    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [November 2, 2002]
    [Pages 1982-1988]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Savannah, Georgia
    November 2, 2002

        Thank you all. You all go ahead and be seated. So Saxby says to me, he says, ``Thanks for coming. Thanks for
    speaking, but don't go on too long. There's a football game on pretty
    soon.''
        I want to thank you all for coming today. I'm here to remind you and
    our fellow citizens from Georgia and America that we have a duty. If you
    love freedom like I know you do, you have a duty to vote. If you're
    interested in making sure democracy is strong, you have a duty and an
    obligation as an American to go to the polls. And I'm not just talking
    about those who call themselves Republicans or Democrats. I'm talking
    about citizens who could care less about political parties. We all have
    a responsibility.
        But I've got some suggestions for you when you get inside the box.
    [Laughter] What's best for Georgia and what is best for America is to
    send Saxby Chambliss to the U.S. Senate.
    What's best for Georgia and what's best for this district--put Max
    Burns in the U.S. Congress. And what is best for
    the State of Georgia, for your budget, for your public schools, is to
    put Sonny Perdue in as Governor of the State of
    Georgia.
        Sonny is a down-to-earth fellow. You don't
    have to worry about him getting any fancy airs when he becomes your
    Governor. He's a fellow who's met a payroll. It seems to make sense to
    me to have somebody as Governor who knows what it's like to meet a
    payroll, particularly if you're interested about people finding jobs.
    He's a person that understands the importance of infrastructure in
    Georgia, not only infrastructure for the big cities but roads for those
    of you who live in rural and smalltown Georgia. He's a man who
    understands the most important priority for a State is the education of
    our children. There's no doubt in my mind Sonny Perdue is going to make
    a great Governor for the people of Georgia.

    [[Page 1983]]

        I appreciate the members of the congressional delegation who are
    here. Charlie Norwood is here with us today,
    and Charlie, thank you for your leadership and your friendship. And
    Congressman Jack Kingston is with us as well.
    I met Jack's mother at the airport. She was
    down there at the foot of the stairs just as I came off the plane here.
    And I said, ``Well, is Jack listening to you?'' She said, ``About half
    the time''--[laughter]--kind of like me and my mother. [Laughter]
        Speaking about females with the last name of Bush, you drew the
    short straw today. See, I wasn't Saxby's
    first choice. He wanted Laura to be here, but she
    sends her best. She sends her best to the people of Georgia. Like me,
    she's urging you to go to the polls. Like me, she knows what's best for
    Georgia is that Saxby become the United States Senator. She's out there
    campaigning today. She's campaigning hard. I believe she's in Minnesota,
    and I know I'm going to meet her tomorrow in South Dakota.
        It's pretty ironic that she is the lead
    campaigner for my family. After all, when I married her, she was a
    public school librarian. That in itself doesn't say much, except the
    truth is, she didn't like politics, and she certainly didn't like
    politicians. But thankfully, she said yes when I asked her to marry me.
    And the American people now know why I did. She's calm and steady during
    crisis. She's got a fabulous smile, a great heart. She's got a vision
    where every child can learn to read in America. And she's doing a
    wonderful job as our First Lady.
        I'm here as well because I want to make sure that Denny
    Hastert remains the Speaker of the House
    of Representatives. It's in our--and so, therefore, I'm a strong
    supporter of Max Burns, and I urge you to support
    Max come Tuesday. He'll make you a fine United States Congressman. He's
    a proven leader, and he spent 20 years of his life in the classroom.
    That makes a lot of sense to have somebody in the Congress who's had the
    practical experience of being a teacher. I bet there's some good
    teachers here today. Teaching is a noble profession. It's an important
    profession. Why don't you send yourself a teacher up to Washington, DC,
    to represent you in the United States Congress.
        We've got another fellow here who's seeking the vote that I hope
    wins, and that's Calder Clay. Calder Clay is
    running a good campaign, and if you're living in his district, give him
    all your support.
        Today I'm proud to be up here with Nancy Coverdell, the widow of our great friend Paul Coverdell. She is
    a--she's cool. [Laughter] She's a great person. And with us as well is
    former Senator Mack Mattingly. And I'm
    honored that both of them have joined today to do what we need to do,
    which is to work hard to turn out the vote. I'm here not only to urge
    you to vote; I'm here to urge you to urge others to vote. If you're the
    grassroots types, people that understand politics, you know that turning
    to your neighbor and saying, ``Let's go out and vote,'' is an important
    way to help these people get elected. You understand what I understand:
    Coffee shop chatter is just as effective as all those endless ads you
    see on TV.
        So when you go to your coffee shops or your houses of worship over
    the next couple of days or your community centers, tell your neighbors
    it's not only important to vote but tell them to support these good
    candidates up here on the stage. And don't be afraid to talk to
    Democrats, by the way. There are a lot of Democrats in this part of the
    world that know the difference between a balanced budget and not. There
    are a lot of Democrats in this part of the world who want somebody who
    can stand strong for homeland security. There are a lot of good
    Democrats who understand that this President needs good support in
    Washington, DC. And so over the next couple of days, I urge you to man
    the phones, to turn out the vote, to energize the grassroots, to get
    people to do their duty, to

    [[Page 1984]]

    support these good candidates. You can make a difference come Tuesday
    with your active energy.
        And there are some reasons. We've got some big hurdles to cross here
    in America. We've got some big challenges ahead of us. I need people
    with whom I can work in the Senate and Congress to meet those
    challenges. One of the big challenges we have is to make sure people can
    find work in America. Our economy is bumping along. Our economy isn't
    good enough, as far as I'm concerned. Oh, there's some positive signs,
    but too many people can't find work in America. That's how I gauge
    whether or not we're doing fine in the economy. Anybody who wants to put
    food on the table and can't find a job, says to me we've got a problem.
        And therefore, we need people in the United States Congress who will
    work with me to expand the job base. And one of the best ways to expand
    the job base is understand how jobs are created. Small business creates
    70 percent of the new jobs in America. Small-business owners--we've got
    to have plans and policies that encourage the growth of small business,
    but we've also got to understand this: If you let a person keep more of
    their own money, they're likely to demand an additional good or a
    service. And when they demand a good or a service, in the marketplace,
    somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody
    produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work.
    That's why the tax relief plan that Saxby Chambliss supported came at the right time in American history.
        That tax relief plan, if it's permanent, means $39 billion in your
    pocket over the next 10 years. After all, it's your money to begin with.
    It's not the Government's money. It's your money. But there's an issue
    of whether or not that tax relief is going to go away. See, it's not
    permanent. I need people in the United States Congress, like the
    candidates up here on this stage, who will join me in making the tax
    cuts permanent. For the sake of jobs, for the sake of people finding
    work, we need to make the tax cuts permanent.
        And let me give you fair warning; let me help you break the code of
    Washington, DC. When you hear them say, ``Oh, we might need to revisit
    the tax cuts,'' that means they're fixing to get in your pocket. That's
    what that means. We don't need people from this part of the State or
    this part of the country who are going to get back in your pocket. We
    need people who understand the role of Government is to create an
    environment in which small businesses can grow to big businesses, in
    which people can find work because of growth.
        No, there's a lot of issues we're going to be working on. We need to
    continue working on education. We passed a good bill, and Saxby
    Chambliss was involved in the passage of
    that bill. You tell your neighbors that when it comes to passing good
    education reform legislation out of Washington, Saxby Chambliss took an
    active role. It says we trust the people of Georgia to chart the path
    for excellence for every child. See, we believe in local control of
    schools. It says we're going to have high standards for every child, all
    across the country. It says we believe every child can learn. It says
    we're going to spend some substantial money out of Washington, but in
    return for the money, we want to know whether or not every child is
    learning. We don't want children trapped in schools which won't teach
    and won't change. We want to make sure no child in the State of Georgia
    gets left behind.
        I look forward to working with these Members to make sure that
    health care works, particularly Medicare. Our medicine has changed for
    the better. New technologies, new discoveries have made medicine modern.
    Medicare isn't modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. Medicare has
    become a political football. We need people in Congress who will work
    with us to make sure Medicare is modern. And a modern

    [[Page 1985]]

    Medicare system means prescription drug benefits for our seniors.
        I need people in the Senate with whom I can work to make sure our
    judiciary is full of judges who are honest and will not--[applause].
    Bunch up there running the Senate right now has done a lousy job when it
    comes to my nominees for the Federal bench. I say ``lousy job'' because
    we've got a vacancy problem on our benches. All across America there's
    too many vacancies, which means you don't get the justice you deserve.
    They're playing politics with the judges. They don't like the kind of
    people I'm nominating. You see, I'm putting the ones up there that not
    only can do the job, but they're not going to use the bench from which
    to legislate. They're going to use the bench from which to strictly
    interpret the U.S. Constitution. And make no mistake about it in this
    race, if you're interested in a judiciary which is going to work and
    represent your views, Saxby Chambliss is the
    right United States Senator.
        No, there's a lot of issues we can work on together. But there's no
    more important issue than your protection. That's the biggest issue we
    face in Washington, DC, is to protect innocent life, is to protect you
    from an enemy which still lurks out there. And you've just got to know,
    they're there, and they hate us because of what we love. And we love
    freedom. We love the fact that people can pray to an Almighty any way he
    or she sees fit. We love the freedom to speak our mind. We love a free
    press. We love every aspect of our freedom, and we're not going to
    change.
        And that enemy has put us on alert. See, we now understand. And
    therefore, there's a lot of good people doing everything they can to
    protect you, at all levels of government, the Federal level and the
    State level and the local level. We've got people running down any hint.
    Anytime we get any idea that somebody is thinking about doing something
    to America, we're moving on it. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're
    doing everything we can.
        But I think we can do a better job of protecting you. That's why I
    suggested to the Congress that we come together to form a Department of
    Homeland Security, one that will allow the agencies involved with
    securing the homeland, like port security right over here, to be able to
    better coordinate, to be able to better prioritize, and if need be,
    change cultures so that you've got everybody in the Federal Government
    and the State government and the local government working together.
        And the House of Representatives responded. As a matter of fact,
    when it came time to create this Department, and the ideas about the
    Department, I turned to the man from Georgia, Saxby
    Chambliss, for ideas, because he understands
    the issue. After all, he is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on
    Terrorism and Homeland Security. Not only do I trust his judgment, but
    Members of the Congress trust his judgment. And so we got us a good bill
    out of the House.
        But it's stuck in the Senate. The Senate couldn't get the job done,
    and here's why. They wanted me to forfeit power which every President
    since John F. Kennedy has had. See, every President since Kennedy has
    had the capacity to suspend collective bargaining rules in any
    Department of the Federal Government when our national security is at
    stake. In other words, if there's some work rules that prevent the
    Homeland Security Department from doing its job, I would have the
    capacity, for the sake of national security, to suspend those rules. And
    some Senators say, ``You can't have that power.'' See, there's too much
    special interest in Washington, trying to make the decisions on behalf
    of the American people.
        Let me give you what would happen if this went through. I would have
    the capacity to suspend work rules in the Department of Agriculture for
    the sake of national security, but not in the Department that is being
    created to secure you. It just

    [[Page 1986]]

    doesn't make any sense. And therefore, I need a guy like Saxby
    Chambliss in the Senate who won't crater to
    the special interests in Washington, and join me in protecting the
    interests of the American people.
        But the best way to protect America is to hunt these killers down,
    one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what
    we're going to do. We have no choice, see. History has called us into
    action. We love our freedoms, and we're not going to give in to these
    terrorists. We owe it to our children and our children's children.
    That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them for the
    largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was President.
    And I want to thank the Members of Congress for agreeing to that
    request.
        And the message is loud and clear: First, anytime we put our troops
    into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best pay, and the
    best possible equipment. And secondly, here's the message to friend and
    foe alike with this defense bill: We're in this deal for the long haul.
    There's no quit in America. There's not a calendar in the Oval Office
    that says, by such-and-such a date, haul them in, Mr. President. That's
    not the way we think, and that's certainly not the way I think. It
    doesn't matter how long it takes to hunt these killers down; we have an
    obligation to our future to secure freedom and to secure the country.
        And we're making progress. This is a different kind of war. The old
    days you use to--could measure the number of tanks destroyed or
    airplanes shot down or ships sunk, and you'd say, ``Gosh, you're making
    progress.'' These people don't have tanks. They don't have airplanes.
    They're coldblooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to
    their suicidal deaths. That's the way they think, and that's the way
    they fight, which means we've got to keep that coalition together.
        So I'm here to tell you today, the doctrine which says, ``Either
    you're with us or with the enemy,'' it still stands. We're on an
    international manhunt, one at a time. A couple of thousand have been
    hauled in; a couple of thousand met their fate a different way. They're
    not a problem. A lot of them met their fate a different way because they
    dared challenge the United States and the greatest military in the
    history of the world.
        Slowly but surely, we're bringing them to justice. It's going to
    take a while, but this country understands the stakes. See, it all
    changed on September the 11th, 2001. It used to be that oceans could
    protect us. It used to be that if there was a threat somewhere overseas,
    that we could determine whether or not we would deal with that threat,
    because we were pretty secure here at home. You just got to understand
    it's a different era. That's why it's essential we think about the world
    the way it is, not the way we would hope the world would be. My job is
    to be as realistic about the threats as possible and to deal with them.
    It's the job of Senators and Congressmen to be as realistic about the
    true threats we face and deal with them.
        And therefore, I asked the country to debate an important issue, and
    that is Iraq and Saddam Hussein. I wanted
    there to be a honest and open debate in our Congress, reflecting the
    concerns of the American people. I wanted there to be a debate in
    international bodies, because I understand that Saddam Hussein is a
    threat to the American people; he's a threat to our friends; he's a
    threat to our allies. He said he would not have weapons of mass
    destruction. And after 11 years of deceit, he has them. He was close at
    one time to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know how close he is
    today, but a Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon is a grave, grave
    threat to America and our friends and allies.
        He said he wouldn't have chemical
    weapons. He has them. But not only has he got them; I want you all to
    remember, he used them. He not only possesses; he has

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    had a history of using them. And he's used them not only on his
    neighbors, but he's used them on his own people. This man is
    coldblooded. He can't stand America. He can't stand our friends. He
    can't stand freedom.
        And so I went to the United Nations, and I reminded them, for 16
    resolutions, resolution after resolution after resolution, Saddam
    Hussein has defied this international
    organization. And my point to the U.N. was, we want you to be effective.
    We want to be able to work with you to help keep the peace. We want you
    to be the United Nations, not the League of Nations. But if you're
    unable to act, if you're unable to have the backbone necessary to help
    us keep the peace by disarming Saddam Hussein, if you can't do it and if
    Saddam Hussein refuses to do it, then the United States, in the name of
    peace and in the name of freedom, will lead a coalition and disarm
    Saddam Hussein.
        I say that because I want the world to be peaceful. I want there to
    be peace here at home. I want there to be peace around the world. See,
    the evil ones hit us, and they've given us an opportunity to do some
    good. Out of the evil done to America, we'll do good, because we're a
    great nation full of decent and honorable people. I truly believe that
    if we hold the line, that if we stay steadfast in routing out terror,
    that if we're diligent and are willing to lead, that if we remember our
    values and that freedom isn't an American-given value, it is a God-given
    value for everybody, if we remember those values that make us unique,
    we're going to achieve peace. We can accomplish some real good out of
    the evil done to this country, not only abroad but here at home as well.
        One of the things I believe is going to happen is that we will be a
    better America. Out of the evil done to America will come a more
    compassionate country. We've got to remember, in this land of plenty,
    there's a lot of people who hurt. People wonder whether or not the
    American Dream is meant for them. There's addiction and hopelessness and
    loneliness. And Government can help solve those problems, and we're
    going to try to do so. But you've got to remember this: Even though
    Government can hand out money, it can't put hope in people's hearts or a
    sense of purpose in people's lives.
        The best way to help heal America, the best way to make sure good
    comes out of evil, is for our fellow Americans to put their arms around
    somebody who hurts and says, ``I love you, brother,'' or, ``I love you,
    sister.''
        And that's what's happening all across America. See, the American
    spirit is alive and well. It's the spirit that says when it comes to the
    defense of our freedom, we're plenty tough. It's also a spirit that says
    we're going to serve something greater than ourself in life, that part
    of being a patriot is to recognize service to your community is an
    integral part of being an American.
        Today when I landed, I met Sharon Seng, who
    represents the Girl Scouts. I didn't realize it--I now know it--the Girl
    Scouts were founded right here in Savannah, Georgia. That's part of the
    soldiers in the armies of compassion. She is, and so are you. If you
    mentor a child, you're part of the army of compassion. If you feed the
    hungry or the homeless, you're a member of the army of compassion. If
    you help a shut-in, if you're a Boy Scout leader, if you go over to the
    Boys and Girls Clubs, if you help change America, one heart, one soul at
    a time, you're a part of this great movement to make America a more
    compassionate place.
        No, the American spirit is alive and well, best exemplified by what
    took place on the fateful day that changed our history, and that was on
    Flight 93. Citizens were flying across the country. They learned the
    plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their
    loved ones goodbye over modern devices, cell phones. They said a prayer.
    One guy said, ``Let's roll.''

    [[Page 1988]]

    They took the plane into the ground to save lives.
        The enemy didn't understand who they were hitting. They don't
    understand the country. The American spirit is strong. It's alive all
    throughout our land. People understand that serving this country by
    helping people in need is a part of the new patriotism, which allows me
    to boldly predict this: Out of the evil done to America is going to come
    a more peaceful world. Out of the evil done to America is going to come
    a more hopeful America, because this is the greatest nation, full of the
    finest, most compassionate people on the face of this Earth.
        Thank you for coming today. May God bless you, and may God bless
    America.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:10 p.m. in the Executive Aviation Hangar
    at Savannah International Airport in Garden City, GA. In his remarks, he
    referred to senatorial candidate Saxby Chambliss; gubernatorial
    candidate Sonny Perdue; Max Burns, candidate for Georgia's 12th
    Congressional District; Calder Clay, candidate for Georgia's 3d
    Congressional District; Ann Kingston, mother of Representative Jack
    Kingston; and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.