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By Frank Fuhrig and Chris Cermak Sep 3, 2008, 6:24 GMT

McCain has learned lessons of 9-11, Bush says (3rd Roundup)

St Paul, Minnesota - US President George W Bush called new Republican standardbearer John McCain the candidate who 'understands the lessons' of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in an address by satellite Tuesday to the party's national convention. President George W. Bush addresses via video the second session of the 2008 Republican National Convention in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA 02 September 2008. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

President George W. Bush addresses via video the second session of the 2008 Republican National Convention in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA 02 September 2008. EPA/TANNEN MAURYBush, whose low approval ratings have led to a minimized role in the McCain campaign, was originally to speak in person Monday to the presidential nominating convention in St Paul, Minnesota. 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 offence, stop attacks before they happen and not wait to be hit again,' Bush said. 'I know the hard choices that fall solely to a president. John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation.' Arizona delegate Augustus Shaw said he was not disappointed by Bush's failure to appear in person. 'He's the president of the United States. We're at a time of serious national crisis (on the Gulf Coast),' Shaw said. 'I would be concerned if he were here. He has a job to do, and I'm glad he's doing it.' Shaw, an attorney from a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, conceded that Bush's diminished role at the convention - which has a prime-time television audience - might be beneficial, 'if it wasn't John McCain.' The delegate quickly rattled of issues where McCain has had major policy differences with either the unpopular president or fellow Republicans in Congress: tax policy, immigration and the successful troop surge in Iraq, for which McCain was once a lone voice. 'John McCain has a storied history of being his own man,' Shaw said. Convention delegates are expected to formally nominate McCain for president on Wednesday night, with his acceptance speech on Thursday. Republicans have hammered Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who was elected to the Senate in 2004, as inexperienced and unprepared to lead the country. Bush did not mention Obama. The president's address came on the second day of the centre-right Republican convention, which had been drastically curtailed Monday due to the onset of Hurricane Gustav. Bush headlined a convention night that included independent Senator Joe Lieberman, a one-time Democratic vice presidential nominee, and Senator Fred Thompson, a lawyer and actor who mounted a short-lived presidential bid in early 2008. Lieberman, who has been one of McCain's strongest supporters, made a direct plea to Democrats and independent voters, touting McCain's maverick reputation and arguing that he was better prepared than Obama to bring change to Washington. 'I'm here tonight for a simple reason: John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead America forward,' said Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate in the court-contested 2000 presidential elections. With Bush's approval ratings languishing at or below 30 per cent, the McCain campaign has been keeping the president at arm's length. McCain, 72, has appeared with Bush only once - at a private fundraiser - since the president endorsed him in March, after the Arizona senator locked up the Republican nomination. Democrats used their own convention last week in Denver, Colorado, to link McCain to Bush's policies, 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 highlighted their candidate's long- established reputation for being 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. 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.

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ColeSep 3rd, 2008 - 19:04:23

Watch Letterman sometime and see Bush's speeches.

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JimSep 3rd, 2008 - 19:38:20

Why is the word 'Republican' nowhere to be seen in the convention hall ? Just shows how ashames McCain is of being associated with Bush

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SP4: Bush is laughingSep 3rd, 2008 - 19:40:48

..all the wussies who run the same old chestnuts here cannot stand to admit:

Higher employment than Clinton

Higher household wealth than Clinton

Higher tax revenues than Clinton

LOWER taxes than Clinton

Higher GDP growth than Clinton

At every turn, he has outperformed his predecessor. He warned you about foreign oil and proposed domestic drilling. Dems laughed as they got into their G6's and SUV's. Now he laughs in your faces. All you had to do was say yes. Now, go to the pump and smile.

He got Libya to de-nuke, got saddam, has Bin Laden in a cave, whacked Al Qaeda and has the best relationshiop we've ever had with Europe and our allies. He gets his legislation passed with a 30% approval rating.

No boneheads, this guy just keeps on coming.

By the way, anytime you want to see some bad speeches, watch Obama when he's not on the teleprompter i.e. saying Afghaniustan doesn't have enough arabic speaking troops (they do not speak arabic there as a first language) or his comment on abortion not being in the correct pay grade.

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BakerSep 3rd, 2008 - 21:53:36

Those blinders are squeezing your brain, SP!

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JakeSep 3rd, 2008 - 23:22:42

The picture above speaks for itself!

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@ JakeSep 3rd, 2008 - 23:35:57

I agree with you. Everything SP4 opens his mouth and posts something, it just makes the case for getting rid of Bush more clear. He is the best we can hope for with his rants that are complete and total crap.

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McCain has learned lessons of 9-11, Bush says (3rd Roundup)

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