Edwards has gained some respect back (no congrats to Obama in speech)

[quinnox]

I have heard Edwards didn't congratulate Obama when he gave his big speech on the Iowa results. I like that. It shows he is going to be a hard-ass and try his best to beat Obama. I don't mind if he sent out a press release for the congratulations just to show he isn't a sore loser. The important part is he didn't congratulate Obama in his main speech, that shows some chutzpah and I have gained some respect for Edwards.

[annie1]

1. did you see his speech?...

his first sentence was about how the results were great because change won, the status quo lost. that's hil he's referring to. not nice.

[quinnox]

3. no I didn't

Thats fine if he went after Hillary, that is to be expected. But I also like that he is setting his sights on Obama, Edwards can be an effective attacker.

[annie1]

4. he can be very effective. i just thought it was nasty. hillary was...

much more graceful saying that democrats won that night. i don't like seeing anyone gloat saying it's glad someone lost.

[sueh]

16. Be assured if Hillary won last night she wouldn't have credited it as a win for the democrats.

Her speech was okay, but she didn't know when to wrap it up.

edited for spelling

[annie1]

18. firstly, yeah, she would have noted the gains of democrats, 2ndly...

she most definitely would never say isn't it great someone lost. not a chance.

[frazzled]

6. ??

When he said "change won" he followed it immediately by: they outspent me and look how good I still did. What I read from that is that he was claiming "he" won. Elizabeth had to whisper in his ear eventually to say he'd gotten 2nd.

Yes, change won: but Edwards didn't.

I read that totally different than you did: I thought it was an affront.

[annie1]

10. "change won and the status quo lost"...

why would you gloat at her "loss" (and name her the status quo at the same time). it's grotesque imo.

(and i was both and edwards AND hillary supporter btw, not minding even his smackdowns of her during debates, but i felt this was gross)

[Peregrine Took]

20. Politics "ain't beanbag" (quoting Harold Washington) - that is, its not "nice."

Its a blood sport.

[tired_old_fireman]

2. I think his speech was brilliant

Instead of making it about the candidates, he made it about a girl who died because her health insurance company cared more about the pay for their CEO than that young girls life. Edwards receives little air time, and the time he had, he used it on real issues.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Yeah, being an ungracious sore loser is "chutzpah"--no, it's just called

"being a jerk". Even a bitter, angry weenie like Romney was man enough to congratulate Huckabee.

[quinnox]

8. Look, maybe this is a man thing but not bowing down to Obama

shows me something on Edwards character. It would have been too easy to act all gracious but instead Edwards showed his fighting spirit.

[TwilightGardener]

14. "Fighting spirit" is probably why he didn't win. America doesn't want to fight.

America wants peace and prosperity and security, not another protracted Dem/Repub battle.

[quinnox]

15. Maybe

Time will tell if Obama's message is the one Americans want.

[brentspeak]

19. Who said anything about Dem/Repubs?

Edwards wants to kick out the lobbyists from the White House; he hasn't made much fuss over partisanship. That's just B.S. from your part.

Are you saying that America would prefer to passively lay down and allow K-Street politicians to walk all over them?

[TwilightGardener]

27. Republicans and Indies are attracted to Obama because he

doesn't seem like a Democrat with a big blazing "D" on his chest, out to exact revenge on Chimpy and the GOP and pass a purely "Dem" agenda. Obama gives the impression that he's more interested in the welfare of the country than of the party--I would say Edwards comes off much closer to a Traditional Democrat, even though he had a less-progressive voting record in the Seante than Obama. Funny how that works, but it's true. People read Edwards' little-guy populist rant as pure Democrat, and pure Democrat is not going to ultimately sell, just as people are tired of pure Repub conservatism. And America is tired of Bush, but maybe not as angry as you think.

[dajoki]

23. The reality is...

America may want peace, prosperity and security. What we will get is the same ole, same ole. Politics in this country is nasty and has only gotten worse, maybe someday the peace will happen, but not in the foreseeable future. That is why Edwards must continue his "fight", to get as many viewpoints out there as possible. I'm sure when and if the time comes, he will throw his support behind the nominee, whoever that may be.

[Anouka]

25. netroots democrats do -- and they want it to be bloody, with no survivors on the other side

at least, that's the impression i get from places like daily kos.

Edwards needs to bring that fire to attorney general, not president; sans the alberto gonzales emphasis on enemies to the president and party instead of emphasis on making sure the law is followed.

[TwilightGardener]

28. Exactly--thank you. The vast majority of the non-political public

do not want Fight Club and gridlock--they want progress of some sort on our problems. And yes, Edwards would be very suited for AG.

[Inuca]

17. Bowing down to Obama?

If bowing down is involved, it would be to the IA voters, not to Obama. I do not think it showed his "fighting spirit", I think it showed an almost irrational obsessiveness (not accepting the obvious) and not much class.

[Anouka]

24. you didn't hear? southern white men don't bow to

i'm uncomfortable finishing that, but there it is. Edwards may not think... but how many do?

it's a shame this type of thing has to come from within the party, isn't it?

[ThePhilosopher04]

13. No, it's about taking the media spotlight...

and focusing it on the REAL issues that common Americans face everyday in this country. Edwards chose to speak to you and me rather than pat someone on the back and use fluffy metaphors. Great job by Edwards!!!

[MadBadger]

7. So does that mean you lost some respect for Hillary?

[quinnox]

9. No, because Hillary as a classy woman is expected to be gracious

[MadBadger]

11. Cant have it both ways

btw, I thought Edwards looked like a clown in his speech declaring victory because change won, even though change in Iowa=Obama.

[cali]

12. *snicker*

you're outdoing yourself with cluelessness today. First the astonishing claim that Huckabee's win shows that repukes are turning away from the right, and now claptrap sexism.

What's act III?

[karynnj]

31. OMG - you think that only women should be polite or have class?

[FrenchieCat]

21. Not recognizing the winner by publicly congratulating him is something

Bush would do. It's classless and rude of Edwards, and shows a pettyness that will not be helpful in our government. If you can't see that, you're not really understanding that politics is about some decorum, no matter how you turn the screws. It was in bad form....and not thanking his volunteers during that public speech was not any better.......in fact, it was worse than "forgetting" to recognize someone that just beat you.

[Anouka]

26. He didn't thank his volunteers?

I need to get some headphones again to listen to that speech, it sounds strange. Something uncomfortable is going down. That's not level headed.

[FrenchieCat]

29. I listened to his speech twice......

and there were a lot of story telling about dying young girls and that we need to fight corporate interest.....and that change won...but no, no formal thank yous to the Unions or his supporters while in front of the two mikes he kept adjusting at the podium.

Elizabeth did a thank you when she introduced him...but it was quick and not very resounding. :(

[Adelante]

22. I thought Edwards was plain ugly last night

I think his trying to attach himself to Obama's win, as he pretended he was not a half percentage point away from Clinton's loss, is typical Edwards dishonesty and altogether pathetic. However, precisely the kind of horse shit I've learned to expect from him.

[karynnj]

30. I'm sure your mother is proud of the manners she taught you

It shows a lack of grace and class to intentionally not congratulate the winner - especially in a primary. I would prefer to thing that in the heat of the moment he forgot to.