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Monday, January 26, 2004
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SPEECHIFYING PART TWO
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. (Applause.)
Because it's not like we'll need countries like China or Russia to deal with...oh, I don't know, North Korea.
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. (Applause.)
Unless, of course, it never stood in the first place. China was a democracy for about 45 minutes during the 1920's. The it fell and still can't get up. Democracy can be a HUGE pain in the ass. What happens if these Middle Eastern countries elect governments that hate the United States even more than the current ones do? Have fun selling "regime change"then. Okay, you did do it a lot in Central and South America. Point taken.
As long as the Middle East remains a place of tyranny and despair and anger, it will continue to produce men and movements that threaten the safety of America and our friends. So America is pursuing a forward strategy of freedom in the greater Middle East. We will challenge the enemies of reform, confront the allies of terror, and expect a higher standard from our friend. To cut through the barriers of hateful propaganda, the Voice of America and other broadcast services are expanding their programming in Arabic and Persian -- and soon, a new television service will begin providing reliable news and information across the region. I will send you a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy, and to focus its new work on the development of free elections, and free markets, free press, and free labor unions in the Middle East. And above all, we will finish the historic work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, so those nations can light the way for others, and help transform a troubled part of the world. (Applause.)
Actually, the Middle East will remain a fucked up place as long as the overwhelming majority of its people are destitute and illiterate. Lots of people live under tyranny and don't fly planes into buildings. South Korea did for a long time, Indonesia, too. Terrorism has a lot more to do with education and economics than it does with democracy.
The Voice of America is particularly adorable. The VOA broadcast into Eastern Europe for over 40 years to no effect whatsoever. Communism was toppled by the desire to have cool blue jeans and not wait in line for 3 days for nails and underwear, not because a bad DJ told them democracy was keen. The guys you're at war with now know all about blue jeans. As a matter of fact, jeans are big part of the reason they want to kill you all so bad. While you're up to stupid ideas, why don't you send Britney Spears on a USO tour to Islamabad?
But this was my all-time favourite part: "and to focus its new work on the development of free elections, and free markets, free press, and free labor unions in the Middle East." After Florida, a lot of people find it kind of ironic for you to be discussing free elections. Your steel tarriffs and farm subsidies sort of undermine your free markets argument and Republicans aren't famous for supporting free labor unions in the Midwest, let alone the Middle East.
America is a nation with a mission, and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace -- a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special calling: This great republic will lead the cause of freedom. (Applause.)
Yadda, yadda, yadda. This is boilerplate president talk.
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. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than government would have -- and you were right to return it. (Applause.)
"The uncertainty of war?" Did anyone really think that the Iraq war would would end with Saddam statues going up in downtown Akron?
Yes, there was tax relief. There were also massive expenditures. Stuff like the farm bill, the prescripton drug benefit and giant expansion in the Departments of Defence and Education. Oh, and these Axis of Evil countries don't just bomb themselves. That costs money too. Lots and lots of it. Is the ecomony growing at a surprisingly high rate? Yes, it is. But it did in the 1920's, too. And I think everybody remembers how, without the 1930's, "The Grapes of Wrath" would be a sitcom.
America's growing economy is also a changing economy. As technology transforms the way almost every job is done, America becomes more productive, and workers need new skills. Much of our job growth will be found in high-skilled fields like health care and biotechnology. So we must respond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good jobs in our new economy.
America's economy will very shortly turn into reminescient of a Dicken's novel. "High skilled fields" are wonderful for a time. Just look at Silicon Valley. But not everyone can have their very own dot com. There will be great growth in the service industry, though. Hope you kids look good in paper hats when you're fifty years old. Oh, and prostitution will be a good growth industry, too. Girls, repeat after me: "Joe, me number one fucky-fucky. Me love you Looong time." If you can't get it right at first, don't worry. There's still a bunch of Vietnam vets who can teach you the accent and everything.
All skills begin with the basics of reading and math, which are supposed to be learned in the early grades of our schools. Yet for too long, for too many children, those skills were never mastered. By passing the No Child Left Behind Act, you have made the expectation of literacy the law of our country. We're providing more funding for our schools -- a 36-percent increase since 2001. We're requiring higher standards. 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. We are making progress toward excellence for every child in America. (Applause.)
But the status quo always has defenders. Some want to undermine the No Child Left Behind Act by weakening standards and accountability. Yet the results we require are really a matter of common sense: We expect third graders to read and do math at the third grade level -- and that's not asking too much. Testing is the only way to identify and help students who are falling behind. This nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics. I refuse to give up on any child -- and the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the door of opportunity to all of America's children. (Applause.)
People make far too much of education. It's never the really smart kids who grow up to be skilled with firearms, it's the stupid ones. This is a handy skill when you're threatening to overthrow half the planet's governments. You should keep that in mind.
We must continue to pursue an aggressive, pro-growth economic agenda. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)
Because while I want to promise a whole bunch of cool free shit, I don't want the government to actually have the money to pay for it.
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. (Applause.)
Yeah, government regulation is SUCH a pain in the ass! It's getting so most people think that they could suffer irreperable brain damage from a sirloin or get clobbered by a 757 in their office or have the stock value destroyed by Martha Stewart's avarice.......wait a second.....
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. (Applause.)
Which is why I tonight propose the annexation of Iraq. While we're at it, let's grab Venezula, too.
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. (Applause.) We should make the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American people. (Applause.) And we should limit the burden of government on this economy by acting as good stewards of taxpayers' dollars. (Applause.)
I should note that the trade isn't so free and fair as to jepordize my chances of winning Pennsyvannia or Ohio in November. And trust me on the whole Social Security/stock market thing. I've thought it through. Now that Enron, Global Crossing, Adelphia and Martha Stewart Living are all gone, what can happen? There are only good, solid companies left. What's that Dick? Yes, like Haliburton.
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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)
Or multiply by about 15. Who knows? Math isn't my strong suit. But I figure that the best way to make the government be wise with people's money is by not letting them have any of it.
Tonight, I also ask you to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy. 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.
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. (Applause.)
Okay, since I may very well take advantage of this program in the near future, I won't make fun of it. I'm funny that way.
Our nation's health care system, like our economy, is also in a time of change. Amazing medical technologies are improving and saving lives. This dramatic progress has brought its own challenge, in the rising costs of medical care and health insurance. Members of Congress, we must work together to help control those costs and extend the benefits of modern medicine throughout our country. (Applause.)
Meeting these goals requires bipartisan effort, and two months ago, you showed the way. By strengthening Medicare and adding a prescription drug benefit, you kept a basic commitment to our seniors: You are giving them the modern medicine they deserve. (Applause.)
You also helped me carry old-fart states like Arizona and Florida and take an issue the Democrats love off of the table. Gracias.
Starting this year, under the law you passed, seniors can choose to receive a drug discount card, saving them 10 to 25 percent off the retail price of most prescription drugs -- and millions of low-income seniors can get an additional $600 to buy medicine. Beginning next year, seniors will have new coverage for preventive screenings against diabetes and heart disease, and seniors just entering Medicare can receive wellness exams.
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. (Applause.)
I signed this measure proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors, or to take away their prescription drug coverage under Medicare, will meet my veto. (Applause.)
Not that my veto will much matter. The basic laws of mathematics are all the veto I need. This bill vetoes itself and I still get the old farts. Jesus, Karl Rove is fucking smart!
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. To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs. 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. (Applause.) I ask you to give lower-income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow millions to buy their own basic health insurance. (Applause.)
By computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care. To protect the doctor-patient relationship, and keep good doctors doing good work, we must eliminate wasteful and frivolous medical lawsuits. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)
As much as anyone will be paying taxes anymore. Hehehhhehehehehehe.
A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)
And I know what you're thinking. "If government is doing all of these things, isn't the system esssentially government-run?" Not if the government doesn't have any money, it isn't.
I love doing this but I need another break. To be continued.
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