Hillary Clinton at the DNC

The first step was to get the Congress back so we can rein in the President.  Dems are going to do all we can to hold Pres. accountable, repair the damage, limit  whatever else might come.  We just want this election to be here.  We're going to have to do whatever we can within the Congress to try to set a new course.  It's challenging.  Still have to create coalitions to get things done.

When I'm President working with a Dem. Congress we will really take our country back.  Not just here to start a campaign.  I'm here to start a conversation with our country.  Things are just not right.  We've lost something these last 6 years.  We have to regain it.  Basic bargain many of us grew up expecting.  It was a bargain that created the American middle class, the greatest social invention in the history of the world.  No country has created this extraordinary middle class out of which most of us came. Promise of better opportunity, education.  My dad was a WWII vet, ran a small business printing fabrics for draperies.  We were all in it together. If you served your country,your country would serveyou. 

Now, when I travel around the country, that's not how our country is feeling.  Last year more people went bankrupt than graduated from college. Increasing # of uninsured.  Victims of Katrina still living in trailers.  What does "no child left behind" mean..  Closing factories down, shipping jobs overseas, why can't we get tough on China?  How do you stand up to your banker?

It's not just manufacturing jobs.  In Iowa, I met a young man who was traiing his replacement who will make one tenth the salary. New economic strategy to rebuild American middle class, people waiting for their govt to be on their side again.  I want to renew that promise of America.  Restore greatness and respect for our country around the world. 

Ill-conceived plan to escalate our involvement in Iraq.  First time we will have said no to Bush.  I propose capping troop levels.  Threaten the Iraqi government that we're going to take money away from their troops, not our troops. We're through with their empty promises and blank checks.  If I had been President after 9/11, I would not have started this war.

You have to have 60 votes to do anything. If we in Congress don't end this war before January 2009 as President I will.  I expect to be busy in the White House in January 2009. Quality, affordable, universal healthcare coverage to every single American.  "What is Hillary Clinton doing talking about health care?"  It's one thing to talk about something, it's another thing to put together the political coalitions to actually make it happen. 

Energy independence.  Want to take profits of ExxonMobil and put them in a strategic energy fund.  I am not running for President to put bandaids on our problems.  I am running to actually address them and meet them and get results.  Still the most creative, most innovative, most effective nation in the world.  We have not been demonstrating that recently, have we? We need smart, strong leadership to provide solutions.  I have a lifetime of experience and  qualifications. 

People are tired of politics as usual with good reason. We're marching in place or even falling behind.  Health care, energy independence, global warming.  Srain of fatalism. I reject that we will wreck the economy by dealing with global warming.  I've been fighting on behalf of poor people, families, children for 35 years.  Another kind of experience we're going to need in 2008. I know a thing or two about winning campaigns.  When our party and our candidates are attacked, we've got to stand up and fight back.  I know how they think,how they act,and how to defeat them.  Ultimately this is not about you, me, or any of our wonderful candidates.  This is about what we leave to the next generation - our children,  grandchildren, renew the promise of Ameica. 

Let's not listen to the naysayers.  We can elect the first woman president, stop global warming, stop the genocide in Darfur, we can find the right end to the war in Iraq.  Ameicans are looking for solutions, change, unity, leaders, Democrats have that.  If we're willing to fight for our values, there's no stoppping us!

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