    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 9, 2002]
    [Pages 39-42]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Fundraiser for Governor Jeb Bush of
    Florida
    January 9, 2002

        Thank you all very much. First, it's good to be at the old family
    reunion. [Laughter] I want to thank Marv and
    Doro for hosting this reception for our
    brother, my big little brother. [Laughter] I want to thank the
    chairman and the vice chairman of the Republican Party for being here. I want to thank
    the chairman of the Florida Party.

    [[Page 40]]

    I want to thank Al Cardenas, and I want to thank
    you all for coming.
        These are serious times that face our Nation. And these serious
    times require serious leaders, and you're here to support a really good,
    serious man.
        I was reminded about how serious the times are today when we lost a
    KC-135 refueler in Afghanistan. Our hearts and prayers go out to the
    families of the soldiers. But I want to remind them that the cause that
    we are now engaged in is just and noble. The cause is freedom, and this
    Nation will not rest until we've achieved our objective.
        I have explained to the American people that we must be patient--and
    I'm proud to report the Americans are patient--that we're entering into
    a dangerous phase in our war against terror, that we've achieved a lot
    of objectives, thanks to a fabulous military, that we have routed out
    the government that was the host to the parasitical Al Qaida. And in so
    doing, this great Nation liberated women and children from one of the
    most repressive, evil regimes history has ever known.
        My favorite scenes of this conflict have been the joy on the faces
    of Afghan women as our soldiers and our allies have swept into these
    villages where women were so incredibly repressed. It's hard for our
    country to imagine the brutality and the backwardness of the Taliban.
    They are no longer in power, thanks to the great United States of
    America.
        Those who struck America think they can run and hide. It's
    interesting--I find it amazing that the Al Qaida leaders are more than
    willing to convince some of their brethren to commit suicide; yet they,
    themselves, hide in caves. [Laughter] And that's why this phase of the
    war is dangerous, because we're going to hunt them down. They think they
    can hide, but this patient Nation will do whatever it takes to bring
    them to justice. And when we do, the world will be better for it.
        We have got a job to do here at home, and I appreciate working with
    Governor Bush on protecting our homeland. We've got a job to make sure
    that we take every threat seriously. And make no mistake about it, the
    enemy still wants to harm America. But what they don't realize is that
    this Nation is alert, and we're ready. And anytime we find any hint of
    anybody who will try to harm the innocents of our country, we will give
    them the chance to share information with us. [Laughter] We will bring
    them to justice as well.
        But the best homeland defense, of course, is to be successful
    overseas. We're in the first theater. But wherever terror exists, this
    great Nation will hunt it down. It's the calling of our time.
        I appreciate so very much the spirit of unity here in Washington,
    DC, on this war. [Laughter] But we showed what's possible in Washington,
    what can happen in Washington, the last couple of days. I had the honor
    of traveling our country with George Miller of
    California, John Boehner of Ohio, Judd
    Gregg of New Hampshire, and Senator Ted
    Kennedy of Massachusetts. I signed an
    education bill that is a really good piece of legislation. It's a good
    piece of legislation because it enables and empowers Governors like Jeb
    Bush of Florida to continue to strive for excellence for every child.
    And it's a good piece of legislation because it shows what's possible in
    Washington, DC. Political parties are important, but they're not nearly
    as important as doing the Nation's business. And making sure every child
    is educated is a heck of a lot more important than the political parties
    that make up our political system.
        I've worked hard to change the tone in Washington, to focus on big
    matters, and to bring people together to achieve those matters. I hope
    that one of the legacies of my administration will be that results
    matter more than rhetoric and that, as we achieve results, it's
    important to share credit with people.

    [[Page 41]]

        I jested with Ted Kennedy when I told
    him that the folks at the coffee shop in Crawford, Texas, will be amazed
    when they see me standing up there saying nice things about him.
    [Laughter] But I meant them. I meant them, because this bill never would
    have happened had he not made up his mind to help it happen.
        And that's exactly the spirit that Jeb has taken to the governorship
    of Florida. You see, he, too, is a proud Republican, like me, but he
    also understands, children of Florida are more important than political
    parties. And he said he stole ideas from me; he didn't steal ideas from
    me. He had the idea of every child being educated ingrained deeply in
    his heart.
        He is--today I signed an Everglades agreement with the State of
    Florida. It's legislation that passed prior to my time. My job then was
    to certify that the Floridians were honoring their obligation to make
    sure there was enough water to the Everglades park. That was easy to
    sign because I know that deeply ingrained in Jeb's heart is a desire to
    protect the natural beauty of the State of Florida. He can also--he's a
    deeply compassionate man, but he's plenty tough. Just ask the crooks of
    Florida. [Laughter]
        I want to thank you all for making his campaign more viable. But
    what's going to make it really viable is that he is a man who's done in
    office what he said he would do. He speaks straight with the Florida
    voters; he tells them what he believes. He's not one of these kind of
    fellows that walks around with his finger in the sea breeze trying to
    figure out which way the political winds blow. He says what's on his
    mind, not based upon polls or focus groups, but based upon conviction.
    And there's no doubt in my mind that he is not only one of the great
    Governors of Florida's history; he's one of the great Governors of our
    Nation. And he deserves a second term.
        We not only share a last name, but we share the fact we both married
    above ourselves. [Laughter] It's great to be here with Columba as well. Both Jeb and Columba understand there's a
    calling when you hold a high office, that there's an awesome
    responsibility that comes with that office. And that's, first and
    foremost, to bring honor and dignity to the office. And that's exactly
    what this couple has done.
        They may not agree with Jeb in Florida on every issue, but when they
    look at that office, when they look at the office of Governor of
    Florida, they know they've got a man there who will tell them the truth,
    a man who's there for the right reason, and a man who brings honor to
    the great State of Florida.
        Thank you all for coming. May God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:19 p.m. in a ballroom at the Capitol
    Hilton. In his remarks, he referred to reception hosts Marvin Bush and
    Dorothy Koch, the President's brother and sister; Gov. James S. Gilmore
    III of Virginia, chairman, and Ann Wagner, cochairman, Republican
    National Committee; David Johnson, executive director, and Al Cardenas,
    State chairman, Republican Party of Florida; and Columba Bush, wife of
    Gov. Jeb Bush.

    [[Page 42]]