LA Times: Edwards Goes Where Pundits Fear To Tread

[Hissyspit]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/john-edwards-go.html

Edwards goes where pundits fear to tread
Don Frederick

Throughout the summer and into the fall, there was one consensus among the Republican presidential contenders when they met to debate -- Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee, and the GOP needed to judge which of its candidates could best carry the party's flag against her.

The anointing of Clinton by the Republicans began to fade even before Barack Obama's win in the Iowa caucuses (which, though it may seem like ancient history, occurred less than three weeks ago). And tonight, a bit of role reversal occurred -- the Democrats offered a prediction (albeit a tentative one) on the outcome of the scrambled GOP contest.

John Edwards broached the matter at his party's feisty debate in South Carolina, saying, "It's becoming increasingly likely, I think, that John McCain is going to be the Republican candidate."

That no doubt took aback Mitt Romney and his aides (if they were listening). Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani also would quibble with the call. But Edwards had a self-interested rationale for ignoring those other Republicans.

With conventional wisdom holding that McCain would run the GOP's strongest race in the fall -- and threaten to topple assumptions that this is going to be a Democratic year -- Edwards wanted to press the case ...

that he is the Democrat best able to take him on.

The odds against Edwards emerging as his party's standard-bearer are increasingly long (indeed, realistically his chances have slipped to the proverbial slim and none). But intriguingly, Clinton and Barack Obama -- one of whom will be the nominee, barring an unforeseeable turn of events -- accepted Edwards' comment about McCain. And each engaged him on why he or she would run the strongest race against the Arizonan.

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[Divine Discontent]

1. any press about John is good from newspapers, he's mentioned so infrequently

good to see this.

I think it's pretty safe to say John Edwards did him self no harm, and quite frankly, looked the part of political maverick and strong policy and mature speaker in SC last night.

A wonderful performance, especially the laughs he provided after that tense moment between the other two (who's names need no more press), and the powerful way in which he crafted his sentences off the cuff! He was ON FIYA!!!! Because, I do believe, it's personal.

[SpiralHawk]

2. "We are proud to tow the corporate republicon line." - Media Toadies

"The money is too good to actually serve the public, so screw honest journalism and pass the paychecks."

- Corporate republicon media toadies

[99th_Monkey]

3. This is great. The nation is hungry for the Dem "best able" to trounce the Rethugs in Nov. nt

[MagickMuffin]

4. I left a message to Rob, although they vet your comments before posting them :=(

Here's Rob's post:

I was really concerned when Hillary Clinton mentioned that she believed that a core Democratic belief was Universal Healthcare. Never in the history of this nation has someone tied such a liberal agenda to this country. Although it is ideal give everyone in this country health coverage, we cannot afford it for the following reasons:
1. In order to pay for it, we would need to raise taxes.
2. If we did not raise taxes, then the government will have to undergo deficit spending and therefore increase our national debt. Then we can have even more fun with higher grocery, gas, and other prices (don't worry, your grandchildren will face this).
3. Not everyone will be "covered." People will have to purchase supplemental insurance because the government won't cover everything.

So if you are interested in another big government spending project larger than Social Security then vote Hillary. Unfortunately, she has not come up with an idea that will save Social Security and what makes everyone think that if she can't handle that single issue that she will be successful with healthcare this time around.


My response:


Rob,

John Edwards explained how he will pay for it by repealing Bushes TAX CUTS to the wealthy.

Also when the Democratic Party has to clean up this mess in Iraq, ......
$251 MILLION A DAY..........$488 BILLION A YEAR budgeted till September 08, we'll have a little extra money that can be used for domestic programs, like healthcare, education, infrastructure, security among other programs.
That should HELP as well, don't ya think?.?.?

I for one WANT the exact same healthcare our representatives, and their staffs receive.

My health and healthcare shouldn't be considered as less important as anyone's in congress.

But hey, that's just me.

I think that about sums up the healthcare cost. I guess I'll have to wait to see if they post it.