Daily Democrat: a positive discussion about John Edwards

[Skinner]

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/04 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/05 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/06 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/07 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/08 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/09 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/10 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/11 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/12 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of John Edwards! Who wants to start it off?

[wndycty]

1. A bright star in the Democratic party. . .

. . .I wish he found a way to run for re-election while still pursuing the nomination. He definately should be considered for the ticket. . .I wish we were not losing him in the Senate.

[Hep]

2. Edwards has really come on strong for me lately

I like his policies and have been able to put my reservations about his age, his experience and his missing some votes I felt important behind me.

He's always looked out for the little people in his trial lawyer days, and anxiously awaits his chance to respond to the "HE's a LAWYER" argument from the right. He really holds fast in what he believes, that everyone deserves representation, particularly the working class.

I wish he had served NC longer, and I fear that his seat is lost to a republican, but he's a good man who follows through. I wish the best for him.

[UrbScotty]

3. A real working-class hero!

Unlike our current President.

[JNelson6563]

4. Edwards has many good points

He's handsome, articulate, compassionate and intelligent. I see him as someone's AG for the next step in what is likely to be a stellar career.

Oh yes, did I mention I think he is handsome? :loveya:

Julie

[eileen from OH]

5. I absolutely love

the way Edwards frames the Bush tax cuts - giving a break for unearned income that's paid for by people who work.

eileen from oh

[OBXNCarolina]

6. Campaign Money

His Presidential campaign is not accepting contributions from PACs or federal lobbyists. This will probably hurt him in the pocket, but I respect him for doing so.

John Edwards for President

[AP]

14. Also says he wants public financing and free TV time.

2 years ago DU, people here talked about the kind of candidate they wanted, from tax policy, to biography, to position on CFR, and Edwards was the candidate we all described.

It baffles me that this guy isn't universally loved by DU'ers.

It goes to show you, I believe, that the media (and the internet thrown in) can get people to think things they don't believe, and not to think what they really do believe.

[DjTj]

28. Why isn't Edwards universally beloved by DU'ers?

AP, three letters:

I - W - R

2 years ago was before Edwards cast his vote for the IWR and I'm sure many Democrats, myself included, felt betrayed on that day.

I've gotten over that, but many people have not, and I think that a majority of the people on DU still cannot forgive anyone for voting in favor of the IWR.

I wish people could look past that, especially since an IWR vote will have absolutely no bearing in the general election.

You are right that John Edwards' domestic policy is right on with DU'ers, but nobody can see past the IWR. With multiple candidates trying to defend their vote, it has become even harder to defend that position because everyone's message gets clouded.

I've worried about this a lot and once even e-mailed Elizabeth Edwards who wrote back and long and thoughtful response that said, "The straightest answer is the best: that he had evidence that supported his vote at that time, and he stands by that vote. We don't get to go back in time and change the information on which we base our judgments."

I tend to cut Edwards even more slack because North Carolinians were likely largely in support of the amendment.

None of this will ever satisfy the people who believe there is absolutely no justification for voting in favor of Iraq though, and that is the unfortunate reality. Luckily for us though, even though it is a litmus test for many DU'ers, it will matter far less in the primaries and not at all in the general election.

[kaybea]

7. Edwards is my first choice in the primary

One reason is because I think he has the winning domestic issue so far:
The unfair taxation between wealth and work. Passive, unearned income keeps getting tax break after tax break from capital gains to the inheritance tax. Wage income is steeply taxed in comparison.

I don't know whether to be relieved or worried by the fact that the media mostly ignore Edwards. I hope he is the stealth candidate. Above all, I hope that by the time my Pennsylvania primary rolls around in May, he'll still be around so I can vote for him.

[leyton]

8. Da man

I'm very disappointed that John Edwards hasn't received the support that some other candidates like Dean have (not to knock Dean or anything). He's a fantastic speaker and I could be asleep in front of the TV and he would still get his point across to me. I think he would not only mop the floor with Bush in a debate, he would look darn good doing it.

I also like Edwards's general political stances, since I'm not as liberal as a lot of these candidates.

Edwards is campaigning hard in Iowa every day; let's hope he'll climb in the polls!

PS - anyone read MSNBC's Demo Derby? I think it's kind of an amusing barometer of how the candidates stand. Edwards is in third and has been ever since that election day forum in Boston.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Edwards's work as an attorney deserves more attention --

he's a great courtroom lawyer, whose courtroom victories won justice for the victimized. He's a smart, attractive candidate, a Southerner, and an asset to our party.

[Jerseycoa]

11. I agree totally

This is what most impressed me in reading his book, the law working as a tool for humanity.

Along with Edwards as a class act and a working class hero. I always love it when the two come together. I admire him immensely in the way he talks to a crowd as if he is speaking to each person individually. It's a great talent he has.

[AP]

16. Two things about Edwards's work as an attorney:

- He transferred something like 250 million dollars from the pockets of greedy, negligent, socially deliterious companies to the people they injured. That's more net value than most politicians transfer in a lifetime to the middle class. That's a TON of social justice.

- If you read Four Trials, it looks like his trials resulted in lots of policy changes that saved a lot of lives (and made nurses jobs easier, for example). But one trial resulted in NC's Republican legislature changing the law to protect corporations. Which explaines why Edwards realized that he'd have to go into politics if he wanted to help people more than person at a time, and if he wanted to really make change for the better stick.

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. He's the candidate most likely to be

on the ticket in some capacity in 2004. Either as the nominee or as VP.

[Bombtrack]

38. that's arguable

Clark makes sense as veep for Dean, Edwards, Lieberman and Gephardt as far as serious candidates go.

The only sense Edwards makes for veep is for Clark

[Bombtrack]

39. oops

delete

[jpgray]

12. He's been VERY solid at the forums and debates recently

Intelligent, calm, and always ready with an an answer--usually a good one, too.

[Justice]

13. Very Human; Connects Well To People

As much as people joke here about it, I like that John Edwards comes from a humble background yet became a very successful trial lawyer and U.S. Senator.

I like that he worked for a corporate law firm, yet left it to represent the ordinary person. One of his cases really hits home with me - the little girl who was lost her intestines when she was sucked into the filter at a swimming pool. He won security and healthcare for the girl and her family.

[absolutezero]

15. He's my second choice

I'd love to see him as VP or the nominee, good record with the working class (like me) and great charisma. He just needs some more momentum

[Eric J in MN]

17. a Southern populist is what we need, and that's Edwards.

It's great when John Edwards talks about how Bush wants to reward wealth over work.

And when Edwards says colleges shouldn't have an alumni-offsping preference.

Many people feel that the rich keep getting richer while they're running in place.

John Edwards can appeal to those voters.

[blm]

18. An honest man with a strong Democratic core to his policies.

Although he was unfairly smeared as "Bushlite" early on, he is NOTHING even close to Bush on issues or personal history. He's a STANDUP Democrat.

[chimpymustgo]

19. Smart, handsome, likeable, warm, great history, great wife and family.

It is stunning that the media ignore him so. But you never know what will happen. Edwards continues to be outstanding in the debate/forums. It's a long, long road to Boston. I think Edwards/Clark or Clark /Edwards is dynamite.

[curse10]

20. John is charismatic, full of energy, intelligent, and a great guy

I 've been touting a Kerry/Edwards ticket since 2001. :-) And although he's not my first choice, he's a strong second. I even attended a fund raiser for Edwards last year.

[chimpymustgo]

21. I As people take a closer look at Edwards, they like what they see.

And hear. He actually has wonderful, progressive ideas about taxation, job creation, college affordability and health care.

[Cleita]

22. Edwards is not my first choice however if he makes

the primaries, I think he will make a fine presidential candidate and hopefully President. Also, if both of us weren't married and if I were thirty years younger, he could put his shoes under my bed anytime. :P

[chimpymustgo]

23. Edwards getting great response from Fla Dems. Having a good time

too!

Watch out!

[chimpymustgo]

24. Evening crowd, weigh in. Especially after that GREAT speech today.

John Edwards has the goods.

[DjTj]

25. John Edwards looked more comfortable on stage...

John Edwards looked more comfortable on stage in Florida than any of the other candidates.

His message has become very polished and I love how he explains the problems with the tax system as shifting the tax burden from "wealth" to "work". It is clear that he understands those issues better than any other candidate and better than most at DU.

When he's speaking it really seems to come from the heart rather than off a sheet of talking points. He and Kucinich do this the best and I think those two look and sound the most honest when on stage.

Nothing showed this better than when Edwards said, "We need to get rid of George Bush and you know what else we need to do?" and someone from the audience yelled out, "get rid of his brother too!" Edwards just busted out laughing. It was a great genuine moment that pierced through the politician veneer that often surrounds many of the candidates.

[spooky3]

31. welcome DjTj and thanks for the report

love that quip from the audience!

Edwards has so much potential. Even if this is not his year to be the nominee for Pres, VP or attorney general in the new Dem administration, he is a quick study and will be a strong candidate in the future.

The day he announced his candidacy, his wife made a very moving speech about what a good person he is. I'm a cynic but it was genuinely touching.

[DjTj]

35. Thanks and Your Welcome.

Thanks for the welcome, and your welcome for the report.

Edwards really is a great asset to the democratic party. Hopefully he will find a place in the new Democratic administration even if it's not at the top. I think his "Why can't we all just get along" message will help. At the very least it won't give anyone a reason to not pick him for VP or another position.

[pistoff democrat]

26. Edwards for VP!

I am ashamed to say that I dismissed him early on; thought he was a pretty boy...(apologies).

He has been just terrific and the more I read of what he's accomplished the more impressed I have become.

His easy smile and good looks will not hurt him in the general election when it's Clark/Edwards.

...or, he would be a good Attorney General...

[zeemike]

41. I think he would be a great VP also

And I like him a lot but support Dean. And should Dean stumble and fall (or get Wellstoned) he would be my next choice.
But Dean/Edwards sounds like an unbeatable combination to me.

[cally]

27. John Edwards has that charisma

that most politicians dream about. He works a crowd better than anyone I've ever seen. He seems to enjoy the interactions and genuinely care about those he meets.

He is the most populist of any of the candidates. I like that he came from a middle class background and made his wealth with his intelligence and drive. This man is decent, hardworking, and progressive.

I also think he is the most intelligent. He uses that southern charm to mask his wicked wit and zinger lines.

Remember, Kucinich once said that he was closest to Edwards on the campaign trail. That doesn't surprise me since they are both at heart honest, decent men.

I would be thrilled to have Edwards as my candidate.

[Terwilliger]

29. He's pretty

or prettily as some have suggested

[FrenchieCat]

30. I remember reading this article about Edwards...

about a year ago...and I literally cried. Talked about the son that he lost...and that really got to me. He is a true populist and a true Democrat.

[PurityOfEssence]

32. A President is the symbolic, spiritual embodiment of the Nation

Just as modern brain researchers have increasingly determined that logic and emotions are more intertwined than separate, it's important to remember that the perceivable persona is often more the pith of a politician than strict tabulations of accomplishments. (This is no apology for Edwards' record, which is great. It is to point out that circumstances of one's era dictate votes and legislation greatly.)

John Edwards listens well; you can see him go into induction mode and very truly and concertedly LISTEN. This is not listening in the often false or mechanistic senses of rhetoric; he's not just allowing the other person his/her alotted amount of time, nor is he hearing on one track just to the degree that he can formulate a dominating response, he's actually listening. People matter to this man. I simply can't imagine him mistreating anyone, whereas I can easily see Bush belittling subordinates; we have ample proof of his having done so.

We need someone who will be a sincere member of the world's community, and he embodies all that is best about this country: he's a self-made man, a fair person, someone who's willing to admit his faults, a warm and truly understanding person, and someone who's experienced being in many different socio-economic positions. He "gets it" because he's been there, and yet he isn't imbued with the cockiness of many with similar life-paths: he readily agrees that people from other circumstances can often be just as aware.

This man, at a mere 50, is a possible statesman for the ages. He is able to build bridges with many different types of people, and he tries to do so. With an extraordinary mind, he is never pompous or obtuse; his attitude is that this is public service, something he's graced to be able to do after having had a successful career. His intellect is the kind that is vigorous and inquiring, and he is uniquely suited to piloting us through skittish and changing times.

He also does not shrink from his decisions, even when they're unpopular, and he's forthcoming in situations where others often choose to be evasive. His basic thrust is that the country is inherently based on a good system, but that it's gone astray; this will make him very popular for crossover voters. Much as George W. Bush embodies the feckless and privileged attitude of the more selfish and lazy members of the heriditary wealthy, John Edwards presents the essence of the decent honorable American.

Although I don't doubt that Dean can win, I prefer someone who's more liberal in taxation, education and trade. Edwards is more electable than Dean in a general election for the simple issue of personality alone: there are no "edges" to the man. This man is a John Kennedy type of leading man persona, and more than anything else, he can heal this nation and help assuage the ills we've wrought upon the world.

There is a serenity and seriousness apparent with this man, and it will attract many who're turned off on politicians in general. We are at a crossroads, and such a person is what this world needs. The misguided "self-sufficiency" conservatives who've been betrayed (whether they know it or not) will also feel a kindred feeling with this man, and perhaps we can drive the voices of privilege and intolerance back to the marginalization that they deserve.

[spooky3]

33. that's a lovely post, Purity. Skinner, great idea, thanks

for doing this for all the candidates, and for us.

[chimpymustgo]

37. Purity, you have captured the essence of the man and the office

he will hold, if we are fortunate people. Edwards embodies the personal history and values that will make us a greater nation.

[JohnKleeb]

34. Edwards

I admire his work as an attorney and his anti corporate efforts, plus I must say I dont mind the mill worker parents stuff, if we know where you are coming from, or at least how you grew up, we can relate to you, and also, I like how he talks about fighting for the people he grew up with, very populist.

[DjTj]

36. He has spent less time in politics...

...than any other candidate other than Clark, whose high-profile military position could be interpreted either way. The other candidates have all been running for office for a long time.

He worked his way up from humble beginnings and in the first race he entered, he made it straight into the U.S. Senate.

He's a real "outsider" candidate and it makes his populist stances much more genuine and believable.

[Bombtrack]

40. I believe he has the most comprehensive and innovative platform of any

of the candidates by far.

based on positivity, acountability, pragmatism and fairness

[spooky3]

42. I agree, and he articulates it well too.