cannabisnews.com: Bush Addresses N.M. Topics Bush Addresses N.M. Topics Posted by FoM on June 01, 2000 at 22:37:59 PT By Michael Coleman, Journal Politics Writer Source: ABQjournal Texas Gov. George W. Bush said Wednesday he opposes drug legalization and supports increased security at the U.S.-Mexico border. He said he has a plan for winning the Hispanic vote in November and supports local choice on school vouchers. Bush talked about these and other issues in a 20-minute interview with the Journal when he took time out from a fast-paced presidential campaign tour of Albuquerque. Bush sipped coffee and readily answered questions at the Wyndham Hotel in Albuquerque, shortly before his 9 a.m. speech in Albuquerque's Southeast Heights. Here is the transcript of the conversation: Question: You have called for a reduction in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. What role do you think nuclear weapons should have in our national security policy and what role would the national laboratories in New Mexico (Los Alamos and Sandia) play in that policy? Bush: So long as there is nuclear weaponry, the United States will have a nuclear force that is ready and able to respond. So there would still be the notion of deterrence. The levels of weaponry need to be determined by military planners, who will be given a post-Cold War view of reality. The targeting that exists today exists as if we are in the Cold War, targeting Russia, for example. Russia is not the enemy anymore. The enemy really is the unknown. We are not sure where the threats will come from. But so long as we have a nuclear arsenal, it will be secure, safe and ready to use — and that is where the labs come in. The labs will also come in because I will propose today more research and development dollars to help come up with a strategy to reconfigure the armed forces of America. The military needs to be lighter, harder to find and more lethal, all based upon new technologies. The labs will play an important role there as well. Question: As a Republican governor, you've had great success in Texas with Hispanic voters. What is your strategy for duplicating that success in a national election? Bush: I've got some stereotypes I've got to battle. Some Hispanic voters in other states say, "You're a Republican," and they say, "He doesn't care about me." So the first thing I've got to do is show people I've got a heart and a vision that includes, as I say, every willing heart. I think I can make great inroads in the Hispanic community when I talk about my passion for educating every child. I've got a record in Texas of working with Republicans and Democrats, and the (school) test scores prove that we are really making great progress with our Hispanic youngsters. I'm an entrepreneur. I was a small-business owner. There are 600,000 Latino-owned small businesses in California, and it shows there is a common ground. I've got to make it clear my support for NAFTA and tout my relations with Mexico. I've got great relations with (Mexican) President (Ernesto) Zedillo. Crime issues — I think the Latino community understands my strong desire to enforce laws on the books. I'll be aggressive about pursuing folks who break the law. Question: What is your position on border control? Bush: We've got to enforce the border. We need more border patrol agents. We need to modernize the crossing points. I support Operation Hold the Line. I'm very mindful of why people are coming — they are coming to find work. I view border policy this way: For the short term it's border enforcement, more agents, more focus. Long term it's NAFTA, trade. As Mexico develops a middle class, as the prosperity moves from the northern (Mexico) states down to central and, hopefully, southern Mexico, there will be less need for people to come here because they will be able to find work closer to home. Question: Roughly 35 percent of New Mexico land is owned by the federal government. How do you feel about federal land ownership and forest policies? Bush: It's a phenomenon experienced throughout the West. We have very little foreign ownership of land in Texas. Land management issues are, in my way of thinking, best balanced by including local folks in any decision made at the federal level. Local stakeholders need to be a part of the decision-making process. The idea of unilaterally removing millions of acres of forest land through a road policy, I wouldn't have done it that way. I would have worked with the members of the congressional delegation and local folks to balance the needs of the timber industry and the recreation industry with the environment. I'm sure there are some lands that need to be preserved, and that's great, but preservation doesn't have to exclude, or preclude, a way of life that has developed over the years. I doubt I'd sell it (federally owned land), but I'd make sure it was used properly. Question: New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has proposed legalizing drugs, starting with marijuana, because he says our drug war is a failure. What do you think of the governor's proposal, and what are your ideas on U.S. drug policy? Bush: I don't support legalization. I support a focused effort on reducing demand, and it starts with focusing on telling parents that drugs are going to kill their kids. This isn't the '60s — there is a new epidemic going on in America, and there is a correlation between marijuana and eventual heroin use. I think we are beginning to realize that. The heroin epidemic evidently in New Mexico is strong. We've had a heroin problem in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, in Plano. Parents need to be working with their kids. We need to have character-based education programs in schools. There needs to be a focused effort to say to kids, "Drugs will destroy you." I think legalization sends another message. At the same time we've got to work on interdiction. The Mexican government has a good point: They say part of the issue if there wasn't any demand there would be no need for supply. It's a two-way street, and I think we ought to focus on demand reduction. We had some success in America in the late 1980s, and now we need to refocus. I think we can do the same thing and reduce demand for drugs. Question: Does the U.S. need to commit more resources to interdiction? Bush: On interdiction, yeah. On the border, whether its people or drugs, we need to do a better job of enforcing the border. Question: If you were elected president, how would your administration approach the issue of school choice, or vouchers? Bush: I don't think we ought to be telling New Mexico to have a voucher program or not. I'm a local-control person. The federal government's role is not to be dictating to states, "You will do this, you will do that." But I believe we can help reform movements by giving flexibility with federal money. Ask this question: What are the results? You, the state, have to show us, you, the state or the districts, must set standards, measure and show us whether or not the children are learning. If they are not, if the schools won't change and the children are stuck in failed schools, then the federal money — over which I'll have some say — will not go to continue to subsidize failure. It will go to the parent. And the parent can make different choices. This is a program with a consequence tied to accountability. When it comes to charter schools, I believe states ought to decide if they want to be a charter state or not, but the federal government could and should enhance capital improvements — the building of buildings — by enhancing loans. I support the idea of choice and charters, but in the context of local control of schools. Published: Thursday, June 1, 2000Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalCannabisNews View Next 20 Articles:http://cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.plCannabisNews Articles On George Bush:http://alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+george+bush Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by MikeEEEEE on June 02, 2000 at 18:27:49 PT Amazing I wonder, a guy claiming an evil uses an evil to destroy an evil. To me it's evil to take any evil action even if an evil is perceived.I'm not voting for the evil Mr. Bush, please lets voice our opinions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by fivepounder on June 02, 2000 at 10:30:54 PT Two Evil Men Schrub lies just as well as his dad. Its a family without intergrity. I'm voting for Nader. If Gore loses California so be it. The two are not that different. Yes, he's intelligence is just one small step above Quayle. Gore is so blatently pandering to whomever on a given day , that Shrub's down home, I'm kinda slow on the intake, yahoo honesty actually works. If this election isn't a case of chosing between wo evils, what is? Trouble with that choice is you are still choosing an evil. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on June 02, 2000 at 09:05:59 PT: Jaw-jee has jumped off the fence. Ever watch how a dog will invade another's area and leave his 'mark' - by peeing - on another dog's territory?Junior has just shown that he thinks he knows which way the wind is blowing, and which side of the bread the butter is on. He waited for the reaction to Gov. Johnson's brave and outspoken criticism of the WoSD to decide where he'd come down on it. Having gauged the negative reaction the NM Reps gave Johnson, he now feels safe in spouting DrugWarrior rhetoric. Note that he made his comments in Johnson's home State; this was no accident. Jaw-jee has been practically crowned Prez by the Reps, and therefore feels safe in his attempts in tryng to embarress Gov. Johnson. Yet, as Lobo and Thomas have pointed out, there's no new ideas. And never will be. He's his father's son, after all. And his father, you'll remember, kept telling everyone who would listen that he was out of the loop on Iran/Contra/ coke-for guns. Yes, his family has always been good at being such skillfull entrepeneurs.The problems have always been that someone else always winds up holding the bag when their wheeling and dealing goes bust. And that someone is usually the American taxpayer. Our children's children will be paying for all the depositors in the FSLIC for the S&L debacle... caused by the mania for de-regulation... which was pushed by the former Vice Prez. It should come as no surprise that one of his sons (Neil Bush) figures prominently in one particularly odious collapse, the Silverado S&L failure.Yep, the Bush clan is renowned for its' 'business acumen'. So, would you trust the brood of Mr. Read-My-Lips (who helped to make the DrugWar so very profitable for government through his support of the WoSD forfeiture actions) to de-rail the gravy train? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by dddd on June 02, 2000 at 08:54:46 PT We can win I agree,Nader,Brown,(Ventura,Ilike,but his candidacy is doubtful.If any of these third party guys actually starts looking good in the polls,,we will get to see the Rep/Dem media machine make them appear as nuts,or unelectable.This upcoming election is going to very media intensive. Nader or Brown?....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Puritan on June 02, 2000 at 08:06:45 PT GWB Ho hum........what else is new? Thomas is right, vote Nader, Brown, or Ventura if you want to send a message. If Gore loses California because of the Green vote, don't you think that will send a wake up call to the democrats? We must understand that what we are doing here is not for this election but for the next several. We can win, but it will take time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Thomas on June 02, 2000 at 07:28:07 PT Same ol', same ol' No new ideas here. Sounds like he'll tow the line of the status quo if he's elected. I'll vote for Nader or Brown. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on June 02, 2000 at 03:26:25 PT bush The shrub is one notch above Dan Quayle in intelligence.If it wasn't for money,and dad,he would not even be able to handle managing a Taco Bell.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by LOBO on June 02, 2000 at 03:08:49 PT The Same Old Stuff It's the same old Knee jerking stuff! Come on get some new material already! You are right though It isn't the 60's anylonger an we aren't buying the same old speach about the gateway theory or how the WoD is helping our kids ! If someone out there is close to George Jr. send him these links to get him straight on the issues or could it be that he is payed buy corporation To say these things ? Either way here are the links maybe it will help enlighten someone ! http://www.csdp.org/factbook/gatewayt.htmhttp://www.csdp.org/factbook/adolesce.htmI know Gore can't make up his mind on issues but clearly we know what George Jr. is all about(the same as George Sr. Or worse I'm afraid)in the Wod's!!!!!Question: Does the U.S. need to commit more resources to interdiction? Bush: On interdiction, yeah. On the border, whether its people or drugs, we need to do a better job of enforcing the border. Question: If you were elected president, how would your administration approach the issue of school choice, or vouchers? Bush: I don't think we ought to be telling New Mexico to have a voucher program or not. I'm a local-control person. The federal government's role is not to be dictating to states, "You will do this, you will do that." I don't know maybe I missed something here But aren't these two statements By George Jr. contradicting? Also how does he expect to keep the borders clean? With all we have done in the Wod we can't even keep drugs out of prisons!We are doing this for the kids? Yea right by sticking parents in prison ,sending children to foster homes,an selling off all property so the DRUG WARRIORS can have a nice comfortable life after all remember they are putting them selves in harms way for your kids come on America can't you see through speeches like this!Peace out! 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