John Edwards Goes National (TIME Magazine)

[chimpymustgo]

From: MITCH FRANK/AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
Sent: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004

The official muse of John Edwards’ campaign is John Mellencamp. Edwards used to enter all his events to the strains of “Small Town,” but ever since the Des Moines Register endorsed him with the headline “His time is now,” the campaign has been using “Your life is now,” another Mellencamp tune. But Wednesday morning, at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, a historic black college, Edwards stormed into a rally as the school’s brass band trumpeted Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.” And the crowd was dancing. And as Edwards spoke, repeated “Amens” and “That’s right's" reverberated from the crowd. We’re not in Iowa or New Hampshire anymore.

Welcome to the national campaign. After his Orangeburg rally, Edwards boarded a plane and headed to Durant, Oklahoma. Next he landed in Tulsa, then Springfield, Missouri, before ending the day with a 10 pm rally at Blueberry Hill, a blues club in St. Louis. Just to guarantee he was exhausted during this trek, Edwards had arrived in Orangeburg from New Hampshire at 3 am the night before, gotten up at 5:30 and started a round of early morning radio interviews. You have to really want to be president to run for it.

-snip-

Edwards’ strategy for Feb. 3 is to win a few prizes and hope he and John Kerry are the only major candidates left standing. The Edwards campaign staff believes that their guy can beat the frontrunner in a one-on-one fight, but admit he will have a hard time getting attention if the field remains crowded. They’re encouraged by Howard Dean’s financial troubles this week. Having spent almost $40 million and reportedly having only $3 million left in the bank, the Dean campaign has frozen salaries and given up advertising in the Feb. 3 states. They’re holding their cash in reserve for Michigan and Washington state, which vote on Feb. 7, but if they don’t spend it now, they have little chance of winning any states on Tuesday. It’s a desperation strategy.

-snip-



http://www.time.com/time/election2004/article/0,18471,586142,00.html

******

Well the rubber is hitting the road (or the tarmac, as it were). Strategy. money, message - it's all got to come together now.

[jpgpenn]

1. Can you post his past experiences?

More so on issues that he has carried out directly effecting the kind of leadership he would bring to America.

[chimpymustgo]

2. Can you do your own research? You got a thread locked last night.

Do you think this makes your candidate look better? That Edwards supporters will run away? We've done our research, we've watched the debates - and WE LOVE WHAT WE SEE AND KNOW ABOUT JRE.

[jpgpenn]

3. well here now

It was locked but it appears to have been locked out by my wording ( hey at this point who really knows how to state a question here anymore ).

Many of us have issues we would like asked and answered by candidates. I looked for the answers, I din't find any. That is what an open discussion is about, people helping and sharing information and opinion to get clear messages thru.

Please don't attack me for trying to participate and further expand knowledge of a candidate and his past performance. If you could provide what I asked for it would be more then appreciated>

Thanks!

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jpgpenn]

5. thanks for your attempt again but

It appears like the same generic info that has been available at his site, items reported on here and superfical comments and opinions.

Hmmmm what would makes you come off with a demeaning comment like, " really, reading isn't hard" and "reading is fundemental". You seem to miss the fact this is exactly what I have tried to do but there is a problem, when trying to get detailed info on Edwards's experience there doesn't seem to be any! Most of the other candidates have extensive dealings in both domestic and world affairs. Hence the entire request for the info.

A quick glance at DU brings up various and extensive experiences for a many candidates. In Edwards case there only seems to be posts on his good looks, his being the son of a mill worker and other non detailed examples of the guys history.

[jenk]

6. does clark know anything except war?

Or will he stammer through note cards in the White House as well

[jpgpenn]

7. well considering...

The man holds masters degrees in Philosiphy, Economics, and Politics i'de say the answer to your question is a resounding YES!

[jenk]

8. yea, so does Bush

Clark is probably the least polished of all the candidates, he looks very awkward out there. he's said some silly, stupid things on the campaign trail, targeted civilians and tried to bomb the Russians. NO THANKS

Edwards in 04.

[jpgpenn]

9. Bush does also?

Please provide the link, this is news to me.

I wont even comment on those other smears you mentioned.

[jenk]

10. it's common knowledge

from Yale and Harvard, for Bush at least

Why should we trust America's future to an unpredictable hot head like Clark, who has never held public office before, and has no policy experience at all, having everything prepared for him on note cards by the clinton people.

[jpgpenn]

11. I wont address your smears but

You still have failed to post a link showing Bush with 3 masters degrees!

Having strong feeling towards your candidate is an positive trait. Willing to say anything to get a point across isn't!

[spooky3]

12. According to this website, Gen. Clark has ONE master's degree

http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm

"He holds a master's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar (August 1966-August 1968)."

Bush also has one master's degree, in business administration, from Harvard.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html

[jpgpenn]

17. This was my misread

but I think my point was still made. thanks for the clarification.

[Strelnikov_]

14. So, A First Term Senator and Lawyer With No Military . .

. . experience has been throughly vetted to handle a crisis situation better than a former NATO Supreme Commander/US Southern Command commander.

Right, got it.

I always thought that the MQ for supreme NATO commander that required him to be a "unpredictable hot head" was just a typo. Thank you for setting me straight.

[spooky3]

15. Clark has no service as an elected official, no work in the House or

the Senate where one has to learn the ropes and must negotiate with others, rather than command. This is especially challenging at a time when the Republicans control both houses. He has never built a business from the ground up. He has no experience with domestic and social issues, and no voting record for which he can now be held accountable. He has never had to wage an uphill campaign battle against a Republican incumbent in a Republican state, so hasn't had the chance to learn those skills yet. It is a very legitimate concern to ask whether he is knowledgeable and can be trusted on anything but his very impressive (to me) military record.

Still, I consider him very qualified, and I would GLADLY support him if he is the nominee. My point is that I find it ironic that some people who support the candidate with what can reasonably argued is the least experience that is relevant to the job as President are the ones raising the concerns about Edwards' lifetime of success. I would like to ask that you be willing to be as open-minded re: Edwards experience, as you are about Clark's experience.

Bush has more relevant experience than any of our candidates: Three years as pResident. Does that make him more qualified?

[jpgpenn]

16. Ok now your a lil off track

This thread was asking for info pertaining to Edwards not a comparison of candidates. Please start a new thread so this one can stay on topic . Thanks

[question everything]

13. Had a nice presentation on CBS this morning n/t