Dems Blast Bush in Response to Press Conference
EmailABC’s Tahman Bradley reports: Responding to President Bush’s Rose Garden press conference earlier today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called North Korea’s recent test of a nuclear weapon, "the most dangerous thing that has happened to this country since 9-11."
In a telephone conference call with reporters this afternoon, Schumer was joined by Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) who said, "From our point of view, it’s clear the Bush administration’s policy has failed."
In particular, Sen. Durbin criticized the 2002 Bush "axis of evil" statement and what he called the Bush administration’s doctrine of "preemption." "The bravado of this administration’s chest thumping has not made us safe, " Durbin said.
Schumer added that the U.S. needs to focus on developing weapons detection devices and needs to reach out to China and Russia for help with North Korea.
On the issue of Iraq, both Senators said the U.S.’s focus on Iraq has taken attention from other places the U.S. should be focused. Durbin said he just returned from Iraq last week and that the violence in the country has escalated. He called Iraq "much more violent and more dangerous" that it has ever been.
Without laying out specifics, Durbin said "a new direction" is needed in Iraq. "The administration will not succeed unless it changes course."
USS Gabrielle Giffords Honors Courage 
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
AFTER WATCHING THE NEW THIS WEEK 3 DAYS—KERRY WANT THE PRESIDENT[MY PREZ]KILLED,THE NOSE STRISTAND[COMES OUT AS A CHEAP GUTTER MOUTH ABOUT MY PREZ,THE N KOREA WANTS TO BURY AMERICA,NOW THINK ABOUT IT?DO YOU REALLY WANT ANY DEMOWOOD[DEMOCRATE ]CLUCK IN THE WHITE HOUSE,IF YOU DO THEN YOU CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENDS TO OR COUNTRY.
Posted by: BETESY31 | October 11, 2006, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
I would bet you did not mind all the cheapshots from the Republicans during the last election. It is always “do as I say ..but not what I do ” with you tow the party line republicans.
Posted by: HMACKEY | October 11, 2006, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Clinton not only stopped North Korea’s nuclear production (in ’93), he convinced them to stay in the Non-proliferation treaty (in ’94), and ALSO convinced them to abide by a moratorium on missile testing (in ’99).
Tell me how Bush in his six years of office, with a Republican congress in his back pocket, has been able to reverse the situation; allow North Korea to build up nukes, test missiles, leave the Non-proliferation treaty and now has tested nuclear weapons? The answer is simple, Bush has been so focused on Iraq (with no WMDs, and now no real government thanks to Bush), and so consumed by rhetoric (calling NK part of an “Axis of Evil”) that we’re now in this situation.
In six years of office, with a Republican Senate and House, Bush has managed to completely unravel the strides forward made by Clinton, and in fact has made things that much worse than when he started.
Posted by: pakaal | October 11, 2006, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
Spoken like a true bushman or maybe a bushwoman , just attack,attack,attack with no plan for victory – just talk – talk – talk or just maybe he was trying to talk the Iraqis to death – could it be he has a plan after all ! maybe all those “mission accomplished, “last throes”, “greeted as liberators with flowers and candy” was just to “trick” the enemy or perhaps to see how many adult Americans might believe such foey or it is Foley .
Posted by: T. HINES | October 11, 2006, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Bush is the worst president ever. I just hope he won’t start another war before he leaves office. The policies and actions he has taken have made sure that there can be no success in Iraq or this country until he is gone.
Posted by: Vicki | October 11, 2006, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
We (America) first heard of North Korea’s nuclear program in the mid-80s (Reagan Administration). In 1991 Bush 41 launches talks to end their development. In ’93, North Korea threatens to leave Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty. Clinton (remember him?) threatens to attack their nuclear facilities, ending in the “US-North Korean Agreed Framework” that freezes nuclear facility operation and construction. Then in ’98 Clinton (him again?) convinces NK to a moratorium on missile testing. Jump forward to the following Administration (the current Bush one, that is), labeling North Korea part of the “Axis Of Evil” in 2002. The following year NK leaves Non-proliferation treaty. Recent events, well, we all know what’s going on right now.
OK, now WHO is it again that did nothing, and WHO was it that tossed Colin Powell aside saying they were going to try a different approach than the Clinton administration’s?
Bush has had a Republican congress his entire term, six years now. That’s essentially carte blanche to have his policies enforced. And in fact we’ve seen congress agree to pretty much everything he wanted. If he wanted to, he would have done something about North Korea. The responsibility for not doing so lies entirely on his shoulders.
Posted by: pakaal | October 11, 2006, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
Perhaps the greatest cost of the ill-conceived Iraqi fiasco–and that is saying quite a bit considering the 3,000 US and 30,000-650,000 Iraqi casualties and the $500b price tag–is the extent to which BU$H squandered the domestic and international political capital he could sorely use right now to deal with the very real threats posed by the PRNK and Iran.
PS: Betsey31, were you home schooled? Or simply absent for the units on spelling and punctuation? Yer doing yer side no favors and would do well to stick to calll in radio.
Posted by: Poindexter | October 12, 2006, 9:13 am 9:13 am
How can anyone say that Pres Bush started any of these wars? Did he give Osama a call and say ” hey, why don’t you get some of your homies and put them on american airliners and crash them right into the WTT’s” “I will clean up the mess” Why don’t you all get out of that crazy fantasy world of yours and help your country by keepin your stupid mouths shut. That would be a good start!
Hey we don’t have enemies abroad, we have them right here, most of the bloggers here are the terrorists in our country!! Anyone that is not supporting Bush and the men and women fighting for your rights to open your big mouths, make me sick and can just go and live in North Korea or Bagdad!!
Do all of us a favor if it is so bad, PLEASE!!
Posted by: kt | October 12, 2006, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Hey, Betesy31 -
How interesting that you’d jump on Barbra Streisand for addressing some idiot in her audience (AFTER POLITELY requesting for him/her to allow others to enjoy the show). She used the same word as ‘yer vice-prez’ on the Senate floor! And ‘yer prez’ has be caught using certain ‘colorful phrases’, too. So yer prez and vice-prez have made the gutter their home long ago.
And kt -
He didn’t ‘give Osama a call’ per se, but he did say “Bring it on!” And he has also stated that there were NO WMDs. . .AND PEOPLE KNEW THERE WERE NONE WHEN WE INVADED A “SOVERIGN NATION” that had NOTHING to do with 9/11 (as he has also acknolwedged). And N Korea now had 400% MORE NUKES than they did during the ENTIRE 8 YEARS of President Clinton’s administration.
It seems that YOU need get out of your fantasy world. It is YOU and YOUR ILK who are the “enemies” at home.
And before you start foaming at the mouth, I support and pray for the troops every day; however, I DO NOT SUPPORT the lying, meglomanical, messianic, election-stealing FRAUD currently occupying the White House.
Posted by: Layne | October 12, 2006, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Statements about bloggers being terrorists are the worst kind of ignorant and ill-focused commentary, not to mention unconstitutioal and traitorous (oh, and misleading too). As Teddy Roosevelt once said, during the World War I conflict:
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”
It IS so bad, KT, but from the way the Republicans have been misbehaving, looks like that’s finally going to change for the better. Whew!
Posted by: pakaal | October 12, 2006, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
Bottom line: Bushco incompetence, corruption and moral bankruptcy has made our country less safe!
Posted by: energyecon | October 12, 2006, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
hey kt, just want to say thanx for showing your ignorance or stupidity. The fact is osama did not associate or live in iraq, he was from afganistan, period. he was not associated with iraq no matter how much you try and quote fox news reporters, no link has ever been found. bush started that war for NO REASON and now cant manage the situation he created. poor blind sheep following the pack. the difference between ignorance and stupidity is people who are ignorant do not know better, people who are stupid, are people who know better and continue to act in the same manner. guess what enough info has been given to dispell any connection with iraq and osama, so i guess you are just stupid.
Posted by: mike | October 12, 2006, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
God only knows what will result from this administrations atrocities. The only word that comes to mind when I think of Bush is ‘Evil’. I am so sick and tired of listening to his reason for going to war was to protect Americans that I could puke. We are so much worse off because of this idiot that it will take years to climb out of the hole he has dug. There are so many other disasters in this world that America could be spending its money on and this administration is spending literally billions every month for a war that we can never win. And it is with a country that was no threat to us whatsoever. I hope that every American that voted for him is satisfied!!!
Posted by: kelly | October 12, 2006, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
Can somebody (Betsy31) please tell me what this “president” has done in his 6 years in office. Unless I didn’t make myself clear Betsy, please cite only constructive accomplishments or list ways he has made our country or our planet better (for us, not him and his posse, and their bank accounts).
Aside from bungling the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq (murdering thousands and thousands of human beings), what has he done?
Almost 6 entire years and nothing.
Jeesh.
(Vote Robot)
Posted by: Bender | October 13, 2006, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Anyone who wants to use 9/11 as a reason or excuse to defend this administration needs to pay attention to the news. Didn’t anyone pay attention to the coverage of the trial of “the other terrorist.” Prosecution witnesses repeatedly cited reports of all the terrorists breaking our laws on more than a few occasions during their quest to learn to fly planes. Each time, not only were the complaints ignored, but our govt. bent rules and regulations to accommodate them. I lost a family memeber on 9/11, and two good friends in Iraq. It really sickens me.
I am now 40 years old, I have voted striclty republican since the age of 18. I once dreamed of a republican president, house, and senate. Talk about being careful what you wish for, I don’t think we have ever had a government so corupt. Our rights and liberties have been sold to highest corporate bidder, and at the same time, many of us have been convinced our govt. is looking out for our best interests.
I for one have completely changed political sides. Better late than never I guess.
Posted by: mike | October 16, 2006, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Most of what has been said here gives me hope there will be a change in Nov. I feel the war with Iraq was started to take care of the 1st Bush president’s unfinished business with Saddam, instead of going after the perpetrator of 9/11. That perpetrator is still at large.
Posted by: Mary | October 17, 2006, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Senator Schumer seems to forgrt that President Bush inherated a very dangerous world from his Democratic predecessor. The N. Korean nuclear program was in an advanced stage when the President took office. In addition, I wish the Senator would explain what he means by reaching out to Russia & China; I thought that touchy feely foreign policy went out with Jimmmy Carter.
Posted by: YAFer in Jerusalem | October 19, 2006, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
I remember all of this very well, the President’s name was Nixon and the war was Vietnam! They told everyone if we didn’t stay in Vietnam we would be invaded, the entire continent would become communist and we would all be blown to hell! Well, it’s 2006 and I’m still waiting? So, now tell me exactly what is the plan in IRAQ? Stay the Course? Whatever that is, we won’t leave until we have VICTORY! Whatever that is, if we leave now then they will come over here drag us out of our homes and kill us! Maybe if we secured our borders we wouldn’t have to worry about that! We have no doubt made the middle east the terrorist haven of all time. If the Republicans could have sold tickets to this WAR they would have, any way to claim a dollar is the only operative word they understand. So, how about this, anyone who still supports us staying the course, should grab a gun and a helmet and go replace one of our soldiers on the front lines, I’m just really sure they would rather be home watching their children grow up rather then wondering when the bullet with their name on it will be fired! Bush should be impeached. Grannysue
Posted by: Sue Filutze | October 20, 2006, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
In reply to Mike….I(and hubby) too, were “staunch” Republicans for 48 years. We started rethinking our affilleation when Mr. Clinton was in office. We could clearly see the immense good he did for this country, despite his personal flaws. But, it wasn’t until George W.(wicked)Bush cheated his way into office that we KNEW it was time to change to a party that actually cared about it’s people. We are elderly, rural people, and we have seen a lot of politicians come and go….but I swear….we have never seen the likes of george w. bush. (I don’t think he deserves the respect of capital letters!)My husband and I are actually AFRAID of this man and what he is going to do next! Besides all the horrible things he has perpetrated onto the American people, and the global community, the most insidious thing has been the division he has caused between the people of this nation! In the past, there have always been debates, and strong arguments between the parties, but we are completely ASTONISHED at the incredible venom, and even VIOLENCE among our two democracy-based parties!! (I read yesterday on one of those chat-room things about a Republican BRAGGING about how he just, for no reason, other than the other person being a Democrat, went up and slapped the person 3 times!! “Hard” he said! What was so incredible was that there were so many other Republicans applauding this disgusting type of intelligence, AND, decided THEY wanted to go out and start slapping (and OTHER more violent actions!!!)someone just because they were Democrat! I just don’t have the vocabulary to tell you how incredibly sad and upset this makes us. And we attribute the bulk of this type of thinking to the corruption, and corrupt thinking of this present administration. Do we now have to live in fear that if the Democratic Party wins the Senate and Congress this November, that we all have to live the fear that our homes will be burned; shot at on the street; boycotted from our churches and schools? We are afraid….very afraid. But, NOT ENOUGH to change our Party back to Republican!
Posted by: Bev | October 20, 2006, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm