Saturday, July 22, 2006
Sen. Chris Dodd: Americans 'Nauseated' By Bush
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd believes Florida is a must-win state to become president, and he made a good impression Saturday talking to party activists in his first major appearance since announcing he'll explore a 2008 White House run.
He warmed up a luncheon crowd by talking about his friendship with popular Florida Democrats like former Sen. Bob Graham and the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, mentioning the state's 2000 presidential recount and his efforts to fix voting problems and encouraging the crowd to take back the governor's seat this year.
"Everybody's talking about 2008," he said. "If you do not get 2006 right, there will not be a 2008."
He then roused the crowd with a speech that criticized the war in Iraq, called for a minimum wage increase, stressed the need for alternative fuels, declared education as the nation's most important issue, promised to protect Social Security and pointed out problems in the health care system.
Dodd also said people are "nauseated" by the country's polarization under President Bush.
"He talked about being a uniter, and not a divider. He did just the opposite. He's divided the country and we're paying the price for it," Dodd said.
He encouraged Democrats, though, to not just complain, but to give people a positive message about issues that are important to them. He said people worry about having jobs, health care and Social Security available.
"That's what the average person does in this country and they want to know whether or not you and I are listening," he said. "I hear it everywhere I go: 'Please listen to me. I want you to listen to me. I want you to know what it's like to suffer the things I'm suffering today because of lack of leadership in this country.'"
Dodd was well received by the crowd of 175, part of a group attending a two-day event that raised $300,000 for the Florida Democratic Party. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson spoke Saturday night and retired Gen. Wesley Clark was scheduled to speak Sunday morning. Both also are considering presidential runs.
But was Dodd impressive enough to be considered for president?
"Oh God, yes!" said Casey O'Harra, 65, who chairs the Lake County Democrats. "I would definitely be able to support him as president."
Jacqulyn Mack, 36, of Sarasota said she likes New York Sen. Hillary Clinton but questions whether she can win the presidency. She would love to see a run by former Vice President Al Gore, who lost the presidency in 2000 after Florida's five-week recount gave Bush a 537-vote win, but she can see herself supporting Dodd because he is electable.
"I've got my options wide open," she said. "I want somebody that's going to win. Sen. Dodd's history and his experience and his background give him a great deal of appeal to people across the political spectrum."
Other Democrats looking at 2008 include Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the party's presidential nominee in 2004; John Edwards, Kerry's running mate; former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner; Delaware Sen. Joe Biden; Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack; and former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle.
Not everyone at the lunch, though, knew Dodd's name was on the list of potential candidates.
"I thought of Clinton and Kerry and Edwards and Biden and Feingold. I haven't thought about Dodd that much," said Pat Hogan, the Highlands County Democratic chair. "I probably will. It was a great speech."
Richardson largely focused on international problems and improving the United States' standing with the rest of the world.
"Iran thumbs its nose at the U.S. and threatens to develop nuclear weapons, the Middle East is on fire, North Korea shoots missiles and threatens to defy the U.N., the Congress fails to create a sensible and realistic immigration policy, sectarian violence threatens to destroy Iraq and undermine the new government," said Richardson, who is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The United States needs to win back the respect of the world through diplomacy and dialogue, including direct talks with North Korea and Iran, he said.
"Military power and diplomacy are not alternatives to one another, but rather are complementary sources of strength. What this administration has failed to understand is that while diplomacy without power is weak, power without diplomacy is blind," Richardson said.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd believes Florida is a must-win state to become president, and he made a good impression Saturday talking to party activists in his first major appearance since announcing he'll explore a 2008 White House run.
He warmed up a luncheon crowd by talking about his friendship with popular Florida Democrats like former Sen. Bob Graham and the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, mentioning the state's 2000 presidential recount and his efforts to fix voting problems and encouraging the crowd to take back the governor's seat this year.
"Everybody's talking about 2008," he said. "If you do not get 2006 right, there will not be a 2008."
He then roused the crowd with a speech that criticized the war in Iraq, called for a minimum wage increase, stressed the need for alternative fuels, declared education as the nation's most important issue, promised to protect Social Security and pointed out problems in the health care system.
Dodd also said people are "nauseated" by the country's polarization under President Bush.
"He talked about being a uniter, and not a divider. He did just the opposite. He's divided the country and we're paying the price for it," Dodd said.
He encouraged Democrats, though, to not just complain, but to give people a positive message about issues that are important to them. He said people worry about having jobs, health care and Social Security available.
"That's what the average person does in this country and they want to know whether or not you and I are listening," he said. "I hear it everywhere I go: 'Please listen to me. I want you to listen to me. I want you to know what it's like to suffer the things I'm suffering today because of lack of leadership in this country.'"
Dodd was well received by the crowd of 175, part of a group attending a two-day event that raised $300,000 for the Florida Democratic Party. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson spoke Saturday night and retired Gen. Wesley Clark was scheduled to speak Sunday morning. Both also are considering presidential runs.
But was Dodd impressive enough to be considered for president?
"Oh God, yes!" said Casey O'Harra, 65, who chairs the Lake County Democrats. "I would definitely be able to support him as president."
Jacqulyn Mack, 36, of Sarasota said she likes New York Sen. Hillary Clinton but questions whether she can win the presidency. She would love to see a run by former Vice President Al Gore, who lost the presidency in 2000 after Florida's five-week recount gave Bush a 537-vote win, but she can see herself supporting Dodd because he is electable.
"I've got my options wide open," she said. "I want somebody that's going to win. Sen. Dodd's history and his experience and his background give him a great deal of appeal to people across the political spectrum."
Other Democrats looking at 2008 include Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the party's presidential nominee in 2004; John Edwards, Kerry's running mate; former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner; Delaware Sen. Joe Biden; Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack; and former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle.
Not everyone at the lunch, though, knew Dodd's name was on the list of potential candidates.
"I thought of Clinton and Kerry and Edwards and Biden and Feingold. I haven't thought about Dodd that much," said Pat Hogan, the Highlands County Democratic chair. "I probably will. It was a great speech."
Richardson largely focused on international problems and improving the United States' standing with the rest of the world.
"Iran thumbs its nose at the U.S. and threatens to develop nuclear weapons, the Middle East is on fire, North Korea shoots missiles and threatens to defy the U.N., the Congress fails to create a sensible and realistic immigration policy, sectarian violence threatens to destroy Iraq and undermine the new government," said Richardson, who is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The United States needs to win back the respect of the world through diplomacy and dialogue, including direct talks with North Korea and Iran, he said.
"Military power and diplomacy are not alternatives to one another, but rather are complementary sources of strength. What this administration has failed to understand is that while diplomacy without power is weak, power without diplomacy is blind," Richardson said.
