St Paul, Minnesota/Washington - US President George W Bush
called Republican presidential hopeful John McCain the candidate who
'understands the lessons' of the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, in an address by satellite to the Republican Party's nominating
convention on Tuesday.
Bush, whose low approval ratings have kept him from playing a
larger role in the McCain campaign to date, was originally to appear
in person Monday at the St Paul, Minnesota convention. He cancelled
the visit due to Hurricane Gustav's arrival on the Gulf Coast.
Bush characterized McCain as an independent thinker who is best
able to lead the country in a time of war, and touted McCain's
military history as a Vietnam War fighter pilot who was captured and
tortured for five years in a Hanoi prison.
'We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who
understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: that to protect
America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they
happen, and not wait to be hit again,' Bush said.
'I have stood in the ruins of buildings knocked down by killers
... I know the hard choices that fall solely to a president,' Bush
said, referring to the collapse of New York's World Trade Center
towers in the 2001 attacks. 'John McCain's life has prepared him to
make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation.'
Republicans have hammered Democratic presidential nominee Barack
Obama, who was elected to the Senate in 2004, for being unprepared to
lead the country. Bush made no specific references to Obama in his
speech.
With Bush's approval ratings hovering below 30 per cent, the
McCain campaign has been keeping the president at arms-length in the
race. McCain, 72, has appeared publicly with Bush only once - at a
private fundraiser - since the president endorsed him in March.
Bush headlined a convention night that included independent
Senator Joe Lieberman, a one-time Democratic vice presidential
candidate, and actor and former presidential candidate Fred Thompson.
Democrats used their own convention last week in Denver, Colorado,
to link McCain's policies to those of the Bush presidency, arguing
that McCain simply brings 'more of the same.'
'The man George Bush needs may be John McCain, but the change
America needs is Barack Obama,' Obama campaign manager David Plouffe
said in a statement Tuesday.
The McCain campaign has touted their candidate's long-held
reputation as a maverick unafraid to go against his own party, and
Bush alluded to that track record in his speech.
'John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He's not
afraid to tell you when he disagrees - believe me, I know,' quipped
Bush, who has tussled with McCain on issues including torture and
global warming.
'No matter what the issue, this man is honest and speaks straight
from the heart,' Bush said.
While Bush was unable to attend, his father and former president
George HW Bush received a long standing ovation as he entered the
convention hall with his wife, Barbara.
The former president did not address the convention, but the party
did run a video tribute of Bush, as well as of former Republican
presidents and icons Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald
Reagan.
McCain will accept the Republican Party's nomination on Thursday.
lanceSep 3rd, 2008 - 03:09:18
Lesson number 1: You have to motivate the American public. If you do not think the American people will support a war then lie to them, piss all over the truth, make up stories to scare them, do anything. No sacrifice of the truth is too great!
Lesson number 2: If Group A bombs you then kill group B.
Lesson number 3: Never let anyone convince you that you lost the Vietnam War. No matter how many centuries it takes, never loose a war or admit defeat.
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