Is John Edwards the Energizer Bunny of 2008?
I'm fascinated how, amid the Punch n' Judy show of "Hillary's people said this about Obama" and "Oprah said this about Obama" and "Bill said this about Hillary," John Edwards still remains so firmly in the race. It's pretty stunning. He just keeps going and going and going.
It gives me this weird feeling that maybe the people of Iowa are ignoring the hysteria and possibly even listening to the candidates on the issues. Oddly enough, it seems they might be taking their civic role seriously, despite the sudden arrival of Magic Johnson and Chuck Norris in their midst. I don't know how they do it, I couldn't. I'm too big a Walker Texas Ranger fan. But the people of Iowa seem to be different.
It's possible they've noticed that Edwards is the one candidate talking about the hardships being faced by our disappearing middle class. Maybe they've caught on to the fact that he's the one person with a realistic plan for health care and a realistic approach for addressing climate change. Maybe minorities and working women have even noticed that, surprisingly enough, he's the candidate who is speaking loudest and most forcefully about the bread and butter economic issues that actually affect them.
I have to admit that I came to Edwards filled with skepticism, just like I first looked to Obama with hope. But the more I watch them wrestle with the critical issues of our times, and the more I listen for the notes of plain truth buried beneath the bullet points and the polished rhetoric, the more I get the feeling that Edwards is the most capable candidate out there.
In terms of historical precedent, I would certainly prefer it if he was an African American woman of Hispanic descent, but as they say, nobody's perfect.
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I've been with him from the beginning and I'm proud! He is a fighter.
John Edwards "08!
It's wondeful that despite being outspent by his rivals and despite the media giving him little to no coverage John Edwards' vision for America is resonating with Iowa voters. And what's equally gratifying is the fact that Edwards is climbing in the polls in New Hampshire. And he's doing it the hard way by outworking his rivals. He's had more than twice as many events with voters in NH as the other candidates. I hope the Democrats recognize a winner when they see one in time for him to become our nominee.
Edwards is the only leader in the bunch, and the only courageous one out there...He has been battle-tested by the pathetic coverage the media has given him, and he has persevered and has stuck to his core principles, just as he did in fighting corporate abuse in the courtroom.
This is the candidate we can trust our children's future to.
Go, Edwards!
John Edwards is the only one that can bring this country back to what it was meant to be when it was created by our founders. He is for the little man not the big corporate machine that runs Washington and everyone in America. We need a man like John Edwards in the white house next time or we will end up in worse shape then we are now and now is as bad as I have ever seen it. We had 8 years of Clinton we don't need anymore Clintons in the whitehouse. Having another Clinton there will be like haveing the same type of politicians as we have now. We need change for America and John Edwards will make the change that is good for America. I wonder how many presidentail candidates would run for office if the president of the United States had to work for Perdium only. How many would do that? I think John Edwards would if it was required because he is truly for this country and not Self Improvement at the cost of every tax payer in America. John Edwards is the man in 09 he is the only one that can make the change we need.
Musicman2
There is no question that Edwards has come out with the most specific, realistic policies to help the working class and the middle class. And that he has spoken passionately about his desire to help the poor. The question is whether Americans will vote in their economic interest or whether they will once again be sidetracked by personality, image ("I'm for hope"), or wedge issues. I'd like to believe that there is a groundswell of populism out there, but it's hard to see it. He needs to win or come in second in Iowa in order to start getting attention in the media; you can't visit every voter in the February 5 primaries the way you can in Iowa and New Hampshire. If he comes in third in those first two contests, he's finished.
Here's John Edwards in Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday:
http://www
...and he's STILL got plenty of energy!
Edwards was tempered by the 2004 election, and has been planning his strategy ever since.
By spending an enormous amount of time in Iowa, he honed his message, but it seems he has purposely laid low in media spending and limelight activities.
Edwards knows it is smarter to let Clinton and Obama share the spotlight and tarnish each other.
As a keen trial lawyer he knows timing and how to win people over.
One thing for sure, the majority of American's want to soundly reject the current party in the White House. Edwards is just about to make his move. He will emerge from the pack. I don't agree with all his policies but he will emerge and, best of all, he can not be beat by the repugs. It is the middle class that has gotten the severe and expensive haircut under the Bush administration.
Edwards, like Huckabee on the other side of the political aisle manages to stay out out of the bickering, something this country, while enormously entertained by the sniping between Billary and Oprahma, secretly disdains as we like our candidates to present the appearance of being presidential, and above the fray.
Edwards will do very well in Iowa I believe.
John 'mortage hedge fund guy' Edwards wants
YOUR support! Um, 'no'. Dems: Kucinich. Repub:
Paul. Everyone else, thanks for your interest
in the position.
Ronald Reagan was able to sell his radically reactionary ideology by being sunny and optimistic ("Morning in America"). Just like all the Republicans and Reagan Dems who voted for him secretly wished him to be their daddy, Edwards can hide his rather radical pro-labor, pro-farmer, pro-ethnic minorities agenda under the charme of America's favorite son-in-law.
I think both moderate conservatives and cultural liberals underestimate the anger and frustration of the working class and the lower middle class in America. It is sometimes referred to as "extremism of the center", and I am sure Edwards strategy aims at this radicalized center.(As does Mike Huckabee's
That's why he, as the liberal progressive populist in the race doesn't highlight abortion, gay marriage, religion, capital punishment, guns, etc. - because these are wedge issues that play into the Republican/centrist narrative (Democrats are destroying Christian America) and take substantial parts of the working class away from the Democrats. (It's also why Huckabee, the right-wing reactionary populist, talks economy AND god all the time)
That's why JRE concentrates on egalitarian economic appeals to rural (i.e. lilly-white, culturally conservative, suspicious of minorities and big-city-liberals) and inner-city (racially diverse, culturally liberal) voters.
Didn't Edwards already lose a National election as a VP candidate in 2004 against the criminal enterprise known as the Bush administration? And while Bush et al were imploding after every one of their nefarious enterprises was crumbling around them, Edwards was unable to sell his ticket to the American people. Didn't he provide a lackluster debate performance against the prince of darkness?
Or was it a different Edwards?
my ex wife is a registered republican who voted for bush TWICE(one of many reasons we no longer married) However, she is voting for Edwards this time. That says something. He is the answer believe you me. PLus the media has alternately tried to smear him or ignore him which actually helps him as people have finally realized the media is nothing but a seamless propaganda machine for the corporate elite. But as you say he hangs in there. He will be a kickass president. the rest of the "frontrunners" are just corporate mouthpieces who will do nothing but take care of their rich pals. Edwards 08 power to the people.
Bravo !!
I so agree. John Edwards is the best candidate for the middle class and working poor. If voters would just stop and realize what would be best for them and their children then vote for the candidate who will best represent them and serve their interests.
Hillary is a Clinton, but not the Clinton the people really want....Bi
Welcome. It took you longer than it took me to realize that Edwards was the one. But now that you've taken a good long look at your options, you've come down squarely and solidly in the People of America's court. Good for you, and may others see the light before it's too late!
I agree with everything you said. He will not vote "present" 130 times, as Obama has in the Illinois legislature, hoping not to disappoint anyone. And he will not be Wall Street's favorite candidate from either party, a la Hillary. The only thing not to like is that he continues a tradition of white male candidates, but there's not much he can do about that. Let's cross our fingers he can hang in there despite being ignored or dissed by Big Media and the moneyed interests of the Democratic Party.
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