Excerpts of Dean on 'Fox News Sunday'
Posted by Joe Rospars on January 29, 2006 at 01:38 PM
In case you missed it:
On the State of the Union
"I think most Americans think the state of the Union is in pretty difficult shape right now. We do need some new ideas on the economy. The Democrats have put forward a jobs plan that has to do with energy independence. We do need a healthcare system that works for everybody. And, frankly, I think we need a little better work on defense. We're worried about the troops not being taken care of properly in Iraq. We're worried about a lack of direction. I think the President is going to have a lot of explaining to do."
On President Bush’s Lack of Credibility
"So, you know, we all want the President to succeed, but the President hasn't succeeded. I think that's because he has a lack of vision and, frankly, he hasn't been truthful to the American people and people, frankly, just don't believe him anymore, and that's a real problem for him."
On the President's Domestic Spying Program
"I support spying on Al Qaeda. Every American thinks we ought to spy on Al Qaeda and do whatever we can do beat them. We have to do it within the law. We need a country that will need -- excuse me. We need a President that will lead the nation but a President that will follow the law. The law says that if the President thinks Al Qaeda is an imminent threat and he wants to spy on them, he can do that immediately, but he's got to get a warrant after the fact. In 2002, there was a memo from the Justice Department that suggested changing the law and the White House said, "No, we didn't need to do it." We are not asking the President not to spy on Al Qaeda. We are asking the President to follow the law when he does so. No one should be above the law. Not even the President of the United States."
On Jack Abramoff and the Republican Culture of Corruption
"Look, I think the President should release the information about when Jack Abramoff was at the White House. We know that he met now -- I think we believe -- I believe it's been confirmed that he's met with Karl Rove before in the White House. We need to know who Jack Abramoff met with in the White House and did he meet with the President in the White House? That's public information, and we're putting in a request to make sure the American people know to the extent of this lobbying scandal. Does it reach into the White House in addition to just the Republicans in Congress?"
On the Democratic Party's Honest Leadership Agenda
"Look, historically, we know that both Democrats and Republicans have done things they ought not to do. What we're saying in the Democratic Party, let's put a final stop to that. We're going to get rid of all corporate jet travel, get rid of all lobbying expenses and golf trips and lunches. One thing we're going to do that the Republicans haven't even talked about is we're going to stop people putting things in conference committee reports in the dead of night when nobody knows about it."
On the Cost of the Republican Culture of Corruption
"Here's the cost of this. It's not just dishonesty in government. The real cost is a couple weeks ago the Republicans stuck in a $22 billion tax money giveaway to HMOs. Nobody knew anything about it. That's the problem with corruption. It's not just dishonesty. It costs the American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. That is the shame of this scandal."
Comments (14) «
"On the State of the Union"
"...I think we need a little better work on defense. We're worried about the troops not being taken care of properly in Iraq." yep, i'd bet even the swift boat folks would hate to admit now as much as they disliked kerry he would have identified with those soldier folks in iraq...
"On President Bush’s Lack of Credibility"
"...he hasn't been truthful to the American people and people, frankly, just don't believe him anymore, and that's a real problem for him."
yep, north korea and iran are serious but standing in w's pulpit voters are beginning to question w too...some 50+%?
"On the President's Domestic Spying Program"
"...a President that will lead the nation but a President that will follow the law. No one should be above the law. Not even the President of the United States."
there in is the mixup. w is "king." something about "Political Capital."
"On Jack Abramoff and the Republican Culture of Corruption"
"Look, I think the President should release the information about when Jack Abramoff was at the White House."
don't hold our breaths ... why can't we just see the photos?
"On the Democratic Party's Honest Leadership Agenda"
"Look, historically, we know that both Democrats and Republicans have done things they ought not to do"
interesting. although most of us would know the party that had the biggest whatever.
"On the Cost of the Republican Culture of Corruption"
"...Republicans stuck in a $22 billion tax money giveaway to HMOs...It costs the American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars."
their profits will exceed 22 billion. and again, the media is kept busy with rove-designed diversions.
Yes, of course, I missed it. Don't have cable and wouldn't watch Fox if I did.
But, I want to quibble with the lobbying reforms being proposed. Certainly, lobbyists ought not to be writing legislation. Period. But, it's not the lobbyists that are the problem. The members of Congress are the ones who have privatized their jobs and handed them over to consultants, pollsters and lobbyists, while all they do is fish for contributions.
Instead of federal financing schemes, I would suggest that incumbents and firs-time candidates be limited to accepting monetary contributions only from INDIVIDUALS who are qualified to cast a ballot for them.
The fact that they often end up making decisions that affect people outside their district is not a justification for accepting money from these affected parties. Indeed, most of the Representatives have instituted a practice of not even receiving electronic communications from people who don't live in their districts. But they'll take their money!!!! Give me a break.
It's about time that campaign finance or the regulation of political activity stop focusing on the individual voter. Public officials are prohibited from accepting bribes. The might just as well get used to this prohibition while they are candidates.
Besides, I don't know how we can expect people to be fiscally conservative if their electibility is judged on the basis of how much money they can raise and spend.
hi america1st...good point about the media diverted by other issues...i'd say 22 billion is worth a headline or two.
my solution to elections is to publicly fund them. check the box on your tax returns. a buck a piece, or opt out. the huge profits from television campaigns have destroyed the public airwaves.
let's take 'em back...fairness doctrine, public service announcements, equal time...or you don't want the air waves...they belong to the public...at least, they did before they were highjacked
ronnie raygun was as bad as nixon
hi fade...yep, remember when they started that on tax returns. i've checked the box every year since. i guess that's why i don't have much influence. can't get much for a buck these days.
heh, sure would like to see the photos of w and dishonest abe. must be hiding something if they won't show the public.
nor do i support north korea nor iran, but i can sure understand why they don't trust w. would you? add to leaders distrust to include in the america's ... cuba, columbia ... yep, w's the great divider...never heard red and blue states pronounced until w appeared on the scene.
america1st
are you the same one, from way back...teaching science in California?
what is your reaction to the warnings on global warning, and the bushco shushing the messenger...
i'm scared that it's getting way past time for us to stop playing around, and face this problem. intelligent design is their way to promote denial, while we're destroying the planet for the near future generations...
The price of freedom is eternal vigilence. It has often been put by Bush as being in terms of warding off threats from without. However, this vigilence must be applied to threats to freedom from within. A President who breaks a law, even for the sake of gathering intelligence, poses a threat to the constitutional rights of US citizens.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilence. It has often been put by Bush as being in terms of warding off threats from without. However, this vigilence must be applied to threats to freedom from within. A President who breaks a law, even for the sake of gathering intelligence, poses a threat to the constitutional rights of US citizens.
fade, yep, same...
since you asked. my reaction to global warming is evidence suggests it's for real. of course, any science, including "global science" is pseudoscience with w. he doesn't even realize he's a Homo sapien. he's been prompted by rovian science to think he's above us all ... sorta struts like some ancient king (henry the 8th). i'd suppose intelligent design is someway for them to backpedal that they acknowledge that darwin may have been on to something. i guess in all another reason to keep w strutin' during staged photo opts?
I think Dr. Dan needs to stick to one problem at a time and hammer away on it. Ignore the questions asked and stick to that one idea. I know each of these issues are horrible, but we are diluting our message.
They are sticking to natonal security. I say we stick with incompetence.
They are incompetent even with national security....went into Iraq (and blew that) instead of beefing up security at home or finishing off Bin Lauden in Afganistan.
This also fits in well with the public's contempt over how the Katrina disaster relief was handled. If they want to push the fear button, we can do the same thing with FEMA, the NSA and the Pentagon. When there is another terrorist attack, does anyone in this country believe the survivors will be safe? Our phones might be tapped but will there be enough medicine and troops to distribute them?
And, think about it, if the President can't even handle getting a warrant from the courts 3 days after the NSA taps a phone line, how can they be be trusted to get water and food to people 3 days after a dirty bomb knocks out a nuclear facility or the outbreak of a small pox epidemic?
Why can't this Republican government respond in three days to any emergency. Because they are incompetent -- they can't handle problems and must break laws to do any job and then it never produces results. Abu Graibe/Gitmo/the European gulags and the Patriot Act have produced no convictions. None. The terrorists are running wild and winning elections.
The Republican can no longer be allowed to put this nation in peril like they did with 9/11 and Katrina. (Let us not forget that Gulliai and NYPD/NYFD were on their own for several days; not one fighter jet was sent out to intercept any of those planes.)
The Republican Congress is so wrapped up with influence peddling/taking bibes and their other pork barrel projects that they have not responded at any of the concerns people have about our national security. They didn't even slap FEMA on the wrist; they failed to implement any of the recommendations made by the 9/11 commission.
Instead the Republican Congress screwed senior citzen with a perscription drug "benefit" that puts many at risk and passed tax breaks for the wealthy and handouts for corporate interests instead. Pure incompetence.
There is only one message to the Americsn people: You live in a post-Katrina, Republican world of incompetence.
It's very important now more than ever for Democrats to speak up before President Bush's State of the Union so please fill out this survey in the link below and pass it on to others as well. http://survey.pollingpoint.com/3929984
Great job, Howard - thanks again - don't forget talk radio though.
I hate Fox.I only watched because I knew Howard Dean would be on.I was proud to see the way he handled himself and I thought he did a great job at clairifying the Democrats position in several key areas.I also, happend to catch him on the Today Show with Little Miss Couric who made a few attempts to merge the Democrats in with the Republican Culture of Corruption Scandal and how Dean rebutted her every time.They need to get it through their thick,right-wing, programmed skulls that the Democrats did NOT take money from Abramhoff.Dean did a great job of not backing down and reinstating his argument.
I like the idea of focusing on INCOMPETENCE.
It's useful and applicable to everything that's wrong about this administration. Solid idea.
Interestingly enough, Joe Scarborough posted this on MSNBC at the 11:35 mark after the SOTU tonight:
"Listening to the chatter from my perch on Capitol Hill makes it clear that the Democratic Party is in dire need of guidance. So here is a Republican’s humble suggestion on how to gain traction with the majority of American voters.
Hammer home these three themes over the next ten months.
1. There is a culture of corruption in Republican-run washington.
2. There are record deficits, record debts and record government waste in Republican-run Washington.
3. Soldiers are dying across the world for reasons that are still not clear three years later.
Keep it simple, stupid. And tell Ted Kennedy to keep his head down in 2006."
While I'm not sure what he's implying about Kennedy (could be many things), I do think he's got a damn good point in saying to keep it simple.
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