Guten Morgen Mr. Bush

Friday, July 30, 2004
In Missouri, President Bush Has Clear Vision for Moving America Forward


Southwest Missouri State University
Hammons Field
Springfield, Missouri

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all.

THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you, please be seated. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) It's great to be in the heartland of our country. (Applause.) And I want to thank you all for being here this morning to help kick off our Heart and Soul of America Tour. (Applause.)

There will be big differences in this campaign. They're going to raise your taxes, we're not. (Applause.) I have a clear vision on how to win the war on terror and bring peace to the world. (Applause.) They somehow believe the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood.

THE AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: The heart and soul of America is found right here in Springfield, Missouri. (Applause.)

I'm looking forward to the campaign. I'm looking forward to getting out amongst the people. We're going to Michigan and Ohio this weekend. Everywhere I've been going the crowds are big, the enthusiasm is high, the signs are good -- with your help, Dick Cheney and I will lead this nation for four more years. (Applause.)

I'm sorry Laura is not here -- I know you are, too. (Laughter.) You probably wish she was speaking, and not me. (Laughter.) She is a great First Lady. (Applause.) Today you'll hear some reasons why I think you need to put me back into office. But perhaps the most important reason of all is so that Laura will be First Lady for four more years. (Applause.)

I appreciate my running mate. I tell you, he's not the prettiest man in the race -- (laughter) -- but he's got sound judgment -- (applause) -- and he's got great national -- he's got great experience in national security. He's a steady man. I'm proud to have him by my side for four more years. (Applause.)

I thank my friend, Roy Blunt, for his leadership and for his great introduction. I'm proud to be working with you. (Applause.) I appreciate my friend, Kit Bond. You need to send him back to Washington, D.C. (Applause.) And two years ago, you sent a good one from Missouri in Jim Talent. I appreciate you, Senator. Thank you for being here. (Applause.)

I'm honored that Kenny Hulshof and Jo Ann Emerson are with us, two fine members of the House of Representatives. Thank you all for coming. Proud you're here. (Applause.) Speaker Catherine Hannaway, it's good to see you again. It wasn't just but yesterday, it seemed like, we were in St. Charles, Missouri together. Thank you for coming. I appreciate your warm introduction there. (Applause.)

Can't help but notice my friend Johnny Morris is here. Gosh, I wish we were fishing. (Laughter.) I was in the Bass Tracker, I want you to know, over the weekend in Crawford. It didn't sink. (Laughter.) Great to see you, friend. Thanks for coming.

I'm proud so many citizens showed up here. I appreciate the grassroots activists who are here. I'm here to ask for your help. I'm not only traveling the country to ask for the vote, I'm here to ask for your help. I'd like you to call up people on the phone and encourage them to register to vote. Encourage them to do their duty on election day to vote. And when you get them headed toward the polls, make sure you nudge them toward that George Bush/Dick Cheney lever. (Applause.)

I'm glad Joe White is here. He runs Kanakut Camps. Thanks for coming, Joe, I appreciate you coming. (Applause.) I met a fellow named Charlie Graas. He's a volunteer with the Stone County Food Pantry. Let me tell you why I mention him. The strength of America is in the hearts and souls of our citizens, people who are willing to feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, love a neighbor in need. Charlie, thank you for being an army -- a soldier in the army of compassion. (Applause.)

Every incumbent who asks for the vote has to answer one question: Why? Why should the American people give me the great privilege of serving as your President for four more years? In the past few years, we've been through a lot together. We've accomplished a great deal. But there's only one reason to look backward at the record, and that is determine who best will lead the nation forward. (Applause.) I'm asking for your vote because so much is at stake: prosperity and peace. We have so much more to do to move this country forward. Give me four more years, and America will continue to march toward peace and better prosperity. (Applause.)

THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: I'm asking for four more years to make our country safer, to make the economy stronger, to make our future better and brighter for every, single citizen. From creating jobs to improving schools; from fighting terror to protecting our homeland, we have made much progress, and there is more to do. (Applause.)

We have more to do to make America's public schools the centers of excellence we all know they can be, so that no child is left behind in America. When we came to office three-and-a-half years ago, too many of our children were being shuffled from grade to grade, year after year, without learning the basics. We're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've raised the bar. We're setting high standards. We're focusing on results. We're insisting on accountability. We're empowering parents. We're making sure local folks are in charge of schools. And, today, children across America are showing real, substantial progress in reading and math. (Applause.) When it comes to improving America's public schools, we are turning the corner and we're not turning back. (Applause.)

This world of ours is changing. The jobs of the future will require greater knowledge and higher level skills. We'll reform our high schools to make sure a high school diploma means something. We will expand math and science education so our young people can compete in a high tech world. We will expand the use of the Internet to bring high-level training into our classrooms. With four more years, we'll help a rising generation gain the skills and the confidence to achieve the American Dream. (Applause.)

We have more to do to make quality health care available and affordable. When we came to office, too many older Americans could not afford prescription drugs. Medicare didn't pay for them. Leaders in both political parties had promised political -- had promised prescription drug coverage for years. We got it done. (Applause.) More than 4 million seniors have signed up for drug discount cards that provide real savings. And beginning in 2006, all seniors on Medicare will be able to choose a plan that suits their needs and gives them coverage for prescription drugs.

We've expanded community health centers for low income Americans. We've created health savings accounts so families can save, tax-free, for their own health care needs. When it comes to giving Americans more choices about their own health care and making health care more affordable, we are turning the corner and we're not turning back. (Applause.)

This world of ours is changing. Most Americans get their health care coverage through their work. Most of today's new jobs are created by small businesses, which too often cannot afford to provide health coverage. To help more American families get health insurance, we must allow small employers to join together to purchase insurance at discounts available to big companies. (Applause.)

To improve health care we must limit the frivolous lawsuits that raise the cost of health care and drive good doctors out of medicine. (Applause.) We must harness technology to reduce costs and prevent deadly health care mistakes. We must do more to expand research and development for new cures for terrible diseases.

In all we do to improve health care in America, we will make sure the health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. (Applause.)

We have more to do to make America's economy stronger. We've come through a recession, terrorist attacks, corporate scandals. We overcame these obstacles because of the hard work and will of the American entrepreneur, the small business owner, the farmers and the workers. And we came through these obstacles because of well-timed tax cuts. (Applause.)

We gave tax relief to every American who paid taxes. We didn't play favorites with the tax code, we didn't try to pick winners or losers. We made sure families with children, and married couples and small businesses got tax relief. (Applause.) And this time the check really was in the mail. (Laughter and applause.)

Because we acted, our economy since last summer has grown at a rate as fast as any in nearly 20 years. (Applause.) Because we acted, America has added more than 1.5 million new jobs since last August. (Applause.) Because we acted, Missouri has added more than 82,000 jobs over the past 11 months; your unemployment rate is now 5.2 percent. (Applause.) When it comes to creating jobs for America's workers, we are turning the corner and we are not turning back. (Applause.)

Today, I met a fellow named Kit Carson. He's a small business owner here in Springfield. The most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. That's why the cornerstone of our tax relief plan says we're going to help the small business owners. (Applause.)

Here's what he said about tax relief. This is a fellow who's hiring people right here in this area; this is a fellow who's making investments. He said the effect is already -- is showing already. It's going to get better. I'm an optimistic guy, he says; I think we might see a boom bigger than the 90's. The tax relief we passed is working. (Applause.)

We will do more to make America more job friendly and America's workplaces more family friendly. To keep American jobs in America, regulations should be reasonable and fair. To keep the jobs here at home, we must lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.) To keep American jobs here, we must end the junk lawsuits that hurt our small businesses. (Applause.) And to keep this economy growing so people can find work, we will not overspend your money, and we will keep your taxes low. (Applause.)

We'll offer America's workers a lifetime of learning, and help them get training for jobs of the future at places like our community colleges. The education and training they offered can bridge -- can be the bridge between people's lives as they are, and people's lives as they want them to be.

Today, I met Kristin Heydt. She's from Springfield, as well. She used to be a bank teller. With the tax relief she and her family had as a result of the tax cuts, she went back to school. She's now a nurse. She completed a program. She now makes three times the amount of money she made before, because of education. (Applause.)

Good education means workers can realize their dreams. To make sure we continue to grow our economy, we will insist on a level playing field when it comes to trade. We want Missouri farmers selling Missouri crops all over the world. (Applause.) And we'll make sure American families keep more of something they never have enough of, and that's time -- time to play with the kids, time to go to the little league games, time to care for elderly parents, or time to go to class themselves. I believe Congress ought to enact comp-time and flex-time to help America's families better juggle the demands of work and their home. (Applause.)

The goals of the economic agenda are clear. After four more years, our nation will have more small businesses, greater opportunities, better jobs, and higher wages for the American people. (Applause.)

We have more to do to wage and win the war against terror. America's future depends on our willingness to lead in the world. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. (Applause.) The world -- the world changed on a terrible September morning. And since that day, we changed the world.

Before September the 11th, Afghanistan served as the home base for al Qaeda, which trained and deployed thousands of killers and set up terror cells in dozens of countries, including our own. Today, Afghanistan is a rising democracy, an ally in the war on terror, a place where many young girls go to school for the first time. And as a result of our actions, America and the world are safer. (Applause.)

Before September the 11th, Pakistan was a safe transit point for terrorists. Today, Pakistani forces are aggressively helping to round up the terrorists, and America and the world are safer. (Applause.) Before September the 11th, in Saudi Arabia, terrorists were raising money and recruiting and operating with little opposition. Today, the Saudi government has taken the fight to al Qaeda, and America and the world are safer. (Applause.) Before September the 11th, Libya was spending millions to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

Today, because America and our allies have sent a strong and clear massage, the leader of Libya has abandoned his pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and America and the world are safer. (Applause.) Before September the 11th, the ruler of Iraq was a sworn enemy of America. He was defying the world. He was firing weapons at American pilots and forcing the world to sanctions. He has pursued and used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He had harbored terrorists, he invaded his neighbors, he subsidized the families of suicide bombers. He had murdered tens of thousands of his own citizens. He was a source of great instability in the world's most vulnerable region.

I took those threats seriously. After September the 11th, we had to look at the threat in a new light. One of the lessons of September the 11th is we must deal with threats before they fully materialize. (Applause.)

The September the 11th Commission concluded that our institutions of government had failed to imagine the horror of that day. After September the 11th, we cannot fail to imagine that a brutal tyrant who hated America, who had ties to terror, had used weapons of mass destruction and might use those weapons or share his deadly capability with terrorists was not a threat.

We looked at the intelligence; we saw a threat. Members of the United States Congress from both political parties, including my opponent, looked at the intelligence and they saw a threat. (Applause.) We went to the United Nations, which unanimously demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs, or face serious consequences. After 12 years of defiance, he refused to comply with the demands of the free world. When he continued to deceive the weapons inspectors, I had a decision to make: to hope for the best and to trust the word of a madman and a tyrant, or remember the lessons of September the 11th and defend our country. Given that choice, I will defend America every time. (Applause.)

When it comes to fighting the threats of our world and making America safer and promoting the peace, we're turning the corner and we're not turning back. (Applause.) We have more to do. We will continue to work with our friends and allies around the world to aggressively pursue the terrorists and foreign fighters in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. See, you can't talk sense to the terrorists. You can't hope for the best. You can't negotiate with them. We will engage those enemies around the world so we do not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)

We will continue to lead the world with confidence and moral clarity. We've put together a strong coalition to help us defeat the terrorist threats. Over 40 nations are involved in Afghanistan, some 30 nations are involved in Iraq. Over the next four years, I will continue to work with our friends and build alliances. But I will never turn over America's national security decision to leaders of other countries. (Applause.)

We will keep our commitment to help Afghanistan and Iraq become peaceful, democratic societies. These two nations are now governed by strong leaders. They're on the path to free elections. More and more people in Afghanistan and Iraq are stepping up to secure their own country from these killers. They understand the benefits of a free society. Moms and dads in Afghanistan and Iraq want their children to grow up in a peaceful world, and so do we. (Applause.)

The people of these countries can count on our continued help. When we acted to protect our own security, we promised to help deliver them from tyranny, to restore their sovereignty, to set them on the path of liberty. And when America gives its word, America will keep its word. (Applause.)

In these crucial times, our commitments have been kept by the men and women of our military. (Applause.) I thank those who are here today who wear our uniform, and I thank their families, as well. (Applause.) I've seen their great decency and the unselfish courage of those who wear our uniform. The cause of freedom is in good hands. And when these good folks are in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, the best possible training. (Applause.)

That's why last September, when our troops were in combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq, I proposed supplemental funding to support them in their missions. The legislation provided for body armor and vital equipment, hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel, spare parts. In the Senate, only a handful of what I would call "out of the mainstream" folks -- that would be 12 senators -- voted against that legislation. Two of the 12 are my opponent and his running mate. (Applause.)

THE AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: He tried to explain his vote by saying: I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it. (Laughter.) End quote. He's got a different explanation now. One time he said he was proud he voted against the funding, then he said the whole thing was a complicated matter. (Laughter.) There is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. (Applause.)

In the long run, our security is not guaranteed by force, alone. We must work to change the conditions that give rise to terror: poverty and hopelessness and resentment. You see, a free and peaceful Iraq and a free and peaceful Afghanistan will be powerful examples to a neighborhood that needs the example of liberty. Free countries do not export terror. Free countries do not stifle the dreams of their citizens. By serving the ideal of liberty, we're bringing hope to others, and that makes America more secure. By being resolute and strong, by working for the ideal of liberty -- after four more years, America will be more secure and the world will be more peaceful. (Applause.)

These are still dangerous times. There's an enemy out there that would like to hurt us and change our way of life and shake our will and shake our confidence. I agree with the conclusion of the September 11th Commission when they said our homeland is safer, but we are not yet safe. We've started the hard process of reform. We've transformed our defenses and created a new Department of Homeland Security. We passed the Patriot Act to give law enforcement new tools to track terrorists. (Applause.) The mission of the FBI is now focused on preventing terrorism.

We're integrating intelligence and law enforcement better than we have ever before. When it comes to better protecting America, we're turning the corner, and we're not turning back. (Applause.) We will do more to better secure our ports and borders, to train first responders, to dramatically improve our intelligence gathering capabilities. Reform is not easy, and it never is; achieving reform takes -- requires taking on the special interests, requires challenging the status quo.

You see, it's not enough to advocate reform -- you have to be able to get it done. (Applause.) When it comes to reforming schools provide an excellent education for all our children, results matter. When it comes to health care reforms to give families more access and more choices, results matter. When it comes to improving our economy and creating new jobs, results matter. (Applause.) When it comes to better securing our homeland and fighting the forces of terror, results matter. (Applause.) And when it comes to choosing a President, results matter. (Applause.)

THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: This week, members of the other party gathered in Boston. We heard a lot of clever speeches, and some big promises. My opponent has good intentions, but intentions do not always translate to results. (Applause.)

After 19 years in the United States Senate, my opponent has had thousands of votes, but very few signature achievements. (Applause.) During eight years on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he voted to cut the intelligence budget. And he had no record of reforming America's intelligence-gathering capability. He had no significant record for reforming education and health care. As a matter of fact, he and his running mate consistently opposed reforms that limit the power of Washington and leave more power in the hands of the people. (Applause.)

He's spent nearly 20 years in the federal government, and it appears he's concluded that it's just not big enough. (Laughter.) He's proposed more than $2 trillion of additional federal spending, and he's just getting started. (Laughter.) The problem is, he hasn't told us how he's going to pay for it. We can figure it out, can't we?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: He's had a history of voting for higher taxes.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

THE PRESIDENT: We're going to make it clear his prescription for America is the wrong medicine. (Applause.) We're not turning back to the old days, the old Washington mind set that says they will give the orders, you will pay the bills. We've turned a corner from that way of thinking, and we're not turning back. (Applause.)

These are exciting times for our country. It's a time of amazing change. The economy is changing. The world is changing. In our parents' generation, moms usually stayed home while fathers worked for one company until retirement. The company provided health care, and training, and a pension. Many of the government programs and most basic systems, from health care to Social Security to the tax code were based, and still are based on those old assumptions.

This is a different world. Workers change jobs and careers frequently. Most of these jobs are created by small businesses. They can't afford to provide health care or pensions or training. Parents are working; they're not at home. We need to make sure government changes with the times, and to work for America's working families. You see, American workers need to own their own health care accounts. They need to own and manage their own pensions and retirement systems. (Applause). They need more ownership so they can take the benefits from job to job. They need flex-time so they can work out of the home.

All of these reforms are based on this conviction: The role of government is not to control or dominate the lives of our citizens. (Applause.) The role of government is to help our citizens gain the time and the tools to make their own choices and improve their own lives. (Applause.) That's why I will continue to work to usher in a new era of ownership and opportunity in America. We want more people owning their own home. We want more people owning their own business. We want more people owning and managing their own health care system. We want more people owning and managing a part of their retirement systems. When a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of the United States of America. (Applause.)

In this world of rapid change, some things will never change. Our conviction that every life matters and every life counts will not change. (Applause.) Our belief in liberty and opportunity and the non-negotiable demands of human dignity will not change. (Applause.) The individual values we try to live by -- courage and compassion, reverence and integrity, hard work and duty -- won't change. (Applause.) We'll always honor the institutions that give us direction and purpose, our families, our schools, our religious congregations. (Applause.) These values and institutions are fundamental to our future. They deserve the respect of our government. (Applause.)

We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which are the foundations of society. (Applause.) We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every person counts. We stand for judges who strictly and faithfully interpret the law, instead of legislating from the bench. (Applause.) And we will work together to build a culture of responsibility. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, if it feels good, just go ahead and do it, and, if you've got a problem, blame somebody else, to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. (Applause.)

If you are fortunate to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. (Applause.) If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. (Applause.) If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. (Applause.) And in a 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 its leaders. This isn't one of those times. None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another one began. September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day that I will never forget. I remember the workers in hard hats yelling at me, "Whatever it takes." I remember a fireman or a policeman, I can't remember which one, looking me in the eyes and saying, "Do not let me down." As those folks did that day, and like many other Americans, we took it personally. I took it personally. I have a responsibility that goes on. I wake up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. (Applause.)

We've come through much together. We've done some hard work. We've turned a corner. We've moved -- we're moving America forward by extending freedom and peace around the world. We're expanding opportunity here at home. During the next four years, we will spread ownership and opportunity to every corner -- every corner of this country. We will pass the enduring values of our country to another generation. We will lead the cause of freedom and peace and we will prevail. With your support, and with your prayers, I will be a leader America can count on in a world of change. (Applause.)

Four years ago, as I traveled this great country asking for the vote, I made a pledge to my fellow Americans, that if you honored me with this great responsibility, I would uphold the dignity and the honor of the office to which I had been elected. (Applause.) With your help, I will do so for four more years. (Applause.)

Thanks for coming. May God bless. (Applause.) Thank you, all. (Applause.)

#######################
gruß
proxi  

Kerrys Botschaft zielt auf politische Mitte


Gegen Ende seiner Parteitagsrede wandte sich John Kerry direkt an den Mann, den er aus dem Weißen Haus vertreiben will: "Lassen Sie uns in den nächsten Wochen Optimisten sein, nicht nur Opponenten", appellierte der frisch nominierte Präsidentschaftskandidat der US-Demokraten an George W. Bush. "Lassen Sie uns Einheit in der amerikanischen Familie schaffen, keine wütende Polarisierung".

Natürlich weiß Kerry, dass nichts den Präsidenten davon abhalten wird, seine harsche Kampagne gegen den Herausforderer bis zum 2. November noch zu verschärfen. Aber gerade deshalb war der Appell ein raffinierter Schachzug: Bush wurde damit als Spalter hingestellt, der sein Amt zu brutaler Parteipolitik missbraucht - während Kerry sich zugleich staatsmännisch als Versöhner in Szene setzte, der Polemik verabscheut.

Die übergreifende Botschaft des viertägigen Politspektakels in Boston war damit auf den Punkt gebracht - eine Botschaft des "Optimismus" und der "Hoffnung", mit der die Demokraten sich als die Kraft profilieren wollen, die das durch die neokonservative Politik der Regierung Bush in zermürbende Konfrontationen getriebene Land wieder mit sich selbst und der Welt aussöhnen soll.

Und diese Botschaft wurde in einer hollywoodreifen Inszenierung übermittelt, die in Präsentation und Rede Kerrys ihren effektgeladenen Höhepunkt erreichte: Die Töchter Vanessa und Alexandra schwärmten von der Warmherzigkeit und dem Mut ihres Vaters, auf dem riesigen Plasmabildschirm schilderte ein Kurzfilm Kerrys Werdegang vom Diplomatensohn zum Marineleutnant und Senator.

Die "Band of Brothers", Kerrys Kriegskameraden aus Vietnam, versammelten sich auf dem Podium - und schließlich zog der Hoffnungsträger unter dem tosenden Jubel der rund 20.000 Delegierten und geladenen Gäste in die Sportsarena des Fleet Center ein. "Mein Name ist John Kerry, und ich melde mich zum Dienst", leitete er mit militärischem Salut seine Rede ein.



Der Terrorschützer Kerry

In dieser bisher wichtigsten Rede seines Lebens hatte der 60-Jährige zwei große Aufgaben zu lösen: die "Politik der Hoffnung" glaubwürdig zu verkörpern und zugleich die Wähler zu überzeugen, dass er das Land vor der Terror-Gefahr schützen kann. Denn die Umfragen hatten gezeigt, dass die Sicherheitspolik Kerrys Schwachstelle ist.

"Ich habe dieses Land als junger Mann verteidigt, und ich werde es als Präsident verteidigen", berief sich Kerry auf seinen Dienst in Vietnam, um sich als Oberbefehlshaber der Streitkräfte zu empfehlen. Er werde "nie zögern, Gewalt einzusetzen, wenn es erforderlich ist".

Und in Worten, die so auch schon von Bush zu hören waren, unterstrich der Senator das Recht seines Landes auf unilaterale Gewalt: Nie werde er einer anderen Nation oder internationalen Institution "ein Veto über unsere nationale Sicherheit geben".


Bush, der als Spalter

Und auch, um sich als Versöhner einer polarisierten Nation zu profilieren, griff Kerry erneut auf seine Vietnamerlebnisse zurück. Als Kommandandant eines Schnellboots im Mekong-Delta habe er mit Kameraden aus den verschiedensten Regionen der USA gedient: "Niemand scherte sich darum, wo wir zur Schule gegangen waren. Niemand scherte sich um unsere Rasse oder unserer Herkunft."

Und auch als Präsident wolle er ein Amerika regieren, "in dem wir alle im selben Boot sitzen". Zwar sprach Kerry in seiner rund 50-minütigen Rede den Präsidenten nur ein einziges Mal direkt an - doch die implizite Botschaft, die Bush als Spalter Amerikas und der Welt anprangerte, war nicht zu überhören.


Das Vereintes Amerika als Wahlkampfschlager

Und damit zielte Kerrys Rede in die breite Mitte der Wählerschaft, in der die wahlentscheidenden Wechselwähler beheimatet sind. In dieser Mitte, die Ausgrenzung und Lagerbildung traditionell verabscheut, soll die Botschaft der Demokraten von einem vereinten Amerika zum Wahlkampfschlager werden.

Als zum Abschluss des Parteitags 100.000 rote, blaue und weiße Ballons und 500 Kilogramm Konfetti auf die Delegierten hinabregneten, war dies aber auch das Signal für die Rückkehr zum harten Alltag der Wahlkampagne. Seine Kandidatenrede wird Kerry zwar zweifellos neuen Schwung verschafft haben, doch bis zum 2. November ist es noch ein Langstreckenlauf.

(N24.de, AFP)

ich glaube bush hat keine halt mehr im eigenen volk... wird auch zeit, dass sie entlich die augen aufmachen.

mfg ds  

Boxen an!  

Responding to HIV/AIDS Must Be Team Effort

The HIV/AIDS drug cocktail has saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States and around the globe, but after the U.S. death rate fell in the late '90s, many people mistakenly thought the disease was defeated.  At best, the current situation can be called a standoff.  As time progresses, the disease will evolve to counter these medical advances, so pharmaceutical companies will have to develop new drugs to combat drug resistant strains of HIV.  In the meantime, individuals at risk for HIV cannot become complacent.  They must take necessary precautions to prevent transmission of the disease.

Unfortunately, drug innovations have triggered complacency in some individuals, leading them to engage in riskier sexual behavior.  As a result, infection rates are on the rise.  CDC figures confirm that HIV infection rates among a number of demographic groups are increasing.  The figures, which report new diagnoses of HIV infection, are based on 1999-2002 data from 29 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

Change (%) in New Reported HIV Diagnoses in Various Demographic Groups (1999-2002)

Age
Change
Race
Change
Mode of Transmission
Change

15 - 24
+ 10.6%
White
+ 8.1%
Male to Male Sex
+ 17.1%*

25 - 34
- 6.1%
Black
+ 0%*
Male Hetero Sex1
- 0.1%

35 - 44
+ 3.7%*
Hispanic
+ 26.2%
Female Hetero Sex2
+ 4.2%

45 - 54
+ 20.3%
Asian
+ 21.1%^
IV Drug Use
- 9.0%

55 - 64
+ 30.4%
American Indian
+ 9.8%^
All
+ 5.1%

65 +
+ 11.6%^
       
           
1  Men contracting HIV through heterosexual sexual contact.
 
2  Women contracting HIV through heterosexual sexual contact.
 
^ Small sample size (Fewer than 500 individuals diagnosed with HIV)
 
* Group (in each category) with highest number of new diagnoses (2002)
 


Source: Centers for Disease Control

Striking increases in new diagnoses have occurred in a number of the groups.  Those over the age of 45, Hispanics, and men engaging in homosexual sex saw the largest increases.  While Hispanics were the racial group seeing the greatest upsurge in HIV diagnoses, blacks still accounted for the largest number of new diagnoses in sheer numbers.  In a troubling sign for the gay community, homosexual sex among men was the mode of transmission that had the most new diagnoses and the mode that saw the greatest increase over the period.

To combat HIV and the rise in infection rates, the private sector and government should work together to develop useful solutions.  Also, individuals must take personal responsibility for their behavior.  Health care providers, including pharmaceutical companies, must continue innovating to develop even better treatment options. To make sure this happens, the government response to HIV/AIDS must recognize the importance of free market principles. After all, innovation and improvement will not happen from government alone; they also depend on private industry.

To ensure that innovation continues, the government must work to protect the intellectual property rights of pharmaceutical companies.  Drug importation and weak patent protections will erode the profit incentives that pharmaceutical companies have to continue research and development on the next generation of life-saving HIV/AIDS medication.  For their part, pharmaceutical companies need to continue looking for ways to improve access to their medications.  

No matter what government or the health care industry does to respond to HIV/AIDS, individuals have to take personal responsibility for their actions.  People must realize that although pharmaceutical companies have developed drugs to battle HIV for a certain period of time, there is still no cure for HIV.  Accordingly, everyone should avoid risky sexual behavior and IV drug use.  

Gay men, who account for the greatest number of new HIV diagnoses, ought to be particularly careful, reducing their number of sexual partners, always using condoms, and avoiding the use of recreational drugs.  Crystal methamphetamine (also known as crystal meth or Tina), a drug most commonly used among gay men, poses a particularly strong danger.  Crystal meth reduces people's inhibitions, increases the chances they will not use condoms, and increases the likelihood they will engage in group sex.  Essentially, the drug encourages some of the riskiest sexual behavior.  If gay men want to reduce their HIV infection rate, they must not use this dangerous drug.

In addition, all sexually active individuals must get tested for HIV frequently, so they can take safeguards to avoid infecting others with the virus.  Our society's response to HIV/AIDS must involve a shared responsibility between government, pharmaceutical companies, the entire health care industry and individuals.  This coordinated strategy is the most effective way to battle this deadly disease.  



#####################
gruß
proxi  

Wie hoch ist Dein CD4-Zellzahl?

Nimmst Du eine Kombinationstherapie?  

welcher sexuellen orientierung gehörst du eigentlich an, mit so einer erkrankung?

hatte roehm eigentlich etwas mit maennern?

##############
gruß
AN
 

los?

"ich glaube bush hat keine halt mehr im eigenen volk... wird auch zeit, dass sie entlich die augen aufmachen.

mfg ds"


glauben heißt nicht wissen, oder meintest du:

"ich glaube SCHRÖDER hat keine halt mehr im eigenen volk... wird auch zeit, dass sie entlich die augen aufmachen.

mfg ds?"

Was ist eigentlich "keine halt", keine haltestelle wer weiß? vielleicht nimmt ds dieses geheimnis mit ins grab.


#################
gruß
proxi


 

 

Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Policy Memo: Questions On Kerry's Budget


MEMORANDUM
FROM: BC'04 POLICY DEPARTMENT

John Kerry is now the official nominee of the Democratic Party.  He has made numerous policy proposals, but has yet to explain how he will pay for his promises.  Kerry's empty rhetoric on fiscal responsibility still doesn't answer the fundamental question of how he intends to pay for his campaign proposals.  His tax hikes don't even begin to cover the drastic increases in spending he has proposed, and he owes it to the American people to explain himself.

The following balance sheet takes a look at Kerry's current budget promises, using independent third party sources, media sources or the Kerry campaign's own estimates.  Citations follow.  Assuming the tax cuts are made permanent, as the Kerry campaign does, the Kerry plan has a budget gap of $1.3 trillion over the next ten years.  Kerry has yet to explain how he would pay for these new proposals, much less keep his promise to cut the budget deficit in half over four years.



FOOTNOTES

1.   New 5% Corporate Tax Cut:  Senator Kerry will reduce the top corporate rate from 35% to 33.25%, for the very largest companies and leave the rest with nothing.  Considering that an increasing number of businesses operate as sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies, or S corporations, which pay taxes at the individual rate, small businesses are likely to pay higher taxes if Senator Kerry rolls back tax cuts for those who earn over $200,000.  (Sources: "Senator Kerry on Corporate Tax Reform: Right Diagnosis, Wrong Prescription," International Economics Policy Briefs, April 2004)

2.   New Jobs Tax Credit (Source: Jim VandeHei, "Kerry To Offer Cut In Corporate Taxes," The Washington Post, 3/26/04)

3.   New Health Care Plan: Ken Thorpe originally estimated that Senator Kerry's health care plan would cost over $1 trillion.  He has revised this figure downward by crediting Senator Kerry with savings for preventative care and chronic disease management.  While the administration agrees that many of these provisions are worthwhile, CBO has consistently scored these provisions as costing, not saving money. For example, CBO estimated that similar provisions in H.R. 1, the Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, cost nearly $3 billion over ten years.  (Source: "Morning Political Report," ISI, 6/23/04; "Cost estimate for the bill conference agreement: H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003," CBO, 11/20/03)

4.   Create Education Trust Fund: Senator Kerry significantly underestimates the cost of his education proposals.  The sum of individual estimates from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, the President's budget, and Senator Kerry's own website exceed his suggested $200 billion price tag by at least $70 billion.  

College Tax Credit  
 $50.0 billion

Fully Fund IDEA
 $75.4 billion

Fully Fund NCLB
 $70.0 billion

Recruit And Train 500,000 Teachers
 $30.0 billion

School Modernization Bonds
 $24.8 billion

Afterschool Funding
 $13.5 billion

Reduce Dropout Level
 $4.5 billion

Increase GEAR UP
 $2.0 billion

Expand TRIO
 $0.4 billion

(Source: John Kerry For President Website, "Detailed Plan To Strengthen Public Schools," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/5/04; Drew Johnson, "The Return Of Fuzzy Math And Risky Schemes: How Presidential Hopefuls Would Deepen Deficits," National Taxpayers Union Foundation, 1/19/04; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #70: Rejected 47-52: R 1-50; D 45-2; I 1-0, 3/21/03, Kerry Voted Yea; "Detailed Plan To Strengthen Public Schools," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/5/04; Nedra Pickler, "Kerry Blasts Bush's Education Policy," The Associated Press, 4/5/04; John Kerry For President Website, "A Great Teacher For Every Child: John Kerry's New Bargain For America's Children And Teachers," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/6/04; "FACT SHEET: John Kerry's Framework To Cut The Deficit In Half And Invest In Affordable Health Care And Better Schools," Press Release, 4/7/04; "A Great Teacher For Every Child: John Kerry's New Bargain For America's Children And Teachers," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/6/04; John Kerry For President Website, "Detailed Plan To Strengthen Public Schools," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/5/04; Drew Johnson, "The Return Of Fuzzy Math And Risky Schemes: How Presidential Hopefuls Would Deepen Deficits," National Taxpayers Union Foundation, 1/19/04; "John Kerry's Plan To Honor Work, Family," Press Release, 6/16/04; "John Kerry's Plan For One Million More Americans To Graduate High School," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 5/5/04; Ronald Brownstein and Matea Gold, "Kerry Zeroes In On High School Dropout Levels," Los Angeles Times, 5/5/04; Nedra Pickler, "Kerry Faults Bush On College-Funding Program For At-Risk Youth," The Associated Press, 5/20/04; "Making College Affordable For All Americans," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 4/2/04; Budget Of The United States Government, Fiscal Year 2005, Appendix, p. 356)

5.   Extend Unemployment Benefits (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "John Kerry Announces That He Will Hold A Series Of Discussions On The Economy," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 3/18/04; "S. 1708, Unemployment Compensation Act," Congressional Budget Office, 10/22/03)

6.   New National Service Plan (Source: Garry Rayno, "Kerry: Free Tuition For National Service," The [Manchester] Union Leader, 11/29/03)

7.   Auto Industry Subsidies to Produce Energy Efficient Vehicles (Source: Sen. John Kerry, Remarks VFW Post 788 In Cedar Rapids, IA, 6/13/03)

8.   New Technology Plan (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "John Kerry's Plan To Create Millions Of High-Wage Jobs In The Industries Of The Future," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 6/25/04; Aaron Ricadela, "Kerry Pitches $30 Billion Tech Investment Plan," InformationWeek, 6/24/04)

9.   Fully Fund Head Start: The National Education Association estimated that Senator Kerry's proposal to fully fund Head Start would cost $58 billion over ten years. (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "Head Start," Accessed 1/20/04; "Keeping The Promise To America's Preschoolers," National Education Association; Drew Johnson, "The Return Of Fuzzy Math And Risky Schemes: How Presidential Hopefuls Would Deepen Deficits," National Taxpayers Union Foundation, 1/19/04)

10.  Mandatory Funding for Veteran's HealthCare: Senator Kerry cancelled a trip to New Mexico to vote to make veteran's health care mandatory.  The Associated Press and the LA Times citing an informal CBO estimate reported that this would cost $300 billion over ten years. (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "Fighting For America's Veterans," Accessed 1/20/04; Matea Gold and Richard Simon, "Kerry Outmaneuvered In A Rare Attempt To Vote," Los Angeles Times, 6/23/04; Nedra Pickler, "Kerry Has Secretive Meeting With Edwards," The Associated Press, 6/23/04; "Dogfights in the Senate," New York Times, 6/25/04, Editorials/Op Ed)

11.  Plan to Secure Nuclear Materials (Source: Patrick Healy, "Kerry Says He'd Secure Nuclear Materials," The Boston Globe, 6/2/04)

12.  Increase Number of Active Duty Troops by 40,000 (Source: John Kerry For President, "On One Year Anniversary Of Ultimatum To Hussein And Key Kerry Advisor's Protest Resignation From Bush Administration, Kerry Offers Plans To Strengthen U.S. Military And Support U.S. Military Families," Press Release, 3/17/04; Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Kerry Outlines His Military Plan," The Baltimore Sun, 3/18/04)

13.  Full Concurrent Receipts (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "Fighting For America's Veterans," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 3/16/04; "H.R. 1588: National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2004," Congressional Budget Office, 11/25/03; Sarah T. Jennings, Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, 3/27/03, p. 2)

14.  Increase Spending on Homeland Security (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "John Kerry: A Homeland Security Plan To Keep America Safe," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 3/18/04; Jim VandeHei and Brian Faler, "Kerry's Spending, Tax Plans Fall Short," The Washington Post, 2/29/04)

15.  Increase Aid to States (Source: Dan Balz, "Kerry Outlines Tax, Economic Proposals," The Washington Post, 8/29/03)

16.  Increase Global Aids Funding: Senator Kerry claims he will increase international AIDS funding by $30 billion through 2008.  Since President Bush has already pledged $15 billion to combat the spread of AIDS, BC'04 only scores the additional $15 billion.  (Source: John Kerry For President Website , "Plan to Respond to the International Aids Crisis," http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/aids/international.html, Accessed 07/12/04; Jim VandeHei and Brian Faler, "Kerry's Spending, Tax Plans Fall Short," The Washington Post, 2/29/04; The White House Website, "HIV/AIDS Initiatives," www.whitehouse.gov, Accessed 2/29/04)

17.  Increase Child Care Tax Credit (Source: John Kerry For President, "John Kerry's Plan To Honor Work, Family," http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/pr_2004_0616.pdf, Press Release, 6/16/04)

18.  Make Permanent Extension of TRICARE (Source: John Kerry For President Website, "Ensuring Affordable, Quality, And Reliable Health Care For America's Veterans," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 6/2/04; John M. Donnelly, "Senate Adopts Costly Amendment Boosting Health Benefits For Reservists," CQ Today, 6/2/04; "S.1050 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004," CBO Cost Estimate, 06/02/03)

19.  Tax Increases On Those Earning More Than $200,000 Per Year:  Senator Kerry claims nearly $900 billion in tax increases to pay for his new spending, but Treasury will not score that much in additional revenue for these proposals.  In fact, under a current law baseline Senator Kerry's tax increase raises just $300 billion, a third as much as he claims it would raise.  (Source: "Today the Treasury Department produced revenue estimates for the following changes," Treasury Press Release, 2/22/04; "Kerry's Deficit-Cutting Math May Not Add Up," Wall Street Journal, 7/30/04)

20.  End Tax Deferral: According to Gary Hufbauer at the Institute for International Economics, Senator Kerry's proposal will only raise $6 billion per year, half as much as he claims.  The undistributed profits of these companies increased roughly $32 billion a year between 1998 and 2003.  The effective corporate tax rate is 30%.  Companies are able to credit the foreign taxes paid (about 11%) against their US tax liability.  Ending the deferral would return the remaining 19% back to the federal government.   (Source: "Senator Kerry on Corporate Tax Reform: Right Diagnosis, Wrong Prescription," International Economics Policy Briefs, April 2004)

21.  Repatriation Holiday (Source: "Senator Kerry on Corporate Tax Reform: Right Diagnosis, Wrong Prescription," International Economics Policy Briefs, April 2004)

22.  Cut Corporate Welfare: Senator Kerry says he wants to save $300 billion from a Corporate Welfare Commission.  If there were $300 billion in easy savings from corporate welfare, it would have been saved a long time ago.  By the time a Commission is named, staffed, and performs a study, the term of the next President is likely to be half over, if not all the way over.  (Sources: Sen. John Kerry, Remarks In Bedford, N.H., 1/7/04; ?Explanation of Budget Savings? PPI February 2004)

23.  Close Tax Loopholes (Source: "Treasury Announces New Budget Proposals New Proposals Close Loopholes, Stop Abusive Tax Avoidance," Treasury Press Release, 01/13/04; "Estimated Revenue Effects of the Substitute Amendment for S.1637, The Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act," JCT, 5/20/04)

24.  Spectrum Sales: Senator Kerry claims that he will save $30 billion from future spectrum sales.  CBO estimates that the Federal government would collect at most $18 billion over 10 years.  Although BC'04 credits Senator Kerry with savings, all of this is already assumed in their current baseline. (Source: "The CBO Baseline for Spectrum Auction Receipts" The Budget & Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2001-2010, January 2000)

25.  Student Loan Savings: The current formula used to compensate private lenders underestimates a fair market return.  To compensate for this, private lenders rely on occasionally earning more than the calculated rate.  This formula has already been adjusted downward several times in the last decade and further reductions could force some lenders out of the FFEL program.  However, in an effort to calculate conservative budget estimates, BC'04 credits Senator Kerry with $12 billion in savings.  (Source: "Education, Training, Employment and Social Services," CBO Budget Options, March 2003)

26.  Specific Offsets And Restrain Discretionary Spending Other Than Education And Security: Senator Kerry's spending reduction proposals are simply not serious.  For example, OMB estimates that travel and transportation of persons will cost $10.4 billion in 2005 and that the federal travel budget will decline by almost $2 billion or 15.5% between 2003 and 2005.  Senator Kerry claims he would freeze travel at its current level generating more than $10 billion of saving over the next ten-years.  As one can see the current trajectory for the federal travel budget is declining not rising. Senator Kerry's savings proposal would save nothing let alone $10 billion. (Source: "Object Class Analysis," Budget of the United States Government FY2004, February, 2003)

Under the President's Budget, non-security discretionary spending already increases by less than 1%, education, veterans, health, income security and justice spending account for 63% of the remainder.  It is unlikely Senator Kerry will cut these programs.  (Source: Budget of the United States Government FY 2005, February 2004; "An Analysis of the President's Budgetary Proposals for FY 2005," CBO, March 2004)








##################
gruß
proxi  

hier reinstellen?

Wäre hilfreicher - und seit wann kannste Englisch?  

Monday, August 02, 2004
Policy Memo: Progress On Homeland Security


MEMORANDUM
FROM: BC'04 POLICY DEPARTMENT

WHAT KERRY PROPOSES... BUSH HAS DONE

John Kerry is so out of touch with the homeland security picture in the United States that he doesn't realize that virtually all of his homeland security proposals are already being implemented right now by President Bush.

As part of his "Plan to Make America Stronger and Safer," John Kerry sets forth six initiatives that he claims he would pursue if he was elected President.  

Kerry's six initiatives cover 17 separate homeland security issues, and break down into 33 discrete proposals.  Of Kerry's 33 homeland security proposals, 31 are already being implemented by President Bush.

(All citations herein to Kerry's homeland security proposals are taken verbatim from http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/homeland/plan.html, visited 5/27/04)

List of the 31 Kerry "Proposals" the President is Already Implementing

1)      Train the National Guard to serve as personnel in the event of an attack, performing quarantines, evacuations, etc.
2)      Make homeland security a central mission of the National Guard.
3)      Substantially increase the size of AmeriCorp. (Kerry originally said he would double AmeriCorp, but has backed away from that promise)
4)      Expand AmeriCorp's mission to include homeland security.
5)      Create a civil defense program.
6)      Harness the resources of the scientific community to aid in the War on Terror.
7)      Fund the backlog of requests for protective gear for first responders.
8)      Ensure that federal resources get to first responders quickly instead of trickling through bureaucracy.
9)      Give COPS enough funds to realize its initial mission of 100,000 new police officers.
10)     Develop common security standards for metropolitan areas.
11)     Provide resources for the implementation of metropolitan security plans.
12)     Provide funds to develop communication technologies for first responders.
13)     Work with the FCC to ensure that first responders have access to the best wavelengths.
14)     Give state and local governments access to the terrorist watch lists.
15)     Simplify and coordinate the terrorist watch lists.
16)     Foster the establishment of state emergency operation centers.
17)     Encourage states to modernize their ID systems, including driver's licenses.
18)     Strengthen anti-counterfeiting safeguards for identification.
19)     Improve information-sharing between states related to ID fraud.
20)     Investigate phony ID traffickers.
21)     Use modern technology to monitor health trends and provide real-time reporting of disease outbreaks.
22)     Pool patient and pharmacy usage data from across the country to alert public health officials of potential disease outbreaks.
23)     Prepare health providers and hospitals for patient surges in case of terrorist attacks.
24)     Develop antidotes and vaccines to protect the population from bioterrorism.
25)     Develop standards for ports and for container loading facilities.
26)     Develop technologically transparent containers.
27)     Employ technology to improve accuracy and timing for transmitting container shipment data.
28)     Accelerate the timetable for the "smart border" accords.
29)     Implement security measures at cross-border bridges and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel.
30)     Develop safety standards for critical infrastructure, including chemical plants.
31)     Help owners of vulnerable industrial facilities find economical ways to improve security.

John Kerry has proposed what he calls a national "Defend America" initiative.  It's a four-point plan... every single point of which has already been implemented by President Bush.

I.  Kerry's Supposed National Guard Proposal:  

"Homeland security should be a central mission of the National Guard. Guard members should be trained to serve as personnel in the event of an attack, helping evacuate or quarantine people, assisting in medical units; and helping communities set up and execute plans."

But President Bush Has Already Enlisted the National Guard:  

President Bush federalized many National Guard units in the wake of September 11th to provide additional airport security, fly air patrols, and protect critical infrastructure. National Guard units are under the jurisdiction of state Governors during peacetime, and can be federalized only in time of emergency.
[SOURCES:  http://appropriations.senate.gov/releases/record.cfm?id=182288; http://www.ngaus.org/newsroom/libertyshield31903.asp]

Since 9/11 National Guard troops have been used, for example, to secure nuclear facilities in Arizona and Pennsylvania.  
[SOURCES:  http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s=1289768&ClientType=Printable; http://www.pema.state.pa.us/pema/cwp/view.asp?A=7&Q=251737&pemaNav=|4715|4749|4752|4016|]

More than 23,000 members of the Army and Air National Guards have been called into federal service to provide homeland security as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.  
[SOURCE:  http://appropriations.senate.gov/releases/record.cfm?id=182288]

The President has also called for the deployment of National Guard troops as part of Operation Liberty Shield to defend critical bridges and railways across the nation.
[SOURCE: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/...ease/press_release_0115.xml]
And National Guard Units Have Long Received the Training Advocated by Kerry:  

The federal government prescribes a variety of training regimens for National Guard units.  National Guard units are regularly trained to assist with evacuations and quarantines.  Many units receive training in medical assistance, for example through the New Horizons training program.  The National Guard also employs a number of "Civil Support Teams" that are trained in all of these functions.
[SOURCE: http://www.arng.ngb.army.mil/about_us/aiding_america.asp; http://www.sgaus.org/BrinkChange.htm; http://www.arng.ngb.army.mil/news/....asp?nav_link_id=12&news_id=263; http://www.reswritingservices.com/y2k.html]
II.  Kerry's Supposed AmeriCorps Proposal:  

"John Kerry believes that AmeriCorps should be doubled and its mission expanded to include homeland security. AmeriCorps members could be trained to help in emergency medical response, community planning, and other homeland security activities."

But Kerry Has Already Acknowledged He Will Scale Back This Promise:

At the beginning of April, Kerry stated that budget realities would force him to scale back his proposed national service program.
[SOURCE:  http://www.iht.com/articles/513761.html]
Meanwhile, President Bush Has Already Called For Substantially Increasing AmeriCorps:

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called for a 50% in the size of AmeriCorps to 75,000 volunteers.  President Bush has already substantially increased AmeriCorps funding levels over funding levels in FY 2003, and the FY 2005 budget would achieve the President's goal of supporting 75,000 AmeriCorps members.
[SOURCES:  http://www.cns.gov/news/nsn/151.html; http://www.collegiatetimes.com/linkedFiles/pdfarchive/092503.pdf; http://www.nationalservice.org/news/pr/020204.html]
And President Bush Has Also Already Expanded AmeriCorps to Include Homeland Security:

AmeriCorps launched a homeland security grant program in July of 2002, awarding $10.3 million in competitive grants to 43 non-profit and public organizations in 26 states and the District of Columbia. "President Bush asked AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to devote more resources to homeland security, and the Corporation was the first federal agency to distribute grants after the 9-11 attacks to engage volunteers in homeland security."
[SOURCE:  http://www.nationalservice.org/news/pr/021604.html]
III.  Kerry's Supposed "Community Defense Service" Proposal:

"This service would be comprised of hundreds of thousands of Americans in neighborhoods all over the country. Volunteer Service Captains would receive training and education to assist their communities in the event of an attack  Like the Civil Defense Program that existed during World War II, service captains would act as a 21st century Neighborhood Watch. They would be trained to help identify local health professionals and experts in the area, provide information on local evacuation or quarantine plans, and stand ready to be of assistance to first defenders in the hours after an attack -- providing needed manpower to deal with the aftermath."

But President Bush Has Already Done This... It's Called "Citizen Corps"

President Bush established Citizen Corps in 2002.  Citizen Corps harnesses community resources through the creation of local Citizen Corps Councils that formulate emergency preparedness plans for responding to disasters such as terrorist attacks.  Training materials, technical assistance, and other coordination are provided to local communities by the federal government.  More than 1,100 local Citizen Corps Councils are already up and running.
[SOURCE:  http://www.citizencorps.gov/pdf/council.pdf; http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/]
IV.  Kerry's Supposed Private Sector Technology Partnership Proposal:  

"During World War II, the U.S. government brought together our greatest thinkers, scientists, academics and policymakers through the Manhattan Project to design new tools for warfare. John Kerry believes we need a similar effort to bring the advances of the 21st century to the War on Terrorism. This should include: gathering the nation's greatest scientists to develop needed vaccines and antidotes to the biological and chemical scourges (similar to the work that is already being done to protect troops on the battlefield from biological and chemical agents); partnering with the technology community to improve detection technologies and developing and implementing new security systems to prevent tampering with goods in transit."

But Kerry's Proposal Is Taken Straight From President Bush's Speeches, Right Down to the Reference to World War II:

"The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks.... It will bring together our best scientists to develop technologies that detect biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and to discover the drugs and treatments to best protect our citizens."
[SOURCE:  President's Speech on the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security, 7/7/02, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2031255.stm]

"[T]o prevail in this war, we will fight on the frontiers of knowledge and discovery.... Our scientific community is serving on the front lines of this war, by developing new technologies that will make America safer.... For example, I saw a warning and response system that will supply first responders with timely and life saving information in the event of a chemical attack on a subway or any other enclosed space.... What I saw was new technologies that our scientists are developing to help us secure the homeland.  America is grateful -- it's grateful for your work."
     [SOURCE:  President's Speech at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois, 7/22/02, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/07/20020722-1.html (emphasis added)]

"You're on the cutting edge, and you've got a great history, as well. It is a direct decedent of the University of Chicago laboratory, where in 1942 Enrico Fermi and his colleagues achieved the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction."
[SOURCE:  President's Speech at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois, 7/22/02, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/07/20020722-1.html (emphasis added)]
And President Bush Has Already Harnessed the Resources of the Scientific Community:

President Bush established Project BioShield in 2003, a federal initiative to develop and stockpile vaccines and treatments against agents like small pox, anthrax, botulinum toxin, e-bola and plague.
[SOURCE:  http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/in1/wwwhpr0204g.html]

Researchers in Chicago and at MIT have been enlisted to participate in Project BioWatch, where they develop new technologies to detect the release of biological or chemical attacks.
[SOURCE:  http://homelandsecurity.osu.edu/focusareas/sensors.html]

The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate established the Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), also known as "the Department's first government 'think tank,'" in April of 2004.
[SOURCE:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3507]
John Kerry has proposed what he calls a "new" first responders initiative.  It's a four-point plan... three points of which have already been implemented by President Bush.

I.  Kerry's Supposedly "New" First Responder Equipment Plan

"First defenders often don't have the protective gear or other emergency response equipment to help react in the critical first hours after an attack. The government should immediately fund the backlog of requests for protective gear, assuring that these resources go directly to responders, rather than trickling through the bureaucracy."

But President Bush Has Already Provided Unprecedented Levels of Funding for Equipment, Including Protective Gear, for First Responders:

In 2001, the Department of Justice announced that the State Domestic Preparedness program would "[provide] a combined total of $145.3 million to the States using a single solicitation to cover both Fiscal Year 2000 and 2001 funding allocations."  President Clinton's last two budgets allocated an average of only $74 million in funding per year.

The 2002 budget allocation to the program ? President Bush's first ? was $315 million.  That is more than four times the funding level from Clinton's last two budgets.

In 2003, President Bush allocated over $2 billion to the program "to address the unique equipment, training, planning and exercise needs of state and local emergency responders."  That is more than 26 times the funding level from Clinton's last two budgets, a 2,600% increase in funding.
[SOURCE FOR ALL OF ABOVE:  http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/guidelinesinfo.htm]
And President Bush Has Already Taken Steps to Cut Red Tape and Speed Funds into the Hands of First Responders:

In 2003 President Bush signed into law a requirement that the Office of Domestic Preparedness act on grant applications for first responder funds within 15 days of receipt, and that states must obligate the funds to local governments "within 60 days after the grant award."
[SOURCE:  108 P.L. 90, Title III]

DHS has formed a Homeland Security Funding Task Force and assigned it the mission of cutting through red tape at the State level so that funds can be gotten into the hands of First Responders.
[SOURCE:  http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2004/0315.html]

The federal government is doing its part.  James Garner, president of the Conference of Mayors, stated that the federal government has sent homeland security money to the states "by Federal Express," but that the states have sent the money to the cities by "pony express."
[SOURCE:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04023/264741.stm]

Given the number of cities eligible for funds, it would substantially slow the federal process down for DHS to attempt to allocate money directly to each individual municipality.
II.  Kerry's Supposedly "New" Proposal to End the Cop Crunch:

"President Bush made this problem even worse by cutting the Federal COPs program. As a result, police officers receive fewer resources to double up on duty, doing their normal responsibilities as well as focusing on homeland security. Americans shouldn't have to face rising crime in their communities to fight the war on terrorism.  John Kerry believes we should restore funding to COPS to realize its initial mission of 100,000 new police officers."

But President Bush Has Already Met and Exceeded the 100,000 Officer Goal:

When President Clinton created the Office of Community Policing Services, he pledged to put 100,000 new law enforcement officers on the street.  In March of 2004, the Department of Justice announced that it had far exceeded this goal, providing grants for the hiring of over 118,000 new law enforcement officers.
[SOURCE:  http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=1056]
And President Bush Has Not Eliminated the COPS Program:

President Bush has called for allocating more than $97 million to the COPS Program in FY 2005.  While this is less money than was allocated expressly to COPS in FY 2004, that is because many elements of the Program ? such as matching grants for bullet-proof vests, and the entire hiring component of the Program ? have been folded for efficiency reasons into general Justice Assistance funds.

The President has called for $508 million to be allocated to the Justice Assistance Grants Program in FY 2005.  Most of those funds can be spent flexibly, including for the hiring of additional law enforcement officers.
IV.  Kerry's Supposedly "New" Proposal To Develop Metropolitan Security Plans

"There are currently no common standards for what basic capabilities every major metropolitan area should have to respond to chemical, biological, and other catastrophic terrorist attacks. Kerry believes the Department of Homeland Security should work with representatives of federal, state, county and local governments; representative of health providers and first responders, and rank and file members to develop appropriate standards for preparedness in our cities and provide resources so communities can meet these goals."

But President Bush Already Requires States and Localities to Develop Homeland Security Plans:

To receive federal grant money through the State Homeland Security Program, each state is required to submit a "State Homeland Security Strategy" plan to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Domestic Preparedness.  State plans must be coordinated with metropolitan and local governments, and states cannot receive grant money until their plans are approved.
[SOURCE:  Homeland Security Grant Program Application, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/fy04hsgp_appkit.pdf]

Metropolitan areas wishing to receive grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative are similarly required to develop Urban Area Homeland Security Strategies.
[SOURCE:  UASI Grant Application, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/docs/fy04uasi.pdf]
And President Bush Has Already Issued National Standards:

In February of 2003, President Bush issued Presidential Directive HSPD-5, requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop "a consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State, and local governments to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents."  DHS issued an Initial National Response Plan in October of 2003, and issued National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards in March of 2004, which provide "the Nation's first standardized management plan that creates a unified structure for Federal, state, and local lines of government for incident response."
[SOURCES: HSDP-5 at  http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030228-9.html; NIMS at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3259]

"[B]eginning in FY 2005, adoption of the NIMS [by the states] will be a requirement for receipt of grant funds from ODP."
[SOURCE:  Homeland Security Grant Program Application, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/fy04hsgp_appkit.pdf]
Moreover, President Bush Already Provides Resources for the Development of Such Plans:

Under the State Domestic Preparedness Program, certain grant funds were expressly allocated for planning activities.  Under the State Homeland Security Program, grant funds can be used more flexibly, but continue to "support costs related to homeland security and emergency operations planning activities."
[SOURCE:  Homeland Security Grant Program Application, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/fy04hsgp_appkit.pdf]
John Kerry proposes "bringing 21st century information technology to the war on terror."  It's a three-point plan... every single point of which has already been implemented by President Bush.

I.    Kerry's Supposed Proposal to Bolster First-Responder Communications

"Existing technologies must be made available to firefighters, police officers, and other first responders to communicate in an attack. The nation should also invest in technologies that make this critical communication even easier. We also need to work with the FCC to assure first defenders have access to the best wavelengths so they can communicate in an emergency."

But President Bush Has Already Provided First Responders Funds to Purchase and Develop Interoperable Communications Equipment:

In September of 2003, President Bush distributed over $146 million in grants for interoperable communications systems to a variety of first responder groups through the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.  The grant program "explore[s] uses of equipment and technologies to increase interoperability among the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical service communities."
[SOURCES: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=961; http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/...ease/press_release_0266.xml]
And the FCC is already working to ensure that first responders are allocated radio wavelengths that are free of interference:

The FCC is presently actively evaluating the "Consensus Plan" for radio wavelengths, which is supported by a variety of first responder groups.  FCC staff endorsed the plan in March of 2004, and the FCC announced on May 13 that it expects to complete rules that will solve the problem of interference with public service wavelengths within a month.  
[SOURCES:  http://www.consensusplan.org/plugin/template/consensus/21/2693; Tit for Tat as Nextel, CTIA Clash on Rebanding, RCR Wireless News, May 17, 2004; http://www.consensusplan.org/plugin/template/consensus/21/3133]
II.   John Kerry's Supposed Proposal to Share Information with States & Locals

"Appropriate state and local authorities should immediately get access to the 58 national terrorist lists and intelligence officials should work to simplify these lists. Then, as recommended by the Hart-Rudman Commission, a 24-hour operations center should be established in each state to provide a real time intergovernmental link between local and federal law enforcement. Field-level police would contact this center to determine whether to hold or release suspects based on a check of federal databases."

But President Bush has already given states and locals access to the terrorist lists:

The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created in September of 2003.  It is fully staffed on a 24/7 basis, and can be contacted at any time by state, local, or federal law enforcement to access the Terrorist Screening Database and check apprehended individuals against it.  "The process for making an internal inquiry is relatively simple. A police officer checks the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database on a routine traffic stop, and he/she is requested to call the TSC because the person stopped has similar identifying information to a known or suspected terrorist listed in the NCIC. When the officer calls TSC, through the police department's dispatch, the call center verifies the caller's identity, takes the information on the encounter ... and checks his name through the TSC's database."
[SOURCE:  Statement of Donna A. Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening Center, Before the House Judiciary Committee, March 25, 2004, available at http://www.iwar.org.uk/homesec/resources/tsc-mar-25-04/Bucella.pdf]

In February of 2004, the Department of Homeland Security announced its plan to "deliver to states and major urban areas real-time interactive connectivity with the DHS Homeland Security Operations Center through the Joint Regional Information Exchange System (JRIES)."  The Department explained that "this collaborative communications environment ... will allow all states and major urban areas to collect and disseminate information between federal, state, and local agencies involved in combating terrorism."
[SOURCE:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3212]
And President Bush is already simplifying and consolidating the terrorist lists:

TSC completed the initial development of a Terrorist Screening Database in March of 2004, and will finish its consolidation of the terrorist watch lists by the end of 2004.
[SOURCE:  Statement of Donna A. Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening Center, Before the House Judiciary Committee, March 25, 2004, available at http://www.iwar.org.uk/homesec/resources/tsc-mar-25-04/Bucella.pdf]
Moreover, President Bush has already provided states and locals funds and guidance for the development of emergency operations centers:

In 2002 and 2003, President Bush distributed $81 million in grants for emergency operations centers.
     [SOURCE:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/...ease/press_release_0265.xml]

The establishment of Emergency Operations Centers is an essential element of DHS's new National Incident Management System, with which all states must comply to be eligible for grant money under the State Homeland Security Program in FY 2005.
[SOURCES:  http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NIMS-90-web.pdf; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/fy04hsgp_appkit.pdf]
III. John Kerry's Supposed Proposal to Cut Down on False Identification

"With better technology, we can replace ... 'big-net' tactics with smarter, more targeted efforts to identify real terrorism suspects. This includes encouraging states to modernize their driver's license and ID systems; strengthening anti-counterfeit safeguards; enabling different state motor vehicle departments to communicate about applicants using false information; and investigating phony identification traffickers."

But President Bush is already encouraging the states to modernize their ID systems:

In his July 2002 "National Strategy for Homeland Security," President Bush announced a "major initiative" to "support state-led efforts to develop suggested minimum standards for driver's licenses, recognizing that many states should and will exceed these standards."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/book/nat_strat_hls.pdf]

"The Secret Service has worked closely with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to develop minimum and uniform standards for U.S. driver's licenses."
[SOURCE:  Hutchinson Testimony, September 9, 2003, available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...teetestimony090903_ahutchinson.pdf]

Since the President's National Strategy was announced, "[m]ost states have undertaken efforts to bolster security in the driver's licensing process."
[SOURCES:  http://www.aamva.org/Documents/...tateDLIntegrityProject06242003.pdf; http://www.alec.org/meSWFiles/excell/DRIVERS%20LICENSE.xls]
And President Bush has instituted numerous anti-counterfeit safeguards:

The Forensic Documentary Laboratory (FDL) at the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement is "a fully-accredited crime laboratory" the sole mission of which is "to detect and deter domestic and international travel and identity document fraud."  "[T]he FDL has performed forensic document and fingerprint examinations for numerous state and local police agencies, Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and local prosecutors' offices.  The FDL has also provided training in fraudulent document recognition to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), State and local police agencies, and DMVs."
[SOURCES:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=44&content=1875&print=true; Hutchinson Testimony, September 9, 2003, available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...teetestimony090903_ahutchinson.pdf]

The Department of Homeland Security has implemented US-VISIT, which employs biometric data to verify and lock-in the identity of visa holders when they attempt to enter the United States, and has provided state-of-the-art training to Customs & Border Patrol Officers to aid them in detecting fraudulent documents.  More than 60,000 fraudulent documents were intercepted at the United States' over 300 points of entry in FY 2003.
[SOURCES:  http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/...031001-verdery.doc; Hutchinson Testimony, September 9, 2003, available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...teetestimony090903_ahutchinson.pdf]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has created the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS), "a web-based on-line system for employers to verify the names and SSNs of newly hired employees."
[SOURCE:  Testimony of James B. Lockhart, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (September 9, 2003), available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...itteetestimony090903_jlockhart.pdf]

The Social Security Administration has also created the SSA Online Verification Service (SSOLV), which "enables DMVs to request verification of an SSN from SSA while processing an application for a driver's license."  Thirty-four states are currently participating in the program.
[SOURCE:  Testimony of James B. Lockhart, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (September 9, 2003), available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...itteetestimony090903_jlockhart.pdf]

Numerous federal agencies, including the Secret Service, DHS, FDA, TSA, USPS, SSA, FBI, INS, and CIA, have joined with the private sector to form the Document Security Alliance, an organization that develops and distributes strategies to prevent identification fraud.
[SOURCE:  http://www.dsai.org/content/index.cfm?contentID=246&cgoup_id=88]
President Bush has already taken steps to improve information-sharing relating to document fraud:

The Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement has established a Law Enforcment Support Center "to assist state and local law enforcement officers who have questions about identification assessments during traffic stops.  In addition, ICE operates units to link enforcement and intelligence resources with adjudication officers from BCIS who must make determinations about documents that they are presented for adjudication."
[SOURCE:  Hutchinson Testimony, September 9, 2003, available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...teetestimony090903_ahutchinson.pdf]

In October of 2003, the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs announced its National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan, which calls for "establish[ing] regular communications and methods of information exchange" between "[l]ocal, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies" regarding criminal intelligence.  The plan advocates providing federal training and funding in support of the intelligence sharing effort.
[SOURCE:  http://it.ojp.gov/documents/...riminal_Intelligence_Sharing_Plan.pdf]

The Secret Service has been working closely with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), which has in turn been developing numerous systems through which states' DMVs can share regarding the use of false documentation.  Among these are the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) Standardization Program; the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS); and the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS).
[SOURCES:  http://www.aamva.org/Documents/drvAutomatedSystemsNLETSProjectDef.pdf; Hutchinson Testimony, September 9, 2003, available at http://www.aamva.org/documents/...teetestimony090903_ahutchinson.pdf; http://www.aamva.org/drivers/drv_AutomatedSystemsPDPS.asp; http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/01/14/gen.drivers.license/]
Finally, President Bush is already shutting down phony identification traffickers:

Operation Card Shark, a pilot program of the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement, has succeeded in busting several "document mills" and seized thousands of documents.
[SOURCE:  http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/...031001-verdery.doc]

The Department of Justice has actively prosecuted dozens of phony identification traffickers.
[SOURCE:  http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/dc/Press_Releases/Feb_2004/04069.html; http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/us/terrorism/cases/index2.html (listing more than 20 indictments related to document fraud)]
John Kerry has proposed what he calls a national "Homeland Health" initiative.  It's a three-point plan... every single point of which has already been implemented by President Bush.

I.    Kerry's Supposed "Real Time Detection System" Proposal

"This initiative would apply the benefits of 21st century modern technology to provide real time reporting of disease outbreaks and track and monitor health trends.  Most bioterror illnesses initially look like the flu, and health professionals may not realize a trend. A new real time detection system would pool confidential patient data and pharmacy usage across the country to alert public health officials when disease is on the rise."

But President Bush has already instituted real-time reporting of outbreaks and monitoring of health trends:

President Bush's BioSurveillance Initiative is designed to "detect disease outbreaks and exposure to contaminants."  The $130 million investment will "enhance the early warning of potential emerging biological threats through the BioSense program" and "strengthen[] the Laboratory Response Network in a push toward real-time laboratory reporting."
[http://www.cdc.gov/fmo/budgtsum05web.pdf]

In 2003, the Center for Disease Control at HHS initiated the development of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) to provide "electronic, real-time reporting of information for public health action."  NEDSS includes "direct electronic linkages with the health care system allowing medical information ... to be shared electronically with public health officials as soon as a clinical laboratory receives a specimen or makes a diagnosis of a condition of public health importance."
[SOURCE: Testimony of Joseph M. Henderson, Director Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t030924.html]
And President Bush has also instituted measures to pool information to alert public health officials of potential disease outbreaks:

The President's FY 2005 budget provides $100 million for Project BioSense, which "uses automated analysis techniques on electronically available health data to highlight a potential public health problem."  
[SOURCE:  http://www.asm.org/Policy/index.asp?bid=24871]

BioSense improves the monitoring of public health data by "synthesizing information from nurse call lines, over-the-counter drug sales, and selected laboratory tests" to "provide an emerging picture of an attack before a large number of actual cases arrive in emergency rooms."  
[SOURCE:  President's FY 2005 Budget, Department of Health & Human Services]
II.   John Kerry's Supposed Proposal to Train Health Providers for Biological Attacks

"Today, most doctors and nurses are not adequately trained to detect many biological weapons and hospitals are not prepared to respond to a mass crisis. This initiative would provide training to health providers and assist hospitals and other providers in developing plans for a surge in patients."

But President Bush has already taken unprecedented measures to train hospitals and health providers in bioterror preparedness:

President Bush signed into law the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which contains numerous provisions designed to enhance and fund the preparedness of health care providers and hospitals.
[SOURCE:  http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/PL107-188.html]

Under President Bush's leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services "trains and maintains federal public health emergency response teams to be rapidly deployed in the first stages of a bioterrorist incident."  The Health Resources and Services Administration "works with states and the nation's hospitals to ensure their preparedness on a regional basis."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2003/pdf/bud15.pdf]

In 2002, President Bush distributed $1.1 billion in terrorism preparedness grants to the states and major metropolitan areas. The preparedness funds were divided into two parts. "The CDC distributed a total of $918 million to state and local health departments to support bioterrorism, infectious diseases and public health emergency preparedness activities.  The Health Resources and Services Administration provided $125 million to the states to develop regional hospital plans and enhance the ability of hospitals to deal with large numbers of casualties."
[SOURCE:  Testimony of Tommy Thompson, available at http://hhs.gov/asl/testify/t020716b.html]

In 2003, President Bush distributed an additional $1.4 billion in grants to assist in preparations for terrorism-related public health emergencies, including $498 million specifically earmarked "for states to develop surge capacity to deal with mass casualty events."  
[SOURCE:  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030902.html]

In his FY 2005 budget, the President noted that "[n]early $4.5 billion has been provided to bolster State, local, and hospital biodefense preparedness since September 11, 2001.  The budget continues support for these investments by proposing an addition $1.3 billion in 2005, bringing the total to $5.8 billion."
     [SOURCE:  President's Budget for FY 2005]
III.  John Kerry's Supposed Proposal to Develop Vaccines

"We need to bring together the best of the public and private sectors to develop broad-spectrum designer antidotes so that our first responders - and our population - can be protected and treated from the widest possible range of attacks."

But President Bush has already funded a comprehensive new initiative to develop and stockpile vaccines and antidotes:

In his State of the Union address in 2003, President Bush announced Project BioShield, "a comprehensive effort to develop and make available modern, effective drugs and vaccines to protect against attack by biological and chemical weapons or other dangerous pathogens."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030203.html]

Project BioShield consists of several major vaccine and antidote development initiatives:

--    It "authorizes the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to conduct and support research and development of countermeasures (e.g., drugs, vaccines and devices) that treat, identify, or prevent harm from a biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear agent that may cause a public health emergency that affects national security."
       [SOURCE:   http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-doc.cfm?doc_name=lb-108-2-139 ]

--    It provides for the hiring of experts from the pharmaceutical industry and academia to perform countermeasure research for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
[SOURCE:   http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-doc.cfm?doc_name=lb-108-2-139 ]

--    It spurs the development of new vaccines by providing more than $5.5 billion to purchase and stockpile newly developed countermeasures.  "This authority will enable the government to purchase vaccines and other therapies as soon as experts believe that they can be made safe and effective, ensuring that the private sector devotes efforts to developing the countermeasures."
[SOURCE:  http://budget.senate.gov/republican/squarepeg.htm; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030203.html]
John Kerry has proposed an initiative "Defending Our Skies, Sea, and Land."  It's a three-point plan... every single point of which has already been implemented by President Bush.

I.    John Kerry's Supposed Proposal To Improve Port Security

"John Kerry believes we need to develop standards for security at loading facilities for containers and assure facilities can meet basic standards.  He also believes America should be researching and developing containers that will be technologically transparent ? capable of being inspected instantly by detection and identification equipment.  Technology could also improve accuracy and timing for transmitting and sharing data about contents, location, and chain of control involving a container shipment."

But President Bush has already developed standards for loading facilities, and has taken steps to assure that those standards are met:

President Bush implemented C-TPAT in January of 2001.  The program is a joint government-business initiative that works to improve cargo and shipping security along the entire supply chain by developing model security measures for participating companies and then monitoring to ensure that they are properly implemented.  The program has more than 4,700 participants accounting for more than 70% of the import containers that enter the United States.  The President has called for a $20 million increase in funding for C-TPAT in FY 2005.
[SOURCES: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/...nforcement/ctpat/fact_sheet.xml; http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/protecting.html]

President Bush implemented Operation Safe Commerce beginning in February of 2002, a public-private partnership established in the United States to improve security throughout the international and domestic supply chains.  President Bush has already allocated $58 million to pilot projects under this program to develop a comprehensive strategy at our nation's major ports to ensure the safe shipping of containerized cargo.
       [SOURCE:www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=88&content=090005198006aa1e; www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=88&content=090005198004093a]
President Bush is already developing technologically transparent containers:

Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) is working with C-TPAT importers to implement the "CBP Smart Box initiative."  As of January 2004, Phase 1 participants began adhering to new sealing standards and incorporating container security devices into their standardized security. "The goal is to have a smart and secure container that prevents and deters tampering, alerts government and trade when tampering does occur, and is inexpensive."  
[SOURCES:  http://www.securitymanagement.com/library/Jacksta_Seaport0504.pdf;]

CBP is in the process of developing smart boxes with "additional sensors that could detect chemicals, radiation, and the residue of explosives."  
[SOURCE:  http://www.technologyreview.com/purchase/...79juh=421139&hy6f0=10261]

CBP has employed new gamma-imaging technology as part of its Vehicle and Cargo Imaging System (VACIS).  This Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment is used "to 'see' into cargo containers and identify potential contraband."  Thus far, 145 systems have already been deployed.  Furthermore, the President's FY 2005 budget provides $50 million in funding to develop "the next generation of radiation screening devices."
[SOURCES: www.customs.ustreas.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/.../v1/draft_5fvacis_
5fdoc.doc; http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/protecting.html; www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/newsroom/...doc/v1/mar262004.doc]
Finally, President Bush has already employed technologies to improve the accuracy and timing of shipping data:

"Customs relies heavily on advanced information they receive electronically though the Automated Manifest System (AMS) to select cargo or containers for inspection.  This selection is made using the Automated Targeting System (ATS) to identify high-risk shipments based on anomalies and 'red flags' within AMS data."  In 2003, Customs promulgated new AMS rules for ocean shipments in, requiring that all ocean-going vessel operators file their manifests electronically to facilitate ATS targeting.
[SOURCES:  http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/...rgo_Hearing_03-31-04.pdf; http://www.rofgw.com/TOPIC_ARCHIVE/Customs/customs.html]

"To better identify high-risk cargo and passengers, the [President's FY 2005] budget includes an increase of $20.6 million for staffing and technology acquisition to support the National Targeting Center (NTC) as well as additional Customs and Border Patrol targeting systems, which are used to review advance manifests and other information to determine which shipments are higher-risk and require closer examination."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/protecting.html]

Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) is experimenting with "electronic seals" that both "track containers and detect intrusions."  Electronic seals serve as "a radio frequency identification tag, allowing a container's movements to be recorded automatically when it passes tag readers on loading cranes and port gates or in distribution facilities."
[SOURCE:  http://www.technologyreview.com/purchase/...79juh=421139&hy6f0=10261]
II.   John Kerry's Supposed Proposal To Secure Bridges And Tunnels

"John Kerry believes we should accelerate the timetable for the action plans agreed to in the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico 'smart border' accords.  America should also work with Canada to implement adequate security measures for cross-border bridges and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel."

But President Bush has already accelerated the timetable for the "smart border" accords:

In September of 2003, Tom Ridge noted that, "Smart border accords have significantly improved our coordination and our cooperation with Mexico and Canada."  Ridge went on to state that DHS has "accelerated the [smart border process] and it continues to work."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030902-7.html]

By February of 2004, Tom Ridge testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that "the Smart Border accord we have with Canada, across the board has been successfully and almost completely implemented."
[SOURCE:  Ridge Testimony, February 9, 2004]

In February of 2004, the Department of Homeland Security announced several "significant steps in enhancing border security along the Mexican Border."
[SOURCE:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3193]
And President Bush has implemented significant security measures at cross-border bridges and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel:

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is designed to screen out low-risk shipments, thereby allowing law enforcement to concentrate its inspection efforts on cargo that poses the greatest potential threat.  FAST has been implemented at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and at various cross-border bridges.
[SOURCES:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/text/20020909-3.html; http://ambassadeducanada.org/border/status-en.asp]

The NEXUS program similarly allows border agents to focus their inspection efforts where the risk is greatest by "allow[ing] pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed with little or no delay."  NEXUS has been implemented at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and at various cross-border bridges.
[SOURCES:  http://ambassadeducanada.org/border/status-en.asp; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/text/20020909-1.html]

The United States and Canada have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure improvement funds "for physical and technological improvements at key border crossings."
[SOURCE:  http://ambassadeducanada.org/border/status-en.asp]
III.        John Kerry's Supposed Proposal To Protect Private Infrastructure

"The Bush Administration says we should leave it to big business to make these security improvements themselves, even though they are unlikely to make real changes.  Others might want to mandate protective measures with an expensive one-size-fits-all Federal solution. John Kerry believes [we] should work to develop modest, minimal safety standards for certain kinds of industry and infrastructure, look at requiring private terrorism insurance, and helping owners find economical ways to improved security."

But President Bush is already helping owners find economical ways to improve security:

President Bush's 2003 National Strategy for Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets states that its guiding principle is to "[e]ncourage and facilitate partnering ... between government and industry" and to assure "that federal, state, local, and private entities work together to protect critical facilities, systems, and functions that face an imminent threat."
[SOURCE:  Critical Infrastructure Report, pg. ix, is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcipb/physical.html]

The Department of Homeland Security is already in the process of identifying all at-risk critical infrastructure throughout the country, and has announced that it will complete this process by December of 2004.  It has already identified the top 17 highest-risk chemical sites, and partnered with industry to enhance protections at those sites.  
[SOURCES:  March 2004 testimony of Frank Libutti, http://appropriations.senate.gov/hearmarkups/record.cfm?id=218572;
Fact Sheet:  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, February 2004, http://www.alec.org/meSWFiles/pdf/HSMemo.pdf]
And President Bush has backed legislation prescribing minimal safety standards:

The President's 2003 report noted that "DHS, in concert with EPA will work with Congress to enact legislation that would require certain chemical facilities, particularly those that maintain large quantities of hazardous chemicals in close proximity to population centers, to undertake vulnerability assessments and take reasonable steps to reduce the vulnerabilities identified."
[SOURCE:  Critical Infrastructure Report, pp. ix, 66, is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcipb/physical.html]

President Bush supports legislation currently pending on the Hill that would require facilities to formulate security plans and submit them to DHS for approval.  If the plans do not meet DHS standards, DHS would be authorized to promulgate mandatory provisions of its own that industry would be required to implement.  Furthermore, if a facility failed to comply with its plan, DHS would be empowered to proceed directly against it through an enforcement action.
[SOURCE:  S. 994 §§ 3(a)(3); 3(b)(3); 4(c) ]
Insurance is at best tangentially related to homeland security.  Nevertheless, President Bush has taken steps to ensure that terrorism insurance remains commercially available:

In his 2002 National Strategy for Homeland Security, President Bush called for "[f]ederal support" to ensure a "properly functioning market for terrorism insurance."
[SOURCE:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/book/nat_strat_hls.pdf]

President Bush signed into law the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, which ensures the commercial availability of terrorism insurance by providing federal backing for extraordinary losses.
[SOURCE:  http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/insurance/tria112602.pdf]




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Monday, August 09, 2004
What They're Saying: Editorial Boards on John Kerry

USA Today Editorial: Kerry "Needs To Fill In The Blanks" On His Plan For Iraq. "But take a trip to www.johnkerry.com, Kerry's campaign Web site, and just what a President Kerry might do in Iraq remains elusive. The reasons have partly to do with the politics of the Democratic Party, which is torn between the many who opposed the war in the first place and the few, like Kerry himself, who supported it. But the result is that with the election just three months away, Kerry has done little to separate his views from those of President Bush?. Iraq isn't Vietnam, and Kerry's plan isn't quite as opaque as Nixon's, but the historical echoes are strong enough to suggest that if Kerry has a credible proposal for Iraq, he needs to fill in the blanks." (Editorial, "Missing In Action: Kerry's Complete Strategy For Iraq," USA Today, 8/9/04)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial: Kerry's Spending Proposals "Would Actually Increase The Deficit." "In a startling reversal of the usual party roles, John Kerry is staking his White House claim as a defender of 'fiscal discipline' to counteract a spendthrift Republican Administration. It's all the more startling because his publicly announced proposals would actually increase the deficit?.According to last month's estimate from the National Taxpayers Union, Senator Kerry is promising to increase net spending by $226 billion in the first year, or $6,066 per taxpayer over four years. And that's a lowball figure. The calculation used the lowest cost estimate of each spending proposal. And it took at face value proposed spending cuts, such as ending subsidies to corporate farmers and reducing federal energy usage by 20%, which may be impossible to implement?. On top of Mr. Bush's huge education spending increases, the Democrats want to add $75 billion more in the first year alone. Another $56 billion is earmarked for public works and social programs. The Kerry health care proposals will cost another $71 billion that year, or $653 billion over 10, according to a former Clinton Administration economist. His original estimate was nearly $1 trillion until he found some miraculous savings. (Editorial, "Fiscal Follies," The Wall Street Journal, 8/9/04)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial: Kerry's Plan To Pay For All Of His Spending By Rolling Back Bush Tax Cuts Doesn't Add Up. "Yes, you may be saying, but John Kerry says he can pay for all this by taxing those who make more than $200,000 a year -- raking in $860 billion over the next decade. There are just a few problems. Current budget projections are based on current laws, which say the Bush tax cuts will phase out over the next five years unless Congress renews them. So the real take from soaking the rich a few years early will be modest, while the deficit projections will increase by a much larger margin if the middle-class tax cut is made permanent, as Mr. Kerry promises. (Editorial, "Fiscal Follies," The Wall Street Journal, 8/9/04)

The Washington Post Editorial: Kerry's Campaign Rhetoric Would Lead You To Believe He Is Both For And Against New Education Testing And Accountability Standards. "In person, Mr. Kerry sometimes sounds a different note. Asked this week in Washington about new federal testing regimes and accountability standards, he described them as 'punitive,' a charge that doesn't exactly shore up public confidence in the new system, or increase schools' incentives to raise standards. He both supported testing ? 'we have to know kids are learning' -- and in the same sentence said it was necessary to look at 'the other factors by which you measure a child's progress,' whatever that means. He also talked less about raising teaching standards, and more about not forcing teachers who have been teaching for 20 years to 'go back and be recertified.' Needless to say, on the campaign trail he rarely mentions the importance of firing weak teachers. There is a pattern here. If Mr. Kerry's sometimes fierce rhetoric questioning the value of trade is matched by what his aides say is quiet support for trade, perhaps it is no surprise that his sometimes harsh vocal opposition to accountability standards also appears to be matched by quiet support for them. (Editorial, "Educating Voters," The Washington Post, 8/9/04)



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Wir hoffen aus dich.  

Tuesday, August 10, 2004
President Bush Proudly Announces Porter Goss as Nominee for Director of CIA

The Rose Garden




THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. I'm pleased to announce my decision to nominate Congressman Porter Goss as the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Porter Goss is a leader with strong experience in intelligence and in the fight against terrorism. He knows the CIA inside and out. He's the right man to lead this important agency at this critical moment in our nation's history.

The work of the CIA is vital to our security. America faces determined enemies who plan in many nations, send trained killers to live among us, and attack without warning. This threat is unprecedented, and to stop them from killing our citizens, we must have the best intelligence possible. The men and women of the CIA must penetrate closed societies and secretive organizations. They must overcome challenges of language and culture and learn things that our adversaries don't want us to know. Because their work is secret, the men and women of the CIA receive little recognition, but they're protecting our country every day.

Since September the 11th, our intelligence professionals have worked with great determination to stop another attack on America, and our country is grateful.

Director George Tenet and acting Director John McLaughlin have served our nation with distinction and honor. And now, with the agreement of the U.S. Senate, the CIA will have another strong leader in Porter Goss.

I've given Porter an essential mission to lead the agency for the challenges and threats of a dangerous new century. He is well prepared for this mission. Porter Goss brings a broad experience to this critical job. He's a former Army intelligence officer with a decade of experience in the CIA's clandestine service. He knows the agency, and he knows what is needed to strengthen it. He understands the importance of human intelligence. He was a CIA field officer on two continents. He'll make sure that the men and women of the CIA have the capabilities and skills they need to penetrate the hard targets and denied areas, and to get to know the enemy first hand. He also knows the importance of investing in technologies that allow us to look and listen better. And he will work to ensure the agency remains on the cutting edge of technological change.

As Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence since 1997, and as a member on the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community, he has been a leading voice on intelligence and national security and terrorism. He's been a force for positive change. His experience on Capitol Hill will serve him well at the CIA, because he's respected on both sides of the aisle, and because he understands the important role Congress must play in the effort to improve our nation's intelligence capabilities.

Over 15 years of service, Porter Goss has built a reputation as a reformer. He'll be a reformer at the Central Intelligence Agency. I look forward to his counsel and his judgments as to how best to implement broader intel reform, including the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

I appreciate your many years, Porter, of service to our country. I appreciate your willingness to serve. I'm grateful that you've agreed to step forward and serve once again. Welcome.

CONGRESSMAN GOSS: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm obviously deeply honored, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity -- you've outlined a very strong challenge.

I think every American knows the importance of the best possible intelligence we can get to our decision- makers. It is vital, as the President has well said. What many Americans don't realize is that we've got an awful lot of people around the globe doing very, very hard work -- long hours in dangerous situations. The essence of our intelligence capability is people. And we have some wonderful Americans doing a great job.

I used to be part of them when I worked for CIA. I'm very proud to be associated with them again. And I look forward to the challenges of the future. I also look forward to the confirmation process with the Senate. As a member right now on the Hill I know the value of that and the importance of that.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Good job, thank you, sir.

CONGRESSMAN GOSS: Thank you, sir.





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Wednesday, August 11, 2004
President Bush Has the Answers for Stronger New Mexico Communities


Eclipse Aviation
Albuquerque, New Mexico



1:40 P.M. MDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) I'm glad you all are here. Thank you all for coming. It's good to be back. Please be seated. Yes, thanks for being here today. It's good to be back -- yeah! (Laughter.) It's good to be back in country where people wear cowboy hats. (Applause.)

Thanks for your hospitality. I'm traveling our country asking for the vote. I think you have to go out and ask people for their help and ask people for their support. I've got a reason for running again -- I'm going to share some of that with you today. We're going to do it in a little different way. We're going to talk about small businesses. We'll talk about homeownership. We're going to talk about jobs and education, all aimed to let the people know that I have a desire to make sure this country is a stronger country, and a better country for everybody. Por todos. (Applause.)

I want to thank my friend, Pete Domenici. You got a good one in Pete Domenici. He's a United States Senator -- (applause.) He's a strong leader for New Mexico. When you're with Pete, all he talks about is New Mexico. (Laughter.) Occasionally works in the United States. (Laughter.) He loves this state. Ever since he was a fire-balling right-hander. (Laughter.) He's a wonderful man. I'm proud you're here, Pete. Thanks for taking on a leadership role in my campaign.

I'm also proud to be traveling with John McCain. (Applause.) Nothing better than waking up in the country and getting a cup of coffee and getting in the pickup truck, and driving around and looking at the cows. That's what John and I did this morning. It's a good way to -- good way to clear your mind and keep your perspective.

Yesterday, we were in the Panhandle of Florida. We ended our day in Panama City, Florida. There was 22,000 people that came out to say hello. It's -- listen, I'm going to tell you what I'm seeing. I'm seeing big crowds, the enthusiasm is high. (Applause.) We're on our way to victory. (Applause.)

The two people I wish who were here who aren't, one is Heather Wilson. I know she's out working. She's a fantastic lady. You need to put her back in Congress. (Applause.) People of this district are lucky that Heather is your Congresswoman. (Applause.) She's very competent, very smart, very-able person who has got a lot of respect -- who has earned a lot of respect in Washington.

And the other person who I regret is not here is Laura. (Applause.) Yeah, you do, too. (Applause.) You know, she was born and raised right around the corner. I was raised right around the corner; she was born and raised right around the corner. We're right on the other side of the New Mexico border. We've spent a lot of time in this state. This is a state -- this is a state where we don't have to have a tour guide to figure out how to get around. (Applause.) And we don't need to have somebody explain to us how the people of New Mexico think. (Applause.)

She's a great First Lady, a great mother -- (applause) -- and a wonderful wife. (Applause.) And she sends her best to Pete and all our friends here in New Mexico.

I also want to thank the sheriff, the high sheriff is here, Darren White. It's good to see you, Sheriff. (Applause.) I appreciate you being here. He's sitting next to my friend, John Sanchez. John, thanks for taking a leadership role. (Applause.) I want to thank Pat Lyons and Manny Lujan, friends of mine. I appreciate so very much Allen Weh, the chairman of this -- the chairman of the party. (Applause.)

I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. Yeah, there you go. (Applause.) You're the people who are going to get people registered to vote. (Applause.) That's what we're really here to talk about, in many ways, is to get people to show up to the polls. I'm confident if we can get a lot of people to vote, we'll carry New Mexico this time. (Applause.) Wasn't but about 300 votes last time. (Laughter.) Too many of our people got the head cold right before the election. This time, we're going to get them out to vote. And I want your help. And remember, there are a lot of Democrats here who like what's going on in Washington, D.C. -- make sure you get those people to the polls. Make sure you get the independents. (Applause.) They understand that this administration is dedicated to keep this country safer and stronger and a better country for everybody. (Applause.)

I met Tom Hesch today -- where are you, Tom? There he is, right there. He's a doc, he's a dentist. Guess what he does? He provides free dental care for people who need help -- that's what he does. (Applause.) One of the reasons -- I call him a soldier in the army of compassion. You know why I mention Tom, is because the strength of this country is the hearts and souls of citizens like Tom, who are willing to reach out to somebody who needs help and says, can I help you, brother or sister. What can I do to help your life? I'm running for four more years because I want to continue to rally and encourage the soldiers in that vast army of compassion, so that America can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time.

I understand the limitations of government. I understand that government is not a loving organization. (Laughter.) But government can stand side-by-side with loving organizations to help improve the lives of people from all walks of life. (Applause.)

Tom, I want to thank you for being here. Thank you for the example you set.

I'm also running because I want this country of ours to be a stronger country, and by that, I mean a country in which people can realize their dreams. And people can better realize their dreams when our economy is strong. Now, we've been through a lot. We've been through a lot in this country. If you really think about what we've been through, it's amazing to say that we're strong and getting stronger. We've been through a recession -- that's when things are going backwards. We've been through an attack. That's when things really shook up the country. It shook our conscience. The attacks of September the 11th affected our economy. Remember, airplanes weren't flying; Wall Street was shut down; banks were closed. I mean, it was a terrible time for our nation. We went through corporate scandals. Make no mistake about it, when you've got a system that relies upon trust, in other words, somebody opening up the books, and you trust in what you read, and that trust has been violated by a -- by a corporate officer, it affected our economy. It shook our confidence in the system. But we acted. We acted to overcome all these obstacles. We passed tough new corporate reforms. The message ought to be clear to everybody now that if you don't tell the truth, we're coming after you, to keep the trust. (Applause.)

We acted after the enemy attacked us -- I'll talk about that a little later. We also acted to help cure the ills of a recession. I believe that when somebody has got more money in their pocket to save or spend or invest, it causes there to be an increase in demand for goods and services, and when there's an increase in demand for goods and services, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. If somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job.

My whole focus on getting out of this recession was to help the economy grow so people can find work, and we're making progress. We've added 1.5 -- nearly 1.5 million new jobs since last August -- (applause.) We're a strong economy. If you look at all the major industrialized nations in the world, we're the strongest. That's where we should be.

There's more to do. There's more to do. We're going to talk about the entrepreneurial spirit. See, I don't think the role of government is to create wealth. I believe the role of government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can soar and is strong, where the strong businesses -- (applause.) You know what that means? You see, in order to keep jobs here at home, that means we better have the best environment for job creation in the world. We want jobs to be here in New Mexico and in Texas and all around the country like we all do. That means this has got to be the best place to be an employer, which means good tax policy, it means we've got to do something about all these lawsuits, which are threatening the job creators. (Applause.)

We've got to do something on health care costs. I'll tell you what we can do on health care costs. We can take care of our seniors with good Medicare law, which we've done. We can have more community health centers in urban New Mexico and rural New Mexico and the tribal areas of New Mexico to help poor citizens get primary care and take the pressure off our emergency rooms. (Applause.) We can have associated health care -- I mean, associated health plans, which will allow small businesses to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries, so they can have the same purchasing power as large companies do, and therefore, better afford insurance for their employees.

We can continue to promote health savings accounts, which allow individuals and small businesses to put money aside for workers and/or yourself on a tax-free basis, which will help control costs. We can spread new technologies, electronic records for patients, to help wring out the inefficiencies which now exist in the medical system.

And you know what else we need to do in order to make sure health care is available and affordable? Medical liability reform. These lawsuits are making -- (applause.) I'm telling you, the frivolous lawsuits are running up the cost of health care and they're driving doctors out of business and they're hurting our hospitals. (Applause.) And I don't think you can be -- I don't think you can be pro-patient and pro-doctor and pro-trial lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) I think you have to choose. My opponent has made his choice and he put him on the ticket. (Laughter.) I made my choice. We're standing with the patients and the doctors and the small business owners.

In order to make sure jobs stay here and the economy is strong, we need good trade policy. Let me tell you something about trade. Our economy has been open for goods from overseas. You know why? If you're a customer and you have more choices, you're going to get a better product at a better price. That's how the economy works. The more choices you have as a customer, the more likely it is you're going to get a product that you want at higher quality and better price.

And so, Presidents before me, from both parties, have said, let's help the customers of America, the consumers, you. In return, though, other countries have not opened their markets to our products like we have opened our markets to theirs. Good public policy and good trade policy says to places like China and elsewhere, open up your markets. Ours are open. You open up yours. We can compete with anybody, anytime, anyplace, so long as the rules are fair. (Applause.)

I'm going to talk -- I'm going to ask Rudy Gonzalez to stand up. Rudy is a small business owner. One of the things that -- one of the things -- one of the things I love to do is talk to small business owners, people who have started their own business. Isn't that a fantastic thing to be able to say? Rudy owns his own business. And he started it himself, which is really good. It means that something is going right in the society where people are willing to risk capital to start their own business.

Part of our tax relief plan was aimed directly at the Rudys, the small businesses of the world, because 90 percent of the small businesses are sub-chapter S or sole proprietorships. That's legalese for they pay tax at the individual income tax rate, not corporate tax rate. And so when you hear us saying we're -- reduce the income tax, the individual income taxes, think about Rudy. Think about his business. (Applause.)

Rudy, when did you start your company?

MR. GONZALEZ: Well, Mr. President, first of all, thank you for inviting me. I started my company back in 1997. And I'm a first-generation Hispanic. My parents were born in Mexico. They came over to this country because, just like you, Mr. President, they have three fundamental values -- a belief in a higher power, a belief in the family as the best institution to secure our future, and a belief that if you work hard and you apply yourself, in the United States you can get anywhere you want to be. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's great. La familia es esperanza. Exactly right. What does your business do? In case somebody might be listening. (Laughter.)

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate the credit. No, you did it, see. They wouldn't be giving you a contract if you couldn't do the job. You've got to be able to do the job. And if you can't do the job, then you shouldn't be given the contract. But you can do the job. You're good at what you do. Thanks for the credit. I don't deserve it, you do.

Let me ask you this question: How many people have you hired this year?

MR. GONZALEZ: Well, I'd like to go back a little bit. When I started off, you were right, I started by myself in 1997. Today, we have approximately 65 employees. (Applause.) This year -- we've grown every single year since 2001. This year, we added 20 new employees.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. (Applause.) Let me stop you there. Let me stop you. A lot of the job growth is happening because companies like Rudy are expanding their job base. Most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. It's important for the American people to understand that. And so you're seeing Rudy hires 20 here, and somebody else hires 20 there, and it begins to add up. People are working in the small business sector. That's why we've got to make sure small businesses have got affordable health care. And that's why we've got to make sure tax policy does not harm small businesses.

Are you making investments this year?

MR. GONZALEZ: Yes, sir, I sure am.

THE PRESIDENT: What will you be buying? (Laughter.) Just in case there's a seller here. (Laughter.)

MR. GONZALEZ: You can -- you can talk to my friend Ken -- over there because this year, he sold us four vehicles.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. (Laughter.) The only reason I ask is that people have got to understand when you hear the tax relief encouraged investment, investment means you're purchasing something, and somebody has to make that which you purchase and sell that which you purchase. And that's how the economy works. There's a million decision-makers, or more than that, like Rudy, who are out saying the tax code encourages me to buy something, and as that purchasing takes place, it adds economic vitality and growth.

Rudy is an S corp. That means he pays tax at the individual income tax rate. And so when you hear my opponent talking about taxing the rich, that means running up the rate, the high rates, he's really taxing small businesses. See, they put out $2.2 trillion of new spending promises. He hasn't even got to September yet, by the way. (Laughter.) And he says he's going to pay for it -- (applause) -- he says he's going to pay for it by taxing the rich. That means that S corps that are doing okay are going to pay higher taxes. We don't need to be taking money out of the small business coffers as this economy is beginning to grow. If most new jobs are created by small businesses, and most small businesses are sub-chapter S or sole proprietorships, it makes no sense to run up the taxes on these people as this economy is beginning to grow. (Applause.)

You know what else I think? You know what else I think when they say, tax the rich? Most rich people are able to avoid taxes, and if you can't raise enough money from taxing the rich, guess who pays the taxes? Yes, you do. But we're not going to let him. That's what this campaign is about, to make sure we've got good tax policy. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: All right, Rudy. Go ahead.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Fabulous. See, that's what -- that's what he's talking about. The tax relief encouraged him to make this investment.

Good job, Rudy. Thanks for coming. Appreciate it. Thanks. Good job. (Applause.)

We've got another entrepreneur with us, Vern Raburn. He -- he is the -- (applause.) So here's a guy who said, I can build a better airplane. (Applause.) That's what you call a grand vision. (Laughter.)

Why don't you tell the folks about your company.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: McCain and I will fly the first one. (Laughter.) So how's it going? I mean, this is -- this is --

MR. RABURN: Things are going great.

THE PRESIDENT: You've hired since I saw you last, four years ago, how many?

MR. RABURN: Well, four years ago, at this time, we had about 18 employees. We have 342 employees now. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. And like what skill level is required -- skill level of the worker?

MR. RABURN: Skill levels, we have very high skill level. Most of our work force today are engineers, manufacturing folks, white-collar workers. In fact, our average salary of each of our employees is about twice that of the average family income in New Mexico.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, let me stop you there. One of the real challenges we have in our country to make sure jobs stay here is to educate people, is to make sure the education system works. (Applause.) You just heard what -- it's a new business, new business. He says that we pay twice as much as the average income, but we require high-level skills. You know what that says to me? It says to me that we've got to make sure No Child Left Behind works. (Applause.) We've got to make sure we keep raising the bar, make sure the young kids can read and write and add and subtract early before it's too late. We've got to make sure our community colleges are able to train workers for the jobs of the 21st century, so that Eclipse* can find a work force necessary to make this company fly. (Applause.)

So when are we going to see the first unit take off?

MR. RABURN: Well, we'll be flying again late this year, and we expect to have the aircraft certified in early '06, March of '06. Today we've got orders for about 2,200 airplanes, about $2.5 billion in back -- (applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's good.

MR. RABURN: Good problem.

THE PRESIDENT: -- pulling to make sure this economy stays strong. Any of them overseas?

MR. RABURN: A lot of those are overseas.

THE PRESIDENT: Let me tell you something. See, if we get into a mode where we become economic isolationists, he won't be able to sell these airplanes overseas. We don't need trade wars. He wants to be able to sell this product overseas without having to compete with government bureaucracies and unnecessary tariffs and restrictions. That's why we believe in fair trade and open trade.

You got workers here who are going to be working because you've got planes being sold overseas. So when you hear them talk about trade, you need to be thinking about jobs. Jobs exist when you're able to trade overseas. You've got some farmers in this state don't you? (Laughter.) Yes, the farm economy is strong around the country. You know why? Because not only are we feeding our own people, we're feeding other people. Other people are eating our corn and our soybeans and our wheat, because we're opening up markets. Still working to get that New Mexico cattle around the world. (Laughter.) Open up markets for the Mexican cattlemen -- and Texas cattlemen, too, I want you to know. (Laughter.)

So what else? What else on your mind, Vern? You get the chance to tell the President something. (Laughter.) By the way, I guarantee he's a big believer in tort reform. (Laughter.) A lot of airline companies, a lot of manufacturers in the past got shut down because of all kinds of lawsuits. And these lawsuits, we want good justice in America, but when the trial bar converts the law into a legal lottery, it begins to affect jobs. You just got to know that. It's one thing to have justice; it's another thing to go overboard with justice, because people start to lose work. I don't know what your opinion is.

MR. RABURN: I agree. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. See, you'd think I was a lawyer. I'm not.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: See, this is a vibrant company. And I'm excited to be here. I want to thank you for inviting us. He's got a newly-hired employee named Vernon Oliver. Where's Vern? There he is. Hi, Vern. Welcome. (Applause.) So what happens to you? So how do you end up here in the airplane manufacturing world?

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: What Vernon is telling you is, is that since 9/11, things have changed. People are getting their confidence, jobs are coming back, and in his case, he had the skill levels necessary to fill the jobs.

Yesterday, we were in Florida and we talked to some people that needed to go back to community colleges, but we were happy to help them go back to community colleges. There's all kinds of plans, trade adjustment assistance, and NAFTA-related job loss. People who then can get a scholarship or get direct grants to go back and retrain for the jobs which actually exist. This fellow didn't need to be retrained. He just showed up, and they wanted him. And he saved $3,000 in taxes last year. (Applause.) And he's going to save $3,000 this year.

Remember, we not only reduced income taxes on everybody who pays taxes, but we helped people with children by raising the child credit to $1,000, and we reduced the marriage penalty, we created a 10-percent bracket. In other words, we said we're going to help families. And this family right here has got $3,000 in relief -- I think that's right -- you probably can say, "Mind your own business, Mr. President." (Laughter.)

MR. OLIVER: No, sir. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: But if the tax relief is not made permanent, his taxes go up by $1,200. See, I believe government can set priorities and fund our priorities and that after the priorities are funded the people can spend that money better than the government can spend it. That's what I believe. (Applause.) And I like the fact that Vernon's got $3,000 additional of his own money in his pocket. It's his money to begin with, of course, and so he has it.

Well, thanks for coming, Vernon.

And Guy is with you as well, Guy Hoisington. (Applause.) All right. He's a newly hired guy. Tell us, Guy.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Here's a guy -- here's a guy who tried out the promised land for a while, that would be Texas -- (laughter) -- changed his mind, came home to the other -- to the enchanted land, and is working because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. He's able to more realize his dream, which is to raise your family here. So the job of government is to help when needed. The tax relief helps his family. I suspect it helped him move. I think it -- I know it helps him raise his family.

MR. OLIVER: Yes, Vern helped me move, too.

THE PRESIDENT: He helped? That's good. (Laughter.) You must be good at what you do.

MR. OLIVER: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. That's real good. (Laughter.) But the point is -- that what I'm trying to tell you is, is that when the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, when people like Vern feel comfortable about taking a risk and expanding and growing, people can find work. That's what we want in America. We want people to find work. We want people to be comfortable with their lives as best as they can.

You know, we can't make you decide to be somebody, but we can help you. We can help educate your children, to make sure they're educated. We can provide tax relief so that you're more comfortable and confident in tough times, and also to help this economy grow. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about the proper role of government. We're talking about how to make sure government stands side-by-side with moms and dads and entrepreneurs and workers. (Applause.)

One of the -- one of my goals is to continue to push an ownership society in America. First-generation American says, I own my own business. I just think those are wonderful words. I like the idea of health accounts where people own them and manage them so that the principal decision-makers for health care are doctors and patients, not bureaucrats. (Applause.)

I see some younger faces here, and Social Security -- the solvency of Social Security is an issue for future generations. McCain, Domenici and I are in good shape. (Laughter.) At least our age group. But when you start looking at younger workers, down there in the 30s and 20s, there's a question of whether or not Social Security is going to be around. And therefore, we need to explore with Congress the idea of personal savings accounts for younger workers. (Applause.) Their option. So Social Security exists.

And finally, one of the great promises of this country is homeownership. There's something -- the homeownership rate in America is at an all-time high. (Applause.) More minorities are owning their homes than ever before. In other words, we got more people opening their door and saying, welcome to my home. Those are magical words, aren't they? I think a healthy society is one in which people own something. If you own something you have a stake in the future of your country.

Today we've got Debra and Arnold Reano. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. First of all, I want you to know Debra's birthday is today. Happy birthday. (Applause.) Arnold whispered in my ear when we were coming out. Secondly, see the beautiful jewelry she's wearing and he's wearing -- they made it. They're artisans. (Applause.) That's a tradition of New Mexico, where people are really skilled at making beautiful jewelry. Thanks for mine. I told Debra that I'm going to play like I bought it for Laura. (Laughter.) No, I'm not. No, I wouldn't do that. Because she's probably watching on CSPAN. (Laughter.)

You all just bought a home.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: What he's talking about is the Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, which is a way to encourage homeownership in tribal areas. And it's working. That's what we want, isn't it? Doesn't it make sense to have public policy aimed at helping people own their own home? I can't think of a better use of resources. (Applause.) It's working.

By the way, this couple saved $3,200 in federal income taxes last year. (Applause.) Tax relief helps all kinds of people.

Good. Listen, I appreciate you coming. I asked them to come -- we asked them to come because homeownership is valid for everybody. We want people owning their own home all across the country, every corner of America we want people to put out that welcome mat, welcome to my home. And it's happening. I think one of the most positive things that's happening in the country is there's more minority small business owners in America, and more people from all walks of life owning their own home. (Applause.)

Thank you all for coming. It's good to see your girls, too. Beautiful girls.

One way to make sure the economy continues to grow is to keep the country safe. (Applause.) That's a charge we've been given. Nobody wants to be a war President, but an enemy which had been planning for a long time struck us. And we must never forget the lessons of that day. I'm going to give you three quick lessons. As fellow citizens, it's important to know -- for you to know that I know the stakes, and that I know the realities of the world in which we live.

Lesson one is, there's an enemy out there which hates us because of what we believe. And you cannot negotiate with them, you cannot talk sense into them. It's hard for the American conscience to understand the nature of these people, but they behead people because they know we've got hearts and we know we weep -- they know we value human life and human dignity. And they're trying to shake our will. And the only way to deal with these folks is to bring them to justice. (Applause.)

Second lesson, which we'll do -- we'll do this year and we'll do over the next four years -- we must bring them to justice in places where they hide and plot, so we do not have to face them here at home. That's the reality of the world -- is that this is a different kind of enemy, a different kind of enemy. These are people that will hide in caves and they will seek safe haven. Their ideal situation is where they can find a weak government that fears them or likes them and lets them hide and lets them burrow in the -- in their countryside or in their cities.

And so, the second lesson is that we need to send clear messages, strong messages to countries around the world that say, if you harbor a terrorist, in other words, if you provide safe haven for these people, if you allow them to arm up and plot and plan and train, you will be held to account just like the terrorists will be. (Applause.)

And that explains our Afghanistan policy. And that explains why we took action we did in Afghanistan. We said to the Taliban, get rid of these people, turn them over, or face consequences. And by the way, if America says something, it must be easy to understand, and you must mean it. (Applause.) In order -- if we're uncertain, or if we doublespeak, the world will drift toward tragedy. That's the reality of the world in which we live. It's a lesson that we must remember.

By the way, on Afghanistan, it is -- there's still hard work there. But think about what's happened in a very quick period of time. Think about this. There is going to be a presidential election -- (applause) -- in a country that was ruled by this barbaric regime, so barbaric that many young girls never got to go to school, and their mothers were publicly whipped. That's barbaric. And now they're going to have a presidential election. Over eight million people are registered to vote. And here, I'm going around the country saying -- here I'm going around the country saying, please register to vote, and vote -- these people, when given a chance, are showing up in big numbers, in spite of the fact that some of these thugs are trying to stop them from going to the ballot box.

I was in Cleveland, Ohio, kicking off the International Children's Game. And standing in front of me was the Afghan girls soccer team. I'm telling you, I wish -- it was -- (applause.) There wasn't a dry eye in my house. It's unbelievable to think that in a very short period of time,

people are liberated. Free countries are peaceful countries. The world is better off and America is more safe. The third lesson of -- because Afghanistan is free.

The third lesson is, when we see a threat, we must take it seriously before it fully materializes. That's a serious lesson of September the 11th. You see, it's a different kind of war. It's a different kind of war. We cannot hope for the best anymore. In the old days, we could, because we thought oceans would protect us. It wasn't all that long ago that we thought we were safe from harm's way. And all of a sudden, on that fateful day, the world changed. And these lessons are serious lessons, because we're talking about the most solemn duty of a government and it's to protect the people. We must take threats seriously.

And so, that begins to explain to you why I made the decision I made, Senators McCain and Domenici came to the same conclusion I did, that Saddam Hussein was a threat. And I want you to remember, he was a threat because he behaved like a threat. He had used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He had terrorist ties. There was terrorist organizations in and our of Iraq over time. He had defied the world, I think 17 resolutions. In other words, imagine a world saying, okay, we're only going to tell you one more time. (Laughter.) This is the 16th time we're going to tell you. Cough them up, get rid of your ability to make weapons, get rid of what you even have, or face serious consequences. And if you say it 17 times and nothing happens, pretty soon, you embolden somebody whose instincts were dark and dim.

This is a person who tortured his own people, there were mass graves, he invaded his neighbors. We had been to war with him before. He was shooting at our pilots that were enforcing -- he was a threat. And so I went to the Congress and said to the Congress, gosh, we've got a threat here, and the world has changed. By far, the vast majority of members of Congress from both political parties, they took a good look at the intelligence, they looked at what I was looking at, we all came to the same conclusion, including my opponent. He looked at that intelligence -- (applause.)

And then the U.N. looked at it, and said, again, disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. And they said, but -- the world said, we work in diplomacy then, which is wise to do. And they said, gosh, let's let the inspectors work. So, okay. It seems to make sense, doesn't it, let the inspectors in. But guess what -- they were being deceived, systematically deceived by Saddam Hussein. He wasn't -- he was doing all kinds of things to prevent them from finding out the truth.

So I had a choice; Tony Blair had a choice; Silvio Berlusconi had a choice -- (applause) -- Alexander Kwasniewski had a choice; John Howard had a choice. (Applause.) And that is, hope for the best, forget the lessons of September the 11th, trust a madman, or take action to defend our country. You've just got to know, folks, given that choice, I will defend us every time. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. A couple other points I want to make -- let me make a couple of points and I'll answer some questions if you have some.

First, when we put troops in harm's way, they will have our government's support. A lot of folks in this town -- (applause) -- you got relatives in the military, you've been in the military yourself, this is a -- this is what I believe, this is what Pete believes, this is what John believes. We believe -- and a lot of others in Washington do, too. That's why I asked for an $87 billion supplemental last September to make sure our troops had what they needed: spare parts, body armor, fuel, support. (Applause.) A difference in this campaign is that my opponent voted against the supplemental funding.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: He has said on the TV shows, before the vote came up, there's no excuse for not supporting the troops. And then we was asked why he didn't ask for it, he said, well, he actually did vote for it right before he voted against it. (Laughter.) It's -- and then he said it was a complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. They need -- the troops need our support. (Applause.)

I want to make two other points, and then I'll answer questions. The other day, he was asked on a -- by a TV reporter or a newspaper reporter, what about the troops? And he said, he's going to substantially reduce the number of troops six months after he's the President. Now, let me -- let me -- listen, we all want the mission to be completed as quickly as possible. But we want the mission to be completed. (Applause.)

Secondly, the mission is not going to be completed as quickly as possible if the enemy thinks that we're going to be removing a substantial number of troops in six months. Thirdly, the person -- the people that should be making the recommendations as to whether or not the mission is nearly completed so that we can relieve troops are the commanders on the ground. That's who ought to be making the recommendations. (Applause.) I know what I'm doing when it comes to winning this war. (Applause.) And I'm not going to be sending mixed signals.

Now, the other thing I want to tell you about is, when people say, what is -- what are you trying to accomplish, what is America trying to accomplish -- what we're going to accomplish is a free society in the heart of a -- in the heart of a part of the world where people are desperate for freedom. See, this is a historic moment in world history, I think, because freedom has got the capacity to change people's lives in a positive way. America stands for peace, and we understand that the best way to achieve peace is to spread freedom. (Applause.) Because free societies -- free societies -- free societies listen to the hopes and aspirations of their people. The best way to defeat resentment is to spread freedom and hope. You can't have a hopeful society if you've got tyranny looming over you. You can't have a hopeful society if you're not allowed to express your opinion or worship freely.

So that's what you're seeing. We're seeing the short-term actions of our government are to protect us. That's why we're using force, to protect us. The long-term solution is to spread liberty.

I was having dinner with Koizumi, who is the Prime Minister of Japan, and we were talking about how to keep the peace in North Korea. Think about what -- think about that for a second, the American President and the Prime Minister of Japan, former enemies, countries were former enemies. Maybe some of you here in the audience were fighting the Japanese in World War II. His dad was, and my dad was, and I bet a lot of other dads were, as well. And here we are now, sitting down at the same table, talking about peace with a former -- and you know why I was able to do so and other Presidents were able to do so -- is because after World War II, we believed so strongly in liberty that we worked with the Japanese to develop a society that was self-governing, that believed that -- based upon the principles of human dignity and human rights and human freedom.

Now, there were skeptics who said, no, it's too hard to work. We've been at it for too long. This country can't self-govern. But, fortunately, predecessors believed so strongly in the ability of liberty to change the habits of citizens for the good that they stuck to their guns and now I'm talking to Koizumi about the peace. Someday, an American President is going to sit down with an elected Iraqi leader and they're going to say, thank God old Bush, McCain and Domenici believed in freedom. (Applause.) Thank God the American people listen to the skeptics, rejected pessimistic thought, and said, let's complete the mission.

Freedom is going to change the world. Freedom -- and you know what else freedom does? It validates what we believe in our hearts. Freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. (Applause.)

Let me -- thank you all. Let me -- let me answer some questions while we've got time. Thanks for giving me a chance to talk. Now, I'll give you a chance to answer some questions. We're here for a little bit, and then John and I are heading West. We're going out to Phoenix, and then I'm off to Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Iowa. I want to win. I'm willing to work. (Applause.)

All right, who's got a question? You've got one?

Q First I want to make a prediction.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you.

Q President Bush is going to win by a landslide. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, we can leave it there if you like.

Q Number two --

THE PRESIDENT: How about we work as if it's going to be close. (Laughter.)

Q Number two, I respect your position on human life and your demand for abortion. I respect it.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q And I thank you every moment. You're the top President when it comes to us speaking out for life. Thank you. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. Thank you. I hope you're a good prognosticator. (Laughter.)

Q First, I agree with him. I hope we see you in a landslide.

THE PRESIDENT: Let's -- let's just win the thing. (Laughter.) Let's just win it. Thank you, though.

Q First of all, let me say it's an honor to speak to you. It's an honor every day when I get to pray for you as President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. (Applause.)

Q I just -- I wanted to say that. I wanted to agree with him -- your stand for life, for stem cells. We do not need to be doing research with fetal stem cells. And I appreciate that. (Applause.) Could I ask you two more questions?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure, go ahead. Ask them.

Q Real short.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. You haven't asked one, yet. But go ahead. (Laughter.)

Q Can I introduce my mother and mother-in-law who are new citizens to this country?

THE PRESIDENT: That's a very interesting move by the guy. (Laughter.) He's got the President standing here, and he wants me to meet the mother-in-law. (Laughter.) Strong move. Absolutely. And the mother -- yes. (Applause.) Fantastic. Is this the mom-in-law?

Q This is my mother-in-law.

THE PRESIDENT: Where are you from, mom-in-law?

Q Okinawa.

THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. New citizen?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: This year?

Q Two years.

THE PRESIDENT: Two years ago. So this is your first presidential election?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. (Applause.) Welcome. Welcome. There's a long tradition in America that you only vote for the person who looks you in the eye and asks. (Applause.) Just kidding. And where's mom? Oh, hi, mom. Strong move. That's very good, yes. Are you listening to your mother?

Q I do.

THE PRESIDENT: I listen to mine, too. (Applause.) In my case, I don't have much choice. (Applause.) In my case.

Let me talk about stem cells real quick. There had been no research on stem cells prior to my arrival. I said that stem cell lines which had already existed prior to a certain date ought to be allowed to receive federal money to research, and from that point forward, that we ought to make sure we deal with science and ethics in a very balanced way. And so we're just beginning to understand embryonic stem cell research. We're also, by the way, spending research dollars on adult stem cell research, and we're also spending it on fetal tissue.

And so, what we're -- what I'm saying to you is, is that I think my administration has struck a proper balance between science and ethics. I think we have done a very good job about exploring that which is possible, without stepping over a line that we may come to regret later on. And so, I assembled a panel of experts, ethicists, to help me better understand this very vital issue.

Listen, we -- I'm sure you've heard from folks with juvenile -- got a child with juvenile diabetes. I certainly have. And I care deeply about the families who are wondering whether or not we can do more to help solve their child's problems. It's sad, and I know these Senators have heard from those with juvenile diabetes. And the policies I made were, on the one hand, trying to help as best as we can move science forward, and at the same time, keep an ethical balance, so that we promote a culture of life. And the decision I made in my judgment is the right decision. And it's one that respects the value of life, and on the other hand, is on that says, hopefully, science can use these existing stem cell lines, of which I think there's going to be 23, which are viable and vibrant, and they're just beginning to look at them, to help come up with cures that we all want to have happen, we all want. We want human -- we want these young kids with -- that have been affected by juvenile diabetes to better survive. That's what we want.

But thank you for bringing up the subject. Any -- yes, sir, here's a man right here. First of all, he's one of my -- he's cheering really loud. (Laughter.) Thank you.

Q Thank you, President Bush, and I just want to say it's a honor to speak to you today. And you probably already touched on this question, but seeing as I'm a disabled person myself, I'm 20 years old and going to college in the great state of -- well, I live in the great state of New Mexico, but I also go to college in the great state of Texas. (Laughter.) And I'm --

THE PRESIDENT: Where you going, by the way? Excuse me for interrupting, but where are you going?

Q McMurray University in Abilene.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, yeah. Abiline, Texas. (Applause.)

Q Yes, sir. And my current major is political science, and I'm just curious --

THE PRESIDENT: I better give you some counseling before it's too late. No, go ahead. (Laughter.)

Q How can we, as a team -- and I understand people ask you for help, but how can we, as a team, be ensured that other people that are disabled can be a part of the big business or small business, to help bring jobs for the people of this country?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, absolutely. I appreciate that very much. (Applause.) One of the great advances -- one of the great advances of our era is technology. There's fantastic technological opportunities for the visually-impaired to be able to have a computer that speaks to them. I don't know if you've been involved with that or not. You have?

Q Yes, sir, I have a -- it's called a braille note, and it has a braille display. And I also have a thing on my computer, it's called Jaws for Windows, that gets on and reads the screen to me whenever I get on the Internet.

THE PRESIDENT: See, that's coming. So one thing we can do is help members of our community who need this kind of program. We can help them with financial aid to buy them. I mean, this is equally as important as going to college, is to have the opportunity -- listen, the role of government is to help people help themselves. (Applause.) And we're talking about helping this guy with -- we're helping him realize his dreams. There are touch computers where, if you're disabled without the ability -- and you can't use your hands, there are new computers and new ability to be able to turn a computer on and log on and surf the net, and that technology is now more available.

What I'm telling you is, to answer your question, is to make sure technologies are more readily available and we help people afford them as they come on the market. And it's going to change people's lives for the better. Again, we want everybody to be able to participate in this experience called America. And we want people to be able to realize their dreams, no matter their condition, or no matter whether they're first generation or 800th generation -- 18th or how ever many generations there have been, and that's what we want.

So I appreciate your question, sir. Thank you.

Q And I just want to say, thank you so much, and I'm really proud of what you're doing and what America's doing, because -- and I want to thank my mom and my parents, because I'm the only blind people -- or blind person in my family, and I'm excited to graduate and go to college and be part of that small business. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations.

Let's see, all right, man in a cowboy hat. Yes, we've got to try the cowboy hat. You're next.

Q Hello, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

Q I'm a retired Navy, 20 years. (Applause.) I flew the S-3, the same that you came aboard in the Lincoln.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

Q Four tours in Vietnam, and all I can say is, thank God we finally have a Commander-in-Chief.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. (Applause.)

Let me -- let me say something. You've got a lot of veterans in this state. People have served their country in this state, and I want to thank you for your service. And I thank you for setting such a good example for the --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Hoorah!

THE PRESIDENT: There you go. (Laughter.) For the hoorahs of the world. But thank -- (laughter) -- thank you for setting such a good example for those who wear our uniform. I'm going to the VFW Convention on Monday. I'm looking forward to going. I've got something to say. I've got something to say about how we've worked together to make sure we've honored our vets with good, strong health care. I made some promises to the VFW in 2000. I'm going to go back and remind them of the promises I made and remind them of the promises we have kept. And that's what we owe our veterans. (Applause.)

Yes, ma'am. There you go. No, I said -- yes, ma'am. Sorry. (Laughter.) You bet. Crank that thing up.

Q Mr. President, I would like to know what your administration has done to help women and children in domestic violence situations.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we've said to the Justice Department, work with states to make sure that the states have got the resources necessary to bring people to justice. That's what states are supposed to do. Supposed to -- states are supposed to pass laws that make it easier for law enforcement to be able to do its job when it comes to domestic violence.

And when I was the governor of Texas, we made it easier for an abused spouse to be able to call her spouse into account without facing retribution. We had notification laws when a spouse was released from jail. In other words, we stood on the side of the abused person. We had the law stand side-by-side with the person, as opposed to making the environment such that many people were afraid to turn in an abusive spouse. And two, if the abusive spouse had been punished, they were afraid of the consequences after the spouse had been out.

This is -- the truth of the matter is, most good policy -- or policy is made at the state level under state laws. And what the federal government can do, the federal government can help on grant-making to help states with those type of laws.

Q And what about the Family Justice Center Initiative? Didn't you announce that last year?

THE PRESIDENT: The family --

Q -- the pilot program -- $21 million?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I did, so thanks for reminding me. (Laughter.) How quickly we forget. It was a loaded question, wasn't it? Let me ask you something, U.S. Marine Corps mom, is that what that means? You have a son in the Marine Corps? I know you didn't want to ask a question, but --

Q I want to thank you for all the support you have given the military.

THE PRESIDENT: Where is he? Hold on for a minute. Where is your son?

Q He's in Yuma, and he's on his way to be deployed.

THE PRESIDENT: Is he?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Let me say something to the mom here. First of all, you're going to be nervous, and I know you are, and you should be. But I just want you to know that your son is making an historic contribution to the peace and security of our country. (Applause.)

Q Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: And you know what? You know, the great thing about this country? I'll tell you the great thing about the country -- there's a lot of people praying for him. Yes. I appreciate you wearing -- "USMC mom." That's great. He's going to be just fine, by the way.

Q He said that he was anxious to go over there and do his job and defend our country.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that's what he's doing, and it's important for everybody to understand that. (Applause.) It's important for everybody to understand that. It's important to understand the consequences of her son's decision, first, to join an all-volunteer army, and secondly, to be in a position to go over and help freedom take hold in Iraq. That's really what we're talking about.

On the one hand, we're defeating people that could come here to hurt us, but we're also spreading freedom. And you know what's going to make it work? It's when the Iraqis and the Afghan step up and say, I'm now ready to defend my country. And that's what's happening. That's what's happening. And the enemy -- (applause) -- and the enemy sees it happening. And that's why they're taking action. See, that's why they're blowing up innocent life. They see what's happening. And that's why we cannot send mixed signals, and that's why we've got to be firm in our resolve. And while we are, that's why we've got to be thankful to the moms who raised a son who says, I want to serve my country.

I was asked the other day whether or not we ought to -- some think we ought to get rid of the all-volunteer army. The answer is, absolutely not. We need to keep the all-volunteer army. And what we need to do is to make sure that people -- (applause) -- there's incentive to stay in the all-volunteer army, by making sure people are better-paid, which we have done over the course of four appropriations bills -- since I've been the President, military pay is up 21 percent. (Applause.) We've got to make sure the housing on the bases are better than adequate. And we've got -- in other words, we've got to win the hearts and souls not only of the soldiers, but of their families. And we're making good progress toward that. But this all-volunteer army is, one, an important concept, and two, it's working.

Let's see. Yes, sir.

Q Mr. President, thank you so much. I just returned from a 13-month tour, Lt. Colonel Jackson. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks. Where were you?

Q I was the deputy commander of our forces in Kosovo.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, fantastic. Thanks for doing that. Bonsteel?

Q Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I went there.

Q I know you were there, and in fact, the education center is named after you wife.

THE PRESIDENT: Is it? Well, smart move.

Q Yes, sir. (Applause.) Mr. President, all the forces overseas are thankful that you are such a strong Commander-in-Chief, and even when I was Medivacked out, I was injured and Medivacked out to Germany, along with forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, the morale was very high, because we knew that you were in charge and going to take care of us. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. Thank you, sir. Let me say something. Let me say something about Medivacking troops. It's really important for our citizens to know that if somebody gets hurt, they're going to get really good treatment quickly -- I mean quickly. And I know that a lot of us has been to Bethesda, I know John has and Pete has, or Walter Reed. These are the big hospitals in Washington, D.C. that take care of those who have been injured. These kids are coming off the battlefield in one or two days' time. I mean, we're taking kids who have been hurt, and we're getting them into incredibly good care quickly.

That's a -- what a compassionate government, when you think about it. You know, there's other governments that might let their troops kind of languish around, you know, maybe get them out of the tent somewhere, sometime. Not America. Not America. We value every life. We appreciate the service of our troops. When I see these families in these hospitals, I'm quick to ask them, are you getting everything you need? I need to know. And admittedly, sometimes the President gets the cook's tour, but the answer is, yes, Mr. President, they're taking care of my kid. And that's what families, or citizens need to know about our country, is that we are grateful for the service of those who wear our uniform, because the world is going to be better off for it.

A couple of more questions. McCain is getting anxious, he wants to get to Phoenix. (Laughter.) And so do I.

So what have we got here? Where's the little boy? This little guy? You got all kinds of little boys. Go ahead.

Q I was wondering if I could take a picture with you.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. (Laughter.) All right, let him through. Crawl on underneath there. Scoot on through, come on. (Applause.) Got it? Hello, Mom. (Laughter.) Got it? (Applause.)

Yes, go ahead.

Q First of which, first part of comment, just know that my wife and I are praying for you. We appreciate what you've done the four years you've been in office.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q Thank you for that. A question I have --

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate your prayers. Think about -- I mean, work on your question while I say something here. (Laughter.) It's an amazing country where people from all walks of life pray for the President. (Applause.) It really is. I'm grateful. I am really grateful. Any President would be grateful. It's one of the most sustaining aspects of my life now, to know that people pray for me and Laura and the kids.

Go ahead.

Q The question I have, one of our concerns is, is the continued erosion of the moral fabric of this country with the -- obviously the removal of prayer in schools, the removal of the Ten Commandments, abortion, and now we're faced with the issue of gay marriage. And, obviously, there was an attempt to at least get it in the Constitution among the parties in Congress, with no success. What do you plan to do -- when you're reelected --

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q -- to abolish that attempt by the left? And my second question is, would you mind if I got your autograph? (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: We've started a bad trend here. Let me talk about marriage, traditional marriage. First of all, I believe our society is better off when marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. It's my belief. (Applause.)

Secondly -- hold on a second. Secondly -- secondly, this is an issue that ought to be decided by the people, not by a few judges. And that's what's caused the issue. That's what has brought this issue to a head, is because in a particular state, the four judges redefined the definition of marriage. That's what happened. And my worry is, is that that definition will be spread to other states, even though the people of those states do not accept that definition.

And now there's laws on the books. And what happened was, a lot of the senators -- accurately noted, there's a current law on the book called the DOMA, Defense of Marriage Act, which specifically defines marriage as between a man or a woman, and says that the actions of one state cannot affect the behavior in another state. And I readily concede that law is on the books, signed by my predecessor, by the way.

My worry has been that the courts will overturn that law and that we will end up with a series of activist judges defining marriage. And so the easiest way -- not the easiest way, probably the toughest way -- but the clearest way to define marriage is to put it in the Constitution like I suggested.

Now, let me also tell you, the constitutional process takes a long time. It -- many amendments have taken years to be passed by the Senate and then ratified by the states. I will also explain to the American people that the ratification process of the constitutional amendment is an essential part of including people's opinions as to this very delicate issue.

And finally, let me encourage everybody, as we debate this issue, to do so with the utmost of respect. I mean, this is a issue that requires thoughtful dialogue. It's a serious issue. And it's one that -- I hope we can have a debate in a way that is uplifting and not tearing people down on either side of the issue. And I will pledge to you -- I will -- I will do my very best to bring a thoughtful dialogue on this vital issue.

And so what I'll do the next four years is continue to state what I believe. I'm not going to change my beliefs just because there's been an election. Quite the contrary. I will be telling people what I believe. (Applause.)

Okay, last question. You have been very patient. This is the last one. I hope everybody understands, I've got to work. (Laughter.)

Q President Bush, we want you to know something. This group of ladies right here, we represent an international company -- an international AGLOW fellowship. This is women all over the world. There is a woman over there by the name of Bernadette Martinez who is the prayer coordinator for New Mexico. And we want you to know, we are praying for you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q We are praying for righteous leaders in Washington and throughout our country, because we know that it's time for America to get back to its moral roots that our founders put in place for us when this country was founded. And it is time for the people in this country to realize and to call out for righteous leaders. That is our right as God's children. And we are doing that.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q And you will be in the White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. (Applause.) One more? Okay, hold on. Let me tell you what else you can do. Let me tell you what else you can do. Register people to vote. And then, right around election time, start saying to people, we have a duty, we have a duty in a free society, no matter what you believe, we have a duty to vote. So I appreciate your enthusiasm and your drive. Convert it to getting people to the polls, too, which I know you will.

Okay, final question. One more, this is it. Then we got to go to Arizona.

Q Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, ma'am. No more hands going up, I'm a man of my word. (Applause.)

Q And I am a persistent woman. My name is Cassandra Dennis. My husband is Captain Dominic Dennis. He sends his hellos all the ways from -- Iraq.

THE PRESIDENT: Good, thank you. He's a captain -- in the Army?

Q Army National Guard.

THE PRESIDENT: Very good.

Q I want your prayers for him.

THE PRESIDENT: You got it. Thank you very much. And tell you -- I'll tell you what do. You know, one of the interesting -- one of the interesting possibilities now, because of high-tech, because of the high-tech world, is that you can email your husband, correct?

Q We email, we do instant messaging, we've got webcams, we have telephones.

THE PRESIDENT: All right, why don't you do this, then? Would you do me a favor?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Would you rather email him or instant message him?

Q I'm going to instant-message him.

THE PRESIDENT: Instant-message him. Instant-message him this: The Commander-in-Chief is grateful and incredibly proud of his service. (Applause.)

Thank you all. God bless. Thanks for coming.





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Wednesday, August 11, 2004
President Bush Has the Answers for Stronger New Mexico Communities


Eclipse Aviation
Albuquerque, New Mexico



1:40 P.M. MDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) I'm glad you all are here. Thank you all for coming. It's good to be back. Please be seated. Yes, thanks for being here today. It's good to be back -- yeah! (Laughter.) It's good to be back in country where people wear cowboy hats. (Applause.)

Thanks for your hospitality. I'm traveling our country asking for the vote. I think you have to go out and ask people for their help and ask people for their support. I've got a reason for running again -- I'm going to share some of that with you today. We're going to do it in a little different way. We're going to talk about small businesses. We'll talk about homeownership. We're going to talk about jobs and education, all aimed to let the people know that I have a desire to make sure this country is a stronger country, and a better country for everybody. Por todos. (Applause.)

I want to thank my friend, Pete Domenici. You got a good one in Pete Domenici. He's a United States Senator -- (applause.) He's a strong leader for New Mexico. When you're with Pete, all he talks about is New Mexico. (Laughter.) Occasionally works in the United States. (Laughter.) He loves this state. Ever since he was a fire-balling right-hander. (Laughter.) He's a wonderful man. I'm proud you're here, Pete. Thanks for taking on a leadership role in my campaign.

I'm also proud to be traveling with John McCain. (Applause.) Nothing better than waking up in the country and getting a cup of coffee and getting in the pickup truck, and driving around and looking at the cows. That's what John and I did this morning. It's a good way to -- good way to clear your mind and keep your perspective.

Yesterday, we were in the Panhandle of Florida. We ended our day in Panama City, Florida. There was 22,000 people that came out to say hello. It's -- listen, I'm going to tell you what I'm seeing. I'm seeing big crowds, the enthusiasm is high. (Applause.) We're on our way to victory. (Applause.)

The two people I wish who were here who aren't, one is Heather Wilson. I know she's out working. She's a fantastic lady. You need to put her back in Congress. (Applause.) People of this district are lucky that Heather is your Congresswoman. (Applause.) She's very competent, very smart, very-able person who has got a lot of respect -- who has earned a lot of respect in Washington.

And the other person who I regret is not here is Laura. (Applause.) Yeah, you do, too. (Applause.) You know, she was born and raised right around the corner. I was raised right around the corner; she was born and raised right around the corner. We're right on the other side of the New Mexico border. We've spent a lot of time in this state. This is a state -- this is a state where we don't have to have a tour guide to figure out how to get around. (Applause.) And we don't need to have somebody explain to us how the people of New Mexico think. (Applause.)

She's a great First Lady, a great mother -- (applause) -- and a wonderful wife. (Applause.) And she sends her best to Pete and all our friends here in New Mexico.

I also want to thank the sheriff, the high sheriff is here, Darren White. It's good to see you, Sheriff. (Applause.) I appreciate you being here. He's sitting next to my friend, John Sanchez. John, thanks for taking a leadership role. (Applause.) I want to thank Pat Lyons and Manny Lujan, friends of mine. I appreciate so very much Allen Weh, the chairman of this -- the chairman of the party. (Applause.)

I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. Yeah, there you go. (Applause.) You're the people who are going to get people registered to vote. (Applause.) That's what we're really here to talk about, in many ways, is to get people to show up to the polls. I'm confident if we can get a lot of people to vote, we'll carry New Mexico this time. (Applause.) Wasn't but about 300 votes last time. (Laughter.) Too many of our people got the head cold right before the election. This time, we're going to get them out to vote. And I want your help. And remember, there are a lot of Democrats here who like what's going on in Washington, D.C. -- make sure you get those people to the polls. Make sure you get the independents. (Applause.) They understand that this administration is dedicated to keep this country safer and stronger and a better country for everybody. (Applause.)

I met Tom Hesch today -- where are you, Tom? There he is, right there. He's a doc, he's a dentist. Guess what he does? He provides free dental care for people who need help -- that's what he does. (Applause.) One of the reasons -- I call him a soldier in the army of compassion. You know why I mention Tom, is because the strength of this country is the hearts and souls of citizens like Tom, who are willing to reach out to somebody who needs help and says, can I help you, brother or sister. What can I do to help your life? I'm running for four more years because I want to continue to rally and encourage the soldiers in that vast army of compassion, so that America can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time.

I understand the limitations of government. I understand that government is not a loving organization. (Laughter.) But government can stand side-by-side with loving organizations to help improve the lives of people from all walks of life. (Applause.)

Tom, I want to thank you for being here. Thank you for the example you set.

I'm also running because I want this country of ours to be a stronger country, and by that, I mean a country in which people can realize their dreams. And people can better realize their dreams when our economy is strong. Now, we've been through a lot. We've been through a lot in this country. If you really think about what we've been through, it's amazing to say that we're strong and getting stronger. We've been through a recession -- that's when things are going backwards. We've been through an attack. That's when things really shook up the country. It shook our conscience. The attacks of September the 11th affected our economy. Remember, airplanes weren't flying; Wall Street was shut down; banks were closed. I mean, it was a terrible time for our nation. We went through corporate scandals. Make no mistake about it, when you've got a system that relies upon trust, in other words, somebody opening up the books, and you trust in what you read, and that trust has been violated by a -- by a corporate officer, it affected our economy. It shook our confidence in the system. But we acted. We acted to overcome all these obstacles. We passed tough new corporate reforms. The message ought to be clear to everybody now that if you don't tell the truth, we're coming after you, to keep the trust. (Applause.)

We acted after the enemy attacked us -- I'll talk about that a little later. We also acted to help cure the ills of a recession. I believe that when somebody has got more money in their pocket to save or spend or invest, it causes there to be an increase in demand for goods and services, and when there's an increase in demand for goods and services, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. If somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job.

My whole focus on getting out of this recession was to help the economy grow so people can find work, and we're making progress. We've added 1.5 -- nearly 1.5 million new jobs since last August -- (applause.) We're a strong economy. If you look at all the major industrialized nations in the world, we're the strongest. That's where we should be.

There's more to do. There's more to do. We're going to talk about the entrepreneurial spirit. See, I don't think the role of government is to create wealth. I believe the role of government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can soar and is strong, where the strong businesses -- (applause.) You know what that means? You see, in order to keep jobs here at home, that means we better have the best environment for job creation in the world. We want jobs to be here in New Mexico and in Texas and all around the country like we all do. That means this has got to be the best place to be an employer, which means good tax policy, it means we've got to do something about all these lawsuits, which are threatening the job creators. (Applause.)

We've got to do something on health care costs. I'll tell you what we can do on health care costs. We can take care of our seniors with good Medicare law, which we've done. We can have more community health centers in urban New Mexico and rural New Mexico and the tribal areas of New Mexico to help poor citizens get primary care and take the pressure off our emergency rooms. (Applause.) We can have associated health care -- I mean, associated health plans, which will allow small businesses to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries, so they can have the same purchasing power as large companies do, and therefore, better afford insurance for their employees.

We can continue to promote health savings accounts, which allow individuals and small businesses to put money aside for workers and/or yourself on a tax-free basis, which will help control costs. We can spread new technologies, electronic records for patients, to help wring out the inefficiencies which now exist in the medical system.

And you know what else we need to do in order to make sure health care is available and affordable? Medical liability reform. These lawsuits are making -- (applause.) I'm telling you, the frivolous lawsuits are running up the cost of health care and they're driving doctors out of business and they're hurting our hospitals. (Applause.) And I don't think you can be -- I don't think you can be pro-patient and pro-doctor and pro-trial lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) I think you have to choose. My opponent has made his choice and he put him on the ticket. (Laughter.) I made my choice. We're standing with the patients and the doctors and the small business owners.

In order to make sure jobs stay here and the economy is strong, we need good trade policy. Let me tell you something about trade. Our economy has been open for goods from overseas. You know why? If you're a customer and you have more choices, you're going to get a better product at a better price. That's how the economy works. The more choices you have as a customer, the more likely it is you're going to get a product that you want at higher quality and better price.

And so, Presidents before me, from both parties, have said, let's help the customers of America, the consumers, you. In return, though, other countries have not opened their markets to our products like we have opened our markets to theirs. Good public policy and good trade policy says to places like China and elsewhere, open up your markets. Ours are open. You open up yours. We can compete with anybody, anytime, anyplace, so long as the rules are fair. (Applause.)

I'm going to talk -- I'm going to ask Rudy Gonzalez to stand up. Rudy is a small business owner. One of the things that -- one of the things -- one of the things I love to do is talk to small business owners, people who have started their own business. Isn't that a fantastic thing to be able to say? Rudy owns his own business. And he started it himself, which is really good. It means that something is going right in the society where people are willing to risk capital to start their own business.

Part of our tax relief plan was aimed directly at the Rudys, the small businesses of the world, because 90 percent of the small businesses are sub-chapter S or sole proprietorships. That's legalese for they pay tax at the individual income tax rate, not corporate tax rate. And so when you hear us saying we're -- reduce the income tax, the individual income taxes, think about Rudy. Think about his business. (Applause.)

Rudy, when did you start your company?

MR. GONZALEZ: Well, Mr. President, first of all, thank you for inviting me. I started my company back in 1997. And I'm a first-generation Hispanic. My parents were born in Mexico. They came over to this country because, just like you, Mr. President, they have three fundamental values -- a belief in a higher power, a belief in the family as the best institution to secure our future, and a belief that if you work hard and you apply yourself, in the United States you can get anywhere you want to be. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's great. La familia es esperanza. Exactly right. What does your business do? In case somebody might be listening. (Laughter.)

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate the credit. No, you did it, see. They wouldn't be giving you a contract if you couldn't do the job. You've got to be able to do the job. And if you can't do the job, then you shouldn't be given the contract. But you can do the job. You're good at what you do. Thanks for the credit. I don't deserve it, you do.

Let me ask you this question: How many people have you hired this year?

MR. GONZALEZ: Well, I'd like to go back a little bit. When I started off, you were right, I started by myself in 1997. Today, we have approximately 65 employees. (Applause.) This year -- we've grown every single year since 2001. This year, we added 20 new employees.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. (Applause.) Let me stop you there. Let me stop you. A lot of the job growth is happening because companies like Rudy are expanding their job base. Most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. It's important for the American people to understand that. And so you're seeing Rudy hires 20 here, and somebody else hires 20 there, and it begins to add up. People are working in the small business sector. That's why we've got to make sure small businesses have got affordable health care. And that's why we've got to make sure tax policy does not harm small businesses.

Are you making investments this year?

MR. GONZALEZ: Yes, sir, I sure am.

THE PRESIDENT: What will you be buying? (Laughter.) Just in case there's a seller here. (Laughter.)

MR. GONZALEZ: You can -- you can talk to my friend Ken -- over there because this year, he sold us four vehicles.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. (Laughter.) The only reason I ask is that people have got to understand when you hear the tax relief encouraged investment, investment means you're purchasing something, and somebody has to make that which you purchase and sell that which you purchase. And that's how the economy works. There's a million decision-makers, or more than that, like Rudy, who are out saying the tax code encourages me to buy something, and as that purchasing takes place, it adds economic vitality and growth.

Rudy is an S corp. That means he pays tax at the individual income tax rate. And so when you hear my opponent talking about taxing the rich, that means running up the rate, the high rates, he's really taxing small businesses. See, they put out $2.2 trillion of new spending promises. He hasn't even got to September yet, by the way. (Laughter.) And he says he's going to pay for it -- (applause) -- he says he's going to pay for it by taxing the rich. That means that S corps that are doing okay are going to pay higher taxes. We don't need to be taking money out of the small business coffers as this economy is beginning to grow. If most new jobs are created by small businesses, and most small businesses are sub-chapter S or sole proprietorships, it makes no sense to run up the taxes on these people as this economy is beginning to grow. (Applause.)

You know what else I think? You know what else I think when they say, tax the rich? Most rich people are able to avoid taxes, and if you can't raise enough money from taxing the rich, guess who pays the taxes? Yes, you do. But we're not going to let him. That's what this campaign is about, to make sure we've got good tax policy. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: All right, Rudy. Go ahead.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Fabulous. See, that's what -- that's what he's talking about. The tax relief encouraged him to make this investment.

Good job, Rudy. Thanks for coming. Appreciate it. Thanks. Good job. (Applause.)

We've got another entrepreneur with us, Vern Raburn. He -- he is the -- (applause.) So here's a guy who said, I can build a better airplane. (Applause.) That's what you call a grand vision. (Laughter.)

Why don't you tell the folks about your company.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: McCain and I will fly the first one. (Laughter.) So how's it going? I mean, this is -- this is --

MR. RABURN: Things are going great.

THE PRESIDENT: You've hired since I saw you last, four years ago, how many?

MR. RABURN: Well, four years ago, at this time, we had about 18 employees. We have 342 employees now. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. And like what skill level is required -- skill level of the worker?

MR. RABURN: Skill levels, we have very high skill level. Most of our work force today are engineers, manufacturing folks, white-collar workers. In fact, our average salary of each of our employees is about twice that of the average family income in New Mexico.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, let me stop you there. One of the real challenges we have in our country to make sure jobs stay here is to educate people, is to make sure the education system works. (Applause.) You just heard what -- it's a new business, new business. He says that we pay twice as much as the average income, but we require high-level skills. You know what that says to me? It says to me that we've got to make sure No Child Left Behind works. (Applause.) We've got to make sure we keep raising the bar, make sure the young kids can read and write and add and subtract early before it's too late. We've got to make sure our community colleges are able to train workers for the jobs of the 21st century, so that Eclipse* can find a work force necessary to make this company fly. (Applause.)

So when are we going to see the first unit take off?

MR. RABURN: Well, we'll be flying again late this year, and we expect to have the aircraft certified in early '06, March of '06. Today we've got orders for about 2,200 airplanes, about $2.5 billion in back -- (applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That's good.

MR. RABURN: Good problem.

THE PRESIDENT: -- pulling to make sure this economy stays strong. Any of them overseas?

MR. RABURN: A lot of those are overseas.

THE PRESIDENT: Let me tell you something. See, if we get into a mode where we become economic isolationists, he won't be able to sell these airplanes overseas. We don't need trade wars. He wants to be able to sell this product overseas without having to compete with government bureaucracies and unnecessary tariffs and restrictions. That's why we believe in fair trade and open trade.

You got workers here who are going to be working because you've got planes being sold overseas. So when you hear them talk about trade, you need to be thinking about jobs. Jobs exist when you're able to trade overseas. You've got some farmers in this state don't you? (Laughter.) Yes, the farm economy is strong around the country. You know why? Because not only are we feeding our own people, we're feeding other people. Other people are eating our corn and our soybeans and our wheat, because we're opening up markets. Still working to get that New Mexico cattle around the world. (Laughter.) Open up markets for the Mexican cattlemen -- and Texas cattlemen, too, I want you to know. (Laughter.)

So what else? What else on your mind, Vern? You get the chance to tell the President something. (Laughter.) By the way, I guarantee he's a big believer in tort reform. (Laughter.) A lot of airline companies, a lot of manufacturers in the past got shut down because of all kinds of lawsuits. And these lawsuits, we want good justice in America, but when the trial bar converts the law into a legal lottery, it begins to affect jobs. You just got to know that. It's one thing to have justice; it's another thing to go overboard with justice, because people start to lose work. I don't know what your opinion is.

MR. RABURN: I agree. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. See, you'd think I was a lawyer. I'm not.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: See, this is a vibrant company. And I'm excited to be here. I want to thank you for inviting us. He's got a newly-hired employee named Vernon Oliver. Where's Vern? There he is. Hi, Vern. Welcome. (Applause.) So what happens to you? So how do you end up here in the airplane manufacturing world?

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: What Vernon is telling you is, is that since 9/11, things have changed. People are getting their confidence, jobs are coming back, and in his case, he had the skill levels necessary to fill the jobs.

Yesterday, we were in Florida and we talked to some people that needed to go back to community colleges, but we were happy to help them go back to community colleges. There's all kinds of plans, trade adjustment assistance, and NAFTA-related job loss. People who then can get a scholarship or get direct grants to go back and retrain for the jobs which actually exist. This fellow didn't need to be retrained. He just showed up, and they wanted him. And he saved $3,000 in taxes last year. (Applause.) And he's going to save $3,000 this year.

Remember, we not only reduced income taxes on everybody who pays taxes, but we helped people with children by raising the child credit to $1,000, and we reduced the marriage penalty, we created a 10-percent bracket. In other words, we said we're going to help families. And this family right here has got $3,000 in relief -- I think that's right -- you probably can say, "Mind your own business, Mr. President." (Laughter.)

MR. OLIVER: No, sir. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: But if the tax relief is not made permanent, his taxes go up by $1,200. See, I believe government can set priorities and fund our priorities and that after the priorities are funded the people can spend that money better than the government can spend it. That's what I believe. (Applause.) And I like the fact that Vernon's got $3,000 additional of his own money in his pocket. It's his money to begin with, of course, and so he has it.

Well, thanks for coming, Vernon.

And Guy is with you as well, Guy Hoisington. (Applause.) All right. He's a newly hired guy. Tell us, Guy.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Here's a guy -- here's a guy who tried out the promised land for a while, that would be Texas -- (laughter) -- changed his mind, came home to the other -- to the enchanted land, and is working because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. He's able to more realize his dream, which is to raise your family here. So the job of government is to help when needed. The tax relief helps his family. I suspect it helped him move. I think it -- I know it helps him raise his family.

MR. OLIVER: Yes, Vern helped me move, too.

THE PRESIDENT: He helped? That's good. (Laughter.) You must be good at what you do.

MR. OLIVER: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. That's real good. (Laughter.) But the point is -- that what I'm trying to tell you is, is that when the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, when people like Vern feel comfortable about taking a risk and expanding and growing, people can find work. That's what we want in America. We want people to find work. We want people to be comfortable with their lives as best as they can.

You know, we can't make you decide to be somebody, but we can help you. We can help educate your children, to make sure they're educated. We can provide tax relief so that you're more comfortable and confident in tough times, and also to help this economy grow. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about the proper role of government. We're talking about how to make sure government stands side-by-side with moms and dads and entrepreneurs and workers. (Applause.)

One of the -- one of my goals is to continue to push an ownership society in America. First-generation American says, I own my own business. I just think those are wonderful words. I like the idea of health accounts where people own them and manage them so that the principal decision-makers for health care are doctors and patients, not bureaucrats. (Applause.)

I see some younger faces here, and Social Security -- the solvency of Social Security is an issue for future generations. McCain, Domenici and I are in good shape. (Laughter.) At least our age group. But when you start looking at younger workers, down there in the 30s and 20s, there's a question of whether or not Social Security is going to be around. And therefore, we need to explore with Congress the idea of personal savings accounts for younger workers. (Applause.) Their option. So Social Security exists.

And finally, one of the great promises of this country is homeownership. There's something -- the homeownership rate in America is at an all-time high. (Applause.) More minorities are owning their homes than ever before. In other words, we got more people opening their door and saying, welcome to my home. Those are magical words, aren't they? I think a healthy society is one in which people own something. If you own something you have a stake in the future of your country.

Today we've got Debra and Arnold Reano. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. First of all, I want you to know Debra's birthday is today. Happy birthday. (Applause.) Arnold whispered in my ear when we were coming out. Secondly, see the beautiful jewelry she's wearing and he's wearing -- they made it. They're artisans. (Applause.) That's a tradition of New Mexico, where people are really skilled at making beautiful jewelry. Thanks for mine. I told Debra that I'm going to play like I bought it for Laura. (Laughter.) No, I'm not. No, I wouldn't do that. Because she's probably watching on CSPAN. (Laughter.)

You all just bought a home.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: What he's talking about is the Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, which is a way to encourage homeownership in tribal areas. And it's working. That's what we want, isn't it? Doesn't it make sense to have public policy aimed at helping people own their own home? I can't think of a better use of resources. (Applause.) It's working.

By the way, this couple saved $3,200 in federal income taxes last year. (Applause.) Tax relief helps all kinds of people.

Good. Listen, I appreciate you coming. I asked them to come -- we asked them to come because homeownership is valid for everybody. We want people owning their own home all across the country, every corner of America we want people to put out that welcome mat, welcome to my home. And it's happening. I think one of the most positive things that's happening in the country is there's more minority small business owners in America, and more people from all walks of life owning their own home. (Applause.)

Thank you all for coming. It's good to see your girls, too. Beautiful girls.

One way to make sure the economy continues to grow is to keep the country safe. (Applause.) That's a charge we've been given. Nobody wants to be a war President, but an enemy which had been planning for a long time struck us. And we must never forget the lessons of that day. I'm going to give you three quick lessons. As fellow citizens, it's important to know -- for you to know that I know the stakes, and that I know the realities of the world in which we live.

Lesson one is, there's an enemy out there which hates us because of what we believe. And you cannot negotiate with them, you cannot talk sense into them. It's hard for the American conscience to understand the nature of these people, but they behead people because they know we've got hearts and we know we weep -- they know we value human life and human dignity. And they're trying to shake our will. And the only way to deal with these folks is to bring them to justice. (Applause.)

Second lesson, which we'll do -- we'll do this year and we'll do over the next four years -- we must bring them to justice in places where they hide and plot, so we do not have to face them here at home. That's the reality of the world -- is that this is a different kind of enemy, a different kind of enemy. These are people that will hide in caves and they will seek safe haven. Their ideal situation is where they can find a weak government that fears them or likes them and lets them hide and lets them burrow in the -- in their countryside or in their cities.

And so, the second lesson is that we need to send clear messages, strong messages to countries around the world that say, if you harbor a terrorist, in other words, if you provide safe haven for these people, if you allow them to arm up and plot and plan and train, you will be held to account just like the terrorists will be. (Applause.)

And that explains our Afghanistan policy. And that explains why we took action we did in Afghanistan. We said to the Taliban, get rid of these people, turn them over, or face consequences. And by the way, if America says something, it must be easy to understand, and you must mean it. (Applause.) In order -- if we're uncertain, or if we doublespeak, the world will drift toward tragedy. That's the reality of the world in which we live. It's a lesson that we must remember.

By the way, on Afghanistan, it is -- there's still hard work there. But think about what's happened in a very quick period of time. Think about this. There is going to be a presidential election -- (applause) -- in a country that was ruled by this barbaric regime, so barbaric that many young girls never got to go to school, and their mothers were publicly whipped. That's barbaric. And now they're going to have a presidential election. Over eight million people are registered to vote. And here, I'm going around the country saying -- here I'm going around the country saying, please register to vote, and vote -- these people, when given a chance, are showing up in big numbers, in spite of the fact that some of these thugs are trying to stop them from going to the ballot box.

I was in Cleveland, Ohio, kicking off the International Children's Game. And standing in front of me was the Afghan girls soccer team. I'm telling you, I wish -- it was -- (applause.) There wasn't a dry eye in my house. It's unbelievable to think that in a very short period of time,

people are liberated. Free countries are peaceful countries. The world is better off and America is more safe. The third lesson of -- because Afghanistan is free.

The third lesson is, when we see a threat, we must take it seriously before it fully materializes. That's a serious lesson of September the 11th. You see, it's a different kind of war. It's a different kind of war. We cannot hope for the best anymore. In the old days, we could, because we thought oceans would protect us. It wasn't all that long ago that we thought we were safe from harm's way. And all of a sudden, on that fateful day, the world changed. And these lessons are serious lessons, because we're talking about the most solemn duty of a government and it's to protect the people. We must take threats seriously.

And so, that begins to explain to you why I made the decision I made, Senators McCain and Domenici came to the same conclusion I did, that Saddam Hussein was a threat. And I want you to remember, he was a threat because he behaved like a threat. He had used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He had terrorist ties. There was terrorist organizations in and our of Iraq over time. He had defied the world, I think 17 resolutions. In other words, imagine a world saying, okay, we're only going to tell you one more time. (Laughter.) This is the 16th time we're going to tell you. Cough them up, get rid of your ability to make weapons, get rid of what you even have, or face serious consequences. And if you say it 17 times and nothing happens, pretty soon, you embolden somebody whose instincts were dark and dim.

This is a person who tortured his own people, there were mass graves, he invaded his neighbors. We had been to war with him before. He was shooting at our pilots that were enforcing -- he was a threat. And so I went to the Congress and said to the Congress, gosh, we've got a threat here, and the world has changed. By far, the vast majority of members of Congress from both political parties, they took a good look at the intelligence, they looked at what I was looking at, we all came to the same conclusion, including my opponent. He looked at that intelligence -- (applause.)

And then the U.N. looked at it, and said, again, disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. And they said, but -- the world said, we work in diplomacy then, which is wise to do. And they said, gosh, let's let the inspectors work. So, okay. It seems to make sense, doesn't it, let the inspectors in. But guess what -- they were being deceived, systematically deceived by Saddam Hussein. He wasn't -- he was doing all kinds of things to prevent them from finding out the truth.

So I had a choice; Tony Blair had a choice; Silvio Berlusconi had a choice -- (applause) -- Alexander Kwasniewski had a choice; John Howard had a choice. (Applause.) And that is, hope for the best, forget the lessons of September the 11th, trust a madman, or take action to defend our country. You've just got to know, folks, given that choice, I will defend us every time. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. A couple other points I want to make -- let me make a couple of points and I'll answer some questions if you have some.

First, when we put troops in harm's way, they will have our government's support. A lot of folks in this town -- (applause) -- you got relatives in the military, you've been in the military yourself, this is a -- this is what I believe, this is what Pete believes, this is what John believes. We believe -- and a lot of others in Washington do, too. That's why I asked for an $87 billion supplemental last September to make sure our troops had what they needed: spare parts, body armor, fuel, support. (Applause.) A difference in this campaign is that my opponent voted against the supplemental funding.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: He has said on the TV shows, before the vote came up, there's no excuse for not supporting the troops. And then we was asked why he didn't ask for it, he said, well, he actually did vote for it right before he voted against it. (Laughter.) It's -- and then he said it was a complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. They need -- the troops need our support. (Applause.)

I want to make two other points, and then I'll answer questions. The other day, he was asked on a -- by a TV reporter or a newspaper reporter, what about the troops? And he said, he's going to substantially reduce the number of troops six months after he's the President. Now, let me -- let me -- listen, we all want the mission to be completed as quickly as possible. But we want the mission to be completed. (Applause.)

Secondly, the mission is not going to be completed as quickly as possible if the enemy thinks that we're going to be removing a substantial number of troops in six months. Thirdly, the person -- the people that should be making the recommendations as to whether or not the mission is nearly completed so that we can relieve troops are the commanders on the ground. That's who ought to be making the recommendations. (Applause.) I know what I'm doing when it comes to winning this war. (Applause.) And I'm not going to be sending mixed signals.

Now, the other thing I want to tell you about is, when people say, what is -- what are you trying to accomplish, what is America trying to accomplish -- what we're going to accomplish is a free society in the heart of a -- in the heart of a part of the world where people are desperate for freedom. See, this is a historic moment in world history, I think, because freedom has got the capacity to change people's lives in a positive way. America stands for peace, and we understand that the best way to achieve peace is to spread freedom. (Applause.) Because free societies -- free societies -- free societies listen to the hopes and aspirations of their people. The best way to defeat resentment is to spread freedom and hope. You can't have a hopeful society if you've got tyranny looming over you. You can't have a hopeful society if you're not allowed to express your opinion or worship freely.

So that's what you're seeing. We're seeing the short-term actions of our government are to protect us. That's why we're using force, to protect us. The long-term solution is to spread liberty.

I was having dinner with Koizumi, who is the Prime Minister of Japan, and we were talking about how to keep the peace in North Korea. Think about what -- think about that for a second, the American President and the Prime Minister of Japan, former enemies, countries were former enemies. Maybe some of you here in the audience were fighting the Japanese in World War II. His dad was, and my dad was, and I bet a lot of other dads were, as well. And here we are now, sitting down at the same table, talking about peace with a former -- and you know why I was able to do so and other Presidents were able to do so -- is because after World War II, we believed so strongly in liberty that we worked with the Japanese to develop a society that was self-governing, that believed that -- based upon the principles of human dignity and human rights and human freedom.

Now, there were skeptics who said, no, it's too hard to work. We've been at it for too long. This country can't self-govern. But, fortunately, predecessors believed so strongly in the ability of liberty to change the habits of citizens for the good that they stuck to their guns and now I'm talking to Koizumi about the peace. Someday, an American President is going to sit down with an elected Iraqi leader and they're going to say, thank God old Bush, McCain and Domenici believed in freedom. (Applause.) Thank God the American people listen to the skeptics, rejected pessimistic thought, and said, let's complete the mission.

Freedom is going to change the world. Freedom -- and you know what else freedom does? It validates what we believe in our hearts. Freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. (Applause.)

Let me -- thank you all. Let me -- let me answer some questions while we've got time. Thanks for giving me a chance to talk. Now, I'll give you a chance to answer some questions. We're here for a little bit, and then John and I are heading West. We're going out to Phoenix, and then I'm off to Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Iowa. I want to win. I'm willing to work. (Applause.)

All right, who's got a question? You've got one?

Q First I want to make a prediction.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you.

Q President Bush is going to win by a landslide. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, we can leave it there if you like.

Q Number two --

THE PRESIDENT: How about we work as if it's going to be close. (Laughter.)

Q Number two, I respect your position on human life and your demand for abortion. I respect it.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q And I thank you every moment. You're the top President when it comes to us speaking out for life. Thank you. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. Thank you. I hope you're a good prognosticator. (Laughter.)

Q First, I agree with him. I hope we see you in a landslide.

THE PRESIDENT: Let's -- let's just win the thing. (Laughter.) Let's just win it. Thank you, though.

Q First of all, let me say it's an honor to speak to you. It's an honor every day when I get to pray for you as President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. (Applause.)

Q I just -- I wanted to say that. I wanted to agree with him -- your stand for life, for stem cells. We do not need to be doing research with fetal stem cells. And I appreciate that. (Applause.) Could I ask you two more questions?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure, go ahead. Ask them.

Q Real short.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. You haven't asked one, yet. But go ahead. (Laughter.)

Q Can I introduce my mother and mother-in-law who are new citizens to this country?

THE PRESIDENT: That's a very interesting move by the guy. (Laughter.) He's got the President standing here, and he wants me to meet the mother-in-law. (Laughter.) Strong move. Absolutely. And the mother -- yes. (Applause.) Fantastic. Is this the mom-in-law?

Q This is my mother-in-law.

THE PRESIDENT: Where are you from, mom-in-law?

Q Okinawa.

THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. New citizen?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: This year?

Q Two years.

THE PRESIDENT: Two years ago. So this is your first presidential election?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. (Applause.) Welcome. Welcome. There's a long tradition in America that you only vote for the person who looks you in the eye and asks. (Applause.) Just kidding. And where's mom? Oh, hi, mom. Strong move. That's very good, yes. Are you listening to your mother?

Q I do.

THE PRESIDENT: I listen to mine, too. (Applause.) In my case, I don't have much choice. (Applause.) In my case.

Let me talk about stem cells real quick. There had been no research on stem cells prior to my arrival. I said that stem cell lines which had already existed prior to a certain date ought to be allowed to receive federal money to research, and from that point forward, that we ought to make sure we deal with science and ethics in a very balanced way. And so we're just beginning to understand embryonic stem cell research. We're also, by the way, spending research dollars on adult stem cell research, and we're also spending it on fetal tissue.

And so, what we're -- what I'm saying to you is, is that I think my administration has struck a proper balance between science and ethics. I think we have done a very good job about exploring that which is possible, without stepping over a line that we may come to regret later on. And so, I assembled a panel of experts, ethicists, to help me better understand this very vital issue.

Listen, we -- I'm sure you've heard from folks with juvenile -- got a child with juvenile diabetes. I certainly have. And I care deeply about the families who are wondering whether or not we can do more to help solve their child's problems. It's sad, and I know these Senators have heard from those with juvenile diabetes. And the policies I made were, on the one hand, trying to help as best as we can move science forward, and at the same time, keep an ethical balance, so that we promote a culture of life. And the decision I made in my judgment is the right decision. And it's one that respects the value of life, and on the other hand, is on that says, hopefully, science can use these existing stem cell lines, of which I think there's going to be 23, which are viable and vibrant, and they're just beginning to look at them, to help come up with cures that we all want to have happen, we all want. We want human -- we want these young kids with -- that have been affected by juvenile diabetes to better survive. That's what we want.

But thank you for bringing up the subject. Any -- yes, sir, here's a man right here. First of all, he's one of my -- he's cheering really loud. (Laughter.) Thank you.

Q Thank you, President Bush, and I just want to say it's a honor to speak to you today. And you probably already touched on this question, but seeing as I'm a disabled person myself, I'm 20 years old and going to college in the great state of -- well, I live in the great state of New Mexico, but I also go to college in the great state of Texas. (Laughter.) And I'm --

THE PRESIDENT: Where you going, by the way? Excuse me for interrupting, but where are you going?

Q McMurray University in Abilene.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, yeah. Abiline, Texas. (Applause.)

Q Yes, sir. And my current major is political science, and I'm just curious --

THE PRESIDENT: I better give you some counseling before it's too late. No, go ahead. (Laughter.)

Q How can we, as a team -- and I understand people ask you for help, but how can we, as a team, be ensured that other people that are disabled can be a part of the big business or small business, to help bring jobs for the people of this country?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, absolutely. I appreciate that very much. (Applause.) One of the great advances -- one of the great advances of our era is technology. There's fantastic technological opportunities for the visually-impaired to be able to have a computer that speaks to them. I don't know if you've been involved with that or not. You have?

Q Yes, sir, I have a -- it's called a braille note, and it has a braille display. And I also have a thing on my computer, it's called Jaws for Windows, that gets on and reads the screen to me whenever I get on the Internet.

THE PRESIDENT: See, that's coming. So one thing we can do is help members of our community who need this kind of program. We can help them with financial aid to buy them. I mean, this is equally as important as going to college, is to have the opportunity -- listen, the role of government is to help people help themselves. (Applause.) And we're talking about helping this guy with -- we're helping him realize his dreams. There are touch computers where, if you're disabled without the ability -- and you can't use your hands, there are new computers and new ability to be able to turn a computer on and log on and surf the net, and that technology is now more available.

What I'm telling you is, to answer your question, is to make sure technologies are more readily available and we help people afford them as they come on the market. And it's going to change people's lives for the better. Again, we want everybody to be able to participate in this experience called America. And we want people to be able to realize their dreams, no matter their condition, or no matter whether they're first generation or 800th generation -- 18th or how ever many generations there have been, and that's what we want.

So I appreciate your question, sir. Thank you.

Q And I just want to say, thank you so much, and I'm really proud of what you're doing and what America's doing, because -- and I want to thank my mom and my parents, because I'm the only blind people -- or blind person in my family, and I'm excited to graduate and go to college and be part of that small business. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations.

Let's see, all right, man in a cowboy hat. Yes, we've got to try the cowboy hat. You're next.

Q Hello, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

Q I'm a retired Navy, 20 years. (Applause.) I flew the S-3, the same that you came aboard in the Lincoln.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

Q Four tours in Vietnam, and all I can say is, thank God we finally have a Commander-in-Chief.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. (Applause.)

Let me -- let me say something. You've got a lot of veterans in this state. People have served their country in this state, and I want to thank you for your service. And I thank you for setting such a good example for the --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Hoorah!

THE PRESIDENT: There you go. (Laughter.) For the hoorahs of the world. But thank -- (laughter) -- thank you for setting such a good example for those who wear our uniform. I'm going to the VFW Convention on Monday. I'm looking forward to going. I've got something to say. I've got something to say about how we've worked together to make sure we've honored our vets with good, strong health care. I made some promises to the VFW in 2000. I'm going to go back and remind them of the promises I made and remind them of the promises we have kept. And that's what we owe our veterans. (Applause.)

Yes, ma'am. There you go. No, I said -- yes, ma'am. Sorry. (Laughter.) You bet. Crank that thing up.

Q Mr. President, I would like to know what your administration has done to help women and children in domestic violence situations.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we've said to the Justice Department, work with states to make sure that the states have got the resources necessary to bring people to justice. That's what states are supposed to do. Supposed to -- states are supposed to pass laws that make it easier for law enforcement to be able to do its job when it comes to domestic violence.

And when I was the governor of Texas, we made it easier for an abused spouse to be able to call her spouse into account without facing retribution. We had notification laws when a spouse was released from jail. In other words, we stood on the side of the abused person. We had the law stand side-by-side with the person, as opposed to making the environment such that many people were afraid to turn in an abusive spouse. And two, if the abusive spouse had been punished, they were afraid of the consequences after the spouse had been out.

This is -- the truth of the matter is, most good policy -- or policy is made at the state level under state laws. And what the federal government can do, the federal government can help on grant-making to help states with those type of laws.

Q And what about the Family Justice Center Initiative? Didn't you announce that last year?

THE PRESIDENT: The family --

Q -- the pilot program -- $21 million?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I did, so thanks for reminding me. (Laughter.) How quickly we forget. It was a loaded question, wasn't it? Let me ask you something, U.S. Marine Corps mom, is that what that means? You have a son in the Marine Corps? I know you didn't want to ask a question, but --

Q I want to thank you for all the support you have given the military.

THE PRESIDENT: Where is he? Hold on for a minute. Where is your son?

Q He's in Yuma, and he's on his way to be deployed.

THE PRESIDENT: Is he?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Let me say something to the mom here. First of all, you're going to be nervous, and I know you are, and you should be. But I just want you to know that your son is making an historic contribution to the peace and security of our country. (Applause.)

Q Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: And you know what? You know, the great thing about this country? I'll tell you the great thing about the country -- there's a lot of people praying for him. Yes. I appreciate you wearing -- "USMC mom." That's great. He's going to be just fine, by the way.

Q He said that he was anxious to go over there and do his job and defend our country.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that's what he's doing, and it's important for everybody to understand that. (Applause.) It's important for everybody to understand that. It's important to understand the consequences of her son's decision, first, to join an all-volunteer army, and secondly, to be in a position to go over and help freedom take hold in Iraq. That's really what we're talking about.

On the one hand, we're defeating people that could come here to hurt us, but we're also spreading freedom. And you know what's going to make it work? It's when the Iraqis and the Afghan step up and say, I'm now ready to defend my country. And that's what's happening. That's what's happening. And the enemy -- (applause) -- and the enemy sees it happening. And that's why they're taking action. See, that's why they're blowing up innocent life. They see what's happening. And that's why we cannot send mixed signals, and that's why we've got to be firm in our resolve. And while we are, that's why we've got to be thankful to the moms who raised a son who says, I want to serve my country.

I was asked the other day whether or not we ought to -- some think we ought to get rid of the all-volunteer army. The answer is, absolutely not. We need to keep the all-volunteer army. And what we need to do is to make sure that people -- (applause) -- there's incentive to stay in the all-volunteer army, by making sure people are better-paid, which we have done over the course of four appropriations bills -- since I've been the President, military pay is up 21 percent. (Applause.) We've got to make sure the housing on the bases are better than adequate. And we've got -- in other words, we've got to win the hearts and souls not only of the soldiers, but of their families. And we're making good progress toward that. But this all-volunteer army is, one, an important concept, and two, it's working.

Let's see. Yes, sir.

Q Mr. President, thank you so much. I just returned from a 13-month tour, Lt. Colonel Jackson. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks. Where were you?

Q I was the deputy commander of our forces in Kosovo.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, fantastic. Thanks for doing that. Bonsteel?

Q Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I went there.

Q I know you were there, and in fact, the education center is named after you wife.

THE PRESIDENT: Is it? Well, smart move.

Q Yes, sir. (Applause.) Mr. President, all the forces overseas are thankful that you are such a strong Commander-in-Chief, and even when I was Medivacked out, I was injured and Medivacked out to Germany, along with forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, the morale was very high, because we knew that you were in charge and going to take care of us. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. Thank you, sir. Let me say something. Let me say something about Medivacking troops. It's really important for our citizens to know that if somebody gets hurt, they're going to get really good treatment quickly -- I mean quickly. And I know that a lot of us has been to Bethesda, I know John has and Pete has, or Walter Reed. These are the big hospitals in Washington, D.C. that take care of those who have been injured. These kids are coming off the battlefield in one or two days' time. I mean, we're taking kids who have been hurt, and we're getting them into incredibly good care quickly.

That's a -- what a compassionate government, when you think about it. You know, there's other governments that might let their troops kind of languish around, you know, maybe get them out of the tent somewhere, sometime. Not America. Not America. We value every life. We appreciate the service of our troops. When I see these families in these hospitals, I'm quick to ask them, are you getting everything you need? I need to know. And admittedly, sometimes the President gets the cook's tour, but the answer is, yes, Mr. President, they're taking care of my kid. And that's what families, or citizens need to know about our country, is that we are grateful for the service of those who wear our uniform, because the world is going to be better off for it.

A couple of more questions. McCain is getting anxious, he wants to get to Phoenix. (Laughter.) And so do I.

So what have we got here? Where's the little boy? This little guy? You got all kinds of little boys. Go ahead.

Q I was wondering if I could take a picture with you.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. (Laughter.) All right, let him through. Crawl on underneath there. Scoot on through, come on. (Applause.) Got it? Hello, Mom. (Laughter.) Got it? (Applause.)

Yes, go ahead.

Q First of which, first part of comment, just know that my wife and I are praying for you. We appreciate what you've done the four years you've been in office.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q Thank you for that. A question I have --

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate your prayers. Think about -- I mean, work on your question while I say something here. (Laughter.) It's an amazing country where people from all walks of life pray for the President. (Applause.) It really is. I'm grateful. I am really grateful. Any President would be grateful. It's one of the most sustaining aspects of my life now, to know that people pray for me and Laura and the kids.

Go ahead.

Q The question I have, one of our concerns is, is the continued erosion of the moral fabric of this country with the -- obviously the removal of prayer in schools, the removal of the Ten Commandments, abortion, and now we're faced with the issue of gay marriage. And, obviously, there was an attempt to at least get it in the Constitution among the parties in Congress, with no success. What do you plan to do -- when you're reelected --

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q -- to abolish that attempt by the left? And my second question is, would you mind if I got your autograph? (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: We've started a bad trend here. Let me talk about marriage, traditional marriage. First of all, I believe our society is better off when marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. It's my belief. (Applause.)

Secondly -- hold on a second. Secondly -- secondly, this is an issue that ought to be decided by the people, not by a few judges. And that's what's caused the issue. That's what has brought this issue to a head, is because in a particular state, the four judges redefined the definition of marriage. That's what happened. And my worry is, is that that definition will be spread to other states, even though the people of those states do not accept that definition.

And now there's laws on the books. And what happened was, a lot of the senators -- accurately noted, there's a current law on the book called the DOMA, Defense of Marriage Act, which specifically defines marriage as between a man or a woman, and says that the actions of one state cannot affect the behavior in another state. And I readily concede that law is on the books, signed by my predecessor, by the way.

My worry has been that the courts will overturn that law and that we will end up with a series of activist judges defining marriage. And so the easiest way -- not the easiest way, probably the toughest way -- but the clearest way to define marriage is to put it in the Constitution like I suggested.

Now, let me also tell you, the constitutional process takes a long time. It -- many amendments have taken years to be passed by the Senate and then ratified by the states. I will also explain to the American people that the ratification process of the constitutional amendment is an essential part of including people's opinions as to this very delicate issue.

And finally, let me encourage everybody, as we debate this issue, to do so with the utmost of respect. I mean, this is a issue that requires thoughtful dialogue. It's a serious issue. And it's one that -- I hope we can have a debate in a way that is uplifting and not tearing people down on either side of the issue. And I will pledge to you -- I will -- I will do my very best to bring a thoughtful dialogue on this vital issue.

And so what I'll do the next four years is continue to state what I believe. I'm not going to change my beliefs just because there's been an election. Quite the contrary. I will be telling people what I believe. (Applause.)

Okay, last question. You have been very patient. This is the last one. I hope everybody understands, I've got to work. (Laughter.)

Q President Bush, we want you to know something. This group of ladies right here, we represent an international company -- an international AGLOW fellowship. This is women all over the world. There is a woman over there by the name of Bernadette Martinez who is the prayer coordinator for New Mexico. And we want you to know, we are praying for you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q We are praying for righteous leaders in Washington and throughout our country, because we know that it's time for America to get back to its moral roots that our founders put in place for us when this country was founded. And it is time for the people in this country to realize and to call out for righteous leaders. That is our right as God's children. And we are doing that.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q And you will be in the White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. (Applause.) One more? Okay, hold on. Let me tell you what else you can do. Let me tell you what else you can do. Register people to vote. And then, right around election time, start saying to people, we have a duty, we have a duty in a free society, no matter what you believe, we have a duty to vote. So I appreciate your enthusiasm and your drive. Convert it to getting people to the polls, too, which I know you will.

Okay, final question. One more, this is it. Then we got to go to Arizona.

Q Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, ma'am. No more hands going up, I'm a man of my word. (Applause.)

Q And I am a persistent woman. My name is Cassandra Dennis. My husband is Captain Dominic Dennis. He sends his hellos all the ways from -- Iraq.

THE PRESIDENT: Good, thank you. He's a captain -- in the Army?

Q Army National Guard.

THE PRESIDENT: Very good.

Q I want your prayers for him.

THE PRESIDENT: You got it. Thank you very much. And tell you -- I'll tell you what do. You know, one of the interesting -- one of the interesting possibilities now, because of high-tech, because of the high-tech world, is that you can email your husband, correct?

Q We email, we do instant messaging, we've got webcams, we have telephones.

THE PRESIDENT: All right, why don't you do this, then? Would you do me a favor?

Q Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Would you rather email him or instant message him?

Q I'm going to instant-message him.

THE PRESIDENT: Instant-message him. Instant-message him this: The Commander-in-Chief is grateful and incredibly proud of his service. (Applause.)

Thank you all. God bless. Thanks for coming.





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und ehrlicher!!!

 

http://www.buckfush.com/

 

mfg ds

 

Removing Barriers that Separate the Poor from Effective Services
?The measure of compassion is more than good intentions, it is good results. By being involved and by taking responsibility upon ourselves, we gain something?. We contribute to the life of our country. We become more than taxpayers and occasional voters, we become citizens. Citizens, not spectators. Citizens who hear the call of duty, who stand up for their beliefs, who care for their families, who control their lives, and who treat their neighbors with respect and compassion.?


-President George W. Bush, April 30, 2002  




Removing Barriers that Separate the Poor from Effective Services. President Bush has taken bold steps to tear down the barriers that separate the poor from effective programs. Through an executive order, the President required equal treatment for faith-based and community organizations. As a result of this and other efforts to level the playing field in the Federal grants process, faith-based organizations received more than $1 billion in competitive, non-formula grants in FY 2003 to benefit the neediest of our society.


Leading the Fight against HIV/AIDS. In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a five-year, $15 billion initiative to turn the tide in combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Just one month after Congress appropriated FY 2004 funds for the President's plan, $350 million was awarded to service providers for critical prevention efforts and to bring life-saving treatment to suffering people in some of the hardest-hit countries in Africa and the Caribbean.


Providing Access to Medicine for HIV Positive Americans. Just as he has shown leadership globally, the President is concerned about U.S. citizens who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. The President has consistently requested an increase in the Ryan White Care Act AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding each year since he took office, for an overall increase of 41 percent. There are more HIV-positive Americans accessing treatment, they are receiving better quality care, and there has been an increase in the number of programs funded to provide care.


Increasing Access to Effective Drug Treatment. The President?s Access to Recovery (ATR) program will give individuals seeking drug treatment expanded access to effective providers through a new voucher program. As a part of this program, the Department of Health and Human Services is making $100 million available in FY 2004 for up to 15 states to extend drug treatment to 50,000 more Americans, allowing them a choice of providers, including faith-based organizations. The President has proposed to double this funding level in FY 2005.


Mentoring Disadvantaged Youth and Children of Prisoners. Last year, President Bush proposed a three-year, $450 million mentoring initiative. Two recently established programs provide mentors to disadvantaged middle school students and to the children of prisoners. Congress appropriated $100 million for these mentoring programs in FY 2004.


Helping Ex-Offenders Contribute to Society. In January 2004, President Bush proposed a four-year, $300 million initiative to reduce recidivism and help released inmates contribute to their communities. This year, more than 600,000 inmates will be released from prison, and studies show that, without intervention, approximately two-thirds will likely be rearrested within three years of release. The initiative will harness the resources and experience of faith-based and community organizations in providing job training and placement services to 50,000 non-violent adult ex-offenders, transitional housing for up to 30,000, and voluntary mentoring support for those desiring it. Program resources will be targeted toward 50 to 60 urban communities heavily impacted by returning ex-offenders.


Opening or Expanding Community Health Centers. Access to health care has been extended to 3 million additional Americans ? part of the President?s five-year plan to fund 1,200 new or expanded sites to serve an additional 6.1 million people. In FY 2001 there were approximately 3,300 Federally-recognized health centers that received grants from the Department of Health and Human Services; and these centers were serving approximately 10 million patients, including 4 million uninsured individuals. Today there are more than 600 new or expanded health centers delivering preventive and primary care to individuals in medically underserved communities across America.


Combating Chronic Homelessness. President Bush proposed a $70 million Samaritan Initiative in the FY 2005 Budget to provide supportive services and housing for chronically homeless individuals. Although these individuals comprise roughly 10 percent of the homeless population, they consume one-half of all homeless emergency services because their housing, health, and other needs have not before been comprehensively addressed.


Expanding Homeownership for Minority Americans. In 2003, President Bush signed into law the American Dream Downpayment Act, which expands homeownership opportunities for low-income Americans. The President has set a goal of adding 5.5 million new minority homeowners in America by the end of the decade. In the first quarter of 2004, the minority homeownership rate was a record 50.8 percent. Between the second quarter of 2002 (the start of the President?s initiative) and the first quarter of 2004, there was a net increase of 1.54 million minority homeowners.


Removing Barriers for Americans with Disabilities. Announced in February 2001, the New Freedom Initiative is President Bush?s plan for the full integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of American life. The President recognizes that for the promise of full integration to become a reality, people with disabilities need safe and affordable housing, access to transportation, access to the political process, and the right to enjoy services, programs, and activities offered to all members of the community at both public and private facilities. The President has proposed a budget increase of $2.2 billion over the next five years to fund demonstration projects that promote community-based services for people with disabilities; proposed $918 million over six years to remove transportation barriers still faced by individuals with disabilities; and secured $15 million under the Help America Vote Act to improve access to voting for people with disabilities.


Strengthening America?s Families. President Bush's welfare plan would promote child well-being and healthy marriages. As part of this proposal, the President has requested $240 million in total funds in the FY 2005 Budget for a State-based competitive matching grant program to support healthy marriages, as well as $120 million for research, demonstration projects, and technical assistance. In addition, the President has requested $50 million to promote responsible fatherhood. Through this new initiative, faith-based and community organizations would receive competitive grants to support skill-based marriage and parenting education, job training, and other services that help fathers provide emotional and financial support to their children.


Supporting Adoption and Foster Children. The President believes that a permanent, safe, and loving home is important for every child, and he has worked to prevent children from being trapped in the child welfare system. In addition, he continues to support both domestic and international adoption. Since taking office, he has extended the adoption incentives tax credit to $10,000 per child, launched www.AdoptUSKids.org, signed into law the bipartisan Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments, provided Independent Living (education and training) vouchers for young adults aging out of the foster care system, and created incentives for adopting older foster youth.


Calling Americans to Service. The President has made it a priority to encourage volunteer service and civic involvement to strengthen our communities and Nation and to help people in need. In 2002, the President called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes to serving others, and created the USA Freedom Corps to strengthen America's culture of service. To help Americans answer his call, the President?s FY 2005 Budget requests over $1 billion for funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, including $415 million for AmeriCorps, $225 million for SeniorCorps, and $20 million for Silver Scholarships available to older Americans who volunteer 500 hours of service tutoring and mentoring students in exchange for a $1,000 scholarship. Today more than 63 million Americans are answering the call to serve: volunteers are up by 4 million since 2001, and Peace Corps enrollment is at its highest level in 28 years.


Frequently Asked Questions


How does President Bush plan to advance his Faith-Based and Community Initiative when the signature bill?the CARE Act?has not passed Congress?

The House and Senate passed versions of the Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act with overwhelming bipartisan margins, but the Senate Minority Leader has blocked the two versions from being sent to conference. The President continues to urge Congressional action on the CARE Act, which would create billions of dollars in tax incentives for charitable giving. The Administration has advanced other key elements of the Initiative through executive orders that put into place equal treatment principles, established the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative centers at Federal grant-making agencies, and initiated regulatory reforms and other policy changes that level the playing field for faith-based and community organizations. The Bush Administration has also protected the religious liberty and civil rights of faith-based organizations from congressional democratic efforts to undermine them.

Doesn't the Faith-Based and Community Initiative promote discrimination?

No. The President believes that all persons, regardless of their faith, should be able to receive publicly-funded services. Under the law, those who benefit from government-funded programs cannot be denied help just because they do not agree with a particular organization?s religious beliefs. Accordingly, participation in religious activities must be voluntary. Faith-based organizations should be able to retain their religious identity and mission, including their ability to hire those who agree with their religious mission and beliefs.

Since the inception of the President?s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, are more faith-based organizations working in partnership with the Federal government?

Yes. A recent data collection effort showed an increase in the amount of Federal funding going to support social services offered by faith-based organizations. In FY 2003, faith-based organizations received at least $1.17 billion in grants out of $14.5 billion in Federal competitive, non-formula grant programs across five agencies. In addition, from FY 2002 to FY 2003, HHS saw a 41% increase in grants to faith-based organizations, and HUD a 16% increase. New groups, too, are benefiting from the President's efforts. In 2003, HUD doubled its funding of first-time grantees (to $113 million).

Will existing drug treatment programs be cut in order to fund the President?s Access to Recovery program?

No. The Access to Recovery program increases funding for substance abuse treatment by $100 million in FY 2004. This additional funding will complement existing programs to ensure that those struggling with addiction have access to a comprehensive continuum of treatment and support service options, including faith-based and community programs. This new program will provide individuals with more treatment options by using vouchers to obtain services from a broader range of providers. In fact, the President?s FY 2005 Budget doubles the funding for ATR ? from $100 million to $200 million ? and increases funding for the Substance Abuse Block Grant by $53 million.

Why is the President focusing on employment for ex-offenders when there are law-abiding Americans out of work?

President Bush understands that recidivism results in considerable costs to America?s communities, particularly for urban areas that are heavily impacted by large numbers of returning ex-offenders. The President?s Prisoner Re-entry Initiative is designed to reduce recidivism rates and the societal costs of crime and reincarceration by helping returning inmates find and keep employment, identify transitional housing, and receive mentoring ? three key factors to successful reentry. The President also has a broad-based six-point plan for the economy to promote economic growth so that every American who wants to work can find a job.


Myths vs. Facts


Myth: The Faith-Based Initiative tears down the wall of separation between church and state.
Fact: President Bush does not want government to fund religion or favor any faith. The Constitution protects the religious freedom of all Americans. Its provisions mean that the government cannot espouse a particular religion or require a person to adhere to a particular religion. Religious providers of government-funded services have a right to participate in programs on an equal basis and keep their religious character. President Bush?s Faith-Based and Community Initiative respects these constitutional parameters by creating a level playing field for religious and nonreligious groups that serve others ? thus tearing down the wall that separates the poor from effective social services. Finally, throughout U.S. history our government has funded religious charities to address social concerns, and President Bush's initiative seeks to expand these partnerships without requiring these groups to alter their identities.

Myth: Faith-based organizations may use Federal grants to proselytize.
Fact: Faith-based organizations may not use direct government funding to support ?inherently religious? activities such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. While faith-based organizations receiving direct funds can still engage in these activities, the activities must be privately funded, separate in time or location from Federally funded activities, and voluntary. If an organization receives Federal funds through a voucher, however, it has more freedom to integrate religion into its program because participants have the option of selecting a service provider of their choice.

Myth: Only Christian groups are getting funded through the Initiative.
Fact: Federal agencies administer funding through a competitive grants process. This process is open to organizations of every faith as well as to secular organizations. The Federal government gives funds on a nondiscriminatory basis to a broad spectrum of faith-based organizations, as well as to many organizations with no religious affiliation. For example, funding through President Bush's Compassion Capital Fund has flowed to Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist organizations, as well as secular organizations, such as universities and social service agencies.

Myth: The President has not fully funded his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Fact: The President?s Plan increases spending each year, over five years, as critical infrastructure and human resource capacity are built. The President?s FY 2005 budget request for the Emergency Plan is $779 million more than in FY 2004. While the Bush Administration is moving the money quickly to reach those in need, it is also spending wisely and with accountability to ensure maximum effectiveness and positive results.


John Kerry is Wrong for Americans with Disabilities


John Kerry copies President Bush?s proposals for Americans with Disabilities. John Kerry?s Policy Platform regarding Americans with disabilities copies current Bush policy on how to address the needs of Americans with disabilities. Kerry?s proposals include implementing the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, but President Bush already issued an executive order in June 2001 committing the federal government to swift implementation of the Olmstead decision. Kerry's platform also includes his support for the Money Follows the Individual Act, a commitment already made by President Bush to re-balance states' long-term care systems so that there are more cost-effective choices between institutional and community options.

Kerry continues to demonstrate he is making empty promises. As Kerry argues for what he says would ?strengthen? the Medicaid system, he fails to show up to vote on it. Kerry?s vote, in fact, could have made a difference in the creation of a Medicaid program for the disabled. According to the Boston Herald, ?U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry could have altered the outcome of two Senate votes last year, but he missed the roll calls because he was away from Washington, DC, campaigning for president. The two missed votes ? on privatization of federal government jobs and the creation of a Medicaid program for people with disabilities ? undermine the Kerry campaign?s claim ? that the senator has missed no roll call votes in which his vote would have altered the outcome.? (Jonathan Wells, ?Missed Votes Sway Outcome,? Boston Herald, 3/2/04)

Disabilities Amendment Was Killed By Two Votes. Kerry missed a vote on a motion to table the amendment to establish a demonstration project under the Medicaid program to encourage the provision of community-based services to individuals with disabilities, and the amendment was ultimately defeated by just two votes. (S. 1, CQ Vote #247: Motion Agreed To 50-48: R 48-3; D 2-44; I 0-1, 6/26/03, Kerry Did Not Vote)


John Kerry is Wrong for Volunteerism


Kerry makes large spending proposals he cannot fulfill. Kerry proposed a $3.5 billion per-year plan to enlist 1 million Americans in community service, which he would pay for by raising taxes. Kerry later changed his proposal and plans to cut back his ?Service-For College? Initiative. ?At least one of Kerry's own proposals to encourage young Americans to make a difference ? a $3.5 billion ?service-for-college? initiative that would offer students the equivalent of their state?s four-year public college tuition in exchange for two years of service ? will be scaled back because of the ballooning federal budget deficit.? (Patricia Wilson, ?Kerry: Peace Corps Can Help Heal Iraqi Abuse Damage,? Reuters, 5/8/04)

Kerry makes service to community a graduation requirement and no longer a personal obligation. According to Kerry?s plan for his first 100 days of office, entitled "100 Days to Change America," he would mandate that every high school student in America fulfill community service requirements to graduate. He would alter the President?s call to service in a way that renders a commitment to service into a mandatory requirement, rather than a personal moral obligation to ourselves and our country. His plan would also require that every high school in America be funded to cover all costs for this initiative. Kerry wants to increase bureaucracy and federalize service. This contrasts with the President?s current model of service ? which is to make initial investments that will promote volunteerism in our country, thus conserving government money for other needed areas.


John Kerry Wants to Reverse President Bush's Efforts to Protect Faith-Based Organizations


Kerry Opposed Faith-Based Funding. John Kerry believes President Bush?s faith-based initiative has ?reached too far.? (http://www.interfaithalliance.org)

John Kerry has flip-flopped on faith-based. John Kerry voted in 1996 to protect the right of a religious charity to hire based on faith while receiving Federal funds (so called ?Charitable Choice?), but he and the democratic leadership in the Senate have blocked President Bush?s efforts to expand Charitable Choice to additional programs.


John Kerry is Wrong for Minority Homeownership


Kerry votes against legislation encouraging homeownership. Kerry voted against $500 million in funding for the Home Investment Partnerships Program and against $165 million for the Homeownership Opportunity Program. He also voted against amendments that would allow first-time homebuyers to be eligible for tax credits worth up to $5,000 on the purchase of their primary residence.


Kerry is Wrong on Families and Welfare


While Senator Kerry now embraces welfare reform as a success, he changed his vote back and forth in 1996. Although Senator Kerry touts his vote for overhauling welfare in 1996, he does not mention that he first voted numerous times to gut key provisions of the bill and has a history of voting against work requirements for welfare recipients.

Now that the welfare program is up for reauthorization, Senator Kerry voted to gut the bill that would provide funding for healthy marriage programs, encouraging responsible fatherhood, and supporting self-sufficiency.

In addition, Senator Kerry says abstinence education funding marginalizes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. According to information on Senator Kerry's website, the increase in abstinence-only education harms lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by teaching abstinence until marriage and not providing Federal funding for information on safe sex, HIV and AIDS, and LGBT issues. (Kerry website: Fact sheet; ?Bush Administration Does Not Extend to GLBT Americans?)





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Haste mal nen ausführlichen Bericht?  

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Mega-Kopie.

Hier wird es bloß nicht kühler - ewig über 30 Grad. Aber vielleicht morgen:

http://wetter.rtl.de/deutschland/uebersicht.php?id=10384&ort=BERLIN  

Thursday, August 12, 2004
The Economy Line: Fed Predicts Economic Expansion


Federal Reserve Says The Economy Is "Poised To Resume A Stronger Pace Of Expansion Going Forward."  "In recent months, output growth has moderated and the pace of improvement in labor market conditions has slowed. This softness likely owes importantly to the substantial rise in energy prices. The economy nevertheless appears poised to resume a stronger pace of expansion going forward."  ("Press Release," Federal Reserve, http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/...0040810/default.htm, 8/10/04)

Wall Street Investor Confidence Boosted By Fed Statement.  "U.S. stocks had their biggest gains in two months after the Federal Reserve said economic growth is poised to accelerate and reiterated its plan to boost borrowing costs at a 'measured' pace to contain inflation. 'The Fed statement basically solidifies their confidence in the economy,' said Seth Tobias, who runs Circle T Partners, a $400 million New York hedge fund. 'They think this soft patch will be brief, and they'll continue to be diligent in weighing inflation against growth. And the stock market ought to take a positive cue from that.'" ("U.S. Stocks Gain As Federal Reserve Says Growth To Accelerate," Bloomberg, 8/10/04)

CEOs Overwhelmingly Support President Bush.  "Despite these concerns, the CEOs surveyed this month by Chief Executive overwhelmingly support President Bush in his bid for re-election against Senator John Kerry. Asked which candidate would deal more effectively on eight key issues, from health care to terrorism to job creation and international trade, they said Bush on every account. ? 'John Kerry's proclamation that CEOs support him in large numbers is not at all born out by what our CEO readers are saying,' says Edward M. Kopko, chairman and CEO of the Chief Executive Group.  'On the issues, CEOs find Kerry politically calculating and they clearly believe President Bush is a stronger leader.'"  ("CEO Confidence Dips," MarketWire, http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=71076, 8/10/04)

Investor's Business Daily: Economic Optimism Index Hits Seven-Month High.  "It was the index's highest level since its January peak of 60.6. Over 50 means optimism; under 50 means pessimism.   'Americans are still quite optimistic about their economic future,' said Raghavan Mayur, president of TIPP, a unit of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, IBD's polling partner." (Brian Mitchell, "Economic Optimism Hits 7-Month High In Aug. Despite 'Soft Patch,' IBD Finds," Investor's Business Daily, 8/11/04)


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Strategy Memo: Inter-Convention Strategic Update


TO:         INTERESTED PARTIES
FR:         MATTHEW DOWD
RE:         INTER-CONVENTION STRATEGIC UPDATE

As John Kerry wraps up his cross-country post-convention tour today, several new national polls shed light on the impact his campaign's efforts have had on the race.

1. A majority of Americans approve of President Bush's job performance.  President Bush's job approval in the Gallup poll is now at 51%, while his disapproval is at 46%, a net increase of 6 points since the beginning of August.  His 51% approval is now almost identical to President Clinton's 52% in August 1996 and President Reagan's 54% in August 1984.  As USA Today noted, "no president who has been at or above 50% at this point in an election year has lost."

2. After spending over $100 million in media, selecting a running mate, and holding a national convention, John Kerry has either stayed the same or lost ground on key presidential attributes

The Kerry campaign's main goal at the convention was to present John Kerry to the American people as a strong and decisive leader.

But we could do very important things [at the convention], particularly convince people that he would be a strong commander-in-chief

-- Tad Devine, Kerry Campaign Senior Advisor, Inside Politics, 8/3/2004


The latest poll from the Pew Research Center shows that despite Kerry's convention fewer voters think that John Kerry is a strong leader and more voters think that he changes his mind too much.  



3. The fundamentals of the horserace also remain unchanged.  As shown in the recent Gallup and Pew polls, President Bush and John Kerry remain locked in a close race.  Gallup shows President Bush essentially tied with John Kerry, 50% to 47% (unchanged since immediately after John Kerry was nominated in Boston), while Pew continues to show Kerry ahead by a statistically insignificant two points, unchanged since July.  

4. Voters have increasingly favorable opinions of President Bush.  The recent Pew survey also reported that 58% of voters now have a favorable opinion of President Bush, a net increase of 12 points since June, and the same as it was in May 2000.  Since John Kerry locked up the Democratic nomination, President Bush's favorability has risen from a net +9 to a net +19, while John Kerry's favorability has fallen from a net +30 to a net +20.

5. John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative in recent history, while President Bush's continues to be the most positive.  Just 42% of Kerry's supporters say their vote is "for" Kerry, while 51% say that it is "against" President Bush.  Conversely, 76% of President Bush's supporters say that their vote is "for" him, while 18% say that it "against" Kerry.  John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative of any presidential candidate since Pew began asking the question in 1988.



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Health Care Week Chat Recap

As President Bush traveled the country this week, sharing his vision for an "era of ownership" in which Americans have more control over the security and stability of their lives, we dedicated our online efforts to the President's health care agenda. Megan Hauck, Bush-Cheney '04 Deputy Policy Director for Health Care and former Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, health care visionary and womens' health expert, hosted online chats to help answer some of America?s most frequently asked health care questions.

Megan debunked the myths surrounding the President?s positions on stem cell research and explained the intricacies of the health care policies passed under President Bush.

Elizabeth Clothier from Dublin OH wrote: What is the Bush administrations plans to open up stem cell research?
Megan Hauck answered:
Hi Elizabeth, I just got back from Ohio on a trip with Mrs. Bush where she addressed this very issue. You might not know it from the press coverage of embryonic stem cell research but President Bush was the first President ever to provide federal funding for this kind of research. Prior to his decision in August 2001, the federal government provided zero dollars for embryonic stem cell research. In 2002, we spent $10 million and in 2003 $25 million to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research. The President's position on this complex and difficult issue was based on a determination to balance the scientific need with an ethical requirement not to cross a fundamental moral line by using federal funds to encourage or support the destruction of a human embryo.

President Bush understands the pain of individuals and their families suffering through a terrible illness and remains committed to fully exploring the promise and potential of stem cell research. In addition to funding for embryonic stem cell research, the administration has also provided a $190 million for adult stem cell research as well as cord blood research. These last two types of research have already yielded results where embryonic stem cell research is still at a basic phase and there is a lot we don't know. We all advocate finding a cure for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and many other terrible diseases, and the President will continue to provide funding for research that holds great promise.

Bob Reichenbach from Philadelphia PA wrote:
While I agree that I don't want my health care in the hands of government bureaucrats neither do I want it in the hands of an insurance company's accountants. How will the president assure that patients will get all doctor prescribed treatment affordably while protecting a fair profit for insurers?

Megan Hauck answered:
Bob, as you can tell from my postings here today, I'm a big advocate of the President's health savings accounts. These plans do exactly what you say, which is say put your health care decisions in your hands. By having a catastrophic health care plan with a deductible of $1000 to $1500, you cut your premiums by as much as 50% and are allowed to save tax-free for your health care needs. This means you decide what doctor to go to and what treatments you and your health care providers think best meet your needs. This gives you the flexibility to make your own decisions while still being covered for high-cost catastrophic health care needs. If you check back on my answer to Gail, you can find some websites that can give you good information about finding a health savings account. Hope that helps!


Former Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker advocated for prevention as the greatest health care cost saver and stressed the importance of Americans having control over their own health and medical care.

Lenae Haughey from San Diego CA wrote: Thank you for taking the time to answer questions! Mrs. Bush has been actively involved in promoting heart disease awareness among women. Although this issue is obviously close to her heart, what other steps can be taken in educating women about this life threatening disease? Mrs. Bush is a strong advocate and is also a good role model by exhibiting everyday practices of heart disease prevention to America.
Nancy G. Brinker answered:
Great question Lenae - I think it's very important, again, to continue to advocate as private citizens. And when each of has an opportunity to become politically involved to always advocate our wishes for a healthier society. And I can't emphasize enough the best savings of the health care dollar is prevention. The Baby Boomer generation is reaching retirement and America's health care system could be stressed more than ever. By practicing healthy habits, we are helping save our country money. It is more and more important that we learn to use whatever health care we have in a reasoned and judicious way. It's up to each of us to become good health care consumers so that we don't overuse or underuse our system. Waste amounts an enormous expenditure which we can't afford going forward.

joyce witzel from grand rapids MI wrote:
Will there be health care for the elderly in 2035?

Nancy G. Brinker answered:
There will be health care. The quality of it will depend on how judiciously or how responsibly we expense the benefits we have now - how wisely we spend our health care dollars now. If we don't learn to utilize public resources appropriately, we may get to a time when there is care for many and very good care only for a few. President Bush supports and continues to advocate for health savings accounts to give Americans more ownership over their health care so they are able to make such good decisions. It is important that every individual have a say in their personal medical care and health.

Carlos Casanueva from Miami FL wrote:
Mrs. Brinker, First off, I think it's great that you are devoted to expanding breast cancer research. My question is, Of all the great strides our nation has made in the health care system under President Bush, which ones are you most proud of and what will we need to do to continue the trend?

Nancy G. Brinker answered:
I think the doubling of the National Institues of Health (NIH) budget indicates the focus and compassion of this President and administration. He supported that and has supported healthy living, health savings accounts, and prescription drug cards for seniors. These are all very positive accomplishments. President Bush believes that you shouldn't promise what you can't deliver. And for those who promise giveaways that are not realistic, they don't seem to understand the American way. We must all be responsible for our own health and care. And it would seriously undermine our health care system to put our government in Washington more in charge. I'll say it again, the more we can be responsible for our own care, the better for all of us. And the more we are put back into contact with our own physician and made more responsible for managing our own health care costs, the higher quality of health care we can expect in the future.


Keep checking the Chat Center for more policy-focused discussions to come. And be sure to read the full transcripts of Ms. Hauck?s and Ambassador Brinker?s health care chats for more information to share with your friends, family and neighbors.



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