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Live Blogging President Bush’s Speech at Heritage

President Bush will take the stage at Heritage’s Allison Auditorium in about 30 minutes. Check back here for updates beginning around 12:40 p.m. You can also watch the speech on our webcast.

12:38: POTUS just arrived.

12:44: Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner just took the stage followed by President Bush.

12:46: Feulner wrapped up his introductory remarks, noting that Bush’s father cut the ribbon to open the building 24 years ago, and that Bush’s bother, Jeb, served on our board of directors.

12:48: Bush’s opening line about his final 14 months in the White House: “You better put on your running shoes because I’m sprinting to the finish line.”

12:49: Bush had some nice things to say about Feulner. “There are no term limits here,” he says, noting Feulner’s 30 years as Heritage’s president.

12:50: Bush gets right to the point talking about the War on Terror, calling on Congress to give his administration the tools it needs prosecute the war.

12:51: Bush says he views Heritage as an important center for thought in Washington, coming up with “innovative ideas” and positively influencing the discourse in our nation’s capital.

12:53: Reciting several plots against the United States, Bush is now making the case for taking an aggressive approach against the enemy. “We must take the words of the enemy seriously,” he says, adding that they intend to build a totalitarian Muslim empire throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

12:55: “Will we listen?” Bush asks. He said the U.S. has captured or killed hundreds of terrorists, prevented new attacks and liberated 50 million people from the clutches of tyranny. He says America is keeping the enemy on the move. “We will not rest or retreat until the threat has been removed.”

12:58: “We are at war — and we cannot win this war by wishing it away,” Bush says. He chides Congress for failing to act on the confirmation of Michael Mukasey for attorney general. Bush cites the bipartisan support Mukasey has received from members of Congress.

1:00: Without using the word “waterboarding” directly, Bush says Congress has no business holding up Mukasey’s confirmation because of their dislike of the procedure. Mukasey shouldn’t have to take a position on this “alleged” tactic used to interrogate terrorists. He cites the “safe, lawful and necessary” procedures his administration has put in place.

1:01: Mukasey’s nomination has languish for 41 days before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A vote is scheduled for next week.

1:02: Bush moves the discussion to FISA and the Protect America Act, prodding Congress to make the law permanent. “The problem is that al Qaeda doesn’t operate on a six-month timetable,” he says in reference to the temporary law put in place this summer.

1:04: This line will agitate the left: Bush praises the Senate Intelligence Committee for passing FISA legislation that includes immunity for telecom providers. He says it needs “some improvement” but it’s a positive step.

1:05: That was quick. Bush’s is already done talking about FISA and has moved on to the Iraq supplemental.

1:07: Bush rejects combining the funding bills for military and veterans with the Labor/HHS appropriations bill. “It’s hard to image a more cynical ploy than holding the funding hostage for our veterans,” he says. “I will veto such a three-bill pileup.”

1:08: The crowd is getting into it now. Bush just blasted MoveOn and Code Pink — by name.

1:09: Sounds like he’s wrapping up. He’s recapping the main points of his speech — Mukasey, intelligence gathering and funding the war.

1:10: Bush can’t say this enough: “We will fight them overseas so we do not have to fight them here at home.” He says the only way to defeat terrorists is to spread freedom.

11:11: Bush praises Heritage’s work advancing freedom during the Cold War and likened it to his policy in the Middle East.

1:12: “The desire for freedom is universal.” He says the terrorists’ greatest fear is freedom. This is the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.

1:14: Bush wraps up the speech by saying he hopes a president of the United States will come to Heritage 50 years from now to thank this generation for its work advancing freedom.

UPDATE — 4:25 p.m.: I’ve neglected the blog to focus on my duties as editor of Heritage.org. Today is my first day, and what a way to begin. Video of Bush’s speech is below. We’ve also posted the complete text.