Dean's response to *'s speech today. MUST READ

[hedda_foil]

Mods: This is a campaign press release posted on their site ... okay to post in entirety.Thursday, October 09, 2003
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Response to President Bush's Speech
PHOENIX, AZ--Governor Dean, M.D., issued the following statement today in response to President Bush's speech in New Hampshire today:

"Never have we had a president in this country whose rhetoric was so far removed from his record. This administration is determined to cling to its right-wing, ideological theories despite what the facts are. It clings to its theory of supply-side economics, despite the fact that virtually every aspect of our economy has suffered severe setbacks. It clings to its theory that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat to the United States despite the President's own admission that there was no credible link between Saddam and 9/11.

"I believe that facts matter to the American people and that they will draw the same conclusions I have: this administration is not concerned with the struggles, hopes and dreams of ordinary Americans. Its loyalty is to its special interest contributors and to an extreme ideology that wants to dissolve the social contract between them and their government.

"The truth is:

"Over three million Americans have lost their jobs.

"Nearly two million more Americans entered poverty last year.

"44 million Americans -- one in seven -- lack health insurance.

"No weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq.

"184 Americans have been killed since the president declared the war in Iraq over.

"The fact is that this President has given us a stagnant economy at home and a quagmire abroad without any end in sight.

"The fact is that the only Americans who have been asked to sacrifice for the war on terror and the war against Iraq are the brave young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines on the ground. This president refuses to ask his wealthy contributors to make any sacrifice at all -- instead seeking to reward them with more tax cuts.

"Most incredibly, he continues to claim that he is not passing the burden on to future generations when he is saddling Americans with an unconscionable debt burden. This administration's policies -- including its reckless tax cuts -- will add nine trillion dollars to the national debt.

"Americans expect and deserve change from the politics of the past that has gotten America so badly off track. That is why nearly half a million Americans have joined our campaign to take this country back and to restore our democracy, our economy, our freedoms, and our moral standing in the world. If millions more stand with us, we can begin to change America for the better."

www.blog.deanforamerica.com

[LeftCoast]

1. kick

Now THAT is what a democrat is supposed to sound like!


:kick:

[Eloriel]

16. It makes me want to

fall on my knees and break into tears JUST to hear the truth spoken -- clearly, loudly, unabiguously and unapologetically. WHAT a breath of fresh air. WHAT a sanity saver.

I was thinking to myself this afternoon on a brief errand that once again, the level of cognitive dissonance I'm feeling is almost unbearable. What I see reflected around me is so far from what I perceive to be reality that were it not for places like DU and people like Dean, I'd surely go freakin' crazy.

No matter what anyone says, Dean has led this charge. Yes, Kucinich was also, but sadly he hasn't gotten the press that Dean has. Dean gave cover for some of the other Dems to come out of the closet and speak up, loudly, clearly, unambiguously and unapologetically. And that's worth a hell of a lot.

Eloriel

[calimary]

23. Damned right, Eloriel!

I feel the same way. I come to DU (probably much more often than I should) to stay sane and to get some good, useful links.

You are correct in that, while Kucinich was out there fighting, too, for one reason or other it was Howard Dean who really made the most noise. He started it all, on high-profile mode. And he kept pounding away until the other candidates started getting the message that dumping on bush and the war was NOT political suicide. Events, of course, helped that along, too. But Dean was the one who first stuck his neck out the most noticeably, and made the biggest stink. Now, of course, everybody's doing it (except for Lieberman who seems to want to remain a bush apologist). But Howard got the ball rolling.

Love him or hate him, you do have to give Dean credit for THAT, at least. I certainly do. But then again, I'm a Deanie.

[Wetzelbill]

2. Good stuff

[ameriphile]

3. You go, Howie!

n/t

[wryter2000]

4. Love it

Not that other candidates aren't saying the same things. But Dean has such a way of making it clear and powerful.

[tedoll78]

5. That's my man!!!

I love it when he does that!

He's my man because he'll take-on Bush HARD. No holding-back, no shriking violet, and eloquent to boot!

[nini]

6. Keep speaking the TRUTH Doctor!!!

.

[bahrbearian]

7. Keep Hammering

[Old and In the Way]

8. Tell it like it is Howard!

No mincing of words from this guy.....

[jayfish]

9. While I Am A Clark Supporter,...

I love the way Howard comes out swinging each time Shrubya opens his fat pie hole. Keep up the good work Dr..

Jay

[Wwagsthedog]

10. He said nine trillion dollar deficit.

How are we and our children going to pay that off? Storm all country clubs, take hostages and use the ransom to pay some of the debt? It's class war folks. Make no mistake about it.

[tedoll78]

14. I love it when..

Shrub say "it's the taxpayers' money" to justify the cuts. But he'll hide hide hide the fact that the debt is ours also.

Which immediately brings the question: do we want to pay our debt down now, or with interest?

(my tax-hating parents just looove that question, lol..)

[Pastiche423]

11. THIS is how a president speaks

THESE are the issues that must be addressed.

THIS is what strong leadership sounds like.

2005 sounds so far away...

[Cha]

12. Way to Go Guv! This meant the most to me!

:dem:"The fact is that the only Americans who have been asked to sacrifice for the war on terror and the war against Iraq are the brave young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines on the ground. This president refuses to ask his wealthy contributors to make any sacrifice at all -- instead seeking to reward them with more tax cuts.":kick:

[RedEarth]

13. Outstanding...way to go Dean

Speaking the truth....

[Dudley_DUright]

15. Outstanding diagnosis Dr. Dean

My own prescription would be to recommend to the country to elect you as president.

[DrFunkenstein]

17. Does This Guy Ever Promote His Own Ideas?

We get the picture - you don't like Bush. Neither do we. Now tell us something impressive.

[JNelson6563]

24. I think it was intended as a rebuttal

Seeing as it was in response to a speech from Jr. and all.

As to new ideas, you'll find those among his solutions. It's not his fault the problems grow old while waiting to be addressed by Team Bush.

Julie

[gully]

28. Hell YES! See www.deanforamerica.com for many ideas....

Dont forget to use the search option...

www.deanforameria.com

[hedda_foil]

18. kick!

[killbotfactory]

19. Do I have to wait until 2005 before he's officially president?

We need him now!

[frank frankly]

20. right on, Doctor Dean

awesome.

[Kamika]

21. i LOVE Dean

He will shread Bush in the debates

[Eurobabe]

22. go dean!

[JNelson6563]

25. Great statement!

If millions more stand with us, we can begin to change America for the better.

This sentence makes me think of the time after 9/11 and we were all still a little in shock but willing to do just about anything necessary. Of course the Bush misAdministration told us to go shopping so that feeling of wanting to contribute/sacrifice went unaddressed. This sentence reminds me of that because it is the call to get busy and make needed changes that Americans waited for but never got.

Go Dean!

Julie

[FrankBooth]

26. Thank God

I am so happy to hear the truth being spoken. Thank you Howard Dean.

[grasswire]

27. I don't believe this statement is true...

...and besides, he loses an opportunity here:

"The fact is that the only Americans who have been asked to sacrifice for the war on terror and the war against Iraq are the brave young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines on the ground. This president refuses to ask his wealthy contributors to make any sacrifice at all -- instead seeking to reward them with more tax cuts."

Well, in a word-parsing way it could be true. But non-wealthy Americans have been FORCED to have FORCED to sacrifice for Bush's war, in the form of increased state taxes and loss of services. Rich Americans are not subject to this burden.

What is going on is a looting of American families for several more generations, with their resources being laundered through the military industrial complex and going directly into the pockets of the Bush cronies and donors. That's sacrifice.

[gully]

29. You should focus on the later part of that statement...

This president refuses to ask his wealthy contributors to make any sacrifice at all -- instead seeking to reward them with more tax cuts.

"Most incredibly, he continues to claim that he is not passing the burden on to future generations when he is saddling Americans with an unconscionable debt burden. This administration's policies -- including its reckless tax cuts -- will add nine trillion dollars to the national debt.

We are all sacrificing and Dean stated as much...

[gully]

30. Magnifico!!!!

:toast:

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

31. I expect nothing less

from the good doctor. His statements are timely and forceful. No bull about this guy...he says it straight, before waiting to see what others have done or checking polls.