TULSA — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards criticized President Bush’s State of the Union address during his stop at a Tulsa union hall Tuesday, but steered clear of attacking his party's frontrunners.
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No mention was made during the 20-minute speech of his primary opponents — Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York — first- and second-place winners, respectively, last week in South Carolina.
Edwards said what he heard President Bush say was “more tax cuts for big business, more illegal spying on the American people and everything is going great in Iraq if we just stay on course."
“Boy, it sounds like groundhog day to me,” he told the 450 people reportedly crowded into the Transport Workers Union Local 514 union hall. The local represents more than 6,000 employees at the American Airlines Maintenance & Engineering Center at Tulsa International Airport with some in four smaller cities. The local also has more than 2,700 retirees in the Tulsa area.
“The first year that I am president of the United States I will bring to an end this mess of a war in Iraq,” Edwards said.
Further, he said that during that year he would get all combat troops out of Iraq, combat missions would be ended and there would be no permanent military bases there.
“Listen to Bush and his gang” who are talking about staying Iraq for decades, Edwards said. “We’ve got to change what is happening in Iraq."
During the same period, Edward said he would close Guantanamo, which he termed a “national embarrassment,” put an end to “illegal spying” on American people and end the debate on torture because “no torture is permissible.”
Among the challenges facing the nation is that “we have an entrenched money interest that Bush has taken great care of and stands as the obstacle of change,” said the former U.S. senator from North Carolina.
There is economic growth in the United States, Edwards said, but “all the economic growth is going to the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations.”
He called the nation’s trade policy, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, “complete insanity” as all they do is send American jobs overseas.
Edwards said he will ask how any trade proposal submitted for signature is good for middle-class working Americans. Edwards also said he wanted tax breaks for working, middle-class Americans.
America has “a dysfunctional health care system ... it doesn’t work,” said Edwards.
The only answer is universal health care which Edwards said could be financed by “getting rid of the Bush tax cuts.”
A million new jobs can be created in solving the nation’s addiction to oil and halt global warming if “we do it the right way” by making the polluters pay and invest in renewable energy sources.
Long-term economic growth is created in this country by raising people out of poverty and lifting them into the middle class in part by Edwards’ proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour.
The nation needs a national anti predatory lending law, said Edwards, who urged action to aid homeowners having difficulty paying off loans.
Edwards supports a “college for everyone” program that would pay tuition in state schools for every qualified high school graduate who will also work 10 hours a week.
As part of his economic stimulus package, Oklahoma would receive $260 million in direct aid to support its needs without raising taxes, Edwards said in a brief meeting with the media following his speech.
Edwards said he feels that he would “do well” in Oklahoma during the Feb. 5 primary election and that he was in the Democratic race “for the long haul.”
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Edwards can spout all he wants to about our addiction to oil. Look at our state we are far about the financial woes in other states. We have a 4% unemployment rate and homes are selling well our economy is very good. Does any one remember the 80's. in this state? I sure do. The East coast wimps screamed about high cost of home heating fuel and put enough pressure on the government until we imported so much oil it was not worth the effort to produce it in the USA. We scream about the Middle East and we are among the contributors to their economic growth so that they can terrorize us. Look at the price of food crops that are used to produce fuel. It is not the cost of the "stupid war" that is the greatest issue, it is the loss of life. Why can't the US ever just go in and finish the job. Just you wait and see Bush will solve that problem before he leave office. Guess he and Chaney have made all the billions they need for a while. When are we ever going to quit bickering about parties and decide what is good for our country? When are we going to speak up as a united front and demand our lawmakers listen to us and do the right thing. While we are bickering amoung ourselves we are losing our country. We are not the great super power we are lead to believe, we are slipping away bit by bit. I for one am not even looking at party lines in this election I am researching voting records, personal life and all of the other things that might help in my decision. They can say all the want to get elected, what have they done in the past? I for one want a president that is respected and presents an image of responsibility and intelligence to the rest of the world. R*E*S*P*E*C*T as the song goes. We have gangs running cities, illegals thumbing there noises at us, crooks as our leaders and a country so divided by party lines that we can not see the greater picture.
Thoughtful, Oklahoma City - Jan 30, 2008 at 8:28 am
Why do we care about "tax cuts for corporations" so much. So what if a politician wants to cut taxes to corporations. Doesn't that actually raise gov't revenue, since that money will be put into the marketplace where it generates more for the gov't than it would sitting in the gov't vault? That's a tired line that needs some revamping.
More people die of violence in Detroit than Iraq?!?!?? The defense budget is a drop in the bucket compared to all the pinko commie social programs???? I can't believe I live in a state where 2nd grade math skills are in such short supply. Oh well. I guess book smarts aren't a requirement for voting or, for that matter, becoming president of the most powerful nation in the world.
well then Anthony, lets try to preach that point home as all the liberals elect a Liberal president. You want a socialist country?? Elect the Hilda Beast. Those babies you talk about won't have a chance. If by chance they are allowed to be born guess who will pay for them? You and I will..the ones that survive the abuse that is
I have the utmost respect for the Military lives lost in Iraq. But the liberal democrats everyone of them do not realize that there is more innocent lives lost everyday to abortion than will ever be lost to radical muslims in Iraq. In Gods Holy Word in the book of Jeremiah God says that he knew you and had plans for your life while still in the womb. A living human being at the time of conception is murdered every 3 seconds of every day for the convenience of the mother and at the hands of every immoral American that supports thae action. the democrats can argue the lives of troops in Iraq lost, the death penalty being immoral yet care less about the innocent and defenseless.
So, the Breck Boy breezed through Tulsa peddling the typical socialist BS. Too bad for him that he doesn't got a prayer against the scumbag Clinton machine and the sour femi-nazi brownshirts they've surrounded themselves with. Senator Obama is a decent man, but I'm afraid he just isn't willing to get down into the gutter with the two slimiest human beings in America, Bill and Hillary Clinton. And that, sadly, is the only way a candidate can successfully fight the Clinton machine, by using their same guttersnipe campaign tactics and slinging political mud just as frequently and effectively as they do. Sad, but true. Go Ron Paul.
The first year that I am president of the United States I will bring to an end this mess of a war in Iraq,” Edwards said. I have yet to hear just how he is going to do this with the best interest of the USA in mind.
He called the nation’s trade policy, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, “complete insanity” as all they do is send American jobs overseas. Senator Edwards, the jobs were going out of the USA long before NAFTA. A fair and level trading field is what the USA needs.
Edwards also said he wanted tax breaks for working, middle-class Americans. Define “middle-class Americans”. What about a fair tax ?
America has “a dysfunctional health care system ... it doesn’t work,” said Edwards. The only answer is universal health care which Edwards said could be financed by “getting rid of the Bush tax cuts.” Look to the British. Today they are proposing three major changes in their social healthcare system which seems to me to say; we want to take care of only the healthy.
A million new jobs can be created in solving the nation’s addiction to oil and halt global warming if “we do it the right way” by making the polluters pay and invest in renewable energy sources. Define polluters. By the way, those energy saving lights that saves one a lot of money over the life of the light (7 years) don’t. They cost more and two of mine quit working after 8 and 10 months. I do not see the savings in these and the government is going to make us buy these in a few years.
Long-term economic growth is created in this country by raising people out of poverty and lifting them into the middle class in part by Edwards’ proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour. There is no need to say anything except, This is a joke.
The nation needs a national anti predatory lending law, said Edwards, who urged action to aid homeowners having difficulty paying off loans. Who are these people that are having difficulty paying off their loans? Has anyone seen a profile of these people. If one makes $20K a year and buys a quarter million dollar house and then says “I can’t pay” well tough to the buyer and the lender. Don’t expect the taxpayers to correct your economic stupidy.
Edwards supports a “college for everyone” program that would pay tuition in state schools for every qualified high school graduate who will also work 10 hours a week. Well, it has been said that college is not for everyone. Define 10 hours of work per week. Sounds like this plan is more in line with the movie, Failure To Launch.
Can any candidate give specifics as to what they are going to do and define who they are going to do it to?
He talks about getting rid of Bush's tax cuts. What he really means is more taxes. That's what we need! More taxes never solved any problem. In fact, history shows that every time taxes were raised, a recession or depression followed.
He talks about a million new jobs created by solving the nation's supposed addiction to oil, but fails to mention that 75% of the jobs in the United States are related to oil in some manner. If you chip away at oil, you chip away at those jobs. His million job dream isn't near enough to cover the destruction of jobs he would be responsible for.
He talks about raising minimum wage. Why? Those are entry level jobs. Thus minimum wage. That is a small percentage of the total work force. Mostly kids.
All elections are equally important. The war has very little to do with the national debt. Take a look at all the programs that suck up our Tax dollars, and put us in the red every year. Programs that the federal government shouldn't even be involved in. We've become this huge charity nation for some reason. Presidents have no problem taking our tax dollars and giving them away to people who should be taking care of themselves. That's the cause of the debt. We need a president who will stop the spending. Not spend more. Liberals always talk about the Defense budget. But it is small compared to all their other departments and programs. You talk about his long list of things that need fixing. They're not broke! Liberals would have you believe they are, but they're not. Our medical system is the best in the world. Does it need tweaking? Yes. But it's not broke. Let the Dems try to fix it, and it will be broke, because the federal government cannot provide medical access for every citizen. Not even their job. Imagine if we were all dependent on the government for medical care. What kind of freedom would that be? Talk about control...
Forget the hair. This is the most important presidential election in my lifetime. The country is reeling in debt from a senseless war, we're losing men & women at an alarming rate, our economy is struggling (at best), and you want to talk about hair? Maybe you don't agree with his agenda, but at least he has a strong list of things that need fixing, and solutions on how to do that. We don't need more of the same-ol' same ol' stuff. We need positive change in the USA and this man can give it to us.
Typical, typical, typical - typical, typical! Tsk, tsk, tsk. Whine! Whine! Whine! Typical my ass. You guys wouldn't know typical if it hit U in the face! Typical, typical! Christ, is that the best U can do? Typical, typical. MORON, MORON!
Will Johnny Pretty Boy Edwards be willing to forego his $400 dollar haircuts to help the workers? This trial lawyer hypocrite hustler is a jerk.Lives in a 22,000 square foot palace.Typical liberal democrat.
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He called the nation’s trade policy, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, “complete insanity” as all they do is send American jobs overseas. Senator Edwards, the jobs were going out of the USA long before NAFTA. A fair and level trading field is what the USA needs.
Edwards also said he wanted tax breaks for working, middle-class Americans. Define “middle-class Americans”. What about a fair tax ?
America has “a dysfunctional health care system ... it doesn’t work,” said Edwards. The only answer is universal health care which Edwards said could be financed by “getting rid of the Bush tax cuts.” Look to the British. Today they are proposing three major changes in their social healthcare system which seems to me to say; we want to take care of only the healthy.
A million new jobs can be created in solving the nation’s addiction to oil and halt global warming if “we do it the right way” by making the polluters pay and invest in renewable energy sources. Define polluters. By the way, those energy saving lights that saves one a lot of money over the life of the light (7 years) don’t. They cost more and two of mine quit working after 8 and 10 months. I do not see the savings in these and the government is going to make us buy these in a few years.
Long-term economic growth is created in this country by raising people out of poverty and lifting them into the middle class in part by Edwards’ proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour. There is no need to say anything except, This is a joke.
The nation needs a national anti predatory lending law, said Edwards, who urged action to aid homeowners having difficulty paying off loans. Who are these people that are having difficulty paying off their loans? Has anyone seen a profile of these people. If one makes $20K a year and buys a quarter million dollar house and then says “I can’t pay” well tough to the buyer and the lender. Don’t expect the taxpayers to correct your economic stupidy.
Edwards supports a “college for everyone” program that would pay tuition in state schools for every qualified high school graduate who will also work 10 hours a week. Well, it has been said that college is not for everyone. Define 10 hours of work per week. Sounds like this plan is more in line with the movie, Failure To Launch.
Can any candidate give specifics as to what they are going to do and define who they are going to do it to?