We needed this in the Republican booth last weekend. Nice work.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech at Republican Convention August 31, 2004 (excerpts)
My fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me. To think that a once scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become Governor of California and stand in Madison Square Garden to speak on behalf of the President of the United States that is an immigrant's dream. It is the American dream.
I was born in Europe ...and I've traveled all over the world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate more generous more accepting and more welcoming than the United States.
As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.
Tonight, I want to talk about why I'm even more proud to be an American — why I'm proud to be a Republican and why I believe this country is in good hands.
When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector. . My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union and it is because of the United States of America!
As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the Austrian people — but I always knew America was the place for me.
I finally arrived here in 1968. I had empty pockets, but I was full of dreams.
I remember watching the Nixon and Humphrey presidential race on TV. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which is what I had just left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting government off your back, lowering taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.
I said "What party is he?" My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican!" And I've been a Republican ever since! And trust me, in my wife's family, that's no small achievement!
I'm proud to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan and the party of George W. Bush.
To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future. My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.
If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government…
then you are a Republican!
If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group...
then you are a Republican!
If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does...
then you are a Republican!
If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children ...
then you are a Republican!
If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world ...
then you are a Republican!
And, ladies and gentlemen ...if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism ...
then you are a Republican!
There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people ... and faith in the U.S. economy.
To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: "Don't be economic girlie men!"
The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world's major industrialized nations.
Don't you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago when the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the U.S.?
Ridiculous!
Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't you believe it!
We may hit a few bumps — but America always moves ahead! That's what Americans do!
We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. We move people ahead.
Now, the other party says there are two Americas. Don't believe that either.
I've visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, .. and all over the world. I've visited our military hospitals.
And I can tell you this: Our young men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas!
They believe we are one America and they are fighting for it!
We are one America — and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul!
That's what I admire most about the President. He's a man of perseverance. He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, doesn't waiver, does not back down.
He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy. But ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's decency.
We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children. We're the America that sends out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other country, to fight aids in Africa and the developing world. And we're the America that fights not for imperialism but for human rights and democracy. We are still the lamp lighting the world especially for those who struggle.
No matter in what labor camp, they slave no matter in what injustice they're trapped — they hear our call ... they see our light ... and they feel the pull of our freedom. They come here as I did because they believe.
Someone once wrote — "There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream."
They are right. It's the American dream.
Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! Back from the attack on our homeland — back from the attack on our economy, back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
My fellow Americans ...I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains "the great idea" that inspires the world. It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here to vote here and to live here.
Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. That's why I say ... send him back to Washington for four more years! Thank you, America —
Abridged and copied by grassroots volunteer,_________, who paid for all costs.