Radio Address by President Bush to the Nation

10 Jan 2009 16:06 Africa/Lagos

Radio Address by President Bush to the Nation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following remarks as prepared for delivery were released today by the White House Press Office:


THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, I gave my official farewell speech to the men and women of America's Armed Forces in a ceremony at Fort Myer, Virginia. For the past eight years, I have had no higher honor than serving as the Commander-in-Chief of these brave patriots. And when Laura and I depart for Texas later this month, we will take with us many inspiring memories of the valor that we have seen these brave Americans display time and again.


We saw their valor on September the 11th, 2001, in service members rushing into smoke-filled corridors to save their colleagues at the Pentagon, and in planes patrolling the skies above New York City and Washington D.C.


We saw their valor in the days after that attack, when Americans crowded into recruiting centers across our country, raised their hands to serve, and pledged to defend our people and our freedom.


We saw their valor in the forces who deployed to Afghanistan within weeks of 9/11, closed down the terrorist training camps, and drove the Taliban from power.


We saw their valor in the fearless troops who stormed across the Iraqi desert -- and destroyed a regime that threatened America.


We saw their valor in battle-tested warriors who signed up for a second, or third, or fourth tour -- and made the troop surge in Iraq that I announced two years ago today one of the great successes in American military history.


America's Armed Forces have liberated more than 50 million people around the world -- and made our Nation safer. They have taken the fight to the terrorists abroad so that we have not had to face them here at home. And the world has seen something that almost no one thought possible: More than seven years after September the 11th, there has not been another terrorist attack on American soil.


This is no coincidence. In addition to our military, many other Americans have worked tirelessly to ensure our safety in the years since 9/11. Law enforcement officials have worked to secure our country and remained watchful against future attacks. Intelligence analysts have tracked information that allowed us to disrupt terrorist plots before they reached our shores. And homeland security agents have worked to secure our ports, our borders, and our skies.


We owe a debt of gratitude to all of these patriots. Because of their devotion to service, many Americans live their lives without the fear and uncertainty that they felt in the days just after 9/11. This continued safety has been a blessing -- but we must never allow it to foster complacency. America still faces sworn enemies intent on striking our Nation and our people. And we must remain vigilant for as long as that threat remains.


I know that our men and women in uniform have remained vigilant. These Americans answer the call to defend freedom when it is under attack. They put their lives on the line to defend democracy and keep our country safe. And they inspire a Nation with their selflessness and their courage. I am proud to have served as their Commander-in-Chief.


Thank you for listening.


Source: White House Press Office

CONTACT: White House Press Office, +1-202-456-2580


Web Site: White House

Dear Americans, Beware of Voter Intimidation and Electoral Fraud!

Dear Americans, Beware of Voter Intimidation and Electoral Fraud!


Senator John McCain

The future of America is at stake today as American voters troop out to elect the next President of the United States of America.
It is either Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama.
The choice is yours.
Vote wisely.


Senator Barack Obama

Here is an update from NAACP.

It's Election Day, and our Election Protection hotline has been ringing since the minute the polls opened. As of 10am, over 12,000 reports have been logged. Most of the reports involve faulty or inadequate voting equipment and polling place issues, but we have also logged 115 incidents nationally of voter intimidation.

In Virginia, where the NAACP filed a lawsuit to keep the polls open longer, we are seeing several problems. More groups are joining the call to keep the polls open two hours later tonight. There are reports of massive voting machine failures, over two dozen precincts opening late, people being turned away, and voter intimidation.
In Michigan we have received calls about malfunctioning voter machines in at least ten precincts, causing extremely long waits. Unfortunately, the waits are causing some people to give up and get out of line. We will continue to monitor the situation in Michigan throughout the day.

And in Florida, we've just received a slew of reports about broken optical scanners and extremely long lines. We also just received a call that absentee ballots were not received at a rehab center for elderly residents.

We'll be here at the Command Center all day to respond to voting problems in real time. In addition, the NAACP has trained poll monitors strategically placed across the country to monitor 750 precincts where there has been a history of discrimination, and the NAACP Voter Relief team is driving between polling places in the Baltimore/DC/Virginia area offering coffee, water, and snacks to the voters standing in long lines.

We'll be sending you another update around 5pm so be sure to check your email. And if you haven't voted yet, get out there and make your voice heard!

Sincerely,
Kirk Clay
Director of Civic Engagement