sheets of the regime. It was in this speech that Bush repeated the Scowcroft slogan that will
accompany his regime into the dust bin of history: The New World Order. After gloatingly quotingGorbachov's condemnation of "Iraq's aggression," Bush came to the relevant passage:
Clearly, no longer can a dictator count on East-West confrontation to stymie concerted United
Nations action against aggression. A new partnership of nations has begun, and we stand today at a
unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rareopportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth (^)
objective --a new world order-- can emerge: A new era-- freer from the threat of terror, stronger in
the pursuit of justice and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the
world, east and west, north and south, can propser and live in harmony. [fn 49]
During August and September, Bush's Gulf offensive had allowed him to dominate the headlines
and news broadcasts with bellicose posturing and saber-rattling in the crisis which he had
assiduously helped to create. Now, during October, the awesome economic depression produced by
the bipartisan economic policies of the Eastern Liberal Establishment over a quarter-century re-
asserted its presence with all the explosive force of reality long denied.
All during August and September, the haggling had continued between Bush and the Congressional
leadership about how optimally to inflict more drastic austerity on the American people. The
haggling had recessed in August, but had resumed in great secrecy on September 7, with the elite
group of pahaggling proceeded slowly, and key budgerticipants sequestered from the world at a military air base near Washington. Thet deadlines built into the Gramm-Rudman calendar began (^)
to slip by: September 10, September 15, and September 25 were missed. It was now apparent that
the final deadline posed for the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1 could not be met; there
was a danger of a Gramm-Rudman "train wreck" or automatic, across the board sequester of budget
spending authority. On September 30, BusRose Garden ceremony to announce a five-year, $500 bih and the elite Congrellion deficit reduction package, allegedlyssional summiteers appeared in a
featuring $40 billion in deficit reduction during the first year, to be submitted to Congress for
rubber-stamping. This plan contained higher taxes on gasoline, cigarettes, liquor, luxury items, plus
savage cuts on defense, Medicare for the elderly, and farm payments. It was unsweetened by Bush's
favorite nostrum for fatcats, a cut in the capital gains tax. Tax deductions were limited for the mostwealthy. George, squirming under warnings from all sides, but especially the GOP right wing, that
this deal codified his infamous betrayal of June 26, tried to be a little contrite:
Sometimes you don't get it the way you want, and this is such a time for me. And I suspect it's such
a time for everybody sAmerica here and get this deficit under control. tanding here. But it's time we put the interests of the United States of
Bush called the package "balanced" and "fair." "Now comes the hard part," said Mitchell, referring
to the irritating formality of Congressional passage. Believing the assurances of Mitchell and Foley,
Dole and Michel that the resulting deal could be passed, Bush signed a continuing resolution tokeep the government going from October 1 until October 5, while also avoiding the Gramm-
Rudman guillotine.
On October 2, at the urging of the Congressional leaders, Bush made one of his rare televised
addresses to the nation frombudget was the most listless presidential appeal since Carter's 'malaise' speech." [fn 50] Bus the Oval Office. According to one observer, "Bush's TV address on theh's tones (^)
had a pinch of the apocalypse" "If we fail to enact this agreement, our economy will falter, markets
may tumble, and recession will follow. Tell your congressmen and senators you support this deficit-
reduction agreement. If they are Republicans, urge them to stand with the president. If they are
Democrats, urge them to stand with their Congressional leaders." Bush had now discovered that the