The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***
Dates of addresses by George W. Bush in this eBook:
February 27, 2001
January 29, 2002
January 29, 2003
January 20, 2004
February 2, 2005
January 31, 2006
January 23, 2007
January 28, 2008
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State of the Union Address
George W. Bush
February 27, 2001
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress: It is a greatprivilege to be here to outline a new budget and a new approach forgoverning our great country.
I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight. I know Congresshad to formally invite me and it could have been a close vote. So, Mr.Vice President, I appreciate you being here to break the tie. I want tothank so many of you who have accepted my invitation to come to theWhite House to discuss important issues. We are off to a good start. Iwill continue to meet with you and ask for your input. You have beenkind and candid, and I thank you for making a new President feelwelcome.
The last time I visited the Capitol, I came to take an oath. On thesteps of this building, I pledged to honor our Constitution and laws,and I asked you to join me in setting a tone of civility and respect inWashington. I hope America is noticing the difference. We are makingprogress. Together, we are changing the tone in the Nation's capital.And this spirit of respect and cooperation is vital, because in the endwe will be judged not only by what we say or how we say it, we will bejudged by what we are able to accomplish.
America today is a Nation with great challenges, but greater resources.An artist using statistics as a brush could paint two very differentpictures of our country. One would have warning signs: increasinglayoffs, rising energy prices, too many failing schools, persistentpoverty, the stubborn vestiges of racism. Another picture would be fullof blessings: a balanced budget, big surpluses, a military that issecond to none, a country at peace with its neighbors, technology thatis revolutionizing the world, and our greatest strength, concernedcitizens who care for our country and care for each other.
Neither picture is complete in and of itself. And tonight I challengeand invite Congress to work with me to use the resources of one pictureto repaint the other, to direct the advantages of our time to solve theproblems of our people.
Some of these resources will come from government, some but not all.Year after year in Washington, budget debates seem to come down to anold, tired argument: on one side those who want more government,regardless of the cost; on the other, those who want less government,regardless of the need.
We should leave those arguments to the last century and chart adifferent course. Government has a role, and an important role. Yet toomuch government crowds out initiative and hard work, private charityand the private economy. Our new governing vision says governmentshould be active but limited, engaged but not overbearing.
My budget is based on that philosophy. It is reasonable and it isresponsible. It meets our obligations and funds our growing needs. Weincrease spending next year for Social Security and Medicare and otherentitlement progr