Can someone explain to me what is so wonderful about Edwards?

[butterfly77]

the only thing I have heard is that he is a white male from the south. I heard him say it yesterday on tweety's show what is everyone seeing that I am not. I know that the Dems want to white male vote in the south but, this country is more diverse than ever so what is it, because I can't see it.

[geek tragedy]

1. He does a pretty entertaining Kucinich impersonation.

That is, while he's campaigning. When he's in office, he'd been a DLC'er.

[Mythsaje]

3. Used to be a DLCer

And as far as a Kucinich impression...yeah, he's like a Kucinich who actually HAS a chance.

[geek tragedy]

11. No, he's a guy pretending to be Kucinich.

In reality, he's a "what will get me elected" guy.

[Mythsaje]

13. Right...which is why he hasn't shifted once from his message

even though he's consistently been running third.

Nice line...too bad it's bullshit.

[butterfly77]

17. I was tired of hearing him ...

in the election with Kerry, he never changed his speech he would say the same thing over and over. That is one problem he sounds like he is reciting a speech.

[PatSeg]

54. I remember hearing his speech in Iowa in 03 or 04

and I was really impressed. The pundits were in awe and said he was even better than the master, Bill Clinton. Then I heard the speech again and again, and it became thread worn very quickly. He started to look like a one trick pony. I haven't been impressed since.

[geek tragedy]

26. He sure did shift on public financing. n/t

[butterfly77]

14. That is how I see it...

[penguin7]

23. I agree with you there

It is clear to me that Edwards is a handled candidate. He couldn't possibly have given his positions deep thought when he changes so much.

[eridani]

58. When Edwards takes a stand that you like--

--remember that you heard it from Kucinich first. Caucusing for Kucinich, even if you later switch to Edwards at the LD caucuses, reminds Edwards of that.

[Clark2008]

7. LOL!!!

That's so true!!

[slick8790]

2. "the only thing I have heard is that he is a white male from the south."

Then you haven't been listening. Do a search.

[butterfly77]

6. I have been listening..

the only thing I have heard from him that there are two americas' what's new about that..

[slick8790]

12. No other candidate is raising the issues of poverty like he is.

No other candidate has had more truly developed, detailed plans to help middle class americans who have been fucked over by bush's regime. This is how we make america as great as it used to be, and it is also how we win.

[butterfly77]

18. The only problem with it is...

that no one knows how much bush has really messed up the country until they get into office until then it is only promises, promises...

[slick8790]

22. No one knows how much he's messed up the country!? Fuck that!

I think the families of soldiers who died in iraq would beg to differ. I think the people who's jobs have been outsourced by this free trade bullshit would beg to differ. I think people who have had to go the past 8 years without healthcare would beg to differ. We ALL know how much bush has fucked up this country. Edwards is one of the few people who really seems to get it. He's challeneged other candidates to not take lobbyist donations, and our illustrious frontrunner Hillary "Lobbyists are people too" Clinton refused to take it. Time and time again edwards has show he gets it. What about your candidate?

[penguin7]

25. Edwards is taking special interest money big time

The legal profession is a special interest.

[1932]

102. That's a special interest that represents shifting power away from Wall Street

and it hasn't been very successful, eh?

[butterfly77]

27. Yes those things are what are on the surface...

we don't know what else bush has been hiding or covering up. I believe all of our candidates get it as do most of the american people. A lot of the republicons get it but they don't give a damn they want to make it even worse.

[demosincebirth]

49. He also got a 100% rating from the AFL-CIO.

[Mythsaje]

16. Then you haven't really been listening.

He's talking about corporate lobbyists control in Washington DC. He's talking about the power certain industries have over policy decisions. He's talking about how whole communities have been devestated by economic practices that make the rich even richer.

But I imagine you already know that. You just don't care.

[butterfly77]

24. I have been listening to him all through 2003 until now...

I do care. I don't want our side to lose because he will end up looking like a deer caught in the headlights in a debate just like when he tried to attack Hillary at the debate and didn't know what he was talking about. Just being a white male from the south will not cut it. We need someone who will bring it to the CONS ...

[Mythsaje]

4. He sees the Class War.

None of the other candidates seem to. He's telling the people how corporations are running (and ruining) America.

Even if he doesn't win, it's a message America needs to hear.

[butterfly77]

19. I can agree with that...

[David Zephyr]

57. Bingo!

And that is at the root of most all of America's woes.

[bleever]

56. He knows that the goverment is run by those who take it, and

that it's been taken by the richest sliver.

[goodgd_yall]

101. I like the way you put that.

[Vickers]

5. His boyish grin is to die for.

:P

[butterfly77]

8. I believe this is one of the reasons ...

some people are for him otherwise, I don't see it...

[Clark2008]

9. I don't understand why people think he's handsome, either.

Maybe I just see the lizard...

:shrug:

[GreenArrow]

29. Lizard?!

I think it's just that tongue darting thing he does.

[bpeale]

86. maybe because he is????

[Warpy]

10. He's not only noticed that 80% of us have gotten a raw deal

under this administration, he's pledged to do concrete things to change it.

In other words, he's appealing to the party's working class base instead of to a bunch of fictional GOP swing voters.

He's campaigning like Clinton did. If he wins, let's just hope he doesn't end up governing like Clinton did. Most of us didn't see much from that boom, either.

[penguin7]

15. Edwards would be Giulliani's dream opponent

We have a DA, tough on crime, verses an ambulance chaser.

Edwards-Giulliani would be a Republican landslide.

I wish Edwards would just drop out.

[butterfly77]

20. Thank you...

[PresidentObama]

21. Wait a second, you support DK correct?

Do you have credibility saying one of our top tier candidates, who beats ALL leading Republicans in head to head match-ups, would "lose" in a landslide?

[Andy823]

39. Comedians

These guys are so funny! But if I were them I wouldn't leave my day job!:rofl:

All one has to do is go to Edwards site. He explains his plan for America, and actually "tells" people who he will do it. Not like some candidates who talk in circles, or who don't stand a snowballs chance in hell of getting nominated!

From what I have seen today, the "other" top tier, all 2 of them, seem to be scared of Edwards. I see Obama's people attacking him one minute, and asking Edwards supporters to jump ship and join them in another thread. Same thing with the Clinton gang, but they just seem to be "attacking", not really trying to gain supporters. That shows me they fear Edwards is coming up and will take away Iowa from them, and get a boost going into NH.

I guess if you can't win support by showing the "good" qualities of your own candidate, the next best thing for them to do is attack the one person they fear! :scared:

[penguin7]

41. I think Kucinich would do better than Edwards against Giulliani

The corporate media would try to tear both to shreds.

But Kucinich would have a consistent message with integrity.

Giulliani will push integrity and consistency against Edwards and win in a landslide since Edwards is so weak on both counts.

Edwards would have a better chance against Romney, then we would have two peas in a pod.

[JohnLocke]

28. You must not like emprical evidence.

Our Candidate vs. Giuliani

Edwards WINS by 9%
Hillary WINS by 6%
Obama WINS by 7%

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3822056
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/12/11/tue6ampoll.pdf

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

[butterfly77]

31. I don't believe those polls..

no one has vote yet...

[JohnLocke]

38. You know, I'll take my lot with the dozens of surveys, not some random dude online.

But good to know you are open about an inability to see facts.

[butterfly77]

53. The only facts there are is that..

Edwards is talking loud and saying nothing but repeating the same old speech. I tried to give him a listen but I tuned him out a long time ago...

[asdjrocky]

92. So you believe the penguin?

[madmom]

33. I wish Hillary and Obama would drop out so the msm would let us hear Edwards

[Bluebear]

46. 'verses an ambulance chaser' - - yeah, verses.

:silly:

[Chulanowa]

55. Yer kidding

The dude IS crime. You don't even have to get a shovel to dig up shit on Guliani, he tracks it around anywhere he goes. We could run the corpse of Woodrow Wilson and beat Giuliani.

[gmudem]

59. You gotta be kidding

Edwards would destroy Giuliani. Can you imagine those two guys debating? Just imagine Edwards trial lawyer experience going up against an assclown like Giuliani in a debate. It would be hilarious. Also, nice Limbaugh talking point calling him an ambulance chaser. There isn't a lick of evidence to support that neo-con meme.

And if you seriously think there is going to be any kind of Republican landslide next year...seek help.

[penguin7]

64. I do not think that there will be a Republican landslide

because I think Edwards has no prayer at the nomination.

If Edwards gets nominated and he opposes Giulliani, I believe that there will be a Republican landslide.

[zalinda]

73. Honey, he never had to chase ambulances

The people came to him, in droves. Just the fact that he took the case would make corporations offer a settlement. He never had to go out looking for cases.

I'm starting to think that all the Edwards bashers are Kucinich supporters. Is he stealing your guys thunder? Should Kucinich be the only dem to talk progressive? Is that his little corner of the world? Too bad no one is listening to him. In 2004 in Iowa, he got what 1 or 2 percent? They know him there, he should be at least in the double digits, but he isn't.

I'm sorry if Kucinich isn't as popular as Edwards. But, to me, the message is more important than the messenger. If Edwards can deliver the message, why put him down?

zalinda

[mtnsnake]

79. Didn't he break his nose once?

Chasing a parked ambulance? :shrug:

[penguin7]

84. Edwards message on health insurance is downright dishonest

Anyone that wants single payer health care should dislike Edwards with intensity.

It is dishonest for Edwards to make the claim that he is offering some kind of road to single payer.

Edwards is stifling the debate on single payer.

[zalinda]

91. And how honest is your candidate

Kucinich, when he doesn't even have an office in Iowa?

zalinda

[Clark2008]

103. OK... I'll say it - and I don't have a candidate.

Edwards message on health insurance is ownright dishonest.

Anyone that wants single payer health care should dislike Edwards with intensity.

It is dishonest for Edwards to make the claim that he is offering some kind of road to single payer.

Edwards is stifling the debate on single payer.

Happy now?

[saltpoint]

99. You can't get off of this, can you? I'm just curious if collaboration is

even a value of yours as a person. I ask because it is conspicuous by its absence in your posts.

If the Republicans lose in 2008, that likely means that 1 of our 8 Democrats will be the next President of the United States.

IMO it's very likely to be someone who may not be some people's first choice. The math suggests that HClinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards are 1, 2 and 3 nationally. It's tighter in Iowa. Richardson and Biden are moving up in Iowa. Kucinich, Dodd, and Gravel are trailing, and trailing by a lot. They face long, long odds in the race.

Don't dynamite all the bridges. You may want to travel back home one of these days.

[brentspeak]

97. Karl Rove, is that you?

[jillan]

30. Because he made millions off the poor.

[madmom]

36. He made millions defending the poor against big business, many of them

would be far worse off if not for Edwards.If he defended big business against the poor who brought lawsuits against them and won, THAT would be making millions off the poor!!!

[cali]

40. He made millions off of his investments with Fortress

and some of it came from Fortress investing in companies that foreclosed on mortgages of poor and middle class people- including in NOLA. And it doesn't matter that he didn't know. That's why you don't fucking invest in hedge funds- because they're about as sleazy as it gets.

[penguin7]

43. Edwards sued the wealthy corporations for the same reason

Jesse James robbed banks.

That is where the money is.

[GreenArrow]

48. man, you hit the nail right on the head with that one.

.

[madmom]

50. Oh ok I see he made money but at the same time helped some one, what a fucking sleazeball

and I sure hope I don't need the sarcasm smilie here! Man some of you totally confuse me!!!

[KaptBunnyPants]

89. He sued the weathly corporations because their actions had hurt people.

Do you have any evidence of him participating in a frivolous lawsuit, or is Edwards now just a stand in for "generic lawyer" for you?

[ThatPoetGuy]

45. Oh, baloney.

He didn't get rich off the poor. Unless you mean the poor insurance companies who refused to give money to their claim-holders, until Edwards sued them, or the poor corporation that disemboweled a three-year-old girl.

"The biggest case of his legal career was a 1997 product liability lawsuit against Sta-Rite, the manufacturer of a defective pool drain cover. The case involved a three-year-old girl who was disemboweled by the suction power of the pool drain pump when she sat on an open pool drain whose protective cover other children at the pool had removed, after the swim club had failed to install the cover properly. Despite 12 prior suits with similar claims, Sta-Rite continued to make and sell drain covers lacking warnings. Sta-Rite protested that an additional warning would have made no difference because the pool owners already knew the importance of keeping the cover secured.

"In his closing arguments, Edwards spoke to the jury for an hour and a half and referenced his son, Wade, who had been killed shortly before testimony began. Mark Dayton, editor of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, would later call it 'the most impressive legal performance I have ever seen.' The jury awarded the family $25 million, the largest personal injury award in North Carolina history. The company settled for the $25 million while the jury was deliberating additional punitive damages, rather than risk losing an appeal. For their part in this case, Edwards and law partner David Kirby earned the Association of Trial Lawyers of America's national award for public service. The family said that they hired Edwards over other attorneys because he alone had offered to accept a smaller percentage as fee unless the award was unexpectedly high, while all of the other lawyers they spoke with said they required the full one-third fee. The size of the jury award was unprecedented, and Edwards did receive the standard one-third plus expenses fee typical of contingency cases. The family was so impressed with his intelligence and commitment that they volunteered for his Senate campaign the next year."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edwards

[Cronopio]

83. I think the important part of that phrase was "He made millions"

Some people feel that making a lot of money and being a populist are mutually exclusive options.

Of course, they would have a difficult time explaining away FDR.

[Stop Cornyn]

51. That sort of vicious right-wing blather makes me want to kick an anti-Biden thread in your honor

[bpeale]

85. he made millions off suing big business for wrongs done to poor people

those people would have gotten nothing if not for him. i don't work for free. you don't work for free. no one works for free unless they are stupid. everyone has to make a living. big deal. he made a good living getting money for poor people who would otherwise have gotten nothing.

THINK PEOPLE. THINK! I CAN'T DO IT FOR YOU.

[LSK]

88. lie much???

:shrug:

[Armstead]

32. I wouldn't say wonderful, but I would say very good

If all you have heard is that he is a white male from the south, then you haven't been listening.

Edwards could have run a much "safer" campaign, echoing Centrist DLC dogma.

Instead, he is running on the much riskier message that power in this country has become far too concentrated in the hands of big corporate interests.

in terms of color, I'd say he's addressed the core issue of poverty more directly than any of the candidates. (That's not to take away from Obama, but Obama is running more of a nebulous feel-good campaign.)

[butterfly77]

37. In terms of color ..

I believe that there is a lot more poverty in the other races due to Bushco.. What is so risky about talking about poverty and corporate interests this is what they all should be talking about as well as other things

[Armstead]

42. I agree the issue of poverty should not be his alone

>>>What is so risky about talking about poverty and corporate interests this is what they all should be talking about as well as other things<<<

They should all be talking about it, and the reasons for such disparity of wealth. But they're not, except in oblique ways.

[BigDDem]

34. Well, he has nice hair

although the upkeep is expensive.

[Tejanocrat]

35. If you had been looking at the greatest page this week, you might have seen these answers:

SOUTHWEST IOWA NEWSPAPER: EDWARDS “REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER”

Why supporting Edwards is extremely important

Edwards is IT. Here's my reasoning:

Edwards Condemns NAFTA

Edwards Deserves Another Look

I'm going to vote for Edwards in the NH Primary.

[Tejanocrat]

44. I forgot one of the best from this past week:

After careful thought, I've decided on Edwards

[Czolgosz]

77. NICE POST!

[ThatPoetGuy]

47. This is the article that put me into the Edwards camp.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1657800-1,00.html

This one is good too.

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/08/17/opinion/17brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[GreenArrow]

52. *cue stirring music*

[K8-EEE]

60. I can tell you why I'm voting for him in the primary....

I'm not really looking for any pastor or rock star or perfect person or Mr. Wonderful.

The issue he talks about that nobody else does is this system of flat-out bribery that we have with the politicians turned lobbyists turned politicians.

And he rightly says, they (oil, ins., pharma, defense etc.) lobbyists are NEVER going to give up an inch of power...we have to fight to take it back from them. Because right now the average politician is beholden first to the lobbyists, which isn't right.

I don't want to "work with" them or the neocons. I want somebody who can take them on, and I think he'd be good at that.

Everything comes down to: Where's the money? Even the war comes down to that. I don't hear anybody else talking about it like JE.

I really think if people KNEW about the scams and the amount of money that goes in and out for back and forth favors....a lot of people just don't focus on it.

[tinrobot]

66. Bingo...

And because of that issue, he's also a candidate that is very scary to those in the status quo. I like that.

He's also got great positions on healthcare, poverty, getting out of Iraq, and a lot of others.

He gets my vote, too.

[K8-EEE]

71. His take on election financing horrifies the corp. media

Can you imagine the amount of MONEY companies like CNN would lose if we had a reasonable system (election, not auction as JE says!)

[Breeze54]

61. It's to bad he voted for the Iraq war along with Biden, HRC and all the rest.

:(

[FrenchieCat]

62. He's a white guy from the South who tells his current base what they want to hear.......

He's about to get promoted by the media because they know that he will lose.

Sad to say, but it will be interesting to watch...cause we will get exactly what we deserves, with our scary selves! :scared:

[Mythsaje]

63. "He's a white guy from the South who tells his current base what they want to hear..."

You mean the truth?

Horrors!

[FrenchieCat]

65. Problem is that the base ain't enough.........

and when Edwards has to "adjust", I hope you are prepared.

[Mythsaje]

67. Yeah, that's why so many rural and working class

republican types like him too. Because he's ONLY speaking to his base.

Oh, wait...

[FrenchieCat]

68. No, those folks are thinking of the old John Edwards......

the one that used to hold the position they liked.....back when he felt that they were his base.

Look, I'll agree to disagree as to what John Edwards represents and to whom.

The important thing is to watch and listen.....and it will ultimately be clear as day to those paying attention.

[KaptBunnyPants]

90. Tell me what old John Edwards they are voting for.

Do you think most people know what the DLC is? Do you think rural people vote for pro-business candidates? They don't, what they vote for is candidates that they believe share their moral values. People believe Edwards when he talks about his values, and it doesn't help that he is a Southerner who looks and talks the part. The only exposure most people have to Edwards prior to this campaign is his 2003 campaign, and he ran as the anti-poverty candidate back then as well. The only real difference between the two campaigns is that now he has forcefully denounced his Iraq policy.

[last_texas_dem]

93. I supported Edwards in '04 and am leaning towards him this time

The focus of his campaign is not nearly as dramatically different now as it was in '04. The Edwards-bashers on here act as if he has gone from 2004-era Zell Miller to 2007-era Dennis Kucinich when this is not the case. I don't think he would be a slam-dunk automatic winner as the Dem candidate and I don't think he is the only Democrat who could win, but he's not the two-faced monster destined to be easily destroyed by the 'pugs that some of the posters on here that devote the majority of their time on DU to bashing Edwards seem to revel in painting him as.

[cali]

76. he's got 11% support in SC

according to the new survey USA poll. Guess not too many rural working class folks like him there. He has about 14% in NH. Hardly making a big impact on the rural and working class folks there.

[tinrobot]

69. Current Base?

I personally think his current base is the middle class, the poor, and blue collar workers. In other words, about 80% of the country.

I hope he does keep saying what they want to hear, because if he does, he'll win big.

[FrenchieCat]

70. I don't think so......

MR. JOHN I've-got-24-millions-worth-of-Hedgefund-Investments-plus-20 mil-in-the-bank-and-a-giant-house-but-I-will-take-public-financing-cause I-don't-have-enough-faith-in-my-candidacy-to-self-finance-myself-and-risk-any-of-my-personal-fortune-but-I-do-really-really-care-about-all-of-you-so-much-cause-I-say-so EDWARDS.

Keep wishing that he'll win big. Hell, He'S not even betting on it!

[midnight]

72. Thank you for asking such an important question. As I read

through the responses I find myself agreeing with the topics that are important to me. Giving a response to the auctioning of our President-it should not be going on. I don't think it matters what your skin color or gender. Health care will be paid for by repealing the tax deductions of the wealthiest in this country. Once again an idea that I can agree with. Still this is a response that does not require one to be white or male. Another wonderful thing I like about Edwards was that he was working to bring attention to NOLA by showing that houses needed to be built!!!!!!! He is pointing to the things that he believes will make our country better by showing us the way. He is a man and he is white, but don't discriminate on those two traits. O and don't get hung up with him being from the south. He is smart.

[Recursion]

74. Nobody else talks about poverty

The basis of his campaign has been poverty and the "two Americas" idea.

[sniffa]

75. i've noticed the Edwards detractors have been starting threads recently

don't you guys know we only go after Clinton and Obama here?

[The Backlash Cometh]

78. He's a trial attorney, he's read the lawsuits that would convince anyone

that there is a shadow network of powerful people in the corporate world, controlling political government -- most done through city attorneys. And all politics is local.

You need a trial lawyer to fight the army of bad attorneys out there who are empowering greedy corporatist who are corrupting our country with campaign money and sweet inducers of golden parachutes and jobs, to anyone they want to buy.

You can't make it simpler than that.

[1932]

80. Quotes like this one:

"And that's what drives me now. When I talk about the Two Americas, this is what I mean – the very wealthiest and most powerful have manipulated our government for their own ends. They use their wealth and their power to keep themselves wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyone else. And when they do that, they're holding America back.

[cali]

81. that's rich.

hedge funds were created for the very wealthiest. JE took full advantage of it.

[1932]

94. Come on, cali. Put an argument together. Just try.

What you just posted isn't even a bumper sticker.

[AlertLurker]

82. Absolutely Nothing.

He's just another white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant male from the South.

He's also either the biggest idiot or the biggest liar in the race, depending if you believe his own words, or everyone else's.

He will win the nomination, however (because he is white, male, Southern and Protestant). Obviously being a pathalogical liar or a gibbering moron (or BOTH, as is now the case) is not a significant disqualifier for the USA's highest office. The USA is clearly just not ready for either a woman or a black man in the Oval Orifice.

[brentspeak]

95. Shouldn't you slink back to your hole?

[LSK]

87. start with wikipedia maybe??

:shrug:

[brentspeak]

96. You seem pretty clueless

Anyone who would say something as asinine as "the only thing I have heard is that he is a from the " doesn't sound too bright.

[saltpoint]

98. One insight is his decision to join Wade on the trek up Kilimanjaro.

I'm not talking about the physical stamina. I'm talking about the emotional bond.

He's been meticulous on the issues, extremely well-prepared, and has championed the wage-earners' plight both in the workplace and in the home.

His appearances are deliberately aimed at all citizens. There's a lot to like in the notion of an America were he to lead it, articulate its next directions, rally us behind necessary imperatives, and select a new generation of judicial nominees.

Not least, he appears to have been the thoughtful choice of Elizabeth, who would be the sort of person IMO who chooses wisely in these matters.

[Lord Helmet]

100. I like Edwards but he voted for the Iraq war.