On the State of the Union
"I think most Americans think the state of the Union is in pretty difficult shape right now. We do need some new ideas on the economy. The Democrats have put forward a jobs plan that has to do with energy independence. We do need a healthcare system that works for everybody. And, frankly, I think we need a little better work on defense. We're worried about the troops not being taken care of properly in Iraq. We're worried about a lack of direction. I think the President is going to have a lot of explaining to do."
On President Bush’s Lack of Credibility
"So, you know, we all want the President to succeed, but the President hasn't succeeded. I think that's because he has a lack of vision and, frankly, he hasn't been truthful to the American people and people, frankly, just don't believe him anymore, and that's a real problem for him."
On the President's Domestic Spying Program
"I support spying on Al Qaeda. Every American thinks we ought to spy on Al Qaeda and do whatever we can do beat them. We have to do it within the law. We need a country that will need -- excuse me. We need a President that will lead the nation but a President that will follow the law. The law says that if the President thinks Al Qaeda is an imminent threat and he wants to spy on them, he can do that immediately, but he's got to get a warrant after the fact. In 2002, there was a memo from the Justice Department that suggested changing the law and the White House said, "No, we didn't need to do it." We are not asking the President not to spy on Al Qaeda. We are asking the President to follow the law when he does so. No one should be above the law. Not even the President of the United States."
On Jack Abramoff and the Republican Culture of Corruption
"Look, I think the President should release the information about when Jack Abramoff was at the White House. We know that he met now -- I think we believe -- I believe it's been confirmed that he's met with Karl Rove before in the White House. We need to know who Jack Abramoff met with in the White House and did he meet with the President in the White House? That's public information, and we're putting in a request to make sure the American people know to the extent of this lobbying scandal. Does it reach into the White House in addition to just the Republicans in Congress?"
On the Democratic Party's Honest Leadership Agenda
"Look, historically, we know that both Democrats and Republicans have done things they ought not to do. What we're saying in the Democratic Party, let's put a final stop to that. We're going to get rid of all corporate jet travel, get rid of all lobbying expenses and golf trips and lunches. One thing we're going to do that the Republicans haven't even talked about is we're going to stop people putting things in conference committee reports in the dead of night when nobody knows about it."
On the Cost of the Republican Culture of Corruption
"Here's the cost of this. It's not just dishonesty in government. The real cost is a couple weeks ago the Republicans stuck in a $22 billion tax money giveaway to HMOs. Nobody knew anything about it. That's the problem with corruption. It's not just dishonesty. It costs the American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. That is the shame of this scandal."
