So you think George W. Bush is not a conservative?

SOTU transcript ^ | 1/22/04

[Wolfstar]

ED. NOTE: On Tuesday evening, January 20, 2004, the President of the United States gave one of the most conservative State of the Union addresses in at least a generation. For a SOTU speech, it had a remarkably short spending wish list. Instead, it had passages such as those excerpted below — none of which would have been spoken by a Democrat or liberal (i.e., Leftist), or even a "RINO." Check it out:

[BEGIN EXCERPTS: Bold/underscore emphasis by Wolfstar]

Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty-eight months have passed since September 11th, 2001 — over two years without an attack on American soil. And it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting — and false.

[SNIP]

The once all-powerful ruler of Iraq was found in a hole, and now sits in a prison cell. Of the top 55 officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed 45. Our forces are on the offensive, leading over 1,600 patrols a day and conducting an average of 180 raids a week. We are dealing with these thugs in Iraq, just as surely as we dealt with Saddam Hussein's evil regime.

Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for the better. Last month, the leader of Libya voluntarily pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his regime's weapons of mass destruction programs, including a uranium enrichment project for nuclear weapons.

[SNIP]

Nine months of intense negotiations involving the United States and Great Britain succeeded with Libya, while 12 years of diplomacy with Iraq did not. And one reason is clear: For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible, and no one can now doubt the word of America.

Many of our troops are listening tonight. And I want you and your families to know: America is proud of you. And my administration, and this Congress, will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror.

I know that some people question if America is really in a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime, a problem to be solved mainly with law enforcement and indictments. After the World Trade Center was first attacked in 1993, some of the guilty were indicted and tried and convicted, and sent to prison. But the matter was not settled. The terrorists were still training and plotting in other nations, and drawing up more ambitious plans. After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got.

[SNIP]

Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, the Netherlands — (applause) — Norway, El Salvador, and the 17 other countries that have committed troops to Iraq. As we debate at home, we must never ignore the vital contributions of our international partners, or dismiss their sacrifices.

From the beginning, America has sought international support for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of many nations, and submitting to the objections of a few. America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.

We also hear doubts that democracy is a realistic goal for the greater Middle East, where freedom is rare. Yet it is mistaken, and condescending, to assume that whole cultures and great religions are incompatible with liberty and self-government. I believe that God has planted in every human heart the desire to live in freedom. And even when that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again.

[SNIP]

In the last three years, adversity has also revealed the fundamental strengths of the American economy. We have come through recession, and terrorist attack, and corporate scandals, and the uncertainties of war. And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this economy is strong, and growing stronger.

You have doubled the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000, reduced the marriage penalty, begun to phase out the death tax, reduced taxes on capital gains and stock dividends, cut taxes on small businesses, and you have lowered taxes for every American who pays income taxes.

Americans took those dollars and put them to work, driving this economy forward. The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years; new home construction, the highest in almost 20 years; home ownership rates, the highest ever. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high, and jobs are on the rise.

These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than government would have — and you were right to return it.

[SNIP]

We're requiring higher standards [in schools]. We are regularly testing every child on the fundamentals. We are reporting results to parents, and making sure they have better options when schools are not performing.

[SNIP]

We must continue to pursue an aggressive, pro-growth economic agenda. Congress has some unfinished business on the issue of taxes. The tax reductions you passed are set to expire. Unless you act — (applause) — unless you act — unless you act, the unfair tax on marriage will go back up. Unless you act, millions of families will be charged $300 more in federal taxes for every child. Unless you act, small businesses will pay higher taxes. Unless you act, the death tax will eventually come back to life. Unless you act, Americans face a tax increase. What Congress has given, the Congress should not take away. For the sake of job growth, the tax cuts you passed should be permanent.

Our agenda for jobs and growth must help small business owners and employees with relief from needless federal regulation, and protect them from junk and frivolous lawsuits.

Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run — so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

My administration is promoting free and fair trade to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers — to create jobs for American workers. Younger workers should have the opportunity to build a nest egg by saving part of their Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. We should make the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American people.

[SNIP]

In two weeks, I will send you a budget that funds the war, protects the homeland, and meets important domestic needs, while limiting the growth in discretionary spending to less than 4 percent. This will require that Congress focus on priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next five years.

Tonight, I also ask you to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy.

[SNIP]

I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who break our laws. My temporary worker program will preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions of hardworking men and women out from the shadows of American life.

[ED. NOTE: The precedent for guest worker programs goes back at least to the Eisenhower administration.]

[SNIP]

In January of 2006, seniors can get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. For a monthly premium of about $35, most seniors who do not have that coverage today can expect to see their drug bills cut roughly in half. Under this reform, senior citizens will be able to keep their Medicare just as it is, or they can choose a Medicare plan that fits them best — just as you, as members of Congress, can choose an insurance plan that meets your needs. And starting this year, millions of Americans will be able to save money tax-free for their medical expenses in a health savings account.

[SNIP]

On the critical issue of health care, our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs.

[SNIP]

Small businesses should be able to band together and negotiate for lower insurance rates, so they can cover more workers with health insurance. I urge you to pass association health plans. I ask you to give lower-income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow millions to buy their own basic health insurance.

[SNIP]

To protect the doctor-patient relationship, and keep good doctors doing good work, we must eliminate wasteful and frivolous medical lawsuits. And tonight I propose that individuals who buy catastrophic health care coverage, as part of our new health savings accounts, be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their taxes.

A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. By keeping costs under control, expanding access, and helping more Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world.

[SNIP]

One of the worst decisions our children can make is to gamble their lives and futures on drugs. Our government is helping parents confront this problem with aggressive education, treatment, and law enforcement. Drug use in high school has declined by 11 percent over the last two years. Four hundred thousand fewer young people are using illegal drugs than in the year 2001.

[SNIP]

A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under federal law as a union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states.

Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.

[SNIP]

It's also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the compassion of America's religious institutions. Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country — mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. Yet government has often denied social service grants and contracts to these groups, just because they have a cross or a Star of David or a crescent on the wall. By executive order, I have opened billions of dollars in grant money to competition that includes faith-based charities. Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.

[SNIP]

The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable — and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can trust in that greater power who guides the unfolding of the years. And in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true.

[END EXCERPTS]

[ohioWfan]

How curious of you to use the words "Bushbot" mindset about my understanding of the Scriptural mandate for Christians to be responsible citizens.

It has absolutely NOTHING to do with my support of President Bush, and that conviction of mine predated his Presidency by at least 30 years.

How warped your view is. And how very telling of where you're coming from.....

[Keith]

Clinton: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Bill Lann Lee

Bush: Miguel Estrada, Thomas Pickering, Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen...etc. etc...

THOSE are the important differences...differences which will be around DECADES after Bush has left the White House...

[kegler4]

Exactly right. If Bill Clinton had done the things you named and many others you didn't, the people here praising Bush would have been absolutely HOWLING with indignation. In my world we call that hypocrisy.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Sad but true

[ohioWfan]

Anxiety attacks?? Seriously?

Well perhaps the meds that are prescribed for them would help some of the fringers who seemed quite unhinged for a few days here........

[Kaslin]

He has lost my vote, it's up to him to earn it back. So far he is failing miserably.So you are going to vote for someone that has absolutely no chance to win the nomination and the presidency?

Good work. NOT

[MEG33]

How does that make you feel to think we are "scared".What positive results do you see from voting Constitution Party in Texas,where it is fairly certain that Texas will go for Bush.I hate for anyone to feel impotent.

[kegler4]

"In the case of George W. Bush, on a host of issues, this has been the most conservative president since Ronald Reagan."

This might have a already been said, but since Regean we've had George the first and Clinton. It's not too hard to be more conservative than those two.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Exactly right. If Bill Clinton had done the things you named and many others you didn't, the people here praising Bush would have been absolutely HOWLING with indignation. In my world we call that hypocrisy.

Mine too.

[deport]

Who is the candidate for president of the "Constitution Party" ?

---

They have a candidate named "Clymer" running for VP and someone named "Peroutka" running for President... or at least seeking their nomination.... The only ones listed that I see....

[Blzbba]

"...winning World War IV..."


Given the length of time it will take to change the mindset of terrorist countries, Bush won't be around to see the end of it, if it ever does actually end.

[onyx]

Normally, I read an entire thread and all comments before I comment, but reading one of yours is no different than reading another of yours.

So you're not voting for Bush. So you're voting 3rd Party. So what?

Cast your maturbatory vote, and go play with yourself. This is a discussion for grown-ups.

[i are a cowboy]

President Bush is trying to address a monstrous problem here in this country. He is beginning a dialog and a debate. No one else has a solution and he is willing to take the heat in order to find a solution. He has not issue a proclamation or an Executive Order.

Everybody out there that is taking shots and threatening to change their vote should instead start offering alternatives or enhancements to his proposal. If anyone thinks we can round up and deport millions of illegals is living on another planet.

Leadership means throwing out ideas and starting the discussion. If you have a solution let's hear it.

[Kaslin]

Good post.

BTTT

[Sabertooth]

Tonight, I also ask you to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy.

[SNIP]

I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who break our laws. My temporary worker program will preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions of hardworking men and women out from the shadows of American life.

[ED. NOTE: The precedent for guest worker programs goes back at least to the Eisenhower administration.]

The Editor's note is even more disingenuous than the President's statement.

The Eisenhower Administration's guest worker program included the forced deportation of 1.4 million Illegal Aliens. The President's "guest worker" "not an Amnesty" Amnesty will reward millions of Illegal Aliens with legal status, and put them on the track to a green card and citizenship down the road.

The Editor even snipped out the most damning reference to the President's SOTU remarks regarding his proposal to legalize Illegals:

I propose a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers when no Americans can be found to fill the job. This reform will be good for our economy because employers will find needed workers in an honest and orderly system. A temporary worker program will help protect our homeland, allowing Border Patrol and law enforcement to focus on true threats to our national security.
President George W. Bush
State of the Union Address – January 20th, 2004

The President didn't have the courage to mention his plan to legalize Illegals, but did mention his plan to subject any new American job to wage-depressing competition from as many foreign labor competitors as can be found.

The President is proposing to blow open our borders and admit as many actual "guest workers" beyond the Illegals his "not an Amnesty" Amnesty would legalize, as can be hired at minimum wage, or some other wage below what Americans would demand. All of these "guest workers" would be eligible for green cards and citizenship down the road.

Some temporary workers will make the decision to pursue American citizenship. Those who make this choice will be allowed to apply in the normal way. They will not be given unfair advantage over people who have followed legal procedures from the start.
Text of Bush immigration speech
President outlines plan to give illegals legal status

This is, of course, untrue, because the Amnestied Illegals would have an unfair advantage over legitimate guest worker and immigration applicants who haven't yet been admitted, but are patiently waiting and following our laws while they do so.

It's cynical to suggest that it's not an Amnesty when millions of Illegals are legalized and given a blue card, which they can bargain into a green card, from which they can negotiate citizenship.

President Bush is proposing Amnesty, even as he claims he opposes it.

Amnesty for Illegals does not in any way reflect American values, and that's why the President is struggling so mightily to pretend that his Amnesty isn't what it obviously is.

No, that's not conservative. Neither is it conservative to enable the dissembling coming from the President and the Administration on the matter of his proposal to legalize Illegal Aliens. Splitting hairs over the definition of Amnesty is Clintonian, not conservative. Claiming that giving so-called legal "guest worker" status to Illegals is not a reward is simply dishonest.

Nor is it honest or conservative for the Editor of this piece to imply that the Bush "not an Amnesty" Amnesty is in any way built on the precedent of Eisenhower guest worker program, since Eisenhower deported most of the Illegals at the time, unlike President Bush, who would reward most of them with legal status.

Eisenhower didn't have a guest worker program that was built on appeasement of Illegal Aliens and their advocates. President Bush would like one.

[PhiKapMom]

And those of us who's vote he's lost aren't thinking about ourselves, we're thinking about the future of the country. Certainly more so than those willing to follow blindly while W writes blank check after blank check.

Glad you know that you won't support Pres Bush in 2004 -- please quit being a hypocrite and change your screen name?

You are also the person who told me that contacting over 600 (?) Members of Congress is a waste of time but you come on here and continually trash the President about the budget.

Government 101 Lesson #2 -- President proposes the Budget; Congress approves their version of the Budget and Appropriates the Money which goes to the President to sign. What happened in the 90's when the Republicans objected to the budget and the Government was shut down -- Clinton came out a winner and we looked like a bunch of obstructionist. Maybe you want to shut down Government in an election year, but I certainly don't.

Have you bothered to take a look at how much additional funding has been necessary since 9/11 or how much funding has been necessary to fund our military from all the cuts they took during the Clinton years?

[looscnnn]

Did I say that I was going to be a Libertarian? Say it with me, noooooo. I knew you could. I am looking at either the Reform or the Constitution party.

[kegler4]

Regean=Reagan

[carton253]

Crap... and you know it.

Both candidates offered prescription plans... both candidates had a plan on how that should look.I would rather Republicans be in charge instead of Democrats of the bill.

Campaign Finance Reform - no... don't like the bill. But... still going to vote for the President.

2nd Amendment - oh heaven help us if you can't have your precious guns and semi-automatic rifles, etc. If the automatic assault weapons ban is upheld (I don't expect it to be) then I will still vote for the President.

If, for some strange reason, I don't measure up to your political standards... I am going to take that as a good thing.

[Sloth]

How about Souter, Stevens, O'Connor and Kennedy? All nominated by Republican presidents.