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Democratic State of the Union talking points

President Bush delivers his fifth state of the union address facing a widening credibility gap and the greatest culture of corruption since Watergate. Republican corruption has created a collapse in confidence and credibility in our government - it’s no wonder that a majority of the American people don’t like the direction President Bush has taken our country and are hungry for change.

The truth is, the President’s policies have weakened America and made us less safe - We can sum up his agenda in four words: you’re on your own.  America can do better than national security policies that have made Iraq a mess and let North Korea and Iran develop nuclear weapons while leaving the country vulnerable to Katrina. From economic policies that squeeze the middle class to benefit the wealthy and healthcare policies that deny seniors their medicine and force the middle class to pay more to get less, Americans are expecting more.  

From health care to national security, Republican corruption has taken its toll on our country, and we can see it in the state of our union:

• A $10 billion slush fund for drug companies and a drug benefit that doesn’t work for seniors
• $100 billion in profits for big oil and higher gas prices for middle class families
• No bid contracts for Halliburton and not enough body armor for our troops.  

1. President Bush Has Made Us Less Safe By:  

• Ignoring the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, leaving our ports, and borders vulnerable. While failing to ensure our first responders are properly equipped.  As Katrina made clear, he failed to prepare our homeland for a possible attack following 9/11.

• Failing to properly equip our troops with the body armor and equipment they need, and stretching our military force – the finest in the in the world -- dangerously thin.  

• Insisting on a failed Iraq policy which has made Iraq a training ground for terrorists, and consistently ignoring the advice and recommendations of commanders on the ground.

• Failing to capture Osama Bin Laden: five years after 9/11 Osama bin Laden remains on the loose, because – in his rush to invade Iraq - the President took his eye of the ball when we had bin Laden cornered in Afghanistan. As a result, Bin Laden escaped and continues to threaten us today.    

• Then, there’s the President’s Axis of Evil: Four years ago, the President declared Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an “axis of evil,” whose nuclear threats posed a risk to the American people. He was right. But, instead of pursuing the policies to make us safe, he invaded Iraq. Now, two members of the axis of evil – North Korea and Iran – are more dangerous, and – after spending billions of dollars and losing 2300 American lives – we’ve found out the third – Iraq – didn’t pose a nuclear threat.

• And the President’s Failure to Secure our Borders: President Bush’s lack of leadership has played a shell game with border security that has made America unsafe. These failures have created a crisis in our immigration system and irresponsibly passed the costs along to our states, cities and communities.

2. He Has Weakened America By:  

• Ignoring the Health Care Crisis: We are the wealthiest nation on earth, but not the healthiest, because Republicans in Congress have decided to take care of Big Drug Companies and HMOs instead of the 46 million uninsured. Meanwhile companies like Ford and GM are finding it difficult to compete in the world because they’re crippled by skyrocketing health care costs. 

• His Medicare plan was a disaster, now he wants to talk about Health Savings Accounts - - that’s classic Bush doublespeak, and it’s not a credible solution to the health care crisis. Here’s all you need to know about HSAs – you’ll pay more and get less.  Like his failed Social Security scheme HCA’s make the situation worse for the American people. And they create a financial windfall for the President’s friends.  

• Failing to Balance the Budget: We have a national debt climbing past 8 trillion dollars, because the president squandered the strongest economy of our lifetime with reckless spending and irresponsible tax breaks for special interests and multi-millionaires.

• Failing to address our dependence on foreign oil: We have an addiction to foreign oil that has climbed steadily and doubled the price of heat and gas since late 2001, because the Vice President let Big Oil companies write our energy policy.  

• Failing the middle-class: too many middle-class families live on a financial cliff, because Republican economic policies place the needs of the wealthy and well-connected ahead of working Americans. The average family income has fallen almost $1700.  Now he wants to extend his tax breaks. Here’s the truth about the Bush tax breaks. Multi-millionaires stand to receive over 100,000 dollars, while the average working family will receive less than 1,000 dollars.  We need middle class tax fairness.

• Failing to ensure America Stays Competitive: For five years, the President has done nothing to keep America in the game.  He has shut the doors of college to thousands of students by supporting the largest student aid cut in history, allowed our country to fall further behind our trading partners. And he’s lavished billion on Big Oil, instead of investing in American technology and know-how that would make us energy independent.
• Allowing Extremists to Dominate the Immigration Debate: The President has allowed extremists in the Republican Party to dominate the debate on immigration, using it to divide Americans and to scapegoat immigrants for political gain. This lack of leadership is keeping us from a solution to the problem, and has made America less safe.
  3. But Still The President Says “Trust Me”  

• He said that every time the government uses a wiretap it gets a warrant.  That wasn't true. 
• He said there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq; that wasn't true. 
• He said his tax cuts wouldn't increase the deficit; that wasn't true. 
• He said that his Medicare reform law would guarantee all seniors’ access to affordable drug coverage, that wasn’t true.  Instead it’s turned out to be a financial disaster, and seniors all across the country are without coverage.
• He said he had no warning about Katrina, but now we know he did.
• He said his Energy bill would lower our dependence on oil and reduce prices, but prices continue to skyrocket.
• He said if any staffer leaked classified information, they would be fired, but Karl Rove is still working at the white house.

4. Democrats Say Enough is Enough.

Democrats Have a Clear, Strong Vision to Rebuild the American Community And Keep America Safe

• Every day, Democratic Mayors balance their budgets despite Republican efforts to cut aid to state and local government
• Every day, Democratic Governors provide health insurance to families despite GOP efforts to cut funding for health care

Tonight Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villariagosa are giving the Democratic responses to the President; they exemplify the kind of effective leadership and vision that Democrats are offering America. Tonight, they will speak from their hearts and outline a positive vision of increased economic opportunity, affordable education, and fiscal responsibility to help American families. 

Democrats Offer A New Direction:  

• Real Security/Strong Defense – based on telling the truth to our soldiers, our citizens and our allies. Addressing the threats of today AND tomorrow.
• Energy Independence – that will help create jobs and get the U.S.  off foreign oil
• Honest Leadership, Open Government - Democrats Want a President Who Can Lead the Nation AND Follow the Law, and Change the way business is done in Washington
• Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence – create jobs that will stay in America and restore opportunity and optimism
• A Health Care System That Works For Everyone – like 36 other nations

Republicans in Washington have abandoned values like community and opportunity and embraced vices like greed and arrogance instead. 

Democrats want to restore our American community with honesty, security and opportunity.