And I met a guy named Tom Sawner. Now, he's an old fighter pilot, which means, umm, there's no wall he can run through, you know, he's a, he's a, you know, he's a — he's a doer, an achiever, and he's got him a small business called Educational Options.

We want people ownin' their home — we want people ownin' a businesses, we want people ownin' their own homes, we wanna help 'em stay, and Congress can help by passing responsible legislation that modernizes the Federal Housing Administration, reforms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, allows state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime mortgages. There's a way to help people.

I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense.

REPORTER: Mr. President, you've made it a practice of not commenting on potential personnel moves —
DUBYA: Of course I did.
REPORTER: — of calling it speculation —
DUBYA: You can understand why —
REPORTER: But on five —
DUBYA: — because we've got people's reputations at stake. And on Friday I stood up and said I don't appreciate the speculation about Don Rumsfeld. He's doing a fine job. I strongly support him.
REPORTER: But what do you say to critics who believe that you're ignoring the advice of retired generals, military commanders, who say that there needs to be a change?
DUBYA: I say, I listen to all voices, but mine's the final decision. And Don Rumsfeld is doin' a fine job.

And it recognizes that we have got to educate our children — now! — for the skill sets necessary for tomorrow. And this is a better place — there's no better place to talk about that — and there is no better place to talk about that right here at Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Technology. Thanks for letting us come by. God bless.

The tests show we're fine in the fourth grade in math, and we're okay in eighth grade. They start to slip up prior to going to high school. That is the time to intervene in a child's academic career to make sure he or she has that skill set necessary to become the mathematicians or the scientists or the engineers by the time they get out of college.

You know, people oftentimes ask me what can they do to help fight in the war against terror. Fire fighters answer that call every day.

I wanna thank Tommy for his leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services. I knew he was gonna be a good one, because I saw what he did as governor of Wisconsin. And he brought that very same skills of leadership and vision to Washington.

I said, does she make a pretty good hand? — that's Texan for "Is she a good worker?"

I urge people, I urge businesses to join the Welfare to Work Partnership, or any like such partnership.

And when they end up helping somebody who's been on welfare, they realize they're more help than the person they're trying to help.

We must have the attitude that every child in America — regardless of where they're raised or how they're born — can learn.