Bush talks about Pelosi, but not by name

President Bush made a campaign speech in Des Moines mid-day today, and began with the customary recognition of GOP dignitaries in the audience.  Bush picked one statewide elected official who is running for re-election this year — and has no Democratic opponent.

"I ran into State Auditor Dave Vaudt.  I said ‘How’s your campaign going?’" Bush told the crowd, as many in the audience laughed.  Bush continued with the story:  "(Vaudt) said ‘Pretty good.’"  A few more hearty laughs.  "What’s it like to run unopposed?" Bush asked.  Bush laughed along with the crowd.  "Thanks for coming out," Bush told Vaudt.  "But I’m proud of you Dave, here with your wife Jeanie, and now that you’ve got a little spare time on your hands, why don’t you help our man get elected here in the third district?" The audience applauded.   

Speaking of "the man" — Jeff Lamberti — Bush started out by calling him Jeff, then called him Jeffrey, then Jeff again, but a bit later Bush slipped and referred to him as "Dave Lamberti" twice in a row.  Bush did pronounce Lamberti’s last name correctly.

Bush also ever-so-briefly gave a verbal nod to one of his former emploeyes:  "The next Secretary of State of Iowa is someone I know quite well.  I used to see her all the time in the Oval Office.  Mary Ann Hanusa is with us today.  Vote for her.  She’ll do a good job."  That was it.  No stories.

"I’m proud that the members of the ex-governors club are with us," Bush joked.  "I’m a member.  Two of the better members are here — Governor Ray and Governor Branstad….I particularly look forward to telling mother and dad that you look just fine, Bob, and so are they."

Bush spent most of his speech talking about Iraq and taxes, but he did briefly mention gay marriage (from start-to-finish, that section of the speech lasted 53 seconds ):  "We believe marriage is a fundamental institution of civilization.  Yesterday in New Jersey, we had another activist court issue a ruling that raises doubts about the instittuion of marriage.  I believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman and I believe," Bush said, as he was interrupted by applause. "And I believe it’s a sacred institution that is critical to the health of our society and the well-being of families and it must be defended and I’m looking forward to working with Jeff Lamberti to do just that," Bush said. There was eight seconds of applause and then Bush moved on to taxes.

During both sections of his speech, Bush mentioned House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, but did not say her name.  "Recently the top Democrat leader in the House made an interesting declaration.  She said ‘I love tax cuts.’  Given her record, she must be a secret admirer," Bush said.  The crowd laughed.  "It’s just not just the so-called tax cuts for the rich she opposes.  When we cut taxes for everyone who pays income taxes, she and her colleagues voted against it….Time and time again when she had the opportunity to show her love for tax cuts, she voted no.  If this is the Democrats idea of love, I wouldn’t want to see what hate looks like." This was followed by few laughs from the crowd, and one person applauded.

Then later, as Bush focused on Iraq:  "There’s a difference of opinion in Washington on this important issue.  The Democrat leadersship and many of the Democrat leaders have a more limited view of the war on terror.  Recently, the top Democrat in the House who wants to become the speaker said this on a nationally-televised interview, she said ‘It’s not right that Iraq is part of the war on terror.’  She said instead the war on terror is the war on Afghanistan.  Her position would come as news to Osama bin Laden who has proclaimed that the Third World War is raging in iraq.  Her position would come as new to the number two man of al Qaeda who has called the struggle in Iraq ‘the place for the greatest battle.’  Her position would come as news to the terrorists from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Yeman and many other countries who come to Iraq to fight the rise of democracy (and) the United States.  Her position would come as news to the people of Iraq who lost loved ones to terrorist car bombings and assassinations in the markets and the mosques.  Her position would come as news to the American troops in Iraq who are risking their lives every day against the terrorists to try to prevent them from regaining the safe haven like they have in Afghanistan.  Her position on the war on terror, that it’s contained only to Afghanistan, would come as news to the people in London and Madrid and Amman and Bali and Beslan and Riyadh and Istanbul and Casablanca and other cities where the terrorists have massacred and murdered innocent men, women and children.  Her position in the war on terror is wrong.  You cannot win a war if you do not believe you are in a war…If we leave Iraq before the job is done, the enemy will follow us here."