Press Conference of President Bush (FULL TRANSCRIPT)

White House ^ | Apr. 28, 2005 | President George W. Bush

[FairOpinion]

If you go to the link above, they also have a link to the video.

[Echo Talon]

THANK YOU! I just woke up and totally missed the whole thing!

[Lyford]

bump

[SoVaDPJ]

bump

[hfiend]

you didn't miss much.

[syriacus]

Thanks, FairOpinion!

[SunnyD1182]

Awesome press conference by W. Total homerun. If the media and the Democrats weren't such fear-mongering demagogues, we might actually be able to pass that Social Security plan, which is actually a great solution to the system's problems. I'm sure many people on this board aren't too happy about the progressive indexing, but we have to take what we can get. The Democrats have no argument with the "this plan hurts the poor" anymore, but they'll probably use it anyway since people are idiots and won't do the math.

[TASMANIANRED]

Thank you, I have been searching for this for an hour.

[FairOpinion]

I really like this:

"THE PRESIDENT: Polls? You know, if a President tries to govern based upon polls, you're kind of like a dog chasing your tail. I don't think you can make good, sound decisions based upon polls. And I don't think the American people want a President who relies upon polls and focus groups to make decisions for the American people. "

[Myrddin]

Q It's a means-based program where the real wealthy people might not get very much out of it.
THE PRESIDENT: It is -- that's right. I mean, obviously, it is means base when you're talking about lower-income versus wealthier income. The lower-income people's benefits would rise faster. And the whole goal would be to see to it that nobody retired in poverty. Somebody who has worked all their life and paid in the Social Security system would not retire into poverty.

The "fix" for the socialist security system is to fully embrace communism. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx would be proud.

[acapesket]

I thought George was thoughtful, forceful and ...
He hit One out of the Ballpark!
Look at the leftist (reporters)... with their drooling jaws hanging open during the last ten minutes!

They got Bushwhacked.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"The "fix" for the socialist security system is to fully embrace communism. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx would be proud."

Nope, Now the Democrats have to come back with something. How can they say anything when the poor are getting a break and the rich will get soaked.

This move by Bush is to force the RATS into debate. SS is going to get buried. Bush traded SS for Bolton and the Judges.

Watch what happens.

[SunnyD1182]

The "fix" for the socialist security system is to fully embrace communism. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx would be proud.

Come on man. I think we all would rather just have the entire indexing changed and then add personal accounts on top, but that's unfeasible given that we have a liberal party full of demagogues taking up half of the Senate and stonewalling on anything and everything. We're better off with this change than no change, and at least we get the PRAs. That is, of course, of the so-called "progressives" actually vote in favor of progress.

I think the President is playing a very clever political game here. Now, the Democrats can't say "the poor are going to suffer under the Bush plan" since NOTHING changes for them, AND they'd get a chance to have personal accounts now. The middle class would get the benefit of having PRAs and a mixed indexing change, which is better than a flat-out indexing change. The upper class doesn't need Social Security as much, but will still get more benefits than today, and PRAs on top of it. This is a solid plan.

If it ever passes, that is.

[rampage8]

""Nope, Now the Democrats have to come back with something.""

Chuck Schumer & co are already saying that the middle class are the ones getting hosed in this proposal. All the dems I saw on the cable shows seemed nothing less than giddy.

[TheForceOfOne]

Stretch. You mind if I call you Stretch in front of --

Q I've been called worse.



THE PRESIDENT: Okay.

Stretch, I would love to smell zot rising up from your press badge, come say hello sometime.

[cubreporter]

You must have been watching something else.

[cubreporter]

Funny, when this guy said he has been called worse...I told my husband the Prez should have said: "I have no doubt." I did also say to my husband..."My, what bitter little man that reporter came across as."

[gooleyman]

I like the way he emphatically said the savings accounts were "OPTIONAL". The DemocRATS have been trying to say it was all mandatory. Of course, I think a person would be foolish not to opt for the savings plan.

I just wish the percentage I could invest was higher...say 100%!!! I could go for that. Gimme my whole wad.

[etlib]

Third, we must develop promising new sources of energy, such as hydrogen, ethanol or biodiesel.

Hydrogen is not an energy source. It's an energy storage and transmission medium. Hydrogen must be generated from water using some other energy source. When it is burned it produces water. This cycle must result in an overall loss of usable energy meaning that the use of hydrogen as a fuel may use up more of the energy source than other fuels.

Hydrogen is also less efficient to store and transport than gasoline. It may not even be much less polluting since much of the pollution created by gasoline is due to oxygen nitrogen reactions resulting from the use of air rather than pure oxygen.

The water -> hydrogen -> water cycle also means that more carbon dioxide will be produced in the first step of the cycle than if the original fuel was used directly.

[TheForceOfOne]

Now I am picturing what you said and George swinging an imaginary golf club like Johnny Carson would do after delivering the punch line and Doc's band giving him a roll of the drums. lol