John Edwards - grassroots activism, taking one state at a time.

[paineinthearse]

Received by email.

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Dear Friend,

Last week, I traveled to Detroit, where only four seats separate Michigan's Democrats from majorities in the state House and Senate. Four votes may not sound like a lot, but for Michigan families that are battling poverty - and for middle class families across the state who are struggling to stay afloat - those four votes mean a world of difference. That's the whole idea behind my "Raising the States" initiative.

With four new Democratic votes in the state House, Democratic Leader Dianne Byrum could lead a majority in passing a bill to increase the minimum wage by two dollars to $7.15 an hour - immediately lifting the quality of life for tens of thousands of minimum wage earners across the state. Four new Democratic votes in the state Senate would give Democratic Leader Bob Emerson the votes he needs to pass a Consumers' Bill of Rights that protects poor families from being preyed upon by unethical credit counseling services that promise easy ways to escape their debts. And new majorities in both houses would help Michigan's great Democratic Governor, Jennifer Granholm, achieve her bold agenda for new jobs, better schools, and affordable health care.

Go to http://www.oneamericacommittee.com/raisingthestates to learn more about Michigan's Democratic state legislative leaders and the work they're doing.

The people of Michigan badly need those four new votes in the state House and Senate, as do so many hard-working Americans across the country whose lives are better with Democratic majorities in their state legislatures. If we're committed to fighting poverty and expanding opportunity for all, we owe it to Michigan's Democrats to help them get there.

That's why I was excited to go to Detroit to help Michigan's House and Senate Democrats and why I'm going to keep traveling the country to support efforts by Democrats all over this nation to gain and retain the majority in state legislatures. In the coming weeks, I look forward to telling you more about the efforts of a new generation of state Democratic leaders - and working with you to make the "Raising the States" initiative a success.

Together, with your help, we can help Democrats win across the nation.

Your friend,

John

[jsw_81]

1. Edwards couldn't even take North Carolina

If anything, he was a drag on the ticket. What makes anyone think that he could ever be elected president?

[AP]

3. What makes anyone think he could be president?

History, for one thing. Look at what has worked for Democrats and what hasn't worked, and you see the formula for success is in John Edwards.

But even if you don't believe that, how about the recent (was it?) Marist Poll which showed John Edwards as the only Democrat who could beat all the Republican frontrunners (Jeb, Frist and McCain). And if that isn't enough for you, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/btp/march04-poll.html should also be an eye-opener.

And Kerry did better in NC than Gore despite losing nationally by more than Gore, so Edwards was clearly worth somthing in NC.

[AP]

4. One more reason: read the OP. That should be the ultimate answer to

your question.

[spooky3]

6. AP, thanks for having the patience to deal with such posts!

[AP]

8. The repetive and shallow nature of those criticisms makes it very...

...easy to respond.

I'd love to make essay-length arguments, but the criticisms never warrant them.

I'll save my essays for OPs in 2006.

[paineinthearse]

11. The theme of Edward's message is helping local races to take back

state legislatures.

Why are you misconstrewing this into a rant on "losing" the Presidency?

Instead of hijacking this one, why not start another on your own?

[usregimechange]

13. Kerry couldn't we haven't seen what Edwards can do as the

nominee.

[chomskysright]

2. the NC vote was stolen: 1 of 4 suspect states:

sorry, but Edwards didn't have an opportunity to TAKE NC.

VERY thoroughly documented here on DU back around election time.

more here:

[saltpoint]

7. Your image link may contain an illegal code but your post is --

-- right on.

Tip 'o the hat to ya, chomskysright.

[saltpoint]

5. Edwards is making a lot of great strategic moves early on.

The first is to place primacy on Elizabeth's health.

The other good moves involve supporting other Democrats in local and state races -- solid strategy for building support & not least, for re-building the party.

The party can use all the encouragement and support it can get.

The people of North Carolina are waking up pretty much the way the rest of us do these days, and what they're seeing and hearing from their beloved Republicans is that their social security benefits are being gutted, their health care will be increasingly unaffordable, their right to dissent as U.S. citizens is brought into greater question, and meanwhile, Iraq is a series of car bombs and assassinations, even as extremist lunatics are seizing control of our judicial system.

I wouldn't count John Edwards out of this at all.

[AP]

9. Another is to clearly define for what he stands. What he's doing now...

...makes the things he believes in incredibly clear -- even moreso than if he were in the Senate.

I believe Lincoln did a similary thing subsequent to losing his 1858 senate race -- he spent two years on the lecture circuit talking about the evils of slavery.

[saltpoint]

12. Hi, AP. What an excellent point there about Lincoln and slavery.

Very deft & right on.

I am humbled when I hear John and Elizabeth Edwards speak. Their oldest daughter is also incredibly humane and bright.

I would be QUITE comfortable having these folks in a new address in 2008 on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC.

[JNelson6563]

10. I got this mail too!

And I just spent the weekend with Dianne Byrum. We really will make more progress next year. We won 5 seats last year.

Glad to see a politician of JE's status giving a rip about lowly state races. These are very important and it's the grass roots who will win these. It seems he realizes this! Cool.

:toast:

Julie

[paineinthearse]

14. Good luck to Dianne Byrum

4 seats is a piece of cake!