For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 13, 2001
Remarks by the President to the Pool
The President's Ranch
Crawford, Texas
12:04 P.M. CDT
Q Mr. President,
some people in Congress are talking about passing legislation to allow
stem cell research on embryos that are still in fertility clinics --
THE PRESIDENT: I've said all
I'm going to say for a while.
Q Would you veto
legislation like that?
THE PRESIDENT: The statement I
laid out is what I think is right for America. And any piece
of legislation that undermines what I think is right will be vetoed.
I don't know if you all know, but they
singed a bill in Macedonia today, an agreement to work out the
language, as well as the policing, and it' a good sign. But
now they need to lay down their arms so we can implement the peace.
Q Did you get any
feedback from Mr. Rumsfeld's meeting with Mr. Putin?
THE PRESIDENT: I haven't talked
to him yet.
It's right here that Mr. Putin is going to
come, right to Crawford, Texas, one of these days. I'm sure
he'll love it.
Q Where are they
going to stay?
THE PRESIDENT: We haven't
worked out the logistics yet. (Laughter.) Got any
recommendations? Oh, where he's going to
stay? He'll stay here. I thought you said where are "they"
going to stay, meaning the thousand press that
follow. (Laughter.)
* * * * *
Q So what are you
going to do for the rest of the day?
THE PRESIDENT: -- got a lot of
friends coming in -- and then get ready for my trip. Got
some speeches to give tomorrow and Wednesday, in New
Mexico. I've got to figure out what I'm going to say.
Q One more question
on stem cells, if I may?
THE PRESIDENT: You can ask it,
but I've already answered it.
Q Well, I'll ask
and --
THE PRESIDENT: I answered it
Thursday night, when I gave an address to the nation.
Q But, sir, since
then, some pro-life activists have said that you're --
THE PRESIDENT: You know
something? I gave the statement I thought was
right. I spent a lot of time on the subject. I
laid out the policy I think is right for America. And I'm
not going to change my mind. I'm the kind of person that
when I make up my mind, I'm not going to change it.
There are going to -- people have got all
kinds of opinions. I gave mine, and I gave it to the
country. And it's a policy that's well thought
out. Understand that there's a moral issue -- moral issue,
plus there's a chance that we can save people's lives. And
I've laid out the path to do that.
Q How did you
scratch your arms up?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I'm
glad you noticed that. (Laughter.)
Working. Working. No, brush.
Q Nature trail?
THE PRESIDENT: Got the nature
trail. One of these days we need to take you back there, so
you can see it. It's beautiful.
Q I'm free today.
Q I'd love to go
back there.
THE PRESIDENT: It's
beautiful. You won't believe it. As a matter of
fact, this place, when you head out that way, there's a lot of canyons
and creeks in the middle fork. You saw some of it when we
crossed today, what it looks like when you get up in there.
Q What's the trail
like? Is it a loop or --
THE PRESIDENT: No,
no. Oh, my running trail?
Q No, no, the
nature trail.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, the nature
trail is just built up into this canyon, this box canyon that's got a
big overhang so that when the water is running, it's like a
waterfall. We built a pathway up in there so that it's
accessible to a lot of people.
Q Place to bring
guests, to go running?
THE PRESIDENT: You can't
run. I mean, it's the end of a canyon. You can
run down there, then you walk up in there and it's beautiful.
Q What does
building a trail entail? I mean, are you pulling out trees
or are you --
THE PRESIDENT: No,
no. It means just building -- getting old telephone poles
and lying them on the ground, then filling in the dirt so that you --
Q So you have this
sort of pathway?
THE PRESIDENT: Pathway, it's a
pathway is what it is.
Q Mr. President, do
you favor additional loans to Argentina?
THE PRESIDENT: We're watching
the Argentinean situation every single day. Larry Lindsey
and Paul O'Neill and the appropriate folks are meeting on it every
single day. And one of the things I said that I thought we
could do -- first of all, we sent John Taylor down there, and he met
with President de la Rua, had a very good visit.
He delivered our administration's message,
which is they've got to implement the reforms that they recently passed
through their legislature. One of the things we -- and so we're
exploring all options as to how to make sure that the message goes out
that we've got -- that we're watching the situation very carefully,
that we urge Argentina implement reforms. As they do so,
they will gain the confidence not only of our country, but of a lot of
folks who are concerned about it.
I spoke to King Juan Carlos, of Spain, the
other day. He is very concerned. Spain has got
more at stake in Argentina than even the United States
does. And I told him that we're watching it and we're very
careful about it. And our hope is that the Argentineans will
earn the confidence of the investor community by making -- by
implementing the legislation they passed.
But we're keeping an open mind on all
options.
Q Any chance you
might have an announcement for us soon on the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff?
THE PRESIDENT: Last time I
hinted about doing something, everybody got the wrong message and some
of the flock were led astray. (Laughter.) So I'm not going
to hint anymore.
Q Thank
you. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I know none of
you -- it was no misinformation at all.
Q No, I was asking
if you're missing Washington?
THE PRESIDENT: Am I?
Q Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I like
Washington a lot. But I also like here. I tried
to explain to the people that are following me around that this is my
home. You know, some people say, well, this is a vacation
spot. Actually, this is our house and home; this is where we will
live.
And I'm the kind of person that really
values home, and I like my house. And Laura loves it, as
well. So we really enjoy being here.
But I've got a job to do. Once
this period of time ends, and once Congress starts heading back to
Washington, I'll start heading back, myself. In the
meantime, we're getting airborne tomorrow, as you know. We're going to
Colorado and New Mexico, and I've got a few other trips -- a couple of
other trips.
Q Hint? (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: No more hints.
Q I think that was
a hint. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: But I'm going to
be moving around some, and it's good. One of the things I'm doing is
heralding the values of the heartland. You know, it's
important for folks to get outside of Washington, D.C.
Washington is a great town, it's got a lot
going on. Obviously, there's a lot of action when the
Congress is meeting. But the strength of the country is in
our heartland. And tomorrow I'm going to be talking about
character education; same in New Mexico. I'm also going to
be talking about small business ownership. Today, I talked
about the agricultural sector. It's what makes America
great. And I think it's important for me to get out amongst
the people as best as a President can.
Q I don't mean to
sound flip, but are those values that you like to extol less prevalent
on the coast and more prevalent --
THE PRESIDENT: No, not at
all. Listen, the values are very prevalent throughout
America. It's just that my house is not on the coast; my
house is in Texas. I'm a Texan. This is where I
was raised; this is where I'm going to retire; this is where I'll pass
away, in Texas.
There's a lot of people, wonderful people
that live on the coast of the country. They've got great
family values, they care just as much about teaching children right
from wrong as anybody else. California is one of the huge
agricultural states. Don't get me wrong, I happen to be
here. This is where we're anchored.
To me, to be out on the land helps a
President keep perspective. You know, I haven't been a
President all that long, but I can assure you, perspective is
important. Get used to it, because this is where I'm coming
back to, as well.
Q Thinking of a
tele-commute, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Actually, we
have that potential and have used it since I've been here, where I've
gotten on a video conference with some of my staff and it works great.
But, no, I need to be there in Washington,
obviously. We've got enough of a staff here to keep me
busy. But when Congress comes back, I'll be there ready to
welcome them and encourage them to get moving on some legislation.
One piece of legislation they'll be
working on is the new farm bill. Another piece of legislation they
need to get moving is the education bill. We've got a great
opportunity to get a faith-based initiative going. We got it
out of the House and had a good meeting with Senator Lieberman and
Senator Santorum on how to get the bill moving out of the Senate.
We got a patients' bill of rights,
finally, for the first time. It looks like we're making some
progress on a patients' bill of rights. It's going to be in
conference when we get back. So we've got a lot of work to
do and I look forward to Congress getting the job done.
Q Are you
anticipating some battles with the Senate?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I never
anticipate battles. (Laughter.) I'll stand my
ground and do what I think is right. That's what the people
elected me to do. I'm confident if there is the willingness
to work with the White House in the Senate, we'll get a lot
done. If people go up there just wanting to fight, then not
much will get done -- but we've already had that
period. It's time to get rid of that business out of
Washington, and let's have a spirit of cooperation.
I'm confident we'll get a lot done, and I
believe we will. So I go back to Washington with a can-do
attitude; that we can do a lot of good for the American people, and at
the same time, by the way, make sure we've got a good budget that
doesn't get busted by folks that feel compelled to appropriate beyond
the confines of a budget.
Most Americans expect -- when you set a
budget, expect people to meet the budget. And that's what
I'm going to expect, as the President. I'm going to say,
look, you all come back and here's your budget, don't spend beyond the
budget. That will help the country, that will help our
economy recover, by the way, by showing some fiscal discipline.
I've got to go. I've given you
a lot more than you deserve. (Laughter.)
Q Thank you, sir.
END 12:29 P.M. CDT
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