Full text of Harry Reid's remarks on the floor of the Senate Thursday:

[stevedeshazer]

The full text of Senator Reid’s remarks follow below:

"Last night - on the heels of two very bloody days in Iraq where 11 Americans were killed – the President and Vice President shamelessly decided to play politics.

"It was another political ploy from an Administration that is growing more desperate and disconnected. The American people and our brave soldiers deserve better.

"It seems the President and Vice President have decided to treat the war likes it’s a political campaign.

"Instead of giving our troops a plan for success or answering the serious questions of the American people, they’ve decided to start up the Rove/Cheney attack machine.

"We’re at war. We need a Commander in Chief, not a Campaigner in Chief. We need leadership from the White House, not more white-washing of the very serious issues confronting us in Iraq.

"This week, Senate Democrats and Republicans voted overwhelming to send the President this message: it’s time to change course in Iraq.

"Instead of heeding that call, the White House continues to dodge and duck the questions of Americans and to smear their opponents.

"That’s not leadership, and our troops and the American people deserve better.

"Here’s what Senator Hagel – a decorated veteran and a senior Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee – had to say about this Administration’s tactics:

“Suggesting that to challenge or criticize policy is undermining and hurting our troops is not democracy, nor what this country has stood for, for over 200 years….To question your government is not unpatriotic – to not question your government is unpatriotic. America owes its men and women in uniform a policy worthy of their sacrifices.”

"Senator Hagel is right. The deceiving, dividing and distorting must end. Of course, this is the same move we’ve seen from Karl Rove and Dick Cheney time and again over the last five years. Whenever their poll numbers sink, they go on the attack.

"This time stakes are too high to let them get away with it. There’s more than poll numbers or votes at stake. The lives of our brave soldiers in Iraq depend on this president coming clean and coming forward with a plan for Iraq.

"President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Karl Rove must stop the orchestrated attack campaign they launched on Veterans Day. It’s a weak, spineless display of politics at a time of war.

"It’s easy to attack, Mr. President. The hard part is leading, coming clean with the American people and giving our troops a strategy for success."

http://reid.senate.gov/record2.cfm?id=248996

[acmavm]

1. Great speech. I also notice it was directed at Cheney and Rove more

the Chimpy and Cheney. I find that very very interesting and telling.

<snip>
Of course, this is the same move we’ve seen from Karl Rove and Dick Cheney time and again over the last five years.
<snip>

Once again proof that Chimpy is just a useless figurehead who they let believe he's the pResident.

[LiberalEsto]

2. A very good speech

Short and to the point.
Notice how it is filled with easily-identifiable phrases like the following:

shamelessly decided to play politics
desperate and disconnected
a plan for success
Rove/Cheney attack machine
We need a Commander in Chief, not a Campaigner in Chief
the White House continues to dodge and duck
The deceiving, dividing and distorting must end
coming clean and coming forward
weak, spineless display of politics at a time of war
The hard part is leading
strategy for success

Each of these provides a concrete mental sound-bite for listeners, something that the average person can understand and connect with.

[stevedeshazer]

6. Yes,

The Republicans have used this sound-bite tactic for years, it's nice to see someone on our side throwing it back.

[warrens]

3. Ouch, that hadda hurt

[wicket]

4. Keep on giving them hell Harry!!!!

kicked and nominated

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[Blue_Roses]

5. That is a GREAT speech

WOW! :bounce: