Edwards said something that resonated tonight

[Blue_Roses]

His comment that we have "two Americas," is something that hit home with what we all have been thinking all along. Those who work hard and those who try to work "those" hard. It is so clear how divided our country is politically, economically, socially, and how do we bring this all together?

This is why I think his message has taken off because it is true and there are more working class people who need to know they will be alright.

[poskonig]

1. I've been thinking the same thing.

I really like that message. It unifies a lot of diverse issues.

[AP]

2. I was trying to make this point in another thread. To win you have to have

the 'massive information dump' -- a set of polices which are consistent; you need to reduce that big set of many ideas to a smaller paragraphy, sentence or a few words; and you have to ingrain those ideas in people's heads.

And it all has to be logical and it has to make sense to peoples' lives.

I think the reason Edwards has done well tonight is because he did just what you said he did.

[DjTj]

3. ...and it's not class warfare...

The "Two Americas" speech doesn't really pander to the poor or any particular class.

Everyone listening to that speech feels like they are part of the wrong America.

There are those that are struggling financially that understand the two economies. There are those in less affluent neighborhoods that understand the two education systems. The middle class understands the two tax systems. The people disillusioned with politics understand the two governments. Those who hate Bush understand the two images of America.

It's brilliant because it touches everyone.

[cryofan]

6. and just what is wrong with class warfare? And it is subtle class warfare

Of course it is a type of class warfare, however subtle.

And it was this same class war rhetoric that propelled Edwards and Kerry to the top.

We should reward Edwards's and Kerry's class war rhetoric by switching our support to them.

And if other candidates outdo them in class warfare, switch again.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. THEY fight class warfare; WE fight against it

That's the talking point to turn it back on them. If they're not demanding the privilege of economic monarchy, then they should have no problem refuting it. The right is terrified of this tactic.

The late, grating Lee Atwater said that the best tactic the Democrats should pursue in a Presidential election is class warfare.

[cryofan]

11. huh?

[rucky]

7. You just described class warfare

quite eloquently. So did Edwards.

[sandnsea]

4. Honest question here...

Is this really the first time you've heard him say that?

[poskonig]

5. It is the first time I've heard it.

Usually I heard about how his father was a millworker.

[sandnsea]

8. That was a long time ago

He started the two americas speech a couple of months ago. He kind of transitioned from the millworker speech to the two americas speech. I'm just interested on whether people haven't watched, or they don't "hear" it. Know what I mean?

[poskonig]

10. I get what you're saying.

Edwards may have been saying it before, but it never stood out to me anyway until tonight.

[Blue_Roses]

13. Actually, I hadn't

heard it or shall I say, it didn't "resonate" until the last few days. Mainly when he was on "Face the Nation." I liked Edwards from the start way back before this thing got so caotic, however, somewhere in the midst of negative attacking on other candidates, it just didn't "sound-out" and it sure wasn't being heard. How could it with all the bickering going on.

There are still a couple of good candidates and I continue to have a open mind to them as well, but as someone who has lived in the south all my life, this message will go over well with southern voters.

[SangamonTaylor]

12. yeah, this is the cornerstone of his campaign.

Every time I see Edwards he mentions this concept, Two Americas. It resonates, and it is a message that everyone can sink their teeth into.

It also helps that the actions that Edwards has proposed are all based on making one America based on hope for everyone.

The democratic party must be the party to bring America back together, and it wont wrok with a negative message. American's are optimists, we don't like admitting that things are wrong, but we will respond to making things better.

I especially like Edwards' new plan titled "Real Change for America's Families" available here: http://www.johnedwards2004.com/media/real-change-for-families.pdf

[calkooni]

14. Two Americas: the intelligent & the stupid

This article touches very close to the truth of what Two Americas stands for......


The S factor explains Bush's popularity

Monday, January 5, 2004

By NEAL STARKMAN
GUEST COLUMNIST

<<snip>>

It's increasingly obvious, for example, that none of the so-called theories can explain President Bush's popularity, such as it is. Even at this date in his presidency, after all that has happened, the president's popularity hovers at around 50 percent -- an astonishingly high figure, I believe, given the state of people's lives now as opposed to four years ago.

What can explain his popularity? Can that many people be enamored of what he has accomplished in Iraq? Of how he has fortified our constitutional freedoms with the USA Patriot Act? Of how he has bolstered our economy? Of how he has protected our environment? Perhaps they've been impressed with the president's personal integrity and the articulation of his grand vision for America?

<<snip>>

The answer, I'm afraid, is the factor that dare not speak its name. It's the factor that no one talks about. The pollsters don't ask it, the media don't report it, the voters don't discuss it.
I, however, will blare out its name so that at last people can address the issue and perhaps adopt strategies to overcome it.
It's the "Stupid factor," the S factor: Some people -- sometimes through no fault of their own -- are just not very bright.
It's not merely that some people are insufficiently intelligent to grasp the nuances of foreign policy, of constitutional law, of macroeconomics or of the variegated interplay of humans and the environment. These aren't the people I'm referring to. The people I'm referring to cannot understand the phenomenon of cause and effect.

<<snip>>

I don't have a solution to this problem. To claim I did would belie my previous arguments. But I do have some modest suggestions that might provide a start for discussion: an intelligence test to earn the right to vote; a three-significantly-stupid-behaviors-and-you're-out law

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/155107_firstperson05.html