Reply #21: I'd Like Your Opinion on Edwards As The Dem Nominee.....

[Blackhatjack]

... even at this late date I find many people still know little about Edwards, his qualifications, and his positions.

While in the Senate he was chosen by Democrats to help defend Clinton in the Senate. He was recognized as insightful, and much Republican money and sweat was directed at him because he was considered a real threat to them and their supporters(Big Oil, Pharmaceuticals, Big Banks,etc.).

Edwards has significantly upped his foreign policy resume, travelling extensively abroad meeting with foreign leaders on all kinds of issues. He has been a tireless advocate for the working class and the poor, and spent his time since leaving the Senate heading up an Anti-Poverty Center at the Univ of NC at Chapel Hill. He is a great communicator, a quick study of almost any subject, and has the respect of those who have opposed him inside and outside the courtroom.

IMHO he was not used effectively in the Kerry/Edwards campaign, and many of his positions were ignored --such as his opinion that there should be no concession in Ohio and that every vote be counted. However, he has never publicly made an issue of it, and has made no disparaging remarks about the way the Kerry campaign was run.

His honesty is beyond question. He did vote to give Bush authority to use force in Iraq as a last resort based upon faulty and untruthful allegations that intelligence showed there were weapons of mass destruction. He has since apologized for voting yes, and said knowing the truth at that time he would have voted against the authorization.

Even so, many Dems still view him as unqualified, and know little about how he has matured in a very short period of time. What is your view of Edwards and his potential as Presidential/VP candidate in 2008? Will the coming congressional investigations and the corruption on Capitol Hill make it easier for Edwards to run as an 'outsider' in that climate?

Thank you in advance, since I always learn something new when I read your posts.