Kucinich: The Truth About the State of our Union

[IndianaGreen]

The Truth About the State of our Union

By Dennis J. Kucinich

On Tuesday night President Bush will stand before the Congress and the nation, to deliver his annual State of the Union address. We are sure to hear a rosy tale of an economy on the rebound, a blossoming democracy in Iraq, a terror network on the run, and a Gulf Coast region rebuilding better and stronger than ever before. As is most often the case with this Administration, the rhetoric does not match reality.

The facts are clear. Our economy is struggling and leaving tens of millions of Americans behind. According to the non-partisan National Journal, since President Bush first stood before Congress and the nation in 2001, the median income in this country has decreased, the jobless rate has jumped from 3.9% to 4.9% and the number of families living in poverty has increased from 8.7% to 10.2%. Our trade deficit has doubled. Inflation has gone up. Personal bankruptcies have gone up. Consumer debt has gone up. College tuition has gone up. And, the price of gas has gone up. All the while, this Administration has turned a $128 billion federal budget surplus into a $319 billion deficit.

Today, almost 6 million more Americans do not have any health insurance than when President Bush took office. In total, over 45.5 million Americans, or over 15% of our total population, have no health care coverage at all.

During his 2003 address, President Bush told the nation that Saddam Hussein "had biological weapons sufficient to produce over 25,000 liters of anthrax", "materials sufficient to produce more than 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin", "as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent" and "upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents".

Today, almost three years after the start of the President's war of choice, we know Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, had no connection to al-Qaeda and posed no threat to our nation. Yet, our armed forces are bogged down in the middle of civil war that our own generals say cannot be won by military force. Our presence in Iraq is counterproductive and has cost the lives of over 2,200 US troops and $250 billion.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2647/1/146/

[burrowowl]

1. KICK!

[Dr.Phool]

2. K&R. I love Dennis.

A great Congressman.

[Erika]

3. yep. He saw things how they really were from the beginning

and had the guts to say it like it was. He was laughed at for proposing a Department of "Peace". I think most of the country now regret that laughter.

[Pachamama]

4. Ahh...the truth of the state of our union...Americans can't handle it!

The truth is our state of the union is in danger and distress....But, Bush will lie and then he will go on and on about the "New Threats" of the evil of Axis member Iran and then by April we will be at war with them too....

[Hissyspit]

5. You're not going to get any truth in Bush's State of the Union speech...

His past ones have been full of lies and manipulation. I told my students after the 2003 speech "Read between the lines!" He didn't mention Osama ONCE.

[barb162]

6. Yes, the state of the Union is beyond sad

The second paragraph really tells the story domestically. I suspect the numbers used here (probably official numbers) are still understated, such as the jobless rate. A lot of people are just hanging on and a lot of people didn't succeed in even doing that. I am seeing more and more stories of huge layoffs. People are now fighting each other for Wal-Mart jobs.

Bush will be sure to mention "freedom" in his speech at least 20 times

[rucky]

7. And to think, this is what he's doing on his honeymoon!

The man is married to... the truth.

[eridani]

14. He got married last August

Honeymoon is technically over. Still, you're right about him being married to the truth, regardless.

www.kucinich.us

[jimshoes]

8. Thanks Dennis

for being there. Glad he's representing me in Congress. 10th Dist. Ohio.

[Marleyb]

9. State of our union illustrated...

[Zomby Woof]

10. Thanks for this

DK just lays it out, with the hard truths, buttressed by his outrage, compassion, and honesty. :thumbsup:

[Catchawave]

11. Dennis speaks for me

"our presence in Iraq is counterproductive..."

[Rich Hunt]

12. well sheesh...

At least someone out there is talking about REAL problems in this country,
and not the latest 'episode' in the personality parade.

Thank you, Dennis!

[XanaDUer]

13. I love this guy.

:loveya:

[pberq]

15. Kick!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

16. Kick nt.

[jbfam4]

17. Great post

Dennis is a true patriot....