Bush: Consistently Wrong For America
George Bush has been consistently wrong for America - on the wrong side of security, the economy, health care, you name it. He has made one wrong choice after another and has failed to get the job done for America. We're five days away from getting someone in the White House who is going to make working America the priority and get our country back on track.
NO 9-11 COMMISSION, OK 9-11 COMMISSION BUT NO EXTENSION, OK EXTENSION BUT CONDI CAN'T TESTIFY IN PUBLIC, OK FINE SHE CAN TESTIFY…
In July 2002, Bush released a statement of policy saying he would "oppose an amendment that would create a new commission." But in September 2002, he relented under pressure from Democrats. Then in January, the White House opposed extending the deadline for completion of the Commission's work, but relented in early January. Then in March 2004, Dr. Rice refused to testify publicly under oath, but the White House its stand on that too. [SAP, 7/24/02; NYT, 9/21/02, 2/5/04, 3/30/04; WH Press Briefing, 1/27/04; Washington Post, 3/29/04]
BUSH OPPOSED THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT. … BEFORE HE SUPPORTED IT
In October 2001, Ari Fleischer said Bush opposed creating a DHS saying, "there does not need to be a Cabinet-level Office of Homeland Security." But after later reversing himself to support it, Bush took credit for its creation saying, "In just 12 months, under the leadership of your President…you faced the challenges standing up this new Department and you get a -- and a gold star for a job well done." [White House Press Briefing, 10/24/01; New York Times, 2/28/03; Bush Remarks at One-Year Anniversary of DHS, 3/2/04]
UPDATE: HOMESTRECH REDUX ON OUR ABILITY TO DEFEAT TERROR
In his October 23 radio address, Bush stated, "Our government is doing everything in its power to confront and defeat that threat. … And by staying focused and determined, we will prevail." But the very next day in an interview, he said, "Whether or not we can be ever fully safe is up - you know, up in the air." [Bush Radio Address, 10/23/04, Fox News Channel Interview, AP, 10/24/04]
OSAMA BIN LADIN: DEAD OR ALIVE, OR NOT A CONCERN?
Shortly after 9-11, Bush said of Bin Ladin, "I want justice… wanted, dead or alive." But less than six months later, he said "I truly am not concerned about him." [Bush remarks, 9/17/01, 3/13/02]
WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR, WE CAN'T DO IT OR WE ALREADY ARE?
In an interview before the Republican convention, Bush said of the War on Terror, "I don't think you can win it." Bu the very next day he said, "We are winning and we will win." [AP, 8/30/04, Bush Remarks 8/31/04]
WE INVADED IRAQ TO ELIMINATE WMD… TO LIBERATE THE NATION … TO FOSTER DEMOCRACY … TO …
Bush has offered continually shifting rationales for the War in Iraq. In March 2003 he said, "Our mission is very clear: disarmament." By June 2003 it was "to liberate an oppressed people." In May 2004 it was to "see that Iraq is free and self-governing and democratic." By this September our mission was to "help new leaders train their army so they can do the hard work." [Bush Remarks, 3/6/03, 6/5/03, 5/4/04, 9/4/04]
MORE MONEY FOR IRAQ: NOT NEEDED TO A $25 BILLION REQUEST IN 3 MONTHS
In February, Bush's budget director said "The Iraq reconstruction money … goes well beyond '04, through '05 at least, so we don't expect to need to come back to ask for any additional reconstruction money." But just three months later Bush requested an additional $25 billion with another request for $75 billion to follow shortly. [Josh Bolton Briefing, 2/2/04; Presidential Statement, 5/5/04; AP, 10/26/04]
IRAQI WMD: FROM WEAPONS TO "PROGRAM RELATED ACTIVATES"
Bush stated in his 2003 State of the Union, "The dictator of Iraq has got weapons of mass destruction." A year later it was "dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities." [Bush SOTU, 1/22/03, 1/21/04]
AI
