Text of Bush's "Let's Roll" Speech Tonight

Associated Press ^ | November 8, 2001 | George W Bush

[daughterofSOG]

I've been very happy with President Bush until tonight. It seemed in his speech that he forgot to include the people who really make this country great - the capitalists. Personally, I don't care if some 3rd world country hates our guts because we have earned more material things for ourselves and is jealous of us because we produce and make money. Technology, science, innovation, and capitalism make us great. That is what the terrorists were attacking when they hit the World Trade Center. President Bush is encouraging us to go into service jobs and volunteer in service positions. We already have 80% of our citizens in service professions - what we need to encourage are more producers and innovators. As it is, you go into any science library on a college campus and 1/2 the students are foreigners. Instead of importing all of our brain power, (with dubious consequences of giving terrorists an easy in into our country, usually with a PAID felowship no less) we should be encouraging more Americans to go into production, science, and industry. We should not be ashamed of our materialism, our ability to make money, or our innovation. That is why the smartest immigrants want to come here - for their opportunities to make more money and live a better life. I think this line of thinking was a serious ommision from Bush's speech tonight. But we should be cheering Wall Street bankers who went back to work as much (or more than) anyone else, IMHO. Also, don't hold your breath waiting for me to make friends with Muslims. The head of the Islamic group in my city has publicly stated in the papers that he Doesn't think September 11th was terrorism, and at the eastern college I went to all the Nation of Islam muslims used to watch Farakan videos preaching genocide of white women and burying handicapped people alive. So I'll pass thanks!

[Dog Gone]

He's overdoing it. Mistake. It will wear thin. See you at the State of the Union, GWB. Any sooner and I'm going to lose more respect for you than I already have.

I'm sure when it drops to none at all, you'll let us know.

Bush follows a President who, except for the period immediately following his disastrous grand jury testimony, tried to get on television every night.

[BibChr]

Okay, I didn't even get to see the speech, and I'm having to wipe away tears here in the class I'm teaching.

Dan

[Miss Marple]

Since one of the points of this speech was that we are about more than making money, I don't think capitalism was the topic of the evening. Sorry you were disappointed.

[Sloth]

What the --? Disappointment? You must be out of your gourd.

I did not get to hear the speech, but read it here and I am impressed.

[Miss Marple]

Those of us who have cable or satellite and are home during the day have lots of opportunity to watch speeches. For those who only have network television and who work all day, they see him very seldom.

Considering that the media spends a fair amount of time either giving him negative coverage or ignoring him altogether, I do not think he is overdo.ing it.

By the way, 8 years of X42 on every media outlet imaginable was "overdoing it." I swear the Clintons had a "product placement" expert working for them. You will NEVER see President Bush on or in the following media outlets, all of which I saw over the last 8 years: Martha Stewart, House Beautiful, MTV, Antique Trader, Food Network.

[calmseas]

I think you missed the point of the phase "let's roll." It was a tribute to the American determination to overcome adversity which was exemplified in Todd Beamer aboard flight 93. I think "let's roll" will enter the American lexicon of great patriotic phrases alongside phrases such as Nathan Hale's "I regret that I have but one life to give to my country."

[calmseas]

Huh? Overdoing what? Loss of respect for GWB? I think you are in a distinct minority.

[Wasichu]

This is from Bush's speech tonight:

"...We also will encourage service to country by creating new opportunities within the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs for public safety and public health efforts.

"We will ask state and local officials to create a new modern civil defense service, similar to local volunteer fire departments, to respond to local emergencies when the manpower of governments is stretched thin.

"We will find ways to train and mobilize more volunteers to help when rescue and health emergencies arise.

"Americans have a lot to offer, so I've created a task force to develop additional ways people can get directly involved in this war effort, by making our homes and neighborhoods and schools and workplaces safer..."

Someone needs to remind GW that our founding fathers already created a force that could be used "...to respond to local emergencies when the manpower of governments is stretched thin...to mobilize more volunteers to help when rescue and health emergencies arise..."

President, we already have what you are looking to create. It's called the *citizen's militia*, and if the media and the liberals hadn't spent years demonizing all militiamen as "crackpots and anarchists", they could be on the scene helping today. When GW asks all men to strap on a sidearm to protect our country, I'll know we've turned a corner!!

Molon labe, Wasichu

[MyDogDaisy]

I don't care if some third world countrymen hate us either. But, I think you forget that they are trying to kill us - all of us. That's what I care about, and I'm glad that President Bush cares about it too!

[germanshepherd]

Thank you for posting this, Dog Gone. I was unable to see it last night, and I've been looking all over for it. (It's not on whitehouse.gov yet.)

LET'S ROLL!

[Dog Gone]

I bookmarked it. It was a great speech, and whoever it was up above who noted that it made "Let's Roll" a permanent part of the American lexicon is exactly right.

Bush delivered the speech so well, too. At least 30 or 40 times it was interrupted by applause and probably 10 or more of those were standing ovations. It was a great moment.

[WaterDragon]

If "Let's roll" was good enough for a hero who knew he was going to die, it is by damn good enough for a president.

[germanshepherd]

Bush delivered the speech so well, too...

I can imagine, and I hope to be able to see that somewhere. I was in tears just reading it here. What a wonderful President. God bless our President George W. Bush.