President George W. Bush concentrates on his domestic agenda during a campaign swing through the state, but also defends his decision to wage war against Iraq. The President touched on energy, health care, what he calls “junk” lawsuits, and government programs showing their age. In Sedalia, Bush engaged in a planned give and take with a handful of local residents, including one whose small business has saved money under the tax cuts Bush pushed through Congress. Bush called for the tax cuts to be made permanent. On Iraq, the President had an admission: weapons of mass destruction might not have been found, but the world and America are safer with Saddam Hussein out of the picture. Bush said he tried every avenue of diplomacy and only decided to go to war when there was no alternative.
