Bush tells RNC audience "We need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/02/bush.transcript/index.html



(CNN) -- President Bush is scheduled to speak live via satellite to the Republican National Convention Tuesday night. Here are excerpts of the speech, released in advance:

President Bush: We are thankful that the damage in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast was less than many had feared.

I commend the governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for their sure-handed response and seamless coordination with the federal government. I thank all of the wonderful volunteers who stepped forward to help their brothers and sisters in need.

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John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation.

We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain.

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John McCain's life is a story of service above self.

John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. ... No matter what the issue, this man is honest and speaks straight from the heart.

Last year, John McCain's independence and character helped change history. The Democrats had taken control of Congress and were threatening to cut off funds for our troops. In the face of calls for retreat, I ordered a surge of forces into Iraq. Many in Congress said it had no chance of working. Yet one senator above all had faith in our troops and the importance of their mission -- and that was John McCain. Some told him that his early and consistent call for more troops would put his presidential campaign at risk. He told them he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. That is the kind of courage and vision we need in our next commander in chief.

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I am optimistic about our future, because I believe in the goodness and wisdom of the American people. I am optimistic because I have faith in freedom's power to lift up all of God's children and lead this world to a future of peace.

And I am optimistic about something else: When the debates have ended, and all the ads have run, and it is time to vote, Americans will look closely at the judgment, the experience, and the policies of the candidates -- and they will cast their ballots for the McCain-Palin ticket.

[IndianaGreen]

1. A noun, a verb, and (take your pick: 9-11, POW, grandma)

:puke:

[Parche]

2. Fuk 9/11

You did a hell of a job Bushy.....on that day...:grr: :sarcasm: :hi:

[RichGirl]

3. Bush has learned his lessons of 9/11.

He can now read "My Pet Goat" without Laura helping him with the big words.

[Kutjara]

4. We do indeed need such a President. Sadly, we haven't had one for the past 8 years...

...and, if McCain is elected, we won't have for the next however-many-years-before-McPOW-suffers-a-rage-induced-stroke-and-Palin-causes-Armageddon.

If we want a President who understands the lessons of 9/11 (or, as I prefer to call it, 0.8181818181...), there can be no other choice than Barack Obama.

[CitizenPatriot]

5. it's the surge! oh, the suuuurge. the one all the leaders of the military

were calling for before BEFORE we entered this disastrous war????? THAT is somehow McCain's idea now? god, you people STEAL everything and have no grace, manners or humility.

I could list the number of generals who begged for more troops and were turned down by your REPUBLICAN DOMINATED CONGRESS in 2002. You lying, thieving failure of a man.

Just ask General Clark or any of the other men who told you all from the beginning what was REALISTIC. but no, you wanted to sell us the war and in doing so, lied to say it wouldn't need that many troops. You lied and miscalculated the cost because you are a BAD strategist.

Now, years later, when McCain peeps up from his war-mongering manhole, you guys take credit for this bit of "DUH!"????

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Yeah, don't let Ru911dy milk the cow dry.

[rcsl1998]

7. We've Needed A President Who Understood The Lessons Of September 11, 2001 SINCE September 11, 2001!

...or better yet, BEFORE September 11, 2001!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. the Pet Goat lesson?

[Motown_Johnny]

9. The lesson we learned is that Republicans can't keep us safe