January 1, 2006
President Visits Troops at Brooke Army Medical Center,
Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas
***
"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself -- not here at the
hospital, but in combat with a Cedar. I eventually won. The Cedar gave
me a little scratch."
***
"I've been thinking long and hard about 2006."
***
Q What do you tell a young soldier or his young wife about how a loving
God could permit or cause some of the things you saw today?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, Mike, I'm conscious not to be trying to
substitute myself for God.
January 3, 2006
President Discusses Use and Reauthorization of USA
PATRIOT Act, The Roosevelt Room
***
"And may God bless those who are trapped below the earth, and may God
bless those who are concerned about those trapped below the earth."
January 4, 2006
President Discusses War on Terror Following Pentagon
Briefing, The Pentagon
***
"During our briefing we talked about the areas of concern in this
global war on terror, recognizing that the enemy, which has an ideology
of hate and a desire to kill, lurks in parts around the world."
***
"If you really think about it, there was three important elections that
took place, and in an atmosphere that some predicted wouldn't yield
democracy."
***
"The ideology of the enemy says, a few people will choose, and if you
don't like what we tell you to believe in, we'll kill you, or -- or
treat you harshly."
***
"See, al Qaeda thinks they can use Iraq as a safe haven from which to
launch attacks. That's their stated objective. I'm not making this up."
January 5, 2006
President's Remarks at U.S. University Presidents
Summit on International Education, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, D.C.
***
"It's interesting, isn't it, that the State Department and the Defense
Department are sponsoring a language initiative. It says something
about the world we live in."
***
"That makes sense, doesn't it, to have a language-proficient military
-- to have people that go into the far reaches of this world and be
able to communicate in the villages and towns and rural areas and urban
centers, to protect the American people. We need intelligence officers
who, when somebody says something in Arabic or Farsi or Urdu knows what
they're talking about. That's what we need. We need diplomats -- when
we send them out to help us convince governments that we've got to join
together and fight these terrorists who want to destroy life and
promote an ideology that is so backwards it's hard to believe. These
diplomats need to speak that language."
***
"You can't have an ideology that works if you say to half the
population in a part of the world, you have no rights. You can't say to
a group of people, my ideology is better than freedom, and if you speak
out you're going to get -- you'll be tortured."
***
"And you can't convince people unless you can talk to them. And I'm not
talking to them right now directly; I'm talking through an interpreter
on some of these Arabic TV stations."
***
"In order to convince people we care about them, we've got to
understand their culture and show them we care about their culture.
When somebody comes to me and speaks Texan, I know they appreciate the
Texas culture. (Laughter.) I mean, somebody takes time to figure out
how to speak Arabic, it means they're interested in somebody else's
culture."
***
"You can't figure out America when you're looking on some of these TV
stations -- you just can't -- particularly given the message that they
spread. Arabic TV does not do our country justice. They put out some
kind -- sometimes put out propaganda that just is -- just isn't right,
it isn't fair, and it doesn't give people the impression of what we're
about."
***
"Every time I meet with him, it strikes me as an amazing fact of
history that Number 41, President 41, at age 18 fought the Japanese,
and 43, his son, is sitting down with the Prime Minister working on
keeping the peace. It's amazing to me. And something happened between
41 going into combat and 43 talking to the Prime Minister whether it be
about troops in Iraq to help this young democracy flourish in the heart
of the Middle East, or whether it be dealing with the leader of North
Korea who is starving his people to death, and how do we solve that?"
January 6, 2006
President Discusses Strong and Growing Economy, Hilton
Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
***
"I can't imagine a tax code that penalizes marriage. It seems like to
me we ought to be encouraging marriage to [sic] our tax code."
(Applause.)
***
"I'll never forget going to an automobile manufacturing plant in
Mississippi. It was a very diverse group of workers. I said, how many
of you own your own 401K? In other words, how many of you have a stock
portfolio. Nearly 90 percent held their hands up. When you cut taxes on
capital gains, and you cut taxes on dividends, you're helping the line
workers in the automobile plant."
***
"I view the role of the federal government is to help the elderly. And
we got good Medicare reforms done."
***
"I can't tell you how neat it is to travel the world and represent the
United States of America."
January 9, 2006
Remarks by the President on the No Child Left Behind
Act, North Glen Elementary School Glen Burnie, Maryland
***
"I didn't spend a lot of time talking today to the principal about the
different analysis that went on, but I bet it was pretty in-depth."
***
"Laura and I's [sic] spirits are uplifted any time we go to a school
that's working, because we understand the importance of public
education in the future of our country."
January 10, 2006
President Addresses Veterans of Foreign Wars on the
War on Terror, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
***
"Thanks for the warm welcome. It is an honor to stand with the men and
women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars -- again. This is one of
America's great organizations. I appreciate the proud and patriotic
work you do across America."
***
"Your members include veterans who served in World War II. I just
happened to spend Christmas with one of your members." (Laughter.)
***
"I want to thank the Commander-in-Chief of the VFW, Jim Mueller. I had
the honor of welcoming him to the Oval Office the other day, where we
discussed issues important to our nation's veterans and issues
important to our nation's security. He's a clear thinker. He's a
patriot."
***
"You took an oath to defend our flag and our freedom, and you kept that
oath underseas [sic] and under fire." (Applause.)
***
"Like earlier struggles for freedom, the war on terror is being fought
on many battlefronts. Yet the terrorists have made it clear that Iraq
is the central front in their war against humanity. And so we must
recognize Iraq as the central front in the war against the terrorists."
***
"History has shown that free nations are peaceful nations."
***
"Our top commander in the region, General John Abizaid, has said he
expects the coming weeks to produce 'some of the hardest bare-knuckle
politics ever in the Arab world.' We should welcome this for what it is
-- freedom in action."
January 11, 2006
President Participates in Discussion on the Global
War on Terror, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville,
Kentucky
***
"Let me -- I wish I didn't have to say this, but we're still at war.
And that's important for the citizens of this commonwealth to
understand. You know, no President ever wants to be President during
war."
***
"I also said, after September the 11th, that oceans no longer protected
us. You know, when I was growing up, or other baby boomers here were
growing up, we felt safe because we had these vast oceans that could
protect us from harm's way."
***
"I understand that the intelligence didn't turn out the way a lot of
the world thought it would be."
***
"But I felt it was important to say to the world that this
international body that we want to be effective, spoke loud and clear
not once, but 15 odd times to Saddam Hussein -- said, disarm, get rid
of your weapons, don't be the threat that you are, or face serious
consequences. That's what the international body said."
***
"First let me make sure you understand the enemy. The enemy is, in our
judgment, my judgment, three types of people. One, we call them
rejectionists -- these are Sunnis who had privileged status under
Saddam Hussein, even though they were in the minority the country. "
***
"The second group is the Saddam loyalists. These are the thugs and
people that basically robbed the country blind, and not only got
privilege status, but they were the all-powerful."
***
"It's hard for me to believe that there is such brutality in the world
where people going to a funeral to mourn the dead, and a suicider shows
up and kills people."
***
"I can't tell you how good the caliber of our military brass -- and
those in the field, by the way, all the way up and down the line, are
good, they are good people -- (applause) -- better trained, not just
numbers, I'm talking about capacity to take the fight and stay in the
fight."
***
"Now, having said that, they got these surveys -- and I must confess
I'm not much of a survey guy, but they got them, and most Iraqis are
optimistic about the future. And as I said yesterday, they're willing
to live with intermittent darkness, as opposed to the darkness -- and
freedom -- as opposed to the darkness of tyranny. That's what you're
seeing."
***
"I also said that this is a different kind of war, the kind of war
we've never faced before."
***
"And so, you're right, I did say it's a war, the first war of the 21st
century, but I've been emphasizing it's a different kind of war. "
***
"We're doing -- we've done a good job so far. If Osama bin Laden were
the top guy, and Mr. Zawahiri -- he was the person that put out the
strategy, by the way, for al Qaeda, for everybody to see. I don't think
he put it out for everybody to see. It just happened to be exposed for
everybody to see eventually. But Abu Zubaydah, Khalid Shaykh Muhammad
-- there's a series of chief operators who are no longer a threat to
the United States. I mean, we are dismantling the operators."
***
"So, in other words, it's not going to be that kind of -- it's not the
kind of war that you talked about earlier, and so the peace won't be
the kind of peace that we're used to."
***
"We are a rule -- a country of law. We have a Constitution, which
guides the sharing of power. And I take that -- I put that hand on the
Bible, and I meant it when I said I'm going to uphold the
Constitution."
***
"The main reason [we enforce our borders] is security reasons, seems
like to me. And security means more than just a terrorist slipping in.
It means drugs."
***
"So it's a security issue. It's more than just the war on terrorist
security issue. It's the issue of being able to try to secure the
lifestyle of our country from the use of drugs, drug importation, for
example."
***
"Secondly, one of the problems we faced is that people get stopped and
they get let back out in society, and say, come on back for your
hearing. But guess what? They don't come back for the hearing. That's
the catch-and-release."
***
"Now, some of you all may be old enough to remember the days of
Prohibition. I'm not. (Laughter.) But remember, we illegalized whisky,
and guess what? People found all kinds of ways to make it, and to run
it. NASCAR got started -- positive thing that came out of all that."
(Laughter.)
***
"There's an achievement gap in America that's not right. And that's
wrong."
***
"You're teaching the test. I'm telling you if a child can read, it can
pass a reading comprehensive test."
January 12, 2006
President Participates in Roundtable with Small
Business Owners and Community Leaders in New Orleans, New Orleans
Metropolitan Convention Center And Visitors Bureau, Inc., New Orleans,
Louisiana
***
"One issue I do want to touch on is the levees. Now, the Mayor made it
very clear to me that we need a federal policy, a strong federal policy
on the levees in order to encourage investors and investment in New
Orleans. In other words, if there's any doubt about levees, people
wouldn't be willing to reinvest in this city. If we couldn't get people
to reinvest in this city, the recovery wouldn't be as strong as we hope
it to be."
***
"Working with the Corps of Engineers we've put forth a plan that said
that the levee system will be stronger and better than the previous
levee system."
***
"You can't have a revitalized New Orleans unless people have a place to
live."
***
"It may be hard for you to see, but from when I first came here to
today, New Orleans is reminding me of the city I used to come to visit.
It's a heck of a place to bring your family. "
***
"I know you're beginning to welcome citizens from all around the
country here to New Orleans. And for folks around the country who are
looking for a great place to have a convention, or a great place to
visit, I'd suggest coming here to the great -- New Orleans.
Anyway, thank you all very much."
END 11:16 A.M. CST
January 12, 2006
President Visits Mississippi, Discusses Gulf Coast
Reconstruction, St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
***
"It's hard sometimes, unless you've got a perspective. I have the
perspective of having spent some time here, but not all my time. And I
can remember what was, and now what is, and I can see what's going to
be, too."
***
"And so I'm standing in the White House at a Christmas reception, and
in walks Tommy Longo. He's the Mayor of Waveland, of course. And he had
on a fantastic suit. (Laughter.) I nearly fell out. (Laughter.) Tommy
Longo in a suit? (Laughter.) I said, 'Where did you get that thing?' He
said, 'It's amazing what you can find in the rubbish.' (Laughter.)
***
"Doc Blanchard went here, in case you didn't know it, the Heisman
Trophy winner who carried the leather for West Point. And one of the
things the Brother told me -- he said, we wanted to make sure we saved
the Heisman Trophy that Doc Blanchard had made sure was housed here at
this facility."
***
"I stood in Jackson Square early on in -- after the storm hit, and I
said we're not just going to survive, but thrive. By that I meant, it's
one thing to kind of ride it out; it's another thing to take out of the
harm that came, convert this into a better life. I said we're not just
going to cope, but we'll overcome. I meant what I said."
***
"Of that $85 billion, about $25 billion has been spent. So $85 billion
is available, $25 billion of it is already in the pipeline -- that's
$60 billion more coming your way."
***
"I remember when Haley invited me down, and he said -- I think we were
in a tent at that time, and there wasn't a lot of electricity, it was
like an old-time daytime revival without electricity. It was hot in the
tent -- it was the first meeting, I think, at least the first called
meeting of the commission headed by Jim Barksdale."
***
"And I recognize there are some rough spots, and I'm going to mention
some of them here in a minute -- and we're going to work to make them
as smooth as possible. The first challenge we had after the storm hit
was to take care of the people that were displaced. Millions of people,
or over a million people evacuated and scattered. It was an amazing
period in our history, when you think about it. One day people's lives
are turned upside down and they're looking for help and they're looking
for compassion -- and they found it. People found it in churches, in
synagogues, in community centers, in private homes. It's an amazing
part of our history when you think about it. It's like there's a great
capacity to absorb hurt in our country, because we've got individuals
that are so decent and honorable."
***
"I mean, when you have to evacuate, you don't have time to plan."
***
"I can remember people hollering for trailers. We became the largest
consumer of trailers probably in the history of mankind. (Laughter.)
And I know it was slow to begin with. The production needed to be
ramped up, and, frankly, the government crowded out other purchasers in
order to set priorities for people down in this part of the world."
***
"People ended up in hotel rooms. At one time there was about 80-some
thousand people in hotel rooms. It's now down to 25,000 families in
hotel rooms."
***
"We're trying to bridge from being an evacuee to a person in a place
until their own home gets ready to move into."
***
"I remember being down in Biloxi. I think it was my first trip. And it
was hot and it was steamy. An old lady walked up to me and said to me
-- I said, "How are you doing?" And she looked at me and she said, "Not
worth a darn." (Laughter.) And I said, "Well, I don't blame you." She
said, "I've been paying all my life for my insurance. Every time that
bill came I paid it. Every single month. And all of a sudden the storm
hit, Mr. President, and I came time to collect, and they told me, no."
And she was plenty unhappy and she was looking for anybody she could be
unhappy with, and I just happened to be the target." (Laughter.)
***
"One way to handle the issue -- I know you got a lawsuit here; I'm not
going to talk about the lawsuit. But Haley did something innovative,
which was take the CDBG grants -- a lot of money for Mississippi, and
going to help the people do the job that many think the insurance
companies should have done in the first place." (Applause.)
***
"There's going to be a building boom down here; there just is."
***
"An ownership society has got to be a part of a new vision, where
people from all walks of life can say, I'm owning my own business, I'm
operating my own business, I'm owning my own home."
***
"It's going to be an exciting time down here, just so long as you're
able to get enough material and enough labor."
***
"Congress did a smart thing, in my judgment -- was to provide tax
incentives for businesses who are in this part of the world. They
provide tax incentives for small businesses to expense up to $200,000
of investment and private -- and incentive for all businesses to
provide a 50-percent bonus depreciation for investment made. What I'm
telling you is, it's kind of economic talk for saying, if somebody
spends money in an investment in this part of the world, they get a tax
incentive to do so. In other words, if you're able to make the tax code
attract capital so people invest, it means you're more likely to be
able to find work here. It goes on -- and again, I want to thank the
members of Congress for working on that."
***
"There are SBA loans for this. And I understand for some the word "SBA"
means "slow bureaucratic paperwork." (Laughter.)
***
"You're dependent upon good highways and good bridges in this part of
the world."
***
"Things have changed a lot when it comes to debris."
***
"Think about a country where the compassion is so strong that a
neighbor in need can find a stranger that wants to help them get their
feet back on the ground." (Applause.)
***
"So we learned some lessons about how to respond, and we're going to
change. But some of the lessons shouldn't change, and that is the
decency and character of the American people."
January 13, 2006
President Welcomes German Chancellor Merkel to the
White House, The East Room
***
"There's something uplifting to talk to somebody who knows the
difference between just talking about tyranny and living in freedom and
actually done it."
January 19, 2006
President Highlights Importance of Small Business in Economic, Growth, JK Moving
& Storage, Sterling, Virginia
***
"Think of how robust our economy is when it's growing at 4.1 percent in the third quarter of this
year, in the face of storm and high energy prices -- it's got to affect your business, doesn't it,
all those high energy prices. And, yet, you're growing. In other words, we've got an economy that
is robust."
***
"Do you realize we've got a crisis when it comes to OB/GYNs in America. These good docs who have
got the great compassionate job of taking care of youngin's, they're getting run out of business
because of frivolous and junk lawsuits. It makes no sense."
***
"I envision the day when we're using corn, corn husks, different kind of grasses to be able to
convert into energy."
***
"One of the coolest things to do in my presidential work, one of the -- (laughter) -- seeing if
you're paying attention up there -- (laughter) -- things I like to do is to welcome my buddies,
and Laura feels the same way, people we grew up with -- we both grew up in Midland, Texas. I
remember having some of my friends that I went to 1st grade with, a guy I grew up across the
street with, Michael Proctor, they came up to have dinner at the White House. You know, and they
kind of walk in there. You can imagine what it's like. It's a great honor, pretty awe-inspiring
deal. They walk in there and, kind of, "What are you doing here, Bush?" You know?" (Laughter.)
***
"Think about Europe. It's hard for some of us to think about Europe because Europe didn't really
affect our lives, did it, much. But if you look back over the recent history of the United States
and the world, two world wars started in Europe."
***
"The enemy which attacked us on September the 11th was not just acting out of anger, although they
were, not acting out of hate, although I believe their hearts are hateful, but they were acting
based upon an ideology."
January 23, 2006
President Discusses Global War on Terror at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
***
"You know, really one of the interesting things about being the President
is to invite my guys, buddies I grew up with from Texas, to the White
House. It's really neat to see how they react to the majesty of the White
House and the Oval Office and the South Lawn, and just the beauty of
Washington."
***
"I make a lot of decisions. I make some that you see that obviously affect
people's lives, not only here, but around the world. I make a lot of small
ones you never see, but have got consequence. Decision-maker is the job
description."
***
"You know, a lot of us grew up thinking that oceans would protect us; that
if there was a threat overseas, it really didn't concern us because we were
safe. That's what history had basically told us -- yes, there was an attack
on Pearl Harbor, obviously, but it was a kind of hit-and-run and then we
pursued the enemy."
***
"See, we're in an ideological struggle. It's very important for the
students here to understand that there is an enemy which has an ideology,
and they're driven by an ideology. They make decisions based upon their
view of the world, which is the exact opposite of our view of the world."
***
"But since we're not able to track vast battalions or armadas, we've got to
have intelligence, good intelligence, to help us locate the dark corners of
the world where these people hide."
***
"In order to make the right decision about how to win this war, it's
important to understand the nature of the enemy and to take the enemy's
word seriously and to understand their lethality and not let the kind of
lull in the action lull us to sleep."
***
"Threats must be taken seriously now, because geography doesn't protect us
and there's an enemy that still lurks."
***
"He [Sadaam Hussein] was a state sponsor of terror. In other words, the
government had declared, you are a state sponsor of terror."
***
"It said --- see, now, I actually gave a speech to the United Nations, you
might remember, and I said to them, basically, how many resolutions is it
going to take before this threat will take us seriously?"
***
"We've seen some problems about what it means to have lived in a society
where people want to seek revenge."
***
"As you study history, I want you to watch the effects of freedom around
the world."
***
"I want you to know that this Patriot Act is under constant review, and
there has been no documented abuses under the Patriot Act."
***
"After the enemy attacked us, and after I realized that we were not
protected by oceans, I asked people that work for you -- work for me, how
best can we use information to protect the American people?"
***
"You know, it's amazing, when people say to me, well, he was just breaking
the law -- if I wanted to break the law, why was I briefing Congress?"
(Laughter and applause.)
***
"Look, if you're a cattle raiser in Kansas, you want to be able to sell
your product in Japan or South Korea or China. I mean, people want the
beef."
***
"Now, I went to church in China. And I was a little nervous, at first,
frankly, about a licensed church. I wasn't sure whether or not I was going
to go to a church or not a church, and went -- Laura and I went with a guy
named Luis Palau. And I was impressed by the spirit I felt in the church."
***
Q: W is for Wisconsin. You're a rancher. A lot of us here in Kansas are
ranchers. I was just wanting to get your opinion on "Brokeback Mountain,"
if you've seen it yet? (Laughter.) You would love it. You should check it
out.
THE PRESIDENT: I haven't seen it. I'll be glad to talk about ranching, but
I haven't seen the movie. (Laughter.) I've heard about it. I hope you go --
you know -- (laughter) -- I hope you go back to the ranch and the farm is
what I'm about to say. I haven't seen it. (Laughter and applause.)
January 30, 2006
President Bush Meets with the Cabinet
Cabinet Room
***
"I can't tell you how upbeat I am about our future, so long as we're
willing to lead."
January 31, 2006
President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.
***
"We're on the offensive in Iraq, with a clear plan for victory."
***
"And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which
is often imported from unstable parts of the world."
February 1, 2006
President Discusses 2006 Agenda
Grand Ole Opry House
Nashville, Tennessee
***
"I like my buddies from West Texas. I liked them when I was young, I
liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was President, and I
like them during President and I like them after President. And it's fun to
have them come to the White House. It's neat to show off this fantastic
experience that Laura and I are being able to go through."
***
"Who wants to live all your day worried about the next attack? That's my
job, to worry about the attack."
***
"When we grew up, oceans protected us, it seemed like. We felt pretty
safe and secure from a attack on American soil. We were concerned about a
nuclear threat, but nevertheless, we felt secure because we were
isolated from threats it seemed like."
***
"And the third aspect -- and it's one that I know is dear to the hearts
of many people -- is, how long will we be in Iraq? And the answer is this
--it's a security aspect."
***
"Today, by video, I met with my -- I met not only in the room with my
national security team, but we had the Ambassador and General Casey from
Baghdad. And it's interesting to be able to communicate with your
commanders on the ground in real time."
***
"Interestingly enough, one of the people that I work closest with in the
world is the Prime Minister of Japan. Isn't that interesting? At least
it is to me."
***
"In other words, Congress authorized me to use force in the fundamental
incidents of war, which means in this case, you can't defeat the enemy
until you know when the enemy is going to hit."
***
"Last night I said to members of Congress the truth: We're not going to
be able to solve this issue until we bring Republicans and Democrats
together. It's a big issue solving the baby boomer -- (applause.)"
***
"But I do want to talk about ethanol right quick. You know, we're making
ethanol out of corn right now."
February 2, 2006
President Attends 54th Annual National Prayer Breakfast
Hilton Washington Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"You know, I was trying to figure out what to say about Bono -- (laughter) -- "
BONO: Careful. (Laughter.)
***
"So I've gotten to know Bono. (Laughter.) He's a doer. The thing about
this good citizen of the world is he's used his position to get things done.
You're an amazing guy, Bono. God bless you." (Applause.)
February 2, 2006
President Discusses American Competitiveness Agenda
3M Corporate Headquarters
Maplewood, Minnesota
***
"I see the Governor out there -- he says, you want to have some lunch? I
said, sure, what are you serving? He said, "Lutefisk." (Laughter.) I
said, no, I think I'll eat on Air Force One." (Laughter.)
***
"You know, it's amazing when you come to 3M to talk to George W. about
the number of products you make and -- products that people just take for
granted, but products, many of which started in a laboratory as the
result of a really smart, capable person making the technological advances
necessary to get these products to market."
***
"Twenty-five years ago, most Americans used the typewriter. Isn't that
interesting?"
***
"Technology is changing the way we think. I don't know if you remember
those awful trips when you had to drive with your family; you played the
license plate game. (Laughter.) Now we got the DVDs -- (laughter) --
right there in the car."
***
"I guess I shocked some people, being from Texas, to say we're addicted
to oil, but we are, and it's a problem."
***
"That's the whole thing behind No Child Left Behind."
***
"Sometimes you have a good teacher sitting there, but they really don't
understand what works when it teaches -- how to teach a child math."
February 3, 2006
President Participates in American Competitiveness Panel
Intel New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
***
"I remember the pride that Frank had when he described his daughter's
service to me."
***
"And finally, we want to get 30,000 adjunct professors into classrooms.
That's a fancy word for saying we want engineers and chemists and
physicists in places like Intel, or retired professionals, to go in the
classroom and excite students about the possibility of math and science."
***
"I hope people listening hear what Craig has just said, those
particularly in CEO America, corporate America, that there is such a thing as
corporate responsibility. He said, I take this responsibility serious."
***
"The other day, I was talking about how research is -- I mean, how
technology has changed our strategy, and I ended with te example, I
remember driving across Texas playing the license plate game, and
they're driving across Texas watching a DVD."
February 8, 2006
President Discusses 2007 Budget and Deficit Reduction in New Hampshire
Radisson Hotel
Manchester-Center of New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
***
"You know, one of the interesting things abut my job is you get to make
a lot of decisions."
***
"I love the fact that America is an ownership society."
***
"One of the things about our economy, which is interesting, is that
there's a lot of turnover when it comes to jobs."
***
"I talked about a very important issue that I think surprised old Judd
a little bit -- you know, he knows I'm from Texas, a little concerned
about my views on energy, I think, at times -- prejudged me the wrong
way."
***
"When we have the breakthrough, when it comes in ethanol, I'm convinced
that this country is going to become what we want it to be -- not
reliant upon Middle Eastern oil."
***
"Of course, you'd like to take a vacation every week, you know, some
exotic place -- but you've got to set your priorities -- you can't do
that. You want do this or do that, go to a fancy restaurant every
night, but that's not setting priorities."
***
"The math doesn't work."
***
"It's amazing what happens when you interject competition into the
health care system."
***
"You can't be the preeminent economy in the world if your economy
doesn't grow."
February 9, 2006
President Discusses Progress in War on Terror to National Guard
National Guard Building
Washington, D.C.
***
"We remain a nation at war. I wish I could report, you know, a
different sentence to you. But my job as the President of the United
States is to keep the American people fully informed of the world in
which we live."
***
"On September the 11th, 2001, our nation saw that vast oceans and great
distances could no longer keep us safe."
***
"We now know that in October 2001, Khalid Shaykh Muhammad -- the
mastermind of the September the 11th attacks -- had already set in
motion a plan to have terrorist operatives hijack an airplane using
shoe bombs to breach the cockpit door, and fly the plane into the
tallest building on the West Coast. We believe the intended target was
Liberty [sic] Tower in Los Angeles, California.*"
*Library Tower
February 10, 2006
President Addresses House Republican Conference
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Cambridge, Maryland
***
"It's hard work to cut out and cut back on programs that don't work."
February 13, 2006
President Congratulates Chicago White Sox, 2005 World Series Champions
The East Room
***
"You know, there was great players, but nobody off the chart, if you
know what I mean, which means you competed as a team."
***
"I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to
reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive.
The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to -- the beauty of playing
baseball."
***
MR. KONERKO: Mr. President, on behalf of our organization, and all the
fans on the South Side and all over the world, we want to present you with this
jersey and jacket.
THE PRESIDENT: I thought you were going to give me a loan. (Laughter.)
February 14, 2006
President Welcomes University of Texas Longhorns,
2005 NCAA Football Champions, to the White House,
The South Lawn
***
"One reason the mighty Horns are here is because they were in good
shape, and they were tough, and they were in good condition."
February 16, 2006
President Bush Welcomes Colombian President Uribe to the White House
The Oval Office
***
"Free trade agreements are never easy to negotiate -- es muy difcile --
and because there's interests."
February 15, 2006
President Discusses Health Care
Wendy's International, Inc.
Dublin, Ohio
***
"Let me start by giving you kind of a state of the economy -- it's
strong. I recognize there's parts of Ohio that aren't necessarily as strong as
other parts of the country, but from an overall perspective, when you look at
the nation's economy, it's strong, and it's getting stronger."
***
"People see China and India out there looming as competitors and the
reaction with some is, let's don't compete, let's just kind of shut her down,
let's get protectionist, or, why don't we isolate?"
***
"To be wise -- to be competitive in the future, we've got to get off
being hooked on Middle Eastern oil. (Applause.) In order for us to grow -- I
said something in the State of the Union that probably surprised some of
you. I said, we have a serious problem -- we're addicted to oil."
***
"I can't wait for the day, and I know future Presidents can't wait for
the day, when somebody walks in with the farm report, and says, Mr. President,
the crops are up, and we're less dependent on Middle Eastern oil. And it's
coming, it's coming." (Applause.)
***
"Workers have lost good coverage because they're changing jobs. I've
told you, there's uncertainty in the marketplace because people are changing
work."
***
"You hear rhetoric, of course, that we're "starving the poor." The car
is going the speed limit -- it's not going backwards."
***
"Nothing will pass the House or the Senate unless there's agreement.
And now is the time to put aside the politics that have stopped rational people
from coming up with a rational answer to a very serious problem -- to set it
aside, sit down at the table, and solve this problem once and for all, so we
can travel the country looking at young workers and saying, you're not
going to pay payroll taxes into a bust system anymore."
February 16, 2006
President Participates in Panel Discussion on Health Care Initiatives
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.
***
"There's no consumer advocacy for reasonable price when somebody else
pays the bills. And one of the reasons why we're having inflation in health care
is because there is no -- there is no sense of market."
***
"It must be exciting to be on the leading edge of an interesting
innovation and to a -- into health care. It's hard to believe that ours is a market
society in which people are able to shop based upon price and quality in almost
every aspect of our life, with the exception of health care."
***
"And tell us, you know, the transparency issue -- we had a little visit
ahead of time, since it's not the first time I've seen her; she gave me a little
hint about what she was going to talk about. Go ahead and share with people
-- smal clinic, relatively small clinic, big hospital guy, small clinic person."
***
"It's an interesting -- the transparency reform is going to take place
in both large entities and smaller entities, because consumers shouldn't be
restricted to shopping only in a large entity or a small entity."
February 17, 2006
President's Remarks at Republican Party of Florida Dinner
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
***
"There's uncertainty in our economy today. It's an interesting phenomenon,
isn't it -- you get unbelievable economic growth, and yet, people are
worried."
***
"America needs to be confident about the future, because we intend to shape
the future."
***
"But isn't it fun to watch a government being formed by people who had just
finished living under the thumb of one of the most brutal tyrants in the
history of mankind, Saddam Hussein?"
***
"And the world requires our help in helping defeat HIV/AIDS on the
continent of Africa, to feed the hungry, to give relief in the outreaches
of Pakistan, to help those who suffer from tsunami."
February 17, 2006
President Discusses Global War on Terror Following Briefing at CENTCOM
Port of Tampa, Tampa, Florida
***
"In order for us to be competitive and lead in the world, we've got to get
-- we've got to get off of Middle Eastern oil. I know it shocks some of you
to hear a Texan say, we're addicted to oil."
***
"If this technology comes true, which we believe it will, then pretty soon
a President is going to say, we're growing a lot of crops and we're less
dependent on Middle Eastern oil."
***
"Now, we're living in historic times when you think about this world we're in."
***
"I make a lot of decisions. My buddies in Texas, when they show up to
Washington, after they get over the initial surprise that I'm still there
-- (laughter) -- or got there in the first place -- (laughter) -- say,
like, what's it like, you know? What is the job description? What's it like
to be President? And the best way to answer it is, I make a lot of
decisions. And part of the reasons -- my thinking was shaped on September
the 11th, let me put it to you that way."
***
"So a lot of my decision-making is based upon the attack. And I know we're
at war, see -- I knew it then, and the enemy has, unfortunately, proved me
right because they continue to attack. In order to win the war against the
enemy you got to understand the nature of the enemy."
***
"You might remember some of those days. Old Mayor Martinez, I know he
remembers those days when we felt pretty comfortable here in America. We
could see a threat overseas, but oceans made it pretty clear that -- to a
lot of folks -- that nothing would happen, you know. September 11th came
along and made it clear that we are vulnerable, that the enemy can hit us
if they -- if they want to."
***
"It's an interesting war we're in."
***
"And so when Saddam Hussein chose war -- and believe me, he made the choice
-- the hardest thing for the President of the United States to do is commit
troops into combat. It's the last option, the very last option. Except September
the 11th taught me, and September the 11th taught me, that we got
to take threats seriously."
***
"Victory is a state -- a democracy that can sustain itself and defend
itself and join America in fighting the war on terror. That's the goal of
victory. That's the definition of victory."
***
"What's amazing about this is that, like many whose relatives -- like many
here whose relatives fought against the Japanese, my dad did, too. Isn't
that interesting?"
***
"Thirdly, I knew I needed to tell members of Congress. See, they like to be
a part of the process. They're a co-equal branch of government."
***
"And the interesting thing about ethanol is that the barriers to entry are
pretty low, when it comes to manufacturing -- if the technology says that
we can -- yields the capacity to convert switchgrasses and refuses to
ethanol, once that technological breakthrough comes, the barriers to entry
are pretty low when it comes to building the manufacturing capacity that
converts raw material to ethanol."
***
"Every day in the morning, first thing in the morning, I get briefed by our
intelligence officers about potential threats. Every morning I'm aware of
the world around us. And I told you that it's -- 9/11 changed my thinking.
My focus is there."
***
"There's -- issues come, they go, and they -- but I hope that when it's all
said and done, people see me as a strategic thinker, and that I'm able to
stay focused on a strategy that will leave behind peace and hope -- peace
around the world, and hope not only around the world, but equally
importantly, here at home, so people have this sense of the greatness of
America. It's a -- we're a fantastic country."
February 20, 2006
President Discusses Solar Technology and Energy Initiatives in Michigan
United Solar Ovonic LLC, Auburn Hills, Michigan
***
"The ultimate goal is to have solar technology on your home, and that home
will become a little power-generating unit unto itself, and that if you
have extra electricity, that you could put it back in your grid, so you
become a power producer, but you're using renewable sources of energy to
power your homes and to fire up your refrigerators. And this is real."
February 20, 2006
President Discusses Advanced Energy Initiative In Milwaukee
Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Business
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
***
"I like to kind of tease in a way, but beneath the tease is serious -- it
will be good one day when the President is given the crop report.
(Laughter.) It says, "Mr. President, corn is up." (Laughter.) And we're
less dependent on foreign sources of energy."
***
"It's interesting when you think about a country like France, however, they
have built 58 plants since the 1970s; they get 78 percent of their
electricity from nuclear power. It's an interesting contrast [to the U.S.],
isn't it?"
February 21, 2006
Roundtable Interview of the President by the Press Pool
Aboard Air Force One
***
"This company operates all around the world. I have the list somewhere. We
can get you the list. They're in Germany and elsewhere -- Australia."
***
"And I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of
a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a
Great British [sic] company."
February 21, 2006
President Participates in Energy Conservation & Efficiency Panel
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, Colorado
***
"We -- I have come today to discuss unbelievable opportunities for our
country to achieve a great national goal, and that is to end our addiction
on oil."
***
"Technology will make it so that the hybrid vehicles are even better in
getting us less addicted on oil, and making it good for the consumer's
pocketbook."
***
"Secondly, there is a fantastic technology brewing -- I say brewing, it's
kind of a catch on words here -- (laughter) -- called ethanol. I mean, it's
-- there's a lot of folks in the Midwest driving -- using what's called E85
gasoline. It means 85 percent of the fuel they're putting in their car is
derived from corn. This is exciting news for those of us worried about
addiction to oil."
***
"In 1981, I don't think anybody ever thought there would be such a thing as
email. Matter of fact, we were still writing letters longhand, if I recall.
Typewriters were kind of the -- now it's computer."
February 22, 2006
President Celebrates African American History Month at the White House
The East Room
***
"I couldn't help but noticing A.C. Green. (Laughter.) Thanks, A.C., for
setting such a good example and using your position to help others."
February 23, 2006
President's Remarks at Chocola for Congress Reception
Bethel College Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
***
"See, when I grew up, oceans would protect us. At least that's what we
thought. You might remember the '50s and '60s. We'd see a threat overseas,
and we were teenage kids and just didn't need to worry about it, did we,
because oceans were there to protect us."
***
"I spend every morning thinking about -- at least every morning thinking
about how to protect you."
***
"It's hard to be a risk-taker if all you think about is war. See, you've
hired a lot of us to think on your behalf."
March 7, 2006
President Bush Votes in Texas Primary Election
Crawford Fire Department
Crawford, Texas
4:43 P.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.
Q Was it worth coming?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, you bet, it's always good to come home to vote. And
I urge all people to vote when given a chance. It's also good to be
home in Texas -- get a little rest here in my homestead and then
heading over to New Orleans tomorrow and Mississippi. Thank you all.
END 4:44 P.M. CST
March 7, 2006
President and Mrs. Bush Celebrate Women's History Month and
International Women's Day
The East Room
***
"Welcome to the White House. We like to call this the people's house. I
want to remind people from around the world that we're only temporary
occupants here -- but we're trying to make the most of our time here."
***
"It breaks our hearts, our collective hearts, to realize many young
girls are sold into sex slavery and we will use our prestige to stop
that evil process." (Applause.)
March 8, 2006
President Bush and Governor Barbour Discuss Rebuilding in Mississippi
New Home Construction Site
Gautier, Mississippi
***
THE PRESIDENT: It's good to hear people hammering, isn't it?
***
MR. AKINS: Yes, sir. We have some lemonade and we have some
refreshments.
THE PRESIDENT: You do? That's good. The other thing that's interesting
is that we've got the Allens here from the Allen Brothers Construction
Company, he's a local --
GOVERNOR BARBOUR: The Martins. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Martins. As I said, the Martins. You probably
thought I said, the Allens. (Laughter.) I said, the Martins.
(Laughter.)
You know, one of the interesting things is that there is going to be a
lot of work, and here are the entrepreneurs with their sons helping to
build this man's house. It's neat to be with them.
March 8, 2006
President and Mrs. Bush Discuss Gulf Coast Rebuilding in New Orleans
Industrial Levee Canal
New Orleans, Louisiana
***
"We just flew over affected parts of Orleans Parish and Jefferson
Parish and St. Bernard Parish, and getting a view of the progress that
is being made."
***
"You know, we just came from a neighborhood where people are fixing to
-- are in the process of cleaning up debris."
***
"And obviously, as the plan gets laid out and as the housing plan I'm
fixing to discuss comes to fruition, people will feel more comfortable
in granting the local authorities the right to remove debris from their
homes to be cleaned up."
March 9, 2006
President's Remarks at Georgia Republican Party's President's Day Dinner
Georgia International Convention Center
College Park, Georgia
***
"Secondly, he [Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue] said his favorite title
in life is not "Governor", but "Big Buddy." (Laughter.) You know who
calls him "Big Buddy?" His grandkids. Sonny has got his priorities
straight." (Applause.)
***
"One of the things that I love about being the President is, well, I've
got a 45-second commute -- (laughter) -- and when I get home, there's a
person there who is a wonderful partner in serving our country. She
understands what I know: It's a huge honor to be the First Couple of
the United States. And she is making an enormous difference in the
lives of people in West Texas-type ways."
***
"Alec has got his priorities straight. I've known him for a long period
of time. We're quite familiar with each other. He said, how many
turkeys you got on your ranch? I said, I haven't been counting them
lately. He says, well, I've been counting them on mine. The man's got
his priorities straight." (Laughter.)
***
"We're living in historic times. We are a country still at war. I wish
I could report -- give you a different report. My job is to see the
world the way it really is, not to see the world the way some would
hope it would be. My job is -- my thinking is really -- was defined on
September the 11th, you've just got to know that."
***
"In order to make decisions, you've got to make decisions based upon
principle. And if not exactly sure what information you need, you've
got to rely upon good people to give you information so you can make
good decisions. A lot of my decision-making has come about as a result
of the attack on our country. See, after that day, I vowed that I would
do everything in my power to protect the United States of America from
further attack." (Applause.)
***
"After the attacks on the country, I did what you would expect me to
do, and ask people who are on the front lines of defending you whether
or not there was -- there's more we could be doing."
***
"Before I implemented the program, a program, by the way, which is
limited in nature -- phone calls coming from inside the country out,
and outside in, with one of the numbers being known al Qaeda, suspected
al Qaeda, and affiliates -- I then recognized that the United States
Congress would be interested in this subject."
***
"You see, prior to September the 11th, 2001, a lot of folks assumed
that we were safe in America. In other words, we could see a threat
somewhere overseas, but we were fine. Oceans protected us, perhaps our
might protected us. But that all changed for me on September the 11th,
2001."
***
"Being addicted to oil is a problem."
***
"In order for this country to be competitive in the out years, in order
for us to be confident about our national security, we have got to be
less addicted to Middle Eastern oil, and I intend to lead that country
this direction [sic]." (Applause.)
March 9, 2006
President Highlights Faith-Based Results at National Conference
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"It's hard to be a faith-based program if you can't practice your
faith, no matter what your faith may be."
***
"It's hard to be a results-oriented society unless you actually focus
on results."
***
"One of the really successful programs in America is a program called
Teen Challenge. I don't know if you're aware of Teen Challenge.
(Applause.) So Pastor Arthur Stafford is with us. Arthur works at
Teen Challenge New Haven. Notice I didn't say, "mister." I said,
"Pastor." Teen Challenge is a faith-based program."
March 9, 2006
President Signs USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
The East Room
***
"This bill also will help protect Americans from the growing threat
of methamphetamine. Meth is easy to make. It is highly addictive."
March 9, 2005
President Discusses Energy Policy
Franklin County Veterans Memorial
***
"What were some of the true brains of America thinking about when it comes
to encourage energy conservation?"
March 9, 2006
Interview of the President by Diana Moukalled, Future Television of
Lebanon
The Map Room
***
"Lebanon is a fabulous country; Beirut is one of the great
international cities of all time."
March 10, 2006
President Welcomes President Toledo of Peru to the White House
The Oval Office
***
"He cares deeply about the people of Peru. He's a man of -- he's got
a corazon gigante."
March 10, 2006
President Addresses National Newspaper Association Conference
Wyndham Washington Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"So for national security purposes, we have got to become not
addicted to oil."
***
"I can't predict to you the course these legal challenges [to South
Dakota's recent law banning abortions] will take. I can assure you,
however, if it does make it to the Supreme Court, the two people I
nominated and who were approved were not picked because of any litmus
test. They will interpret laws based upon the Constitution -- is what
they'll do.
***
"One of my best buddies in the international arena is Prime Minister
Koizumi of Japan. What's interesting about that is my dad fought the
Japanese -- as did, I'm sure, your relatives, some of your relatives.
And yet today, I can tell the newspaper owners that I work with
Koizumi to keep the peace."
***
"I'll just give you an interesting public policy dilemma. When we
first got down there, the government will remove debris off public
property, but not private -- will pay to remove debris off public
property, but not private property. The simplest way to explain why
not is you start moving debris off private property, and the guy
shows up and says, where's my million-dollar necklace?"
***
"The Chinese -- you know, our relationship is a very interesting
relationship with the Chinese."
March 11, 2006
President Briefed by Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Task Force
The Roosevelt Room
***
"We face an enemy that will use explosive devices in order to shake
our will; in order to foment violence in Iraq; in order to try to
convince the American people that we can't win in Iraq. That's what
they're trying to do."
***
"So the briefing today was a series of briefing I get from our
commanders on the ground, as well as our experts hired by the
Pentagon to let me know what we're doing, so I can let the American
people know that we recognize the nature of this enemy, we're
addressing our tactics to defeat this enemy, for the sake of peace,
for the sake of the security of the United States of America and for
the sake of peace in the world."
***
"We're constantly gathering intelligence. We're monitoring influence.
We are adjusting our tactics. We are -- obviously, if there's any
kind of influence from a foreign country that is disruptive, any kind
of influence -- if the Iranians are trying to influence the outcome
of the political process, or the outcome of the security situation
there, we're letting them know our displeasure."
***
"It's important for our friends in the rest of the Middle East to
help this new democracy. And so, yes, we're interesting in negative
influence; we're also interested in positive influence.
***
"And my optimism is based upon reality on the ground. One, there were
some people trying to, obviously, foment sectarian violence. Some
have called it a civil war. But it didn't work."
March 15, 2006
President Attends Celebration of Hungarian Contributions to Democracy
Statutory Hall
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.
***
"You know, it's an interesting world in which we live."
***
"You know, one of the interesting examples of Europe that I try to
explain to our people is that for a hundred years there were war,
where a lot of people lost their lives and a lot of Americans lost
their life. But today Europe is at peace."
March 15, 2006
President Discusses Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits in Maryland
Riderwood Village
Silver Spring, Maryland
***
"Drug bills have been cut in half for the average -- for the typical
senior. I'm not making it up. I'm just telling you what people who've
signed realize what the plans available -- what it has meant to them."
***
"Yesterday, I met with a group of concerned citizens from different
walks of life -- you know, the NAACP and the -- some Latino groups,
business groups, pharmaceutical groups."
***
"Part of the rising cost of health care is the result of a really
important industry not being a part of the 21st century technology."
"I had a good visit with President Musharraf, who is dedicated to
routing out al Qaeda if they hide in his country, and we really
appreciate his dedication."
***
"I went to a plant in Michigan the other day and saw these new
roofing materials that got photovoltaic cells, a part of them."
March 16, 2006
President Attends National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"We believe in plug-in hybrid batteries. It's the wave of the future. We believe in the use of ethanol. I love the fact that when our farmers are growing crops it makes us less dependent on oil from the Middle East." (Applause.)
***
"Ours is a party that knows you got to challenge the status quo when it comes to energy."
***
"We believe that government shouldn't tell people the nature of their health care. We believe that government ought to say, here's some choices from which to choose."
March 16, 2006
President Meets with Members of Congress, Discusses Line-Item Veto
The Cabinet Room
***
"I particularly want to thank my opponent in the 2004 campaign, Senator Kerry, for being here. I can remember on the campaign trail, he said that he supported a line-item veto, and he is following through on his word by being here at the table. I'm proud you're here, Senator."
March 20, 2006
President Welcomes NATO Secretary General to the White House
The Oval Office
***
PRESIDENT BUSH: Fine-looking crowd we've attracted here, fine-looking
crowd.
***
"However, some things have to happen prior to that happening, and the
first thing is that the African Union must request from the United
Nations a U.N. mission to convert the AU mission to a U.N. mission,
at which point that's done, the -- NATO can move in with United
States help within -- inside of NATO -- to make it clear to the
Sudanese government that we're intent upon providing security for the
people there, and intent upon helping work toward a lasting peace
agreement. And so I appreciate your understanding of that."
March 20, 2006
President Discusses War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Cleveland, Ohio
***
"Foreign policy used to be dictated by the fact we had two oceans
protecting us. If we saw a threat, you could deal with it if you
needed to, you think -- or not. But we'd be safe."
***
"I made it clear, I'll make it clear again, that we will use military
might to protect our ally, Israel, and -- (applause.) At any rate,
our objective is to solve this issue diplomatically."
***
Q Mr. President, at the beginning of your talk today you mentioned
that you understand why Americans have had their confidence shaken by
the events in Iraq. And I'd like to ask you about events that
occurred three years ago that might also explain why confidence has
been shaken. Before we went to war in Iraq we said there were three
main reasons for going to war in Iraq: weapons of mass destruction,
the claim that Iraq was sponsoring terrorists who had attacked us on
9/11, and that Iraq had purchased nuclear materials from Niger. All
three of those turned out to be false. My question is, how do we
restore confidence that Americans may have in their leaders and to be
sure that the information they are getting now is correct?
THE PRESIDENT: That's a great question. (Applause.) First, just if I might correct a misperception. I don't think we ever said -- at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September the 11th and Saddam Hussein. We did say that he was a state sponsor of terror -- by the way, not declared a state sponsor of terror by me, but declared by other administrations. We also did say that Zarqawi, the man who is now wreaking havoc and killing innocent life, was in Iraq. And so the state sponsor of terror was a declaration by a previous administration. But I don't want to be argumentative, but I was very careful never to say that Saddam Hussein ordered the attacks on America.
Like you, I asked that very same question, where did we go wrong on intelligence. The truth of the matter is the whole world thought that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. It wasn't just my administration, it was the previous administration. It wasn't just the previous administration; you might remember, sir, there was a Security Council vote of 15 to nothing that said to Saddam Hussein, disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. The basic premise was, you've got weapons. That's what we thought.
When he didn't disclose, and when he didn't disarm, and when he deceived inspectors, it sent a very disconcerting message to me, whose job it is to protect the American people and to take threats before they fully materialize. My view is, he was given the choice of whether or not he would face reprisal. It was his decision to make. And so he chose to not disclose, not disarm, as far as everybody was concerned.
Y our question, however, the part that's really important is, how do we regain credibility when it comes to intelligence? Obviously, the Iranian issue is a classic case, where we've got to make sure that when we speak there's credibility. And so, in other words, when the United States rallies a coalition, or any other country that had felt that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction is trying to rally a coalition in dealing with one of these non-transparent societies, what do we need to do to regain the trust of not only the American people, but the world community?
And so what I did was I called together the Silberman-Robb Commission -- Laurence Silberman and former Senator Chuck Robb -- to take a full look at what went right and what went wrong on the intelligence, and how do we structure an intelligence network that makes sure there's full debate among the analysts? How do we make sure that there's a full compilation of data points that can help decision-makers like myself feel comfortable in the decision we make?
The war on terror requires the collection and analysis of good intelligence. This is a different kind of war; we're dealing with an enemy which hides in caves and plots and plans, an enemy which doesn't move in flotillas, or battalions. And so, therefore, the intelligence-gathering is not only important to make a diplomatic case, it's really important to be able to find an enemy before they hurt us.
And so there was a reform process they went through, a full analysis
of what -- of how the operations worked, and out of that came the
NDI, John Negroponte and Mike Hayden. And their job is to better
collate and make sure that the intelligence-gathering is seamless
across a variety of gatherers and people that analyze. But the
credibility of our country is essential -- I agree with you.
***
"We're compassionate people. Nobody likes beheadings and it -- nobody
-- when innocent children get car-bombed."
***
[This is an amazing question... next time you wonder who's
understands Bush, well...]
Q My son signed up after 9/11, and I didn't raise a terrorist. And
let's face it, there's a continuum and a lack of clarity about who's
violent and who's a terrorist. And we really do want to use the word
"enemy" in a meaningful way. I think your speech has been very brave
and very important and very clarifying. And in the interest of
clarifying the purpose of our country to fight preventive war, which
we know does involve violence, it's very important for us to
understand what you're saying about your model community in Iraq. And
my question is that you are killing the bad guys, and that's very
important that's the entire story of the battle. And we want to know
who the bad guys are. Do you feel that Iraq is like a honeycomb, and
that we can draw the al Qaeda there so we can stand and fight them
there? I'm really asking for clarification.
***
"History has proven that democracies can change societies. The
classic case I like to cite is Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi is one
of my best buddies in the international arena, and when we sit down,
we talk the peace. I find it interesting that he is a peacemaker with
me on a variety of issues, and yet my Dad fought the Japanese."
***
"I promise you this, but I suspect that if somebody were standing up
at the City Club of Cleveland talking about, don't worry some day
Japan is going to be peaceful with the United States and the 43rd
President is going to be designing how keep the peace -- they'd say,
get him off the stage."
***
Q Mr. President, with the war in Iraq costing $19,600 per U.S.
household, how do you expect a generation of young people such as
ourselves, to afford college a time like this, when we're paying for
a war Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Well -- hold on for a minute. Hold on. We can do
more than one thing at one time. And when you grow your economy, like
we're growing our economy, there is an opportunity to not only
protect ourselves, but also to provide more Pell grants than any
administration in our nation's history, and increase the student loan
program. So if you take a look, I think you'll find that we're robust
in helping -- at the federal level, helping people go to college. And
it's essential you go to college. It's essential that there be a
group of youngsters coming up that are well-educated so that we can
maintain our economic leadership position in the world. We've got a
robust program to do just that.
But it's also essential that we keep policies in place that keep the
economy growing. This economy of ours is strong, and it's -- it is,
in my judgment, growing stronger. But it is possible to put policy in
place that would weaken it, such as raising taxes. I think we got to
keep taxes low to keep the economy moving. It's possible to put
policy -- (applause) -- it's possible to put policy in place that
would hurt this economy, like protectionist policy. It's possible to
-- if we keep suing our people trying to risk capital, it's
conceivable, we won't be the leader. That's why we need good tort
reform. We got to make sure that -- (applause.)
My point to you is economic growth enables us to do more than one
thing. And that's what we'll continue to do.
***
Q Could you explain why living within the legislation that allowed
your administration to get a warrant from a secret court within 72
hours after putting in a wiretap wouldn't be just as effective?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I appreciate the question. He's talking about the
terrorist surveillance program that was -- created quite a kerfuffle
in the press, and I owe an explanation to.
***
Q First of all, I want to commend you on your presentation today. And
I tell you I'm 100 percent behind your fight against terrorism. Also --
THE PRESIDENT: Why don't you just leave it at that?
Q Oh, no. Oh, no. (Laughter and applause.)
I tell you, one of the reasons I'm qualified to say that, you
probably heard of Ernie Shavers, the boxer. I trained Ernie Shavers.
He fought Muhammad Ali, and Muhammad Ali say he hit him so hard he
woke up his ancestors in Africa. (Laughter.) So I know a little bit
about boxing and things. But I know in boxing -- and I taught over
3,300 children over 13 years, two of them fought for world
championships, including Ernie Shavers. I taught them that the best
defense is a good offense. That's what you're doing over there now.
And I commend you. (Applause.)
***
"Let me give you some broad principles on immigration reform as I see
them. First of all, we do need to know who's coming into our country
and whether they're coming in illegally, or not legally -- legally or
not legally -- and whether they're coming in or going out."
***
"I mean, the idea of having a program that causes people to get stuck
in the back of 18-wheelers, to risk their lives to sneak into America
to do work that some people won't do is just not American, in my
judgment."
March 21, 2006
Press Conference of the President
James S. Brady Briefing Room
***
"I've heard people say, oh, he's just kind of optimistic for the sake
of optimism. Well, look, I believe we're going to succeed."
***
"If the Iranians were to have a nuclear weapon they could proliferate."
***
"If you're a non-transparent society, you've got a negotiating
advantage over six parties, because all you have to do is kind of try
to find a -- the weakest link in the negotiating team. "
***
"You know, we used to think we were secure because of oceans and
previous diplomacy. But we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that
killers could destroy innocent life."
***
"Thirdly, in spite of the bad news on television -- and there is bad
news. You brought it up; you said, how do I react to a bombing that
took place yesterday -- is precisely what the enemy understands is
possible to do."
***
"They're capable of blowing up innocent life so it ends up on your TV
show."
***
"It's an election year, after all. And it seems like history tends to
repeat itself when you're in the White House."
***
"I'm telling you what's on my mind. And what's on my mind is winning
the war on terror."
***
"War creates trauma, particularly when you're fighting an enemy that
doesn't fight soldier-to-soldier, they fight by using IEDs to kill
innocent people. That's what they use. That's the tool they use."
***
"Listen, every war plan looks good on paper until you meet the enemy
-- not just the war plan we executed in Iraq, but the war plans that
have been executed throughout the history of warfare."
***
Q Just after the 2004 election, you seemed to -- you claimed a really
enviable balance of political capital and a strong mandate. Would you
make that claim today? Do you still have that?
THE PRESIDENT: I'd say I'm spending that capital on the war.
***
"I think the American people are now beginning to get the picture
that if we don't do something, Social Security and Medicare will bust."
***
"I did notice that nobody from the Democrat Party has actually stood
up and called for getting rid of the terrorist surveillance program.
You know, if that's what they believe, if people in the party believe
that, then they ought to stand up and say it. They ought to stand up
and say the tools we're using to protect the American people
shouldn't be used. They ought to take their message to the people and
say, vote for me, I promise we're not going to have a terrorist
surveillance program."
***
"I was particularly pleased that my opponent in the 2004 campaign,
Senator Kerry, graciously came down and lent his support to a line-
item veto, and also made very constructive suggestions about how to
get one out of the United States Congress."
***
"I believe society's interest are met by saying -- defining marriage
as between a man and a woman. That's what I believe."
***
THE PRESIDENT: I also said that -- let me make sure, Steve, that you
-- first of all, I'm impressed that you're actually paying attention
to it. The people I saw in the press pool weren't. They were, like,
Elisabeth was half-asleep -- (laughter) -- yes, you were. (Laughter.)
Q No, I wasn't.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Well, the person next to you was. (Laughter.)
They were dozing off. I could see them watching their watches, kind
of wondering how long he's going to blow on for. Let's get him out of
here so we can go get lunch, is what they were thinking. (Laughter.)
***
"There needs to be enforcement mechanisms that don't discourage the
Border Patrol agents. They work hard, they get somebody coming in
from country X; the person says, check back in with us in 30 days --
they don't. In other words, they end up in society."
March 23, 2006
President Signs Bill to Strengthen Trade Between U.S. and Ukraine
Room 350
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building
***
"I really want to thank the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, a man who knows what he's talking about when it comes to
the world, and that's Chairman Lugar from Indiana."
March 24, 2006
President's Remarks at Mike Sodrel for Congress and Indiana Victory
2006 Reception
The Murat Centre
Indianapolis, Indiana
***
"You see, before September the 11th it was assumed by policymakers
and people in office that we were safe, that oceans protected us,
that we're in good shape when it came to threats. We could see a
threat overseas and we could deal with it if we wanted to, or not."
***
"And yet, today, interestingly enough, I sit at a table with the
Prime Minister of Japan working on how to keep the peace. Isn't that
interesting?"
***
"I want people driving with corn extract, ethanol, grown right here
in the state of Indiana in order to keep these cars moving.
(Applause.) One of these days, they're going to walk in with a crop
report to the President and say, the harvest down there in Indiana is
great. We've got us a lot of corn, that means we're less dependent on
foreign sources of oil."
March 27, 2006
President Makes Remarks at Friends of Conrad Burns Reception
The Madison Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"Senator, thank you. I kind of like being on the same platform as
Senator Burns because he makes me sound like Shakespeare. (Laughter.)
I like a plain-talking fellow."
***
"It's really easy to be out there talking about the world the way
you'd like it to be. But we can't afford that luxury because we're in
a war against some terrorists who would like to harm America again."
***
"I know some probably think that, well, this war on terror is
isolated to a few angry individuals that got lucky on September the
11th. "
***
"The United States of America was formed on the natural rights of men
and women."
***
"I like to remind people about this interesting fact of history. My
dad -- 18-year-old kid -- raised his arm and said, I want to
volunteer to defend the United States of America against the
Japanese. What I find interesting is that some 60 years later, his
son, the current President, sits down with the Prime Minister of
Japan talking about keeping the peace."
***
"I want it to be said, when we have a technological breakthrough,
which we're close to getting to, that we can use sawgrass grown in
the state of Montana to help grow -- to help produce ethanol so we
become less dependant on Middle Eastern oil."
March 27, 2006
President Participates in Roundtable Interview with Foreign Print Media
The Roosevelt Room
***
"I'm looking forward to going to the Mayan ruins, which will be
really exciting."
***
"I'm fully aware of the relationship -- the nature of the
relationship between Canada and the United States. One, it's a vital
relationship, but it's also one in which there is a certain
skepticism about the United States and, therefore, I will do my very
best to find common ground and to convince -- through my relationship
with the Prime Minister, convince the people of Canada we genuinely
care about our friends and neighbors to the north and will work to
resolve different issues in an aboveboard way that is mutually
beneficial."
***
"First, I think it's very important for both President Fox and myself
to explain to both our countries the benefits of $300 million* two-
way trade -- well, nearly $300 million* in the year 2005 of two-way
trade."
*billion
***
"I just, as a matter of fact, gave a speech to a group of citizens
that have become U.S. citizens today, in my presence. They had stood
in line."
***
"And I think that -- I'm pretty confident that if we work closely, we
can develop such a plan that enables a scanning device or a card that
can be dealt with on a scanning device to not stop the flow of
traffic of people who make a daily routine of it, and also make sure
that we know who's coming in the country."
***
"I predict, however, that there will be other issues that arise
because of our -- when we trade as much as we trade, nearly half-a-
billion** two-way trade in '05, there's going to be issues that come
up."
**trillion
***
"We're dealing with, you know, tomatoes, on occasion, or corn syrup,
I think it was -- yes, corn syrup."
March 28, 2006
Interview of the President by CNN Español
Map Room
***
"We're going to have a cultural event, we're going to go to the
ruins, which will be fantastic, the Mayan ruins."
March 29, 2006
President Discusses Democracy in Iraq with Freedom House
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
***
And I tell you why it was a lousy deal for America. It meant that we had to cut emissions below 1990 levels, which would have meant I would have presided over massive layoffs and economic destruction.
***
"But I do think it's illustrative to point out -- like I pointed out
in the speech -- that Europe is now free, whole and at peace, and
there's a reason why. It's what Americans have got to understand. We
tend to forget. Ours is a society where things are like instant, so
therefore, history almost is like so far back it doesn't count. But
it counts when you really think about life lost on the continent of
Africa and wonder why they're no war today."
***
"I haven't given up on Russia. I still think Russia understands that
it's in her interest to be West, to work with the West, and to act in
concert with the West."
March 30, 2006
President Bush Meets with President Fox in Cancun, Mexico
Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun Hotel
Cancún, Mexico
***
"I will never forget being on the -- in the Gulf Coast area of my
country, helping people -- lift people's spirits."
March 31, 2006
President Bush, President Fox of Mexico, and Prime Minister Harper of
Canada in Press Availability
Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún Hotel
Cancún, Mexico
***
"Look, we got long borders, and we got to make sure we work hard to
secure the borders. We also have got to make sure we got smart borders."
April 5, 2006
President Bush Participates in Panel on Health Savings Accounts
Playhouse on the Green
Bridgeport, Connecticut
***
"So thanks for coming and giving us a chance to discuss the issue.
You notice I say "us" -- there's nothing than a guy kind of blowing
away in a lecture, so I've invited fellow citizens to come and share
their experiences about an interesting way to approach affordability
and availability in health care."
***
"One reason we overcame the recession and the stock market collapse
and the attacks on our country and the wars we've been through and
the natural disasters we've been through is because people have got
more money to save and invest and spend."
***
"I know it probably came as a shock to some of my fellow citizens
here in Connecticut when I stood up in front of the country and said,
we've got a problem, we're addicted to oil. And I meant it. We've got
an economic problem being addicted to oil because when fossil fuels
-- demand for fossil fuels rise in other parts of the world, it
causes our energy bills to go up."
***
"When you've got people in the world who don't like us from which we
get supplies of oil, it causes those problems to come into the Oval
Office."
***
"These are wise use of taxpayers' money to help keep a federal
commitment to helping the poor deal with health care. And same goes
to Medicaid."
***
"For example, a restaurant in Bridgeport ought to be allowed to pool
risk with a restaurant in Texas so that there's economies of risk."
***
"Association health plans will enable small businesses to better
afford insurance. I'm looking forward to working with Congress to get
that out of the Congress."
***
"You know what's an amazing statistic, is there are 1,700 counties *
in our country that have no OB/GYN. They got run out of business."
* There are 1,500 counties in the U.S. without an OB/GYN.
***
"You know, LASIK surgery is an interesting -- it's interesting to
think about. LASIK surgery is a surgery that helps correct your
eyesight."
***
"Many of the health savings accounts owners are folks with their high
school degree. A lot of health savings accounts owners are people
with not an extraordinary amount of income."
April 6, 2006
President Welcomes 2005-06 NCAA Sports Champions to the White House
The South Lawn
***
"The men's soccer team won its first national championship in almost
40 years. I thought it was interesting that on Times Square, the
NASDAQ ticker displayed a message that said, "Go Terps," in honor of
the soccer team." (Applause.)
April 6, 2006
President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina
***
"I've known your Mayor for a long time. He's a man of accomplishment. I know he was particularly proud to land the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (Applause.) Pretty big deal, you know? It's a pretty big deal."
***
"My friends from Texas who, once they get over the shock that I'm actually the President -- (laughter) -- like to ask me what it's like to be President. And I guess the simple job description would be, it is a decision-making experience. And I make a lot of decisions. Some of them you see, some of them you don't see."
***
"The biggest decision I've had to make since I've been your President is putting kids in harm's way."
***
"They hide in kind of the far reaches of the world. They plot and plan, however, from the far reaches of the world. They're good at communications. They're good at deception. They're good at propaganda."
***
"In order to be effective, in order to maintain credibility, words have got to mean something. You just can't say things in the job I'm in and not mean what you say."
***
"You know, growing up in Midland, Texas, we all felt pretty secure as a kid, mainly because we thought oceans could protect us. Now in my case, we were really far away from oceans, too, but nevertheless, it's -- when you think about it, though, if you're a baby boomer, like me, you think about what it was like growing up, we knew there was a nuclear threat."
***
"Oceans could no longer protect us."
***
"I also told you earlier that when America speaks, we got to mean what we said."
***
"Words mean something in this world if you're trying to protect the American people."
***
"It's an interesting question, isn't it, why would somebody want to stop democracy -- like, what's wrong with democracy; Mister [Zarqawi], why are you afraid of it?"
***
"People don't -- you know, war is an unsettling thing. I fully understand that. Sometimes it's not conducive to risking capital during a time of war."
***
"My attitude is, about this job, is just do my job."
***
"I read three books on George Washington. I think it's really interesting, isn't it? Historians are still analyzing the first President of the United States."
***
Q You never stop talking about freedom, and I appreciate that. But while I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to try to preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating safe food. If I were a woman, you'd like to restrict my opportunity to make a choice and decision about whether I can abort a pregnancy on my own behalf. You are --
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not your favorite guy. Go ahead. (Laughter and applause.) Go on, what's your question?
Q Okay, I don't have a question. What I wanted to say to you is that I -- in my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency, by the Senate, and --
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: No, wait a sec -- let him speak.
Q And I would hope -- I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration, and I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself inside yourself. And I also want to say I really appreciate the courtesy of allowing me to speak what I'm saying to you right now. That is part of what this country is about.
THE PRESIDENT: It is, yes. (Applause.)
Q And I know that this doesn't come welcome to most of the people in this room, but I do appreciate that.
THE PRESIDENT: Appreciate --
Q I don't have a question, but I just wanted to make that comment to you.
April 7, 2006
President Attends National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"Thanks for inviting a Methodist." (Laughter.)
***
"I'm so thrilled to be here with the cardinals of the church.
Cardinal McCarrick I know is here, and Cardinal Bevilacqua -- must
make you feel good to see there's not a slice of bacon
around." (Laughter and applause.)
***
"We needed a hopeful moment for this world of ours. It's a time when
more people have a chance to claim freedom that God intended for us
all."
***
"Freedom is a gift from the Almighty because it is -- and because it
is universal, our Creator has written it into all nature."
April 10, 2006
President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Johns Hopkins University
Washington, D.C.
***
"The advance of democracy is the terrorists' greatest fear. That's an
interesting question, isn't it -- why would they fear democracy?"
***
Q I was hoping that from your experience, you could share with us
some wisdom or some insight -- not necessarily on tactics, but
something we can take with us through our careers, that we can apply
maybe at some point. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the question. I would encourage those of
you studying here to be a part of policymaking for our government.
It's -- it is a high honor to serve your country. And my first advice
is, never use force until you've exhausted all diplomacy. I -- my
second advice is, if you ever put anybody in harm's way, make sure
they have got all the support of the government. My third advice is,
don't make decisions on polls. Stand your ground if you think what
you're doing [is] right.
Much of my decision about what we're discussing these days was
affected by an event. Look, I -- during the 2000 campaign, I don't
remember ever discussing with people what -- could I handle war, or
could my opponent handle war. The war wasn't on our mind. War came
unexpectedly. We didn't ask for the attack, but it came. And so much
of the statements I make and have made since that war were a result
of that attack. I vowed then that I would use all assets of our power
to win the war on terror. That's what I vowed."
***
"Now, if you're going to be the President or a policymaker, you never
know what's going to come. That's the interesting thing about the
world in which we live. We're a influential nation, and so,
therefore, many problems come to the Oval Office. And you don't know
what those problems are going to be, which then argues for having
smart people around. That's why you ought to serve in government if
you're not going to be the President."
***
"One of the decisions I made early on was to have a multinational
approach to sending messages -- clear messages to the Iranians that
-- that if they want to be a part of the -- an accepted nation in the
world, that they must give up their nuclear weapons ambitions. And
we're making pretty good progress."
***
"It's amazing that when we're in a bilateral position, or kind of
just negotiating one on one, somehow the world ends up turning the
tables on us. "
***
"The doctrine of prevention is to work together to prevent the
Iranians from having a nuclear weapon. I know -- I know here in
Washington prevention means force. It doesn't mean force,
necessarily. In this case, it means diplomacy."
***
"Nobody likes war, particularly me. I knew exactly what was going to
happen when I committed these troops into harm's way. I knew there
would be -- people would lose their life."
***
"Yes. No, I -- this is -- there's an ongoing legal proceeding which
precludes me from talking a lot about the case. There's also an
ongoing investigation that's a serious investigation. I will say
this, that after we liberated Iraq, there was questions in people's
minds about the basis on which I made statements, in other words,
going into Iraq."
***
"That's one of the lessons of the attack on the United States. You
know, the world seemed fine, didn't it? It seemed kind of placid --
there was a bubble here, a bubble there. But everything seemed all
right."
***
"I'm absolutely for this United States of America staying engaged to
the world."
April 11, 2006
Remarks by the President at Iowans for Nussle Reception
Hy-Vee Hall
Des Moines, Iowa
***
"You know, I've gotten to see Nussle during some interesting times in
our country -- we are living in historic times. I wish I could report
to you that this was a nation that wasn't at war, but we are. And
it's a deadly serious war."
***
"And Iraq is the central front on this broad war on terror. You know,
I said this -- I gave a speech the other day and in it I said
something -- I said, you know, I wonder why people -- what kind of
people is it who wants to stop democracy?"
***
"I'll tell you what kind of people it is -- these are the kind of
people who think the opposite of -- they adhere to an ideology that's
dark and dangerous."
***
"I've got to see him when it comes time to spending your money. And
he's pretty good about it."
***
"We have passed some lean budgets in Washington, D.C. because we want
to cut the deficit in half."
***
"For the sake of economic security, and for the sake of national
security, we got to get off of Middle Eastern oil. And the best way
to do so is with Iowa corn." (Applause.)
***
"I can't wait for the day for some President to say, look, the crop
-- look at the crop report. We got a lot of corn, which means we're
less dependent on foreign sources of energy."
April 11, 2006
President Discusses Medicare in Iowa
Wesley Acres
Des Moines, Iowa
***
"I fully recognize that when you have a variety of choices from which
to choose, it can be a little confusing at first. In other words,
people get on the computer, and say, look at all these different
options."
April 11, 2006
President Participates in Conversation on Medicare Prescription Drug
Benefit
Etta and Joseph Miller Performing Arts Center
Jefferson City, Missouri
***
"As you can see, I mean, there's several ways to have an educational
event.
***
"I think the more that people -- citizens are given choice in life,
the better off it is to meet their needs."
***
"There's pharmacists all over the country who, obviously, interface
with seniors."
***
"You might be taking this kind of drug or that kind of drug. You
might be taking a lot of drugs a month, or no drugs a month."
April 14, 2006
President and Mrs. Bush Release 2005 Tax Return
President and Mrs. George W. Bush reported taxable income of $618,694
for the tax year 2005. This resulted in a total of $187,768 in
federal income taxes paid by President and Mrs. Bush.
The President's 2005 income included salary earned as President and
investment income from the trusts in which their assets are held.
President and Mrs. Bush contributed $75,560 to churches and
charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross -
Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Salvation Army - Hurricane 2005 Relief,
the Salvation Army - Pakistan Earthquake Relief, Martha's Table, the
Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Charities, the Mississippi Food
Network, and the Federal Government's Combined Federal Campaign.
###
April 17, 2006
President Participates in Roundtable on Taxes and the Economy
Europa Stone Distributors, Inc.
Sterling, Virginia
***
"We've got folks that have benefited from the tax relief, both as a
small business owner and/or an employee -- except for Mike; he's a
firefighter."
***
"Owen -- I mean, Mike has got three children. He's a firefighter. The
tax relief helped."
***
"And what's interesting is the tax relief is set to expire."
***
"It's Tax Day. And it's a day to recommit ourselves to low taxes.
It's a day that understands that when these people filing out their
forms and writing checks to the government that it's the people's
money that's coming to Washington, D.C."
April 18, 2006
President Discusses American Competitiveness Initiative
Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Technology
Rockville, Maryland
***
"We just had an amazing tour. I say "amazing tour" because we saw
what a unique place Parkland is, and we saw a really diverse student
body. There's people from all kinds of backgrounds here."
***
"These are good, hard-working folks who said, I kind of want to lend
my expertise to try to convince a child that science is cool. You
know, sometimes -- you might remember those days, when you were in
middle school, people say, you know, science isn't cool."
***
"We saw robotics."
***
"We saw people using little devices to look for sun spots. We saw the
analysis of a parabola curve for sixth and seventh grade students. We
saw a school that is setting high standards in the firm belief that
every child can learn. That's what we saw."
***
"The iPod, interestingly enough, was built on years of government-
funded research in microdrive storage and electrochemistry and signal
compression. Isn't that interesting? I find it interesting."
***
"We live in a global world, and that creates uncertainty in some. I
understand that. There's a sense of, well, the world is so big and so
connected that it's -- maybe we're really not in charge of things here."
April 19, 2006
President Discusses the American Competitiveness Initiative at Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama
***
"Booker T. Washington -- when you think Tuskegee, you think Booker T.
Washington. And when you hear about Booker T. Washington, you think
about Tuskegee. Ralph Ellison, or the music of Lionel Richie. I mean,
Tuskegee has been a center for educational excellence and a place for
opportunity for a long period of time here in the United States of
America."
***
"It's a really interesting center of the -- where you'll see the
future being explored and developed. There's a lot of science going
on there. (Applause.)"
***
"Listen, I flew into Montgomery, I choppered over to the airfield.
And what I found interesting was that is the airfield where the
Tuskegee Airmen trained."
***
"The government funded research in microdrive storage,
electrochemistry and signal compression. They did so for one reason:
It turned out that those were the key ingredients for the development
of the Ipod. I tune into the Ipod occasionally, you know?" (Laughter.)
April 27, 2006
President Discusses Refining Capacity in Biloxi, Mississippi
BP Gas Station
Biloxi, Mississippi
***
"One of the things we've got to do is make these trucks run on
ethanol and batteries that won't require gasoline. That's what the
future is going to be."
April 25, 2006
President Discusses Energy Policy
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"I like the idea of talking to people who are growing America's
energy security."
***
"The way I like to put it, it would be a good thing when a President
can sit there and say, gosh, we've got a lot of corn, and it means
we're less dependent on foreign sources of oil." (Applause.)
***
"Many of these refineries are in the Midwest -- the Midwest because
that is where the source of that -- the feedstock for ethanol comes
from. That happens to be corn."
***
"Yet there -- you just got to recognize there are limits to how much
corn can be used for ethanol. After all, we got to eat some. And the
animals have got to eat."
April 28, 2006
President Meets with North Korean Defectors and Family Members of
Japanese Abducted by North Korea
The Oval Office
***
"President Meets with North Korean Defectors and Family Members of
Japanese Abducted by North Korea It is hard to believe that a country
would foster abduction."
April 28, 2006
President Meets with Darfur Advocates
The Roosevelt Room
***
"They agree with thousands of our citizens -- hundreds of thousands
of our citizens -- that genocide in Sudan is unacceptable."
***
"We're dependent on oil and we need to get off oil. And the best way
to do so is through technology."
***
"But we also expect people to -- particularly the Sudanese
government, to make a more concerted effort to control the jinjaweed
[sic-"janja" is correct] and protect human life."
April 28, 2006
President Discusses the Economy, Participates in Press Availability
Rose Garden
***
"So it's a combination of people investing the cash flows, as well as
regulatory relief to enhance the ability for people to achieve the
objective, which is more gasoline on the market, which will help our
consumers."
***
"The biggest challenge we face is winning the war on terror and to
protect the American people."
***
THE PRESIDENT: So there's a lot to do today, but we'll continue to be
results-oriented. Martha Raddatz...
Q But I asked you about your internal changes and what that says
about how you think things need to be changed. They've been very
public, your internal changes.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, David, I'm a results-oriented person, and my job
is to achieve things for the American people, positive results that
make us more secure and more prosperous. And of course, I will have
people by my side that work toward that objective.
Thank you for your penetrating question.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Plus, I'm not going to hire you, if that's what you
were suggesting. (Laughter.)
Q I was not suggesting that. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I would, except you can't pass the background check.
(Laughter.) Okay, an unnecessary cheap shot, I take it back.
Martha...
***
THE PRESIDENT: Let's see -- Mark Smith.
Q Another one?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you already asked one?
Q Call on my colleagues.
THE PRESIDENT: Did you ask one?
Q Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you did ask one -- (laughter.)
Q It was a memorable question.
Q Really a great question. (Laughter.)
***
"And we've got money in the sup to make sure that these levees are
pre-Katrina or better prior to June 1st."
***
"The amazing thing in the area down there -- I don't know if you all
went with me -- but it was -- there's this totally different attitude
from when we were there before, early on, obviously, after the storm."
***
"I've looked at all suggestions, but my attitude is let's make it
work. We're about six weeks away from -- we're
getting pretty close."
***
"We remember those pictures of those buses -- people looking to get
out, and yet there were these buses in flooded areas."
***
"It's going to be interesting -- let's pray -- first of all, pray
there's no hurricanes. That would be, like, step one."
***
"And so it's going to be a -- and, therefore, there's a need to make
sure that the forecasting is accurate -- and this is pretty much the
way it is these days, been very accurate forecasting -- and that the
response by all of us is in a timely fashion to give people time to
prepare."
***
Q What is your view of this call for a national boycott on Monday?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not a supporter of boycotts. I am a supporter of
comprehensive immigration.
***
"One of the great things about America is that we've been able to
take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God."
***
"I don't think anybody really wants there to be automatic amnesty for
people -- one that allows somebody here to be able to get in -- if
they want to be a citizen, to be able to get in line, but not the
front of the line but the back of the line.
***
"Thank you for your time. I've enjoyed this. I will see you all
tomorrow night, I guess. Looking forward to it. I hope you are, as
well."May 1, 2006
President Discusses Health Care Initiatives
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"We know from experience which of these systems works best. Other
nations that have adopted for bigger government and more centralized
control now have long waits for treatment for the people."
***
"In America, as you know, we follow a different path. We lead the
world in health care because we believe in a system of private
medicine that encourages innovation and change."
***
"The first thing is, we needed to develop a common standard of
language so that health care providers in Los Angeles and health care
providers in New York knew what the -- knew what we are talking about."
***
"Imagine how valuable this access to information will become. If you
had someone who had an epileptic seizure outside their home town and
ended up in a hospital in a nearby town, these electronic records
would help save lives."
May 3, 2006
President Bush Welcomes German Chancellor to the White House
Oval Office
***
"Mr. Moussaoui got a fair trial; the jury convicted him to life in
prison, where he'll spend the rest of his life. In so doing, they
spared his life, which is something that he evidently wasn't willing
to do for innocent American citizens."
***
"A lot of us who grew up in the West take our liberties for granted,
that freedom is something that's just prevalent everywhere, and where
it's not prevalent, don't worry about it."
***
"It enhances the transatlantic relationship. And by working together
we can help solve major problems. And this is a troubled world. We're
dealing with Iran. We're dealing with Sudan. And it's very important
for diplomacy to work, and it works better when you have a partner in
peace, a partner -- an ally with -- a Germany that understands it can
really make a difference in the international community."
May 3, 2006
President Bush Meets with Members of Congress, Discusses Energy Policy
The Cabinet Room
***
"I want to thank the members of the House and the Senate, members of
both parties, for a really constructive and important dialogue. We
talked about ways to deal with America's energy problem. And we
talked about it in a very constructive way, and I want to thank the
members for joining us."
***
"If the American people want there to be a lower price of gasoline,
we need more gasoline on the marketplace. And so we talked about
common-sense ideas."
May 3, 2006
President Bush Discusses Strong and Growing U.S. Economy
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Washington, D.C.
***
"I've got something to talk to you about, about the economy. What I'm
really thrilled is, is that the American Council of Engineering
Companies would allow a history major to come by to speak to
you." (Laughter.)
***
"And for those of you who have been down there, or may live down
there, you know what that storm did. I mean, you talk about wiping
out a part of our country, just flat did."
***
"I tried last year, I took it on, Social Security in particular, and
went around the country saying, folks, we got a problem -- on the
theory that when the people said we got a problem, Congress would
respond."
***
"And so it's -- and my attitude about this is to make sure you're not
being mistreated at the pump, you're being treated fairly, but also
recognize now is the time to spur strong research and development
into using other ways to power our cars, such as hydrogen, or
ethanol, or batteries that can give the first 40 miles on
electricity, as opposed to gasoline."
***
"We're close to these new battery technologies that will enable
people to drive the first 40 miles in a city not using gasoline.
Ethanol is on the move."
***
"Another initiative I think you'll be interested in is this: To stay
competitive, we got to make sure our children have the skill sets
necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. That skill set
happens to be based upon math and science. I think you know what I'm
talking about."
***
"People say to me, why should the government invest in basic
sciences, basic research -- research for the basic sciences? And the
answer is, is because it's amazing what happens, what research can
bring, such as the Internet."
***
"First of all, as people who are results-oriented people, I think
you'll appreciate the approach we took in the No Child Left Behind
Act which basically said, in return for spending federal money,
particularly for Title I students, the poor students, which I
support, why don't you show us whether or not we're getting results?"
***
"There's all kinds of debates that take place in public education.
One of them is, does the curriculum work that you're using?"
May 4, 2006
President Attends American Jewish Committee's Centennial Dinner
National Building Museum
Washington, D.C.
***
"We have so much in common. We're both young countries born of
struggle and sacrifice. We're both founded by immigrants escaping
religious persecution."
May 6, 2006
President Bush Delivers Commencement Address at Oklahoma State
University
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
***
"You're privileged to live in the world's freest country at one of
the most hopeful moments in human history."
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 7, 2006
Interview of the President by Sabine Christiansen of ARD German
Television
Diplomatic Reception Room, May 4, 2006
***
"I fully understand why a government or a people would be, you know,
I guess disappointed in me in a way, and not understand why somebody
would commit troops to achieve an objective."
***
"I was not pleased that Hamas has refused to announce [sic] its
desire to destroy Israel."
May 7, 2006
Interview of the President by Kai Diekmann of BILD
The Oval Office, May 5, 2006
***
THE PRESIDENT: Have you ever been in the Oval Office before?
Q Once, a long time ago --
THE PRESIDENT: I'll give you a quick tour before our interview. So,
the first thing that a President does, which I didn't realize, was
pick a rug. I have no idea about rugs. And so in this job you've got
to delegate. The American President is in a position where there's
just unbelievable complexities to the job -- Darfur, Iran -- a whole
lot of issues. So I delegated the decision about the rug to my wife.
The second thing a President has got to do is have a strategic mind.
In order to be successful, in my judgment, as the President, you've
got to constantly think strategically. And so I said to her, you pick
out the colors, you be the tactical person, but I want it to say
"optimistic person." That's all I wanted it to say. Here is the
result. Isn't it beautiful?
Q Yes, it is very beautiful.
***
"These are all Texas paintings. That's West Texas, those are other
Texas paintings. At least if you're a Texan, it reflects a way of
life and a way of thinking. The interesting thing about Washington is
that they want me to change -- they being the -- and I'm not
changing, you know."
***
"And I'm not changing. I don't care whether they like me at the
cocktail parties, or not. I want to be able to leave this office with
my integrity intact."
***
"Lincoln -- this is the place on the Oval Office wall where the
President puts the most -- the best President, and I put Lincoln
here, and I don't think there's any question -- now, people will have
their -- but I think he was the most influential President ever."
***
"I understand in parts of Europe, some scoff at my faith. It doesn't
bother me."
***
"The point now is not what went on in the past. The point now is how
do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is
a democracy in Germany [sic]."
***
Q Are there things that bother you about the Germans? And are there
things that you envy about the Germans?
THE PRESIDENT: I am -- look, I mean, Germans have always been
incredibly efficient, capable businesspeople, and when they make a
product, it is always of the highest of quality.
***
Q Three last very short questions. What was the most wonderful moment
in your terms of being President so far, and what was the most awful
moment?
THE PRESIDENT: The most awful moment was September the 11th, 2001. ...
...The best moment was -- you know, I've had a lot of great moments.
I don't know, it's hard to characterize the great moments. They've
all been busy moments, by the way. I would say the best moment was
when I caught a seven-and-a-half pound large mouth bass on my lake.
(Laughter.)
***
Q Very last question -- you're a great sports fan.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I am.
May 15, 2006
President Bush Attends Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service
United States Capitol
***
"I appreciate Vince Gill, he gave the best speech of the day. What a
fantastic talent, and thank you for coming, Vince, to help heal the
grief."
***
"The really interesting thing about the law enforcement community
is there's such a strong bond between those who serve on the front lines of
fighting crime."
May 16, 2006
President Bush Welcomes WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs to the
White House
East Garden
***
"I think it's pretty neat, isn't it, for people who -- from different
backgrounds, different cultures are able to figure out a way to win."
May 16, 2006
President Bush and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia
Participate in Joint Press Availability
East Room
***
"I always remind my friends who talk to me about countries around the
world, I say, I can't think of a country more like -- a place more like
Texas than Australia."
***
"Look, ours is a world in which sometimes people tell you something and
they don't mean it."
May 17, 2006
President Attends Republican National Committee Gala
DAR-Constitution Hall
Washington, D.C.
***
"Laura sends her love. (Applause.) She's a fabulous First Lady.
(Applause.) She's got to be the most patient woman in America. (Laughter.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: She's hot.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes -- well, wait a minute. (Laughter.) Muy caliente. (Laughter and applause.) I hope she's not watching, you know? (Laughter.)
***
"I particularly want to thank Diamond Rio for their fantastic singing."
***
"Think about the history of this economy. We've been through a recession
and corporate scandals and an attack on the United States of America and
high energy prices. And we've been through natural disasters. And yet
this economy is roaring along."
***
"We got something to run on. We got something other than rhetoric to run
on. We're going to run on principles and a strong record."
May 17, 2006
President Bush Welcomes 2006 U.S. Winter Olympic and Paralympic Teams
The South Lawn
***
"We're honored that the "Flying Tomato" represented our country, and we
want to thank all the dudes and dudesses of the snowboarders who are here."
(Laughter and applause.)
May 17, 2006
President Bush Signs Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005
South Lawn
***
"This economy of ours is hitting full stride."
May 18, 2006
President Bush Discusses Border Security and Immigration Reform in Arizona
Yuma Sector Border Patrol Headquarters
Yuma, Arizona
***
"I think it helps to have the President out here, seeing the part of the
area of the country that one time was overrun by people coming in here,
that's beginning to get settled down because of a strategy that's being
employed. And so I really want to thank you all for greeting me. Plus I
liked riding in the dune buggy." (Laughter.)
***
"We saw some new fencing taking place. It makes sense to use fencing along
the border in key locations in order to do our job. We saw lighting. I just
saw the cameras in place where we're beginning to install -- modernize the
border is what I'm telling you."
May 19, 2006
President Attends Geoff Davis for Congress Reception
Hilton Cincinnati Airport
Florence, Kentucky
***
"I learned some lessons on September the 11th, and one of them is we face
an enemy that is full of hate, that adheres to an ideology that is
backwards, an ideology that's the opposite of freedom."
***
"One of the interesting lessons of September the 11th, in the world in
which we live, is the United States cannot be complacent when we see a
threa