John Edwards appearance in Iowa City this evening

[bullwinkle428]

Just came back from an appearance by John Edwards this evening here in Iowa City and wanted to fill DU in on some of his comments. He was there by himself...no Elizabeth this time. The speech took place in the ballroom of the Hotel Vetro, and the room was packed - all seats were taken, and many were left to stand in the back of the room. He spoke for close to 30 minutes, and then took questions which audience members had a chance to write on cards during the speech portion.

Here are some of the highlights of the talk:

-urged resignation of CPSC chair Nancy Nord

-plans to institute actual control over big pharma ingredients imported from China (mentioned his personal level of interest in this)

-trade deals MUST show benefits for U.S. workers & international workers, and must include aspects dealing with global protections, both in terms of things like climate change, and things such as sweatshops

-emphasis on education in the specific areas of life sciences and biomedical research

-end current $50 billion deficit with China specifically related to national defense

-stated that Bush didn't just damage...he DESTROYED our reputation in the eyes of the international community

-will bring home troops in Iraq, close Guantanamo, end illegal spying on U.S. citizens, promised no rendition or torture of any kind

-wants to intervene in humanitarian crises in Darfur & Uganda

-intends to denote $50 billion to address the spread of HIV internationally, and address the issue of clean water and other rudimentary things that lead to so much disease in third-world countries

-opposed to building any new nuclear plants (and this was the only time in which he mentioned Hillary & Obama, stating that they're open to more new plants), and wants moratorium on coal-fired plants

-stresses need to sacrifice personally, i.e. CONSERVATION!

-believes we're creating an aura of chaos internationally by ignoring treaties and agreements

-wants to lead long-term initiative to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide

-made point at end about needing to do serious diplomatic & economic work with Russia - he's very concerned about the backslide that's occurred under Putin. Joked about Bush's comment about "seeing Putin's soul", saying, "That really comforted me!", which brought plenty of laughs from the crowd! He also mentioned talking to one of the opposition candidates to Putin's hand-picked puppet, and stated that he had absolutely no access to the media as Putin controlled everything. JE asked him how he plans to campaign, and the guy said that he just planned to start speaking out on street corners all over Russia! JE said we fortunately don't have to deal with that kind of thing here, although admits "they already have Fox News!"

He couldn't stay long because of the interview on Countdown, and at the end, started making his way down the aisle along which I was sitting. I waited for him to get to me, and finally had the opportunity to shake his hand! I just reached out and said something like "Thanks for coming, Senator", and I think he responded by saying "Thanks very much!" with a smile! Very cool.

[Bozita]

1. Thanks for the excellent report.

You either took notes or have a terrific memory.

[bullwinkle428]

2. I just used the 3" x 5" index card, and wrote notes in my signature tiny script!

I'm amazed I could even decipher the words after coming back home to write the post!

[Bozita]

10. If I were one of those folks who hired stringers, I'd be banging on your door.

[waiting for hope]

3. Wow - great recap!

Thank you for sharing! Kick and Rec!

[rurallib]

4. Hey - bet I saw you there

I was the guy in the Iowans for Health Care shirt.
Edwards was just on fire tonight. Been to an Obama, Clinton, 2 Edwards and Romney in the past couple weeks. Edwards is the whole package.

[bullwinkle428]

5. Where were you sitting? I was in the last row, over on the left side

of the room by the aisle he used on the way out. I agree that there was great energy in the room, and I feel better each day about a great showing on January 3rd...

[rurallib]

7. Were you the guy with the laptop tyoing in something after the event?

I was front middle second row next to the lady in the wheel chair.
Afterwards I went back to watch Edwards leave and saw someone sitting, typing into a laptop that made me curious.
BTW very good and accurate report.

[bullwinkle428]

9. No laptop for me - just my little card and pencil, since I forgot to bring a note

pad in there with me as I had intended earlier in the day! I saw several in the back typing away on their laptops; not sure how many of them were "official media" and how many were just taking their own notes. Appreciate the kind words on the report...I figured plenty would be interested in the content!

[rurallib]

13. There is some talk of a meeting in CR on Jan. 4 in the Iowa

forum - don't know if it will happen, but hope you can come if we do:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=152x20055

[saltpoint]

6. Potent summary, and valuable as a glimpse of the policy vibe driving the

Edwards team on the ground in Iowa.

And elsewhere -- because posts like this generate interest and elevate the discussion.

In recent weeks Obama supporter zulchzulu has also posted on campaigning. Tonight, we have the benefit of reading yours from Iowa City.

And it's a beaut.

thank you.

[asdjrocky]

8. You're notes are incredible.

If I would have sat next to you in school, I might have gone on to college. Very nice. And it's more than the stump speech we've all seen. He's clearly starting to narrow the focus.

Thanks for posting.

K&R (Big R)

[DaLittle Kitty]

24. Nice job! There is little else to say to Iowans except...

One Choice, Vote JOHN EDWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :toast:

[cynthia]

11. excellent notes

It is so helpful to hear some substance since all we get on the tube is sound bites. I really hate the format debates take where each candidate has 1-2 mins on each question, because it just encourages more of the pandering to those with a short attention span.

One question: what is CSPC? I haven't hear of Nancy Nord.

[denem]

12. Excellent bodyguards would come in handy now

$50 billion is a lot of money.

[frogmarch]

14. Wow - great job bullwinkle! K&R n/t

[PATRICK]

15. Anyone know

if Iowans see him as more presidential after such appearances or in general? Exactly how is the popularity contest going? The people who swallow the media hype, what kind of actual power do they bring to the caucuses as opposed to more committed knowledgeable types? What IS going on over there? Or is this going to be another mystery like 2004 until it is all over?

[asdjrocky]

16. Something not often talked about...

-wants to lead long-term initiative to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide-

Has anyone else even brought this up? I heard him say this in Reno, then I heard it on Carlie Rose. I've never heard a President talk like this before.

Is there another candidate in 08 that has proposed something as big as this?

This is one of the big reasons for my support.

[saltpoint]

17. "And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the skies

Turnin' in to butterflies

above our nation..."

(Joni Mitchell, "Woodstock")

Agree completely, asdjrocky -- Edwards is being cheated in the media but it's not because he's been lax on this issue. He's been refreshing in content and almost relentless in pace on it.

Very good point, and not surprisingly, in a post with your name on it.

[asdjrocky]

18. Yes,

I'm the air raid generation. I remember so well ducking my head under my desk.

These monstrosities linger. And the so called cold war has been over for decades.

Do we think the bombs are going to go away on their own?

[saltpoint]

19. Yep. I keep picturing an Edwards surge in Iowa this month, enough to

put him over the top for January 3rd, and then HClinton's lead melting away into February.

Next I think about picking Edwards' cabinet!

We're not first in the national polls, but we have the best candidate.

[asdjrocky]

21. I'm beginning to feel I'm watching an artist.

He knows when to shout and when to whisper. His timing is masterful. He's stayed quietly on message for the whole race, trusting America would listen. And we are. The numbers in Iowa, at least, reflect that.

But then, as he's done it he's also subtly brought nuclear arms to the table, special education. Both of these issues relate over a broad range of th electorate, and he can use them both on a national level to show the depth of the American character.

I'm no longer hopefully.

I now believe it.

[saltpoint]

22. asdjrocky, I'd reading what you posted just before I head out for

Saturday chores and errands, and it is a terrific post.

Yes! -- is my response.

Yes!

[Nutmegger]

20. I'm sorry ...

I cannot give you a :thumbsup:,

But I can kick the hell out of this thread!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[highflyingbird]

23. Thanks

Thanks for being the eyes and ears of those of us who can't be there.

Terrific report.

[cali]

25. nice report

sounds like a good speech.