Edwards supporters... an unlikely "endorsement"

[wyldwolf]

From Sean Hannity Radio show. Warning! Right Wing hysteria!

OK, for what it is worth (and probably not much coming from the source) Newt Gingrich says Edwards is the strongest candidate. Young, energetic, and a southern gentleman.

[jenk]

1. Newt said they FEAR Edwards the most

this was around the 4 o'clock hour I think

The RW media don't tar and feather Edwards nearly as much as Clark, Kerry, or Dean. It's out of fear, and the fact that Edwards is so well rounded that they don't have much on him.

[mlawson]

4. They have NOTHING on him.

The reps will have to invent anything they hit him with. And they will, but he knows to expect that, and with his courtroom experience, he can handle it.

So watch out for some appallingly dirty tricks!! The reps will stop at nothing to win.

[AP]

6. Edwards has a quality Bush had: Bush in 2000 created an atmosphere in

which, if you tried to attack him (which they encouraged) it made the attacker look bad. Remember when Gore strode up to him onstage. That made Bush look good and Gore look bad, and that was merely a symbolic representation of what was going on rhetorically in the campaign.

Edwards has that same thing. Try to attack him and you look like a fool. He's the only candidate with that quality.

That means in a match up with Bush, he forces Bush to run on ideas, of which Bush has none and Edwards has plenty.

[mlawson]

11. All they will have, is to say that Edwards is

'green' and 'inexperienced'. But Edwards cn turn it into a joke (the most effective defense of all), by saying

"Now, here these republican handlers of the bush campaign of 2000, are calling ME green and inexperienced?"... Then he can grin at the interviewer, and change the subject at will. :-)

[Aunt Eunice]

21. You've got that right!

Johnny is a class act!

[bigwillq]

2. Although not an Edwards supporter

I think that is true that "they don't have much on him". In my opinion, I think he is the *cleanest* candidate. What I mean is there saying how Clark "is a republican" and how Dean doesn't have national security experience, that Gep. has been there done that and his time is past, etc... I hope you all get what I mean. I'm not trying to insult any candidate.

[mmonk]

3. none taken.

They will probably drive home "ambulance chaser" (how repubs would put it, not me) trial lawyer issue on their radio shows but it won't have much of an effect in the general populace.

[AP]

5. Tried that in 98 and it backfired, and that was without book Four Trials

in print.

Read that book and you'll understand teh power of his biography.

[mmonk]

10. yeah

and I think if they tried it again, the same thing would happen. I like Edwards (except the IWR vote and the answer he gave me). The downside is if he doesn't get the nomination, he's out of government for awhile (until he can run for something again).

[DjTj]

17. He'll be appointed to some position.

If the Dem candidate wins, he'll certainly be part of the administration and if not, he will at least have a state-level position in NC under Easley or something in the national party.

[Aunt Eunice]

22. In '98

the story was that if Loch Faircloth attacked him for being a trial lawyer, Edward's team would run a commercial with the little girl who had her guts sucked out and her family endorsing him.

[AP]

26. Faircloth DID attack him for being a trial lawyer. He did it when

Faircloth was up be something like 10 pts. It was meant to be the final nail in the coffin in the last week or two of the campaign.

It gave Edwards a chance to bring out several of his former clients to explain what Edwards did for him.

He ended up winning by 2 pts. So, talking about him being a trial lawyer earned him about 12 points in a week.

I don't think the Republicans want to have this conversation again. But I do.

[bigwillq]

7. I'm glad they have nothing on Edwards but I'm sure

if he starts winning some states they'll fins something on him.

[spooky3]

24. no one is immune

when the opposition has no ethics and no morals as in the * admin., and there are many people around the country, sadly, who will listen to and believe them. However, of all the candidates, I think Edwards is #1 at responding to attacks by showing how what his opponent has charged is a weakness is actually a strength. I'm sure he'll do as well as anyone else at dealing with the Rove machine if he is the candidate, which I hope he will be.

[funky_bug]

9. I thought so as well

I was originally leaning in favor of Edwards, but not committed due to my fear of the "ambulance chaser" lable. That being said, he's still my #2.

[beaconess]

19. "Ambulance Chaser" doesn't stick

because he throws it right back in their faces, saying he's proud of his work as a lawyer.

The more they try to pin that on him, the more chances he has to talk about how he spent his first 40 years and, without saying it, contrast himself with George W's 40-year "lost weekend."

[mlawson]

20. Exactly. It will create interest in his legal career,

of which he can be proud. They won't try this, but one time.

[Bombtrack]

8. Although Gingritch isn't as borderline evil as Delay or Hannity

I do think he's alot smarter


However on this note, I don't think he's being completly open. I think he has an alterior motive. I think he, like most of his cohorts, want Dean nominated. And like Dean, they know most undecided Edwards votes will come from Gephardt in Iowa, and Clark in South Carolina

[AP]

13. Sidney Blumenthal's book suggests that Republicans cut Newt loose...

...because he was becoming to friendly with Clinton. They actually grew to respect each other. Or, more accurately, Clinton started flirting with Newt and Newt fell under Clinton's spell.

That part of the Clinton Wars blew my mind.

[Bombtrack]

15. which really shows how warped Hannity is

The guy worships 2 men. Newt Gingrich and Oliver North.

And pretty much everything he demonizes Clinton for on a daily basis one of those 2 are guilty of in some way

[frustrated_lefty]

12. My wife and I both like Edwards

We both react to him similarly. He's young, he needs seasoning. We look forward to an Edwards presidency, this just isn't his time. In 8 or 12 years, that's a totally different story. He's a good man.

[arewethereyet]

16. could you describe what seasoning he needs ? Serious question.

He's been on serious committees and that means he has respect. The guy is smart and nows how to study and what to study and he connects to people naturally and he can inspire as well as lead.

I hear this all the time and just don't know what people want more of him. He's been successful at everything he ever did because he had drive and ability.

Honestly, tell be what I'm missing.

[mlawson]

18. He is 50 years old.

Clinton was 46 in 1992. JFK was 43 in 1960. TR was 42 or 43 in 1901.

Edwards is very intelligent, extremely articulate, and learns quickly. How (why) would he be better in 2008??

[Aunt Eunice]

23. It would be better..

..if he was in his second term.

[rucky]

14. If it doesn't happen this year...

it WILL happen in '08 or '12

[kodi]

25. recently edwards has grown dramatically & appears ready for bush

8 months ago i sat with some of edwards close friends and neighbors and listened to them explain that while edwards was more than capable, he seemed personally hesitant to go for the brass ring.

today, months later, i feel that indecisiveness has disappeared.

edwards has hit on the theme that can beat bush, viz., that bush has helped create and sustain a two tiered america that squashes hope for the overwhelming majority of americans.

he is using effectively the american mythos of the promise of the american dream as his basic philosophy and is placing squarely on bush's and the gop's shoulders the blame for any road blocks to achieving such dreams.

edwards is the second choice for a lot of people, and after seeing his maturity and growth on the campaign trail, i consider him having the personality and money to take on bush better than anyone.

i think edwards will appeal to more people than any other democratic candidate come novemeber 2004, and i think he would make a fine president and one in which we would be proud to lead the nation.

i have sent money to other candidates yet never endorsed any one of them.

so, this is the first time i will say this: i will vote for edwards before any other candidate.

[Buzz Clik]

27. Regardless of your (my) opinion of the other Dem candidates...

...Edwards is the only one who is even remotely electable.