BUSH SHOOTS BACK AT KERRY... REVIEW OF HIS FIRST TOUR

The day after the DNC convention President Bush was on the campaign trail with a shiny new speech, which I'm sure some of you heard on TV, which was pretty good. I know he's not the best public speaker, but he delivers this well-crafted response in solid form. Some key excerpts:

My opponent has good intentions, but intentions do not always translate to results.

After 19 years in the United States Senate, my opponent has had thousands of votes but very few signature achievements.

During eight years on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he voted to cut the intelligence budget and he had no record of reforming America's intelligence-gathering capability. He had no significant record for reforming education and health care.

As a matter of fact, he and his running mate consistent opposed reforms that limit the power of Washington and leave more power in the hands of the people.

He's spent nearly 20 years in the federal government, and it appears he's concluded that it's just not big enough.

.....

In our parents' generation, moms usually stayed home while fathers worked for one company until retirement. The company provided health care and training and a pension. Many of the government programs and most basic systems, from health care to Social Security to the tax code, were based, and still are based, on the old assumptions.

This is a different world. Workers change jobs and careers frequently. Most of the jobs are created by small businesses. They can't afford to provide health care or pensions or training. Parents are working. They're not at home.

We need to make sure government changes with the times and to work for America's working families.

You see, American workers need to own their own health care accounts. They need to own and manage their own pensions and retirement systems.

They need more ownership so they can take the benefits from job to the job. They need flex time so they can work out of the home.