Watch this 1:22 Youtube and tell me this candidate should not be our 2008 Dem Nominee LINK

[Blackhatjack]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fz0TqaonkY

Spend 1:22 min of your remaining life watching this Youtube and you will be inspired.

This is exactly the way our Democratic Nominee must represent our Party.

No time to shrink from the fight.

[Yael]

1. Yeah, he has me pretty jazzed up too. :)

[GardeningGal]

2. That's the way I like to hear candidates speak.

Tell it like it is.

[Blackhatjack]

3. While I support Edwards as the best choice, I would like to hear other Dem speak out the same way...

Every Democratic candidate for the Democratic nomination should be speaking out this way, and speaking on the same issues. Nothing prevents the entire slate of candidates taking up the mantle and presenting the people with a unified front to take back the control of our government from special interests and return it to the people.

Edwards just needs exposure, and the MSM is busy making sure he is not even mentioned as often as possible.

[Ron Green]

4. Edwards is the right combination of telegenic "electability" and

good policy positions. Although I consider Kucinich to be the best solution for the 21st Century, the masses really aren't ready for him. Edwards, though, is a real opportunity, if only the "front runners" would go down in flames, both of them.

[davidwparker]

7. and he has more of a chance to win in the south. I agree with you about

Kucinich, too.

[roseBudd]

76. Take Edward's ability to garner southern votes, change it to Clark & multiply...

the votes by at least 2 if not more.

[davidwparker]

77. I agree. But he's not announced. Neither has Gore. In late fall, we should

know who is and isn't running and it becomes easier.

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. I've liked John Edwards since the first time I saw and heard him.

John Edwards is the real deal, in my opinion. He speaks from the heart, and people can feel his passion. He doesn't have to read from scripts, and can answer off the cuff questions intelligently and eloquently, not stuttering and blubbering like the fool we have now.

[theredpen]

6. Edwards/Lieberman 2008!

OK, maybe not Lieberman.

[Donnachaidh]

8. how about Edwards/Kucinich?

I'd love to see that happen. I admire both men.

[madmom]

12. I've always liked Edwards too, but duh on me I never thought of that match up!

:thumbsup:

[KillCapitalism]

14. That's my dream ticket right there.

Edwards/Kucinich would be an awesome team, they would be most progressive ticket this country has probably seen since FDR IMO.

[Donnachaidh]

34. It would be awesome, wouldn't it?

I've always been sad about people stating that Kucinich hasn't a chance against the front runners. not fair, because he's such a genuine, intelligent and passionate man. And you wouldn't have to be checking to see *who* his *handlers* were, and where his money was coming from.

The more I think about it, the more I like it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

72. Ok, how about Edwards/Gore

I've been rooting for a Gore/Edwards ticket (or Gore/Anyone), but maybe Al's serious about not running for prez. Ok, how about vice-prez? Easy money, unless you want to rule the world, like Cheney.

[Blackhatjack]

9. There is no doubt a MSM effort to ignore Edwards except for the occasional haircut mention...

IMHO the CNN and MSNBC pieces are being promoted to make Edwards 'invisible.'

You don't have to look far to realize that Edwards as President would not be as favorable for their corporate parents as other candidates.

The 'debates' have not provided Edwards with the opportunity to answer the same questions as those posed to HRC and BO.

However, one thing they cannot avoid --Edwards is very popular in Iowa and likely will win Iowa.

[Blackhatjack]

11. There are any number of great VP choices ---Feingold? Clark? etc. n/t

[Dhalgren]

17. Edwards/Clark would be hard to beat. And the two seem compatible on most issues.

I support Kucinich, but of the "top" three, Edwards is the best, by far.

[Blackhatjack]

29. If Edwards is elected President you bet your bottom dollar Clark will serve in his Administration...

Clark is a national resource who cannot be left on the sideline to pontificate.

Edwards knows this.

IMHO I think Clark would be a fantastic Sec of State, and would be just the person to rehabilitate our relationships with other countries that have suffered so much under Bush. Clark would likely be able to use diplomacy to head off military conflicts. In that role he would be invaluable.

[Dhalgren]

55. A very good idea!

[Dinger]

70. I Think You Are Right On That:

"IMHO the CNN and MSNBC pieces are being promoted to make Edwards 'invisible.'


It's obvious.

[realbluesky]

10. Unless he comes out in support of impeachment soon I can't support him

Dems have got to stand up and say enough is enough.
Impeachment is the only way.
Talk and bluster without action are the signs of weakness.
We have criminals in the white house and the dems have taken impeachment off the table.
This is dereliction of duty.

[theredpen]

15. Is Kucinich the only one who's come out in support of impeachment?

As far as I know... Dennis is it. Any others?

[WilliamPitt]

16. Single-issue voters make the Baby Jesus cry.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Alexander]

26. He supports censure of Bush and "holding him accountable".

That's a start.

[Blackhatjack]

40. Edwards has been calling for 'holding Bush accountable' for years....

[Virginia Dare]

47. Since Edwards can't do anything personally about it..

I think it would be pure stupidity for him to talk about impeachment right now.

[Blackhatjack]

13. This video should be a standard for whoever becomes the Dem nominee...n/t

[Dhalgren]

18. No one can deny the fire, that's for sure. I believe that by March '08

Edwards will be in the lead...

[Hubert Flottz]

19. He's my pick so far...

[Blackhatjack]

20. Edwards' answer to the 'meet the leaders of foreign govt Q' was best and not even mentioned by MSM

It is like they are consciously making sure anything he says is kept quiet.

Greg Sargent over at TPM has been following Edwards campaign, and he made the exact same point the other day.

[tex-wyo-dem]

21. Thanks for linking this!

I, like you, feel Edwards is the best and most electable candidate in the field right now. The reason I say this is not only does he speak truth to power, but that he gets IT...

...and the IT I'm talking about is populism. If he is able to get his message across to enough of the electorate, and since 98% of us fall into the category of middle class and low income whom he is addressing, he would be unstoppable.

Unfortunately, thanks to our corporate media, I don't know if that's going to be possible.

on edit: another good YouTube link featuring Edwards and Lance Armstrong at the RAGBRAI (well known bicycle ride across Iowa): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf1X1JDkRa8&mode=user&search=

[AwakeAtLast]

22. My problem is that I like things about all of them

I guess that's really not a problem, yet, but I cannot say that I have fully made up my mind. Isn't that what is so great about this process?

It is a great video of him, for sure! :hi:

[Blackhatjack]

24. I think all the great candidates need to be speaking in this mode about these issues...

... and if they are not, why not?

[tex-wyo-dem]

32. Couldn't agree more...

To me (without naming names), it seems the top candidates are too careful and too measured with their positions...in short, the same old "I want to make changes, but, really, let's not rock the boat too much, okay?"

I'm fully convinced that they do this because taking "radical" positions like Edwards would get you relegated to the "fringe" category by those who don't want the people getting any silly ideas, like supporting truly progressive changes that would benefit the vast majority of us, but hurt the corporate bottom line.

The corporatists don't want people like Edwards heard, period.

[Blackhatjack]

36. You have it pegged.... great synopsis

[Blackhatjack]

23. I believe General Election poll numbers on 'Edwards' electibility' scare the corporate interests...

Edwards does very well in reaching the independent/undecided and unaffiliated voters, who will make up a critical voting block in the General Election.

Edwards' favorability numbers make him a good choice for Dem Nominee.

[peacebuzzard]

25. I like him as much as I like Kucinich.

They both seem very sincere and willing to do the right thing. I support both of them.

[ClayZ]

27. K and R

[LWolf]

28. This is the one that inspires me:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D0sVhuBVGQw

[JNelson6563]

35. That was very good too!

Wouldn't it be great if we could take the best of all our candidates and roll it all into one?

Thanks for posting, I'm glad I watched!

Julie

[LWolf]

39. That would be good, I agree. :) n/t

[DemReadingDU]

46. that was good, thanks

[JNelson6563]

30. Wow, that was good!

Inspiring indeed!

Julie

[eggman67]

31. Well he's my second choice anyway

Certainly wouldn't mind a Richardson/Edwards ticket. That should make a nice showing in the south.

[DutchLiberal]

33. He should not be the candidate.

Just because his campaign team thought up one good minute-long video? Puh-leaze.

[tex-wyo-dem]

41. With all due respect, it's hardly been "one good minute-long video"

Edwards has been giving talks like this for some time. Since 2004 he has been putting in an enormous amount of work to help raise awareness of the working poor in this country and how our system under Rethug rule has kicked the lower income and much of the middle class to the curb.

[DutchLiberal]

43. So has Kucinich.

And he has the (voting) record to back his rhetoric. Edwars is just talk-talk-talk, but I don't believe he would do anything significant to halp the poor.

[Blackhatjack]

48. Edwards is the only candidate to create an anti-poverty center ....

... and he has implemented anti-poverty ideas like providing high school students from a poor county with college education.

His efforts to benefit the poor are many, but some still repeat the mantra that all he does is 'talk.'

[DutchLiberal]

53. It's not a mantra.

Anybody can set up a 'center' and implement 'ideas'.

Vote for the guy with the record. Kucinich has the record. AND the integrity and believability.

[mruddy]

37. I'd love to see Edwards

shave his head and then say "Can we talk about what's important now?".

[Blackhatjack]

38. What an exhilirating slate of candidates we would have if they all spoke this way on these issues...

People have their preferences here, but can't we all agree that this is the way we need to present our Party and what it stands for?

[Katherine Brengle]

42. He's a good complete package - white southern male w/ a populist message

and good hair.

Of course, I fucking hate that he needs to be a white southern male with good hair to be the perfect candidate, but it's still true.

[Blackhatjack]

45. Don't forget ... he is very smart and can think on his feet .... both of which would serve us well

[Katherine Brengle]

59. I'm sure he'd make a fine president --

as would many of the other candidates.

It's just sad that it's 2007 and we still live under this spectre of "electability" based on race and gender and religion.

[Blackhatjack]

44. Edwards' proposal for dealing with New Orleans is 100% right but it gets no press...

He would appoint a cabinet level official with the responsibility to report to the President every morning what was done the day before, what will happen today, and what is planned to be done tomorrow, to rebuild New Orleans and help the people who were displaced.

Corporate interests hate this idea because they have their own agenda.

Republicans have no interest in rebuilding New Orleans and bringing residents home again. Right now the makeup of those who are living in the area favors Repubs as much as 2-1, in an area that was hugely Democratic before Katrina.

[Blackhatjack]

49. Let's try to get this kicked to the greatest page as an example of what we want our candidates to do

I prefer Edwards and would like to see him win.

But it would not bother me in the least to see the other Dem candidates speak this way on these issues.

[Blackhatjack]

50. I've seen Edwards speak in person and he is excellent 'on the stump'

I understand that in the 'house party' realm he gets really positive responses. He does well one on one, as he did when arguing cases to the jury.

Edwards rarely uses any kind of notes or writings. He is excellent at retaining information, and rarely will you hear him misquote a fact.

Many of the venues that the Dem candidates are showcased in so far do not allow Edwards to display these qualities in the best light.

IF we ever get down to 3-4 candidates in a real debate of the same questions, Edwards would shine.

[TheUnspeakable]

51. k&r-i wish everyone here could get on board with Edwards..

he might just be our only hope for REAL change-just think how much we could help his campaign with
106,000 members here!

[RedEarth]

52. I'm leaning towards Edwards

Either Edwards or Obama. Had the opportunity to see both in person and came away very impressed both times. Frankly, I'm having a hard time figuring out why Edwards isn't more popular. He's had a few slip-ups but nothing major. The main thing I want is a Democratic controlled Congress and a Democrat in the White House.

[Blackhatjack]

54. Edwards survived the 2004 Repub Opposition Research ....

... so it is very unlikely that something is going to come out of left field to damage him as the Democratic Nominee.

Repubs know Edwards is genuine, and in the Karl Rove style of campaigning they are attacking him on character issues.

[Lugnut]

56. K and R

That's what I want to hear.

[Bongo Prophet]

57. It really helps him when he gets some fire in his voice

The stupid "narrative" knocks against him - "faggy" and "pander" - are soo negated when he speaks with a bit of pissed off edge. It just burns that false crap the oppo is trying to pin on him like sunshine through fog. I hope he uses this tone more often, as it will make his passion for justice (his real strength) cut right through the BS. I love it.

[Blackhatjack]

58. Edwards can be withering when he attacks, and he is very smart ...

Because he has such grasp of the subject he is speaking on, he can be very effective in cutting right to the core of any issue.

Long time medical defense attorneys learned early on not to engage him in court. They do not like him one bit, but they all respect him and his abilities trememdously.

[Blackhatjack]

60. Just like the 'border fence' issue, Edwards is cutting to the core ....

... calling it 'crazy' is exactly right. Edwards closes in on the key issue, you enforce rules on employers and you end the incentive for undocumented workers to cross the border.

Instead, Repubs would spend billions of dollars on a fence that will do nothing to stem the tide of illegals coming here and employers hiring them.

[timtom]

61. I gotta admit...

I found it impressive.

[Blackhatjack]

62. Some people just know how to speak 'on the stump' AND Edwards is one of them...

If all the Democratic candidates at every level were to speak out like Edwards does in this video clip, we just might light a fire under those who have not been going to the polls to vote their interests.

We need someone who will excite the entire base and reach out to the independents/undecideds and unaffiliated voters.

We need someone who will have coattails, and bring along other Democratic Candidates in the House and Senate, and at the State government levels.

So far, Edwards is the best at making this kind of appeal to the voters.

[Senator]

63. No Impeachment = No Support

No exceptions.

---

[AJ9000]

64. I'm convinced he's our best bet overall, n/t

[harun]

75. Me too and not like it is settling, he is great (n/t)

[Forkboy]

65. K&R

:kick:

[tomp]

66. not at all impressed.

kucinich is the man for the job. watch any of his videos--much more impressive. i fear you are being seduced by mere charisma.

[Blackhatjack]

68. Seduced? Not me --I have followed his career in the same city with him for 25 years....

I don't expect others to know everything I know about him.

However, I can vouch for him when he says he will stand up to the special/corporate interests and fight them every inch of the way, and WIN. I have seen him do that.

IF Kucinich were not running(I know he is your choice) would you not want Edwards standing up to the special interests/corporations as the Dem Nominee?

If not, who would you prefer over Edwards?

[Triana]

74. I have ALSO seen him do that. I know his history, his career...

..he ain't kidding when he says he WILL stand up against the special/corprat interests - he WILL and he will win against them. I've SEEN him do it. THAT is how he MADE (ie: didn't inherit - but MADE) his fortune.

The man is sharp as a razor against the corprat snakes and he has made his life's work protecting the common citizen against them and their predatory practices.


He's STILL my first choice! And when he gets that passion and fire going in his voice, he ROCKs! He should do that more often.

[tomp]

80. i only believe kucinich

i don't care how long you've known any of the candidates. i don't trust any of them except kucinich.

[buddhamama]

69. i like Edwards

and love his passion. :)

[Heidi]

71. Loved it. Rated it five stars.

:kick:

[Triana]

73. Damn straight...

...STILL my presidential choice.

[kenny blankenship]

78. I didn't hear enough love for corporations and shareholders in his speech.

And why's he so angry?

[Blackhatjack]

79. THIS is how it should be done. Go right at the corporate/special interests ...their $ won't buy him

How can any Democrat listen to this and not recognize that it is THE MESSAGE the Democratic Party needs to put forward, and in exactly this way.

People have had enough of Bush and his cronies.

People are waiting for a John Edwards to deliver the news --we are taking back our government from those who think they bought and paid for it by bankrolling politicians.

I wish all the Democratic Candidates would speak out like this. Still waiting....

[BlooInBloo]

81. 1:22 - the amount of thought put into peoples' nominee.

[w8liftinglady]

82. If I had to chose between the top 3-he has my vote

[Blackhatjack]

83. If other Democratic Candidates are not speaking out like this on these issues, WHY NOT?

It is not like any of Edwards' ideas would not fit in a traditional Democratic Platform.

So why would they not speak out --the same way? If they don't it makes them look like they are beholding to some of their corporate campaign contributors.

Whoever is the Dem Nominee, I want them to be willing to take the fight to the corporate/special interests groups. This idea about negotiating with them is doomed to fail.