There are some who think this was a slip, or off the cuff remark, I don't.
I think this is a shot across the Democrats bow.
We all know what happen to his father and his "Read my lips" campaign when he went back on his word and signed in new taxes.
Don't you think President Bush knows this as well?
He has drawn a line in the sand. From this point on he can not support any new taxes, or he will lose any hope of re-election (and it will be the major media that will first insist he must go along with new taxes, and if he does, they will bring this quote up to bash him.)
He knows that, and he knows the Democrats know that. What are they going to do, over ride his veto to raise taxes, if so they can not very well blame him can they?
No, the exact words may not have been worked out before hand, but the idea to come across strongly against any new taxes was planned.
Anyway, that is what I think.
Were those words in his speach or an answer to some question?
If in the speach, I can not imagine they were not practiced.