[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 2 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Pages 40-42]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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. 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.

[[Page 41]]

    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.
    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

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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.