Gov Dean: Bush "Is Weak On Defense & He's Hurt America"

[kpete]

Democratic chairman speaks at conference
By Philip J. LaVelle
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 16, 2006

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean accused President Bush last night of being weak on national defense and absent in the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

In remarks at San Diego State University, Dean urged activists to fan across the nation – including deep into the heart of Republican-rich “red” states – to tell voters that Bush has failed as president – including in national defense, which Republicans tout as their core strength.

...................

“You know, people say the Republicans are tough on defense. How can you be tough on defense if five years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is still at large, the Iranians are about to get nuclear weapons, North Korea's quadrupled their nuclear weapons stash. . . .

“Explain to me how it is that this president is tough on defense? I think this president is weak on defense and he's hurt America because he hasn't done the right thing,” Dean said.

more at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060716-9999-1m16dean.html

[patrice]

1. This sort of thing is what our party SHOULD have been doing all along.

Point by point refutation at EVERY opportunity.

[Guaranteed]

28. Yup. This one idea, in particular.

Dean's been saying this for years, though.

[misternormal]

2. Osama Bin Who???

Osama Bin Laden is not even being looked for anymore really. I can not see how a man that supposedly has to have dialysis on a regular basis can not be found... The fact is... The * administration does not want him found. Simple as that.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Heck, even the Wall St. Journal confirmed the Tora Bora story

You know, the one where we let Osama escape after having him surrounded. But, the WSJ is just another example of the liberal media hating Bush, I guess.

[w4rma]

21. Repugs recently disbanded the CIA group that was looking for Bin Laden. nt

[C_U_L8R]

3. Republicans are pathetic on defense

It's all bluster....
and they only use the defense budgets to stuff their pockets.
How many BILLIONS went missing while Republicans
were supposed to be safeguarding the country ???
There are thieves among us .. and they are called Republicans.

[deminks]

5. I wish I could recommend this post more than once.

We may have just found our voice. Every panelist on the Tweety show just said the same thing.

[madfloridian]

6. Well, I just recommended it for you.

Wish I could have heard the speech.

[Cha]

10. As I did..

:)

[Guaranteed]

29. ABSOLUTELY. nt

[leesa]

7. I was at this speech at DemocracyFest. It was great. The whole day

was very well done with great panels and lots of information. Maxine Waters said she was going to head to Connecticut to support Ned Lamont this weekend, "a true democrat". Heard Col. Ann Wright on a panel about the military-industrial complex, she is on 12th day of fast and was arrested last week for speaking out against Bush's pro-torture nominee, also on the panel were Paul Hackett and David Swanson (afterdowningstreet.org)who got into it a bit with each other on mandatory draft; David Sirota talked about Hostile Takeover; Marc Marin was onstage and hysterical; lot's more.

The organizers did a very good job

[Cha]

9. Good for you!

Thanks for that very personal report on the DemocracyFest! That's great news about Maxine Waters heading out to Connecticut to campaign for a real Democrat, Ned Lamont!

[madfloridian]

12. LOL found this at Kos about Maron on stage...what do you think?

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2006/7/15/232117/716/27#c27

Is it pretty accurate? }(

[Cha]

14. Whoa..I'd say pretty

accurate! :D

"Bush... exactly the right Prez. to oversee the end of the world... will remain steadfast.."

[TheFarseer]

8. like Joe Biden said on MTP this morning

We have no credibility. We don't seem to have a plan for anything, first of all. Because our army is tied down in Iraq, we have no capacity to wage a war anywhere so we are not a credible threat to people like Iran or North Korea. We can't even get the South Koreans or the Japanese on our side in dealing with North Korea. There's no way we can stop the Palestinian/Israeli conflict because none of them think we know what we're doing. and on and on. I hope people who watched that will look at his presidential and sensible approach to the problem and reject Newt Gingrich (who was on the show debating him) and the republican's strategy of war-mongering and fear-mongering.

[Cha]

11. $$64 Billion dollar Question

of the century..

“Explain to me how it is that this president is tough on defense?"

I'd like it explained to me to? red allert? orange alert? duck tape? plastic?

[tjwash]

13. Saw him last night here. Loved it.

nt

[madfloridian]

15. Saw this report about it, very descriptive.

http://howardempowered.blogspot.com/2006/07/tc-reports-on-howards-deanfest-speech.html

"Just home from hearing Howard speak at DemFest...

He was amazing. Vintage Howard and yet somehow even more comfortable with his role and his mission than he ever was. He was relaxed, confident, serious and funny at appropriate times, self-deprecating, and gracious in his praise of all of us and all we do...

Howard listed what the Democratic Platform would be for the next election cycle.

1 - Truth in Government
2 - Strong Defense (a REAL strong defense)
3 - Health Care for All - and yes, he did mention Costa Rica
4 - Education that really doesn't leave any children behind
5 - Jobs for America starting with suppporting devolopment of resources for energy sufficiency using renewable sources

...He was sensational."

Someone else said he was very much into his role right now, what he is doing. That he feels comfortable with it.

[Cha]

18. Democratic Election Platform..

And with Dean you can believe these are not Orwellian terms designed to soothe the proles.

That would have so great to be in San Diego hearing Dean in person.. I'm happy for all those who did.

[msongs]

24. forgot to mention COUNT THE VOTES : -) nt

[kentuck]

16. Too bad he can't get the rest of his Party to say the same thing...

Because what he says is absolutely true.

[saltpoint]

17. You go, Dr. Dean.

Bush is not only weak on defense, he's just barely a sentient being.

Dean was letting him off easy.

[madfloridian]

25. Using Lakoff's frame, I think.

To combat the big strong daddy image.

Actually the word weak is a good one to use in that case.

But you are right, he is an evil man.

[saltpoint]

26. I'd love to see Howard Dean's vision of 50-state grassroots

organization triumph in our party.

One of those chances to make history.

I think he's A-ok, and I hope he prevails against his detractors.

[Quixote1818]

19. Republicans are not smart enough to be tough on Defense

They think all they have to do is swagger and act tough (which actually pisses people off and causes them to defy the administration making things worse). These issues take one hell of a lot of diplomatic chess playing and work. You have to show respect to the opposing side so you can create a dialog.

[Kurovski]

20. K&R.(nt)

[bigwillq]

22. Thanks for speaking the truth Dr. Dean

Again. And Again. And Again. Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.Again. And Again. And Again.

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[Reckon]

23. I just say this over and over and over

The Bush presidency is a national disaster -- he was AWOL on 9/11, National debt, Gas pumps, etc, etc..

[mnhtnbb]

27. Give 'em hell, Howard.