The trail of breadcrumbs is vast, but I think we have a nice clear one here because of a couple key moments.

1. The bin Laden denial in the debate (now a MoveOn Ad)
   
2. The Robertson quote

The Republican party is accountable for how our government has performed in the last 4 years as well as its medium-term outlook -- they control all 3 branches off government.

Honestly.  How much more could you ask for as a political party?

Post your own contributions for mistakes the President George W. Bush has made during his term. Please include a link to the background story.

Please try to keep the conversation focused on productive work--excited comments should be directed toward the debate open thread. This is a place to do serious work.

Fact Summary: Kerry wins.

Kerry has no misleading statements as yet. Note this diary does not cover his non-immigration answers.

Bush did not disclose the strong support for the 9/2003 amnesty bill, 62 co-sponsors and a Republican sponsor (see #4).
Bush incorrectly attacks Kerry for his "outrageous claim" (see #7).


ABC Pundit George S. says Bush was most strong on issues he knows like immigration.
ABC Pundit George Will said immigration was an unheard issue of concern among Americans.


Main Rapid Response Thread

Please try to keep the conversation focused on productive work--excited comments should be directed toward the debate open thread. This is a place to do serious work.



Fact Summary: Kerry wins.

Kerry no misleading statements yet.

Bush incorrect on "activist" judges (see #3).
Bush incorrect on his record of tolerance towards homosexuals (see #4).

Main Rapid Response Thread

From the second debate in St. Louis we saw a gentleman ask about why Bush hadn't used his veto power to control spending:

Not only has Bush signed every single spending bill that has arrived at his desk, he's signed every single bill that has arrived at his desk.  

In fact, President Bush is the first President since 1850 to have not vetoed a single bill.  150 years. 150 years since Millard Fillmore (1850-53), a member of the Whig party who worked with the 31st and 32nd Congresses, didn't veto a bill.

Update [2004-10-16 0:53:58 by drh]:: Analysis now includes Senate data.

Today is September 11th. Three years has passed since the worst act of terrorism on American soil. The American people demand action and accountability. However, our requests have fallen on deaf ears. I find three particular examples humiliating as an American where unquestionably our government has failed us.

First, launching a "preemptive" war with Iraq. Now, the evidence is clear. There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There is no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. Now, 146,000 American troops are in Iraq, 1,000+ of them dead and 7 times more wounded, plus well over 10,000 Iraqi men, women, and children are dead ("War in Iraq"; www.IraqBodyCount.net). We've spent $144 billion, plus undoubtedly billions more, on a war that numerous experts, both inside and outside the government, say is causing more terrorism that it is containing. The American people demand action and accountability.

Second, Abu Ghraib will forever remain a scar on the American conscious. These images of torture by American soldiers have become icons of America to many. 54% of Iraqis believe that "all Americans behave this way" and 61% believe that no one will be punished ("Iraq Index," Brookings Institute, Sept. 10, 2004). Our government has failed us at critical time in our history, and left the chain of command intact and unpunished. The American people demand action and accountability.

Third, the 9/11 Commission discovered "the system was blinking red" and the "public was not warned" (www.9-11commission.gov). When the dust settled, the White House clearly did not perform its job adequately. Yet, they have not apologized, Ashcroft and Rice still have their jobs, and Osama bin Laden remains at-large. The American people demand action and accountability.

What's that saying? "Three strikes, and you're out"...