinton and Gore know details, but get confused with the big picture. That's why we have no coherent foreign, transportation, or energy policy today. If you're a liberal lefty, please keep thinking Bush is a dummy. It will help us conservatives in the long run when he succeeds.
Darren Eliker, USA

GW Bush has introduced a time leap - backwards in time. His team is composed of people of past. With that selection there will be no future. Only reversal to dark ages. I feel sorry for the people of the world that the Americans have chosen us a president of the past.
Mikko Toivonen, Finland