Republicans Incompetent in Defending our Nation
This morning DNC Chairman Howard Dean appeared on CBS’s "Face the Nation." The interview covered a wide range of topics from Washington Republicans’ failed defense and domestic policies, to the war on the middle class and the need for a new direction in America.
Below are excerpts from Governor Dean's appearance:
On the war on terror, the war in Iraq:
“…The truth is that the Republicans look increasingly incompetent in defending our nation. Five years into the Bush presidency and a republican majority, we see Iran is about to get nuclear weapons, North Korea not only has them but is expanding the number of nuclear weapons. Osama bin laden is still at large. And, I think the American people realize that Iraq was a war of choice and that the real war is the war on terror.
“…The Democrats want a new direction in our defense policy. We want to fight the war on terror. That means capturing or killing Osama bin laden, focusing on the terrorists in northwest Pakistan and we don't think that the Iraq war is the right way to fight the war on terror because it simply has nothing to do with the war on terror.
"…In many ways the Republicans have turned down the suggestions of the Democrats have for improving our ability to defend our homeland and we think it's time for a new direction.
"…the world is a much more dangerous place and America is in danger. The fact of the matter is the Republicans have refused to fund adequate port security. They've refused to fund adequate first response security. Our nuclear plants and our petroleum and chemical plants are still not safe. And things are going badly for us around the world. Our troops deserve better than this. If the Republicans would listen to the military before we go on these adventures rather than afterwards, then we would have a better shot. But the truth is Iran proposes a greater danger, North Korea poses a greater danger and the President has done very little about these things. And, I think that's going to be an issue. I think security is an issue that now finally works for the Democrats. They've been there for five years, these Republicans. And the question is, are we safer now? And the answer is no.
On Secretary Rumsfeld:
“…Of course I think he (Secretary Rumsfeld) should resign. He's fundamentally incompetent…Sixty percent of the American people believe the war in Iraq was a mistake. Secretary Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney have gone on television saying people who disagree with the president are essentially like Nazi appeasers.
“…You know, when you start attacking voters out of your frustration that is not a good thing for winning elections. I think that's one of the reasons the Republicans are in trouble. We need a new direction. Staying the course for a failed strategy is not a good direction.
On the 2006 Elections:
"…I think anybody who is supporting President Bush's policy is going to have a rough time and that includes an awful lot of Republicans. Republicans are leaving a sinking ship. And, the sinking ship is the Republican approach to the war in Iraq and to the war on terror.
"…I'm optimistic. It's going to be a tough fight. You know, the Republicans are a worthy opponent when it comes to elections. They know what they're doing. We've raised a lot of money. We've put in a good field organization. We've got terrific candidates better, I think, than the Republicans. They're in trouble because they've got the culture of corruption they have to contend with. In Montana, I think Senator Burns has taken an enormous amount of money from Jack Abramoff often and his folks. But, this is a tough race. Make no mistake about it. These races are going down to the wire.
"…People want a new direction. Sixty percent of the people in this country think we need a change. This is a national election. It's a referendum on the Republican rule. The Republicans control the House and the Senate and the White House. And, I think people want a different direction. We want a different direction. We want real change in this country.
On the Republican War on America’s Families:
"…What we want a new direction for this country and not just a new direction in the war on terror. We haven't talked about the Republican war on the American family. Every year a million new middle class Americans lose their health insurance. The republican majority has reduced Pell grants and made it harder for middle class kids to go to college. We need a new direction, both at home and in the defending America.
"…for 80% of Americans the economy is not doing better. The fact is it's harder to send your kid to college. We don't have a health care system in this country that covers everybody like 36 other countries in the world do. Average wages have gone down for the last five years.
"…So for ordinary Americans, they're suffering for this. They see that the Republicans giving away money to the oil companies and H.M.O's in the middle of the night, these huge tax breaks. But, they don't see anything for them. They see their lives getting harder. People know the Democrats are better on education, on social security, on pension security, on health care. I think the big battle here is not to convince Americans that we're going to is set a new direction in those areas. They know that. The big battle is going to be will the Democrats set a new direction in security? And the issue is yes we will.
