I'm, umm — this trip's a little different from the last time I spent the night here in Miami. Last night, uhh, Jeb and I had some crabs — with like members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Dan Marino and his — uhh, really dynamic wife, TV stars — Andy Garcia, a movie star. We had a fantastic experience. It's a lot better, by the way, than preparing for a presidential debate.

The first choice, and a choice that I think will work with the Iranians is diplomacy. And I believe we can accomplish this through diplomacy.

As you know, I've made the tough decision to commit American troops into harm's way. It's the toughest decision a President can ever make, but I want you to know that I tried diplomacy — in other words, a President has got to be able to say to the American people, diplomacy didn't work.

If you're a son or a daughter, and your mom or dad is eligible for Medicare and he or she hasn't signed up, I believe the son or a daughter has a duty to help the mom or dad understand what's available. That's what sons and daughters are supposed to do. That's called love. And a loving son or daughter should take a look and help their folks realize what's possible, help design a drug benefit program that meets your mom or dad's needs.

Churches all across the country are reaching out — synagogues, people from different faiths understand that it makes sense to help their parishioners realize the benefits of this plan.

If the government makes a promise, we want to make sure that promise lives up to what we've told you. We've said we're going to get you a modern health care system, and we have.

There was two major conflicts in Europe, World War I and World War II.

We got to be wise about our energy policy. I happen to believe in nukyular power. I believe nukyular power — I know nukyular power is renewable, and it protects the environment.

There's not going to be a answer for diversifying away from foreign sources of oil.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I would like to ask one question about the Alaskan pipeline. My understanding is that most of that supply does not come to the United States, and I would like to know why that goes to other countries rather than to where it's needed here, so that we can —
DUBYA: You mean the crude oil coming down the pipeline?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes, sir.
DUBYA: I don't know where it goes, to be honest with you. Sorry. I can find out.

You know, one of the interesting measurements early on was when the enemy started bombing recruiting stations. I don't know if you remember that, but they'd drive by with a suicider or an IED and destroy people standing in line trying to serve their nation.

Uhh, there's a lot of noise in Washington. There's a lot of flattery, there's a lot of, umm, criticism, just a lotta noise. And, uhh, I keep it in — I, I try to keep my life in perspective. I try ta — I don't try to, I do keep my life in perspective. And, uhh, I am focused on achieving certain objectives. Every day — I, I, I said this, and I mean this — every day I think about how to protect America. Every day in the morning, first thing in the morning, I get brief by our intelligence officers about potential threats. That's every morning I'm aware of, uhh, eh, of — the world aroung us. And I told ya — that — that it's, it's, it's — 9/11 changed my thinkin', so my focus is there.

You know, I said — home ownership is valuable. We talked about home ownership here, how important it is — and somebody wakes up the next morning and their home's gone, and not only that, they ended up out in — somewhere else, you know? Good news is those people found love, which is a wonderful thing about our country. And I think about those kind of things, so to answer your question, I appreciate that, umm — first, I'm wise enough not to fall into your trap, because — there are some keen reporters payin' attention to every word I'm sayin'.

I hope that when it's all said and done, people see me as a strategic thinker, and that I'm able to stay focused on, uhh, a — str, strategy that will leave behind peace and hope — peace around the world, and hope not only around the world, but equally importantly, here at home, so people have this sense of the greatness of America. It's a — we're a fantastic country.

The ties that bind the Americas are particularly vivid here in Florida. I mean, if you spend any time in this state, you'll find people from all over our hemisphere who live here. This state has benefited because immigrants from throughout the hemisphere have made their homes here. I know firsthand — I'm pretty familiar with the state's governor. He keeps me abreast of what's taking place in this state. You know, our ties are represented in different ways. Perhaps you know this, but my brother was lucky enough to marry a fantastic woman from Mexico. The First Lady of Florida is Mexican-born. A United States senator from Florida, Mel Martinez, was born in Cuba. No, the ties in our hemisphere between America and our hemisphere are particularly strong in Florida.

Younger folks are going to be coming up in a world where either you got to raise taxes dramatically, borrow significant amounts of money, slash government programs, slash benefits in order to make that red in that chart go away.

WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: I don't really understand. How is it the new [Social Security] plan is going to fix that problem?
DUBYA: Because the — all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those — changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be — or closer delivered to what has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the — like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate — the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those — if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.

To give you an example, in 2027, the system will be $200 billion short. In other words, they collect X amount of payroll taxes, but because baby boomers like me are living longer and have been promised greater benefits, we're $200 billion short that year — that year. And the next year is bigger than $200 billion. In 3037, it's like $300 billion. And finally in 2037, it's $300 billion.

Now, there's some rules, and it's important for you to know the rules. One, you can't take your money that you set aside in the personal account and go to the race track. ...Secondly, you can't pull it all out when it comes time to your — you can't take it all and then go to the track.

We've got to make sure education systems actually educate willing workers for the jobs which exist. And that's why I'm here at the community college system today.

Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats any unlike we have seen before.

We will not have an all-volunteer army. And yet, this week —— we will have an all-volunteer army!

We need a safety net for those with the greatest needs. I believe in community health centers, where low and poor can get their preventative and care.

The last two years, the American people have come to know me. They know my blunt way of speaking.

One of the most amazing events of my life, at least as the presidency, was to go to the NASCAR Race here at the Daytona 500.

JIM LEHRER: New question, Mr. President, two minutes. Do you believe the election of Senator Kerry on November the 2nd would increase the chances of the U.S. being hit by another 9/11-type terrorist attack?
DUBYA: I don't believe it's gonna happen. I believe I'm gonna win because the American people know I know how to lead. I've shown the American people I know how to lead.

My concerns about the Senator is that, in the course of this campaign I've been listening very carefully to what he says, and he changes positions on the war on Iraq. It's a — changes positions on something as ff — fundamental as what you believe in your core, in your heart of hearts is right for — in Iraq. I — you cannot lead if you send mexed miss — mixed messages.

As a matter of fact, this is a global effort. We're facing a — a — group of folks who have such hatred in their heart, they'll strike anywhere — with any means, and that's why it's essential that we have strong alliances, and we do.

But I, again, I wanna tell the American people, we're doin' everything we can at home, but you better have a president who chases these terrorists down and bring 'em to justice before they hurt us again.

I have — I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand.

We work very closely with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Great Britain, who have been the folks delivering the message to the mullahs that if you expect to be part of the world of nations, get rid of your nukyular programs.

That's kind of a pre-September 10th mentality, to hope that somehow resolutions and failed inspections would make this world a more peaceful place.

In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. You know why? Because an enemy realizes the stakes. The enemy understands a free Iraq will be a major defeat in their ideology of hatred. That's why they're fighting so vociferously.

And you know, I think about — Missy Johnson's a fantastic young lady I met in Charlotte, North Carolina, she and her son, Bryan. They came to see me. Her husband, P.J., got killed. He'd been in Afghanistan, went to Iraq. You know, it's hard work to try to love her as best as I can, knowing full well that the decision I made caused her — her loved one to be in harm's way.

JIM LEHRER: Does the Iraq experience make it more likely or less likely that you would take the United States into another preemptive military action?
DUBYA: I would hope I'd never have to. I understand how hard it is to commit troops. I never wanted to commit troops. I never — when I was running — when we had the debate in 2000, I never dreamt I'd be doing that. But the enemy attacked us, Jim, and — ah — I have a solemn duty to protect the American people, to do everything I can to protect us.

DUBYA: We received great bipartisan support. In the Senate, matter of fact, the bipartisan support was so strong only 12 members voted against it.
CROWD: Booo!
DUBYA: Two of those 12 senators are my opponent and his running mate.
CROWD: Booo!
DUBYA: He said — they asked him, they said, why did you do that? He said, well, I actually did vote for the $87 billion right before I voted against it. Voto si, y despues voto no. Muy claro. And so they said, well, wait a minute. And they kept pressing. And he said, well, I was proud of the vote. And then finally he said, it's just a complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.

Last weekend we're continuing to implement our strategy of la verdad, the truth.

I just want you to know there's a lot of really good people who are working hard and long hours to protect your, people at the federal level, people at the state level, first responders here at the local level.

When I campaigned in your great state four years ago and around our nation, I made a pledge to my fellow Americans, if you honored me with the great responsibility of being President, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. Por su apoyo — and with your help, I will do so por cuatro más años.

There's a lot of help moving into this part of the world.

Where are my AmeriCorps buddies? There they are. Did you change shirts? You look too pretty. I was out there watching them help get rid of the invasees — invasive grasses and species that is threatening the watersheds and threatening the wetlands.

Gary [Lytton] is interested in not only, uhh, preserving beauty, he's interested in learning as much as possible to share the knowledge across our country. He's also pretty good about linin' up these volunteers and makin' sure they work. I said, does Gary keep you workin'? He said, you bet. That's good. That's called, uhh — that's called leadership. But Gary, thanks for, thanks for what you're doin'. He tells me that much of the property bought here is a result of — uhh — the bonding issue that Jeb pushed to make sure that much of the great state of Florida is, umm — prodected and preserved — uhh, thoo-out the years to come.

Marge [MacDonald] says she's frustrated that Washington has not delivered a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. She says, 'I'm tired of the talk.' This is her words, not mine.

She is a fabulous sister-in-law, she's a great wife, a wonderful mother, and she's doing a heck of a good job as the First Lady of this country.

She is a fabulous First Lady. I was a lucky man when she said, yes, I agree to marry you. I love her dearly, and I'm proud of the job she's doing on behalf of all Americans. Just like I love my brother.

I'm going to describe what we discussed a little earlier... We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mom or a dad.

I learned some pretty interesting lessons as the governor. And one lesson is that in order for schools to succeed, you'd better have you a good principal.

I want to thank General John Fryer, the Superintendent of Schools here. I thought it was pretty interesting, when I was reading the background of the schools here, I see that you got you a general running the school system.

8,000 Florida teachers have now been retrained since the law came into being. They're retrained on curriculum which work.

I think Jeb and I were touched by what it means to be sitting at a table with a daughter who has said, I've got a responsibility to my mom.

When I landed at the airport on Air Force One, I was honored to walk off, and after I saw brother and others that were there, I met a lady named Ana Cooper.

I mean, if somebody is practicing preventative medicine, it's going to mean Medicare costs go up. Medicaid costs will go up. Veterans health benefits go up.

We're laying the groundwork for a national campaign — a national campaign that I believe will result in a great victory in November 2002.

It means that doctors are practicing what they call preventative medicine. In other words, if you think somebody's going to sue you, if you're in a litigious society, then you'll take extra care by prescribing more and more either procedures, or whatever it may be.

I appreciate [Florida Governor] Jeb [Bush] — talk about swamping somebody, he knows the definition of 'swamp' when it comes to political campaigns.

People across this country are praying. They are praying that they hope those families and loved ones will find comfort and grace in their sorrow.

Twenty-three million businesses will receive over $2,000 in income tax relief. Now, that means a lot when you start thinking about the implications. I mean, you've got a one-man shop. $2,000 may mean the capacity to buy a machine, leverage the money to buy a machine, which means another job.

Yes, I think it's important for our fellow citizens to know that there are ways for government to incent people to invest.

And so those are two aspects of this plan that makes sense. One is how to encourage people to have — how do we encourage Congress to let people have more money in their pocket, for the good of economic growth and jobs. And what do we do about stimulating small business activity and growth. The third aspect of the plan is really to make the tax code more fair.

I just came from a strong exercise class. Thankfully, I didn't have to join.

Show the world you respect Cuban citizens enough to listen to your citizens and count their votes.

Thank you all. Well, thank you all for coming out to say hello to me and my little brother. I sure hope you work hard to get him back in. He has done a fabulous job.

Look, I don't care about the numbers. I know the facts.

You're going to hear the statisticians, the number crunchers, the bean counters — as we call them in Texas — say this might have been a recession, this might not have been a recession, this, that and the other. Well, when they do that, they get crossways with the Bush boys.

We fight evil people, people who wanna murder, people who hate America and what we stand for. And that's why we'll be relentless and steady. The world looks to us for leadership. If we blink, they may go to sleep. That's why we're not going to blink. That's why we're going to be after them. That's why we're going to disrupt their finances. That's why we're going to hold people account.

I'll give you an interesting idea that took place in Maine. They've got Maine lobstermen are now patrolling the coast on a volunteer basis to make sure that somebody in a — somebody carrying something they don't want to carry in a boat shows up on the coast. I mean, there's all kinds of ways to serve the community.

And if you don't have a place, we've started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance for retired police officers or fired off — firemen to help out the local law enforcement authorities to be on alert.

The enemy hit us. As I like to kind of tease the enemy, they must have been watching too much daytime TV. They thought we were soft. They thought we were materialistic. They thought we wouldn't fight for what we believed. They thought we would cower in the face of terror. And my, my, are they wrong.

I'm so honored that people came down from Tallahassee to say hello to Jeb's little — big brother.

But as a result of evil, there's some amazing things that are taking place in America.

No, the country — this country is a fabulous country. They thought they hurt us, the evil ones. They have made us stronger, more real, and a better land.

Secondly, you need to pray for the good Lord to protect America, provide a shield over our country, to prevent us from harm.

I believe that we're making — taking everything we possibly can to — I know we're doing everything we can to prevent further attacks.

If we get any whiff, or any sniff that somebody is going to harm an American again, we're acting — just the way you would want us to.

That was an important phone call. Because when I was coming up, and a lot of other older-looking people here who were coming up with me — that would never have happened in the past.

Jordan, I wasn't sure what to think at first. You know, I grew up in a period of time where the idea of America being under attack never entered my mind — just like your Daddy's and Mother's mind probably. And I started thinking hard in that very brief period of time about what it meant to be under attack. I knew that when I got all of the facts that we were under attack, there would be hell to pay for attacking America.

Because if the economies of the world come back, we might be in a tight again, in which case we're going to be wondering where was the energy policy that the President was arguing for back in the year 2001.

And I was sitting outside the classroom waiting to go in, and I saw an airplane hit the tower — the TV was obviously on, and I use to fly myself, and I said, "There's one terrible pilot."

No, the country — this country is a fabulous country. They thought they hurt us, the evil ones. They have made us stronger, more real, and a better land.

To help displaced workers around this part of the world — to help those who want to help themselves find the training necessary to allow them to learn new skills to find work again.

More money in people's pockets mean more economic activity.

Listen to your mother.

I hurt, that coming into the holiday season, that you're not working. But I admire your courage for going out to try to improve yourselves so you can find jobs around here.

There's always a difference of opinion sometimes between the House and the Senate, whether it's at the state or federal level.

And we have a role in the government — in the state government, in the federal government — to provide immediate help as part of an economic security package, is to provide immediate help.

I see women of cover here, and I want to thank you for coming from the Muslim community here in America.

I'll never forget the story of people in a Midwestern city, when they heard me on TV talk about how distressed I was that women of cover would not leave their homes, for fear of some other American treating them harshly, and then Jewish citizens and Christians alike, getting on the phone, and saying, we want to help you. We want to take you to the neighborhood store. This isn't the America we know.

And I must say, relations with Congress are a heck of a lot better than they have been in the past, because congressmen and senators of both parties are interested about what's doing right for the American people.

Because when I was coming up, and a lot of other older-looking people here who were coming up with me — that would never have happened in the past.

The problem with the kind of federal approach and only federal approach is, is that we may encourage you to become trained in a job that doesn't exist. And so the real thing is, is there money available for job training? Is there money available from the federal government to say to Governor Bush of Florida, here is some dough. Set up a system that will actually match people with skills and jobs that exist.

I have spoken to the vice president, to the governor of New York, to the director of the FBI, and I've ordered that the full resources of the federal government go to help the victims and their families and to conduct a full-scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed this act.

Anyway, I'm so thankful, and so gracious — I'm gracious that my brother Jeb is concerned about the hemisphere as well.

Our nation must come together to unite.

I do think we need for a troop to be able to house his family. That's an important part of building morale in the military.

I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on prescription drugs.

You subscribe politics to it. I subscribe freedom to it.