PICTURES, TEXT OF BUSH SPEECH IN APPLETON, WISCONSIN

WBAY.COM ^ | 03/30/2004 | WBAY

[ServesURight]

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President Bush Speaks on "Strengthening America's Economy"

President Bush speaks privately with Neenah volunteer Gloria Grandone

President Bush arrives to an ovation at the PAC

President Bush is speaking right now at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on the theme of "Strengthening America's Economy."

The president received ovations as he arrived on stage at the PAC in downtown Appleton at 11:30. As he took the podium, he jokingly apologized Health & Human Services Secretary-- and former Wisconsin Governor-- Tommy Thompson couldn't be there. "Thirty-eight degrees was too cold to ride a Harley," he joked, referring to Thompson's motorcycle riding.

President Bush also praised the work of Gloria Grandone of Neenah, a volunteer with the Community Action Program and the Salmon Foundation. He greeted her on the tarmac at Outagamie County Regional Airport after Air Force One touched down twenty minutes earlier, and spoke with her privately for a few minutes. He held Grandone up as an example of people using their talents to make life better for others.

President Bush discussed the threat of terrorism and his response to 9/11, and, in a reference to Iraq, he said it's important to deal with emerging threats before they become a threat to our country. "These are historic times. A free and democratic Iraq will change the world," he said, even though "terrorists want to stop the progress of liberty."

Between January 2001 and February 2004, the Appleton-Oshkosh area lost 11,600 jobs.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

But the bulk of his speech was about the economy. He said the nation is in an economic recovery but he recognized that it's not creating enough jobs for everyone. "By making the United States the best place in the world for business," he said, "our job base will expand."

President Bush said the U.S. has five percent of the world's population, which means there's another customer base of 95 percent of the world population that should own something that says "Made in the U.S.A."

He named Oshkosh Truck and Harley-Davidson as a couple of Wisconsin businesses that sell overseas, contributing to the state's $11.5 billion worth of exports last year. "Wisconsin makes products the world wants to buy," President Bush said.

Wisconsin ranks 8th in the nation in the percentage of manufacturing jobs lost since December, 2000.

About 87,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Wisconsin since December 2000.

18 percent of Wisconsin's workforce is in manufacturing jobs. The national average is 12 percent.

Wisconsin had a net loss of 60,800 jobs since December, 2000.

Many jobs lost were high-paying jobs. Many job gains are in the service sector, which tends to offer lower pay.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

In reference to concerns about American jobs going overseas, President Bush said the U.S. cannot have a policy of "economic isolationism." Rather, he said, we should do more to encourage foreign companies to move their jobs to the U.S., mentioning a BMW plant opening in South Carolina.

"What we're doing is levelling the playing field," the president said. He referred to stopping Canada from selling subsidized dairy products in the U.S. and filing a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization against Japan for unfair tax policies. He said, "Open trade means fair trade."

He also urged President Bush to make his tax cuts a permanent part of the U.S. tax code.

The visit was touted as a presidential event, not a campaign stop. The speech, an invitation-only event, was sponsored by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. Tickets were given mostly to local businesspeople, the chamber said. Among those in the audience was former Republican Governor Scott McCallum.

The White House touted President Bush's tax relief agenda for its "significant benefits for the residents of Wisconsin":

• More than 2.1 million taxpayers in Wisconsin have seen their income tax bills reduced
• Over 440,000 small business taxpayers in Wisconsin have additional tax savings to invest in new equipment, expand facilities, and hire additional workers
• More than 710,000 married couples in Wisconsin benefit from marriage penalty relief
• Over 520,000 families in Wisconsin benefited from increasing the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000

Labor groups, environmentalists, anti-war and other protestors gathered with signs at Houdini Plaza, a few blocks away from the PAC. It was not along the president's motorcade route.

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[ServesURight]

BUMP

[ServesURight]

The above isn't the actual text - but the speech is finished and there should be a transcript soon.

[Catspaw]

I don't know if any of the other local stations covered President Bush's speech, but WBAY did.

[quietolong]

Marine One Hovers Over Lambeau Field
http://www.packers.com/pg/2004-03-29/

[Catspaw]

Wow! Someone wanted to see the new Lambeau, huh :-))

I remember when President Bush went to Nitschke Field in 2000 and was greeted by Brett and a number of other Packers. THAT was a special day.

[Molly Pitcher]

Here you go...

[Neenah]

Hi Catspaw..

Today was GREAT ! Actually WGBA Ch. 26, Green Bay had 2 full hours from beginning to end of the whole thing. Excellent coverage! I plan on emailing all of them involved.

The speech was not new, but there is something in viewing him speak. I felt like I did when he was running for President. When we have been fed by the liberal media for weeks, and hear nothing but NEGATIVE from Kerry and his minions...it was like a breath of fresh air after a muggy, hot, humid, stagnant day!

This President is R-E-A-L ! His speech doesn't lift himself up..but lifts up the people, the American people who make this country work. It is so gratifying to hear him talk positive about the people. The courage and strength of all of us and what we are able to do when the going gets tough. His whole speech (read transcript when posted) tied in everything from before the election to now. He gave positive feedback to the business owners that were his audience. When you listened to him, I am sure they walked out of the PAC with a lighter step and a hope for the future ! Not once did he say a discouraging word about the Democrats. Not once did he insinuate we were victims. Nope..he was almost like an example of how to treat someone who has doubt. .....

He didn't let the person dwell on the adversity, he encouraged them to have faith that we had the strength to do the right thing and continue on to do better, and we COULD DO IT ! He praised the people..not himself or his administration ! It was just so uplifting of the spirit. His encouragement to mentor another person who is down. He praised several there who gave of themselves to those who needed encouragement. He praised our military, and vowed to always keep our military strong.

I guess the thing that got me, was when I looked at him, and listened to him, I believed him (like I always have). He is not pandering. That is the difference. With President Bush, you KNOW it is sincere.

He goes right down to the people and engages with them, be it with is smile, or handshake..just the time he spends with each one, and looks them in the eye. It was just wonderful.

It was good for us in Wisconsin to be a part of this today. To hear the press, you would think the person they are talking about surely isn't Geo. W. Bush ! We are blessed to have him for our President. I just don't think we fully realize it now.

I haven't agreed with everything he has done, but if he does not get reelected, I literally have fear of what will happen. Going back to what I said before..talking to the citizens in Appleton today, and giving hope and encouragement was so beneficial. Much better than sitting for an hour listening to negativity and hatred. And that is what I meant about that...if someone is discouraged to a degree, it is so much better to have a strong arm around you lifting you up and encouraging you that things will get better..you do have the strength..and they are with you...than to have someone remind you of your discouragement, call you a poor victim, and help you hate the person or thing that is causing you grief.

He gave everyone there a "gift" today. He gave himself and a vision for the future, all the while letting you know you were in safe hands. And that was.....well......A GIFT.

I thank God for our President.

[Catspaw]

Today was GREAT ! Actually WGBA Ch. 26, Green Bay had 2 full hours from beginning to end of the whole thing. Excellent coverage!

I didn't check around the local channels once I started watching. I noted that the speech wasn't new, but it does seem to be his stump speech (IMHO, it could use some tightening, but I figure he's just trying it out on us). But it's a good speech--what I saw of it because my hubby chose that time to go on & on about something or other (I hit "record" on the VCR) and even though I told him politely to shaddup, he just kept on talking & I kept on nodding and watching the tube--obviously, my hubby is not as political as I am :-))

I'll watch the tape later tonight. I was thrilled at his visit. I only wish I could've gone. Maybe he'll come back to Green Bay once the campaign gets in full swing.

[Neenah]

Hahahahaha...hey, I am better than you ! I have learned to look like I am listening, but ears are completely tuned to what I want to hear ! They are all the same ! LOL !!

Now I am just waiting to be called senile because I now say.." YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT !! "

[Catspaw]

Hahahahaha...hey, I am better than you ! I have learned to look like I am listening, but ears are completely tuned to what I want to hear ! They are all the same ! LOL !!

Fortunately, he was standing near the tube so I could pretend I was giving him my full attention & eye contact and all the while I was listening to the President. I did miss some of the President's speech because my beloved had the nerve to ask me a question and (after repeating the question a few times) wanted an answer. THE NERVE! And then he left for the Guy Stores (Fleet Farm and Menards).

[Neenah]

THE NOIVE !! Ya der hey..."the mens stores"..next trip I am going to send appetizers with him. It is like a family gathering or Packer game whenever he goes there!

[Catspaw]

THE NOIVE !! Ya der hey..."the mens stores"..next trip I am going to send appetizers with him. It is like a family gathering or Packer game whenever he goes there!

I used to go with him. I was just fascinated with the guys in the power tool aisle, just standing & staring at all the power tools--for minutes, if not hours, lost in a power tool fantasy of great magnitude. Now I just ask that he bring home a bag of orange & lemon slice candy and leave it at that.

BTW, I have amused myself the past couple days on watching announcers on cable shows wrestle with the pronounciation of "Antigo." The best was someone on Fox News yesterday. She paused, then pronounced it "anna-TEE-go," kind of an Italian prounciation. I won't even tell them that Peshtigo and Oconto had flooding, too :-)

[Northern Yankee]

Thanks for the scoop.

Saw the pictures of Marine 1 over Lambeau.

Outstanding!

[quietolong]

Wow I must thank you for so going over the top to prove my point!
I mean first you bust every FR posting rule.

>>> Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts <<<

Then you commit a major breach of FR posting etiquette and jump threads.
My hats off to you.

But I will give you a reply back on the thread it belongs!
Here
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1106803/posts?page=32#32