AUSTIN --- On the eve of his inauguration for a second term as governor of Texas -- which few people believe he will complete -- George W. Bush spent an hour with me expounding on things one might expect from someone about to run for president.....
He talked about his stand on abortion:
"Part of our responsibility era understands the value of life. I would hope the next leader would lead America to respect life at all levels, including life of the unborn." Bush said for the U.S. Supreme Court he would pick "people who interpret the law as opposed to writing the law. Those are the types I've named to the bench in Texas. They are not judicial activists but judicial scholars."
Bush told me he will decide something -- at minimum an exploratory committee -- when the Texas legislature adjourns in June. Meanwhile, people like former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State George Shultz have paid visits to help him get ready.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Moving another step closer to a White House bid in 2000, pro-life Gov. George W. Bush announced Tuesday that he is forming a presidential exploratory committee.
``I do have a compelling reason to consider running for president. For my family and for every family in America, I want the 21st century to be prosperous,'' Bush said.
Bush, 52, said the first job of the committee will be to raise money while he remains in Texas until the state Legislature's session ends on Memorial Day. This summer, Bush said, he will travel around the country to personally gauge support.
``I don't have a formal date in mind yet,'' Bush said of his timetable for deciding whether to run for the office is father once held.
Bush picked the same day that pro-life candidate Pat Buchanan, the conservative commentator opened his third presidential race in New Hampshire.
In his January State of the State address to Texas residents, Bush called for parental notification to help "reduce abortions" in Texas. "No matter where you stand on this next issue, I believe we all want to reduce the number of abortions in Texas. I look forward to working ... to pass a bill to involve parents in major medical decisions for their minor daughters," he said (Austin American-Statesman, 1/28/99).
In February, Bush filed a friend-of-the-court brief to stop tax-funded abortions. he also talked then to pro-life clumnist Cal Thomas about his stand on abortion.
"Part of our responsibility era understands the value of life. I would hope the next leader would lead America to respect life at all levels, including life of the unborn." Bush said for the U.S. Supreme Court he would pick "people who interpret the law as opposed to writing the law. Those are the types I've named to the bench in Texas. They are not judicial activists but judicial scholars."