John Edwards: Take Them On - Overflow crowds in NH

[jsamuel]

Run time: 02:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUtU9f6oFTs   Posted on YouTube: July 28, 2007 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 30, 2007 By DU Member: jsamuel Views on DU: 3134

 

[Faygo Kid]

1. There's somethin' happenin' here. What it is ain't exactly clear.

Edwards is way down in the national polls, has made a number of clumsy mistakes, yet he talks again and again about substance - the kind of America that recognizes economic inequality and admits mistakes. Beautiful article today in the Washington Post about touching the heart: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/27/AR2007072701674.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

I'm sure it's been posted elsewhere. Obama is touching the mind right now, like Adlai Stevenson. Hillary is touching the winning formula, like Bill (no kidding).

But Edwards is looking more like Bobby Kennedy all the time.

I really like the fact that none of the three front-runners are from wealth, although that's not a disqualifier (FDR).

[Double T]

2. Edwards is coming on as they round the corner.............

it CAN NOT be business as usual in washington anymore.

[Faygo Kid]

5. I hope we're not coming round the corner. It's July 2007.

I enjoy all the hypotheticals, but the reality is that I fear the Bush Administration and what they may do more with every passing day. This whole debate about candidates and elections may be moot by this time next year.

[Double T]

7. It is going to be VERY LONG election season starting this fall; September 2007;...........

when the campaign rhetoric will begin to really heat up. bushco is NOT to be feared, it must be dealt with before they instigate WW-III, then declare marshall law and cancellation of the elections. I hope none of our banter is moot; the USA desperately needs NEW STRONG INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP!

[DB1]

8. I hate to be paranoid but I have the same fear.

I have a long time friend in his 80's that set up this whole marshall law, no vote allowed/no election thing to me in 2001, and my biggest fear is he is right. It seems all to possible these days.

[IndyOp]

10. That is up to us... whether elections are moot by this time next year.

Are we courageous enough to employ passive resistance to the suspension of elections?

The ONLY power they have - besides the money & the guns - is the power we give them by being obedient.

[Faygo Kid]

12. I will do whatever it takes to fight, but I'm 56, so that's easy.

I hate to speak, though, for somebody who is 22. Like those who die in Iraq tonight. I can't imagine missing all the pain and pleasure I have lived for since I was 22. That's why I will be one hell of a tough sonofabitch if it comes to martial law. And it may, if we let what happened in 2000 and 2004 happen again. Although we may be past that simplicity.

[saltpoint]

4. Very nice post, faygokid. It prompted me to think how

ashamed I am of Bush for his insensitivity to the plight of the disenfranchised and the poor -- witness New Orleans -- when he's the very person in the country who ought to have been marshalling every available resource to mount a rescue after that hurricane struck the Gulf Coast.

A discerning European, or a college student in Malaysia, or an angler in Costa Rica might look at Senator Edwards' public profile these days and sense a HUGE distinction between Edwards and the current White House resident.

I really want to be proud of my country again. No chance of that with Bush. Quite a considerable chance with John Edwards.

[IndyOp]

11. The WaPo "touching the heart" article - like most DC political analysis - is based on

incorrect belief that Gore and Kerry lost - they didn't lose. Gore and Kerry DID connect with voters using vision & values.

Otherwise the article is fine.

[Radicalman]

29. Edwards Is "Not From Wealth" as you say - He worked in a textile mill.

[classof56]

39. For what it's worth...

If the election were today, I'd vote for Edwards. Have already sent him money, and I don't have much money to send, so clearly his candidacy and platform are important to me.

Whatever the next year and a half brings, I hope and pray we all survive to claim the White House for a Democrat as honorable and able and compassionate as John Edwards.

What whatever else it's worth, if Hillary or Obama are the nominees, I'll vote for them.

Tired Old Cynic

[trueblue2007]

41. I LOVE Edwards!!

He is my FAVORITE Democratic candidate.

[Hieronymus]

3. Edwards leads in Iowa.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. Edwards is talking to groups everywhere, and people are seeing his sincerity. nt

[benny05]

9. JRE is the leader on taking on the big interest groups

Isn't that a refreshin' change?

[Bucky]

33. Here's another . . . . . . . . . MUST VIEW video by Edwards. If you doubt he's a leader, watch this

At the end of the video in the OP, use the preview feature and scroll over to the last selection--the one where Edwards is sitting down, unprepared, and just riffing off answers to other YouTube questions to his campaign. He handles a wide variety of questions in depth with no prep and very little filtering by his staff. Say what else you want about him, this performance shows he's a man of substance and a depth for understanding how issues in politics affect people's lives.

And his hair looks GREAT!

[usregimechange]

13. kick

[Carolina Voice]

14. Edwards is the man.

He will win this thing!

[tinrobot]

24. You may be right.

Truth to power is always the best message.

[Hobbs]

15. A lot of big talk

for someone with no executive experience. I'm reminded of Edwards saying if Kerry became President, Chris Reeves would be able to walk.

[benny05]

16. W had so called executive experience

and where did it get us?

[Hobbs]

17. W didn't have experience

Texas is a parliamentary system. The Governor of TX being more of a figure head with little power. It is dishonest to say W's presidency is a surprise, there was nothing to indicate he would be a good President. Like many politicians all he had was a lot of empty words and promises. If voters had wisely chosen the candidate with real experience and a proven track record, it would have been Gore. What voters should have learned during W's Presidency is that the position is to important to trust it to big talkers who don't have a proven record of walking the talk.

[question everything]

19. Welcome to DU, Hobbs

Interesting observation that - not being a Texan - I have never heard.

Bush, like Carter, Reagan and Clinton - is always used as an example of "only governors" can win. I think that this is even the theme of Richardson.

We look at governors - and mayors, generals and CEOs - as people with experience in setting plans and budgets and then using the resources available to them, or seeking additional ones, to implement their plans.

On the other hand we look at Senators who have always had to run only their offices, who are very good at talking - after all the Senate is a debating chamber - but not at implementation.

[benny05]

20. We agree there

But I think the "executive" experience needs a little defining though as to what you mean by it.

[LSK]

21. Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld had "experience"

Lotta good that did for us.

[Hobbs]

23. When did these two

become President? Oh, they didn't, however they did work for a fool of a President with no experience. Thanks for proving my point.

[LSK]

25. they were supposedly "experienced" in defense issues

and it turns out they have destroyed our military.

[Hobbs]

26. They did excellent work.

Cheney said, "Things are going very well, if you will". You see the military contractors and petro buddies are having record profitability. Their cronies will be hired to rebuild the military. Very happy days for the war profiteers and both political parties that feed on K-Street. The only means to end wars, is to cut off the money. Even the Dems are not ready to do that. And we the people are having 45% of our taxes going to the effort.

John Edwards co-sponsor of authorization to use force stated on 10/10/2002:

"Saddam Hussein’s regime represents a grave threat to America and our allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every available means. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal.

Almost no one disagrees with these basic facts: that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a menace; that he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is doing everything in his power to get nuclear weapons; that he has supported terrorists; that he is a grave threat to the region, to vital allies like Israel, and to the United States; and that he is thwarting the will of the international community and undermining the United Nations’ credibility".

[jsamuel]

27. John Edwards has been for defunding since 2003

So, he is ready for it.

[Hobbs]

28. Not substantiated by these statements

From Hardball Oct 13th, 2003. Interviewing Edwards as a Presidential candidate for 2004.

MATTHEWS: OK. I just want to get one thing straight so that we know how you would have been different if you had been in office the last four years as president. Would you have gone to Afghanistan?

EDWARDS: I would.

MATTHEWS: Would you have gone to Iraq?

EDWARDS: I would have gone to Iraq.

(snip)

MATTHEWS: Do you think he’ll be a good governor?

EDWARDS: I have real serious questions about that.

MATTHEWS: Why? What is your question about Schwarzenegger?

EDWARDS: Well, I mean, he-First of all, he has no experience governing.

[jsamuel]

30. Those have nothing to do with defunding. He voted against funding as a Senator starting in 2003.

[Hobbs]

36. So he was for the war but not funding it?

By Scot Lehigh, Globe Columnist | April 17, 2007 "Boston Globe"

Yet as John Kerry's 2004 ticketmate, the former North Carolina senator was anything but eager to acknowledge error on Iraq. Instead, according to several Kerry-Edwards campaign aides, Edwards argued repeatedly that the two should stand by their votes, even after it had become apparent that Iraq had neither weapons of mass destruction nor collaborative ties with Al Qaeda.

"I specifically remember Edwards having a very distinct take," says one person in attendance, who paraphrases Edwards' argument this way: "We need to stick to this. We should stand by our votes, say we would vote that way again. If you admit a mistake, it shows weakness in time of war. That's what the Republicans want us to do."

[jsamuel]

38. Blah blah blah, boston globe this MSM that. He voted against funding the war in 2003

[LSK]

40. Russ Feingold isnt running

Dennis Kucinich is not electable IMO, Obama is not experienced per your standards, Hillary voted for the war too.

I am not seeing a better option than Edwards. And his domestic agenda makes him stand out.

[Radicalman]

34. Ease Up Pal, You May Have To Work For Edwards When He's The Nominee!

[Hobbs]

37. That would never happen

The Prez works for we the people.

I'll back off. I was curious if we're going to have another best President to share a beer with, again.

[mnhtnbb]

18. Shades of Howard Dean in Edwards' speech. This is the kind of talk

that will really get the media in high gear after him--and--should his numbers
improve (which I think they will) ought to make him VERY careful about flying in small planes.

[Catchawave]

35. ...and why we have to watch his back :)

Many silly/mean/trashin' diaries going up on DU....we have to watch those too.

[LSK]

22. I love John Edwards promotion of activism

I love a lot of things about John Edwards.

[dnbmathguy]

31. I was at that event

You're only seeing about half the people that came, if that - there were even more people waiting inside the house. Altogether, there were about 200-250 people, all crammed into a house on a hot, humid, rainy day. While I'm still trying to make up my mind as to who to support (Obama, Edwards, and Richardson all sound good to me), Edwards spoke very eloquently and passionately, taking lots of questions from the people inside.

[okamichan13]

32. Excellent video!

Really love how is laying it out, thanks for posting this

[trueblue2007]

42. ALL OF THE EDWARDS VIDEOS ARE FANTASTIC.

I'm having a little YouTube EDWARDS Marathon right now. He is wonderful

[RBInMaine]

44. Edwards has a VERY good chance in the GENERAL election!

Here is what Democrats need to see, and look at the poll numbers.
In most polls Edwards does the BEST against ALL of the Republican candidates. Right now Giuliani and Thompson beat Hillary. Don't get me wrong. I really like Hillary and Obama, but they both also possess SERIOUS electoral risks in the general election. Right now Hillary does not bring over ANY thoughtful R's and MANY I's don't like her. Minds are made up about Hillary, and she's too polarizing. Dems better damn well think about this good and hard. This is a Prez election that we MUST win and SHOULD win. If we put up a risky nominee and lose in this change environment, then it may deal a death blow to our party.
The right wing is HOPING like hell that we nominate Hillary. They are pretty damn afraid of Edwards! It is the GENERAL election we need to worry about. We need a winner this time. Someone I's and yes, even some R's, will swallow. That person isn't Hillary, and Obama is a real risk too. Edwards is saying the right things, I personally know R's who will cross over to him, and we need to cut into red territory.
That all said, I again want to say that I really like ALL the major contenders and will work hard for whomever the nominee is, but Hillary and Obama are indeed extremely risky in the general electorate. I'm with Edwards!

[Aptastik]

43. Speaking as someone who is not even close to having a

candidate chosen yet (no hillary), I can say, I really like what Edwards is saying. These are the things that need to be said, I just wish it got more attention than the latest Obama/Hillary tiff or haircut joke.

Keep on speaking John! Even if you don't win, you're raising a lot of important issues!