Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in Baltimore, Maryland
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1752 Dec. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set forgot his roots, but he’s an incurable opti- my hand this fourth day of December, in the mist as well, because he brings some com- year of our Lord two thousand three, and mon sense to the Governor’s office. He’s of the Independence of the United States of doing a fine job. I’m proud to be here with America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. the first lady, Kendel, as well. Thank you, George W. Bush Kendel. I’m also proud to be with Michael—Mi- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, chael Steele, the Lieutenant Governor, and 9:22 a.m., December 5, 2003] Andrea. I thank them for their service and for working with the Ehrlichs to set such a NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on December 8. positive tone for the great State of Maryland. Thank you, Lieutenant Governor, for com- ing. Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is with us Luncheon in Baltimore, Maryland today. Congressman, thank you for coming. December 5, 2003 I know there’s a lot of State and local officials who are here. Thank you all for coming Thank you all very much. Thanks for com- today. I appreciate you coming. When I’m ing. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks talking about energizing the grassroots, I’m for the bumper sticker. [Laughter] Thanks talking to you. [Laughter] We need you to for making this such a successful event. get into your districts and to energize people Thanks for laying the foundation for what is and get them to vote. If you happen to be going to be a victory in the State of Maryland a mayor, my only advice is to fill the potholes. in 2004. [Laughter] I want to thank you for your contributions. My campaign is going to be run by a fellow I also want to thank you for the contribution named Ken Mehlman. I just had to mention of time you’re going to make. [Laughter] We him. You know why? Because his mother and want you to help energize the grassroots, to dad are here, and I appreciate them coming. put up the signs, and to get on the phones You raised a good man in Ken Mehlman. My and to mail the letters, all reminding your friend Mercer Reynolds is with us. He’s the fellow citizens that we have a duty to vote national finance chairman. Dick Hug is the in America; we have an obligation in a de- State finance chairman, and Dick, I want to mocracy to participate. thank you and the team that made this event You know, the political season is going to so successful. Thanks for working very hard, come in its own time, and I’m getting ready. for what you’re doing. I’m loosening up. [Laughter] But I’ve got a Shelly Kamins gets a lot of credit for work- job to do. Right now, I’m focused on the peo- ing hard as well. Shelly, I’m honored to have ple’s business, and there’s a lot on the agen- your friendship and to have your hard work, da. I will continue to work hard to earn the along with Dick, to make this work. I want confidence of all Americans by keeping this to thank all of you all for being here. I really Nation secure and strong and prosperous and appreciate you taking time to come. I’m free. proud to have your support. Laura sends her best. I’m sorry she’s not I want you to tell your friends and neigh- with me. She is a fabulous wife and mom. bors, in the last 3 years, our Nation has acted She’s doing a great job as our First Lady. decisively to confront great challenges. I I’m incredibly proud of her. came to this office to solve problems, not to Fortunately, my favorite sister came— pass them on to future Presidents and to fu- [laughter]—well, my only sister. I love Doro. ture generations. I came to seize opportuni- A brother could have no finer sister than ties, instead of letting them slip away. My Dorothy Koch. Thank you for coming. administration is meeting the tests of our I appreciate your Governor. He is a time. livewire—[laughter]—which is what this Terrorists declared war on the United State needed. I love his attitude. He never States of America, and war is what they got. VerDate jul 14 2003 07:35 Dec 09, 2003 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P49DET4.005 P49DET4 Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Dec. 5 1753 We have captured or killed many of the key The tax relief we passed is working for the leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest American people. of them know we’re on their trail. In Afghani- Three years ago, there was a lot of talk stan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to ter- about education reform, but there wasn’t ror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, much action in Washington, DC. So I acted, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million and called for and the Congress passed the people in those two countries once lived No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bi- under tyranny, and today they live in free- partisan majority, we delivered the most dra- dom. matic education reforms in a generation. Three years ago, our military was not re- We’ve increased spending on Title I students ceiving the resources it needed, and morale at the Federal level. But for the first time, was beginning to suffer. So we increased the we’re asking schools to prove that our chil- defense budgets to prepare for the threats dren are learning to read and write and add of a new era. And today, no one in the world and subtract. We are challenging the soft big- can question the skill and the strength and otry of low expectations. We’re raising the the spirit of the United States military. standards, because we believe very child can Three years ago, the economy was in trou- learn the basics of reading and math, and ble, and a recession was beginning. And then we expect every school to teach the basics our country was attacked, and some of our of reading and math, so not one single child fellow citizens in corporate America forgot is left behind. to tell the truth, and war came upon us, We reorganized the Government and cre- which all affected the people’s confidence. ated the Department of Homeland Security But we acted. We passed tough new laws to better safeguard our borders and our ports to hold corporate criminals to account. And and to better protect the American people. to get the economy going again, I have twice We passed trade promotion authority to open led the United States Congress to pass his- up new markets for Maryland’s entre- toric tax relief for the American people. preneurs and manufacturers and farmers. When Americans have more take-home We passed budget agreements to help main- pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole tain spending discipline in Washington, DC. economy grows, and people are more likely On issue after issue, this administration has to find a job. And so that’s why we’re return- acted on principle, has kept its word, and ing more money to the people, to help them has made progress for the American people. raise their families. That’s why we’ve reduced The Congress gets a lot of credit for the taxes on dividends and capital gains, to en- achievements. I appreciate working with the courage investment. That is why we’re giving Speaker and Majority Leader Frist. These small businesses incentives to expand and to are two fine men, good leaders. We’re work- hire new people. With all these actions, this ing hard to change the tone in Washington. administration has laid the foundation for There’s too much needless politics and end- greater prosperity and more jobs across less backbiting and the zero-sum attitude. America so every single citizen has a chance The best way to defeat that attitude is to to realize the American Dream. focus on results, is to do the people’s business The American economy is strong, and it and deliver. And that’s what we’re working is getting stronger. Today they’ve released hard to do. some more statistics that show the economy And those are the kind of people I’ve asked is strong. Unemployment dropped from 6 to serve in my administration, by the way. percent to 5.9 percent. More jobs are being I’ve attracted fine, fine people to serve the created. In the third quarter, our economy American people, good, honorable, decent grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the Americans from all walks of life. Our country fastest pace in nearly 20 years. The Pur- has had no finer Vice President than Dick chasing Managers Index indicates that our Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. manufacturing sector is getting stronger and [Laughter] is growing. The productivity is high. Invest- In 3 years, we have come far. In 3 years, ment is strong. The home industry is vibrant. we’ve done a lot for the people, but our work VerDate jul 14 2003 07:35 Dec 09, 2003 Jkt 203250 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P49DET4.005 P49DET4 1754 Dec.