Bush Sets Re-Election Themes in Speech

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - President Bush, wrapping the themes of his re-election campaign in his State of the Union address, asserted Tuesday night that America is strengthening its economy and successfully combatting terrorism. "We have not come all this way — through tragedy and trial and war — only to falter and leave our work unfinished," he said.

In a speech to a joint session of Congress, Bush said the nation faced important challenges and choices.

He said it was tempting — but wrong — to think the danger of terrorist attacks had passed even though it has been more than two years since America was attacked.

"We have come through recession and terrorist attack and corporate scandals and the uncertainties of war," the president told lawmakers at the opening of a campaign year. "And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this economy is strong and growing stronger."

Democrats were quick to take issue, noting that 2.3 million jobs have been lost under Bush, that deficits are soaring and casualties are climbing in Iraq.

Bush's speech was designed to cast him as the commander in chief, grappling with the nation's problems and above politics while Democratic rivals for his office race around the campaign trail trading charges.

With a $500 billion budget deficit limiting his options, Bush offered a handful of new initiatives: a pilot plan to encourage student drug testing in public schools and a job training and placement program for released prisoners.

Touching on a politically sensitive issue, he said he would support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages if the courts struck down a law saying marriage should be between a man and woman.

The speech fell one day after the one-two finish of Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards in the Iowa caucuses threw the Democrats' race into a wide-open contest going into next week's New Hampshire primary.

"America this evening is a nation called to great responsibilities," the president said. "And we are rising to meet them. ... We have not come all this way — through tragedy and trial and war — only to falter and leave our work unfinished."

"Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people," he said. "Twenty-eight months have passed since Sept. 11, 2001 — over two years without an attack on American soil — and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting and false."

In the official Democratic response, the top two Democrats in Congress, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, said Bush wasn't doing enough to protect the country from terrorists or to improve the economy.

Bush faced an electorate closely divided over the nation's direction. Americans are evenly split on his handling of domestic issues such as education, health care and energy, and just over half approve of his handling of the economy, polls suggest. His strong suit remains foreign policy, especially his handling of terrorism. Bush's job approval among voters in an AP-Ipsos poll early this month was 56 percent, a relatively strong position at this stage of a re-election campaign.

"With a $500 billion budget deficit limiting his options"

That's about the military budget for the US....No one will be able to balance the budget with huge military spending, tax cuts for the wealth at the same time..

May God Bless China!

Y do u think 500 Billion is too much Money for UNITED STATES,

I dont think so.

And USA is doing great, and its economy getting better.

In absolute terms, 500 billion is a huge number which as we all know is more than the rest of the world's military budget combined. Yet, the US GDP accounts for much less than half of the world's GDP so relatively it is also a large sum.

If you have taken economics, there is a notion which basically means by having large deficit you are only using your children's money and your children will have to pay all the money back later. As a result, you have a great standard living at the expense of your children. In other words, americans will be worse off in the future as a result of humongous national debt.

Of course, the US is a unique country which can keep borrowing money from the rest of the world and doesn't really have to worry about the debt problem as long as the country is prosper, which I think will continue for a long while

Ciao

May God Bless China!

well so far everybody owns much more to the US,,,count on those numbers as well.

Now Bush said they will cut the deficit to half in 5 years, without having to increase taxes, as the economy improoves.

Also the Americans are enjoying the the biggest salary increase than other nations last years and i mean strong european nations not china.

lololo1l,

yeah, I know.. I live in the US too and I am not anti-US.. What I said is fair and balanced... I don't like Bush much; that's all...

May God Bless China!

I know, we should go for some beers some day,,,

http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/cat.htm

""Y do u think 500 Billion is too much Money for UNITED STATES,

I dont think so.

And USA is doing great, and its economy getting better.""


You need to consider that fact that this is just for one year.
How many 500 Billion a year do you think you'r country can handel?
Yes you economy is doing great in one way, but not so great another way.

It can Handle ALot more,,and definetely u should worry about your country's debt Polizei,

Still paying for the world war 2???

 

http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/cat.htm

""It can Handle ALot more,,and definetely u should worry about your country's debt Polizei,

Still paying for the world war 2???""


Were not paying for WW2, but bringing Eastern Germany up to western Standards, that is costing allot on money. But then again this topic is about G.W.Bush, not how Germany stacks up to the US.


So you think it can handle allot more?, that's funny, most economists seem to disagree with.


The US government consistently spends more then it takes in, here is a chart that illustrates what might happen, and I say might, because no one knows the future for sure.

(in Trillions US)
year/GDP/Debt/Debt % of GDP
2003 /$11.00 /$7.00 /63.64%
2004 /$11.44 /$7.35 /64.25%
2005 /$11.90 /$7.72 /64.87%
2006 /$12.37 /$8.10 /65.49%
2007 /$12.87 /$8.51 /66.12%
2008 /$13.38 /$8.93 /66.76%
2009 /$13.92 /$9.38 /67.40%
2010 /$14.48 /$9.85 /68.05%
2011 /$15.05 /$10.34 /68.70%
2012 /$15.66 /$10.86 /69.36%
2013 /$16.28 /$11.40 /70.03%
2014 /$16.93 /$11.97 /70.70%
2015 /$17.61 /$12.57 /71.38%
2016 /$18.32 /$13.20 /72.07%
2017 /$19.05 /$13.86 /72.76%
2018 /$19.81 /$14.55 /73.46%
2019 /$20.60 /$15.28 /74.17%
2020 /$21.43 /$16.04 /74.88%
2021 /$22.28 /$16.85 /75.60%
2022 /$23.18 /$17.69 /76.33%
2023 /$24.10 /$18.57 /77.06%
2024 /$25.07 /$19.50 /77.80%
2025 /$26.07 /$20.48 /78.55%
2026 /$27.11 /$21.50 /79.30%
2027 /$28.20 /$22.58 /80.07%
2028 /$29.32 /$23.70 /80.84%
2029 /$30.50 /$24.89 /81.61%
2030 /$31.72 /$26.13 /82.40%
2031 /$32.99 /$27.44 /83.19%
2032 /$34.31 /$28.81 /83.99%
2033 /$35.68 /$30.25 /84.80%
2034 /$37.10 /$31.77 /85.61%
2035 /$38.59 /$33.35 /86.44%
2036 /$40.13 /$35.02 /87.27%
2037 /$41.74 /$36.77 /88.11%
2038 /$43.41 /$38.61 /88.95%
2039 /$45.14 /$40.54 /89.81%
2040 /$46.95 /$42.57 /90.67%
2041 /$48.83 /$44.70 /91.54%
2042 /$50.78 /$46.93 /92.42%
2043 /$52.81 /$49.28 /93.31%
2044 /$54.92 /$51.74 /94.21%
2045 /$57.12 /$54.33 /95.12%
2046 /$59.41 /$57.05 /96.03%
2047 /$61.78 /$59.90 /96.95%
2048 /$64.25 /$62.90 /97.89%
2049 /$66.82 /$66.04 /98.83%
2050 /$69.50 /$69.34 /99.78%

So you think it can handle allot more?, that's funny, most economists seem to disagree with.

---------------------------------

What economist Dude??? from Germany??or from the Democratic Party...

and second isnt east germany part of Germany,,u make it sound like they are Pollacks

 

.........

Im just saying u dont know much about america and its economy or whatever else, just stick with Germany

.This country can get out of debt whenever they want, they just want to do it by improving the American lives the GDP without increasing the TAXES.

and by the Way that chart is the biggest joke, i dont know why u even put it here.....

http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/cat.htm

""What economist Dude??? from Germany??or from the Democratic Party...""


Again, were talking about the US, did I say German economists?, Let me guess Democrats are quacks and your not, right?


""and second isnt east germany part of Germany,,u make it sound like they are Pollacks""


Hello?, you do realize eastern Germany was run by communists for well over 50 years?
They didn't exactly clean it up before returning it, again this is not about Germany, but the US.



""Im just saying u dont know much about america and its economy or whatever else, just stick with Germany""


Really, what the Hell do you know about me that gives you the ability to make that judgement?



"".This country can get out of debt whenever they want, they just want to do it by improving the American lives the GDP without increasing the TAXES. ""



How?
Where are people going to get the money to pay for it?
With most people living pay check to pay check, with 2.5 million jobs lost under Bush, you think the US can just get out of debt. by raising taxes?
Seems to me you are living in a dream world, and your telling me I don't know much about the US? Yeah!!

yea you know about USA from,,,an article????

How hard is it to undersand that USA has the best economy in the world by far and it is getting better...

I guess u are watching the Euro rise and get excited just like many Europeans.Hope u know the reasons behind that at least,,,,

P.S I forgot USA controls the OIL prices in the world...

By the way how the hell do u know more about America....

It is like me telling you that i know more about Germany than you, wont insist, or u telling  me you know much more than me about New York, and America...

And stop reading articles of the opposition Party where they pick on particular issues making it look different than it is. Also those are issues that every economy goes through anyway...In 1922 Usa had depression So, what that means.Also the Stock Market crashed and alot of more, are u gonne bring a charter showing how it will be in 50 years.

Even few years ago the Stock Market was going DOWN,,,,are we gonne make a chart saying In March it was 200 units down in April 240, in May 300 therefore it is expected in 2 years to crash, so please dont put that useless chart...

And stock Market is now doing great .....  

http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/cat.htm

Why in God's name is Bush cutting $2 trillion in taxes over the next 10 years? Where else is he gonna dig up revenues to fill in the budget gap? And those tax cuts are going mostly to the ones who need them the least, the wealthy.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) The Few, the Proud, the Best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ILLIRIA

I wish you would read what I wrote instead of trying out your speed reading skills.

Where did I say I know more than any one?
You want to know how I know America?
First of all, my wife is an American, I have spend 7 years of my life studying in the US(U of M).
I'm in my third year of "residency"(Medical term for Doctor in training) in the US.
The thing is when your around all those uber brain powered people, you can't help but learn a few things from them.
Yes the stock marked is doing great, but the people are doing not so great.
Corporate profits are up, but not the individual pay checks of people, that is why the stock marked looks good, so if you have stocks then your in good shape.
As far as the Euro, I could care less, as far as Germany with it's current leader ship, we are fvcked.
One more thing, I like debates without being a dick head, but if you want to try me on, then bring it to the flamers forum, I'll leave it up to you if want to get into a bitch slap session.
In other words, don't try to piss me off with petty insults.

hahahahahaha

I see i stroke some nerves....

Anyway in other words each economy has its ups and down, Same way the Stock Market wasnt doing good few years ago.Well conidering the economical situation world wide USA is doing great...

Last year alone Us economy improoved 7% ....

And Also the salary rises more than its inflation, something that doesnt happen more than here.

My point is people should be more concern about their country instead they rush and speed up to critisize america, even on somethig that they do best. 

""My point is people should be more concern about their country instead they rush and speed up to critisize america, even on somethig that they do best. ""


Then don't post in general forum if you do not wish for people to post responses.
As far as the rest of your statements, it would be pointless to argue with you.

Im not saying i dont wish to debate,

It seems since im not agreeing with u it is pointless to argue with me, thats what u say.

""It seems since im not agreeing with u it is pointless to argue with me, thats what u say.""


No, it's your hints such as, your German, mind your own business.
Statements such as, you nothing about America so mind your own business, that tells me that debating with you is pointless.

Statements such as, you nothing about America so mind your own business, that tells me that debating with you is pointless

----------------------------

Anyway, maybe i shouldnt have said mind your own business,

but in your debate bring something more than a numerical chart that is pointless...and dont base your arguement on the article that i brought but deeper than that.You have not brought anything to convince me.  

I will not bother to debate with you, end of discussion.

Of course,

u havent brought anything, u have nothing.

Therefore u dont have a debate on a subject where your knowledge is too limited.

Peace.

Polizei is right. He is backing his argument up with facts, but you just dismiss it as left wing propaganda or some other Republican tactic. A good one you guys use is to just simply ignore it. Mantis, Hawkssss and Polizei are on the right tracks.

+ +

AS MUCH AS  IS TONY BLAIR.

you spit the word "republican" out as if it is a curse word that your MUM put soap in your mouth for uttering. Have more respect.

I got to agree with Jen on this...u took my words.

Economy Grows at a 4 Percent Annual Rate

By JEANNINE AVERSA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The economy grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2003 — a slowdown from the red-hot performance of the prior quarter but still compelling evidence of a recovery in full motion at year's end.

The reading on the gross domestic product for the October-to-December quarter, reported Friday by the Commerce Department, came after the economy grew at a sizzling 8.2 percent rate in the third quarter. That had been the strongest performance in nearly two decades.

Analysts were predicting a slowdown in economic growth in the fourth quarter as the stimulative impact of tax cuts and a refinance frenzy — which propelled the economy during the summer — faded with the onset of winter.

The 4 percent growth rate for GDP, however, was weaker than the 4.8 percent pace that analysts had been forecasting. The GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is considered the broadest measure of the economy's health.

"The bottom line: The fourth quarter was strong and was a very good end to the year. Perhaps it wasn't as good as we thought it would be but it still showed the economy going into this year with significant momentum," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Economy.com.

The fourth-quarter's performance disappointed some Wall Street investors. The Dow Jones industrials were down 41 points in morning trade. The Nasdaq index, however, was up around 4 points.

For all of 2003, the economy grew by a solid 3.1 percent. That marked an improvement over the 2.2 percent increase registered in 2002 and represented the strongest showing since 2000.

For out of work Americans, though, it may not feel like better economic times.

Job growth has been slow. The nation's payrolls grew by a scant 1,000 jobs in December, disappointing economists and frustrating jobseekers.

The economy has lost 2.3 million jobs since President Bush took office in January 2001. The president believes a stronger economy will lead to more jobs. Democrats point to the job losses as evidence of what they say are the president's failed economic policies.

Analysts are hopeful that stronger job growth will take place later this year as businesses feel more confident in the economy and see their bottom lines improve.

In the fourth quarter, businesses increased investment in equipment and software at a brisk 10 percent rate — a positive development — even though that was down from a 17.6 percent growth rate in the third quarter. And, in another encouraging sign, businesses boosted inventories, which they had been keeping lean, in the fourth quarter. That added 0.61 percentage point to the GDP last quarter, a turnaround from the 0.13 percentage-point reduction to GDP seen in the third quarter.

Businesses, however, trimmed spending on new plants and other buildings at a 3 percent rate in the fourth quarter, deeper than the 1.8 percent rate of decline seen in the third quarter. Economists say that a sustained turnaround in capital investment is a necessary ingredient for the recovery to be lasting.

Consumers, meanwhile, spent less vigorously in the fourth quarter, helping to subdue economic growth. They're spending went up at a 2.6 percent rate, down from a brisk 6.9 percent pace registered in the third quarter, which marked the hottest pace since 1986.

Consumers showed less of an appetite to spend on big-ticket items, such as cars in the fourth quarter — after spending lavishly on such"durable goods" in the previous quarter.

Consumers' spending in the third quarter was supported by the extra cash from the president's third round of tax cuts and from a refinancing boom — that has since cooled.

Spending on home building and other residential projects rose at 10.6 percent rate in the fourth quarter. While that was down from a whopping 21.9 percent growth rate in the third quarter, it nevertheless underscored the important support role the housing market has played in the economic recovery.

Also adding to GDP last quarter : government spending on national defense rose at a 1.8 percent rate. That contrasted with a 1.3 percent rate of decline in the third quarter.

The Federal Reserve decided Wednesday to leave a key short-term interest rate at a 45-year low of 1 percent and dropped a pledge to hold rates low for a "considerable period." Some economists believe the Fed could start to nudge up rates this summer, while others believe the Fed will leave them alone throughout this year.