The Complete Bush Quotes

January 17, 2003, President Bush Meets with Wounded Soldiers, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
***
"And we had a chance to see -- some wives and a couple of moms who are anxious about -- about the fate of the -- of their child. And I had a chance to tell both soldier and loved one alike that their service to our country was noble and strong and good. And I appreciated that very much."

***
"We are -- should and must provide the best care for anybody who is willing to put their life in harm's way"

 

January 20, 2003, President Bush Honors Martin Luther King, Junior in Church Service, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Landover, Maryland
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"It is fitting that we honor the life of a great American in a church who derived his inspiration from the church."

 

January 21, 2003, Remarks by the President After Meeting with Economists
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"You will find out who is in the coalition of the willing. It is very much like what happened prior to our getting a resolution out of the United Nations. Many of the punditry -- of course, not you -- (laughter) – but other punditry were quick to say, no one is going to follow the United States of America."

 

January 29, 2003, Remarks by the President on Medicare and Prescription Drugs, Devos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, Michigan
***
"Today, I came out -- when I landed here at the Ford Airport, I had the honor of meeting Jerry Nienhuis."

***
"I remember a baby doc that came to see me when I was in Pennsylvania. She had tears in her eyes. She said, I love to deliver babies, I can't do it anymore. I'm being sued so much, my premiums are out of sight."

***
"We're doing everything we can in Washington to protect our soil."

***
"And there are a lot of good people working hard all across the world to bring these people to justice. The Brits hauled in a bunch the other day. You'll see the Spanish."

***
"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize himself."

***
"See, the role of the inspectors are not to play 'gotcha.' He's better at playing 'gotcha,' obviously -- for 12 years he's played 'gotcha.'"

***
"I understand the terrible price of war. I understand what it means to put somebody into combat. I know what it means to hug mothers and wives."

 

January 30, 2003, Remarks by the President on the First Anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington - Jelleff Branch Washington, D.C.
***
"No, mentoring is a fabulous, fabulous part of the American society. Larry Compton knows. He's a 23-year-old student who is with us today. He was mentored as a kid coming up in Pontiac, Michigan. He found direction in his life, and guess what? He now mentors. He has been mentored and he now mentors." (Applause.)

***
"There's a -- some of the greatest programs, initiatives come out of our faith-based programs or faith-based churches or synagogues or mosques."

 

February 6, 2003, President Bush Addresses the 51st Annual Prayer Breakfast, The Washington Hilton Washington, D.C.
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"It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast. It is the right thing to do, because this is a nation of prayer. I know, from firsthand knowledge, that this is a nation of prayer. See, I work the ropelines a lot, and I hear all kinds of things on the ropelines. But the thing I hear the most, the comment I hear the most from our fellow citizens, regardless of their political party or philosophy, is, Mr. President, I pray for you and your family, and so does my family. That's what I hear."

***
"We are confident that people in every part of the world wish for freedom, not tyranny; or for peace to terror and violence."

***
"We can also be confident in the ways of Providence, even when they are far from our understanding. Events aren't moved by blind change and chance. Behind all of life and all of history, there's a dedication and purpose, set by the hand of a just and faithful God."

 

February 6, 2003, Remarks by the President on Energy Independence, The National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.
***
"We saw cars engineered to run on hydrogen. When you walk around this curtain and you take a look at those vehicles, they are going to run on hydrogen."

***
"The more supply you have of something, one, you're not going to run out of it and, two, it means that society is going to be more friendly for those who are trying to purchase the supply for needed -- for life's needs."

***
"And as I said in my State of the Union, the idea is to see that a car born today -- I mean, a child born today will be driving a car, as his or her first car, which will be powered by hydrogen and pollution-free. (Applause.)"

***
"Fusion is the same kind of nuclear reaction that produces -- that powers the sun."

***
"Imagine a world in which our cars are driven by hydrogen and our homes are heated by electricity from a fusion power plant. It'll be a totally different world than what we're used to. The quality of life will be advanced. And people will say, gosh, I'm glad those folks went to Washington and were willing to think beyond the current."

***
"We have the opportunity to blaze new paths. I'm willing to get on a path."

 

February 9, 2003, Remarks by the President at the 2003, "Congress of Tomorrow" Republican Retreat Reception, The Greenbriar, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
***
"If the tax relief is good two or four or five years from now, with an economy that is not as strong as we want it to be, it is good enough today."

***
"I submitted a budget to you which sets clear priorities, meets those priorities and will enable us to say to the American taxpayer: we are wise with your money."

***
"Some of you know firsthand the stories about thousands of abandoned children who are in orphanages, crowded orphanages, because their mom or dad – and dad -- and/or dad have died because of AIDS."

***
"The best way to secure the homeland is to continue to hunt the killers down one at a time. The best way to deal with the threat we face is to find him and bring im to justice, which is precisely what our military is doing right now."

***
"Prior to September the 11th, there was apparently no connection between a place like Iraq and terror. Oh, sure, he had run some terrorist networks out of his country, and that was of concern to us. But it was very difficult to link a terrorist network and Saddam Hussein to the American soil. As a matter of fact, it was very difficult to link any attack on the American soil, because prior to September the 11th, we were confident that two oceans could protect us from harm."

 

February 10, 2003, President Bush Discusses Faith-Based Initiative in Tennessee, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee
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"I think the charities helping the needy, it should not matter if there is a rabbi on the board, or a cross on the wall, or crescent on the wall, or religious commitment in the charter. And he'd ask, does it work?"

***
"They hate the thought of the fact that in this great country, we can worship the Almighty God the way we see fit. (Applause.) And what probably makes him even angrier is we're not going to change." (Laughter and applause.)

 

February 10, 2003, Remarks by the President and Prime Minister Howard of Australia in Photo Opportunity, The Oval Office
***
"In our country it used to be that oceans could protect us -- at least we thought so. There was wars on other continents, but we were safe."

***
"I'm the person in this country that hugs the mothers and the widows if their son or husband dies."

 

February 13, 2003, President Salutes Sailors at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida
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"Last August, the sailors and pilots of the Big John -- (applause) -- returned from four months in the North Arabian Sea, where you served in Operation Enduring Freedom. With your outstanding performance, you proved that "'Jack is back.'" (Laughter.)

***
"Together, the Big John and the Big E launched thousands of sorties from their desks, supporting coalition forces on the ground."

***
"We're on their trail, we're smoking them out, we've got them on the run."

***
"You see, we learned that oceans no longer protect us; that a threat that gathers on the other side of the Earth can strike our own cities, can kill our own people. That's what we learned."

 

February 24, 2003, Remarks by the President at Welcome for NCAA Fall Champions, The East Room
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How does a champion behave? What does a champion do? Not only can a champion run fast and tackle hard, but hopefully the champions up here send the signal that making right choices in life for youngsters is an important part of living a responsible existence."

***
"I know there's a lot of young ladies who are growing up wondering whether or not they can be champs. And they see the championship teams from USC and University of Portland here, girls who worked hard to get to where they are, and they're wondering about the example they're setting. What is life choices about?"

 

March 16, 2003, Press Availability with President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, President Aznar, and Prime Minister Barroso - the Azores, Portugal

***
"It's an old Texas expression, show your cards, when you're playing poker."

***
"And I will work hard to see to it that at least from our perspective, that the U.N. is able to be – able to be a responsibility body, and when it says something, it means it, for the sake of peace and for the sake of the security, for the capacity to win the war of -- the first war of the 21st century, which is the war against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in the hands of dictators."

 

March 12, 2003, Establishing the Global War on Terrorism Medals
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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including my authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. There is hereby established the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with suitable
appurtenances. Except as limited in section 3 of this order, and under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal shall be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism, as defined by such regulations, on or after September 11, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

Sec. 2. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. There is hereby established the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in section 3 of this order, and under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal shall be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who serve or have served in military operations to combat terrorism, as defined by such regulations, on or after September 11, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

Sec. 3. Relationship to Other Awards. Notwithstanding section 3 of Executive Order 10977 of December 4, 1961, establishing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and section 3 of Executive Order 12985 of January 11, 1996, establishing the Armed Forces Service Medal, any member who qualified for those medals by reason of service in operations to combat terrorism between September 11, 2001, and a terminal date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, shall remain qualified for those medals. Upon application, any such member may be awarded either the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces Service Medal, but no person may be awarded more than one of these four medals by reason of service in the same approved Global War on Terrorism expedition or operation to combat terrorism, and no person shall be entitled to more than one award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Sec. 4. Posthumous Award. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal may be awarded posthumously to any person covered by and under regulations prescribed in accordance with the first or second sections of this
order.

Sec. 5. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed for any purpose as fixing, or authorizing the fixing of, the dates of initiation or termination of armed hostilities between the United States and
terrorists of global reach.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 12, 2003.

 

April 8, 2003, President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Blair in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland

***
"There is such hope here in Northern Ireland that the past can be broken."

***
"These are people in the south of Iraq that had been betrayed, tortured; had been told they were going to be free, took a risk in the past and then were absolutely hammered by the Iraqi regime. They were skeptical, they were cynical, they were doubtful. Now they believe, they're beginning to understand we're real and true.

***
"So the only thing I can tell you is that, that grip I used to describe that Saddam had around the throats of the Iraqi people are loosening. I can't tell you if all ten fingers are off the throat, but finger by finger, it's coming off."

***
Q Mr. President, what is -- what exactly is the vital role for the U.N. that you both mentioned?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I view a vital role as a agent to help people live freely. That's a vital role.

 

April 11, 2003, Remarks by the President After Visiting Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

***
"You know, we've got an amazing country, where -- it's so powerful, values we believe that people would be willing to risk their own life and become a citizen after being wounded."

***
"It's an amazing thing when you see a person wounded, sitting there in a wheelchair or bound up in bandages or these different looking metal things sticking out of them to hold them together -- a young man look you in the eye and say: I can't wait to get back to my unit; I hope I'm healed fast enough to get back to Iraq."

 

April 20, 2003, President Meets with Ex-POWs, 4th Infantry Division, Memorial Chapel, Fort Hood, Texas
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Q Sir, do you expect to return more to a domestic agenda now that the war is winding down?

THE PRESIDENT: I will continue to promote an international agenda of peace and freedom, and I will continue doing what I have been doing, is working on our economy and working to modernize the Medicare system. I have always been involved with the domestic policy.

***
Q Sir, what are you doing this weekend around the ranch?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q What have you been doing at the ranch this weekend?

THE PRESIDENT: Exactly. (Laughter.) I'm enjoying myself.

Q Someone said home projects.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, home projects. A little fishing. Nothing better than fishing with your dad, and Barney.

Q What did Barney catch?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Barney only caught that which I caught. (Laughter.) But worked a little brush cutting, keeping that ranch -- keeping those cedars away from those good hardwoods, letting that -- conserving my property; a little exercise, spent some time with myfamily and am really glad I had some time here in Crawford.

 

April 30, 2003, President Announces Teacher of the Year and Honors State Teachers, The First Lady's Garden
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"When I picked the Secretary of Education I wanted somebody who knew something about public education."

***
"In 2001, we passed what's called The No Child Left Behind legislation. I love that phrase, because it's a commitment of our nation to make sure that not only does every child excel, but no child gets left behind."

May 1, 2003
President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended
Remarks by the President from the USS Abraham Lincoln
At Sea Off the Coast of San Diego, California
***
"No device of man can remove the tragedy from war; yet it is a great moral advance when the guilty have far more to fear from war than the innocent." (Applause.)

 

May 2, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Employees of United Defense Industries Ground Systems Division, United Defense Industries, Santa Clara, California
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"We've got hundreds of sites to exploit, looking for the chemical and biological weapons that we know Saddam Hussein had prior to our entrance into Iraq."

 

May 3, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Howard of Australia, The Bush Ranch, Crawford, Texas
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"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."

***
"And the -- but we will find out a lot about the nature of the Hussein regime as time goes on because more and more people will come forward. It may not be the Aces, Kings, and Queens, and Jacks that do the talking. It may be those who were doing the -- carrying the water for the Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks that do the talking."

***
"We had a pretty good dinner last night -- a little beef."

***
"By the way, they tell me Australia and Texas, they've got a lot in common. Having to watch this man perform, I agree. (Laughter.) The biggest compliment you can pay to somebody, at least in this part of the world, is you're kind of like a Texan." (Laughter.)

 

May 5, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Jobs and Growth Plan Robinson Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
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"But one of the problems of being a productive economy is that a worker can -- one worker puts out -- there's better output per worker, let me put it to you that way."

***
"You'll hear them talking about the deficit in Washington. I'm concerned about the deficit, but let me remind you about how we got into deficit. We got into deficit because the economy went into the recession -- is how we got into deficit."

 

May 11, 2003, Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity, Las Campanas, Santa Fe, New Mexico
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"I'm now ready to get back to work. Got some travel to do tomorrow. Be talking to the country about the need for an economic stimulus package."

 

May 12, 2003, Remarks by the President on His Jobs and Growth Plan, MCT Industries, Albuquerque, New Mexico
***
"He told me that if this new cap goes in, he's more likely to invest in plant and equipment so he can expand his business. The plant makes -- incensed Phil to make the decision to make a capital investment. And if he makes that decision, it means somebody is going to have to make the machinery that he purchases. It means that when he purchases the machinery, his employees become more productive. In other words, the effect of creating incentives is that jobs will more likely be created from the supplier to Phil's business; and as Phil's business becomes more productive, it is more likely somebody is going to find employment from his business."

***
"We are becoming an ownership society when it comes to stock ownership."

 

May 12, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Jobs and Growth Plan Airlite Plastics, Omaha, Nebraska
***
"And all of a sudden, you start having a positive effect on the economy when the Jenny Theisens of this world start making decisions about changing the nature of her home. It's not just Jenny. There's going to be thousands of people like her who make the decision with her own money to remodel their homes. And all of a sudden, the remodeling industry gets a shot in the arm, and somebody is more likely to find work."

***
"But let me remind you why we have a deficit. We have a deficit because the economy slowed down, is why we have a deficit. When the economy goes into recession, it means less revenues are coming into the Treasury."

 

May 13, 2003, President Bush Promotes Jobs and Growth Plan in Indiana
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"You see, when somebody has more of their own money, they're likely to make a decision on a good or a service. They say, I want more of this, or, I need an additional good, in which case somebody is likely in our system to produce it."

***
"I've just told you we're an ownership society. If you have a pension plan, you're a -- you own stock. If you have a -- if you're a retired teacher, you're interested. There's a 177,000 seniors in this day who rely upon dividends to meet their financial needs."

***
"And I'm confident, thanks to the strength and the compassion of our country, the world will be more peaceful. And the reason I'm so confident is I realize that I'm the President of the greatest nation on the face of the world. (Applause.) Thank you all for coming. God bless, and God bless America. (Applause.)"

 

May 13, 2003 President Bush Visits Tornado-Stricken Town in Missouri, St. Mary's Catholic Church Parish Hall, Pierce City
***
"So one of my visits -- one of the reasons I'm visiting here is to ask the question to people. Because if there's -- moving too slow, or people are saying one thing and the other thing is not happening, now is the time to find out."

 

May 13, 2003 President Discusses Tornadoes, Saudi Arabia Attack with the Travel Pool
***
"And you know, I'm from Texas, where we had the Gerald tornado came and just wiped out the city of Gerald. They hadn't had a tornado in that part of the state in a long time, and lo and behold, one shows up and people lost their life. "

 

May 19, 2003, Joint Press Availability with President Bush and President Arroyo of the Philippines, The East Room
***
"Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."

 

May 16, 2003, President Presents Commander-In-Chief's Trophy to Air Force Academy, The East Room
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"The academies are really important for a lot of reasons. Obviously, what you learn on the football field is even more important since we're still at war."

***
"An al Qaeda -- a group we think is al Qaeda killed innocent life just for the sake of killing them."

***
"The skills you have learned on the football field and at the Air Force Academy are going to be necessary skills to protect the American people from the true threats of the 21st century."

 

May 31, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Press Pool After Tour of Auschwitz, Poland
***
"This site is a sobering reminder that when we find anti-Semitism, whether it be in Europe or anywhere else, mankind must come together to fight such dark impulses."

 

June 1, 2003, Press Availability with President Bush and President Putin. St. Petersburg, Russia, Konstantin Palace
***
"The first part of your question is that -- is whether or not the weapons of mass destruction question."

 

June 4, 2003, Roundtable Interview of the President by White House Press Pool Aboard Air Force One En Route Doha, Qatar

"Great success happens when there's two states, living side-by-side in peace."

***
"The first signs of peace happen when people make up their mind to work toward peace."

***
"One of the things that we have made clear to all parties is that there are terrorists who have to blow up the process, you all know that, it's been an historic fact, and that these countries in the neighborhood have the capacity to work to cut off money to the terrorist groups, and access and arms deals."

***
"We're in a war against terror, or a war against terror on the home front, we're chasing down these people around."

***
"You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things. The meetings are informal, they're kind of relaxed. I think one of my styles is trying to relax people."

***
"I like to ask people, I can challenge people. I believe I can do so in a way that's not offensive to them. It's about as encouraging as it was discouraging."

***
THE PRESIDENT: One of my jobs is to try to help relax people in a setting. I hope I'm pretty good at that. How do you feel, do you feel relaxed right now?

Q More relaxed than I should.

THE PRESIDENT: It worked.

***
"I had a bilateral with the Crown Prince at the hotel after the sauna bath."

***
Q What's your role? What do you do? You talked about giving the Secretary and Dr. Rice specific obligations. What's your obligation?

THE PRESIDENT: I show up when they need me to call people to account, to praise, or to say, wait a minute -- you told me in Jordan that you would do this, you haven't done it, why? How come? What is it? It's to keep the thing moving, keep the processes moving. They've got the man on the ground that is going to -- he's just going to -- I used the expression, ride herd. I don't know if anybody understood the meaning. It's a little informal in diplomatic terms. I said, we're going to put a guy on the ground to ride herd on the process. See them all scratching their heads.

Q Meanwhile, in Arabic and Hebrew, exactly how does that translate?

THE PRESIDENT: Listen, I've got to make a phone call, but I want to thank you all for your interest.

 

June 5, 2003, President Delivers Remarks to Troops, Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar
***
"I have a question for you: Can you hear me now?" (Applause.)

***
"We also understand that a more just political system will develop when people have food in their stomachs, and their lights work, and they can turn on a faucet and they can find some clean water -- things that Saddam did not do for them."

 

June 9, 2003, Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity After Meeting with Cabinet, The Cabinet Room
***
"I talked about the visit to Poland and to Russia, where we've got good friends in both those countries -- at least in terms of their leaders."

***
"Listen, I recognize there's going to be extremes, particularly in the Palestinian territories, that want to blow up peace."

***
"The credibility of this country is based upon our strong desire to make the world more peaceful and the world is now more peaceful after our decision; the strong desire to make sure free nations are more secure -- our free nations are now more secure; and the strong desire to spread freedom."

 

June 15, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool, Outside Cape Arundel Church, Kennebunkport, Maine
***
Q Will you send Dr. Rice to the region?

THE PRESIDENT: I'll let you know if we decide to. Of course, we just got out -- Ambassador Welsh* is there now and he's working the process.

*Wolf

***
Q -- think of the unrest in Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that freedom is a powerful incentive. And I am -- I believe that some day freedom will prevail everywhere, because freedom is a powerful drive for people to -- and it's the beginnings of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran, which I think is positive.

***
"Wait for us to succeed peace. Wait for us to have two states, side by side -- is for everybody coming together to deny the killers the opportunity to destroy. And that's what they want to do. There are people in the Middle East who hate the thought of a peaceful Palestinian state. That's what they can't stand. And the objective of this government, and my objective as the President, is to move the process forward so a state is established; it will be a peaceful state, a free state, a prosperous state, so people have hope. And in the meantime, before that state is established, it is clear that the free world, those who love freedom and peace, must deal harshly with Hamas and the killers. And that's just the way it is in the Middle East."

 

June 16, 2003, Remarks by the President to the New Jersey Business Community, Wyndham Newark Airport Hotel, Elizabeth, New Jersey
***
"We were shocked into recognizing that oceans can no longer protect us from harm, and therefore we have the serious charge to keep."

***
"We also had to deal with an economy which was not as strong that we wanted it to be. My attitude is, if somebody is looking for work and they can't find a job, we got an issue."

***
"I mean, there's no question about it, we've got the capacity to fight and win war and therefore make the world more peaceful. There's no question about it, because of our technologies and the skill and bravery of our troops, we can now target the guilty and protect the innocent. (Applause.)"

 

June 17, 2003, President Bush Pushes for Personal Reemployment Accounts Legislation, Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia
***
"It's a pleasure to be here at Northern Virginia Community College. I am not the first person named Bush to come to this place -- at least not the first person from my family named Bush to come to this place."

***
"I believe in the greatness of America. And our greatness is not just our military might -- We're great at that, by the way, but that's not our greatness." (Applause.)

 

June 19, 2003, President Discusses Tax Relief in Minnesota
***
"There's been a lot made about the military might of the United States of America. And we're plenty tough. (Applause.) And we're plenty tough and plenty strong because we have a job to do."

***
"And when you hear about war all the time on your TV screens, the speculation of war and the discussion of war, it's not conducive to a confident tomorrow."

***
"We acted by holding corporate scoundrels to account. We said loud and clear, if you cheat the shareholder and your employees, you will be held responsible for those decisions. (Applause.) The world is now more peaceful because we acted."

***
"Just ask the Hamiltons. Here at Micro Control they've got 140 employees -- up from two, 30 years ago. (Laughter and applause.) And so the fundamental question is, can those folks stay working. Or can he add jobs."

***
"One of the ways you add jobs is to make the work force more productive. And one of the ways you make the work force more productive is you add equipment, which makes your workers more productive."

***
"He said, yes, it means it's more likely we're going to hire a mechanical shaker. I didn't know what it meant. (Laughter.) But I do know this: somebody is going to have to manufacture the mechanical shaker."

***
"The tax bill saves his company $26,000. That's a lot for Tim. It's good news for his employees. But there's a lot of Tims across the country, just not the Tim right here in this building. There are Tims all across America who are the entrepreneurs of this country, the job creators of this country, who are more likely going to expand their job base."

 

June 25, 2003, Remarks by the President in Meeting with Bipartisan House Members on Medicare Reform, The Cabinet Room
***
"Whatever amount of energy and effort is required from the White House, we will provide it, to get a [Medicare reform] bill done this summer, one that I can sign and then we can all go back to our districts -- in my case, tour the country -- and say we have accomplished a major objective. Together we work together."

***
Thank you all for coming. Now you're supposed to yell a question so I know what you're going to ask later on. (Laughter.)

Q What are you going to tell the undecided Republicans this afternoon?

THE PRESIDENT: Wrong question. (Laughter.)

Q The economy?

THE PRESIDENT: The economy? Okay, good. We know about that, that's good.
(Laughter.)

END 9:55 A.M. EDT

 

June 30, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida
***
"And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. "

 

June 30, 2003, Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon Remarks, Miami Airport Hilton, Florida
***
"And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us."
***
"I mentioned our love for freedom in America. We love it. We love it for people of Cuba. We love it for the people of Iraq. We love it for the people of Afghanistan."

***
"We cannot allow drug companies to block generics, which are cheaper at the counter for our citizens -- less expensive is a better way to put that, still of high quality, but of less expense -- because of arguments over minor features.

In other words, the generic gets ready to come on the market and the initial company will say, wait a minute, you're -- you've got the pill bottle -- the color of the pill bottle looks like that you're infringing on the patent, and delays take place."

***
"We live in a great country because we believe in serving concepts greater than ourselves."

 

On Tuesday, July 1, 2003, the President signed into law:

H.R. 389, the "Automatic Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Act", which authorizes the establishment of an information clearinghouse to increase access to automatic external defibrillators in schools;

 

July 1, 2003, Remarks of the President on Education Reform and Parental Options Kipp D.C., Key Academy, Washington, D.C.
***
"I know something about KIPP Academy, the network."

***
"You see, when you lower the bar, that's what you get, low results. So they had labeled these kids, you know, unable to learn, difficult to learn."

***
"And then I said, well, are you making any progress here at KIPP Academy with these so-called hard to educate? And the answer was, yes. They're the best middle school in the city of Houston. The reason we know is because we measured. We wouldn't have known that had we not measured."

***
"We didn't know whether or not we were achieving what we expected. And so we passed this law. And the law basically said, in return for federal dollars, the federal government will finally start asking the question, what are the results -- that we expect to spend money."

***
"It is hard to take on the established order, particularly when you have to blow the whistle on failure. Nobody likes to have the whistle blown. But for the sake of our children, we need to be blowing whistles."

***
"And I appreciate my friend, David, being here, as well, for standing strong, and making sure that the children -- we focus on results, not process."

***
"See, the measurement is not meant to punish, it is meant to remedy. It is meant to serve as a diagnostic tool. No one ever wants to measure, to hold a good teacher up and say, gosh, you've got a good heart, but you're doing a lousy job, therefore, you're a failure. That's not the reason you measure. The reason you measure is you say to a teacher, you've got a great heart, but you need to fine-tune what you're doing because it's not working right now.

"You've also got to measure in order to begin to effect change that's just more -- when there's more than talk, there's just actual -- a paradigm shift. That's what measurement does. It provides the foundations for significant change. "

***
"So in other words, if you measure and find success, there needs to be -- something needs to happen, which is praise. And parents will say, well, gosh, if that's successful, I think we'll continue sending my child to that school. But if parents don't have any options other than a public school system, there's no accountability -- really no accountability. In other words, if there's nothing else can happen, if you find failure and you're stuck, why measure?"

***
"We need to remember the customer. The customer happens to be the parent and the student. "

***
"Virginia is a good person to be running the program. She -- mom of three. Her youngest son looked like he was a -- I guess the best way to describe it would be a train wreck. He wasn't doing well in the public school system."

 

July 2, 2003, President Bush Names Randall Tobias to be Global AIDS Coordinator, The Roosevelt Room
***
"We will set up a broad and efficient network to deliver drugs to the farthest reaches of Africa, even by motorcycle or bicycle."

***
"Let me finish. There are some who feel like -- that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on."

***
"What I do support is the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman."

***
"I am optimistic, but I also recognize the nature of the Middle East. I mean, there are people there who still hate."

***
"Hamas is not a peaceful organization when they're willing to blow people up and destroy innocent life."

***
Q On weapons of mass destruction, is it fair to say now, after two months of looking for them, that there is a discrepancy between what the intelligence community and you and your top officials described as the threat from Saddam Hussein, and what was actually there on the ground?

THE PRESIDENT: No, Saddam Hussein had a weapons program. Remember, he used them. He used chemical weapons on his own people. Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to the United States, because we removed him. But he was a threat -- such a threat that my predecessor, using the same intelligence, in 1998, ordered a bombing of Iraq. I mean, so, no, he was a threat. He's not a threat now. And the world is more peaceful by virtue of the fact that he is not in power.

See, we've been there, what, how many days? You're counting the days since we've been there? Because I'm not. Eighty, ninety? Frankly, it wasn't all that long ago that we started military operations. And we got rid of him, much faster than a lot of people thought. And so we're bringing some order to the country and we're beginning to learn the truth.

But he played his hand, Terry -- he, Saddam Hussein -- when he used chemical weapons. And then he played his hand by not letting people come in and inspect for the weapons. He had them. And it's just a matter of time. It's a matter of time. The man was a threat to America. He's not a threat today.

But what we're really finding out, as well, is the threat he posed to the Iraqi people. I mean, we have uncovered some unbelievable scenes. I have not seen them, myself; they've been described to me, what it means to see mass graves opened up, with the remains of men and women and children murdered by that regime.

He was a threat to America. He was a threat to freedom-loving countries. He was a threat in the Middle East. But what we're finding out is the nature of this man when it came to how he dealt with the Iraqi people, as well. And it was -- it's unbelievable what he did. And I -- when it comes to the AIDS initiative, we believe in human dignity, we also believe that everybody ought to live in free societies, too.

And so we'll stay the course in Iraq. As I said, there's people there that would like to run us out of there, create the conditions where we get nervous and decide to leave. We're not going to get nervous, and we're not leaving until we accomplish the task. And that task is going to be a free country run by the Iraqi people. And that, in turn, will help the peace in the Middle East. That, in turn, will bring stability in a part of the world that needs stability. And I am -- I'm optimistic about achieving this objective because I believe that people want to be free. I believe it's in the nature of the individual to love freedom and embrace freedom.

And so it has been a great honor to lead our nation in not only the cause of humanitarian relief through an AIDS initiative, but also to lead our nation to free people from the clutches of what history will show was an incredibly barbaric regime.

Thank you all, very much.

END 11:19 A.M. EDT

 

July 3, 2003, President Bush Discusses Upcoming Africa Trip in Roundtable Interview with African Print Journalists, The Roosevelt Room
***
"And then we'll be going to Goree Island, where I'll be giving a speech about race, race in the world, race as it relates to Africa and America. And we're in the process of writing it. I can't give you any highlights of the speech yet because I, frankly, haven't seen it."

***
"I look forward to seeing President Wad [of Senegal] on his home turf, because I admire him, I admire his leadership. He is a man who believes in the same principles I believe in. He believes in the dignity of each life, he believes in democracy, he believes in open markets, he understands trade."

***
Q I'd like to know what's your reaction to people who say that the major driving force for your interest in Africa is oil and that, you know, what you are trying to do, essentially, is to shift the focus from Saudi, with first your relationship between Saudi and U.S. now, to Africa. Now, how much of that --

THE PRESIDENT: Saudi Arabia?

Q Yes. So I'd like to know how much of that is actually for instance, in your interest in Africa?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, conspiracy theorists about everywhere, I guess. That's one of the most amazing conspiracies I've heard. Heck, no one has ever made that connection, and so I would say -- well, first, look, I have been talking about Africa since I was sworn-in as President. I've met with 22, I believe it is, heads of state here. And I have met with President Obasanjo, gosh, I would say -- I better be careful, because every number I put out there, people scrutinize -- a lot, maybe five times. "

***
"Africa has been on the -- we've been thinking about Africa ever since I've been sworn-in."

***
"These are all initiatives I spoke about prior to -- during the war on terror, I guess. I wasn't in office very long before the war on terror became evident here in America."

***
"As to whether or not -- look, once the strategy is in place, I will let people know whether or not I'm airborne or not. In other words, I'm not trying to make any -- I don't need to dramatize the decision. It's getting plenty of attention here at home. But we've got -- and look, I'm just gathering enough information to be rational in what we do.

You know, you read all kinds of things, of course, in American newspapers -- it's sport here. I'm sure it is elsewhere, as well. The gathering of the speculator, the leaker, the whatever -- what do you call them? The source -- (laughter) -- people speaking out loud, the President has done this, the President is thinking this. And what I am thinking about is how to bring some stability to the country in a way that will be effective.

And there's no question, step one of any effective policy, whether we are involved or not, is for Charles Taylor to leave."

***
"But when they know the truth, when the truth comes out -- which is that we care deeply about the plight of the African citizen; that we're not only trading partners -- and by the way, most nations, I think, would really like to trade with America -- that we not only care deeply about the pandemic of AIDS, but that we hear the cries of those who are sick and tired of corruption on the continent of Africa. And, therefore, we are -- we've got a new approach to foreign aid."

***
"And the other thing is that no one likes war, and what you heard -- there was kind of attachment to the word "America" with war. What they're going to find out, the word "freedom" and "America" are synonymous. That's what we believe."

 

July 24, 2003
President Discusses Economy, Child Tax Credit in Philadelphia
Financial Management Service Facility
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
***
"We also acted in decisive ways to uphold doctrine. One of the doctrine said, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist."

July 8, 2003, Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport, Dakar, Senegal
***
"It's very interesting when you think about it, the slaves who left here to go to America, because of their steadfast and their religion and their belief in freedom, helped change America. America is what it is today because of what went on in the past."

 

July 14, 2003, Remarks by the President and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Photo Opportunity, The Oval Office
***
"I'm so honored that Kofi Annan has come back to the Oval Office. We've had a great discussion. I briefed him on my trip to Africa, his native continent. And I told him that I was most impressed with the possibilities of the continent."

***
"Well, let me first say that -- I think the intelligence I get is darn good intelligence."

***
"The larger point is, and the fundamental question is, did Saddam Hussein have a weapons program? And the answer is, absolutely. And we gave him a chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in."

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 20 through July 26, 2003, as Captive Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to reaffirm their commitment to all those seeking liberty, justice, and self-determination.

 

July 17, 2003
President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Discuss War on Terrorism
Press Conference of President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair
The Cross Hall
***
Q Do you have concerns they're not getting justice, the people detained there?

PRESIDENT BUSH: No, the only thing I know for certain is that these are bad people, and we look forward to working closely with the Blair government to deal with the issue.

 

July 18, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception, Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas
***
"This is our first trip back to Texas since I got back from Africa. You may remember we were over there, and we went to a park in Botswana. (Laughter.) That's where we learned a lot about our party's mascot. (Laughter.)"

***
"I am thrilled that Laura's here. (Applause.) She is a fabulous First Lady. (Applause.) And I love her dearly. (Laughter.) She is just a steady rock. (Applause.)"

***
"Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live under freedom. (Applause.)"

 

July 18, 2003, Remarks by the President on Fitness, Lakewest Family YMCA Dallas, Texas
***
"But the truth of the matter is, one of the best reforms in America for health care is a strong, preventative health care program that starts with each American being responsible for what he or she eats, what he or she drinks, what he or she doesn't smoke, and is responsible for whether or not they get out and exercise on a regular basis."

 

July 21, 2003, President Speaks to Reporters About Reconstruction Effort, Crawford, Texas
***
The answer to your question is, how best to improve the lives of the Iraqi people, how best to quickly establish electricity and clean water and hospitals and schools, all the things necessary for a free society to develop. And so if that can be -- if that question can be answered positively by somebody who didn't necessarily agree with the decision, that's fine. We're interested -- mostly interested in the Iraqi people."

 

July 24, 2003, President Discusses Economy, Jobs in Michigan, Beaver Aerospace and Defense, Inc., Livonia, Michigan
***
"Today, I went to Philadelphia. I saw firsthand the checks that are being printed, that are fixing to be sent to the people who have got children who qualify for the child credit."

***
"He's already hired 14 workers this year. He says to me, the tax relief will enable him to hire 10 more workers. That's 10 more people working. (Applause.)"

***
"The House passed a bill the Senate is stuck in the Senate."

***
"When you're good at something, you ought to make the environment such that you can move product. If you're good at manufacturing, you want to sell it all around the world. If you're good at growing crops, we want to be able to sell our crops around the world. If you're good at growing cows, we ought to be selling our cows around the world. (Laughter.)"

***
So what I proposed to the Congress is they create what they call unemployment accounts, for people that are seeking jobs that are hard to find a job."

 

July 25, 2003, President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Abbas to White House
***
"Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace."

 

July 30, 2003, President Bush Discusses Top Priorities for the U.S., Press Conference of the President
***
"I don't know how close we are to getting Saddam Hussein. You know -- it's closer than we were yesterday, I guess. All I know is we're on the hunt. It's like if you had asked me right before we got his sons how close we were to get his sons, I'd say, I don't know, but we're on the hunt."

***
"It's a threat that where -- we obviously don't have specific data, we don't know when, where, what. But we do know a couple of things. We do know that al Qaeda tends to use the methodologies that worked in the past. That's kind of their mind-set. And we have got some data that indicates that they would like to use flights, international flights, for example."

***
"International flights coming into America must have hardened cockpit doors, which is a positive development."

***
"You know, let me talk about al Qaeda just for a second. I made the statement that we're dismantling senior management, and we are. Our people have done a really good job of hauling in a lot of the key operators: Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, Ramzi -- Ramzi al Shibh, or whatever the guy's name was. (Laughter.) Sorry, Ramzi, if I got it wrong. (Laughter.) Binalshibh, excuse me. Swift Sword is dead, thanks to the Saudis. Abu Bakr is now captured by the Saudis. We're dismantling the operating -- decision-makers."

***
"We've got better intelligence-gathering, better intelligence-sharing, and we're on the hunt. And we will stay on the hunt. The threat that you asked about, Steve, reminds us that we need to be on the hunt, because the war on terror goes on."

***
Q: Or can you finally offer us some definitive evidence that Saddam was working with al Qaeda terrorists?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I think, first of all, remember I just said we've been there for 90 days since the cessation of major military operations. Now, I know in our world where news comes and goes and there's this kind of instant -- instant news and you must have done this, you must do this yesterday, that there's a level of frustration by some in the media. I'm not suggesting you're frustrated. You don't look frustrated to me at all.

***
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Building sort of on that idea, it's impossible to deny that the world is a better place in the region, certainly a better place without Saddam Hussein. But there's a sense here in this country, and a feeling around the world, that the U.S. has lost credibility by building the case for Iraq upon sometimes flimsy or, some people have complained, non-existent evidence. And I'm just wondering, sir, why did you choose to take the world to war in that way?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, look, in my line of work, it's always best to produce results. And I understand that. The -- for a while the questions were, could you conceivably achieve a military victory in Iraq? You know, the dust storms have slowed you down. And I was a patient man because I realized that we would be successful in achieving our military objective.

Now, of course, the question is, will Iraq ever be free, and will it be peaceful? And I believe it will. I remind some of my friends that it took us a while to go from the Articles of Confederation to the United States Constitution. Even our own experiment with democracy didn't happen overnight. I never have expected Thomas Jefferson to emerge in Iraq in a 90-day period.

***
Q: As someone who's spoken out in strongly moral terms, what's your view on homosexuality?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I am mindful that we're all sinners, and I caution those who may try to take the speck out of their neighbor's eye when they got a log in their own.

***
"Remember on our TV screens -- I'm not suggesting which network did this -- but it said, "March to War," every day from last summer until the spring -- "March to War, March to War." That's not a very conducive environment for people to take risk, when they hear, "March to War" all the time."

***
"Dr. Condoleezza Rice is an honest, fabulous person. And America is lucky to have her service. Period."

***
Q Mr. President, with no opponent, how can you spend $170 million or more on your primary campaign?

THE PRESIDENT: Just watch. (Laughter.) Keep going.

Q Yes, sir. And with 15 fundraisers scheduled between -- for the summer months, do you worry about the perception that you're unduly attentive to the interests of people who can afford to spend $2,000 to see you?

THE PRESIDENT: Michael, I think American people, now that they've realized I'm going to seek reelection, expect me to seek reelection. They expect me to actually do what candidates do. And so, you're right, I'll be spending some time going out and asking the American people to support me. But most of my time, as I say in my speeches -- as I'm sure you've been bored to tears listening to -- is that there is a time for politics, and that's going to be later on. I've got a lot to do. And I will continue doing my job. And my job will be to work to make America more secure.

Steve asked a question about this al Qaeda possible attack. Every day I am reminded that our nation is still vulnerable. Every day I'm reminded about what 9/11 means to America. That's a lesson, by the way, I'll never forget, the lesson of 9/11, because -- and I remember right after 9/11 saying that this will be a different kind of war, but it's a war, and sometimes there will be action, and sometimes there won't, but we're still threatened. And I see that almost every day, Mike. And therefore, that is a major part of my job.

***
"See, he [Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas] believes in the Palestinian people to the point where he's willing to take risk for peace. As I understand it, he's put the Palestinian budget on the web page. That's -- that's what we call transparency in the diplomatic world. "

***
Q: I want to ask you here, in the Rose Garden, will you reiterate that $15-billion figure and make sure, personally, that it's really delivered to Africa?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I will, Carl, absolutely, $15 billion. Now, that's not new money. The person who said, it's $15 billion on top of that which we're already -- $10 billion on top of that which we're already spending equals the $15 billion

***
"The American people have got to understand that we're a blessed country, and when we find the kind of suffering that exists in Africa, we will help."

***
"I believe a free Iraq will affect the lives of Iranians. I want to thank the diaspora here in the United States, particularly in L.A. -- which reminds me, my last question is going to Ed. And -- so you can prepare for it, Ed."

***
"You know, it's kind of a -- we're not used to recalls in Texas, for example, thankfully. I think that -- I think the most important opinion is not mine, but it's the people of California. Their opinion is what matters on a recall. It's their decision to decide whether or not there will be a recall, which they decided. Now they get to decide who the governor is going to be. And that's really my only comment I've got."

 

August 1, 2003, Remarks by the President After Meeting With His Cabinet
***
"As I mentioned in my press conference the other day, on our TV screens there was a -- on some TV screens -- there was a constant reminder for the American people, "march to war." War is not a very pleasant subject in people's minds, it's not conducive for the investment of capital."

***
"Listen, thank you all for coming. For those of you in Crawford, I will see you -- going to Crawford, I will see you soon. As you can tell, I got my summer buzz. (Laughter.)"

 

August 8, 2003, President Bush, Secretary Rumsfeld Discuss Progress in Iraq in Press Availability, Prairie Chapel Ranch, Crawford, Texas
***
"As an aside, the Vice President and I went fishing, we threw our first lure at about 6:20 a.m., this morning. Looks like -- turns out the fish like cooler weather than hot weather, probably the press corps feels the same way."

***
"Turns out this is our hundredth day since major military operations have ended, ended in Iraq."

***
"And then we spent time making sure that our military is configured in such a way as to represent the modern era -- which means it will be more likely that the world will be peaceful; a modern, strong, light, active military will make it easier to keep the peace, and, after all, that's the objective of the administration, is to promote freedom and peace. "

***
"The fence, by the way, is a reaction to days when there were terror. I've said the fence is a problem because the fence is, you know -- kind of meanders around the West Bank, which makes it awfully hard to develop a contiguous state over time."

***
"And that's just the nature of democracy. Sometimes pure politics enters into the rhetoric."

 

August 14, 2003, President's Interview with Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, Hangar Five, MCAS Miramar, California
***
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know if I got -- I hope I get the straight answer. You don't know, it must be a little awesome for a sergeant to talk to the Commander-in-Chief.

Q It's very awesome, sir. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: And I turn to the guy and say, can you feel your pay raise? And to a person, the answer is, yes, they feel their pay raise, which is good. And that's what I want.

 

August 15, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, Hyatt Regency Irvine Hotel, Irvine, California
***
"Thank you very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for the friendship. It's great to be back in the great state of California, and wonderful to see so many friends from Orange County."

 

August 21, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Healthy Forests Initiative, Redmond, Oregon
***
"Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you. You know you're in a pretty good country when you see a lot of cowboy hats out in the crowd -- (laughter and applause) -- and when you got horses guarding the perimeter. (Applause.)"

***
"We just toured two fires that are burning in the area. It's hard to describe to our fellow citizen what it means to see a fire like we saw. It's the holocaust, it's devastating."

 

August 22, 2003, Remarks by the President on Salmon Restoration
***
"You know, one of the great things about our national security is we don't have to worry about food from some other country."

***
"Listen, America is a fabulous country, fabulous not only because of the values we hold dear, but fabulous because of the nature of the people, who are the American people."

 

August 26, 2003, Remarks by the President to Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, St. Paul, MN
***
"I'm loosening up and I'm getting ready for the campaign. (Laughter.) But there's going to be plenty of time for politics, because I've got a job to do."

 

August 26, 2003, Remarks by the President at Missourians for Kit Bond Dinner, Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri
***
"You know, this nation was pretty secure for a while, secure that oceans could protect us."

***
"It doesn't matter where they hide, it doesn't matter where they cringe, the United States of America will find them and bring them to justice. (Applause.)"

***
"When we say something in this country, we better do it for the credibility of the world. (Applause.)"

***
"We all asked a question in Washington, D.C.: is the program effective that's helping save life?"

 

September 1, 2003, Remarks by the President on Labor Day, Ohio Operating Engineers, Richfield Training Center, Richfield, Ohio
***
"What productivity means is that we've got a lot of hard work and we're using new technologies to make people more effective when it comes to the job, and that's important."

***
"You see, it's better to operate a backhoe than it is a shovel. (Applause.) That's what we mean by productivity."

 

September 8, 2003, President Discusses Education at Elementary School in Tennessee, Remarks by the President on Education
***
"Kim Fowler is -- has got the right attitude. She is not intimidated by measurement."

***
"She knows that you don't teach self-esteem -- there's not a course that says the self-esteem -- you teach a child to read, and he or she earns self-esteem. And that's the right attitude."

 

September 8, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception, Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee
***
"I'm also so pleased that Ricky Scaggs came tonight. He's a -- that boy can sing. (Applause.)"

***
"There's less road-rage at NASCAR now because Darrel Waltrip is retired, but I'm still glad to call him -- (applause) -- I'm glad he's here."

 

September 16, 2003, President Bush Calls on Congress to Act on Clear Skies Legislation, East Garden
***
"See, the rules were so complex that they were open for interpretation. Complex rules also opens decisions to litigation. You know, when something's really complex, it makes a -- makes it easy for lawyers to sue and tie things up."

***
"No, there's a lot of benefit for this piece of legislation."

***
"People need to know there's going to be less lawsuits that prevent rational thought from going forward."

 

September 17, 2003, Remarks by the President After Meeting with Members of the Congressional Conference Committee on Energy Legislation, The Cabinet Room
***
"The Iraqis need to develop a constitution and then have free elections. Then we can -- and then we deal with the sovereignty issue. And so, therefore, we're talking amongst ourselves."

***
"One thing I've learned, Karen, is not to negotiate with myself, particularly in front of cameras."

 

September 18, 2003, Remarks by the President and King Abdullah of Jordan in Press Availability, Camp David
***
"Do I think we can count on the Europeans to provide? Yes, I think we're getting help, and I would remind you that there is two multinational divisions led by -- one led by Britain, one led by Poland -- full of other European countries. And I -- that's help. In terms of reconstruction, A, we're getting help, and -- because Colin Powell will continue to ask for help."

***
"It is -- and I can't -- we'll see, I will have a much better feel for attitude after next week. As you know, I'll be at the United Nations General Assembly."

***
"The other thing, of course, is that the U.N. resolution must promote an orderly transfer of sovereignty to what will be a freely elected government, based upon a constitution. So in other words, we must have -- the constitution must be written, and there will be free elections, and then sovereignty will occur once the Iraqi people are able to express their opinions. And so we'll be working on that, as well."

***
"And by the way, we're very well prepared for Hurricane Isabel. I met this morning by SVTS -- that's video conferencing -- with Tom Ridge and John Gordon of the NSC staff, fully briefed on the path of the storm."

 

September 29, 2003, Remarks by the President to the 2003 Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, The Rose Garden
***
"I have a chance to welcome champs to the White House on a regular basis, and it seems to be a common ingredient, where people are willing to put something above individual achievement, called the team, where you kind of work together for something bigger than self-glory."

***
"One of the things that's interesting about the Stanley Cup is that each player gets to spend time with it. It must be pretty neat."

***
"Champs are people who understand that when you're the champion somebody looks at you; they wonder, what is it like to be a champ?"

***
"So when you make right choices, set out the right examples, hug somebody who hurts, you're really helping our country. And if you're from Canada or other countries, you're helping your country, too."

 

October 6, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and President Kibaki of Kenya in An Exchange of Toasts, State Floor
***
"It is a real honor for us to welcome you. Our two nations are old friends and natural partners. We both emerged from a colonial past to become free nations."

 

October 6, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and President Kibaki of Kenya in Press Availability, The East Room
***
"Terry, I talked to Prime Minister Sharon yesterday. I expressed our nation's condolences at the needless murder of innocent people, by the latest suicider."

***
"And, listen, we're making good progress in Iraq. Sometimes it's hard to tell it when you listen to the filter."

***
Q: Your Excellency, a lot of people see your trip to the United States as yet another begging trip. How different is this trip for those people who are seeing it as another line up for aid?

PRESIDENT KIBAKI: Well, first for us, I don't think that we are, in any way, one of those countries which gained nothing, or had nothing. But we definitely do gain by talking to friends like America and seeking help. Now, if you are seeking for help, you cannot adequately say publicly whether it is adequate or whether it is not. (Laughter.)

So, really, if you are asking for help, you really don't ask, you don't say how much. And so, really the question isn't, should not be asked of me.

***
"I'd like to know who leaked, and if anybody has got any information inside our government or outside our government who leaked, you ought to take it to the Justice Department so we can find out the leaker."

 

October 7, 2003, Remarks by the President After Meeting with Cabinet Members, The Cabinet Room
***
"Well, the investigators will ask our staff about what people did or did not do. This is a town of -- where a lot of people leak."

***
"Randy, you tell me, how many sources have you had that's leaked information that you've exposed or have been exposed? Probably none. I mean this town is a -- is a town full of people who like to leak information."

 

October 8, 2003, Remarks by the President at the 2003 Republican National Committee, Presidential Gala, Washington Hilton, Washington, DC
***
"I am so glad that Laura came with me tonight. (Applause.) As you know, she's back home from an official trip. She went to Russia to help them with literacy." [accdng to the CIA, Russia has a higher literacy rate than the U.S.]

***
"You see, the enemies want to create a sense of fear and intrepidation."

***
"See, free nations do not develop weapons of mass destruction."

***
"A free Iraq in the middle of the Middle East will change the world. This
is historic times."

***
"And now, in return for record amounts of federal money, we expect every public school in America to teach the basics."

 

October 9, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Holiday Inn-Center of New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire
***
"We are in a different kind of war than we're used to. We're in a new war, and it requires a new strategy. We're not waiting for further attacks. We're striking our enemies before they can strike us again. We've taken unprecedented steps to protect our homeland, yet wars are won on the offensive."

From Canada's "National Post", 10/9/03:
Laura Bush, the U.S. First Lady, went public with her husband's attempt at romantic poetry during the National Book Festival in Washington this weekend...
***
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Oh my, lump in the bed
How I've missed you.

Roses are redder
Bluer am I
Seeing you kissed by that charming French guy.

The dogs and the cat, they missed you too
Barney's still mad you dropped him, he ate your shoe
The distance, my dear, has been such a barrier
Next time you want an adventure, just land on a carrier.

 

October 9, 2003, Remarks by the President at Ernie Fletcher for Governor Reception, Lexington Center-Heritage Hall, Lexington, Kentucky
***
"I'm not only talking about the seniors today, I'm talking about those of us who are fixing to be seniors.

***
"You see, in the past, oceans protected us, or so we thought. We felt -- thought we were invulnerable to attack. So if we saw a gathering threat overseas, we might decide to deal with it or might not. September the 11th changed that calculation. The enemy can strike anytime, anywhere in America with ruthless fashion. They know no rules, they know no bounds of decency, they kill in the name of great religion."

***
"We're making great progress. I don't care what you read about. Just ask anybody who's been there. They will tell you that the schools are opening, the children are getting immunized, the electricity is up, water is purified and moving."

***
"There's thugs and killers who can't stand the thought of freedom. Freedom makes them nervous."

 

October 10, 2003 President's Remarks, President Bush Discusses Cuban Policy in Rose Garden Speech
***
"Thank you for coming. I'm honored you all are here. (Applause.) The Secretary mentioned to me that Bob Dole is with us. Bob Dole is not with us."

 

October 13, 2003, Remarks by the President on Columbus Day, Room 450, Eisenhower Executive Office Building
***
"Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to join you in observing Columbus Day and to celebrate Columbus Day in the District named after Christopher Columbus."

***
"People of Italian descent oftentimes hear the call to serve something greater than themselves."

***
"Rocky Versace is an Italian American. He won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam because of the defiance he showed after being taken captive by the Viet Cong."

***
"The faith of the Italian-American community in God is an important part of our nation's fabric. The faith in family, the love of life and the commitment to our country are great gifts. Italian Americans share those gifts generously. And that is why we celebrate Columbus Day."

 

October 14, 2003, Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with the 2003 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, The Rose Garden
***
"After this is over, I'd like to invite you in the Oval Office and let you see where the decisions are made that affect the peace and freedom of this world."

***
"Danny Ferry is here? Where is Danny Ferry? Yes, there he is. He and I share an interesting relationship. As you may know, his father, Bob, won the NBA Championship ring. And so Danny and Bob Ferry are only the second father/son combination to ever win a championship ring. (Laughter.) If you get my drift. (Laughter.) We're members of the famous fathers club. (Laughter.) And, anyway, I want to welcome you here. You'll see where the -- only the second son of a President offices is in a minute. (Laughter.)"

***
"Gregg Popovich won a Point of Light for his drug -- anti-drug programs in the early '90s. What a class act that must be for players, to work for a coach who then takes time out of his private life to set a good example for the children of the community in which he lives, and to work to rally the armies of compassion to make somebody else's life better -- in this case, to help a community fight off the scourge of drugs."

 

October 14, 2003, Roundtable Interview of the President with Asian Print Journalists The Roosevelt Room
***
"Wars -- we used to think about flotillas and bombing runs and whatever."

***
"Deadlines are important, sometimes you get things done, and we'll work toward that deadline. And part of our discussions will be the free trade agreement. It's in our nation's interest to do so. We've got some heavy lift in certain areas that we're just going to have to work through them."

 

October 14, 2003, Interview of the President by Antonio Baltazar VP Nebrida, Jr., NBN TV-4, The Library
***
Q: The Philippines is coming into a very critical phase -- we're getting our national and local elections in 2004. Are there apprehensions over the exercise, itself, or the outcome of the election?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, there's no apprehension over the outcome of the election. The people -- we trust the people in America. We've got our own elections, by the way, coming up in 2004.

***
Q How do you see the contribution of [the Filipino-American] community in nation-building here in the United States?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, there's roughly 2 million Philippine Americans, which is a wonderful contribution to our country. These people are great people. And I know, I work with them right here in the White House. We've got some great Philippine Americans here that are proud of their country, but most of all, love America, because we stand for freedom and justice and opportunity.

***
Q: Is APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] still a relevant organization as far as the United States sees its allies and its partners?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that's a very good question. It needs to be relevant, because APEC has -- that room will fill up with leaders that can do a lot to shape a more peaceful world and a more prosperous world. Trade is a central element of our foreign policy and many of our trading partners, like the Philippines, will be in that room. And we've got to talk about free trade and open trade. We cannot -- you know, we must advance the agenda of the WTO.

 

October 14, 2003, Interview of the President by Taro Kimura, Fuji TV The Library
***
"I'll talk to the Prime Minister about this, of course. I know this is a very sensitive subject. And I've spoken out about this terrible practice, a terrible part of history that the North Koreans abducted."

***
Q: Lastly, I remember you've enjoyed yakitori when you were in Tokyo, the barbecued chicken.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I did. (Laughter.)

Q And I wonder whether you will bear tasting sushi this time. I know you're not really particularly in favor of the raw fish.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm a beef man. You know I like good beef. Japan's got some of the greatest beef in the world. And -- but I'm also, hopefully, a good enough guest not to demand a particular menu from my host. The Prime Minister and I have eaten a lot of meals together. And I'm confident that he will put together a good meal for both the First Lady, Laura and me. And I really am looking forward to seeing him. He is -- he is a great friend. He is an interesting man. I really enjoyed being around him. You know, one of the -- he came to my ranch.

 

October 14, 2003, Interview of the President by Laurence Oakes, Channel 9 TV, The Library
***
"And I've talked to a lot of our generals and commanders about how the Australians participated and they were just -- A-plus was the rating."

 

October 14, 2003, Interview of the President by Malcolm Brown, Channel News Asiam, The Library
***
"I believe we can solve the issue on the North Korean -- with the North Korean issue on the Korean Peninsula peacefully. As a matter of fact, we're making great strides toward that. You might remember, up until recent history, the whole issue is, the United States and North Korea."

***
"The nuclear policy, obviously, makes it difficult for us to have a military alliance. But we're friends with the New Zealands."

 

October 14, 2003, Interview of the President by Thepchai Yong, Nation TV, The Library
***
"You've got to understand, the people in Iraq lived under incredible tyranny and torture and rape rooms -- the kinds of things the people in Thailand reject. These people were -- the tyrant brutalized them and at the same time built up weapons and didn't spend the money on social services."

***
Q How do you expect President Megawati, or Indonesia, to cooperate with the United States if we don't have a chance to question Hambali one on one?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the thing on Hambali is -- first of all, the good news is he's not a problem anymore, he's not a threat. And as I explained to the President that we will share any information with her. But right now, the key is to find out as much as we possibly can. And when we get information, we will share it with her.

Q Well, the problem is that Indonesia needs a chance that -- the Indonesian police to question Hambali directly, not just to share information.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q When are you going to give us this chance?

THE PRESIDENT: Right now, we're going to get as much information as we possibly can.

Q So there's no way that Indonesia will have -- their chance to question Hambali?

THE PRESIDENT: I wouldn't say, no way. You said, no way. I didn't say, no way. I said, right now, we're going to get as much information as we can to make sure America is secure and Indonesia's secure. And any information we get, we'll be glad to share with the President. I've explained this to her, and she understands.

 

October 15, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney '04 Reception, Fresno Convention Center, Fresno, California
***
"I had the honor of traveling from the airport out to Ruiz Foods -- by the way, which was a fantastic experience going out there, I love the story of America, I love the fact that people who started with nothing and have built a fantastic food processing business."

 

October 18, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and President Arroyo in a Photo Opportunity Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines
***
"And I also want to thank you for your vision of understand that freedom is important, it's a human right, and where there's human suffering and tyranny, that -- at the same time, terrorist links -- the free world must work to change conditions, hopefully in peaceful ways, but sometimes tyranny is so stubborn and ignores the reality, that we have to take tough decisions. And, Mr. President, you understand that."

***
Q How serious do you think the terrorism threat is here in the Philippines? And what specifically can you do to help President Arroyo deal with it?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think the Abu Sayyaf is serious. It's serious because there are not rules when it comes to a crowd like the Abu Sayyaf.

 

October 22, 2003, Roundtable Interview of the President by the Press Pool, Aboard Air Force One, En Route Canberra, Australia
***
"Of all the people in the world who understand Texas, it's probably Australians."

***
"There's a lot of things that there's misconceptions. Evidently it's a misconceptions that Americans believe that Muslims are terrorists."

***
"Anybody who starves his people is -- I just can't respect anybody that would really let his people starve, and shrink in size as a result of malnutrition."

 

October 22, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Howard of Australia in a Photo Opportunity, Parliament House, Canberra, Australia
***
"There's a process, ongoing process to deal with these two [Australians now held at Guantanamo] that were picked up off of a battlefield of war. And I think one of the -- somebody in the Australian media when they were in America asked me about torture, or some -- its alleged allegations of torture."

***
"The first question was -- oh, Iraq. Listen, Australia has made a tremendous contribution in Iraq. Their troops were fantastic. They laid it on the line, and every military person I talked to about the contribution of the Australians was -- had high praise for the skill and the strength and spirit of the Aussie troops."

 

October 23, 2003
***
Global Message
The United States has good relations with countries like Japan, South Korea and China. This promotes our mutual security and helps our economy.

The President's trip reinforces the fact that good relations help us when a common problem arises.

There is a clear understanding at APEC that the world needs to fight terror.

APEC gave the United States an opportunity to reiterate the need for a concerted effort against terrorists who want to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

President Bush met with religious leaders, including three Muslims, a Christian and a Hindu. The President conveyed a strong message of tolerance.

Americans understand that terrorists are hiding behind Islam to create fear, chaos and death.

Comments on religion by an American general weren't the views of the President or those of the American government.

We recognize that Islam is a peaceful religion which teaches respect and tolerance.

 

October 25, 2003
***
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 26 through November 1, 2003, as Protection From Pornography Week. I call upon public officials, law enforcement officers, parents, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs and activities.

 

October 28, 2003, President Holds Press Conference, The Rose Garden
***
"It is dangerous in Iraq because there are some who believe that we're soft, that the will of the United States can be shaken by suiciders -- and suiciders who are willing to drive up to a Red Cross center, a center of international help and aid and comfort, and just kill."

***
"And, as you notice, yesterday, one fellow tried to -- was done in as a he tried to conduct a suicide mission. In other words, an Iraqi policemen did their job."

***
"And it's going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many. You've heard me say that before. That's just kind of the motto of the terrorists. It's the way they operate."

***
"You might remember the "stuck in the desert" scenario that -- during the dust storms, that we're advancing to Baghdad and all of a sudden we got stuck."

***
"The strategy remains the same. The tactics to respond to more suiciders driving cars will alter on the ground; more checkpoints, whatever they decide, how to harden targets will change."

***
"You asked about the fence. I have said the fence is a problem to the extent that the fence is a opportunity to make it difficult for a Palestinian state to emerge."

***
"There are going to be new textbooks coming, which no longer glorify the tyrant, Saddam Hussein, but glorify basic education -- or, at least, promote basic education."

***
"She's doing -- the role of the National Security Advisor is to not only provide good advice to the President, which she does on a regular basis -- I value her judgment and her intelligence -- but her job is also to deal interagency and to help unstick things that may get stuck, is the best way to put it. She's an unsticker."

***
"You know, I was struck by the fact when I was in Japan recently that my relations with Prime Minister Koizumi are very close and personal. And I was thinking about what would happen if, in a post-World War II era, we hadn't won the peace, as well as the war. I mean, would I have had the same relationship with Mr. Koizumi? Would I be able to work closely on crucial relations? I doubt it. I doubt it."

***
"And so David Kay will continue his search. But one of the things that he first found was that there is clear violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. Material breach, they call it in the diplomatic circles. Casus belli, it means a -- that would have been a cause for a war. In other words, he said, it's dangerous."

 

October 30, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas
***
"I'm loosening up. (Laughter.) And I'm getting ready. But politics will come in its own time, because I've got a job."

***
"We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country."

"This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America."

***
"We are a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity across our land. This is the work that history has set before us."

 

October 30, 2003, Remarks by the President on Energy, Central Aluminum Company, Columbus, Ohio
***
"It's not a very -- it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when people turn on the TV and say, march to war."

 

November 3, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Economy, Craneworks, Birmingham, Alabama
***
"The reason I like to bring up people who are volunteering in their community is oftentimes people look at Americans and say, well, that's a mighty country -- because we've got a strong military. It's a mighty country because our wallets are heavier than other people around the world."

 

November 3, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, Birmingham, Alabama
***
"And so when you start laying the grassroots organization, and you go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your farm implementation dealership, you tell them the President is doing the job."

 

November 7, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception, M.C. Benton, Jr. Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
***
"I want to thank all the grassroots activists for what you're fixing to do when we're coming down the stretch in 2004. (Applause.)"

***
"We must handle our responsibilities in Washington by making sure the Medicare system is vibrant and viable and real, not only for seniors today, but for those of us who are fixing to be seniors tomorrow. (Applause.)"

***
"This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America."

 

November 5, 2003, President Bush Signs Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, The Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C.
***
"The best case against partial birth abortion is a simple description of what happens and to whom it happens. It involves the partial delivery of a live boy or girl, and a sudden, violent end of that life. Our nation owes its children a different and better welcome."

 

November 7, 2003, President Bush Discusses Job Training Initiative in North Carolina, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
***
"I remember the old days in Texas, there would be job'training programs -- they really didn't care whether the jobs actually existed. All they want to do is make sure you're trained. (Laughter.) So you end up with, like, 1,500 hairdressers for 25 jobs."

***
"The job mix is shifting. The economy, as it grows, sometimes there's a different shift in the type of jobs available. You hear a lot of talk about productivity increases. You mentioned productivity increases. A lot of the manufacturing sector is seeing job loss because the worker is more productive. In other words, an hour of a person's time yields more product."

***
"A one-stop center is a place where a person such as Scott can go and say, I've got this interest, what's available. You call it up on the web, or you used the high-tech world to help bring information to your screen."

***
"So if somebody is listening right now and they say biotechnology field, how would you describe that? Give somebody a sense for what it means. I'm sure there's a lot of people frightened -- biotechnology is a long word and it sounds -- (laughter) -- they may say, well, I don't know if I'm smart enough to be in biotechnology, or it sounds too sophisticated to be in biotechnology."

 

November 12, 2003, Roundtable Interview of the President by British Print Journalists, The Oval Office
***
"I wanted to show you this shrine to democracy here, kind of give you a sense of who I am."

***
THE PRESIDENT: Obviously, I love Texas. It's very important for a President to know who he is before you take this job. A lot of pressure here, a lot of decision making. If you try to figure out who you are on the job...

Q It's too late.

***
"Anyway, Lincoln, is this country's greatest President, so I put him on the wall. I think he was the greatest President, because the job of President is to unite the country to achieve big objectives. It's hard to achieve big things if you're not united. We're achieving freedom and peace, so we'll spend a little time talking about it, Iraq."

***
THE PRESIDENT: This desk is called the HMS Resolute Desk. The timber is from the HMS Resolute, which was rescued in the Arctic, and Queen Victoria, out of gratitude for the relationship, made this desk from the timber. It's a beautiful desk. Not every President has used this. It has some interesting features. Roosevelt put the door on the desk to cover up his infirmities. He didn't want people to know he was in a wheelchair. John-John Kennedy put his head out of the desk, probably the most famous Oval Office photo. His dad was looking out at the South Lawn there. Reagan put the bottom on the desk so his knees wouldn't hit. So it's been an interesting history, I love it.

Q What are you going to do it?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't know. Good question. I'm just going to treat it like a treasure, which is what it is.
***

"Short-term history is -- it's hard to call it unobjective. It's very subjective, I guess, is the best way to put it."

***
"And I certainly don't want to underestimate the security situation. I know how tough it is. I know how tough it is firsthand.

***
"And, yet, on the humanitarian side, in seven months we've got a new currency moving through the system, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it."

***
"And we're at war. Okay? The war on terror goes on. And the war on terror is going to take awhile. America is vulnerable to attack. So is your country, by the way."

***
"North Korea is a -- had a bilateral relation with the United States."

***
"So I looked at the history and realized that the bilateral relations with Kim Jong-il hadn't worked. There's a real politic here, when somebody says they're going to do something and they don't do it."

***
Q Is it really -- it's inconceivable that you could consider pulling out --

THE PRESIDENT: It is inconceivable.

Q However, bin Laden is at large, and Saddam Hussein. How close are you to finding these people?

THE PRESIDENT: No, first of all, I wouldn't -- I think that your -- let me answer your question this way. We will find them. Okay? Yes, we're not pulling out until the job is done. Period.

 

November 13, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Orlando, Florida
***
"See, what we're trying to do is to change the tone in Washington, D.C. We're trying to get rid of all the needless politics and focus on the people's business, focus on results, and not the ugly process that sometimes takes on. We're making good progress. We really are. "

 

November 13, 2003, Remarks by the President with Judicial Nominees Carolyn Kuhl, Janice Brown, and Priscilla Owen, The Oval Office
***
"Well, first of all, the goal of the terrorists -- whether they be Baathists, or mujahideen fighters, or al Qaeda-type fighters -- is to create terror and fear amongst average Iraqis -- is to create the conditions where people are just so fearful for their lives that they cannot think positively about freedom. That's their goal."

***
Q Yes, well, the Democrats say they have confirmed 98 percent of your judges.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q And by focusing on the few that they are opposing, that you're picking essentially an unfair fight.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, our circuits -- circuit courts remain in some cases dangerously vacant. And here are three cases where people are being treated unfairly. My question is, why won't they give these three ladies an up-or-down vote? Where's the justice? These are eminently qualified people. These are three women who are -- represent the best of American jurisprudence. And why won't they let them come to the floor? If they're so fair, bring them up to a vote -- today. Let these three nominees get onto the floor of the United States for an up-or-down vote, and then -- and then I will listen to whether or not they're fair or not.

 

November 17, 2003, Interview of the President by Trevor Kavanagh of "The Sun" , The Oval Office, November 14, 2003
***
THE PRESIDENT: Have you ever been in the Oval Office before?

Q Once, just once --

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. The rug was designed by my wife. Every President gets to design his own rug. You probably didn't know that.

Q Fabulous.

THE PRESIDENT: I wanted mine -- mine was designed by my wife, Laura. And I wanted people to have a sense of optimism when they came in here, that this is a guy who kind of sees a better world, not a worse world. Sometimes the Oval can be foreboding, and I wanted it to be cheery. So I hope you felt that. This is called, "A Charge To Keep," it's based upon a Methodist hymn. One of America's great imports from England was John Wesley.

***
"After all, we were a country which was able to sit back in our -- kind of in our geographical posture and pick and choose where a threat might emerge and say, we may have to deal with that or we may not deal with it; we were pretty confident that we were protected ourselves by oceans. That changed."

***
"If you were to look at al Qaeda as a business organization, middle management is no longer. That's not to say that they're not grooming junior executives to take over certain roles."

***
"I'm real proud of our country's contribution to global AIDS."

***
"We're prosperous -- and by the way, we're becoming more prosperous, which is good news."

 

November 19, 2003, Interview of the President by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, The American Embassy, London, England [Al-Sharq Al-Awsat is a London-based Arabic daily]
***
Q Some people make a parallel between Iraq and Vietnam. Do you see it?

THE PRESIDENT: I know that people are anxious to be free. They were glad to get rid of Saddam Hussein. They were pleased when his sons met their demise. This person tortured, brutalized an entire population. And it's a different situation.

Q I didn't hear the word "Vietnam" in your answer.

THE PRESIDENT: No, because -- I gave you the answer, you asked the question. You asked me if there's parallel. I said it's a different situation.

***
And we're making, in many phases, very strong progress. For example, the currency. I think if you were to go back and look at the history of currency replacements or issuing new currencies, that's not an easy task. And, yet --

Q -- President Saddam, his face on the currency --

THE PRESIDENT: No, they've got new currencies. And that's hard to do. And, yet, we're making good, steady progress in replacing the currency.

 

November 21, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair at Sedgefield Community College, Sedgefield, England
***
"Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. And we look forward to – I look forward to our weekly phone calls to stay on the offensive against the enemy."

 

November 21, 2003, Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to the Travel Pool, All-Weather Pitch, Sedgefield Community College, England
***
Q Is Turkey a new front in this war on terror?

PRESIDENT BUSH: It sure is. Two major explosions. And Iraq is a front, Turkey is a front, anywhere where the terrorists think they can strike is a front.

 

November 24, 2003, Remarks by the President to the Troops, Butts Army Air Field, Fort Carson, Colorado
***
"You reflect tremendous credit to the United States Army."

 

November 25, 2003, President Applauds Congress for Passing Historic Medicare Bill, Spring Valley Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada
***
"It's great to be here in Las Vegas, the great state of Nevada. I'm sorry I don't get to spend the night here. (Laughter.) They say the night life is pretty active. (Laughter.) It's a great part of our country."

***
"I just want to share with you right quick our country's foreign policy. In a nutshell, it's, we'll do everything we can to keep America secure."

***
"You see, we're bringing freedom in the heart of the Middle East."

***
"Free countries don't develop weapons of mass destruction."

 

November 25, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona
***
"I want to thank you all for coming. It's a big deal that you showed up. It means up."

***
"As Jeff came through, he said, he's a real, live cowboy. I like coming to states where they have real, live cowboys. (Applause.) You know, Senator, we're keeping pretty good company when people show up to fundraisers in cowboy hats. (Laughter.)"

 

November 27, 2003, President Discusses Trip to Iraq with Reporters, Aboard Air Force One, En Route Andrews Air Force Base
***
Q Mr. President, we were told you got to see Mr. Chalabi today?

THE PRESIDENT: I did see Chalabi. I met with -- well, let's see, I had the dinner, you saw that. I wasn't sure how long you were there, you probably timed it, but an hour or so -- are these the times? Oh, these are the people there. I shook a lot of hands, saw a lot of kids, took a lot of pictures, served a lot of food and we moved on to see four members of the Governing Council -- the names are here. Talibani is the head of it right now, so he was the main spokesman. But Chalabi was there, as was Dr. Khuzaii, who had come to the Oval Office, I don't know if you all were in the pool that day, but she was there -- she was there with him, and one other fellow, and I had a good talk with them.

 

December 1, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Economy, Dynamic Metal Treating International, Dearborn, Michigan
***
"My attitude is the more money you've got in your pocket, the more likely it is your family is going to be okay. But more importantly, the more likely it is it will increase the demand for a good or a service."

 

December 1, 2003, Remarks by the President on the Economy, Dynamic Metal Treating International, Dearborn, Michigan
***
"My attitude is the more money you've got in your pocket, the more likely it is your family is going to be okay. But more importantly, the more likely it is it will increase the demand for a good or a service."

 

December 2, 2003, Remarks by the President at the Signing of H.R. 3182, the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003, The Roosevelt Room
***
"Bruce Willis is not with us, but I do want to thank him for being the national spokesperson on foster care and adoption."

 

December 2, 2003, President Bush Congratulates 2003 Winston Cup Drivers, The South Lawn
***
"I see a lot of the Bubbas who work in my administration who have shown up. (Laughter.) I wonder why. I've hosted champions from many sports here at the White House -- the first time, however, we ever parked stock cars in the South Lawn. (Laughter.)"

***
"But every NASCAR fan knows that behind the -- the talent behind the wheel is not just enough, that NASCAR is a team sport."

 

December 2, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, Westin Convention Center Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
***
"Thanks for the warm welcome. I thought I'd start off by talking a little bit about Texas football. (Laughter.) Then I ran into Jerome Bettis. (Laughter.)"

***
"And finally, I'm proud to be here with Lynn Swann, my friend who is the chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness. What you need to do -- (applause) -- you need to exercise. (Laughter.) And Lynn is helping us send the message to young and old alike in this country that a healthy America is a country that takes care of its physical fitness needs."

 

December 3, 2003, Remarks by the President at Signing of H.R. 1904, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
***
"I appreciate the Hot Shot team members from the great state of California. These are the folks in the yellow shirts. I spent some time with the hot shot members as a -- this summer in California, last summer in Arizona, time in Oregon, Washington state. These are brave, brave citizens. These are fantastic citizens in the country."

***
"I understand Chuck Leavell is here, of the Rolling Stones. I appreciate Chuck being here. He's the keyboard player. And he also has -- they tell me he's a tree raiser, a tree farmer, whatever you call them. (Laughter.)"

***
"We don't want our intentions bogged down by regulations."

 

December 5, 2003, Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Luncheon, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
***
"This great nation has got all kinds of fabulous religions -- Christian, Jewish, and Muslim."

***
"Our government must understand that some problems are so intractable, the only thing that will matter, the only thing that will help is for a faith-based programs to intercede in their lives."

 

December 5, 2003, President Bush Discusses the Economy at the Home Depot in Maryland, The Home Depot, Halethorpe, Maryland
***
"Not only did it change foreign policy, in other words, we can't sit there and pick and choose what threat we deal with. Now that we have become vulnerable, we're going to have deal with the threats before they mature and come upon us."

***
"When you turned on your TV, it said, America is marching to war. That's not very conducive for -- that's not a very positive statement. It doesn't build a lot of confidence -- people, you know, marching to war, why would I want to invest in my home? Or why would I want to come to Home Depot if we're fixing to go to war?"

***
"One of the interesting things about our policy is that when interest rates go low, it provides incentive for people to buy a home -- mortgages down."

 

December 12, 2003, Remarks by the President and HUD Deputy Secretary Jackson in Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Announcement, Roosevelt Room
***
THE PRESIDENT: April, I see you've got something that you'd like to ask. First, let me ask you a question. As you're heading into -- my turn to ask you a question. (Laughter.) So this is your first Christmas season as a mom.

Q Second, actually; 18 months.

THE PRESIDENT: Exactly right. (Laughter.) Good answer. I was just trying to check and see if you knew -- if you and I both knew how old your child was. (Laughter.) Do you have a question to the President?

Q Yes, I do, sir. Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Do you remember what it is? (Laughter.)

Q You can throw a person, you know that. (Laughter.) Mr. President, many of your critics are saying that you should distance yourself from Halliburton, and they say it's an albatross around this administration's neck, particularly the Vice President and you. What are your thoughts about that?

THE PRESIDENT: My thoughts are, is that I expect anybody doing business with the United States government to be transparent and to give the taxpayers a good return on their money. That's what I expect. And if anybody is overcharging the government, we expect them to repay that money.

Wendell.

Q Mr. President, in light of the New York Times editorial today, tell me why --

THE PRESIDENT: Let me stop you, Wendell. I don't read those editorials -- (laughter) -- so you're going to have to -- maybe you ought to ask the question not in that context, but in another context.

Q All right, sir. Tell me why former Secretary of State Baker's ties with Carlisle Group and with Baker Botts don't pose a conflict of interest in this new task you have given him of restructuring Iraq's debt?

THE PRESIDENT: Jim Baker is a man of high integrity. He's a man of enormous experience. And it makes sense for him to serve our country on an important mission. And that mission is to encourage countries to forgive debt so the Iraqi people can more easily grow a nation that is prosperous and peaceful.

Jim Baker is -- we're fortunate to have Jim Baker agree to serve our country. We're fortunate he decided to take time out of what is an active life, but one out of the press, and one that's probably not nearly as stressful as it has been when he's been involved in public service, to step forward and serve America. We're fortunate that he is willing to do that, and I thank him for that.

And I'm really happy that he has agreed to serve. His mission is to go to Paris and Berlin and Moscow and London to convince these countries to forgive debt. And I'm hopeful they do forgive debt. I'm hopeful that they're willing, in some cases, to contribute for the first time to the efforts of the Iraqi citizens. See, it's in the interest of their countries that Iraq be free and peaceful. Matter of fact, it's in the interest of all countries that Iraq be peaceful and free. It makes us all more secure. Imagine what the effect is going to have -- a peaceful and free Iraq is going to have in the heart of the Middle East, where there's so much violence and hatred.

And so Jim Baker is on a noble mission. He'll do a great job. I didn't mean to dis the New York Times editorial page, but I just didn't -- I'm not reading it a lot these days. (Laughter.)

Yes, sir.

Q Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Or anybody else's, for that matter.

Q I have no ties with the New York Times. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: You didn't mean to dis it either, then. (Laughter.)

 

December 15, 2003, President Bush Holds Press Conference, Press Conference of the President, Room 450, Eisenhower Executive Office Building
***
Q: You say this is not personal, but you've also pointed out this was a man who tried to murder your father. What is your greeting to him?

THE PRESIDENT: Good riddance. The world is better off without you, Mr. Saddam Hussein. I find it very interesting that when the heat got on, you dug yourself a hole and you crawled in it. And our brave troops, combined with good intelligence, found you.

***
"I was most pleased that the French and Germans, as well as the Brits, delivered a very strong message to the Iranian government about the development of a nuclear weapon. It was a message that we agree with, and that is, don't do so, otherwise there will be international consequences at the United Nations."

***
"So I'm confident during the numerous press conferences I'll be having next year -- just like I had this year -- that you'll be asking me questions about this political statement or that political statement, and my answer is going to be the same until I'm ready to engage, and that is, let me just tell you what the strategy is of this administration."

***
"The strategy that I've outlined in order to do my solemn duty -- and my duty is not only to keep the country more secure, but more prosperous and a better country, as well."

***
"See, without the tax relief package, there would have been a deficit, but there wouldn't have been the commiserate -- not 'commiserate' -- the kick to our economy that occurred as a result of the tax relief."

***
"I want to remind you of a fact that I think you'll find interesting -- or maybe you won't find interesting, but I find it interesting -- that nonmilitary, non-homeland security discretionary spending was at 15 percent -- increase from year to year was at 15 percent prior to our arrival, then it was at 6 percent, 5 percent, and 3 percent."

***
"We can't pick or choose like we used to, could in the past. In the old days, oceans protected us from harm's way, and a President could stand back and say, well, maybe this gathering threat is an issue, maybe it's not."

***
"There are over 60 nations involved in Iraq. Make sure everybody -- let's all start from the same basis, if you don't mind. So there is international support. When you say there's over 60 nations involved in Iraq, that means that there's international support in Iraq."

***
"The war on terror is being fought on many fronts, and some of them obviously more visible than others. Obviously, the Afghanistan front was a visible front. Iraq is a visible front. The Philippines, for example, is a front in the war on terror against Abu Sayyaf. And we've had fairly stealthy operations there to bring to leadership of Abu Sayyaf to justice."

***
"Because as you notice, when there's a hole in the ground and a person is able to crawl into it in a country the size of California, it means we're on a scavenger hunt for terror, and find these terrorists who hide in holes is to get people coming forth to describe the location of the hole, is to give clues and data. And we're on it."

***
"I have come to realize this job is a magnificent job, because you have a chance to use the position of the United States of America to achieve peace and freedom."

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