Edwards, what has he done

[douginmarshall]

Repost.

Someone please tell me what John Edwards has done as a Senator that tells you he will make a good president. I don't dislike him in fact I like a lot of what he says. I like a lot of what many people say that does not qualify them to be president. Has he been a great leader in the Senate?

I am a Clark supporter, that has not changed. I'm just trying to learn and I am open to new information, help me out.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. He voted for the IWR.

And, as far as I know, still supports the war.

[BootinUp]

3. hehe

I think he was looking for good stuff about Edwards.

[pezcore64]

7. lol

thats true tho!

isnt he the only one who says he doesnt regret voting yet and would do it again?

[Raya]

2. What could he do? Ist Term Senators are not in position to do anything but

assist senior senators.

[douginmarshall]

4. Why president? n/t

[For PaisAn]

5. Go figure?

Edwards has all the negative's that Kerry has and none of Kerry's positives. Neither are leaders.

[HFishbine]

6. He ignored this constituent

Not even a canned reply the few of times I wrote to or called him, including asking him not to vote for IWR and to support the Congressional Black Caucuses challenge of the Florida results.

Even when I submit canned letters, like from MoveOn, I get replies from my other representatives. Not Edwards though.

[HoosierClarkie]

8. Question

Was he busy getting a campaign together? I am serious.

[HFishbine]

10. If so, he's been busy for years

My first contact with him was in Dec. 1999, then in Jan. 2001, then the fall of 2002.

[jmoss]

22. All the negatives? Excuse me....!

What positives does a lifetime in the Senate, flip-flopping, and anti-government activities after Vietnam (check out a speech Kerry made in 1971) provide come debate & general election time.

What kind of positives does absolutely no experience as an elected official provide? (i.e. Clark)

Granted he's only served for 5 years in Senate. But John Edwards is on the Senate Intelligence commitee, the Judicial commitee, and the commitee on Labor & education. He fought for in Senate, and helped pass the Patient's bill of rights. Yes he voted for War resolution; so would have Clark if he were running. Our Senate, just as after 9/11, was trying to convey a message of unity.

It's very easy for Clark /or Dean to say they would have opposed the war. They didn't have to vote.

Furthermore, in terms of his constituents, Senator edwards has been VERY receptive to my emails, and I have several responses from him over the past couple of years:

(I would post one here, although it's not relevant to the primary--e.g, he was responding to my questions re. IDEA-reauthorization)

Edwards is my family's candidate. I urge others to see the good inherent in his candidacy.

[For PaisAn]

53. One word - Leadership

Clark & Dean have leadership/executive experience. Edwards & Kerry have legislative experience, no leadership experience.

[jmoss]

81. Then why are they both on the verge of dropping out?

Americans aren't accepting your argument in great enough numbers!

[For PaisAn]

84. What are you talking about?

Where do you have documentation that they are both on the verge of dropping out? They are no more dropping out than Edwards is. Americans are accepting Clark in greater numbers than Edwards so far. This was a post on the qualifications of Edwards vs other candidates, not on who you imagine may or may not be dropping out.

[jmoss]

100. sorry I spilled the beans 2 days ago...

press conference @ 3PM to confirm what his staffers were saying over the weekend. 1st or 2nd's in TN & VA or drop-out on wed.

[jmoss]

33. John edwards is not in the House

1st: What's the point of canned letters.

2nd: He's one of 100, not one of ~450. He's MUCH busier!

3rd: what was your question to you which you were expecting a response.

(I have recieved a 2 page letter via email, the most recent response to my letter/questionwas 1 week before Iowa, re. Special Education law now in the Senate).

[HFishbine]

37. Say what?

I'm perfectly aware that John Edwards is not in the house. What does that have to do with anything?

[jmoss]

51. I appologize for sounding crass. :-(

All do respect, memebers of the House, by design, can be more closely connected to all their constiuents. I'm assuming you really are from North Carolina. All I mean is that the House Members are in a constent cycle of fundraising, running for office, etc. I'm sure any Representative is able to connect with a higher percentage of their constituents.

I meant no disrespect. and obviously, I support my Senior Senator.

[HFishbine]

52. No apology necessary

I didn't think you were being crass, I just didn't get the point you were trying to make. Now I do, although I disagree. I have received replies to canned letters from Liddy Dole, but no replies to personal letters from Edwards.

Oh, and welcome to DU, BTW! :)

[jmoss]

77. Thanks

P.S. What did Senator Dole say?

[citizen snips]

68. He wrote me.

and I am in high school and he wrote a letter back to me.

[AP]

71. and Elzabeth Edwards has written to me and responded personally more than

once.

The people complaingin about Edwards's failure to respond might, in the interest of full disclosure, want to let us know that whether they wrote to Edwards about the IWR. This is a vote Edwards is asked about daily. People complaining about this vote KNOW Edwards's response to this question. That's why it makes more sense to complain about Edwards's failure to send a personalized response than to discuss the substance of the complaint.

[citizen snips]

73. Everbody I know personally. . .

who has written Edwards has received a response from him. I mean the only thing I can complain about is him takeing takeing three weeks to respond to my letters but really that is nothing to complain about.

[jmoss]

79. I agree, he's kept his promises to us

Plus+ if you look into his public service record, he has personally visited all 100 counties in NC, after being Faircloth.

[mmonk]

99. I respect he responded to me.

That is what a good senator does. We are polar opposites on the Iraq war, it's rationale, and it's importance to overall policy outlook. Therefore, I do not support him because it matters a great deal to me.

[AP]

9. When Gant ran for Senate, the Helms machine "broke" the voting machines

in black districts. Black voters lined up all day to vote. At 11 pm the Helms machine counted the number of people in line and realized that there were enough to change the outcome in the election. So they called the election at 11pm. Those voters stood in line for another hour even though the election had been called.

So the first thing Edwards did as a Senator was to give those people who stood in line a voice.

Elizabeth Edwards said that John Edwards ran for the Senate because they looked at Faircloth and his business friendliness and Clinton hatred and said, "we have to take that guy out."

So that's the second think he did as a Senator.

The third thing he did was that he helped bring a close to the impeachment, preserving Democracy. He was one of the judge/advocates who cross-examined witnesses and decided on the course of the proceedings. So, again, he preserved Democracy.

However, in the 6 years Edwards will have been in the senate, how many will have been in a Senate controlled by Dems? Three? Two and a half? So, the power of the fillibuster is all he'll have been able to exercise as a Senator.

What has Kerry done with the power and seniority? I don't know. However, I think Edwards has made a couple stands for Democracy that tell us where his presidency is going.

[Red_Storm]

11. Like voting for the Patriot Act...........

Was that one of those "stands for democracy" taken by Edwards?

[AP]

13. "Patriot Act" = red meat for the left. But what does it mean to you?

Only Fiengold didn't vote for it.

A Democrat voting against that would certainly lose the GE on the grounds they didn't care about national security. Why throw away a chance to win on that. Instead, Democratic Senators put the sunset provision in and watered down everything they could that was bad.

Did you read the senate debate on the Patriot Act? Even Feingold admitted that it was needed and that the democrats did a commendable job of making it more acceptable.

Why do we criticize Dems for behaving brilliantly in the course of evading minefields placed before them by Republicans?

[Red_Storm]

21. Kucinich voted against it..............

but then again DK puts principles ahead of politics......something Edwards knows nothing about.........

[AP]

23. A luxury for a man who knows he won't win and is a message candidate.

[HFishbine]

27. Yeah, come on people, don't you get it?

To beat the republicans we have to be like the republicans. Geez! It's not that hard to understand.

[AP]

29. How is it "like Republicans" to beat them?

[HFishbine]

34. Oh, I see

Beating them is the distinction. Now I get it.

[AP]

40. We're running for president of AMERICA

not president of the left, and the rules which have alwasy applied still apply in 2004.

[no name no slogan]

78. Won't win WHAT?

He was running again for his House seat in 2002, and he won that one with 75% of the vote.

Not to mention, DK was DRAFTED to run for President. He only decided to run after thousands of letters and emails encouraged him to stand up and offer a real alternative to the Harvey Milquetoasts who were all too happy to go along with ShrubCo.

The only reasons Edwards has received any attention to date is because #1) He's a Senator from a Southern State; #2) He's the perfect media-friendly candidate, who's neither too liberal nor overly conservative-- the perfect "centrist" who'll go along with the flawed status quo; and #3) He looks good on camera and has a nice speaking voice.

His positions are virtually indistinguishable from those of Kerry, Liebermann or Dean, despite the fact that he takes 168 pages of campaign material to define them. He brings no new ideas to the table, other than those Clinton/Gore brought in the 1990s.

Sorry this sounds so harsh, but as a Kucinich supporter I am sick and tired of him being marginalized as a so-called "message candidate" who "can't win", DESPITE the fact that he represents the viewpoint of the platform of the Democratic Party.

[jmoss]

82. That's right! Easy for an outsider to commend their own..

20-20, hindsight vision.
Edwards, does not try to debate about things that pre-date his term in Senate. Much easier for a lone member of congress to criticize the other House. Much easier for a Liberal governor from New England to holistically criticize the entire Federal Machine. Much easier for a non-partisan General, who voted for Reagan & Bush, to now try and simultaneously prove his new-found faith to the democratic party, by just criticizing the Republican Administration AND everyone else vying for the Dem. nomination.

Edwards & Kerry are the only 2 Candidates that make ANY sense to have on our ticket! You'll see.....

[jmoss]

28. he had to vote!

John edwards stands for supporting common people in the courtrooms. He was a civil-case lawyer by specialty. Once again, Clark & Dean did NOT have to vote on any of these "3rd rail issues"!!

John Edwards has just enough experience in the Senate to know what's going on, but to not have developed a past that can be terribly muck-raked by the opponents come November. I urge you all to strongly consider supporting him!! :-)

[Red_Storm]

31. DK had to vote too !

and he voted with his conscience instead of basing his vote on political considerations like Edwards.......don't try to justify Edward's vote ........YOU CAN'T !!!!!!!!

[AP]

43. DK likes Edwards a lot, by the way.

[jmoss]

101. I like DK. I like the State of Ohio, too...

Just not comfortable supporting DK, all the way. I'm more comfortable with Governors, VP's & Senators...that's all.

That Leaves Kerry, Edwards, Dean.

Gave Dean a chance. But he's always come across too querky (BEFORE IA)

I can relate to Edwards. Graduated from the same school as him-UNC-Chapel Hill.

I'll stand behind Kerry....slightly grudgingly....but without fail.

[jmoss]

80. I don't have to justify it!

DK only has to please one congressional district in Ohio. Even within one State, things can swing very far from right to left, depending on the local make-up.

I admire DK. In the debate on FOXnews, he NAILED the questions regarding education-reform, NCLB & IDEA. I'm a teacher, by the way.

But He is not a strong national candidate. Not yet. I would love to see him win one of Ohio's Senate Seats at some point.

Edwards makes sense nationally. Sure, you can choose a left-wing candidate such as DK or HD. As I tell anyone who harps on the kind of issues you are....PLEASE just make sure you don't abandon the Democrats come November.

......Even though Clark, DK, & HD will not be on the ticket.

[AP]

12. Who else has done anything like this?

[AP]

14. What stands for democracy/giving a voice to the oppressed have Cl/Ke

have made/done?

Anything ever?

[AP]

16. Kerry has gotten RICHER every year in politics. Edwards took pay cut to

give people a voice.

[jmoss]

25. amen!!

Yes.!!!!! :-)

[DancingBear]

30. Symbolism

Wow, a trial lawyer worth millions taking a pay cut in the Senate.

"Sorry Liz - dog food again tonight - my people need me!"

Geesh.

[HFishbine]

15. And don't forget

- He voted against rasing the minimum wage by $1
- Voted for the IWR (still says we were right to attack)
- Voted to allow 14 year-olds to be subjected to the death penalty
- Voted for the Patriot Act. (Served on the committee that wrote it)
- Failed to vote against a single Bush military budget (which are now funding the development of battlefield nuclear weapons).
- Voted to nearly double the number of H-1B visas to allow more foreign workers into the US.
- Voted to change bankruptcy laws to make it easier for creditors to force debtors into a payment plan.

[AP]

17. And he's voted against Bush more than anyone else running, and has a

coherent political identity that revolves around flowing power down to people who work for a living.

[AP]

19. And who do you support? What stands have they made for flowing

power down and out?

Anything?

[HFishbine]

24. Edwards' record

belies your rhetoric.

[AP]

38. Who do you support? No similar examples?

[On the Road]

35. He Voted Against Raising the Minimum Wage by $1?

That seems like a pretty simple decision for someone who talks about poverty as much as Edwards does. Does he believe in eliminating poverty through unregulated labor markets?

I don't want to take this out of context. Any Edwards supporters who can put this in a more favorable light?

[AP]

41. What do you want to bet that was a pro-fascist bill throwing a bone to

left?

[On the Road]

48. Well, That Would be a Good Explanation

and that does happen quite a lot. Thank you.

I would still like to understand more, but it's not an automatic stain on his record. I've heard Edwards speak about poverty, but I don't know his legislative record. In general, the South is not very progressive.

[DemDogs]

85. Wrong

He has never voted against a raise in the minimum wage unless there was a poison pill (outlaw abortions, etc.) attached. I don't think he has ever done it anyway.

Clark supporters, you need to stop this. I know your candidate is down, but this is ugly behavior.

[colonel odis]

18. great post.

i'm really surprised by all the questions about edwards, as well as their tone.

they keep asking what edwards has ever done as senator. what has clark ever done in politics? he did great things in his job -- being a general. but he's never held office. so edwards has 6 years on him.

what else has john edwards done? he's succeeded. he came from podunkville and went to the top of his profession. he's done so much more than bush had even dreamed about doing at this stage of his life. he'd be a quantum leap ahead of what's in the white house now.

[AP]

20. Thanks. As far as I'm concerned, no candidate has been a bigger hero

for Democracy than Edwards.

Rather than criticize him, I challenge other to come up with a single example of any of the other candidates ever doing anything heroic which gave people a democratic voice which had been denied them.

[HFishbine]

26. Two Words

Al Sharpton.

[AP]

32. Some more words:

Al Sharpton has never represented anyone democratically, ever.

He's never been elected to anything.

[HFishbine]

36. Okie Dokie

If you're implying that Edwards did more to advance people's equal participation in American life than Al Sharpton, I'll happily let you assert that for all to see.

[AP]

42. He's done more to give them a Democratic voice in gov't. Yes.

He is representing the people who were shut out by the Helms machine.

What has Sharpton done in representative gov't that compares?

[HFishbine]

45. "What has Sharpton done in representative gov't that compares?"

That question speaks volumes.

[AP]

46. He has never been elected to anything. How can you think so highly about

Sharpton, but have total disregard for those voters who stood in line wanting to vote in black precincts in NC who never got to cast a vote?

[AP]

47. Furthemore, are you voting for Sharpton then?

[HFishbine]

50. Source?

I voted for Edwards in that election and I don't remember hearing anything like what you are describing. Of course, it could have gotten by me, but surely something like that would have made the news. Do you have a link or source that documents this?

[AP]

55. You don't know about Helms dirty tricks in 90?

The story about Gantt was told to me by a NC'ian. Here's what I found with Google:

a reminder of who Helms was (psst, a fascist and a racist): http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11375

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/october96/helms_10-18.html

http://www.fair.org/press-releases/helms.html

And, election fraud in 1990:

Republicans, however, launched still another ballot-security program in North Carolina in 1990, during the heated U.S. Senate contest between Republican Jesse Helms and Democrat Harvey Gantt. The state board of elections had released figures showing a significant increase in black voter registration throughout the state, and The Charlotte Observer had conducted a poll showing that Gantt had an advantage of 8 percentage points over Helms. To counter Gantt's lead, the Republicans adopted a ballot-security program targeting minority voters.

In late October, party operatives mailed out approximately 81,000 postcards to households with at least one registered Democrat in selected precincts throughout the state. Black voters were nearly 94 percent of the registered voters within the selected precincts. The cards were marked "address correction requested" and advised voters -- falsely -- that in order to vote, they must have resided in the precinct for the previous 30 days. (State law, in fact, made various provisions for voting by those who moved from one precinct to another before election day.) The card further warned that it was a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison to give false information about residence to election officials. A week later, a second mailing of 44,000 similar postcards was sent exclusively to black voters in the state. As part of the ballot-security scheme, the Republican Party planned to use any returned postcards to challenge voters on election day.

After the election -- which Helms won -- the Justice Department sued the North Carolina Republican Party and the Helms for Senate Committee. The defendants, without admitting any wrongdoing, entered into a consent decree in which they agreed not to undertake similar ballot-security programs in the future without court approval.

I was involved in a voting-rights lawsuit tried last summer in South Carolina over at-large elections in Charleston County. A parade of witnesses in the case testified about the Ballot Security Group organized in the county by Republicans, which for two decades targeted black Democratic voters. Truet Nettles, a former state magistrate judge and a member of the county election commission throughout the 1980s and 1990s, explained how the group operated to deny blacks assistance at the polls: "In the African-American precincts, the poll managers who were ... nominated ... by the Republican Party would give the third degree to 'Why do you need assistance?' 'Can't you read and write? And didn't you just sign in? And you know how to spell your name, why can't you just vote by yourself?'" As a result of "all this hoopla," said Nettles, "some of the voters said, 'Oh, never mind,' and they just turned around and walked out the door."

http://www.prospect.org/print-friendly/print/V13/23/mcdonald-l.html

1990: The North Carolina Senatorial race between Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt was marred not only by an overtly racist pro-Helms ad but by a postcard sent out to voters in predominantly black districts the week before the election. The postcard implied that anyone who had moved within the past month would be arrested if they attempted to vote. Many African American voters who were unintimidated by the postcard faced stumbling blocks not often encountered in the predominantly white precincts, including broken machines, long lines, and openly hostile Republican "ballot security teams," who showed up at more than a dozen heavily black precincts. 

http://www.liberalslant.com/pt102103.htm

A first hand account from Duhrham:
Gregory G. Woodbury <[e-mail]>
Mon, 19 Nov 90 17:52:18 GMT
Here in Durham NC, we had a rather interesing election :-)
It seems that nearly half of the voting machines in the county went
haywire and would not work correctly on election day! This happened
early and we had a court ruling that the polls stay open to 10pm and
that paper ballots be made available in all precincts to those who
wanted them.
http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/10.64.html

other good stuff:

http://ericksonhistory.blogspot.com/2002_12_08_ericksonhistory_archive.html

[HFishbine]

57. Oh

I thought you had been referring to the Edwards/Faricloth race. So no source to document black voters left standing in line to vote at 11PM? And Edwards did what exactly to help?

[AP]

58. Source: a NC'ian plus the corroborating evidence here.

The NC'inian who told me the story said that the disenfranchisement of black voters was something that Edwards and his son had talked about and motivated Edwards to run in '98.

Are you denying that the Helms machine disenfranchised black voters?

(A to your Q: Edwards beat the helms machine to help.)

Who's your candidate and what has he done remotely similar to enfranchising disenfranchised voters?

Do you have any examples at all?

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

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

[AP]

61. Clueless? Sharpton has never been elected anything!!!

And if you want to make an argument that Sharpton has given a democratic voice to people, make the argument. Don't attack me as clueless.

I'm willing to engage in a debate about this, and I don't know how debating me furthers that debate.

[AP]

64. Furthermore, he's the resident of a city which elected a Republican mayor

in a state which elected a Republican governor a couple times in a row, both of whom he supported.

So, again, I ask, how has he done more to give previously disenfranchised Democratic voters a Democratic voice?

Furthermore, are you voting for Sharpton?

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

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

[AP]

67. I just told you something about him: Edwards beat the helms machine

in NC to enfranchise previously disenfranchised black voters.

Sharpton spoke favourably about the Republican running for mayor in his city (right?) and the Republican who is governor of his state (right?).

[SangamonTaylor]

39. just a couple things that he has done

His record of bipartisan work is impressive in every regard, especially as a freshman Senator!

all quotes available here: http://edwards.senate.gov/issues.html

Senator Edwards was a chief sponsor of the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, strong and far-reaching patient protection legislation that passed the Senate in 2001.


On improving our national security:

"Terrorism has long been the greatest threat to our national security. That is why I worked to improve our nation's security before the attacks of September 11. Congress has moved quickly after the attacks to shore up our nation's defenses.

Legislation I helped write improved airport security, made our seaports safer, reduced our vulnerability to bioterrorism, and gave law enforcement agencies the tools to keep known terrorists from entering the country.

I am a cosponsor of legislation to make nuclear shipments safer with new resources to train emergency responders, and new standards for container strength, shipment escorts and emergency coordination.

I am also working to pass legislation to fight a new threat to our country -- cyberterrorism. We live in an era when sophisticated terrorists can do more damage with a keyboard and a modem than they can with a bomb.

As a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees, I have studied the weaknesses in our terrorism shield and have proposed a number of reforms to improve security for Americans. These include establishing a new domestic intelligence agency to fight terrorist cells in our midst, beefing up security along our borders, making terrorist targets less vulnerable to attack and developing a better emergency warning system."


On improving health care:

"I am an original member of a bipartisan team of senators and representatives pushing for meaningful law to protect patients. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the patient's bill of rights, strong and far-reaching patient protection legislation that I wrote with Senator John McCain

The legislation guarantees that people in HMOs and other insurance plans get the health care they pay for. It guarantees patients better access to needed medical specialists and emergency room treatment. It empowers patients by giving them the right to appeal insurance company decisions and hold their HMO accountable. The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act has broad support, and I hope it becomes law soon.

Also, I worked with Senators Susan Collins, John McCain and Charles Schumer to craft a bill to bring down the cost of prescription drugs by allowing generic drugs to come to market sooner. Pharmaceutical companies work hard to develop new drugs, and they deserve to profit from their innovation. However, too many pharmaceutical companies take advantage of loopholes in patent law to unfairly keep cheaper generic alternatives off the market for years and even decades. By closing those loopholes, my bill would save American consumers more than $60 billion on prescription medicine over the next decade.

North Carolina leads the nation in its quality of hospitals and medical schools. Unfortunately, many rural parts of the state don't have access to this high quality of care. I cosponsored legislation to promote telemedicine, promising new technology that allows rural areas to be connected to medical experts hundreds of miles away.

An estimated 1.9 million women are assaulted every year in this country. Domestic violence has devastating effects on its victims. I introduced legislation to encourage research to help women and health professionals better identify, prevent and treat physical and psychological abuse. The legislation also would improve mental health and substance abuse services for women affected by abuse."


On protecting the Environment:

"North Carolina has some of the most stunning scenery in America, but it also has some of the dirtiest air. Breathing in the Great Smoky Mountains is as bad for your lungs as living in a big city.
I have led the congressional opposition to the administration's plans to weaken the Clean Air Act. Current law requires that when old power plants and other industrial polluters expand their operations, they have to install up-to-date clean air technology. The Bush administration, however, has made major new loopholes in the law - allowing plant owners to pollute more. I held public hearings on this issue and am working to marshal opposition to these misguided plans.

I have also fought to secure funding for environmental projects from western North Carolina to the coast. I introduced legislation to make the Blue Ridge Mountains a National Heritage Area, this designation would set aside as much as $10 million to preserve and develop the mountains as an historic and scenic destination.

I also introduced legislation to offer a tax credit to dry cleaners who use environmentally-friendly technology and have fought for funding to research new waste treatment technology to help our hog farmers clean up waste lagoons."


On preserving our privacy:

"After September 11 our country has to be more vigilant in its fight against terror, but we can do so without compromising the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
New technological tools that bolster security can also protect individual privacy if they are implemented thoughtfully and deliberately. With the support of Senator Orrin Hatch, I have proposed an independent commission to examine video and Internet surveillance, X-ray screening, facial identification and other investigative tools and suggest ways to preserve privacy.

Rapid advances in technology have enabled private businesses to compile vast amounts of data on their customers, eroding our ability to keep our personal information private. I have proposed legislation to prevent the misuse of information from financial and health insurance records and to protect details about your telephone calls and Internet surfing habits that ought to be private. I am a proud cosponsor of the Consumer Privacy Protection Act. This law would require businesses to notify consumers before collecting personal information about them, and empower consumers to decide whether or not that information can be used or sold."

[rucky]

44. The Kerry people are LOVING this Clark/Edwards feud

Any more of this & Kerry's likely to take a huge chunk of the South as well. Wouldn't a dogpile on Kerry leave enough support in the South for both Edwards & Clark?

[AP]

49. Edwards wins this debate. Clark drops out. Kerry and Edwards can compare

visions.

We'll see if Kerry loves it then.

[Tweed]

63. I think they have already picked Kerry...

If you look at the media, they are already pitting it as Edwards against Kerry and Edwards STILL can't get ahead. If people actually reported on Clark, maybe they would like his message.

[AP]

65. With Clark and Dean in the race, Clark lying about Edwards's tax plan and

Dean not releasing his voters so they can make a real choice between insiders and outsiders, and with the media looking for a match-up Bush can win, Edwards will (I admit) have a tough time.

Clark and Dean come to their senses, and we have a real debate about Democratic ideals up to March 2, there could be a different landscape.

[anti-bush]

54. Try starting here:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/politics/5126113.htm

Two-thirds of the way through his first term, Edwards is on record with hundreds of votes on everything from abortion to war. In four years he introduced 48 bills and co-sponsored almost 400 others. But there's little legislation that bears his name.

...snip...

Norm Ornstein, resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, sees more substance. "Any veteran Senate watcher," he says, "would say Edwards has made a significant mark."

...snip...

Of the 48 bills and resolutions of which Edwards was prime sponsor, more involved health care and security than anything else. Only three passed the Senate.

Aides say important parts of others, particularly involving homeland security, were written into other measures that passed.

Edwards' major successes have come when he's teamed with Republicans.

Last year the Senate passed a bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to reduce prescription drug costs by boosting generic competitors. It failed in the House.

...snip...

In Washington, effectiveness isn't necessarily measured by how many laws bear your name.

...snip...

"It was clear that he knew the law, the cases, the nuances in a way that you would only find among the resolute experts," Ornstein says. "And he handled himself extraordinarily well on the floor. For someone who's been there only a short period of time, he established himself as a leader."


Read on if you want more than the snippets I selected.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/politics/5126113.htm

[SangamonTaylor]

56. exactly. well stated. n/t

[Tweed]

60. He's run for President and he is from the South

Stop being so harsh on the man! He is so cute! He will beat Bush because he is handsome and from the South. Wait a minute... there are a lot of people that are handsome and from the South... Oh dear, maybe this Edwards for President thing was a mistake...

[AP]

62. They guy is the complete package. Of course, if you want to lose, nominate

someone else.

[DancingBear]

70. AP - a serious question

I spent about a year in northern NC recently, and befriended a man whose ex-wife was very active in NC politics (on a national level) before she moved to Michigan. He/she are both ADAMANT that Edwards was in deep trouble with regard to re-election to the Senate, and was considered a "pretty boy" Senator by much of NC.

Both of these folks are long time Dems, and both have deep deep roots in NC, so I take their comments under advisement. How was/is Edwards perceived in his home state? Aside from the two aforementioned folks, I heard little else positive/negative about him during my time there, but I will say that politics was not a daily subject.

(Let's get my biases out of the way now - I am of the belief that he adds nothing to the ticket at either end, as he will not help in carrying the south due to his relative obscurity in the Senate. Oh yea, that whole trial lawyer/mill worker thing has gotten reallllly old in a hurry).

Divest yourself from the campaign for a moment, and put on your "regular guy" hat - how is Edwards viewed by those who know him best? Are my friends wrong?

[AP]

72. People who care about race and class in NC see him as a hero.

And I know this from first-hand experience. But nobody thinks the Helms machine has been totally dismantled.

There's no way Edwards could fight against BOTH Bush AND the Helms machine. Both are too powerful and sophisticated.

There is no doubt in my mind that focussing on one or the other, Edwards could win.

His numbers in NC get better and better every week.

Another thing to remember is that it was the black vote that got Edwards elected. The North Carolina Dem party is one of the most dysfunctional state parties in the country, thanks to helms neutering them for years. They are more of hindrance than a help, and probably see Edwards as an outsider who doesn't play by their (losing) rules. (Somewhere here at DU after the 2002 election, someon wrote a little essay about how the head of the state party is a former Republican who seemed to be doing more to hurt Dems than help them.) Edwards is running outside the party system in NC, which is his strenght in many respects, but also a weakness when it comes to impressing people like your friends.

It's also a strength in terms of getting elected president. He'll owe no machine anything for his success, and will be responsible directly to the American public, in much the same way that JFK could ignore the DC machine (and the rules LBJ played by) and directly appeal to the public to do the right thing.

[DancingBear]

74. I'm missing something here

Are you saying that he could have won re-election if he hadn't decided to run for President?

BTW, both the folks I made mention of are long-time players in the Civil Rights movement, and neither one speak highly of Edwards. They find him to be insincere, at best (they use the word "plastic"), which is why I posed the question to you. They care DEEPLY about race/class issues, so I will argue that that argument falls flat, at least in this case.

You speak of his numbers getting better - what numbers? Presidential numbers? One would think that would have been artificially high with a native son to begin with. How low were they to begin with?

You might be making my friends argument for me. :)

[AP]

76. Yes. Look at him now. He's the legitimate contender vs Kerry after coming

from nowhere.

He's obviously a brilliant campaigner, which he also proved in '98.

I can't think of any reason he wouldn't be able to do that had he focussed only on NC.

Give me your friend's email address (or tell them to get a hotmail account if they want to be anonymous), and I'll have a discussion with them. I find it hard to believe that anyone who cares about race wouldn't see what Edwards did after those Gantt races as heroic. I know one person from NC who cares deeply about race and thinks of Edwards as a hero -- he was very sullen after 90 and 96 and thought NC would never enter the 20th century.

The Raleigh N&O has a couple polls traking his favorability rating in NC and they've gotten better. He has beaten back every bit of spin the Republicans have thrown at him.

[DancingBear]

83. I can't say I follow NC politics religiously

but you speak often of this "heroic" effort by Edwards. What is so heroic about being a Democrat and trying to remove a Republican from office by running a Democratic campaign? I mean, isn't that kind of the idea?

Big question - could he (Edwards) carry NC? I think probably not - too much Helms and Bush. (qualifier - what were the numbers in the 00 race in NC re: Bush/Gore?) As for SC - forget it. The rest of the south? Don't think so. I mean, how many times can you make the same speech? You do know I am getting to dislike mill workers, don't you? :)

How can he take the "national security" issue away from Bush? What are his strategies for doing so? Right now, I don't see them. All I see is a guy with one hell of a stump speech, and that, come November, ain't gonna feed the bulldog.

BTW, i will ask my friends if they'd like to discuss the issue with you. If they say yes (and it may take a while for me to reach them), I'll forward your email info to them, if that's OK. You'll be surprised, I think. :)

Oh, and if they say no, they really do exist. Honest. I spent two months teaching my friend how to build hand-cut dovetailed drawers. :)

[AP]

86. Actually, I haven't spoken often enough about this.

A NC'ian told me this story about two weeks ago. I wish I had known about it earlier.

And what's so heroic about that? Well, no other NC dems who had the chance were stepping up to the plate because of the power of the helms machine. Edwards stepped up and took the race VERY seriously. He worked harder for those people than he worked for paying clients and left NOTHING to chance. I've worked for several candidates who have given up when they were closer in the polls than Edwards was to Faircloth two weeks out. I've worked for candidates who started asking the staff if they had connections which would help get a job with one month to go when they were behind.

Edwards fought to victory.

Again, I think you just need to look at where Edwards is today in this race to know that he could win NC if he chose to focus on that. Edwards is also polling in a way to really suggests he could win states like LA, OK, SC (all which have elected Dems statewide in the last couple years). He's their kind of Dem.

You ask "how can you take national security away from Bush." I say how can you run on national security as your main issue as a Dem? Edwards clearly has the capacity to fram the election in terms that are winners for Dems, and not losers.

I look forward to hearing from your friends.

[spooky3]

87. Maybe we should call him "Rocky" Edwards.

And let him use a new theme song. And, say, when is that PA primary again?

[DancingBear]

92. You run on national security if you are Wes Calrk

Or, to a lesser extent, John Kerry. With 200Mil staring at you, you don't get to frame the debate unless you have the winning hand. Sorry, but the idea of Edwards using Millworker 101 against Bush is almost laughable.

As I've said many times before, Edwards will make a great President - in 8 years. Why he thought his time was now escapes me, but he must have had his reasons. He is of no help as the VP, so let him grow as a Presidential candidate over the next number of years, and we'll see. I think he has potential.

Seeing the VA and TN results coming in, it should be clear to both our sides that the handwriting, if not on the wall, is pretty damn close to it.

[AP]

98. Sorry, most Americans think Dems are miserable on national security

even when you run a Democrat with military experience.

Carter was a Naval Academy graduate and an actor still beat him because people thought Carter was screwing up in Iran.

[spooky3]

69. Does keeping unqualified wingnuts out of Federal judgeships matter to you?

Despite being a Senator in the minority party, he did everything possible to keep people like Pickering, Estrada, and Brown off the bench, and generally succeeded. Check it out.

[SangamonTaylor]

75. yep. He has always fought for judges who will uphold civil rights

and he was one of very few Democrats in the Senate who had the nerve to stand up against Pickering et al.

[jpgpenn]

88. NOTHING!

The man has NO experience at anything deal with the leadership of the greatest nation on this earth!

[AP]

89. He's a veteran of American life, from age 0-22 as it's REALLY lived by

most Americans, and from age 22-50 in a way that should be available to every American no matter what kind of family they're born into.

[jpgpenn]

90. and I like many want a LEADER!

not a high precetage Trail Lawyer with NO experience to lead the country in either domestic or world affairs. You can thank the DNC, Repukes and media for throwing Edwards name all over the place for the sole purpose of knocking Clark outa the race. Clark was totally ignored and blackballed.

[AP]

91. I want Edwards to represent me.

[jpgpenn]

93. you don't mind the 40%?

[Padraig18]

94. Do I detect some bitterness?

John edwards is just as well-qualified to be POTUS as Wes Clark, John Kerry or Howard Dean, e.g. . He has sound judgment, and at bottom, that's what a president must have.

[citizen snips]

97. There is a lot of bitterness. . .

against Edwards now.

[jpgpenn]

95. I'll say it again, He has done NOTHING!

[AP]

96. Kerry, Edwards, Dean and Clark have done very different things with their

lives, and I don't know how you can say that what Clark has done with his life makes him the only one who's qualified to be president.

I happen to think that Edwards's experiences make him uniquely qualified to deal with the exact problme which is threatening America's future existence: the transfer of power to a few people at the top.