Posted on 06/18/2004 10:25:49 PM PDT by writer33
While hundreds of protesters lined the streets outside, President Bush basked in applause at a Republican fund-raiser Thursday night, pressing many of the same ideas that won him the White House – but not Washington state – four years ago.
Bush called for a renewal of tax cuts and a strong military, and defended his administration's handling of the war against Iraq, just one day after a federal 9-11 commission found no evidence of a connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda terrorists in plotting the attacks.
"I looked at the evidence, and I saw a threat in Iraq," Bush told a crowd of 650 people at the Spokane Ag Trade Center. "The U.S. Congress looked at the very same intelligence, and they saw a threat."
The evening marked Bush's second trip to Washington in the past year, emphasizing the state's importance in this fall's presidential race. It was the first presidential visit to Spokane in more than a decade, as Bush threw his support behind Senate challenger George Nethercutt, who is expected to face incumbent Sen. Patty Murray in the election this fall.
The $1,000-a-person fund-raiser attracted donors from across Washington and Idaho, raking in more than $750,000 for Nethercutt, who trails Murray in both fund-raising and in recent polls. More than 100 Seattle Republicans chartered a private jet for the event, and other Bush supporters traveled in from Idaho.
But while Bush praised Nethercutt, he spent most of his speech detailing his own campaign. His tax cuts stimulated the economy, he said. He portrayed his administration as tough on corporate criminals. He called for a new national energy plan that includes using natural resources in the American West in an "environmentally friendly way."
Bush spent the second half of his speech defending the war in Iraq, saying it was essential to stop Saddam.
"The job of a president is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future presidents and future generations," he said.
In defense of the mounting problems in Iraq, Bush read from a 1946 New York Times article on problems the country faced in rebuilding Germany after World War II.
"Fortunately my predecessors were not pessimistic people," he said.
In all, Bush spent less than three hours in Spokane, part of a two-day swing through the state. Today, he will conclude with a speech to troops at Fort Lewis, where he will discuss "new threats facing our nation and the ongoing transformation of the military," a White House official said this week.
Air Force One touched down at Fairchild Air Force Base at 5:15 p.m., after the Secret Service swept through the area. The presidential motorcade avoided U.S. Highway 2, speeding down back roads past farm houses and pine trees, before pulling onto Interstate 90. When the motorcade sped down Division Street, hundreds of protesters and supporters waved signs and yelled.
The president met with leading fund-raisers in private for several minutes before taking the stage. If donors raised $10,000, or donated $8,000 themselves, they had the opportunity to have their photograph taken with Bush.
Greeted with a standing ovation, he sprinkled his speech with quips, at one point interrupting a lengthy statement on the economy to note the number of cowboy hats in the audience.
"I like giving speeches where there are cowboy hats," he said with a smile. "It reminds me of home."
Outside, the reception was less warm. Protesters carried signs reading, "Vote Son O'Bush Out" and "Yee-Haw is not a foreign policy." Democrats countered Bush's appearance with a rally in Riverfront Park that attracted 1,500.
"John Kerry's got military ribbons," said John T. Erp, a veteran who spoke at the Democrats' rally. "All George Bush ever had was Pabst Blue Ribbons."
Whatever animosity lurked outside, Bush was in friendly confines at the Ag Trade Center.
"I think he's genuine," said Harold Cox, a Tri-Cities cattle rancher who flew up to Spokane in a friend's jet. "He's an honest man."
Lorna Finman of Coeur d'Alene donated $8,000 to Nethercutt, enough to garner a photograph of her and her two sons posing with Bush.
"He's even more impressive in person," said Finman, who runs a military contracting business in Idaho. "You can see the emotion more. He's a great man."
Bush grew most animated as he criticized Murray, saying she had stood in the way of tort reform and had stalled several of his judicial nominees. He urged the crowd to back Nethercutt, whom he called, "a great friend of mine, a great friend of yours and a great friend of the state of Washington.
"While you're getting out to vote for George, why don't you get out and vote for me as well," he told the crowd. "Both of us are going to carry this state."
Murray's campaign countered that Nethercutt's challenge has stagnated.
"As much as they would like to spin this as momentum, George Nethercutt has not moved in the polls in over a year," said Alex Glass, Murray's spokeswoman. "I don't think anyone they bring out here, including President Bush, can make up for the fact that George Nethercutt does not have a vision for this state."
The dinner's price tag drew a sharp contrast to Bush's 1999 visit as a candidate, when donors paid $20 for breakfast and to hear a 17-minute speech. On Thursday, $1,000 bought access to the president's speech, as well as a buffet of salmon, crackers and cheese. But Bush fondly recalled his visit to Spokane four years ago, winning cheers from the crowd.
"I remember vividly running the river," Bush said. "Unfortunately, I can't run as well anymore. That's what four years of the presidency does to your knees."
Senator Patty Murray's vision is for the Socialist Republic of Washington. This is just a bunch of bunk.
No one in the Bush administration has linked Hussein to 9/11.
More strawman bullshit.
The President won't win Washington State. I'm surprised he even ventured out to Soviet Seattle. There were more Lefties than Republicans to greet him!
"More strawman bullshit."
And they're weren't hundreds of protestors either. That number was exaggerated. There were a few, but far more supporters waving and smiling.
All in all. Liberals make me sick.
I really think that the Bush/Cheney Campaign needs to just blow-off the states that they do not have a chance of carrying such as NY, CA, Massachusettes, Oregon and Illinois and spend their money, time and energy in battleground states that they at least have a chance of carrying such as Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Florida. They should also spend very sparingly in states that The Prez already has such as Texas, Alabama and other southern states.
In 2000, there were over 4 million Christian conservatives who sat at home because of the DUI incident. If they had known then what they know now there would have been no USSC ruling, there would have been no blocking of judges, there's no telling how much easier this war on terror would have been.
You need to drag your neighbors to register, you need to make sure everyone knows that you can no longer sit at home and expect others to pick the best leaders. It's too important this time. If you sit home this time, your sons will be bowing to Mecca 5 times a day, and your daughters will be wearing burqas.
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