DNC SPECIAL REPORTS
The EconomyGrand Old Petroleum
When he was running for president, George Bush said he'd keep gas prices low with his connections to Big Oil. But he isn't just connected -- he's in their pocket. Now Americans are paying the price at the pump with prices as high as $3 a gallon thanks to Bush's inaction. Instead of bringing prices down, Bush is reportedly making secret deals with Saudi Arabia to keep them high until the election.
Health Care
Cashing In
Bush and national Republicans have taken more than $100 million from the pharmaceutical, health services, and insurance industries in the past few years, an investment that has been repaid many times over. Bush has consistently worked to keep the interests of industry ahead of patients' interests, meaning higher costs and fewer protections for American families.
National Security
Dick Cheney's Real Record
The Bush campaign has sent Vice President Cheney out to attack John Kerry. But Cheney's attacks have absolutely no credibility. Dick Cheney, who got deferments while John Kerry served his country in Vietnam. Dick Cheney, who still has financial ties to Halliburton. Dick Cheney, who led the fight to close bases and make cuts to the military. Dick Cheney, who still won't tell us the truth about his secret Energy Task Force meetings.
National Security
Bush's Secret Plans for Iraq
Plan of Attack, the new book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward, provides an inside view of the Bush administration's plans to invade Iraq, shattering the myths pushed by a White House obsessed with politics. Woodward interviewed 75 top administration officials and learned that the administration's public story about how and when the war was planned was full of holes.
National Security
Condo-LIES-a: National Hypocrisy Adviser
After months of stonewalling the commission investigating the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Condoleezza Rice has agreed to testify under oath and in public. Rice's reluctance to be held accountable may be easy to understand. Her public record is one of lies and contradictions -- especially concerning events related to September 11.
The Economy
The Bush Economy by the Numbers: What a Difference Three Years Makes
It's still the economy, stupid! Don't the Bushes ever learn? Bush inherited record surpluses, a balanced budget and steady job growth -- and he's blown it. The budget deficit is ballooning, job growth is non-existent and the stock market is faltering. Even Republicans are disgusted with Bush's handling of the economy. It's time to ask yourself the classic question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?
National Security
The Bush Leak Scandal: "A Short-Sighted, Self-Centered, Simple-Minded Cowardly Act"
An administration serious about national security doesn't reveal the names of undercover CIA agents to reporters. And a president whose top priority is keeping the nation safe would make sure anyone who committed that action would be held accountable. There is no evidence greater than the leak of Valerie Plame's identity that this administration has to go if we want to keep America safe.
Health Care
Another Bush Ripoff: Health Care Costs Skyrocket
Health care costs have spiraled out of control on Bush's watch-while drug company profits have exploded. Costs have increased at a rate of more than 10 percent each year and have accelerated faster each year in Bush's presidency. Despite a $400 billion grab-bag for the pharmaceutical industry in the form of a Medicare prescription drug plan, Bush has proposed no comprehensive solution to control the cost of health care.
The Economy
The Bush Record: Tax Cuts Help the Rich Get Richer
Bush's tax cuts have benefited the wealthy more than anybody else-while creating enormous budget deficits and forcing Bush to raid the Social Security Trust Fund. And while federal taxes have been reduced, state and local taxes have risen.
Homeland Security
The Bush Record: Homeland Insecurity
Despite a lot of rhetoric, Bush has failed to provide adequate homeland security. After initially opposing the creation of a Homeland Security department, Bush has inadequately funded the department as well as starving state and local security efforts, including police, fire and health first-responders. Federal funding of local anti-terror efforts has been restricted. And security surrounding chemical plants, airports, airlines, ports, borders and other terror-sensitive points still is lacking.
National Security
The Bush Record in Iraq: Weapons of Mass Distortion
In an effort to drive us into war, President Bush and his staff repeatedly claimed that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (which have yet to be found), and that Iraq was an imminent threat to the security of our country. The Bush administration pressured analysts into reaching conclusions that supported their own beliefs, ignoring warnings from the intelligence community about their misuse of data, all the while failing to plan for post-war chaos.
National Security
Making It Up As He Goes Along: How Bush Failed To Plan For Post-War Iraq
The Bush administration rushed planning for postwar Iraq despite repeated warnings of postwar chaos. Now, American soldiers and Iraqis continue to die.
Energy
The Bush Record on Energy: Big Oil, Big Profits
The Bush energy policy is crafted by the energy industry, for the energy industry. It has profits in mind, not consumers or the environment. And by continuing to rely on fossil fuel and foreign oil -- and only paying lip service to renewable energy and conservation -- it fails to address the real problems.
Education
The Bush Record on Higher Education: Skyrocketing Tuition; No Relief
Bush's presidency has been hard on college students. Tuition has soared 35 percent since he took office, creating an enormous burden on families trying to provide higher education for their children. But if those families are looking to the Federal government for help, they can think again. Bush broke his campaign promise to increase the size of Pell Grant awards and has cut other financial-aid programs.
Working Families
The Bush Record on Manufacturing: Millions of Jobs Lost; Outsourcing on the Rise
President Bush has not made manufacturing a priority, despite the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs. He has promoted outsourcing that's sending jobs overseas in droves. And he has cut or eliminated key government programs that support manufacturing. Even his selection as "manufacturing czar" turned out to have opened a factory in China after closing an American plant!
Special Interests
Another Bush Ripoff: The Hazards of Halliburton
Texas-based Halliburton, Vice President Cheney's former company, won a no-bid contract worth more than $7 billion to help rebuild Iraq-even as Cheney continues to profit from the company. For that favoritism, Halliburton has shown little regard for American taxpayers and-worse yet-American soldiers serving in Iraq and workers laboring at home. Reports show that Halliburton drastically overcharged Americans for gas being imported into Iraq and skimped on basic services to troops like providing clean working conditions and safe food. Halliburton could even benefit from President Bush's push to explore Mars.
Education
The Bush Record on Teacher Quality: Empty Promises
During the 2000 campaign, Bush promised to make teacher quality a priority. The 2002 No Child Left Behind initiative set high standards, requiring states to rate all teachers as highly qualified by 2005-2006 with the promise of funding to provide additional training. Three Bush Budgets later and our local schools still are waiting for that funding. Now the Bush administration is eliminating requirements that teachers have a degree or be certified in the subjects they teach-an interesting contrast to Bush's promises for full accountability and an end to the soft bigotry of low expectations
Medicare
The Bush Medicare Reform Scandals
George W. Bush's Medicare prescription drug plan is proving to be a major stumbling block for the administration. But beyond the policy concerns, the negotiations and implementation of Bush's bill have been embroiled in myriad scandals, lies, and special interest favors -- tainting the whole package nearly two years before seniors receive a penny of drug coverage.
The Bush Record
Meet the Truth
President Bush's February 8 campaign stop on Meet the Press failed to answer the questions the American people deserve to hear about his failed policies. Instead, Bush took the opportunity to spin the facts and continue misleading the American people.
The Economy
The Bush 2005 Budget: A Deficit Disaster
President Bush has released his budget for the fiscal year 2005, and it spells disaster for America. His failed economic policies are saddling the nation with enormous budget deficits as far as the eye can see. Working families will be paying off the Bush debts for generations. Learn the full story about the Bush budget deficits: President Bush's lies about cutting the deficit in half, his profligate spending habits, the devastating effects of his special-interest tax cuts, and the criticism Bush is receiving from his right-wing allies.
Life in Bush's America
The Most Powerful Stories in America: Yours
The real state of the union is told in the stories of students and teachers. The stories come from veterans and active military, doctors and nurses, IT professionals and factory workers. They are told by small businesses owners and employees of the nation's biggest companies. They come from cities, suburbs, and rural areas, from the old and the young, and from every state in the nation.
Education
The No Child Left Behind Act, Two Years Later
When it comes to educating our children, George W. Bush says one thing and does another. Every budget he has proposed since signing the No Child Left Behind Act has undercut the goals and implementation of that law by failing to provide the necessary funding.
Health Care
GOP Medicare Privatization: Victory for the Special Interests
President Bush and his Republican allies are pushing a bill that will hurt America's seniors by putting Medicare at risk. Their bill threatens traditional Medicare and retiree benefits for millions of seniors while failing to control spiraling prescription drug costs. Read our DNC Special Report to learn how Republicans are undermining Medicare.
The Bush Record
President Bush's Real Military Record
While President Bush pays lip service to our troops and veterans, his administration's record tells a different story. Under Bush's presidency, veterans have faced cuts to health care benefits and our troops and their families are suffering new burdens.
