President Bush’s favorable rating, in Fox News poll: 77 percent . . . Vice President Cheney on more terrorist strikes in U.S., on Meet the Press: “Not a matter of if, but when.” . . . Bush, in Berlin: “Wishful thinking might bring comfort, but not security. Call this a strategic challenge; call it, as I do, an axis of evil; call it by any name you choose—but let us speak the truth. If we ignore this threat, we invite certain blackmail, and place millions of our citizens in grave danger.” . . . Bush, in Miami: “Nearly a half century ago, Cuba’s independence and the hopes for democracy were hijacked by a brutal dictator who cares everything for his own power and nada for the Cuban people . . . For 43 years, every election in Cuba has been a fraud and a sham. Mr. Castro, once, just once, show that you’re unafraid of a real election. Show the world you respect Cuba’s citizens enough to listen to their voices and to count their votes. Start to release your chokehold on the working people, and on enterprise. Then—and only then—will we talk about easing sanctions, and not before . . . Viva Cuba libre!” … In CBS News poll, 46 percent would preserve Cuba embargo and 44 percent would end it . . . Bush on Russian president Vladimir Putin, to students at St. Petersburg State University: “You’ve got a leader who understands that freedom is going to enhance the future of this country.” . . . In New Democrat Network poll of Hispanic voters, Al Gore leads Bush in 2004 contest by only 2 points, 46 percent to 44 percent.
Senate majority leader Tom Daschle on Bush, on Charlie Rose: “I think that people underestimate George Bush . . . I think this president understands exactly what he wants to do.” . . . Sen. Joe Lieberman (D., Conn.) favors delaying tax cuts: “Read my lips: Keeping current tax rates is not a tax increase.” . . . Vermont governor Howard Dean (D.), in Des Moines Register: “We are the party of fiscal responsibility.” . . . GOP consultant Craig Shirley on criticism of Republicans’ using 9/11 Bush photos for fundraising, in U.S. News & World Report: “Who is [DNC chairman] Terry McAuliffe kidding? If Bill Clinton were president on Sept. 11, he’d be selling the vials of tears Clinton shed that day.” . . . RNC chairman Marc Racicot says party will hold 2004 national convention the week of August 30.
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