January 28th, 2003. President Bush gives his 2003 State of the Union Address:
On January 29th, 2003, President George W. Bush addressed the 108th Congress from the Capitol Building:
"Mr. Speaker. Vice President Kasich, distinguished guests, fellow citizens. Tonight our Government is divided. Now, as it has been for most of the last half century, the Republicans control the executive and the Democrats control the legislative. Despite this divide, our Union is still strong. We can however work to bridge this divide. Upon receiving his position as Speaker of the House, Speaker Gephardt pledged to work with members of congress of both sides of the isle. I do to, and I congratulate all of you who were just elected this past November. He also pledged to work with me. I pledge tonight to work with him. Working together is the only way we can do the work of the people. Our economy is still weakened and unemployment is still on the rise. Our budget is also in deficit. Last year in my State of the Union Address, I proposed a Stimulus package to congress to pass, and it never did. Despite this, many of you in this chamber ran on an economic stimulus. Let's do what I proposed we do last year and what you campaigned on this November and pass an economic stimulus, but let's do so in a way that doesn't bring our budget further into deficit. Last year, I also proposed that we make the 2001 tax cuts permanent. This is another way we can help hard working Americans out. This must also be the year that we reform Medicare so that our Senior Citizens don't have to make a choice between prescriptions and food. Our seniors worked hard throughout their working lives, and they deserve better and this Congress must give them better. Another priority of this congress must also be to bring about much needed reforms to our Immigration system. Immigration is what built this Country and we must continue to welcome it. However, it must be done in a legal manor. That is why we must strengthen security at our borders and enforce our laws better than we currently do. For those who are here illegally that contribute to our society and obey our laws, a path to legally obtain citizenship must be part of this legislation....
This past August, an Air Bas in Saudi Arabia that men and women of our Armed Forces have been stationed at since the end of the Persian Gulf War was attacked. The men who carried out this attack had ties to the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, who ordered this attack in retaliation for Missile Strikes launched against Terrorist Training camps in their country by the United States in 1998. We did this in retaliation for the attack on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. At that time the Taliban harbored the Al Qaeda terrorists responsible for the attack on our embassies. Five months ago, it was the Taliban regime itself that attacked us. We must make it clear to them and to others that wish us harm in the world that if you threaten or attack the United States, we will respond and there will be consequences. The United States, as a result of these attacks, is now withdrawing from Saudi Arabia. Over the last 12 years, the United States, through the Prince Sultan Air Base had enforced the sanctions and UN resolutions placed on Iraq after the Gulf War. Despite our withdrawal from Saudi Arabia, we must continue to enforce these sanctions and no fly zones, and must maintain a presence in the region to do so. I will work with my national security team and with the international community to find the best way possible to prevent Iraq from becoming an even greater threat. In the 21st Century, China's influence is increasing throughout the world and it is becoming an economic power. We must ensure that their intentions are peaceful...
Our Country is a Country with a great and unique history. Let's make our future even greater. Thank you, God bless you, and may he continue to bless the United States of America.
After a devastating loss in the midterms for his party and after announcing the departure of two key cabinet members, the President went into his State of the Union Address with a 40% approval rating. Two days after his speech, after receiving mostly positive remarks for his address, they rose to 43%.
