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Email this StoryJan 20, 9:14 PM (ET)
By TERENCE HUNT
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WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.
Mr. Miyagi: No such thing, bad student. Only bad teacher.
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