    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 29, 2004]
    [Pages 159-164]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Old Greenwich, Connecticut
    January 29, 2004

        Thank you all for coming. Thanks for coming. This is a huge crowd.
    I'm honored. I appreciate so many people being here tonight. I
    appreciate Debbie mentioning Yale. Some of
    my classmates from the mighty class of 1968 are here. They were the ones
    who invented shock and awe when they heard I was President. [Laughter]
    They're all fine lads. They themselves were C students. [Laughter] Vice
    President Cheney went to Yale. It just goes to
    show if you drop out, you can be the Vice President. [Laughter]
        But I appreciate you coming. We're laying the foundation for what is
    going to be a great national victory in November of this year. I'm
    loosening up. [Laughter] And I'm getting ready. [Laughter] But politics
    is going to come in its own time. See, I've still got a job to do, and I
    want you to tell your friends and neighbors that my administration will
    continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by
    keeping this Nation strong and secure, prosperous and free.
        I want to thank my cousin Debbie for
    finally doing something positive. [Laughter] No, I want to thank her. I
    love Debbie, and I want to thank her for her leadership for this event.
    She married my great friend Craig, the
    former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, who represented our Nation so
    well.
        I'm not Debbie's favorite in my family.
    [Laughter] Laura is her favorite. [Laughter] And
    Laura was her first choice. [Laughter] She couldn't make it, but she
    sends her love. She's a fabulous First Lady for this country.
        I want to thank Rick as well for your hard
    work, thank your team. You've done a fabulous job. It's important that
    you be well-funded if you're going to run a national campaign, so I want
    to thank you for your help. I also want to thank my friend Mercer
    Reynolds. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is
    the national chairman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, and he's doing a
    fabulous job on my behalf. Thank you for coming, Mercer. I appreciate
    you being here.
        I want to thank your fine Congressman, Chris Shays, for his friendship and leadership. Somebody told
    me the funniest thing, that somebody is actually challenging Shays in
    this year. We need to send him back to Congress. He's doing a great job.
        I want to thank you, Lieutenant Governor,
    for being here tonight, and all the State and local officials. I
    appreciate you coming. I'm counting on you. You need to organize and
    turn out that vote. And I appreciate your service to your State, and I
    appreciate what you're fixing to do for this campaign.
        I want to thank--Debbie mentioned that
    we have some family in this neck of the woods. I remember coming to
    Grove Lane here in Greenwich to visit my grandfather and grandmother,
    two really fine, fine people. If you can't count on your family, it's
    hard to count on anybody in politics, so I'm really happy that some of
    my family has showed up tonight. [Laughter] I appreciate Uncle Jon and Uncle Pres--that's Jon Bush and
    Prescott Bush--and Jody and Beth. I'm honored that they're
    here and proud to be a member of their family with them.
        I want to thank the political activists who are here, Herb
    Shepardson and Charlie Glazer and Jo McKenzie. Thank you
    all for coming. I want to thank all the grassroots activists. These are
    the people who put up the signs, get on the phones, turn out the vote.
    These are the people who go to the community centers, places of worship,
    coffee shops, and you put out the word. I'm counting on you. You cannot
    win

    [[Page 160]]

    a campaign without a good grassroots organization. So for those of you
    getting ready to get after this campaign, I want to thank you.
        And when you're out there, you tell them this: You tell them, in the
    last 3 years our Nation has acted decisively to confront great
    challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on
    to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize
    opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is
    meeting the tests of our time.
        Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is
    what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al
    Qaida network. And the rest of them know--and the rest of them can be
    certain we're on their trail.
        In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those
    regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million
    people--50 million--in those 2 countries once lived under tyranny, and
    today they live in freedom.
        Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it
    needed, and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense
    budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in
    the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the
    United States military.
        Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was
    beginning. And then attacks on our country and scandals in corporate
    America and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We
    passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get
    the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to
    pass historic tax relief for the American people.
        This administration understands that when Americans have more money
    to spend or save or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more
    likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to
    help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and
    capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses
    incentives to expand and to hire new workers. With all these actions,
    we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity so that every single
    citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream.
        This economy in America is strong, and it is getting stronger. The
    figures for third quarter of 2003 showed that the economy grew at the
    fastest rate in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business
    investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing
    activity is increasing. We've added over a quarter million new jobs. The
    tax relief we passed is working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in
    Washington, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and
    the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid
    bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in
    a generation. We've increased funding, particularly for poor students.
    But for the first time, the Federal Government is asking the question,
    ``Can our children read and write and add and subtract?'' This
    administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations.
    We're raising the bar. We expect every child to read and write and add
    and subtract, and we expect every school to teach every child. The days
    of excusemaking are over in America. No child shall be left behind in
    this country.
        We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security to better protect our borders and ports and to safeguard the
    American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new
    markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed
    budget agreements to bring much-needed spending discipline to
    Washington, DC.
        And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care
    coverage for America's senior citizens since the founding

    [[Page 161]]

    of Medicare. There's a lot of talk about Medicare in Washington over the
    years. The system got old and tired and stale. So we acted. The new
    Medicare law that I proudly signed will give older Americans the option
    of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care,
    so they can receive the modern medicine they deserve.
        We've got a record of accomplishment. On issue after issue, this
    administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made
    progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit.
    I enjoy working with Congressman Shays and
    the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert,
    Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're working hard to
    change the tone in Washington--there's just too much politics up there,
    too much needless politics, endless backbiting, zero-sum attitude--and
    the best way to do that is to work on behalf of the people and deliver
    results.
        And the Congress gets a lot of credit for the successes over the
    last 3 years, and so do the people in my administration. I put together
    a fantastic group of Americans from all walks of life to serve the
    American people, people who came to Washington, DC, with one thing in
    mind, service to their country. Speaking about good people in my
    administration, our Nation has had no finer Vice President than Dick
    Cheney. Mother may have
    a second opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we've come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set
    great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to
    expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for
    the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we will
    continue to work for a society which is prosperous and compassionate, so
    every citizen has a chance to realize the full promise of our land.
        It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
    actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's
    defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The
    war on terror continues. I wish I could tell you it didn't, but it does.
    The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country
    will not rest; we will not tire; we will not stop until this danger to
    civilization is removed.
        We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be
    certain they will never again have to fear the brutality of Saddam
    Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts largely
    responsible for the current violence now know there will be no return to
    corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken
    the side of freedom have taken the winning side.
        We face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than
    accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. And there is a reason
    why, because, see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would
    be a major defeat in the cause of terror. The collection of killers is
    trying to shake the will of America. America will never be intimidated
    by thugs or assassins.
        We're aggressively after the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we do not have to face them in our own cities. Other nations
    are helping in Iraq, because they understand a free and democratic and
    peaceful Iraq is in their interests. The whole world becomes more
    secure. And the Iraqi people are assuming more of their own defense and
    heading towards self-government. And these are not easy tasks. I
    recognize that, but I believe they're essential tasks. We will finish
    what we have begun, and America will win this essential victory in the
    war on terror.
        We're working to oppose proliferation around the world. Last month,
    after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily
    committed to disclose and dismantle all of its weapons of mass
    destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know with certainty,
    weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige; they
    bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. Nations who

    [[Page 162]]

    abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better
    relations with the United States of America.
        Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty,
    because free nations don't support terror, free nations do not attack
    their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of
    mass destruction. And Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need
    and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of
    every nation. And I know, like you know, that freedom is not America's
    gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and
    woman in this world.
        My administration also understands that unprecedented influence
    brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and
    when we see disease and starvation or hopeless poverty, we will not turn
    away. This strong and powerful Nation is a compassionate nation. And
    America now leads the world in bringing hope and medicines to millions
    of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. This incredible
    Nation of ours is leading the world in this very important work of human
    rescue.
        We have challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that
    we're equal to those challenges. This administration understands
    entrepreneurship. We understand the vital role of risktaking. We will
    continue to promote a progrowth economic agenda so fellow citizens can
    find work.
        We also understand the effects of frivolous and junk lawsuits on our
    society. For example, in health care, we need to cut down on these
    frivolous lawsuits which are running up the cost of medicine. People who
    have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system
    should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement.
    Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care for every citizen,
    and they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a
    national issue which requires a national solution.
        This administration has acted. We passed good legislation up to the
    Hill, and it was passed by the United States House of Representatives,
    for which I am grateful. It's stuck in the Senate. Perhaps you ought to
    notify your two United States
    Senators to get it unstuck. For the sake
    of a health care system that is available and affordable, we need
    medical liability reform now. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous
    lawsuit.
        I have a responsibility to make sure the judicial system runs well,
    and I've met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the
    Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from
    the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off
    the bench by blocking up-or-down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves
    a fair hearing. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate
    to stop playing politics with American justice.
        We've got more work to do, and the Congress needs to get me an
    energy bill. We need a bill which encourages more conservation. We need
    a bill which unleashes the technology of our country to be advanced in
    how we explore and use energy. But for the sake of economic security and
    for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less
    dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation.
    I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservatism, which
    means we'll use the most innovative ideas to the task of helping our
    fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who
    want to end their dependence on Government and become independent
    through hard work. Congress must build on the success of welfare reform
    to bring training and, therefore, work into the lives of more of our
    fellow citizens. We need to make sure more Americans can serve their
    communities and

    [[Page 163]]

    their country through vibrant citizen service programs. Congress needs
    to complete work on the Faith-Based Initiative.
        You see, many of the problems that citizens face are problems of the
    heart, problems of addiction, problems that can't be solved necessarily
    by a Government program. And yet one of the great strengths of our
    country is the fact that we're a country of many faiths, Christian,
    Jewish, Muslim. And in many of those programs emanating out of those
    faiths come healing programs, programs that change people's lives. Our
    country should not fear faith-based programs. We ought to welcome faith-
    based programs, and Government ought to be their ally.
        I believe part of being a compassionate society is one in which we
    encourage ownership. This administration will constantly strive to
    promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning
    their own home. There's a minority homeownership gap in America that
    must be addressed. This administration is addressing it. We want more
    people owning and controlling their own retirement accounts. We want
    people owning and managing their own health care plans, like health
    savings accounts. We want more people owning their own small businesses,
    and the administration understands that. You see, we fully understand
    that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the
    future of this country.
        A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another,
    respect their religious views, respect their opinions. It's a society in
    which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The
    culture of this country is changing from one that has said, ``If it
    feels good, just go ahead and do it,'' and, ``If you've got a problem,
    blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each of us understands we
    are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are lucky
    enough to be a mom or a dad, you are responsible for loving your child
    with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the
    education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for
    doing something about it. If you are a CEO in corporate America, you're
    responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your
    employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is
    responsible for loving our neighbor just like we would like to be loved
    ourselves.
        The culture of service and responsibility is strong here in America.
    I really believe it's the great strength of our country. Two years ago,
    I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage people to
    love their neighbor, to do something to help somebody in need. And the
    response has been really strong, and I am grateful. Our faith-based
    programs and charities all across America are vibrant--integral part of
    our society. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's
    uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something
    greater than ourself. Once again, the children of America believe in
    heroes because they see them every day.
        In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and
    courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the
    character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have
    come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that
    strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in
    ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift
    up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives
    by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the
    history--this is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it
    and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead.
        God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:10 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In
    his remarks, he referred to Debbie Stapleton, master of ceremonies and
    second cousin of the President,

    [[Page 164]]

    and her husband, Craig; Rick Lazio, chief executive officer, Financial
    Services Forum; Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut; his relatives
    Jonathan J. Bush and his wife, Jody, and Prescott Bush, Jr., and his
    wife, Beth; and Hebert J. Shepardson, State chairman, Charles L. Glazer,
    national committeman, and Jo McKenzie, national committeewoman,
    Connecticut State Central Committee, Republican Party.