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Contributors
President George W. Bush
Mr. Bush
is the 43rd President of the United States. [go to Bush index]
 Opportunity,
Compassion and a War to Win
Remarks to the Republican Governors Association
[President George W. Bush] 2/25/04
It is always an honor to welcome fellow governors to Washington,
D.C. I'm a proud former member of the RGA. And tonight we're
proud to welcome the newest members of this growing organization
-- Olene, Ernie, Haley, and Arnold. (Applause.) The Governor
of California is new to politics, so he's still getting used
to all the cameras and lights. (Laughter.) I used to think the
coolest governor was from Florida. (Laughter and applause.)
The most distinguished former member of the RGA is a predecessor
of Governor Schwarzenegger, and a predecessor of mine. President
Ronald Reagan had his 93rd birthday this month --(applause) --
and tonight we want Nancy and his family to know we are thinking
of this great American. Ronald Reagan's leadership revived America's
economy, renewed America's strength, and lifted America's confidence.
And that spirit of optimism and faith in fundamental American
values is the spirit we will carry to victory in November of
2004. (Applause.)
I married really well. (Laughter.) I am so honored -- (applause.)
I appreciate you coming tonight, Laura. She's a great First Lady
for our country. I'm really proud of the job she's doing. (Applause.)
I want to thank my friend, Bob Taft, for being the chairman
of this August group. I appreciate Kenny Guinn from Nevada for
being the vice-chairman. I thank Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts
for hosting this reception. I want to thank all the other Republican
governors who are here. I'm proud to call you, friend.
I want to thank all of you who are here to support these governors.
They're making a significant difference in their states. They
bring such optimism and hope. (Applause.) I appreciate the members
of my Cabinet who are here.
I also want to acknowledge a man who is not here -- Vice President
Dick Cheney spent the day campaigning in Minneapolis and Wichita,
but he's recently completed another important assignment. Once
again I put him in charge of my vice presidential search committee.
(Laughter.) He tells me he's reviewed all the candidates, and
he's come back with the same recommendation as last time. (Laughter
and applause.) In fact, I made the choice myself, and I have
taken the measure of this man. They don't come any better, and
I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side. (Applause.)
We meet during the presidential primary season. We're witnessing
a clear trend -- it looks like we have a winner in the Republican
primaries. (Laughter and applause.) The other party's nomination
battle is still playing out. The candidates are an interesting
group, with diverse opinions: For tax cuts, and against them.
For NAFTA, and against NAFTA. For the Patriot Act, and against
the Patriot Act. In favor of liberating Iraq, and opposed to
it. And that's just one senator from Massachusetts. (Laughter
and applause.)
The other party is still not finished selecting its nominee.
Yet this much is already certain: Come November, the voters are
going to have a very clear choice. It's a choice between keeping
the tax relief that is moving the economy forward, or putting
the burden of higher taxes back on the American people. It is
a choice between an America that leads the world with strength
and confidence, or an America that is uncertain in the face of
danger. The American people will decide between two visions of
government: a government that encourages ownership and opportunity
and responsibility, or a government that takes your money and
makes your choices.
I will set these alternatives squarely before the American people
in a spirited campaign. I look forward to the contest. (Applause.)
We have a record of historic achievement. And most important,
we have a positive vision for the years ahead -- for winning
the war against terror, for extending peace and freedom, and
creating jobs and opportunity here at home. We'll leave no doubt
where we stand -- and we will win our second term in November.
(Applause.)
The last three years have brought serious challenges. We've
given serious answers, and the strong leadership these times
of extraordinary change demand. We came to office with an economy
heading into recession. We delivered historic tax relief, and
the consumer spending and investment that resulted helped lift
our economy back to growth, so that people are getting hired
again. At a time when competition is not just across town, but
across borders and continents, America's productive workers have
made this economy the fastest growing of any major industrialized
nation. (Applause.)
We had to confront corporate crimes that cost people jobs and
savings. So we passed the strongest corporate reforms since Franklin
Roosevelt, and made it clear that we will not tolerate dishonesty
in the boardrooms of America. (Applause.)
We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning --
and from that day to this, we have pursued terrorists across
the world. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of
the al Qaeda network, and the rest of them know we're on their
trail. There is no cave or hole deep enough to hide them. (Applause.)
We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror, and the
spread of weapons of mass destruction. We have used the power
of this country to end forever two of the most violent and dangerous
regimes on Earth. More than 50 million people in Afghanistan
and Iraq are reclaiming the rights and dignity of free men and
women -- and America has been proud, once again, to lead the
armies of liberation. (Applause.)
When Dick Cheney and I came to Washington, we found a military
that was under-funded and under-appreciated. So we increased
the defense budget to give our men and women the tools and training
they need to win the war on terror. And today, no one in the
world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of
the United States military. (Applause.)
We learned that on September the 11th our homeland is no longer
protected by vast oceans. So we reorganized our government and
created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the
ports and borders and to better protect the American people.
When we came to office, people in this city had gotten used
to gridlock, old problems were used to score points; old problems
were politicized, debated, and just passed on from year to year.
We didn't come here to this Nation's Capital to do things the
Washington way. We chose to lead and to get things done. (Applause.)
We passed major reforms to raise the standards of public schools.
We passed reforms in Medicare to give prescription drugs and
choice to our seniors. We're showing that with big goals and
clear principles, you can get past old differences and make progress
for all of the American citizens.
It's the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them
on to future Presidents and future generations. (Applause.) It's
the President's job to seize opportunities, and not let them
slip away. A President needs to step up and make the hard decisions
and keep his commitments. And that is how I will continue to
lead our country. (Applause.)
Great events will turn on this election. The man who sits in
the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror, and
the direction of our economy. The security and prosperity of
America are at stake. Our course is clear.
In the next four years, we'll keep our enemies on the run, and
extend the frontiers of liberty. In the next four years, we'll
help more Americans to find their opportunities in a changing
economy. In the next four years, we will stand for the values
that make us a good and decent country. (Applause.) Our opponents
have not offered much in the way of strategies to win the war,
or policies to expand our economy. So far, all we hear is a lot
of old bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda
for the future of America. (Applause.) We're taking on the big
issues with strength and resolve and determination, and we stand
ready to lead this nation for the next four years. (Applause.)
A big issue for every family in America is the federal tax burden.
With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was President,
we have left more money in the hands of those who earned it.
By saving and spending and investing and to help create new jobs,
the American people have used their money far better than the
federal government would have. (Applause.)
Our opponents have their own plan for these tax cuts -- they
plan to take them away. They will use that money to expand the
federal government. I have a better idea: To keep this economy
growing, we will have fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C. To
keep this economy going, the tax cuts must be permanent. (Applause.)
We must do more to keep this economy growing. We need to protect
small business owners and employees from frivolous lawsuits and
needless regulation. We need to control the costs of health care
by passing medical liability reform. No one has ever been healed
by a frivolous lawsuit. (Applause.) We need to pass sound energy
legislation, to modernize our electricity system, and to make
America less dependent on foreign sources of oil. (Applause.)
Our opponents talk about job creation, but they're against every
one of these job-creating measures. Empty talk about jobs won't
get anybody hired. The way to create jobs is our pro-growth,
pro-entrepreneur, pro-small business owner agenda. (Applause.)
This economy of ours is going through a time of challenge and
change. In the new economy, many workers change jobs several
times, or start their own businesses, or work out of their homes
as contractors.They often don't have pensions, or health care
through their jobs. Many have had to learn new skills. It's our
responsibility to help people gain the skills and security to
make a good living and to look forward to their retirement.
All skills start with education. My administration has put education
at the top of the agenda. We passed the No Child Left Behind
Act -- (applause) -- we passed the No Child Left Behind Act,
a good law that is bringing higher standards and accountability
to every public school in America. (Applause.) We have a plan
to help high school students who fall behind in reading and math.
We have a plan to help community colleges train workers for the
industries that are creating the most new jobs. We are strongly
committed to education because we believe everyone in America
should have a chance to learn and to succeed, and to realize
the great promise of our country.
My administration understands the importance of ownership in
our society. We've set a great goal: We want every worker in
America to become a saver and an owner. And we have an agenda
to meet this goal. We'll help more people, of every background,
to own their homes and build their own savings. We'll encourage
more people to own their own small businesses. We'll help more
people to own their own health care plans. We want younger workers
to own and manage their own retirement under Social Security,
so that one day, every worker can have the security of a personal
account. When people have solid assets to call their own, they
gain independence and security and dignity, and more control
over their future. I believe in private property so much, I want
everyone in America to have some. (Applause.)
On issue after issue, the American people have a clear choice.
Our opponents are against personal retirement accounts, against
putting patients in charge of Medicare, against tax relief. They
seem to be against every idea that gives Americans more authority
and more choices and more control over their own lives. We'll
hear them make a lot of promises over the next eight months --
and listen closely because there's a theme: Every promise will
increase the power of politicians and bureaucrats over your income,
over your retirement, over your health care, and over your life.
It's that same old Washington mind-set -- they'll give the orders,
and you'll pay the bills. (Applause.) I've got news for them:
America has gone beyond that way of thinking, and we're not going
back. (Applause.)
I trust the people, not Washington politicians, to make the
best decisions for their own money, their own health, their own
retirement, and their own lives.
Our future also depends on America's leadership in this world.
The momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but we still face
serious challenges. Al Qaeda is wounded, but not broken. Terrorists
are testing our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North
Korea and Iran are challenging the peace. The actions we take
and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences
far into this century. If America shows weakness and uncertainty,
the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on
my watch. (Applause.) This nation is strong and confident in
the cause of freedom -- and no friend or enemy today doubts the
word of the United States. (Applause.)
America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime
in Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance, and the Taliban are
no longer in power. (Applause.) America and our allies gave an
ultimatum to the terror regime in Iraq. The dictator chose defiance,
and now the dictator sits in a prison cell. (Applause.)
September the 11th, 2001 taught a lesson I have not forgotten.
America must confront threats before they fully materialize.
In Iraq, my administration looked at the intelligence and saw
a danger. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence, and
they saw a danger. The United Nations Security Council looked
at the intelligence, and it saw a danger. The previous administration
and Congress looked at the intelligence, and made regime change
in Iraq the policy of our country. We all knew Saddam's history
well. He waged aggressive wars against neighboring countries,
and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He cultivated ties to
terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction. He hid those
weapons. He used chemical weapons against thousands of Iraqis
and Iranians.
In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded
a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. As he
had for over a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to comply. So we
had a choice to make: Either take the word of a madman, or take
action to defend America and the world. Faced with that choice,
I will defend America every time. (Applause.)
Others would have chosen differently. They now agree that the
world is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power; they just
didn't support removing Saddam from power. (Laughter.) Maybe
they were hoping he'd lose the next Iraqi election. (Laughter
and applause.) We showed the dictator, and a watching world,
that we mean what we say. Because our coalition acted, Saddam's
torture chambers are closed. Because we acted, the Middle East
is more peaceful. Because we acted, Iraq's weapons programs are
ended forever. Because we acted, nations like Libya have gotten
the message and renounced their weapons programs. Because we
acted, an example of democracy is rising at the heart of the
Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free, and America
is more secure. (Applause.)
We still face thugs and terrorists in Iraq who would rather
go on killing the innocent than accept the advance of liberty.
They know that a free Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause
of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the
will of America and the civilized world. They don't know us very
well. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins.
(Applause.)
We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating
them there so we do not have to face them in our own country.
We're calling other nations to help Iraq build a free society,
which will make us all safer. We're standing with the Iraqi people
as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self-government.
These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will
finish what we have begun, and we'll win this important victory
in the war on terror. (Applause.)
On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice.
Our opponents say they approve of bold action in the world, but
only if no other government disagrees. I'm all for united action,
and so are the 34 coalition partners we have in Iraq right now.
But America must never out-source America's national security
decisions to the leaders of other governments. (Applause.)
Some of our opponents are skeptical that the war on terror is
really a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime -- a
problem to be solved with law enforcement and indictments. Our
nation followed that approach after the World Trade Center was
bombed in 1993. The matter was handled in the courts, and thought
to be settled. But the terrorists were still training in Afghanistan,
plotting in other nations, and drawing up more ambitious plans.
After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not
enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks,
the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United
States -- and war is what they got. (Applause.)
The men and
women who are fighting the war and who have seen the enemy
understand
the stakes. Last year, in a letter home
from the Iraqi theater, a Navy Corpsman named Lonnie Lewis wrote
this: "We have to remind ourselves of what this country
stands for: life, liberty and justice for all. In order to maintain
those rights, we have to stop the threat of terrorism." Corpsman
Lewis's letter concludes: "My family is first. My country
is where they live. I will defend it."
This is the caliber of the people who are defending America.
We are counting on them. The people of Iraq, and people across
the Middle East, are depending on them. And I assure you, ladies
and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in good hands. (Applause.)
This nation is prosperous and strong, yet we need to remember
the sources of America's greatness. We're strong because we love
freedom. America has a special charge to keep, because we are
freedom's home and defender. We believe that freedom is the deepest
need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is
the future of every nation, and we know that freedom is not America's
gift to the world, it is the Almighty God's gift to every man
and woman in this world. (Applause.)
We also know that the greatest strength of this country lies
in the hearts and souls of our citizens. We're strong because
of the values we try to live by -- courage and compassion, reverence
and integrity. We're strong because of the institutions that
help to give us direction and purpose -- families, and schools,
and religious congregations. These values and institutions are
fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect of our
government. (Applause.)
We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups, so they
can receive federal support for their works of compassion and
healing. We will not stand for government discrimination against
people of faith. (Applause.)
We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen
marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find independence
and dignity. We will not stand for any attempt to weaken those
reforms, and send people back into lives of dependence.
We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts,
and every person matters. We will not stand for the treatment
of any life as a commodity to be experimented upon, or exploited,
or cloned.
We stand for the confirmation of judges who strictly and faithfully
interpret the law. We will not stand for judges who undermine
democracy by legislating from the bench, and try to remake the
culture by court order. (Applause.)
And we stand
for a culture of responsibility in America. We're changing
the culture
of America from one that said, "if
it feels good, do it," and "if you've got a problem,
blame someone else," to a culture in which each of us understands
we're responsible for the decisions we make. If you're fortunate
enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving
your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the
quality of the education in your community in which you live,
you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a
CEO in America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your
shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility
society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just
like we'd like to be loved ourselves. (Applause.)
For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation, when little
is expected of leaders -- this is not one of those times. You
and I are living in a period when the stakes are high, and the
challenges are difficult, the choices are clear and resolve is
needed.
None of us
will ever forget that week when one era ended and another began.
On September
14, 2001, I stood in the ruins of
the Twin Towers. I remember a lot that day. Workers in hardhats
were shouting, "Whatever it takes." One man pointed
at me and said, "Don't let me down." As we all did
that day, these men and women searching through the rubble took
it personally. I took it personally. I've a responsibility that
goes on. I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies.
I will defend America, whatever it takes. (Applause.)
In these times I've also been witness to the character of this
nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about the American
character -- our capacity to meet serious challenges, to serve
a cause greater than self-interest. But Americans have given
their answer. I've seen the unselfish courage of our troops.
I've seen the heroism of Americans in the face of danger. I've
seen the spirit of service and compassion renewed in our country.
We've all seen our nation unite in common purpose when it mattered
most.
We will need all of these qualities for the work ahead. We have
a war to win, and the world is counting on us to lead the cause
of freedom. We have a duty to spread compassion and opportunity
to every part of America.
This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome
it. And we know that for the United States of America, the best
days still lie ahead.
God bless. Thank you all. (Applause.)
This speech
was delivered 2/23/04
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