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So you think George W. Bush is not a conservative?
SOTU transcript ^ | 1/22/04

Posted on 01/22/2004 7:07:09 AM PST by Wolfstar

ED. NOTE: On Tuesday evening, January 20, 2004, the President of the United States gave one of the most conservative State of the Union addresses in at least a generation. For a SOTU speech, it had a remarkably short spending wish list. Instead, it had passages such as those excerpted below — none of which would have been spoken by a Democrat or liberal (i.e., Leftist), or even a "RINO." Check it out:

[BEGIN EXCERPTS: Bold/underscore emphasis by Wolfstar]

Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty-eight months have passed since September 11th, 2001 — over two years without an attack on American soil. And it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting — and false.

[SNIP]

The once all-powerful ruler of Iraq was found in a hole, and now sits in a prison cell. Of the top 55 officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed 45. Our forces are on the offensive, leading over 1,600 patrols a day and conducting an average of 180 raids a week. We are dealing with these thugs in Iraq, just as surely as we dealt with Saddam Hussein's evil regime.

Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for the better. Last month, the leader of Libya voluntarily pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his regime's weapons of mass destruction programs, including a uranium enrichment project for nuclear weapons.

[SNIP]

Nine months of intense negotiations involving the United States and Great Britain succeeded with Libya, while 12 years of diplomacy with Iraq did not. And one reason is clear: For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible, and no one can now doubt the word of America.

Many of our troops are listening tonight. And I want you and your families to know: America is proud of you. And my administration, and this Congress, will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror.

I know that some people question if America is really in a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime, a problem to be solved mainly with law enforcement and indictments. After the World Trade Center was first attacked in 1993, some of the guilty were indicted and tried and convicted, and sent to prison. But the matter was not settled. The terrorists were still training and plotting in other nations, and drawing up more ambitious plans. After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got.

[SNIP]

Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, the Netherlands — (applause) — Norway, El Salvador, and the 17 other countries that have committed troops to Iraq. As we debate at home, we must never ignore the vital contributions of our international partners, or dismiss their sacrifices.

From the beginning, America has sought international support for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of many nations, and submitting to the objections of a few. America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.

We also hear doubts that democracy is a realistic goal for the greater Middle East, where freedom is rare. Yet it is mistaken, and condescending, to assume that whole cultures and great religions are incompatible with liberty and self-government. I believe that God has planted in every human heart the desire to live in freedom. And even when that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again.

[SNIP]

In the last three years, adversity has also revealed the fundamental strengths of the American economy. We have come through recession, and terrorist attack, and corporate scandals, and the uncertainties of war. And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this economy is strong, and growing stronger.

You have doubled the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000, reduced the marriage penalty, begun to phase out the death tax, reduced taxes on capital gains and stock dividends, cut taxes on small businesses, and you have lowered taxes for every American who pays income taxes.

Americans took those dollars and put them to work, driving this economy forward. The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years; new home construction, the highest in almost 20 years; home ownership rates, the highest ever. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high, and jobs are on the rise.

These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than government would have — and you were right to return it.

[SNIP]

We're requiring higher standards [in schools]. We are regularly testing every child on the fundamentals. We are reporting results to parents, and making sure they have better options when schools are not performing.

[SNIP]

We must continue to pursue an aggressive, pro-growth economic agenda. Congress has some unfinished business on the issue of taxes. The tax reductions you passed are set to expire. Unless you act — (applause) — unless you act — unless you act, the unfair tax on marriage will go back up. Unless you act, millions of families will be charged $300 more in federal taxes for every child. Unless you act, small businesses will pay higher taxes. Unless you act, the death tax will eventually come back to life. Unless you act, Americans face a tax increase. What Congress has given, the Congress should not take away. For the sake of job growth, the tax cuts you passed should be permanent.

Our agenda for jobs and growth must help small business owners and employees with relief from needless federal regulation, and protect them from junk and frivolous lawsuits.

Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run — so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

My administration is promoting free and fair trade to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers — to create jobs for American workers. Younger workers should have the opportunity to build a nest egg by saving part of their Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. We should make the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American people.

[SNIP]

In two weeks, I will send you a budget that funds the war, protects the homeland, and meets important domestic needs, while limiting the growth in discretionary spending to less than 4 percent. This will require that Congress focus on priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next five years.

Tonight, I also ask you to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy.

[SNIP]

I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who break our laws. My temporary worker program will preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions of hardworking men and women out from the shadows of American life.

[ED. NOTE: The precedent for guest worker programs goes back at least to the Eisenhower administration.]

[SNIP]

In January of 2006, seniors can get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. For a monthly premium of about $35, most seniors who do not have that coverage today can expect to see their drug bills cut roughly in half. Under this reform, senior citizens will be able to keep their Medicare just as it is, or they can choose a Medicare plan that fits them best — just as you, as members of Congress, can choose an insurance plan that meets your needs. And starting this year, millions of Americans will be able to save money tax-free for their medical expenses in a health savings account.

[SNIP]

On the critical issue of health care, our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs.

[SNIP]

Small businesses should be able to band together and negotiate for lower insurance rates, so they can cover more workers with health insurance. I urge you to pass association health plans. I ask you to give lower-income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow millions to buy their own basic health insurance.

[SNIP]

To protect the doctor-patient relationship, and keep good doctors doing good work, we must eliminate wasteful and frivolous medical lawsuits. And tonight I propose that individuals who buy catastrophic health care coverage, as part of our new health savings accounts, be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their taxes.

A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. By keeping costs under control, expanding access, and helping more Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world.

[SNIP]

One of the worst decisions our children can make is to gamble their lives and futures on drugs. Our government is helping parents confront this problem with aggressive education, treatment, and law enforcement. Drug use in high school has declined by 11 percent over the last two years. Four hundred thousand fewer young people are using illegal drugs than in the year 2001.

[SNIP]

A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under federal law as a union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states.

Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.

[SNIP]

It's also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the compassion of America's religious institutions. Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country — mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. Yet government has often denied social service grants and contracts to these groups, just because they have a cross or a Star of David or a crescent on the wall. By executive order, I have opened billions of dollars in grant money to competition that includes faith-based charities. Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.

[SNIP]

The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable — and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can trust in that greater power who guides the unfolding of the years. And in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true.

[END EXCERPTS]


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; bushamnesty; sotu
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To: Neets
Neets,I have noticed Judy gets an absolute glow about her when she discusses the dems,and that old,tired sick look if reporting about the President.
1,381 posted on 01/22/2004 4:05:47 PM PST by MEG33
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To: onyx
Re your post #1,322, well stated, Onyx. What the heck is a "real" conservative anyway. As you said, folks who throw this around all have different criteria.
1,382 posted on 01/22/2004 4:08:05 PM PST by Wolfstar (George W. Bush — the 1st truly great world leader of the 21st Century)
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To: Jim Robinson
God bless you, Jim. You are a real hero of mine.
1,383 posted on 01/22/2004 4:10:28 PM PST by Wolfstar (George W. Bush — the 1st truly great world leader of the 21st Century)
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To: CSM
Proof that he is a Liberal Republican

No, I would not call him a liberal Repub.

He barely makes a moderate.

He is more conservative than many in party leadership.

He is more conservative than I am, an I would not say that I am a liberal Repub. I consider myself a moderate.

We have some for sure, like what's her name from Maine and some of the other Easterners,

They have voted against Bush's conservative policies for much of the last session and those prior.

1,384 posted on 01/22/2004 4:13:18 PM PST by Cold Heat ("It is easier for an ass to succeed in that trade than any other." [Samuel Clemens, on lawyers])
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To: Consort
I am not sure? I feel that your thought is that the government can do whatever they want, as long as they do not tax you for it. I, on the other hand, have two small children, and I do not want them to pay for it either.
1,385 posted on 01/22/2004 4:13:41 PM PST by LandofLincoln ((the right has become the left))
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To: bray
Well, if you've done it and your parents have done it then you obviously know that Americans WILL do it.(unless you are an illegal yourself) Saying they won't is just not true. In the Southeast US, illegals aren't well known for picking crops. They usually work in large factories. (poultry plants, carpet factories, etc) Those too are jobs Americans have done before and can do again. Our local poultry plant has been busted for hiring illegals several times. Apparently, the punishment for the crime isn't strong enough because they continue to do it. When I lived up in TN, I looked into getting a factory job at the local sewing plant but the only jobs they would advertise for required you to be bilingual. Expect that to be a requirement for a lot more jobs if Bush gets his way with the immigration reform. Of course, he'll probably decide to spend even more money and have government sponsered spanish courses.
1,386 posted on 01/22/2004 4:13:54 PM PST by honeygrl (If you think the Constitution Party is such a joke, then why do you seem so afraid of it?)
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To: PhiKapMom
Yes -- but all that has nothing to do with immigration law, Congress makes the law the executive branch enforces the law, doesn't really matter which departnment, could be Treasury, could be Justice, could be Commerce - it just happens to be Homeland Security, purely an administrative issue.

The EO created the framework for Homeland Security, but it wasn't a real cabinet post until Congress confirmed Tom Ridge.

1,387 posted on 01/22/2004 4:14:28 PM PST by skip2myloo
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To: MEG33
She actually resembles Tiny Tom Dashole when she reports about the President.

Very Saddened.
1,388 posted on 01/22/2004 4:14:32 PM PST by Neets (Dean: "I came in 4th in the Iowa Caucas and all I got was an anxiety attack- YEEEEAAGH")
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Clinton had the lowest, and W had the second lowest? Does your history book only go back 20 years?
1,389 posted on 01/22/2004 4:14:44 PM PST by LandofLincoln ((the right has become the left))
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To: ohioWfan; Common Tator
Third partyers are a non-factor. They vote for Dems, they vote for Repubs, they vote for loonies, or they stay home.......but they DON'T hold the President's feet to the fire, and they WON'T keep him from getting reelected.

The argument is facile but shallow. It's not the third parties which historically have been the problem. We've only seen a couple of major party realignments in 200 years.

You don't worry in politics over the real fringe. What you worry about is whether your base, your straight-ticket voters, stay home in one or more elections and in numbers large enough to indicate real dissatisfaction with the party being either too conservative or too liberal to get them to vote for the party they've supported in multiple preceding elections.

You don't worry until you see a substantial change in your solid base voters. Then you'd better find out why.

Both parties have had this in recent years, largely the result of their run-to-the-center general election strategies. And both camps are wondering how many votes they've lost on pandering to the Mindless Middle instead of going for their dependable base voters.

Of course, the Dims would appear to have more problems than the GOP does. But even so, Gore did win the 2000 popular vote.

If you have access to official party databases (typically distributed on CDROM these days), you can track every voter and every election they've participated in for the last 10-20 years. Combine that with information databases compiled by the parties and by elected officials and the official campaign donations databases and you can get a good picture of who votes and why and who used to vote but stopped supporting their party in one or more recent elections. You can discount a certain number of defections or stay-at-homes in any election cycle (illness, cynicism, etc.). But when you start to see that a large enough percentage of your formerly loyal and dependable voters fail to turn out, you're in trouble and had better pay attention.

My pet theory is that low base turnout can be most deadly to the party which is perceived as the party in power, namely, the party which holds both house of Congress or the party who holds the White House with a strong-willed president.

Activists should try to quietly get a copy of their party's database. In the smallest states, you might get the whole state on a single CDROM. Many others will have one or two CDROMS that cover a congressional district.

Very informative for data mining. You'd be surprised how much information you can compile if you have their names and addresses and primary/general election voting records for a decade or more.
1,390 posted on 01/22/2004 4:14:52 PM PST by George W. Bush
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To: ChadGore
Democrats only use "fightin' words" for their fellow Americans. Why?

Great question. Since I've never been one, I can only speculate as to the answer. Could it be that they don't like America? Nah! I gotta be wrong on that one. After all, they keep reassuring us that they are patriotic even if they always seem to have a grievance with or a need to apologize for the United States. (chuckle)

1,391 posted on 01/22/2004 4:15:28 PM PST by Wolfstar (George W. Bush — the 1st truly great world leader of the 21st Century)
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Another thing, Clinton was no more liberal than Bush based on what they have done. Clinton used the liberals better than Bush is going to be able to.
1,392 posted on 01/22/2004 4:16:53 PM PST by LandofLincoln ((the right has become the left))
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Take what? Bush is turning out to be a big RINO. REAL conservatives can't take it anymore. Maybe Bushbots can.
1,393 posted on 01/22/2004 4:17:23 PM PST by novacation
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To: My2Cents
Nothing against compassion, Coddling? I despise.
1,394 posted on 01/22/2004 4:17:29 PM PST by LandofLincoln ((the right has become the left))
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To: GretchenEE
America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.

Absolutely the headline of the speech (even if the media chooses to ignore it). Also a highly conservative thing to say — and he's backed up his words with his entire foreign policy.

1,395 posted on 01/22/2004 4:17:50 PM PST by Wolfstar (George W. Bush — the 1st truly great world leader of the 21st Century)
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To: Wolfstar
It doesn't not matter what what we, very few, well educated, well read, political fans think.

It's the non politicaly savy that are convinced he is not a conserative.

Heck even NPR likes Bush now!

If he does not offer conservatives something he will repeat his daddy's history.
1,396 posted on 01/22/2004 4:27:32 PM PST by Kay Soze ("W" must move back to the right to win in ' 04)
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To: MEG33
You may not agree with me ,but calling me unprincipled is uncalled for.

Don't sweat it - it's the basic charge for not being exactly as conservative as some feel all should be.

1,397 posted on 01/22/2004 4:30:05 PM PST by Ophiucus
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To: PhiKapMom
I'm ashamed of very few moments in my life.... pulling the lever for Perot is one of those moments :-(

I was a naive twit and I wish to GOD that someone had pulled me aside by my ear and explained the basic math involved. How can we Perot supporters NOT feel responsible for 9/11????
1,398 posted on 01/22/2004 4:32:05 PM PST by Tamzee (W '04..... America may not survive a Democrat at this point in our history....)
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To: George W. Bush
If Spook Daddy had been re-elected, I think the Dims would still hold Congress.


Since you know the Brigadiers, a question.....

Where is Arator at these days?
1,399 posted on 01/22/2004 4:32:52 PM PST by deport ( Owen, Kuhl, Brown, Pickering, Pryor, Allen.. [Estrada, they won])
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To: novacation
Question: Take what?

Answer: The response to the continuous b/tching of the malcontents - the self-appointed "REAL conservatives" on FR. There's not a dime's worth of difference between you all and Democrats these days. Imagine that.

1,400 posted on 01/22/2004 4:33:34 PM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (I love my Green Bay Packers! GO PATRIOTS!)
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