George W. Bush Delivers Remarks at an 'Ask the President' Event

Summary

---

(APPLAUSE) In Iraq we're going to have elections in January. In Iraq we're training people, Iraqis, so they can do the hard work of defending themselves. We're training and equipping army, national guard, police, border patrol -- I don't know if you've seen any newspapers recently, but in Samarra, the Iraqi soldiers performed brilliantly. Slowly but surely they're getting the confidence and the training necessary for them to do the hard work, that's our strategy.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

George W. Bush Delivers Remarks at an 'Ask the President' Event

PRESIDENT BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT AN "ASK THE PRESIDENT" EVENT, CLIVE, IOWA, AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE

OCTOBER 4, 2004

SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

[*] BUSH: Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for being here. Please be seated; we've got to get started. I've got some things I want to tell you.

First thing I'm going to tell you is I'm here asking for the vote in Clive, Iowa.

(APPLAUSE) I'm enjoying this campaign. It gives me a chance to get out among the people and tell people what I believe and where I stand and where I'm going to lead this country for the next four years. I'm here also to ask for your help. There's no doubt in my mind, with your help we'll carry Iowa and win a great victory in November.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you all.

They tell me I'm the first sitting President ever to visit Clive.

(APPLAUSE)

I don't know what took all the other ones so long to get here -- (laughter)

-- but thanks for being here. I wish Laura were here.

(APPLAUSE)

Imagine this conversation: Will you marry me? Fine, just so long as I never have to give a speech.

(LAUGHTER)

I said, okay.

(LAUGHTER)

Fortunately, she didn't hold me to the promise, because when people see Laura they see a strong, compassionate, fine, fine First Lady.

(APPLAUSE)

I think in the course of the campaign you have to tell people why they should vote for you, that's what I'm here to do. But perhaps the most important reason of all is so that Laura will be the First Lady for four more years.

(APPLAUSE)

Today, I'm going to talk to some of your fellow citizens about why our policies make sense, and I'd like to answer some questions if you have some. Before I do that, I do want to introduce some people traveling with me. First, I do want to thank the next congressman from the 3rd congressional district, Stan Thompson. He's a good member, I hope you put him in office.

(APPLAUSE)

I'm here to tell you he ought to be the next United States Congressman.

(APPLAUSE) I appreciate members of the U.S. Congress from the Iowa delegation for coming. From the east side of the state, Jim Nussle and Jim Leach, two really fine friends. And I appreciate you all being here.

(APPLAUSE)

Thanks for coming. Leach is a longtime member, one of the most decent men you'll ever meet. Chairman Nussle is the chairman of the Budget committee, making sure that the Iowa taxpayers' monies is well- spent in Washington.

I also want to thank Tom Latham, from northwest Iowa, for being here today. Congressman, thanks for coming. Proud you're here.

(APPLAUSE)

And I just signed an important piece of legislation making a lot of the tax relief -- extending a lot of the tax relief for five years. And I was able to stand on stage with the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Chuck Grassley.

(APPLAUSE)

He's a good man. He went back to Washington. I told him if he'd suffer through one of my speeches, I'd give him a ride back.

(LAUGHTER)

But he's frugal.

(LAUGHTER)

I also told the people, I said, I'm really getting to be good friends with Chuck Grassley, for a reason. The south lawn of the White House -- (laughter)

-- is mighty big, and we're looking for a good mower.

(Laughter ...

See the full content of this document

---