Dec 29 2003
Bush: Reckless
DETROIT, Dec. 29 — From Iraq to homeland security to public health, President Bush’s “reckless” habit of placing “ideology over facts” has resulted in “the most dangerous administration in my lifetime,” Democrat Howard Dean charged over the past two days.
In Midwest campaign stops and an interview, the former Vermont governor said developments both abroad and at home give credence to his assertion two weeks ago that the United States is “no safer” with the capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
“If we are safer, how come we lost 10 more troops and raised the safety alert” to the orange level, Dean said Sunday night in Ankeny, Iowa.
“All the other Democrats pounced on me and beat me up and said how ignorant I was about foreign affairs,” he said. “I think most people in America agree with me today and it’s only two weeks later.”
Dean has rocketed to the top of the Democratic presidential field with his sharp attacks on Bush, especially on the war in Iraq. Far from backing off his earlier comment about Hussein, Dean has broadened the critique, adding mad cow disease, the national deficit, HIV-AIDS and homeland security to the list of safety failures during Bush’s tenure.
“National security and economic security are the touchstones of the election,” he said in the interview after a rally Monday in Green Bay, Wis. “I think the president has been fairly reckless in just about every area I can think of.”
Dean accused Bush of taking “enormous risks” by refusing to negotiate with North Korea, permitting “warlords” to control much of Afghanistan and failing to address the most serious threats to homeland security.
“We’ve made progress” on strengthening defenses at home, he said. “The problem is, on the things that are enormously important to us we have apparently made no progress. That is the ultimate nightmare of the so-called dirty bomb or a terrorist nuclear attack on the United States.”
“We’ve made progress” on strengthening defenses at home, he said. “The problem is, on the things that are enormously important to us we have apparently made no progress. That is the ultimate nightmare of the so-called dirty bomb or a terrorist nuclear attack on the United States.”
As president, Dean said he would initiate bilateral negotiations with North Korea, purchase the entire uranium stockpile held by the former Soviet Union and shift more money into security programs such as cargo ship inspections. “Why aren’t these things being done now?” he said. “Why have we dillydallied for 15 months?”
Dean, leading in many polls in early nominating states such as New Hampshire and Iowa, is also on the verge of setting a Democratic fundraising record of $40 million. Aides announced Monday that the campaign had raised more than $14 million for the final quarter of the year from 280,000 contributors. The total is likely to climb by at least $400,000 before the official closing date with more than 1,300 fundraising house parties scheduled for Tuesday night.
Wesley K. Clark is the only candidate who will come close to Dean this quarter — aides said Monday the retired general will top $10 million. Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) is tapping his own fortune to keep pace with Dean.
Dean received glowing praise Monday from Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and the endorsement of Rep. John Conyers Jr. (Mich.), the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“I am proud to state and stand with the man that’s ahead of everybody else, that is raising money from the little guys to the shock of everybody who thought it should always be the big fat cats,” Conyers said at a Detroit rally Monday afternoon.
(Click on the headline to continue reading.)
It is difficult for me to fathom what anybody would not vote for this man. It is even more difficult for me to fathom why anybody would vote for George W. Bush. If anybody thinks that Mr. Bush has lessened the terrorist threat in any way, he or she is definitely living in a dream world.
