The Bush Administration's Iraq policy, like Iraq itself, is in complete disarray. One day, the Administration calls for a timetable, the next day Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki objects to it. One day, our senior military leaders indicate more troops may be needed, the next day the President discounts that option. One day, it's stay the course, the next day it's change the course. It is increasingly clear that the President does not know what to do to stop the escalating violence in Iraq and that his so-called 'National Strategy for Victory in Iraq' has failed.

Not surprisingly, the American people have had enough of this Administration's costly mistakes and politically motivated misstatements. They know it's long past time for the President to admit his plan is not working and to truly change course.

This Republican Congress has now completely failed the American people. We knew they wouldn't stand up to big drug companies. We knew they wouldn't repeal the tax breaks they gave to big oil. But we did expect them to protect our kids. It is now clear we expected too much of them. They are not up to the job of upholding America's values.

It is not enough for House Republican leaders to work to ensure this disgrace is not repeated in the future. Every parent in America expects them to fully investigate why it was permitted in the first place. The problem today isn't the page program, which has been in existence since the time of Daniel Webster. The problem today is that House Republican leaders had evidence of a sexual predator in their ranks and chose to cover it up instead of choosing to protect these children. What is needed is for Republican leaders to testify under oath about what they knew, when they knew it, and why they didn't properly act.

Instead of ranting and raving every day on the campaign trail, President Bush should spend more time on the trail of Osama bin Laden. The American people are tired of the President's empty tough talk. They want leaders who are tough and smart. The President and his Republican Congress have no credibility left, and it's time for a new direction.

President Bush is no longer credible with the American people, no matter how many campaign speeches he gives in the next month. The President won't listen to the 16 intelligence agencies that say that the war in Iraq has made the threat of terrorism worse. His Secretary of State apparently ignored warnings of an Al Qaeda attack months before September 11. His Republican leader in the Senate, Bill Frist, thinks America should empower the Taliban terrorists who aided and abetted Osama bin Laden. The sad truth is this White House and this Republican-controlled Congress have put our national security at risk. It's time for a change. The American people expect more than tough talk from their leaders. They expect tough and smart action. Democrats are fighting to take this country in a new direction.