Why Edwards is the best candidate

[PurityOfEssence]

One of the mindsets that plagues society, and especially politics, is the "things are different now" concept. History teaches us things, and although it's equally silly to be blindly salaaming to past lessons, THINGS DON'T CHANGE ALL THAT MUCH.

America HATES intellectuals. America hates the East Coast Establishment. Much as America loves money, it doesn't so much like "old money" in its politicians; those of that group (like Junior) have to sidestep it.

America flirts with "knights in shining armor" like Clark, but it doesn't date them much. America runs around with and beds down with angry confronters like Dean, but it doesn't marry them, and the breakup's usually quite a spectacle. America loves its idealists like Kucinich, but nice guys tend to go notoriously unlaid. America likes to have kindly uncles like Gephardt around, but they're the supporting cast.

Edwards is leading man material; Kerry could only be as a stretch. Who would you cast as Kirk, and who would you cast as Spock? Cruelly, it's hardly even that esoteric a choice for most of the folks in the cheap seats.

Edwards has genuine star quality, both personally and on paper. He is the Horatio Alger "rags-to-riches" myth in three dimensions. His TV persona and demeanor are fabulous.

He can't be slagged for a vote against the '91 Gulf War, he can't be hammered for many other votes for which Kerry can. There's much less vulnerability on the contributor front. His middle name isn't "Forbes".

This is not a "slam Kerry" post; I like him. I just see too much Adlai Stephenson in there, and I know the bumpkins do too.

Edwards has better appeal among union voters, factory workers, southerners, rural voters (see his platform) and possibly among the facile traditional non-voters.

Now here's something that hasn't been discussed much: the concept of a new era in U.S. politics. Much as many are strident and entrenched in their affiliation, many are also sick of it all. conservatives who are more moderate will have much more trouble sidling up to an avowed lefty like Kerry (even though Edwards is as far to the left) than someone without all that baggage. Yes, that's a cruel reward for twenty years of stolid service, but it's reality. The new President will need to build bridges, and conservatives will have a need to bend too; bending with someone who's been demonized as an archetypal liberal will be harder for them to want to do and harder for them to do while looking over their shoulder.

Edwards will demolish Junior in a debate; it will be a movie moment the likes of which one rarely sees in politics. Kerry would beat him, but the intellectually lazy or challenged will feel that Junior's been subjected to the meanness of some professor. Edwards can out-folksy that horse-fearin' nobody from Connecticut in ways that I thirst to see.

Edwards is still on an upsurge--tripped up as he has been by Clark of late, and the Kerry crescendo in general--and AMERICA LOVES A STORY. Were he to start to move now, the media can't help but draw attention to him. It makes it a grand show, and people like that.

Think of this: Junior is the patron saint of the stupid; he shows that even the dim have a chance in this great land of ours. (Yep, massive horse shit there, seeing how he's bulletproof aristocracy by definition, but that's what they THINK.) Edwards shows that a backwoods bohunk can get to the top of the heap with hard work and a sweet disposition; that's got huge box-office.

He's the best candidate. Beyond that, I think he's the best person to take the helm at a nasty time like this; people cotton to this guy, and that's what this country needs.

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. electability AGAIN

[AP]

2. ...measured properly and not by things like this:

Betty Hammond of Stoddard, Wis., said Edwards' speech was great, but Edwards remains her second-favorite of the Democrats, behind John Kerry.

"I was impressed by the compassion he has for people without jobs, for the needy and the poor," Hammond said. "But I'm still leaning toward Kerry because he's getting more votes."

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2004/02/12/news/00lead.txt

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. Beautifully said!

:thumbsup:

[DjTj]

4. What kind of country do you want?

Do you want one where we are at war and must always have a military background?

Do you want one where the South is lost to the Republicans forever?

Do you want one where we are bitterly divided between Democrats and Republicans?

I think that Edwards is the only candidate that can do this and bring our country closer together. Only in that kind of environment will we make progress on social issues and will we be able to create a situation where Democrats can take back the Congress and continue to elect more and more leaders.

It's not just the election. It's the future.