Edwards is in the Race!

[waiting for hope]

"This campaign is about each of us taking responsibility for our country's future -- and ensuring America’s greatness in the 21st century. It is a campaign not just about what we can do in the White House -- but what we can do on the way."

John Edwards is running for president because he wants to build an America that lives up to its promise -- one where we all share in prosperity at home and one that shows real moral leadership around the world

http://johnedwards.com /

[usregimechange]

1. Yes!

[bdamomma]

2. I knew it, now, who else will throw their hat in?

how about a Edwards/Obama ticket, that would be interesting.

[waiting for hope]

5. I would love an Edwards/Obama ticket

as well as an Edwards/Clark...just as long as it's Edwards in the forefront.

[jazzjunkysue]

32. Any ticket where John wins works for me. Period.

Great candidate, great president.

[Ghost in the Machine]

40. As much as I'd *LOVE* to see Edwards as our President...

I'd rather see him as V.P. first.... ya see, I'm a greedy lil Liberal... I'd rather have him for 8 years as V.P. then 8 years as Prez..... we'd have him around MUCH longer.

But, like I said... that's just my own way of looking at it... If John Edwards is on the ticket, he's got my vote. Who would be a good running mate for him? Clark? Obama? Feingold? Maybe a widely unknown Governor from the South... Phil Bredesen (D-Tn)http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/governor/About.do (ok, so I like Phil.. click the link and read about him)...



PEACE!

Ghost

[liberalpragmatist]

78. Obama if he'd accept

Otherwise, Bill Richardson or Kathleen Sebelius (Governor of Kansas).

Like I said, Edwards/Obama would be my first choice - we'd have a great opportunity for 16 years of a Democratic presidency. Yes, that ticket is green, but the cabinet has more influence on a president than the vice president typically does, so I'm not sure why the Veep has to be more experience than the presidential nominee.

[Tekla West]

87. Slow down there.

"great opportunity for 16 years" I said a "whoo Nelly." One election at a time. I for one have seen too many years where it seemed IMPOSSIBLE at this point to lose. We did.

Dean pointed the way. We must go out in the next election and work every district hard. Not give in anywhere.

All these guys are just starting, they still have to not pass out from the sheer bordorm of running in Iowa and NH. (I'm from Iowa, I know). They have to raise money. Lots of it.

I think if we work from the House level up, the top of the ticket will take care of itself. But we are a long way from there.

[Jacklyn75]

47. That's my dream ticket! n/t

[RT_Fanatic]

70. He gets my vote...

...unless Al Gore jumps in!

[tinfoil tiaras]

74. Dream ticket!

Edwards/Obama or Edwards/Clark.

[The Traveler]

3. I have watched Edwards for some time now

and I like what I have seen thus far. While I am reluctant to commit at this point, I am happy to see him jump into the fray. If nothing else, it will elevate the debate.

[bdamomma]

12. yes, I am watching to see how this will unfold.

[Mark E. Smith]

4. That's where my money is right now.

Edwards can win it all. And that goes a long ways with this Democrat.

[Lex]

22. I too have long thought Edwards would be the nominee in 08.

We'll see if that happens.

[derby378]

6. David Bonior is the campaign manager

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

[Eric J in MN]

24. It's good in terms of being pro-union.

I don't know if David Bonior is a great campaign strategist, but he's with American Rights at Work:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/about/board.cfm

[usregimechange]

7. He is anouncing from the 9th Ward!

[WindRavenX]

8. awesome!

Edwards understands the plight of the middle class. He's my frontrunner thus so far, even though it's waaaaaaaaay too early to throw all of one's support behind any canidate.

But great news to hear!

[usregimechange]

9. K and R!!!

[illinoisprogressive]

10. Good luck, Edwards supporters

I am happy you guys have someone to support and are excited. I wish you guys luck.
I am hoping my candidate announces in the next few weeks and that he is running.
May the best one win.

[comsymp]

69. Thanks, and right back atcha

nt

[Triana]

11. WoooHooo!

[Lex]

29. I dig the Edwards 08 banner, Triana!

Where'd ya get that?

[NastyRiffraff]

13. Just joined on his website...

Anyone else here from the DC area? Let's get together to elect this man!

[DemDogs]

76. Joining too!!!

Like the idea of being part of change in 2007 and 2008 and not just sitting around waiting until January 2009. Great work by Edwards

[seashorelady]

91. Glad you joined the Edwards website

Good group of people over there.

[bdamomma]

14. It's way to early yet to back one specific candidate, but Edwards

has been below the radar, he has been very busy and is an advocate of the Middle Class, and you can tell he is very compassionate and caring about the American People.

[Erika]

15. Yes!

He and his wife are great candidates.

The GOP are pretty sickly in their choices.

[waiting for hope]

17. Sickly - Anemic is more

appropriate - McCain is getting dusted off to run again, Rudy is too far to the left for the base and Romney, let's just say all his flip flopping from his senate race is going to come back and bite him in the ass. They have no one that is as dynamic or compassionate as Edwards...

[DemDogs]

77. Agreed - what Repub compares to Edwards?

The polls agree. Edwards having more success than any other Dem against the possible Repub candidates. He's the one.

[lwin]

16. YES!

I can't wait to get involved with his campaign. Go Edwards!

[usregimechange]

18. please recommend this thread... Is there another posted?

[Eric J in MN]

19. Did he announce on his website before announcing in a speech? NT

NT

[waiting for hope]

20. Pretty much -

I've been kinda keeping an eye on it since he said that that's where it would start on The Daily Show.

[Lex]

21. The posting of his intent to run was kind of a mistake.

WASHINGTON - Former Democratic vice presidential nominee

John Edwards jumped into the presidential race Wednesday a day earlier than he'd planned, prodded by an Internet glitch to launch a candidacy focused on health care, taxes and other domestic issues.

The North Carolina Democrat's campaign accidentally went live with his election Web site a day before an announcement Thursday that was supposed to use Hurricane-ravaged New Orleans as a backdrop.

The slip-up gave an unintended double-meaning to his campaign slogan on the John Edwards '08 Web site: "Tomorrow begins today."

Aides quickly shut down the errant Web site but could not contain news of the obvious, even in the shadows of former President Ford's death.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061227/ap_on_el_pr/edwards...

[Eric J in MN]

23. Thanks. NT

NT

[aaronbees]

25. I love the setting for his announcement

New Orleans and its recovery is a real symbol of this administration's criminal failures. Great to see him keep reporters "at bay" while actually doing something worthwhile.

I'm excited he's running, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

[Lex]

27. Me too. He had actually been talking about poverty causing

people to "live on the edge" a long time before Katrina hit. Katrina's aftermath has highlighted how badly the Bush Admin. and FEMA screwed up the response, and how people without credit cards, automobiles, etc. are literally and figuritively trapped by poverty.

He'll do a good job tomorrow articulating this.

[aaronbees]

35. Yes he's made it a central message

I'm not sure he's my top choice, but I'm thankful he's running. I think he really understands how close to the edge people can be in BushCo's version of America.

[InvisibleTouch]

50. "Tomorrow begins today."

That's great!

[philgobluemi]

62. Maybe crazy like a fox

It did immediately cut off all the speculation that he might not go through with the announcement because of the death of President Ford.

[usregimechange]

26. kick!

[Roland99]

28. That debate against Cheney turned me off of Edwards. He came off like a used-car salesman.

[Lex]

30. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of couse.

I thought he did well given that he was debating a lying POS.

[Eric J in MN]

31. I thought Edwards won the debate,

...regardless of Chris Matthews' claims to the contrary.

[Roland99]

33. I actually thought so, too, but he sounded like a cheezy salesman.

[Inspired]

43. He is authentic.

I'm sorry you feel that way. John Edwards mission in life is to serve others. While other candidates are filling their campaign war chests, John Edwards has encouraged his supporters to help others. This man is the real deal.

I thought he held his own in the debate.

[Virginian]

39. I thought he should have had a comeback

when cheney said he hardly ever saw Edwards.
Edwards seems to have subbed for Cheney more times than Cheney fullfilled his Constitutional official duty of presiding over the senate. Cheney seems too busy screwing the American taxpayer to do the job he was hired to do.

[comsymp]

72. Disagree

You may remember, Cheney actually said he had never met Edwards. Instead of doing a "nuh-uh, we've met 5 times", which would give the RWNs ammo to call Edwards a liar because they could demonstrate either 4 or 6 instances, Edwards was smart to keep his mouth shut on that point - because, as you may also remember, photos of the two of 'em together were online - even here, IIRC - before the debate even ended.

[seashorelady]

92. I agree Edwards was smart not to let Cheney bait him with that remark

[DemDogs]

79. CBS' undecided and MSNBC focus groups loved Edwards

He clobbered Cheney according to those debate night polls, and the undecideds was who needed to be convinced. Were you still trying to figure out who to vote for on the night of the VP debate? If not, and since Edwards overwhelmingly won the debate with undecideds, I guess he did his job. That should have turned you on.

[Roland99]

83. I was firmly in the Kerry/Edwards camp (well, as much as I could be)

I was wanting to like Edwards but he just came off as cheesy to me. And I'm not alone in that assessment.

[jazzjunkysue]

34. K for John. R for John. He's our man. Let's win this, people! n/t.

[usregimechange]

36. Kick!

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Well I am still holding out for Gore but if not him, I will totally back Edwards!

[Sapphire Blue]

38. Recommended w/a BIG...

[usregimechange]

41. kick

[barb162]

42. great ! and kick!

[stevietheman]

44. He's my choice if Gore and Clark don't run. Good news! n/t

n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

45. Great News for Mrs. Clinton!

Now there will be a second candidate who voted for the Iraq War. And both Patriot Acts. And a draconian "bankruptcy reform" act (2001 version).

Marvelous.

[Radicalman]

53. GIVE EDWARDS A CHANCE

Emphasis about the bankruptcy bill: This is 2001, not the insane one recently enacted by the Congress.
It was a blanket federal law protecting IRAs. Before it a Roth IRA, had the least protection of all IRAs other than Education IRAs in the states. My son's retirement account was protected by the law.

Edwards' stance on the war and the Patriot Acts have changed.

He's just a politician, but they all are. Hillary is such a cynical pro that it's obvious that she has no soul - the tv camera shows a cold, calculating person. Obama is a lightweight, although brilliant - no experience. Kucinich can't win. Feingold won't run. Clark is a military man. Kerry has his bad jokes and that snob Teresa. So who have we got?

I worked as a janitor when I was in the 8th grade and have worked hard all of my life. Edwards worked in a textile mill and put himself through college. I like his story. I like him. I like his fight for the poor and forgotten.

Give him a chance!!

[ClassWarrior]

57. It's unbelieveable to me how some so-called Progressives...

...refuse to accept that people can learn and grow and change from their mistakes. I thought moral absolutism was pretty much the domain of knuckle-dragging freeps.

NGU.

[MannyGoldstein]

61. Why Should We Believe That He's Learned?

Wouldn't you rather have someone who got it right the first time? This is the Presidency that we're talking about.

These weren't exactly particle physics problems that he got dead-wrong...

[ClassWarrior]

81. You have no reason to believe that he's learned...

...if you haven't been paying attention. But I'm not worried. He'll convince all open-minded Progressives in due time.

And yes, it's too bad that all of our Dems can't walk on water like FDR could.



NGU.

[Ayesha]

89. I think you mean wheel on water :)

Edwards has my support, too. He's bright, charismatic, and easy on the eyes. He's a dedicated family man, which will win points in the Midwest and South. And most importantly, he actually cares about the poor and middle class.

Edwards/Obama or Edwards/Clark sound like great tickets to me, too.

[mnhtnbb]

46. I have tickets to his Saturday appearance in Chapel Hill at end of announcing tour

If Gore doesn't get in the race, I'll support Edwards.

[SCDem]

56. I'll be seeing him in Columbia, SC

before he gets to Chapel Hill!

If he keeps on a populist message I think he can win.... in'06 all the candidates that won ran on a populist theme... the Democrats that tried to out Republican the Republicans lost.

If he doesn't let himself be handled I think he will do great. I think there is a difference in candidates before and after the primary. It's like they allow themselves to be handled after they win the primary. I think this happened to both Al Gore and John Kerry and Edwards for that fact.

My hope is that Al will enter the race.... but Edwards is really looking good and will definitely get my support if and until Al enters the race.

[radiofreesrini]

98. thanks for the tip !!!!

see you there !!!

-srini

[VotingVet]

48. Edwards is a divider

"John Edwards is running for president because he wants to build an America that lives up to its promise -- one where we all share in prosperity at home and one that shows real moral leadership around the world."

Yep. With goals like that, Edwards is going to split this country in two:

If that's what he believes, there would be no room in his Administration for Lies, Oppression, and those who believe Orwell's 1984 was a manual for building a society. The neocons who have ruled the roost for the past 6 years would have no place in his Administration. The Freepers who cry for more bloodshed in the middle east -- and postively drool for an invasion of Iran (featuring sons and daughters other than their own) -- would have no place in his Administration. The mega-contractors, like Halliburton and Bechtel, who have been sucking the lifeblood and tax dollars from our increasingly indebted and economically at-risk nation, would have no place in his Administration. The hired goons and liars of Rupert Murdoch, as well as their fellow travelers in the media, the Limbaughs, the Coulters, the Weiners, who make their fortunes by stirring up hatred and ignorance, would have no place in his Administration.

All that would be left for an Edwards Administration would be people who believe in Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I mean, is he just trying to make people angry, or what?

[Sugar Smack]

49. OMG! Welcome to DU!!!!!

GO, Edwards!!! Love love love that man!

[comsymp]

73. Well done

Well done, indeed.

And welcome to DU!

[Joanne98]

51. He's not my first pick but if he raises taxes on the rich I'm in!

[DemDogs]

80. Getting rid of Bush's tax cuts for the top earners will be on everyone's platform

Edwards was there early and he voted against the cuts every time.

[dogday]

52. I like Edwards, did in 2004

and still like him.. Since my first choice is not running, and I am holding out for Gore, I still am looking at Edwards as well.....

[Sugar Smack]

54. Gore/Edwards! How sweet would that be????

Good god, y'all!!!

[LibraLiz1973]

55. Can u say DREAM TICKET??? I would LOVE that

I've said it before and I'll say it again-
if that ever happens I am taking a leave from my job
and volunteering all my time to get them elected

[Sugar Smack]

59. DREAM TICKET.

I'm right here dizzy at the thought. Two wonderful minds, two completely sane, amazing, well-spoken guys. THANK you for that. Let's wish it for them.

You're the best.

[dogday]

60. Too Schweeeeeeeeeeeeet nt

[mnhtnbb]

58. Just saw him interviewed on CNBC--and asked about the size

of CEO compensation. He managed to turn it around to talk about it being unfair that CEO's keep their fabulous pensions and the workers lose
pension/health care benefits--and that was wrong. But he also wanted to hedge on keeping the ability for entrepreneurs to make it big (like he did and used himself as an example). But he also talked about the disparity of some CEO pay to workers making $6/hr.

I couldn't help but be amazed at how tough CNBC was questioning him about his financial success. I don't remember ever seeing Bushie questioned like that!

They ended up trying to criticize him for some board that he's on and he one-upped them by saying he'd resigned yesterday, due to his run for the Presidency!

He shut them up twice and I loved it!

[seashorelady]

93. He does have a razor sharp mind.

[Joshua Brown]

63. Thank You

for posting this! It surely is a great day!

[Catchawave]

95. Hi Josh !

Welcome to DU

[MethuenProgressive]

64. He's my choice. If Obama, Clinton, Gore, Clark, or Kerry don't run.

He wasn't a bad senator - he should've stuck with it.

[burbank_spiffers]

65. I'm thrilled about this...

His voting record is perfect, which is more than you can say about any of the other potential candidates. I really like his platform, but my one concern is that he needs to come up with a good plan and good policy to back up his rhetoric.

He is my front-runner, for sure.

Also, I'd be happy with an Edwards/Obama ticket or even a Gore/Edwards ticket.

Anyway, I'm thrilled Edwards is running!

Cheers,
Mike

[ultraist]

66. North Carolina bloggers, blogged the event!

Two BlueNC bloggers are here in NOLA! We liveblogged yesterdays event:

http://blog.oneamericacommittee.com/story/2006/12/27/14...

I vlogged both yesterday's event and today's event: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/27/18250/364

chuckles1 liveblogged today's announcement: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/28/83912/828

I will upload my videos from today soon!

CJ photo from TODAY:

[ultraist]

67. JOHN EDWARDS liveblogging NOW on DailyKos!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/28/1294/2516

[dk2]

68. Edwards 2008 all the way to the Whitehouse!

[boot@9]

71. Go

Johnny go!

[confludemocrat]

75. If Gore doesn't run, he offers an alternative to the two "stars" Hil & Obama

which is badly needed. Edwards would never have voted for the Credit "reform" in the way Obama did, casting critical votes that sped the thing to floor where he could vote against it, thus playing both sides for his own benefit. And then of course there was his vote for "tort reform", which sought to close off one of the few options the powerless have against immense power.

Picking Joe Lieberman as his mentor, yes picking although he has tried to say he was assigned Lieberman
Refusing to defend Dick Durbin over his spot-on remarks about torture in Iraq, when he was attacked
Voting for Condi Rice
Voting to close off any possible filibuster of Alito
Voting for the Patriot Act 2

Asshole

Edwards and Gore are the only true populists in the mix

[Catchawave]

82. Congratulations Hope !

For getting the news on the Home Page today!

I share your enthusiasm too

[waiting for hope]

85. I've been smiling all day...

It's amazing when an event happens that just makes your day, week, month, year and even the new year. I signed up to help in his campaign, I only hope I can help in some small way.

Thanks!

[Catchawave]

86. You're very welcome...

Your spirt is inspiring too. Hope all here at DU sign up with their favorite candidates and work hard to defeat Republicans, not each other

[DollyM]

84. Some good news for a change!

I always like Edwards. When him and Kerry ran together I remember thinking that I would vote for him in a heartbeat if he ever ran for president. He has the warmth that Kerry just didn't have. I voted for Kerry but knew that Edwards would come out to be the one that everyone would draw to because of his personality. I think he is the real deal too, no pretense in him, he will appeal to the masses of the regular people.

[woodsgirl]

90. Next president

will be John Edwards. Clinton and Obama don't have the goods. Wasn't his response to the question about his experience killer? He has the love of people and graciousnes of Bill Clinton. I think he is a different person than the Edwards of the '04 run.His wife having cancer and experience maybe but he is more statesmanly to me.Thought he did really well with Chris Mathews in the college tour interview. It is time for a US president who wasn't brought up with maids and nannies and not having a clue about ever day people.

[jhrobbins]

88. I wish you folks would quit vacillating and really say what you mean...

heh heh - just kidding - I couldn't be happier either - I was for him in the last campaign before he took the VP position.
For some reason, he just strikes me as the perfect candidate for so many reasons.


Go John!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[usregimechange]

94. Kick!

[Voltaire99]

96. ABH - Anybody But Hillary

Edwards isn't much, but he may be the most populist voice in today's party.

[Clarkie1]

97. Obama will be a stronger candidate than Edwards on all fronts.

I see no possiblity of Edwards winning the nomination if Obama enters the race, because their messages are so similar and Obama is a stronger and more credible candidate.

[radiofreesrini]

99. you've got to be kidding !!!

not to knock Obama too much, but surely you jest ? obama and edwards are complements, certainly, but there is no way that Obama's message eclipses Edwards.