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Bush Brings Audience to Its Feet With Promise Not to Flee Iraq
TBO ^ | 11/3/03 | Deb Riechmann

Posted on 11/03/2003 2:24:27 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - President Bush came here to talk about the nation's economy but it was his message about Iraq - a day after an Army helicopter was shot down - that brought a crowd to its feet Monday when he declared: "The enemy in Iraq believes America will run ... America will never run." The president did not mention it specificially, but it was clear that the 16 Americans killed in Sunday's helicopter crash were on the minds of the 350 people gathered at a crane company for his speech.

"Some of the best have fallen in service to our fellow Americans," he said. "We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders."

Iraq and the economy are both difficult issues for Bush. A majority of people surveyed in recent polls disapprove of his handling of both.

Bush's remarks about the economy hardly stirred workers, who sat nearly motionless in a warm maintenance shop where a white crane that can lift 385 tons served as a backdrop for the president. But the crowd started applauding when he talked of how a free Iraq would allow children to grow up without the horrors of Sept. 11, 2001.

And they rose to their feet after he said: "Freedom is not America's gift to the world ... freedom is the Almighty's gift to everybody who lives in this world."

Johnny Spann, the father of slain CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann, killed in Afghanistan, led the pledge of allegiance at a re-election fund-raiser held later at a Birmingham hotel.

"We're mostly family oriented people and when he mentioned the sons and daughters over there fighting for freedom, I think that's what struck a chord," said Steve Upton, vice president of CraneWorks, a company on the north side of Birmingham that leases cranes and other equipment. "When he said America would not stop (in Iraq), it builds confidence that we're going to win the war against terrorism."

The president raised $1.8 million for his re-election fund, which had roughly $92 million already. Republican presidential candidates have won Alabama in six straight elections.

Several blocks away, about 100 jeering protesters gathered in a shady park to criticize the administration's environmental and economic policies.

Most speakers focused on opposition to the Army's newest chemical weapons incinerator, located about 50 miles east in Anniston. Larry Fahn, president of the Sierra Club, called the incinerator an "outrageous" example of Bush's contempt for the environment and ordinary people, who have been told to seal up a room in their homes in case of an accident.

In his remarks about the economy, Bush said, "We're saddened by the fact that somebody might be looking for work who can't find a job. There's more jobs to be created here in America."

He mentioned the brisk 7.2 percent increase in the gross domestic product only in passing, focusing instead on a political vulnerability: 9 million Americans still out of work despite evidence of an economic resurgence. Of the 2.7 million jobs the U.S. economy has lost since the recession began in early 2001, 2.4 million were in manufacturing.

"Even though the Bush administration is taking credit for the 7.2 percent growth rate of our economy, the fact is this is largely due to other economic factors, like historically low interest rates and current trends in the housing market," countered Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y., ranking Democratic member of the House Small Business Committee.

Bush said his tax cuts, which he called on Congress to make permanent, were responsible for the vibrant third-quarter growth, and that raising them now would "wreck economic recovery" and "punish hardworking Americans and endanger thousands of jobs."

His message of economic optimism was carried to a state where the jobless rate in September was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in August and below the national rate of 6.1 percent. Some western Alabama counties, however, continue to struggle with high jobless rates.

Bush flew to Alabama from Waco, Texas, where he was spending a long weekend.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Alabama; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush43; economy; fundraiser; iraq; spann; staythecourse

1 posted on 11/03/2003 2:24:27 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Since Bush was speaking in Alabama, why the hell did the reporterquote a NEW YORK Democrat? Are there none left in the South?
2 posted on 11/03/2003 2:33:51 PM PST by RobbyS (XP)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders."

Brilliant.

I'm sure this statement will upset millions of liberal lemmings. After all, considering the psychological conditioning they've received in college, they typically think that liberty is slavery.

Fortunately for us, they no longer enjoy a media monopoly in terms of framing the political debate in the United States. We are now in a position to challenge their authoritarianism.

So, let's frame this debate in terms of those who love liberty and are willing to defend it and those who hate liberty and won't lift a finger in its defense.

2004, anyone?

3 posted on 11/03/2003 2:34:30 PM PST by Reactionary
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To: RobbyS
Since Bush was speaking in Alabama, why the hell did the reporterquote a NEW YORK Democrat? Are there none left in the South?

Zell Miller?

4 posted on 11/03/2003 2:39:14 PM PST by My2Cents ("Well...there you go again.")
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"Even though the Bush administration is taking credit for the 7.2 percent growth rate of our economy, the fact is this is largely due to other economic factors, like historically low interest rates and current trends in the housing market," countered Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y., ranking Democratic member of the House Small Business Committee.

Nuh-uh B!tch. When the economy was sucking it was all Bush's fault. What goes around comes around. If it was his fault then, it's his fault now.

5 posted on 11/03/2003 2:42:46 PM PST by Prodigal Son
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To: blam; Lazamataz; Texaggie79

6 posted on 11/03/2003 2:43:05 PM PST by Southack (Media bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: My2Cents
Miller would have agree with what Bush said.
7 posted on 11/03/2003 3:12:33 PM PST by RobbyS (XP)
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To: RobbyS
Not that I can see and the ones that are still here look like Zell Miller........life is good.
8 posted on 11/03/2003 3:39:20 PM PST by hilaryrhymeswithrich (Al Franken is a pimple on the butt of liberalism)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders."

Compassionate. Clear. Strong.

9 posted on 11/03/2003 3:50:59 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: RobbyS
opposition to the Army's newest chemical weapons incinerator, located about 50 miles east in Anniston. Larry Fahn, president of the Sierra Club, called the incinerator an "outrageous" example of Bush's contempt for the environment and ordinary people

Well, what the heck does this guy WANT the Army to do with them? Leave them lying around until they start leaking?

10 posted on 11/03/2003 4:53:44 PM PST by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
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To: Sloth
The idiot doesn't get the point that the danger is mimimal.
11 posted on 11/03/2003 7:51:07 PM PST by RobbyS (XP)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Bravo for President Bush.
12 posted on 11/03/2003 7:55:30 PM PST by dalebert
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To: Prodigal Son
Don't you just love the dim Democrats? When clinton was in power, he was responsible for all that was good in the world, including the sun coming up each and every day. With President Bush, good things happen in spite of him being in charge.
13 posted on 11/03/2003 9:33:47 PM PST by Utah Girl
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