Blogging Edwards' speech in MI tonight

[JNelson6563]

http://www.michiganliberal.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8711

<snip>
The world needs to hear from the President of the US - they need to hear that America is not a place, it's an idea. That idea is equality and diversity. That's who we are. I mean every kind of diversity. We don't just tolerate it, we embrace it. The world doesn't believe that about us now. I've spent a huge amount of my time traveling. The rest of the world believes that we are at war with the Muslims. They think we're selfish, and a bully. That has to change. We have to do things that aren't just in our self-interest.

When the crisis comes, the world has to rally around us. But for that to happen, the world must see as a good place, with trustful leadership. When I'm the president, one of the first things I'll do is to close Gitmo.

We should be the light. We should be the country that everyone says "We should be like Amercia"

Right now there's a genocide going on in Sudan. !00,000's of people raped, murdered, etc. The Sudanese govt is engaged in genocide. Let's see this thru the eyes of the rest of the world. This is what they see - years ago, the most powerful country in the world declared a genocide was happening, but then they stepped back and let it happen.
There are millions of children being born in Africa with AIDS, and the richest nation in the world stands by and watches it happen. We need to do something. We need to be strong, but the world needs to see that we understand the responsibility we have to humanity.

Then's there Iraq. American needs to leave Iraq - NOW. There's a reason the Democrats won in 2006, like Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow were re-elected and put in charge - because people want out of Iraq - now.

I want to be very clear. You can see right now where this headed. Btw, this is not the first surge Bush has called for in Iraq. This bill is going to be submitted to GWB. If he veto's it - then it is GWB who is not funding the troops, not Congress. We need to stand strong and firm, absolutely. I voted for this war, and I was wrong, and I have to live with that. You have two great Senators who voted against it. They were right and I was wrong. We need an orderly transisition out of Iraq. Iran is a Shiite country in a Sunni world - the last thing they want is a broader Middle Eastern conflict.

We are now at $500B and counting in Iraq. Iraq is important, but we have to understand that Iraq is a part of a bigger puzzle. We need to be that example for the rest of the world. It's not just what we do over there - it's also what we do here. We live in a country that is emitting 25% of the world's greenhouse gases. How can we ask other countries to do their part when we're not doing ours. We have to demonstrate our responsibilty to ourselves and the rest of the world.

<snip>

I've read the whole blog, sounds like it was a really good speech.

Julie

[demnan]

1. It's very similar to two other speeches I've heard him give

one before he declared and one at fund raiser at a D.C. lawfirm.

I'll tell you one thing, he has a lot of money, if he just wanted to, he could have just enjoyed himself for the rest of his life, but he really believes in what he wants to do. After 2004 he traveled the world, he deepened his knowledge, he believes in restablishing our good name in the world. I really think he would make the best President and that's why I support him.

[JNelson6563]

2. You make a good point

...he has a lot of money, if he just wanted to, he could have just enjoyed himself for the rest of his life, but he really believes in what he wants to do.

Valid point.

I look forward to hearing the feedback from friends who were there.

Julie

[iamjoy]

3. Another Good Point

to bring up when some one wants to bitch about his house or expensive haircuts is this. He could have just sat back and enjoyed the good life he had worked so hard to attain. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the rewards of one's labor. But John Edwards is not just a "pretty boy."

He founded a Center on Work, Poverty and Opportunity at UNC. He is encouraging his supporters to participate in a program called "One Corps" in which people provide service to their community. Something seems to have changed in John Edwards since 2003/2004. He somehow seems less vibrant than he did then. But, he also seems to have some gravitas. It's like he matured, except he wasn't really immature then. I don't know.

[Clark2008]

14. And, exactly, what has that center done?

What are its accomplishments?

http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/532901.html

So far, nothing much but to fuel his own campaign and POSSIBLY (to be fair, the jury is still out on this) be a boon to the University of North Carolina. But, no one knows exactly what it's doing.

[iamjoy]

18. It's A Big Problem

one that can't be solved in a few years (as one of the interviewees points out)

look, you could judge Edwards, and say he's an opportunist and that everything he has done for the past 10 years has been with the goal of being elected president. But then, couldn't we say that about any politician - everything they do is politically motivated and they don't care about people?

I'm going to try giving people the benenfit of the doubt. I'm going to take them at their word until they give me reason not to trust them.

[waiting for hope]

4. He truly wants to

help make this country a better place - I've been supportive of him since 2003. He has come a ways since then and I really think this country would be well served having John and Elizabeth in the White House.

K & R!

[Catchawave]

15. Me too, "Class of '03" :)

He makes me want to be a better person :loveya:

[Colobo]

5. He's a great guy, and will be a great president if he beats Obama.

[madfloridian]

6. There's a post at MyDD that links to the Colbert video...

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/4/21/145651/002

Colbert:"If Edwards cared about the poor he'd have stayed poor"

It is hilarious, and makes the people having all the faux outrage about his haircut look very foolish.

Thanks for the speech, Julie.

[JNelson6563]

8. I love Colbert, he'll be a great VP!

;-) :toast:

[Clarkie1]

9. There's a difference between being sucessful and wasting money out of sheer vanity. nt

[Clarkie1]

10. I just don't trust his judgment. nt

[1932]

11. I trusted his judgment less when he had that silly bowl cut.

I trust his judgment better now that it's obvious he knows what a good hair cut looks like.

[madfloridian]

12. So tiresome, so obvious, so reminiscent of another time.

Same song, second verse, should have gotten better, but its getting worse....same people targeting a different person.

Obvious.

[Sapphire Blue]

7. K&R; Thanks for posting this!

:kick:


Transformational Change For America And The World - JOHN EDWARDS 08

"I'm proposing we set a national goal of eliminating poverty in the next 30 years." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Silence is Betrayal - JOHN EDWARDS 08

[Clark2008]

13. Too bad he'll change his mind if a poll somewhere indicates that

he should.

:eyes:

[Catchawave]

16. Meow n/t

[madfloridian]

17. They're out in large numbers lately.

:crazy:

[Catchawave]

19. LOL, thanks mad :)

"...that which doth not kill me, makes me stronger..." :hug: