[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 43 (Monday, October 29, 2007)]
[Page 1415]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With First-Responders in Escondido

October 25, 2007

    The President. Thank you all very much for letting us come by to say 
hello to you. I'm proud to be here with the Senator, the Terminator--
[laughter]--do you still get called the Terminator?
    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Absolutely, especially my wife. 
[Laughter]
    The President. You know why we're here--Brian Bilbray, the 
Congressman from here--we're here to hopefully inspire you by thanking 
you from the bottom of our hearts for what you do. I'm telling you, 
there's a lot of folks that live up in these hills that have their 
houses because of you. And they're not in a position to thank you, but 
we are. And so we thank you for helping save lives and save property. We 
thank you for serving our country.
    You know, one of the things I like to do is look in the eyes--to 
make sure you're getting rest, and I know you're not. [Laughter] I hope 
there's enough reinforcements coming to make sure that you get your 
shifts so you can get some sleep, because the citizens are going to 
count on you for you awhile.
    These fires are tough, but you know better than anybody how hard it 
is. And so we're here to compliment you on your courage and your 
compassion. I know you're working incredible hours, and you've got 
family members who wonder about you, and so one of the things that we 
can do is also hope you pass on our best regards to your family members. 
I'm confident they're inspired by you, but they're wondering about your 
health and your safety. And so please, when you talk to them, tell them 
the President, the Senator, the Governor, the Congressman, but most of 
all, the folks here in the San Diego area and around the State affected 
by the fires are really appreciative.
    And finally, I'd like to ask God's blessings on you and to protect 
you and guard you. Thanks for being great Americans. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 12:56 p.m. in the Ray Love Picnic Area at 
Kit Carson Park. In his remarks, he referred to Senator Dianne 
Feinstein.