2004 Articles

100 Mistakes for the President to Choose From, May 3, 2004
During a prime time press conference on April 13, President Bush was asked to name a mistake that he has made since taking office and what he has learned from it.
What Would America Ask the Candidates Friday?, October 8, 2004
The GOP's Problem with Europe, September 10, 2004
This week the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) released its annual Transatlantic Trends survey of public attitudes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Senate Conservatives Assault Homeland Security, September 16, 2004
Conservatives in the Senate are failing to protect Americans here at home. They have left gaping holes in our nation's security by refusing to implement common sense, relatively inexpensive solutions to major threats.
Betrayal By A Commander In Chief, August 27, 2004
In 1984, I stood with my then-13-year-old daughter at the center of the dark gash in the earth called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, weeping. She looked up and asked me why I was crying. "Because there are some 58,000 names on that wall that should not be there," I answered.
The Book on Bush, June 27, 2004
When George W. Bush ran for president in 2000 he was presented to the nation by his campaign handlers and a sympathetic media as a nice-enough fellow who didn't take himself or much of anything else—save perhaps his family and religion—too seriously.
The Broken Promises of George W. Bush, August 9, 2004
President Bush made a lot of promises - from ensuring our national security to protecting the environment - during his 2000 presidential campaign. The record shows it was mostly talk.
Ask Bush: Where's His Plan for Cities?, September 1, 2004
In our cities, suburbs and small towns, we're doing our part to build a stronger America. But a stronger America needs strong leaders. And together, we will build stronger communities and a stronger country, a nation that truly is strong at home and respected abroad.
President Bush: Flip-Flopper-In-Chief, September 1, 2004
From the beginning, George W. Bush has made his own credibility a central issue.
What Bush Will Say... What You Should Know, October 1, 2004
A detailed fact list of what Bush has said and what you should know.
Bush's 'Decisiveness' is Scripted, August 31, 2004
President Bush is striving to present himself as a decisive commander in chief in a time of uncertain American national security. He has achieved limited success in this regard, as many of his supporters cite decisiveness as a key reason why they believe they are safer under President Bush.
The Debates: What President Bush Will Say ... What You Should Know, September 30, 2004
Fox Campaign '04: 'News' Reporters Become Bush Campaign Flacks, July 12, 2004
On top of Fox's openly-conservative pundits' attacks on John Kerry and John Edwards, the network is now employing its supposedly "objective" news segments in a pernicious campaign of spin and innuendo. Fox News correspondents and anchor people now regularly try to spin Kerry and Edwards as fabulously rich member of an out-of-touch elite, deliberately trying to obscure their political agenda by claiming criticism is comes not from them, but from a source. However, those sources are most often abstract and unnamed (aka. "critics say�??"). Worse, they neglect to mention another presidential ticket, whose wealth and aristocratic family background might be equally worthy of comment.
Think Tanks, Democracy and Public Policy: The Case of Darfur, September 23, 2004
Remarks of John D. Podesta
What Cheney Will Say... What You Should Know, October 1, 2004
A detailed fact list of what Cheney has said and what you should know.
Child Tax Credit, January 1, 2003
From the American Progress Action Fund: A Film by Robert Greenwald and Richard Ray Perez, Left Out: The Children and Families Left Behind by the President’s Tax Proposal. American parents describe what this missing tax credit would mean to their families.
Debate Claims vs. Reality, September 30, 2004
Tonight, President Bush will finally have to face the music about his claims that his war in Iraq has made Americans safer. He will repeatedly stress his "resolve" in fighting terrorists, but will he outline how he plans to salvage the mess in Iraq, which has turned into a semi-failed state and a haven for terrorists? Will he discuss how the continuing diversion in Iraq has allowed al Qaeda to regroup and Iran and North Korea to advance their nuclear capacities? Will he take responsibility for America's shattered image around the globe?
Convention Talk: Advice for Kerry and Edwards, July 22, 2004
If John Kerry and John Edwards want to come out of the Democratic convention not simply with a bump in the polls but with a plan to transform domestic debate, they should pick a clear fight with Republicans about how we define a minimally decent life in America.
Dear John Kerry, A Letter from Dan Carol, August 9, 2004
So...please forgive my bluntness. Know that your words on God and Country at the convention were felt loud and proud in my heart – because I sensed the strength of the moral vision in yours. Know that you have my vote – and those of my 10 best friends. In that spirit, here we go...
Defining Decency Up, July 22, 2004
If John Kerry and John Edwards want to come out of the Democratic convention not simply with a bump in the polls but with a plan to transform domestic debate, they should pick a clear fight with Republicans about how we define a minimally decent life in America.
Donate - Help Victims of the Asian Tsunami, December 1, 2004
Today you can save lives. Right now an estimated five million people are homeless across Southeast Asia as a result of the deadly tsunami that spread across the Indian Ocean. Most of these people have lost all of their possessions and have little or nothing to eat. Worse yet, many places do not have clean drinking water, nor health and sanitation facilities.
Economic Report Card of George W. Bush: D Minus, October 13, 2004
Flash forward to the year 2050. The scene is a university history class on the early 21st century. A professor is discussing the long-run effects of George W. Bush's tax cuts and general fiscal policy.
Why the Environment Will Determine the Outcome of the 2004 Election, October 27, 2004
While the candidates focus their comments and their pleas for support on issues of homeland security, the war in Iraq, the economy, jobs, health care and education, very little has been said about the environment.
Post Article Exposes Bush's Failures on Preventing Nuclear Terror, October 26, 2004
Today's Washington Post exposes the Bush administration's failures on national security where it matters most: protecting Americans from nuclear terror. President Bush and Senator Kerry agree that the single greatest threat to the American people is a terrorist or rogue regime armed with a nuclear weapon.
Bush's 'Few and Rich Owners'-ship Society, August 27, 2004
As New York City braces for the Republican convention, Republican strategists are trying to design an economic program that resonates with the electorate. And once again, they seem to be pushing for – guess what?! – tax cuts: making the president's tax cuts permanent and creating an "ownership society" through tax cuts for people to put money away for retirement, health insurance, education, and other more nebulous purposes.
New Polls of Hispanics Indicate Failure of GOP's Hispanic Strategy, July 26, 2004
Last Thursday saw the release of not one, but two, major new polls of Hispanics - one from The Washington Post/Univision/Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and the other from the Pew Hispanic Center.
Hypocrisy: How Fox News' Attacks on CBS Belie Fox's Own Record, September 22, 2004
As Fox News attempts to blame the Kerry campaign for the CBS News document controversy, it is also claiming CBS has a "liberal" bias/conflict of interest because a producer apparently told a Kerry aide about the documents.
Overuse of Guard Could Undermine Its Effectiveness, September 24, 2004
In addition to informing Matt Lauer that the war against terrorism is unwinnable, President George W. Bush made at least one other disingenuous comment to the NBC Today host.
Paying Lip Service to Latinos, September 3, 2004
It takes more than being able to mouth ¡Hola, amigos! to connect with the Hispanic people. The Bush administration seems to think that this will suffice in winning our support.
Vote for Bush or Die, September 9, 2004
After Republicans lost most major 2001 gubernatorial races to Democrats, GOP strategists realized that the key to electoral success was tapping into the post-9/11 fear of terrorism and focusing on security issues.
Job Growth and Electoral Success: An Analysis of the Relationship in 20th Century Presidential Elections, October 8, 2004
There is widespread discussion of what the September employment numbers mean for the future of the economy and the sustainability of the recovery.
The 49 Percent Solution?, October 19, 2004
During the final debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry, the president referred to education as the solution for problems ranging from decisions by corporate leaders to send jobs overseas to the need to raise the minimum wage.
Who's the Better Manager of the Economy, Republicans or Democrats?, October 26, 2004
While Republicans talk a good game about the need to be fiscally responsible and their desire to balance the budget, reality shows that Democratic presidents clearly have produced better results.
Misleading America's National Guard and Reserves, August 18, 2004
President Bush spoke today to National Guardsmen and Reservists in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. At the event, he made a series of election-year promises which run directly counter to the major proposals that have previously been pushed by his administration.
Natural Resources Policy in the George W. Bush Administration, September 23, 2004
The Bush Administration's investiture in office, when combined with conservative Republican control of both houses of Congress and, increasingly, the federal courts, signaled a move to the right on public lands and natural resource issues.
The Republican Noise Machine, June 30, 2004
Since defecting from the Republican party in the latter half of the 1990s and publishing a confessional memoir in 2002, I've discussed my right-wing past with politicians, political activists and strategists, academic scholars, student groups, fellow writers, and hundreds of readers of my book Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative.
By Their Works Ye Shall Know Them, August 31, 2004
President Bush chose New York City for his convention to focus attention on the attacks of 9/11. But the Big Apple represents more than the attack.
When Congress Acts In the Dark of Night, Everyone Loses, December 7, 2004
There has been great consternation in recent weeks over a provision in the omnibus appropriations bill that would allow certain Appropriations staff access to individual tax returns and would exempt them from criminal penalties for revealing the contents of those returns.
Bush's 'Few and Rich Owners'-ship Society, August 27, 2004
As New York City braces for the Republican convention, Republican strategists are trying to design an economic program that resonates with the electorate.
How Partisan is Porter Goss?, August 10, 2004
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), chairman of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, had this message for the president regarding nominating a CIA director: "My only message to the White House is if they do this, make it an extraordinary person that will get bipartisan support." Does Porter Goss fit the bill?
Bush and Pataki Tell Workers Poverty is Good for Them, September 2, 2004
Of all the reasons that Republicans use to oppose increases in the minimum wage, none is more false – or more galling – than the claim that such increases would somehow harm minimum wage workers themselves.
Patriots, Stand-Up!, September 3, 2004
Patriots, Stand-Up! Chapter One: Integrity versus Lies and Deceit
What has the Bush administration done?, February 12, 2004
All the President's Excuses, October 27, 2004
The White House, unable to explain how 380 tons of powerful explosives disappeared under its watch in Iraq, has instead tried to deflect blame with a series of excuses. None of them hold up.
Progressive Victories, November 24, 2004
In the November 2 election state ballots contained a nationwide total of 163 questions. And while the media has obsessed over the issue of same-sex marriage which was on the ballot in 11 states, less attention has been paid to other important votes related to jobs, healthcare, education, and the environment.
Economic Prosperity and the Presidents, July 28, 2004
If one believed everything the Republican National Committee and Fox News put out, it would be easy to think that achieving economic prosperity is simple: start with a big tax cut, blend in some spending reductions, add a dash of deregulation and sit back and watch the economy cook.
Questions Jim Lehrer Should Ask, September 30, 2004
A History of Refusing to Release Documents, July 1, 2004
In 2000, presidential candidate George W. Bush demanded Vice President Al Gore release various documents related to his past, but now he refuses to release important documents of his own.
Rich Getting Richer, Average Americans Getting the Shaft, August 18, 2004
President Bush recently proclaimed that the economy had finally "turned the corner." But the reality is the Bush economy is the same as it has always been: a boon for the ultra-rich and a disappointment for the average American.
Sudan: Sample Letter to the Editor, September 28, 2004
Dear Editor...
Bush Shortchanging New York On Homeland Security, August 30, 2004
From port security to funding for first responders and police, President Bush and the Republican Party have repeatedly shortchanged the nation's vital security needs.
Running in Reverse, October 22, 2004
Among the crucial issues facing families today is how the recent recession and jobless recovery has affected family economic security.
Stand Up, Fight Back, July 20, 2004
Think of this book as a letter to three friends: one a liberal, one a moderate, one a conservative. It is a letter that tries to explain the strange and very disturbing turn American politics have taken over the last four years.
Learn More about Divesting Sudanese Assets, December 1, 2004
Straight Talk from the Heartland, November 8, 2004
First Chapter: The Voice of Liberty
They Knew, August 4, 2004
As the 9/11 Commission recently reported, there was "no credible evidence" of a collaborative relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda. Similarly, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. With U.S. casualties mounting in an election year, the White House is grasping at straws to avoid being held accountable for its dishonesty.
Think Again: Convention Coverage: Ain’t Nobody Here But Us, Um, Reporters, September 9, 2004
Candidate George W. campaigned against what he termed "the soft bigotry of low expectations." With regard to his relations with the media as president, such bigotry has proven to be his best friend.
The Trouble With Troop Realignment, August 17, 2004
Yesterday, at the tail end of a political campaign speech, President Bush announced plans to recall between 60,000 and 70,000 troops from Europe, South Korea and Japan. Bush said the realignment would allow the military to "be more effective at projecting our strength and spreading freedom and peace" and save taxpayers money. In reality, the ill-conceived plan – which further strains already damaged relationships with America's traditional allies – runs counter to our strategic, economic and military interests.
What We've Lost, September 15, 2004
Book excerpt: How the Bush Administration Has Curtailed Our Freedoms, Mortgaged Our Economy, Ravaged Our Environment, and Damaged Our Standing in the World
Workplace Safety for Hispanics: A Bush Failure, August 4, 2004
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao organized the first ever National Hispanic Safety and Health Summit in Orlando. The focus, ostensibly, was the very serious health and safety issues facing Hispanics in the workplace. If, however, you go behind the headline, the summit was one more example of how the Bush administration never misses an opportunity to seek political advantage without actually exhibiting leadership.
Can Bush Avoid the Worst Job Performance Record Since Hoover?, August 28, 2004
This analysis compares the overall rate of job growth during each of the 18 presidential terms since Hoover left office, and examines the probability of the current administration producing a sufficient number of new jobs during the remaining five months of its term to avoid setting a new post-Hoover record for slow job growth.
Zig Zag Zell, September 1, 2004
Sen. Zell Miller (D) of Georgia is giving the keynote address at tonight's Republican National Convention. He says he is going to be part of a truth squad. But a look at Miller's vast history of dishonesty and self-contradiction shows he is a man whose words have absolutely no credibility whatsoever.