Bush acceptance speech tonight

Cheney says Republican team will 'repair' Clinton-Gore damage

By Ian Christopher McCaleb and Mike Ferullo/CNN

PHILADELPHIA (CNN) -- In a speech George W. Bush predicts will "lift the spirit of the country," the Texas governor Thursday night will accept the Republican Party's nomination for president, explaining why he believes the nation's current Democratic leadership should be replaced.

Bush is due to address the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia -- and the nation -- during the 10 p.m. EDT hour.

He is expected to share his disappointment about what he believes is the Clinton-Gore administration's failure over eight years to improve schools, reform Social Security, overhaul taxes, beef up the military and attach some form of prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

"America is hungry for new leadership," the nominee told supporters at a rally on Wednesday. He promised an acceptance speech that "speaks from my heart. I'm going to lift the spirit of the country."

Bush's choice for vice president, former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, accepted the vice presidential nomination Wednesday night.

Cheney said the eight years of President Clinton's administration were marked by "little purpose" and proclaimed that Bush would "repair what has been damaged."

"We're all a little weary of the Clinton-Gore routine," Cheney said in his speech, watched by Bush on television from his hotel suite a few miles away.

VIDEO Republican vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney speaks to the Republican National Convention Part 1 Part 2 (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Lynne Cheney introduces Dick Cheney to GOP convention Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Kate Snow delivers the highlights of the convention Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     TRANSCRIPTS Richard B. Cheney address accepting the GOP nomination for vice president Speech by Lynne Cheney to the Republican National Convention

"It is time for them to go," Cheney said repeatedly, echoing a similar declaration by then-Sen. Al Gore -- speaking of the Bush-Quayle administration -- when Gore accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 1992.

Nominated by the delegation from home state Wyoming, Cheney officially became the Republican Party's pick for vice president shortly before Bush received the delegate votes necessary to gain his party's presidential nod.

Throughout his acceptance speech, Cheney pounded relentlessly on the Clinton administration, including Vice President Gore, the Democrats' hope for retaining the White House in the November election.

Cheney said the nation's continued strong economy and high rates of individual prosperity should not overshadow a political atmosphere besmirched by sharp partisanship and scandal.

"In the end, George W. Bush will defeat this vice president, and I will replace him," a confident Cheney said amid wild cheers and chants of "they must go" resonating throughout Philadelphia's Comcast First Union Center.

Cheney described Bush, his longtime friend and the eldest son of the president he served as defense secretary through the difficult days of the 1991 Gulf War, as "a man without pretense and without cynicism: A man of principle, a man of honor."

"On the first hour of the first day (of his administration)," Cheney said forcefully, Bush would "restore decency and integrity to the Oval Office.

"He will show us that national leaders can be true to their word ... and that they can get things done by reaching across the partisan aisle, and working with political opponents in good faith and common purpose," he continued.

Cheney seemed to relish the chance to deliver some rhetorical retribution upon Gore, whose campaign has sought to embarrass the vice presidential nominee in recent days with severe criticism of his voting record as a member of Congress in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"Politics has become war by other means, an endless onslaught of accusation, a constant setting of groups one against the other," Cheney said.

He cited the campaign of former New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bill Bradley, who battled against Gore during the primary season, and accused the vice president's campaign of bending the truth and engaging in other unsavory tactics.

"This is what Bill Bradley was up against, and others before him," Cheney continued.

"Does anyone, Republican or Democrat, seriously believe that under Mr. Gore, the next four years would be any different from the last eight? They came in together, now let us see them off together," Cheney said.

The Gore campaign responded to Cheney even before he had completed his speech, saying in an e-mailed statement that Cheney had just delivered the most "negative" Republican convention speech "since Pat Buchanan (in 1992)."

"The mask is off the Philadelphia masquerade ball," Gore's operation said.

But inside the hall Cheney and his address were given high grades.

"I know what a great man he is," said Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. "He is honest, competent, a brilliant person. I think it's a real tribute to George W. Bush to pick somebody of that kind of caliber."

Larry Eastland, an Idaho delegate, enjoyed Cheney's offensive, saying, "This is the vice president's job. Somebody always has to have the job of pointing out the differences, and it's the vice presidential candidate that has to do that."

Another delegate, however, worried aloud about the tone of the speech.

"Personally, I think he's telling it pretty much the way it is," said De Carlson of Nebraska. "I hate to say it, but I'm afraid that this might be a very negative campaign. But I hope we ride the high road to keep with a respectable campaign. The American people are really tired of dirty politics."

Bush secures GOP nomination

In Wednesday evening's other highlight, Bush received the delegate votes needed to become the GOP presidential nominee, though his nomination process is far from complete. Bush will deliver his own nomination acceptance speech on Thursday -- after his home state delegation casts the last votes in the GOP's unusual "rolling roll call."

The Republicans' 2000 presidential roll call has been divided between the event's four evenings. Previous major party conventions have taken the roll all at once on the gathering's last night.

Cheney's home state of Wyoming capped off the third night of the rolling roll call by putting the Texas governor over the top, casting 22 votes to put Bush over the 1,034 needed for the nomination.

"With three electoral votes, picking Dick Cheney was not politically correct, but it was leadership correct," said the Wyoming delegation's leader, Gov. Jim Geringer.

Gov. George W. Bush and his wife Laura watch the convention coverage as the Wyoming delegation gives him the votes needed for the nomination

Geringer had to be interrupted three times by the roll call secretary, who urged him to hurry his presentation so the convention could proceed with the night's tight schedule of events.

"You have to understand, in Wyoming they're bouncing off the mountaintops right now," he said. "Wyoming unanimously casts its 22 votes as our gift to America, for George W. Bush and Richard Cheney."

The floor immediately erupted into a traditionally noisy demonstration, as confetti streamed down from the ceiling of the sports complex and delegates batted beach balls.

Socializing and social policy

Most of Wednesday night's proceedings were driven by the same sort of themed presentations that characterized the first two days of the GOP's convention. But Wednesday's fourth full session featured a full slate of musical performances framed by the sort of high production values worthy of a Las Vegas variety show, and never seen before at such a high-profile political gathering.

Noticeably absent from the night's slate of speeches and video presentations -- constructed around the theme: "Prosperity with A Purpose: Keeping America Prosperous and Protecting Retirement Security" -- were most of the party's highest-profile members of Congress.

Rather, many of the night's addresses were delivered by the directors and benefactors of grass-roots, private and faith-based organizations that have sought to provide social aid through private donations, without federal government assistance.

Only one such lawmaker made his way to the stage to add his own thoughts to the night's theme, though Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi offered his own brief, unscripted views on the policy differences between Republicans and Democrats while acting as master of ceremonies.

Ohio Congressman John Kasich, the dynamic and frugal chairman of the House Budget Committee who gave up his seat earlier this year to run for the presidency, trumpeted the same sort of passion for tax cuts expressed by members of the 104th session of Congress, which adjourned in 1996.

That session marked the first time in 40 years that the Republican Party claimed majority status in the House. Ever since, Kasich has remained one of the House's fiercest fighters for cuts to tax rates and government spending.

"First and foremost, we believe in tax cuts," Kasich said. "For me, tax cuts are more than just numbers, they are a moral issue.

"Every time we cut taxes, we make government less important and people across the country more important," he said.

Kasich singled out GOP bills to repeal the marriage penalty and estate taxes -- both of which have been passed by the House and Senate and threatened with presidential vetoes. Both Clinton and Gore have argued that the bills are too costly, and designed to help only the wealthiest Americans.

Slamming 'The Rock'

The evening's festivities were opened by House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois in a somber fashion, as he urged prayers and good wishes for former President Gerald Ford, who was admitted to the hospital earlier in the day after suffering what doctors believed were two small strokes.

At midday Thursday, Bush visited Ford at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Ford had been present on the convention's Tuesday night session, when he and former presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush were honored with the presentation of video montages and enthusiastic ovations from the party faithful.

Wrestler "The Rock" drew mixed reviews from Republicans at the GOP National Convention

But minutes later, Hastert, a former high school wrestling coach, reappeared onstage in response to a slick re-introduction by World Wrestling Federation star "The Rock," also known as Dwayne Johnson.

Johnson didn't waste his prime opportunity to promote the sports-entertainment amalgam that has brought him notoriety, saying his presence Wednesday was certain to gain the notice of the "14 million eligible voters who watch 'The Rock' every week."

The wrestler routinely refers to himself in the third person.

"Thank you for recognizing the passion and the power of the Rock's fans, and we'll no doubt help elect the next president of the United States," he said.

His presence was welcomed by many delegates, but others expressed disgust. Conservative activist L. Brent Bozell called the WWF "the single most violent, raunchiest, filthiest show on television."

But Washington state delegate Victor Meyers said, "If he's got enough guts to stand up on the stage at the Republican National Convention and be a positive support for George W. Bush, I say more power to him."

CNN writer Jim Morris contributed to this report.