James Webb in 2007 State of the Union address
On Budget & Economy:
Top of economy doing great; but workers not
When one looks at the health of our economy, it’s almost as if we are living in two different countries. Some say that things have never been better. The stock market is at an all-time high, and so are corporate profits. But these benefits are not being
fairly shared. When I graduated from college, the average corporate CEO made 20 times what the average worker did; today, it’s nearly 400 times. In other words, it takes the average worker more than a year to make the money that the boss makes in one day
Wages and salaries for our workers are at all-time lows as a percentage of national wealth, even though the productivity of American workers is the highest in the world. Medical costs have skyrocketed. College tuition rates are off the charts. Our
manufacturing base is being dismantled and sent overseas. Good American jobs are being sent along with them. In this age of globalization, the government has a duty to insist that workers’ concerns be dealt with fairly in the international marketplace.
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
On Energy & Oil:
Bush called for energy independence every year since 2001
This is the seventh time the president has mentioned energy independence in his state of the union message, but for the first time this exchange is taking place in a Congress led by the Democratic Party. We are looking for affirmative solutions that will
strengthen our nation by freeing us from our dependence on foreign oil, and spurring a wave of entrepreneurial growth in the form of alternate energy programs. We look forward to working with the president and his party to bring about these changes.
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
On War & Peace:
Bush took us into this war recklessly; we predicted chaos
The president took us into this war recklessly. He disregarded warnings from the national security adviser during the first Gulf War, the chief of staff of the army, two former commanding generals of the Central Command, whose jurisdiction includes Iraq,
the director of operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many, many others with great integrity and long experience in national security affairs. We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable--and predicted--disarray that has followed.
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
On War & Peace:
Bush can join us in ending war, or we will show him the way
On the vital issue of our national security, it falls upon those of us in elected office to take action. Eisenhower asked about the Korean War, “When comes the end?”. As soon as he became President, he brought the war to an end.Eisenhower took the
right kind of action, for the benefit of the American people & for the health of our relations around the world. We call on this president to take similar action, in both areas. If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
On War & Peace:
US has patiently endured a mismanaged war for 4 years
This country has patiently endured a mismanaged war for nearly four years. Many, including myself, warned even before the war began that it was unnecessary, that it would take our energy and attention away from the larger war against terrorism, and that
invading and occupying Iraq would leave us strategically vulnerable in the most violent and turbulent corner of the world.Like so many other Americans, we have served, not for political reasons, but because we love our country.
On the political issues--those matters of war and peace, and in some cases of life and death--we trusted the judgment of our national leaders. We owed them our loyalty, as Americans, and we gave it. But they owed us--sound judgment,
clear thinking, concern for our welfare, a guarantee that the threat to our country was equal to the price we might be called upon to pay in defending it.
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
On War & Peace:
Shift toward diplomacy & leave Iraq in short order
The war’s costs to our nation have been staggering, financially. The damage to our reputation around the world. The lost opportunities to defeat the forces of international terrorism. And especially the precious blood of our citizens who have
stepped forward to serve.The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction.
Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos.
But an immediate shift toward strong regionally-based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq’s cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.
Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address
Jan 23, 2007
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2019