Excerpts from the President's Speech
aboard the USS Lincoln
San Diego, CA | The USS Abraham Lincoln provided a striking backdrop for the Commander-in-Chief's first re-election whistle stop. President Bush arrived on the aircraft carrier aboard a S-3B Viking jet, which should make effective footage for his 2004 campaign ads.
A former pilot, Bush said he briefly took the controls during the rigorous 39-mile flight from San Diego to the ship. It was the first time he had piloted a jet since serving in the Texas Air National Guard, and he remarked it was nice to finally fly without a hangover.
Highlights from the President's speech:
On the end of the war: "After service in the Afghan and Iraqi theaters of war - after 100,000 miles and the longest carrier deployment in recent history - you are homeward bound. We are proud to honor your return by cutting veterans' benefits, student loans, and child care programs in order to fund my tax cut for the wealthy."
On the future of Iraq: "The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time. As a first step, we are installing as the new Iraqi leader Ahmad Chalabi, who is wanted in Jordan on charges of fraud and embezzlement. So he is the type of soulmate we can do business with. We are also awarding lucrative reconstruction contracts to our golf buddies. And the search for weapons of mass destruction continues, overseen by members of my administration who helped to arm Saddam in the first place."
On the war against terrorism: "I have recently ordered the removal of U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia, meeting the first demand of Osama bin Laden. And this week we have submitted a roadmap for getting the Israelis out of Palestine, meeting Osama's second demand. He had other demands I can't remember at the moment, but we'll get around to them all eventually. I'd also like to welcome our new partners, The People's Mujahideen, who were instrumental in the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran in 1979. Let this stand as a warning to terrorists everywhere: No matter where you hide, we will track you down and put you on the payroll."
On American values: "Where freedom takes hold, hatred gives way to hope. American values, and American interests, lead in the same direction: We stand for human liberty. Now please remain standing while we release the homo-sniffing dogs."
