Edwards: Get out of Iraq now

[JohnLocke]

Edwards: Get out of Iraq now
Democratic presidential candidate visits Fairfield
By Mark Newman--Ottumwa Courier
Friday, May 25, 2007
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FAIRFIELD--John Edwards wasn’t mincing words Friday.

The Democratic candidate for president was in town both to encourage supporters and try to convince those who are “shopping” for a candidate that he’s the right candidate for them.

Later, one audience member said he appreciated the fact that Edwards actually answered audience questions, rather than using them as a springboard into pre-rehearsed speeches about policy.

But Edwards started by saying how tired he was of what he called political slogans — “Global war on terror” and “Support our troops” — taking the place of action and good decisions.

He said President Bush uses these slogans to justify everything he does, from spying on American citizens to problems at Guantanamo Bay. He said lawmakers had a chance to put their foot down this week.

“Congress let us down yesterday,” he said.
(...)
Yet questioning the government, Edwards said, is being discouraged, and he doesn’t like it.

“Anybody who doesn’t agree with him is ‘not a patriot,’” he said, adding true patriots should be able to stand up and speak their minds.

He said he was disturbed by a “secret government” operating without the knowledge of the American people.

“No more government behind closed doors,” he said. “I would make sure the public knows what we’re doing.”
(...)
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Read the rest here.

[Redstone]

1. I'd be perfectly happy to have him as my President. In fact, I cannot think of ONE

Democratic candidate who I'd object to having as my President.

Redstone

[BluegrassDem]

2. What a convenient change of positions

for a former IWR SPONSOR!

[uppityperson]

3. Yeah, he can learn and change his mind based on new information.

What an awful thing to have in a president. :sarcasm:

[kster]

4. What about OUR right to see the votes being counted out in the open

for all to see, Edwards and ALL the other candidates REMAIN SILENT on that, I wonder why?

[uppityperson]

5. not saying he is perfect, but that he has shown he can learn.

Here is to hoping he learns more.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Why did it take him 3 years, a shift in the polls, and a lost election to learn?

I mean, damn....he would be considered a headstrong student on planet Earth! :eyes:

[Erika]

7. Why do you hate Edwards

He lost a child, his wife has cancer, and he's a class act.

[Clark2008]

8. The "class act" part is debatable.

But, to answer your question, a lot of us here don't like his voting record. It's not personal. Stop trying to make it so.

[FrenchieCat]

9. I don't "hate" Edwards....you simply hate what I have to say about him....

which is really your problem.

Many people lose many things. Life ain't easy for a whole lot of people.....people that are good, bad, and in between. The Elder Bushess lost a daughter. McCain has had a bout with cancer, has well as my mother and my 18 month old nephew. Reagan had Alzeimers. You have determined that Edwards is a "class act", which is your jugment call. I don't consider one's tragedies to tell the character of a person. It would be nice, and would make things easy, but it simply doesn't work that way.

I find Edwards' personal story touching, but not so touching that I don't judge him based on his actions in totality as a potential leader. If his personal tragedies tug at your heart strings and make you think that he is presidential material, so be it. That's your call.

Edwards simply hasn't led thus far. Putting oneself in front of a very large crowd that would be there anyway (63/37 majority against the war) does not a leader make.

[w4rma]

10. You and Clark2008 need new obsessions. Obsessing about smearing non-Obama Democrats is unhealthy. nt

[FrenchieCat]

23. The only one doing "smearing" is you, if you haven't noticed......

because there is nothing about Edwards that I have stated that is untrue.

These boards are here so that we can ALL speak our minds. The boards, however, are not here for you to go around chasing after DUers in your sorry attempts to smear them.

If you think that Edwards is worth calling me names, that's your choice. I refuse to make it any of my rebuts personal insults about you. Why? Cause you ain't a politician, and I come to these boards to discuss politics and politicians, not other members of this board.

[slipslidingaway]

11. "Edwards simply hasn't led thus far. Putting oneself in front

of a very large crowd that would be there anyway (63/37 majority against the war) does not a leader make."

And we heard the personal stories of Rice, Gonzales, Alito etc. before they were confirmed, although interesting, not something that should carry much weight when being considered for such important roles in our government.

Well said!

[SergeyDovlatov]

12. Edwards will win the nomination

I am pretty sure that Edwards will win the nomination.
Once Obama's novelty wears of, it is just Edwards vs. Hilary and I really doubt that Hilary can win that match up.

If Gore jumps in, then I am not so sure about Edwards. People will vote for Gore on his GW stance alone

[slipslidingaway]

14. Right now he will not get my vote. n/t

[uppityperson]

25. Yes, you have made that obvious

[IA_Seth]

18. Oh Lord...

Is this is an election, or is this a pity contest?

He lost a child and his wife has cancer, and for that I feel for him. But that makes him no more qualified than all of the other folk in America that have suffered loss. It's irrelevant. For you to bring it up is grasping at best.

Edwards is a fine politician, in every sense of the word. He sees a shift in public opinion and changes his positions accordingly. It's easy for him to say he was wrong, especially when Dems desperate for a good candidate lap it up like homeless puppies.

[uppityperson]

26. Better he shows he can learn, can risk, can lead, than not.

"Why did it take him 3 years, a shift in the polls, and a lost election to learn?" So you must think that he only voted "no" because he's playing politics, unlike Clinton or Obama? Ohhhhhkay

Edited to add that I am not a "candidate" supporter yet, am watching and seeing who ends up running.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

27. Hey, it took Clark 58 years to figure out he is a progressive Democrat...

Fortunately, he happened to see the light right when the Democratic Party was looking for a presidential candidate in 2003.

[slipslidingaway]

13. What is his position on the Iraq Oil Law benchmark? His

campaign office called me back but they could not answer the question. Why has he not spoken out on this issue that Kucinich has highlighted?

Any answer from Edwards supporters??? Or Obama or Clinton supporters for that matter. Why the silence from other candidates on this important issue?


http://priceofoil.org/thepriceofoil/war-terror/iraqi-oil-law/

"The leadership of Iraq’s five trade union federations released a statement opposing the law and rejecting ‘’the handing of control over oil to foreign companies, which would undermine the sovereignty of the state and the dignity of the Iraqi people.’’ They ask for more time, less pressure and a chance at the democracy they have been promised."

[geek tragedy]

15. The story doesn't match the headline!

Nowhere does he say in the story that we should pull everyone out of Iraq immediately.

In fact, that contradicts his own plan.

[Sparkly]

16. Second page

He said the Shiite and Sunni factions are fighting constantly, have had chances to come to a “political solution” to govern Iraq while protected by Americans and have still not done so. It’s not clear how long it would take for these sides to try to empathize with the other and reach an understanding.

“How many more men and women have to die waiting for the Shiite and the Sunnis to come up with a political understanding?” he asked, adding it was time to withdraw our troops.

I'd like to see a fuller explanation of his position. Is there nothing the US should do to foster a political solution toward peace, or is it all about "waiting," as he put it?

[geek tragedy]

17. The notion that we should start withdrawing

our troops immediately is not a particularly new or even interesting statement.

The headline exaggerates.

[IA_Seth]

19. And that's some horseshit.

The US, who has made this situation possible, has done very little if anything to foster a political solution in Iraq. It's not a matter of waiting to see "how long it would take for these sides to try to empathize with the other and reach an understanding.", it's about the US being a leader in regional diplomacy with buy-in by all of Iraq's neighbors.

It's not about waiting, it's not about talking. It's about doing. Right now the US isn't doing enought to bring stability to the region.

To me this is pandering to the crowd that is ignorant to the fact that the Dems dont have a veto-proof route to bring em home. It's pandering to the crowd that believes pulling out will bring peace. It simply isn't so.

[w4rma]

20. veto proof to do what? We don't need veto-proof majorities to end the war.

The war ends when Bush runs out of money, just like Vietnam when Nixon was run out of money.

Edwards's plan to end the war was the same exact plan used to end Vietnam.

[IA_Seth]

22. And that's a plan?

Pulling out our troops, and waiting for the Sunni's and Shi'ites to stop fighting? That's the plan?

I believe the US has a moral obligation to do more than that.

[1932]

24. What do you think is the U.S.'s moral obligation to Iraq after invading it?

How do you think US morality should manifest itself in US foreign policy toward Iraq?

[MasonJar]

21. I am personally excited about most of the democratic candidates

for president. They all have their strengths and I believe if we, the people, can override the GOPer theft this time around, we will begin to repair this earth and this country, with a wonderfully rich return to sense and sensibility.

[JohnLocke]

28. Kick (nt).

[cymbalta]

29. the only possible candidate.

Dems can only elect guys with Southern accents as Presidents. A woman? Never. Especially one who's criminally insane as Hillary and despised by the real left. Obama is a fine man but black. Americans will not elect a black man, sorry.

Edwards has a real chance to be the candidate if Gore doesn't run.

But our next president, according to Greg Palast, will be John McCain. 2008 has already been stolen.