Edwards discusses party's future in New Hampshire

[MelissaB]

Edwards discusses party's future in New Hampshire

BY MARK JOHNSON
Knight Ridder Newspapers


MANCHESTER, N.H. - (KRT) - Three months after losing the last national election, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards effectively began his campaign for the next one Saturday night.

Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee last year, rolled out a new stump speech at a state Democratic Party dinner, acknowledging the critics who say the party doesn't stand for anything. The party's future, he declared, is in asserting bedrock moral principles, such as lifting Americans out of poverty, a message he will take be taking across the country in the coming months.

"What the country is looking for in its leaders, and certainly in its president," Edwards said in an interview before his speech, "they're looking for people who have a strong set of beliefs, who have core convictions and a passion for them and a willingness to fight for them."

Bill Clinton's "triangulation" or "third way" between liberals and conservatives dominated the Democratic Party for the past decade. Edwards, however, wants to steer Democrats away from policy nuances and targeting segments of the public - advocating core beliefs instead of chasing NASCAR dads.

More: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/10828183.htm

[candy331]

1. Since he voted for the Iraq war and stood by his vote and still stands

by it I just wonder where he would have stood/voted on Gonzalez and perhaps Rice.

[BamaLefty]

2. Go Ahead Keep Criticizing Him...

When will it stop?

[hopein08]

3. Don't forget...

he did vote against Ashcroft.

[MeDeMax]

5. John (E) was my fav too...

until I got to know John (K) better and the primary produced a winner.

John (E) is a great speaker, some say better than president Clinton, he does have a short resume in political experience, but who can say if won't make a great prez.

I am a 110% behind John & John no matter who the candidate is for '08.

So there is hope in '08 :).

[mzmolly]

4. Actually, I don't think he stands by it any longer?

I believe he said he was lied too?

[Eloriel]

6. I'd be very interested in hearing the details if that's true. n/t

[MelissaB]

7. It seems like he said that during the campaign.

I'll try to find it after breakfast.

[MelissaB]

8. Here is one link.

http://www.jregrassroots.org/jre/viewtopic.php?t=4601

[MelissaB]

9. That is not a gread link.

I'll keep searching.

[MelissaB]

12. Here is another one.

Iraq war has cost America dearly
Q: In light of Thursday's Senate report, knowing what you know now, would you have voted differently on the war?

A: What we know from the intelligence report, there are several things. One is that the Al Qaeda-Hussein connection was not there. I did not believe there was a strong Al Qaeda-Hussein connection. My view is that what Bush has done in Iraq and his planning for winning the peace, has cost America dearly, and cost the possibility of success dearly. That's our focus, is what we would do, given the situation we're now in. So trying to go back and re-evaluate what we would have done is not useful to us now.
Source: New York Times, "Bad Iraq Intelligence Cost Lives" Jul 11, 2004

http://www.issues2000.org/2004/John_Edwards_War_+_Peace.htm

I was looking for something more direct than something you have to read between the lines for, but I can't find it. :(

[mzmolly]

15. He did a major mea-culpa of sorts via The Senate Intelligence Committee

I can't find a link to the interview I was thinking of, but I did find this:

Edwards signed on to the findings of the Senate Intelligence Committe in May of 2004 which conclude the following:

CIA mischaracterized Iraq WMD & abused intelligence position.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

Iraq-al-Qaida contacts, but no complicity or assistance ... in the attacks on the US.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

CIA knew State of the Union Iraq-Niger connection was false.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

Iraq was not reconstituting its nuclear program.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

Iraq was not developing its biological weapons program.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

Iraq was developing missiles, but not to reach the US.
* Edwards signed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on Iraq *

There goes the entire case for war ey?

Source: The Senate Intelligence Committee unanimous report on 9/11 04-SIC7 on May 8, 2004


Details here towards the bottom:

http://www.issues2000.org/2004/John_Edwards_War_+_Peace.htm

[Skwmom]

11. I'm sure future political considerations would have been

at the top of the list in making that decision.

[DemDogs]

13. He voted against Ashcroft

That probably tells you what you need to know.

[WI_DEM]

10. Edwards hit it on the head

the way to counter the GOP on "moral issues" is not to change our approach to abortion or gay rights but discuss the moral issues of more people moving into poverty, of children without health insurance, and families which increasingly see less of one another because both parents (if a two parent household) have to hold down full time jobs just to make ends meet.

And Thanks to Dean more people in the party are seeing that the party just has to stand for something again.

[BlueInRed]

14. I like Edwards and he's right about advocating core beliefs

instead of trying so much nuance.

[DemDogs]

18. Less nuance, more direct talk to the people we need to win

And talk with respect, too, that's the way to turn red states blue.

[ultraist]

16. Edwards and Dean are right on the money with this!!!

That is EXACTLY what we need to do: Return to our core values and STOP pandering. NO MORE REPUKE LITE!

[mzmolly]

17. They might make for a good team in 08?

;)