Chris Dodd writes: Restore our Constitution, U.S. standing in world



"We need a president who knows how to do more than just pick fights. We need a president who knows how to win them for our families. That is what I have done for my entire career. I have stood strong for Democratic principles, brought people together and turned those Democratic principles into national policies. From authoring the Family and Medical Leave Act - the most significant advance in health-care policy since Medicare - to helping settle conflicts in Northern Ireland and Latin America, I have taken on the biggest challenges with leadership that delivers results. And delivering results is exactly what I will do as president. It starts with restoring America's security and standing in the world by ending the war in Iraq. It's not enough to wait until 2009 - that's why I've been at the front of the fight to set a firm deadline and end the funding for this failed policy. But if President Bush or this Congress does not end this war, then as the next president, I will immediately begin redeploying our troops safely and securely and finish the job within eight to 10 months. I will also strengthen our security with a return to diplomacy and engagement with the world." Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

Chris Dodd writes: Restore our Constitution, U.S. standing in world

Dodd: Restore our Constitution, U.S. standing in world

By U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd • SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER • November 22, 2007

For nearly two decades, American politics has been marked by partisan bickering and bitter divisiveness. Instead of leadership, experience, and results, we've had fighting - and the American people are losing. Now, with America mired in a civil war in Iraq, an economy that's leaving our middle class behind, a health-care system that remains unaffordable for too many and an environment on the brink of disaster, it's time for serious leadership that gets results for real change.
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In 2008, we need a president who understands that producing real change for families takes principled leadership that speaks with clarity and brings people together to get the job done.

We need a president who knows how to do more than just pick fights. We need a president who knows how to win them for our families.

That is what I have done for my entire career. I have stood strong for Democratic principles, brought people together and turned those Democratic principles into national policies.

From authoring the Family and Medical Leave Act - the most significant advance in health-care policy since Medicare - to helping settle conflicts in Northern Ireland and Latin America, I have taken on the biggest challenges with leadership that delivers results.

And delivering results is exactly what I will do as president.

It starts with restoring America's security and standing in the world by ending the war in Iraq. It's not enough to wait until 2009 - that's why I've been at the front of the fight to set a firm deadline and end the funding for this failed policy. But if President Bush or this Congress does not end this war, then as the next president, I will immediately begin redeploying our troops safely and securely and finish the job within eight to 10 months. I will also strengthen our security with a return to diplomacy and engagement with the world.

Restoring our security and standing in the world also means restoring our adherence to the rule of law - so in my first hour I will restore our Constitution. The Constitution doesn't belong to one political party or candidate - it belongs to the American people.

I know Americans can't wait any longer for real results on health care. From the moment I am elected, I will bring together every stakeholder - workers, families, small businesses, Democrats and Republicans alike - and we will start the work of providing universal, affordable, quality health care to every American within four years.

I will bring that same leadership to the issue of global warming, with the boldest plan of any candidate to cut carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy. We can create a future where America relies not on the Middle East for our energy, but on the American Midwest and other regions - where our Heartland communities aren't left behind by our economy, but are the engine driving it.

With leadership that brings us together, we can once again build a sense of community. I will ask every American to serve their country - just as President Kennedy asked of me when I joined the Peace Corps and the military four decades ago. It shouldn't take a national crisis for America to come together with national purpose, and as president, I will ask all of us to share in the responsibility of tackling our nation's challenges.

In January, Iowans can send a message to America that, after 15 years of bitter divisiveness, it is time for a president with the leadership, experience and proven record to win these fights for the American people.

I will be the president who gets results for real change.

Sen. CHRIS DODD of Connecticut is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2007; RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic); Figures; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Connecticut

When this story was posted in December 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

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November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Chris Dodd's service began with Peace Corps 9 Nov Matthew McCue called back to Iraq from Peace Corps 9 Nov Tschetter Visits Turkmenistan 9 Nov Lara Weber writes: Oprah Winfrey's stumble 9 Nov Heather Thompson works with P Diddy 7 Nov Karen Hughes' public diplomacy came to nothing 4 Nov James Rupert writes: Musharraf seizes power 3 Nov Martin Puryear is Man of Mysteries 2 Nov Sarah Chayes says Taliban score major victory 1 Nov John Sullivan runs Sudan Divestment Task Force. 30 Oct Tom Bissell writes: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 28 Oct Chris Shays to seek 12th term 25 Oct Helen Dudley can't stop giving 25 Oct Joseph Acaba named to STS-119 Shuttle Crew 22 Oct Vince Floriani in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team 22 Oct Kelly J. Morris writes "The Bight of Benin" 20 Oct Charles Shelan was Buddhist monk Wondam’s teacher 19 Oct Peace Corps returning to Liberia 18 Oct David Peckham started Village Bicycle Project 16 Oct Alberto Ibarguen announces grant for "Project Impunity" 15 Oct Campbell Memorial Park boosts ecotourism 15 Oct Bowers Family keep daughter's dream alive 15 Oct

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What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

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Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation.

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Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

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Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

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Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

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He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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