President Bush was expected to lay out a "post troop surge" plan during his visit to Cleveland. Instead, he says, he'll wait to hear a report from top general David Petraeus due out in September.
George Bush: I believe it's in this nation's interests to give the commander a chance to fully implement his operations. And, I believe Congress oughta wait for General Petraeus to come back and give his assessment of the strategy that he's putting in place before they make any decisions.
Before a crowd of about 300, the President talked about his own and the public's frustrations over the Iraq war, but emphasized that the war wasn't the central reason for visiting Northeast Ohio. It was technology.
George Bush: My stop here has really been aimed at heralding technology. You've gotta be optimistic about America's future because of some of the great technologies that are taking place. To the areas where technologies are really going to change America for a long time coming is in the energy field and the medical field.
Mr. Bush spent the morning visiting two industry leaders in those fields. His first stop was Parma, and a tour of GrafTech International, a maker of alternative fuel cell components. Then it was off to the Cleveland Clinic to visit a group of doctors and hospital officials before his more public appearance next door at the Intercontinental hotel. In his afternoon address, Bush pledged to support alternative energy initiatives, particularly those that promote fuel cells, ethanol usage, and wind energy.
George Bush: Hydrogen fuel cells are coming and there's a role for the federal government. To spending your money to promote new technologies to enable us to become less dependent on oil and to be better stewards of the environment.
The President bounced between a range of issues throughout his address. He lauded his administration's refusal to raise taxes while shrinking the budget.
George Bush: And the big fight in Washington is going to be whether or not the budget that this Congress is trying to now pass is going to go through. It's not. I'll veto them if they're excessive in spending. I'm not going to let them raise your taxes. I think it'd be bad for the economy.
If high taxes are bad, Bush says, so is the tax structure. He said he wants to stop Congress from federalizing healthcare, and change tax codes to make private healthcare more affordable.
George Bush: The tax system does not enable the individual to be incented to buy insurance from the private sector. If you work for a company and you get insurance, you get a good tax benefit. If you're an individual and buy insurance you don't get the same tax benefit.
He also renewed his support of health savings accounts that he says will save individuals money - a plan that has gained a foothold in recent years, but doesn't get much support from the new democratic Congress.
But It's difficult for the president to attract any attention to his domestic agenda these days - from the public or from Congress. Right now lawmakers are awaiting an interim report from the Bush administration on the Iraq war. Tasha Flournoy, 90.3.