    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 15, 2004]
    [Pages 66-71]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in New Orleans
    January 15, 2004

        Thank you all. Thank you all very much for coming. Thanks for the
    warm welcome. It's great to be back in the Big Easy. I've got a lot of
    good memories from this part of the world. [Laughter] Some I can share
    with you--[laughter]--and some I can't. [Laughter]
        We love New Orleans, fabulous city. Thanks for coming. I appreciate
    your support. It's great to be in the State of Louisiana, the home of
    those Bayou Bengals, the mighty LSU Tigers. That's pretty--that was--
    that's awesome. [Laughter] It was exciting for Louisiana. I'm proud for
    you. I'm also glad that you didn't play the University of Texas this
    year. [Laughter] Wait a minute. [Laughter]
        I want to thank you for what you did for Vice President
    Cheney and me last--that last time we were ran,
    in 2000. We carried Louisiana. I'll tell you what we're doing today:
    We're laying the foundation for what is going to be another victory in
    the great State of Louisiana, and we're laying the foundation for what
    is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004.
        And I appreciate your help. I want to thank you for coming today. I
    want to thank you for your support. I want to thank you for your
    prayers. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is turn
    out that vote, find those voters and turn them to the polls.
        I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. [Laughter] But politics is
    going to come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. There's a lot
    on my agenda, on behalf of all the people of this country. As this
    campaign gets cranked up, you tell the people that I'm working on their
    behalf and I'm going to continue to work hard to earn their confidence
    by keeping America secure and strong and prosperous and free.
        I am sorry Laura is not here. She is a
    fabulous First Lady. She's doing a great job. She is--she really,
    really, makes me proud and thankful she said yes when I

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    said, ``Will you?'' [Laughter] She sends her love to all our friends
    here in New Orleans and some of our friends who might have snuck in from
    Texas.
        I appreciate Boysie. I've
    known him for a long time. I want to thank you for your leadership,
    Boysie. You and Canizaro are doing a fine job.
    I want to thank all of you who worked hard to make this event such a
    successful event.
        You've sent some good people from Louisiana to the Congress. I want
    to thank Jim McCrery for joining us today,
    and the next United States Senator, David Vitter.
        Mr. Mayor, I know you're here. I want to
    thank you for coming. I appreciate the mayor of this great city. I
    appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his vision. I look forward to
    working with him to make sure New Orleans realizes its full potential
    and everybody in this city has a chance to succeed.
        Joey Durel is here, the city-parish president
    from Lafayette. I want to thank you for coming, Joey. I want to thank
    all the State and local officials who are here. I want to thank my
    friend Pat Brister, who is the chairman of the
    Louisiana Republican Party, for being here today.
        I particularly want to say thanks to all the grassroots activists--
    [applause]--yes, there you are. The phone callers, the sign-putter-
    uppers, the envelope addressers--get ready. [Laughter] We're counting on
    you. We're counting on you to work those precincts. We're counting on
    you to work those phones. We're counting on you to go to the community
    centers. We're counting on you to turn out the vote.
        I want you to remind the people that over 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've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the
    Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In
    Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those
    regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million
    people in those two 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 there was attacks on our country and scandals in
    corporate America and war, all of which affected the people's
    confidence. But this administration 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.
        When Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to save, or invest,
    the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. And
    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're giving small businesses incentives to expand
    and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has
    laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America
    so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream.
        And today, the economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The
    figures for the third quarter of 2003 show that the economy grew at an
    annual rate of 8.2 percent,

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    the fastest pace 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 in
    the last 5 months. The tax relief we passed is working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in
    our Nation's Capital, and frankly, 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 the
    poor. But in return for access funding, we're finally asking the
    question of school districts all across America, ``Are you teaching our
    children how to read and write and add and subtract?'' This
    administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We
    believe every child can learn, and we expect every child--every school
    to teach so that not one single child is left behind in America.
        We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security to better safeguard ports like New Orleans' port, better
    safeguard our borders, and to better protect the American people. We
    passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Louisiana's
    farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and entrepreneurs. We passed
    budget agreements that have helped to maintain spending discipline in
    Washington, DC. And we recently completed the greatest advance in health
    care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The
    new Medicare bill will give older Americans the option of a prescription
    drug benefit and more control over their health care so that they
    receive the modern medical care that they deserve. On issue after issue,
    this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has
    made progress for the American people.
        The Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Speaker
    Hastert; I enjoy working with
    Leader Frist--two good, honorable people who are
    working hard to deliver results to the American people. I enjoy working
    with the two Congressmen who are here today. We're working hard to
    change the tone in Washington. There's too much needless politics in the
    Nation's Capital, too much zero-sum attitude, too much backbiting. The
    best way to change that tone is to focus on the people's business, is to
    deliver results, and that's exactly what we're doing.
        Those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration,
    results-oriented people, good, honorable, honest people from all walks
    of life. I put together a fantastic administration. Our country has had
    no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. My mother may have a second
    opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we have done a lot. We have come far. But the work is
    only beginning. I have 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 work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate
    so that every citizen--every citizen--has a chance to work and to
    succeed and realize the great promise of this country. 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. 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 rule 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

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    Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side.
        We will still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the
    innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. You see,
    they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat in
    the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the
    will of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated
    by a bunch of thugs and assassins.
        We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we do not have to face them in our own country. And other
    nations are helping--a lot of other nations are helping--because they
    understand a free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, a free Iraq in the heart of the
    Middle East will make the world more secure. We're standing with the
    Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward
    self government.
        These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. The United
    States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this
    essential victory in the war against terror.
        In order to make the world more secure and peaceful, we're working
    to oppose proliferation all around the world. Last month, after talks
    with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to
    disclose and dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders
    around the world now know weapons of mass destruction do not bring
    influence or prestige; they bring isolation and other unwelcome
    consequences. Nations who 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 do not support terror, free nations do not attack
    their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of
    mass terror. 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 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.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world. And when we
    see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away.
    On the continent of Africa, this great Nation, this strong and
    compassionate land, is bringing the healing power of medicine to
    millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. America
    is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue.
        We face challenges at home as well, and we'll be equal to those
    challenges. This administration will continue to promote a pro-growth,
    pro-entrepreneur economic agenda until anybody who wants to find a job
    is able to do so.
        And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on
    the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People
    who've been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, no question
    about it. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply
    fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the
    cost of health care--and they do--they affect the Federal budget.
    Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national
    solution. I sent up a good bill to the House, and the House passed it.
    The bill is stuck in the Senate. I call upon the Senate to act on behalf
    of the American people. Perhaps you know a Senator or two you need to
    contact here in Louisiana. No one--no one--and the Senate must
    understand this--no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in
    America. We need medical liability reform--now.
        I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well. And I've met that duty. I've nominated superb men and
    women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law,

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    not legislate from the bench, people like Miguel Estrada. You might have heard of Miguel Estrada here in the
    State of Louisiana. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying
    to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up-or-down votes. Every
    judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on the
    Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States
    Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
        Congress needs to get me an energy bill. This country needs a plan.
    We need a plan to promote energy efficiency and more conservation, a
    plan to develop cleaner technology, to help us explore for energy in
    environmentally friendly ways. But one thing is for certain: We need an
    energy plan to make sure that this country does not have to rely upon
    foreign sources of energy.
        Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate
    nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of what I call
    compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most
    innovative ideas to the tasks of helping our fellow citizens in need.
    There are still millions of men and women who want to end their
    dependence on government, become independent through work. We must build
    on the success of welfare reform to encourage job training programs that
    actually work so we can bring work and dignity into the lives of more of
    our fellow citizens. With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure
    that more Americans can serve their communities and their country
    through the Citizen Service Program.
        Both Houses need to reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative, an
    initiative that will help support the armies of compassion--people from
    all faiths, Christian or Jewish or Muslim faiths, who have heard the
    universal call and are loving a neighbor just like they'd like to be
    loved themselves, people who are helping change America by caring for
    the homeless, mentoring children, and offering hope to the addicted.
    Congress must not fear the influence of faith. Congress must welcome
    faith-based programs to help solve the intractable problems of society.
        A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all of us,
    including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This
    administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in
    America. See, we want more people owning their own home. We have a
    minority homeownership gap in America. I proposed a plan to the
    Congress, starting with helping with the poorest of poor make a
    downpayment for a home, to close that gap. It's in the national interest
    that more people own their own home. We want people owning and managing
    their own healthcare accounts and their own retirement accounts. We want
    more people owning their own small business. This is an administration
    that understands, when someone owns something, he or she has a vital
    stake in the future of our country.
        In a compassionate society, people respect one another. They respect
    their religions. They respect their point of view. And they take
    responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is
    changing from one that has said, ``If it feels good, do it,'' and, ``If
    you've got a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each
    of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in
    life.
        If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're
    responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're
    concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which
    you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're 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'd like to be loved ourself.

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        I see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I
    just met with some of the great social entrepreneurs of the State of
    Louisiana today, neighborhood healers, helpers, people who are actively
    involved in saving America, one heart and one soul and one conscience at
    a time. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance to
    get people--it's an opportunity for people to extend a hand to a
    neighbor in need, and the response has been fantastic. Civil society in
    America is strong and vibrant. Our charities are strong. Churches and
    synagogues and mosques are strong. Policemen and firefighters and people
    who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for
    something greater than yourself. 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 the
    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
    whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by
    spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that
    history has set before us. We welcome it and know for our country, the
    best days lie ahead.
        May God bless you all. Thank you all. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:06 p.m. at the National D-Day Museum. In
    his remarks, he referred to Donald ``Boysie'' Bollinger and Joe
    Canizaro, Louisiana State finance cochairmen, Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.;
    Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA; former President Saddam Hussein
    of Iraq; and Miguel A. Estrada, whose nomination to be U.S. Circuit
    Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit was withdrawn on September 4,
    2003.