From above the ruins of Interstate 35W here in Minneapolis last
Saturday, President George W. Bush tried to
comfort a shaken populace. ‘We want to get
this bridge rebuilt as quick as possible,’ he assured. While
promising to expedite the rebuilding process, Bush offered a
refrain commonly reserved for press conferences on Iraq: ‘I make
no promises on the timetable.’ Though, he quickly added, ‘I do
promise that Mary Peters, the Secretary of Transportation, is
going to be in charge of this project.’?
With only 529 days left in his presidency, Bush has got quite a
few loose ends to tie up. Here’s a look back at Bush’s to-do list,
in his own words.
?
Click on any link to read the president’s pledge:
Resurrect New Orleans
‘In America, we do not abandon our fellow citizens in their hour
of need. And the federal government will do its part…. We have a
responsibility to our brothers and sisters all along the Gulf
Coast, and we will not rest until we get this right and the job is
done…. We will restore the towns and neighborhoods that have been
lost in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. We’ll rebuild the
great city of New Orleans.’
Washington, September 3, 2005
Make it the Moon, Mars, and Beyond
‘Today I announce a new plan to explore space and extend a human
presence across our solar system…. With the experience and
knowledge gained on the moon, we will then be ready to take the
next steps of space exploration: human missions to Mars and to
worlds beyond.’
Washington, January 14, 2004
Rebuild the World Trade Center
‘We will rebuild New York City.’
Washington, September 20, 2001
Free Iraq
‘Our goal is to turn over authority to Iraqis as quickly as
possible.’
Washington, July 23, 2003
Defeat Evil
‘My administration has a job to do, and we’re going to do it.?We
will rid the world of the evil-doers.’
Washington, September 16, 2001
?
Privatize Social Security
‘We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that
task for another day.’
Washington, February 2, 2005
That Immigration Problem
‘We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we
will deliver a system that is secure, orderly, and fair.’
Washington, March 15, 2006
Beat the Taliban and al Qaeda
‘We will defeat the Taliban, we will defeat al Qaeda.’
Washington, September 29, 2006
?
Catch Osama Bin Laden
‘And you don’t need to worry about whether or not we’re going to
get him, because we are.?And it’s just a matter of time.’
Crawford, Texas, December 28, 2001
Accomplish Mission
‘In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have
prevailed.’
At sea off the coast of San Diego, May 1,
2003
Comments? Story tips?
Write a letter to the editor
Like this? Want more?Subscribe to
Utne Reader
