Posted on 02/02/2004 7:44:58 AM PST by prairiebreeze
Talon News) -- Like a coach preparing his team for the big game, President Bush addressed the "Congress of Tomorrow" luncheon in Philadelphia on Saturday. In the city where he was proclaimed the Republican nominee nearly four years ago, Bush thanked members of his party's congressional majority for supporting his agenda and called on them to do more in 2004.
The president praised House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) as well as members of the GOP leadership including Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rick Santorum (R-PA), and John Kyl (R-AZ), Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), and Reps. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Deborah Pryce (R-OH).
President Bush recounted the last three years during which he took the country to war "to uphold the most solemn duty of government, and that is to protect its people" and worked with Congress to heal the psyche of the country that was wounded by the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Bush was upbeat when he said, "History has dealt us a hand, and we're playing it well for the American people."
"These are historic times, because we're at war -- you're a war Congress," Bush said.
He reiterated his desire not only to fight and win the war against terror, but also to promote American values of freedom.
Bush repeated a thematic line, "Freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each person who lives in this world."
Bush pointed out that a recession was underway when he took office, with negative growth for the first three quarters of 2001. He added that the economy was further damaged by corporate scandals and the most devastating terrorist attack in American history. Bush said that because of the quick action taken, "Instead of the economy still languishing as a result of some incredible problems we face, it's now growing, and it's getting stronger."
The President emphasized the importance of keeping the economy growing.
He said, "One of the things we've shown the American people is we understand how the economy works. The economy doesn't work by growing government; the economy works by growing people's wallets so they can spend, save or invest."
Bush said that he would use the recovery he attributes to the tax cuts as a platform to make them permanent.
Bush then touched on a few legislative initiatives such as free trade and tort reform before addressing the issue of fiscal responsibility.
He began by saying, "One clear signal we need to send to the American people and the markets is we're going to be wise when it comes to the expenditure of the people's money."
Conservatives have been grumbling about the explosive growth in spending by the Bush administration. Their discontent was exacerbated last week when a new estimate for the prescription drug benefit Bush personally lobbied Congress for might cost $535 billion instead of $400 billion.
But the president boldly asked the Congress to work with him on the budget he would submit on Monday indicating their futures were intertwined.
He stated, "You spend; I propose. Together we're responsible."
The president revealed his plan in his weekly radio address. He maintains that overall discretionary spending will grow at less than four percent and non-security-related spending would rise less than one percent, the smallest such proposed increase in 12 years.
He will propose to make spending limits the law to assure that Congress observes spending discipline. His plan calls for every additional dollar the Congress wants to spend in excess of spending limits must be matched by a dollar in spending cuts elsewhere.
Bush was adamant when he said, "Budget limits must mean something, and not just serve as vague guidelines to be routinely violated. This single change in the procedures of the Congress would bring further spending restraint to Washington."
What's a Gov't spending cut these days; 5-7% increase?
Yeah, but they'll take that away in a few years.
Go for it, if you are so unhappy or disillusioned here.
I'm not leaving, nor do I have any desire too. The 'domestic enemies of the Constitution' are the ones that need to leave.
Nonsense.
The 'domestic enemies of the Constitution' are the ones that need to leave.
That I'd probably agree with. I'm just pointing out the you DO have options available to you that many in the world don't.
Prairie
Ah, but they have the freedom to stay here, unlike in some countries where they would be exiled (or worse).
One conclusion that I draw from it is that Bush is as big a spender as his predacessors. And unlike Reagan, he has a Republican Congress. And unlike Reagan, he is spending signifantly less on defense, and more on other programs.
Another conclusion is the massive growth in entitlement programs, which Bush has expanded. Most recently with his prescription drugs plan. To his credit, he has proposed some privatization of social security, but I really have to question how hard he is pushing for this.
Also, I expect the "FY 04" numbers to only get bigger since they are only proposals at this point.
They are making it harder to leave the country. At least if you want to take your assets with you.
Clinton tried to enact edicts making it much more difficult to exit the country with your assets.
And Bush enacted one where you can take your money out of the country, but if you don't fill out the proper "permission forms", that in and of itself is considered a crime and you automatically forfeit the money.
And that's a good thing?
I happen to believe that those who are actively and illegally engaged in overthrowing the Constitution and Bill of Rights should be exiled or worse.
When the President went to Great Britain, the media covered all the protests (while ignoring the thousands of people who lined the streets in support of Bush and Blair). At one press conference, one of the tacky journalists asked the President about all the protestors. Bush's response was that they were fortunate to live in a free country where dissent was allowed .... and that now the people of Iraq have that freedom also.
Yes, there are a lot of citizens in this country whom I would love to see put on a slow boat to China. But they have as much right to be here as I do ... and to speak their piece, no matter how distasteful their views might be to me.
There is a big difference between "speaking your piece" and engaging in a criminal conspiracy to overthrow the United States Constitution.
The former is harmless, while the latter is an overt act of treason against all Americans.
Now if people want to exercise their Right to Free speech to modify the Constitution through the lawfully proscribed process, then that is certianly their Right.
But if the want to attempt to subvert the Constitution through means other than a Constitutional amendment, AND act to do so, then they have crossed the line between Free speech and sedition.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.