Editorial: Edwards for the Democrats - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

[question everything]

Original URL: http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/feb04/207847.asp


Democrats in Wisconsin and elsewhere owe much to Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont and candidate for the presidential nomination of their party. Perhaps more than any other candidate in the race, the long-running Dean has set the thematic framework and identified the critical issues in the coming battle with President Bush. Those themes and issues by now are familiar to voters: the conduct of the war on terrorism, justification for the invasion of Iraq, globalization and the loss of manufacturing jobs, outsourced services, health care costs and coverage, tax cuts skewed to America's most prosperous citizens and a deficit-burdened fiscal policy.

On these and other issues, there are distinctions, but not significant differences, among the Democrats.

(snip)

For Democrats, then, the challenge is to nominate the man who can take his party's common vision for the nation and convince voters that it offers the right course for America. That man, in our judgment, is Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. We urge Democrats to vote for him in Tuesday's primary.

(snip)

Many Democrats want to declare an end to the primary process and effectively coalesce around Kerry.

(snip)

But we believe Edwards would be more than Kerry's match to lead his party in November. It's true that Edwards cannot touch Kerry's distinguished military record or his long career in public life. Kerry, 60, has served in the Senate for nearly 20 years; Edwards, 50, was elected for the first time in 1998. But that also means Edwards does not carry as much baggage for his opponents to exploit.


(snip)

The two Americas message - and job loss, acute in Wisconsin, is a part of it - resonates with audiences partly because Edwards peppers it with statistical support, partly because the messenger delivers the message so skillfully.

(snip)

Edwards is smart, engaging and upbeat, comfortable before any audience and often inspiring. Perhaps most intriguing of all, his optimistic campaign, free of attacks on his Democratic rivals, suggests something important about his character: Here is someone who seems to believe that the power of persuasion doesn't have to include excoriation and the politics of personal destruction.

(snip)

[FG9942]

1. If Dean has any grace left he would quit now and

endorse Edward too.

I cannot understand why Clark decided to endorse Kerry.

[Stuckinthebush]

2. Clark endorsed Kerry

for the same reason Gore endorsed Dean. Clark wants the Democrats to go ahead and settle this thing and move to beating Bush. By endorsing Kerry, he is sayin, "OK..this is the guy with momentum. Now let's go get Bush."

I'm beginning to like Edwards more and more. Perhaps we need him to stay in a little longer to make sure we have the right guy.

[newyawker99]

3. HI FG9942!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: