Des Moines Register makes its endorsement Sunday.. speculation is that Edwards gets it..

[snowbear]

- -

According to New Republic article just out --- called of all things --- "What if the Des Moines Register Endorses Biden?"

As he's ending the article, the author, Noam Scheiber, updates it with the following news:

"Update: Just got word from a reasonably informed source--someone not in a position to know with certainty, but in a position to know what various Democratic campaign insiders expect--that it's going to be Edwards again. We'll find out Sunday...

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2007/12/14/what-if-the-des-moines-register-endorses-biden.aspx

Kudos to Senator Edwards if that happens! ~~

And hmmmm.. wonder if the New Republic is planning to endorse Biden?

Ya never know..

[gateley]

1. Chris Matthews was talking about it to David Yepsen, who said he was out

of that loop, so he had no inside info. But Matthews was saying they usually print the Sunday newspaper on Thursday or Friday (is that right, anybody know?). If that's accurate, SOMEBODY knows -- and I wonder if it'll leak before it hits the streets.

EDIT: The article answered my question.

[jillan]

2. Biden already picked up a newspaper endorsement in Iowa.

Just don't ask me the name of it. :P

[Grandrose]

3. Edwards absolutely deserves it!

That family put their hearts, souls and energy into Iowa and that should count as just plain the right thing to receive the endorsement!
I am GoBama all the way, but I just like the Edwards!:)

[Czolgosz]

4. tease!

[saltpoint]

5. The REGISTER endorsed Edwards in 04.

If they chose to endorse him again, no one at my place would fly into a rage.

Much to our Democrats' credit, the decision isn't an easy one, and there are many "right" answers.

I biased in favor of the Carolinian and feel he's run a ship-shape campaign in the Hawkeye State.

[BeyondGeography]

6. They won't be choosing Obama

if Yepsen's partisan attitude on Hardball tonight and recent columns trashing the student vote effort are any indication. It was funny the way he fairly sneered about the race for the President not being as easy "as a Senate race in Illinois." Biden might be a good dark horse pick.

[Bullet1987]

7. Well BeyondGeography, just be glad that Yepsen out of the loop...

but I agree that it'll likely be Edwards. The Des Moines Register also gave Edwards STRONG kudos following the debate.

[BeyondGeography]

8. I'll be watching their polls closer than their endorsement

They like to surprise...something tells me it won't be Edwards again.

[Capn Sunshine]

51. Better read this then

"But speculation tilts heavily toward Mr. Obama, who opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Some think the Register prefers to back candidates who aren't establishment favorites, a description that may apply more to Mr. Obama. After all, everyone likes to play kingmaker."

(Wall Street Journal, Dec 15)

Article.

[Inspired]

9. I don't think it will be Edwards.

I hope they prove me wrong.

[MadBadger]

11. Why dont you think so?

[Inspired]

12. Oh, he deserves to be...don't get me wrong.

I just don't think they will endorse someone they endorsed 4 years ago. I think it would be too precictable and they like to shake things up for the heck of it.

[Nutmegger]

49. I have the same feelings!

I know the endorsed him in 2004 ... but again? Not so sure.

Hi Inspired! :hi:

[earthlover]

10. If Edwards gets the endorsement, it could mean 3rd place for Hillary in caucuses

Obama looks like the winner at this point. Hillary and Edwards are battling for 2nd. This endorsement could easily give Edwards the edge over Hillary.

If Hillary continues her negative tactics, Richardson and Biden might beat her.

Fresh off her 5th place finish, Hillary Gaggle unanimously proclaims Iowa a state full of Hillary Haters and mysogynistic followers of Republican Talking Points. Hillary will say Iowa is not her neighboring state, so she always knew it would be hard, yada. Then off to her neighboring state of new hampshire for her to get thumped again.

[Bullet1987]

14. If Edwards get the endorsement by the Des Moines Register...

Iowa is likely between Obama and Edwards for 1st.

[Eurobabe]

45. Biden will come in 4th or better. You watch.

Surprises to come!

[Adelante]

50. I think so, too, definitely nt

[IndianaGreen]

13. 6 out of the 7 Register editors are women

Will they follow the herd instinct, or will they be rational about this?

[Beacool]

18. Very sexist coment!!!! n/t

[IndianaGreen]

36. It was Hillarycamp that played the gender card, and they still are

saying that women should vote for Hillary solely on the basis of her gender. It was Hillarycamp that treats women as objects to be exploited.

The fact that Hillary's support among women has dropped 10 points tells me that Hillarycamp's calculation that Hillary was entitled to the women's voted was wrong.

[cali]

30. LOL!

yes, we all know women are just sheep and can't think for themselves. Thanks for that brilliant comment.

[asdjrocky]

32. That's a very brave man.

Me? I, I, I would never. Just never.

[Stop Cornyn]

15. Here's an excerpt from The Des Moines Register's 2004 endorsement:

John Edwards -- his time is now By Register Editorial Board

The more we watched him, the more we read his speeches and studied his positions, the more we saw him comport himself in debate, the more we learned about his life story, the more our editorial board came to conclude he's a cut above the others.... Edwards grew up around the textile mills in the Southeast. He describes his family as close-knit and hard-working - the kind of family that had to sit around the kitchen table to figure out what to sacrifice to send their son to college. Edwards played high school football, worked some summers in the mills and studied textiles at North Carolina State University, figuring on returning to the mills as his family's first college graduate.

Instead, he went on to law school at the University of North Carolina, where he met his future bride. Both became lawyers. John specialized in trial law, winning some of the most spectacular verdicts in North Carolina history and earning a small fortune by the time he was in his 40s. The couple endured the loss of a 16-year-old son in a highway accident in 1996. They have three surviving children.

In his first try for public office, Edwards defeated an incumbent Republican in 1998 to win a seat in the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. He financed his own campaign, avoiding contributions from lobbyists. ... Roll back some or all of the Bush tax cuts and redirect the money into health care and education. Conduct a foreign policy that is more collaborative and less bellicose.... it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view, with his trial-lawyer skill for distilling arguments into compelling language that moves a jury of ordinary people. He speaks of there being two Americas:

"One America does the work, while another America reaps the reward. One America pays the taxes, while another America gets the tax breaks. If we want America to be a growing, thriving democracy with the strongest middle class on Earth, we must choose a different path."

If Edwards wins the Democratic nomination, voters this fall would have a choice between two men who almost perfectly embody the rival political philosophies in America today. George W. Bush and John Edwards are attractive, likable, energetic. They have about the same level of prior experience in government - and they are polar opposites.

Bush is from a prominent family, attended Ivy League universities, made his fortune in business and fervently believes the philosophy of "a rising tide lifts all boats." His policies flow from the conviction that all Americans will gain if business is largely unfettered and if investors are better rewarded.

Edwards is from a working-class family, attended public universities, made his fortune representing ordinary people in the courtroom and fervently believes that America does best when doors of opportunity are open to anyone willing to work and get ahead. He says those opportunities are being choked off in an America today that rewards wealth, not work. Emblematic of his approach is his proposal to pay the first year's tuition to a state university or community college for any student willing to work.... What a clear and attractive choice an Edwards vs. Bush fall campaign would offer. Beginning in the Iowa caucuses next Monday, Democrats would do well to give that choice to Americans.

[ginchinchili]

16. Biden will get it.

Joe Biden is the one candidate they can endorse with the most well-rounded credentials to support their choice and do what they always love doing, stirring the pot. I'd be surprised if Clinton or Obama got the endorsement.

[Renew Deal]

17. Edwards and Hillary share support

This could cause her big problems.

[loveangelc]

43. how do you know they share supporters?

[fujiyama]

19. The New Republic endorsing Biden

might provide a decent path for them to wiggle out of that Lieberman endorsement four years ago. I would imagine their subscriptions have tanked since then...

[Tejanocrat]

20. Tha's makes sense in light of The New Republic's prior Lieberman endorsement.

[ginchinchili]

33. Yes, in the sense that now they feel an imperative to exhibit better judgment.

[jillan]

40. zing!

[snowbear]

21. I remember how shocked everyone here was when they did that...

I mean SHOCKED.

I can't remember where he was in the polls at that time.. but there wasn't one single DU'er that I can recall that thought it was a good endorsement.

[JI7]

22. why would anyone be shocked about that

of course the new republic is going to endorse Lieberman. do they even know what TNR is ?

[Tejanocrat]

23. I suspect The New Republic had a tough decision between Biden and Hillary.

[fujiyama]

26. Maybe, but I think TNR senses Hillary's

inauthenticity as much as anyone else.

[fujiyama]

24. TNR was part of the "liberal hawk" crowd, fully supporting the war

so I doubt the endorsement was shocking to those reading the magazine around the time.

[snowbear]

28. It was a big topic of discussion at the time of the LIEberman endorsement here..

Peter Beinart was running the show there and you're right, he supported going into Iraq.

There must've been DU'ers who subscribed to the magazine though because after Low-Blow-Joe was endorsed, there was quite a bit of talk of cancelling subscriptions.




I can see why their magazine is going down the tubes!

[Major Hogwash]

27. Not really shocked, TNR was for the Iraq War and defended their decision for the next 3 years.

Before realizing that they were totally, absolutely completely wrong.

Peter Bienart was the chief of TNR at the time I think.

[cyclezealot]

25. no surprise. Biden should be embarassed.

Used to be a liberal masthead. No more. the place is full of neoliberals. To think I once subscribed. Been a Nation subscriber ever since. A Biden endorsement. Only enhances my suspicion, Biden is a hawk.

[ginchinchili]

34. Right, and Kucinich is an alien from the planet Zootabis.

Please, Biden is the one candidate who has a viable plan that contrasts sharply with Bush's. An effective plan to get us out of Iraq is not the work of a hawk. All the other candidates are offering "plans" that are pretty much the same as Bush's except to yank out our troops, which shows a lack of maturity on military matters and will continue to dog the Democratic Party as the anti-military Party. And if taking care of our soldiers in the military makes Biden a hawk, then it's a charge he should wear proudly. It should also be mentioned that Sen. Biden has a son who will be headed to Iraq next year, so for him this goes beyond politics. It's personal and you can be sure he will use all his knowledge and experience to handle this difficult matter correctly, rather than make rash decisions for the greatest political advantage.

[cyclezealot]

35. You can judge someone by their friends.

New Republic's Andrew Sullivan is a pain in the arse.Why does he not keep his nose involved in GOP matters , where it belongs. / So Biden assisted the Bush doctrine by supporting 'regime change.' I expect more from a Senate chair. Bob Graham at Senate Intelligence knew better so should have Biden.
Want a workable plan to get us out of Iraq this is the best one I have read.
$
I am offering such a plan today. This plan responds to the concerns of a majority of Americans. On Tuesday, when Congress resumes its work, I will present this plan to leadership and members as the only viable alternative to the Bush Administration's policy of continued occupation and escalation.
These are the elements of the Kucinich Plan
1. The US announces it will end the occupation, close military bases and withdraw. The insurgency has been fueled by the occupation and the prospect of a long-term presence as indicated by the building of permanent bases
2. US announces that it will use existing funds to bring the troops and necessary equipment home
. 3. Order a simultaneous return of all US contractors to the United States and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi government.
4. Convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq
5. Prepare an international security and peacekeeping force to move in, replacing US troops who then return home
6. Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation.

$
For more details see:

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/resources/kucinich-unveils-comprehensive-exit-plan-to-bring-troops-home,-stabilize-iraq/

[proudmoddemo]

46. Sullivan Works for The Atlantic Now:

And he just wrote a piece highly favorable towards Obama. From his blog, it's apparent that he probably supports Obama and Ron Paul.

[cyclezealot]

48. guess all the gay baiting in the GOP

got to him. Think the New Republic has changed stripes. In fact did I not read it was bought out by CanWest Publications. Those same owners of the Jerusalem Post and other right wing rags.

[skipos]

52. You can better judge a candidate by who they consider for VP

And it doesn't get any worse than Ron Paul.

[cyclezealot]

53. nah.

where they get their campaign cash is the best guide.

[last_texas_dem]

29. I read an article a few months ago

(think it was by Eric Alterman) talking about how after the rightward drift of TNR for several years starting in the late '90's that they had some new higher-ups that were working on moving the magazine back closer to its roots. Here it is:

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=my_marty_peretz_problem_and_ours

Yeah, and I agree. An endorsement of any of the Democrats running this time around would be an improvement over that '04 Joementum endorsement!

[FrenchieCat]

31. Surprise, surprise, surprise........

Didn't expect anything else out of Iowa. :boring:

[Tashca]

37. Thank you

As an Iowan I would personally like to thank you for your depiction of an average Iowan. We prefer this imagine because it allows us to keep out the elitists and such that are a threat to democracy.
I would ask you kindly what state you are from and who you support in this election? Armed with this knowledge we can have discussions about your state and candidate in this election. I assume you represent everyone from your area?? I will be happy to discuss this with my family, friends, and of course my neighbors at the caucus. I look forward to your gracious reply.

I am now off to meet Senator Biden and as I typed this I got a personal invite to meet former Senator Edwards on Monday.

Good luck to whoever gets this endorsement....it is huge!!!!

[rucky]

42. What? They're endorsing Huckabee, too?

[loveangelc]

38. Do newspaper endorsements make a big impact

on who voters choose??

[MadBadger]

39. I think this one does

Edwards' credits part of the reason he jumped into second last time around, the Register's endorsement.

[jenmito]

41. If it's NOT Edwards I'd be VERY surprised. He's been practically LIVING in Iowa for YEARS now.

Iowa is the only place he's really competitive.

[Eurobabe]

44. I'd rather vote for Edwards than

Hillary or Obama.

Never thought I'd say that...but I did. I guess he is my second choice at this point.

Biden is first.

[alfredo]

47. It's Mike Gravel