ABC News: Kerry has secretive meeting with Edwards

[wjsander]

Make of it what you will:

snip---

Sen. John Kerry held a brief, secretive meeting with potential running mate John Edwards on Tuesday, a spur-of-the-moment session that symbolized an unusual day of hurry up-and-wait in the heavily scripted life of the Democratic presidential candidate.
The two men met in the President's Room, whether they knew the name or not, an ornate sitting room just off the Senate chamber, and they declined to speak with reporters afterward. While the brevity of the session indicated it was less than a full-fledged vice presidential interview, it came roughly a month before the opening of the Democratic National Convention, and at a time when Edwards is frequently mentioned as a potential running mate.

snip---

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040622_1617.html

Ready Clarkies on Offense? Ready Edwards fans on Defense?

GO!

[juajen]

1. Nothing from me, except HOORAY for secret meetings.

I'm glad we don't know about them.

[Catch22Dem]

2. This Clarkie

Isn't going on offense. ;) I think Edwards would be fine and I like him a lot. I happen to like Clark better, but I'm pretty confident Clark will be well utilized in the Kerry administration IF he's not Kerry's running mate.

[deminflorida]

37. Warning....If Clark is not the candidate...Kerry would be well....

served to announce his plans for the General during the Convention...

Otherwise...allot of folks may just stay at home on election day...especially swing voters here in the Florida Panhandle...

Put 27 electoral votes in your pipe and smoke them...

[PurityOfEssence]

43. Thanks for the threat

It's nice to know that we'd damn well better toe the line or else.

If these people in the panhandle are merely enthralled in some hero-worshipping personality cult, it's going to be hard to satisfy them anyway.

Geez. If Kerry doesn't adhere to your proscribed correct actions, he may well have a reason for it, and if you care about this country, I'd suggest you owe it to the rest of us to cajole them to come along and trust the guy.

[deminflorida]

47. It's NO threat...there are 5 military bases here on the Panhandle...

and your damn right it's hard to satisfy them...it's the GOP strong-hold on this state.

I'll vote for Kerry, you know that. But swing voters, former Republicans who are fed up with the Iraq War and Veteran's Benefits. These are the people we need to cut into Bush's base win this very important state.

If Kerry doesn't pick Clark or Graham, or Nunn or anyone with a strong national security background. Then he damn well better break with tradition and announce or hint or drop notes on the convention floor, or what ever it takes to make the case the he is going to put people in positions in HIS administration that will address the disaster in Iraq....

He'd better do it...or those swing voters WILL stay home if you don't offer them a stable-reliable forgien policy alternative over the current Administration during a time of perceived War.

It's no threat...it's a warning. We really need Florida in November.

[WI_DEM]

51. sorry

but while I know the General has his supporters--especially here on DU--but just becuz he isn't VP isn't going to cause large numbers of people to stay home. That is just a pipe dream.

[Rowdyboy]

3. If those are his two choices

Kerry can't lose.

[Renew Deal]

4. Isn't Edwards a member of PNAC?

:evilgrin:

[mzmolly]

23. Ahhhh NO!

:P

[Liberal Veteran]

5. Secret meetings = The press wasn't invited?

Nothing to see here.

[elfin]

6. He won't pick him (even tho I wish he would) because....

then it would be " John/John" ticket. I think that would be kind of cute - but it's sure to cause a few jokes - mainly at Edward's boyish looks.

[Sequoia]

7. John/John, I like that

sort of wink at the original John/John.

[PurityOfEssence]

44. Hey, it takes two Johns to take on two pieces of shit

Flush Bush!

[FrenchieCat]

8. shhhhh.....

How about if we whisper OR

ELSE PEOPLE WILL FIND AND ABOUT THE

:wow:

SECRET MEETING!!!!!!!!!!

:nuke:

:nuke:

:nuke:

:nuke:

Don't talk about

the SECRET KERRY AND EDWARDS MEETING anymore....OK? or It might just get around and get into the newspapers!!

You know how those pressitutes will try to make something of the

SECRETIVE MEETING BETWEEN KERRY AND EDWARDS

Oh shit.....too late!

[cornermouse]

9. An Washington Insider ticket.

The things dreams are made of? When do we get someone who more closely represents us?

While I like Edwards, I just have to wonder why we even bothered to have a primary, abbreviated though it was.

[Catch22Dem]

12. Well, it lasted longer than any other

Except for DK. So, what's your point?

[mzmolly]

24. Polls show Dems prefer Edwards, soooo I guess he is representing *us*

:shrug: ;)

[spooky3]

46. "Damned if you do"...to you he's a "W. Insider"; to others, he has "no

experience"..."and damned if you don't."

I suspect the meeting had to do with the bill on the floor, not on the vice presidency, and it was a slow news day, so they decided speculation is as good as real news.

[salonghorn70]

10. Gov. Warner

Did you notice in the story that Warner said his business holdings were not being reviewed by Kerry. I think that means we can strike Warner off the list.

[Kahuna]

11. I think Kerry WILL select Edwards. Kerry is steady in the polls..

He can afford to pick style over substance... :evilgrin:

[AP]

13. He can't afford not to pick style & substance over just substance.

:)

[FrenchieCat]

15. Pluuuuueaze.....

You MUST be kidding, or in love!

[AP]

16. Linda Tripp hated Clinton because she thought he didnt' have the substance

to be President.

I felt that GHWB didn't have the substance to be president. I didn't think he knew enough about how real Americans experienced life in America.

I think Clinton and Ewards have exactly the right substance. So does Clark for that matter. But Edwards also has style.

[chimpymustgo]

17. Edwards: style and substance. Read this, please:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/06/22/3_ways_to_pick_a_veep/

-snip-

It is not simply or merely the gift of gab. What Edwards brings is an understanding of why most American families are worried about their present and future instead of just watching the last quarter's job statistics. His appeal, uniquely documented during and after the primaries, is both national and Southern, and it has an added, generational element. In addition to an ability to reach the relatively nonpartisan directly, Edwards has also shown a unique ability to reach younger voters -- as befits a 51-year-old who represents a post-9/11 world.


It is sometimes forgotten, moreover, that Edwards is also experienced from his Senate term as a centrist. Thrust into the limelight by an unabashed admirer, named Kennedy, it was Edwards who angered his own trial lawyer supporters by fashioning an approach to reforming the civil litigation system that avoided surrender to the special interests seeking exemption from responsibility for malpractice, but instead focused on curing real defects. This was one reason Kerry pal John McCain came aboard the bandwagon for a patients' Bill of Rights.


-snip-

Edwards would change the national equation; he is the best new breeze to hit the national Democratic Party since Bill Clinton.

**************************
One man's argument - but a good one.

[AP]

18. What you said.

[Doosh]

28. style, substance, class, optimism! We can go on...

Edwards is the total package, and the ideal choice for Vice President.

[Scoopie]

41. Not feeling optimistic

at all...

*sigh*

[AP]

49. We know.

[Tom Rinaldo]

48. This will all be over soon, Thank God

And almost all of us can then unite behind the Democratic Team, whatever it turns out to be. A lot of strong feelings get expressed now, while the outcome to the VP pick is uncertain. Same thing happened before we could be sure of the Presidential nominee. Those feelings are real, but for almost all of us they pale next to our feelings about ousting Bush. We for the most part are arguing over who would be the BEST VP pick, and there's a lot of room for disagreement there. Once Kerry makes his pick that disagreement is over. Whoever he picks will be light years better than Cheney.

[FrenchieCat]

14. But...

I'm pretty sure that Kerry comes from the school of "when something bad can happen, it will". I don't think that Kerry is into being "comfy".

[AP]

19. I hope politics rather than psychology is the foundation for the choice.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I hope that politics is not so involved....

like in Pushing Edwards in our face....just like Dean was.

I couldn't stand it then....and I can't stand it now.

Politics in this country appears to be that the one who is to decide has no choice.

We barely got to vote in the primaries....and now the pressitutes, and the government who brought us this war is pushing and telling Kerry who his Veep should be.....Damn...I just don't like this kind of democracy.

Thank god, at least I've got my frenchness that no one can take from me......!

[AP]

21. So what should Kerry decision be based on if not politics or psychology?

By the way, if Edwards is so bad, why didn't they push him in our face in 2003 when they were pushing Dean? If he's so bad, why after Iowa did they spend a week talking about the scream when they could have been pushing Edwards in the face of NH voters?

Why did they wait until he had no chance of winning to push him?

It's not like anyone has a vote for VP. It's just waste of time.

The only reason they're doing it is incase Kerry doesn't pick him they will be able to get people to feel disappointed in Kerry's decision. (And Edwards is the only one for whom they could do that.)

[SoFlaJet]

53. that picture reminds me

of a line from The Pope Of Greenwich Village;
"lighten up John that nose is looking like a billboard for Gordons gin"

[cosmokramer]

22. You should always meet with someone face to face...

...when you tell them they are not your pick.

[mzmolly]

25. I think that would be done by phone?

;)

[JI7]

26. in 2000 they ALL found out through the tv including lieberman

the ones not picked and the one picked (lieberman) all found out who gore picked from watching tv or getting a phone call from a friend or family who was watching tv to let them know and turn on the news.

[cosmokramer]

36. And Gore endorsed Dean without telling Lieberman...

...so that is GORE'S personality. Kerry has much more class...he will do it face to face.

[funky_bug]

33. Not necessarily

I'm not saying he did or didn't ask Edwards today, but Kerry has made it clear that the Gore fiasco back in 2000 hurt him very badly. Kerry was the frontrunner for the VP slot. He was the media's prediction and by all rights looked to be the natural selection. Every knew he was being considered, and it was not a well kept secret. He felt the entire selection process was done wrong, and has made no secret of the fact that he will do it right. That's why he wants NO leaks, and he plans to meet with each of the vetted face to face.

Gotta admire that.

[cosmokramer]

40. No, Kerry will do it in person...

...he was pissed off when Gore didn't even tell him it wasn't him in 2000, and pissed off that Gore endorsed Dean without telling Lieberman first. Kerry has class in spades over Gore, he will do it in person.

29. My thoughts exactly

Edwards would deserve a face to face meeting for the bad news, and the brief length of time involved indicates that the choice was not Edwards.

[Doosh]

30. or.....that the choice WAS edwards

but of course, we get the predictable spin from the Clarkies. When is the last time your guy had a private meeting with Kerry, the article doesn't even mention his name among those who have been vetted.

[Adelante]

32. We wouldn't know

Clark keeps private things private.

[cosmokramer]

38. Um, Thursday he had a private meeting with Kerry....

...and has been to Kerry's home several times. Saw him today in DC, too, though you won't find the press talking about it, since the Veep process is very secret...

And your spin is quite predictable, Doosh...it is always the same...when you point a finger, you should look at the other four pointing back at you...

42. My Guy?

My guy is Dean, whom I have NO hope will get selected, lol.

I like Clark, but I'm not promoting Clark as VP with any of thses posts.

[TSIAS]

31. That might be so

The same thought came to my mind. In reality, however, it's probably best not to read into it too much.

Even if the VP isn't Edwards, I don't think the choice would automatically be Clark.

[cosmokramer]

39. It may not be Clark...

...but it is definitely not Edwards.

[cosmokramer]

35. Agreed!

Also, leak of the 'secret meeting' would not have happened, be assured, if it was Edwards. Kerry wants to surprise.

[Sparkly]

45. I hope you're right -- it's scary.

Has Edwards said anything along the lines of "not interested?" This is what scares me. With all the media hype, and if he doesn't dismiss it on some level, not being picked would be embarrassing at this point. That's why I wonder why he has not said "not interested" (if he hasn't). That's what scares me.

I agree that it may not be Clark, but I reeeeally hope it's not somebody who has virtually zero foreign policy, national defense and/or military experience.

[democratreformed]

54. My daughter said he said he "will not work with Kerry"

(as in VP) yesterday. I forgot what she said she was watching.

[cosmokramer]

62. Edwards's said this?

[Doosh]

27. all the pieces are coming together

excellent

[funky_bug]

34. Okay, I know this will look like sour Clarkie grapes...

but it's Nedra FUCKIN' Pickler... the same biatch who completely trashed Kerry for taking vacations and propped Bush up for being a humble Texas rancher.

I refuse to put stock in anything that Nedra Pickle-up-the-ass says, because I firmly believe, after researching and reading her past articles, that she is a boil on the butt of humanity and has every intention of assisting the GOP in keeping GW in office.

[PopSixSquish]

50. If You'll Pardon the Use of This Phrase...

somtimes a cigar, is just a cigar. Perhaps the two met privately to say "Hi, give my best to Theresa/Elizabeth, nice speech in Texas, can you believe these Republican assholes?"

I mean can you imagine the craziness if both Senators had talked to each in public, in front of the cameras, we would have had Breaking News on the flipping Discovery channel.

[democratreformed]

52. LOL. Not here, thank you.

I'm not taking the bait.

[Joe Fields]

55. Less than thrilled.....

I am less than thrilled with any of the choices who are considered the front-runners for Kerry's running mate. It was disgusting for me to see Kerry begging a republican to take the job. All while Kerry was lobbying McCain in one ear, Bush was whispering sweet nothings into McCain's other ear. Looks like Bush won out, and now a lot of dems look foolish, as the Senator from Arizona went out campaigning for Bush - not just campaigning, but wholeheartedly endorsing Bush's decision, no matter for what reasons, to invade and occupy Iraq.

In my opinion, John Edwards does little for the party, as a would be running mate. He may be a nice man, I don't know, but he has very limited experience, and it would be a major challenge for him to be able to carry his home state. It's probably true that his trial lawyer experience would allow him to be able to cut Dick Cheney off at the knees in a Veep debate, but that doesn't really mean much. Veep debates are a sideshow, at best, and have never really figured into the outcome of an election. We need more than just a pretty face that tirelessly prattles on about "two America's."

As for Wes Clark - is he a democrat or a republican? Only his hairdresser knows for sure. At the risk of angering a few folks, I believe it was a mistake for him to enter politics. He doesn't seem suited for it. I thought that was made quite clear in the primary debates. He showed little command of the issues and had trouble thinking on his feet. I'm admitting to a bias here, because I have felt that career military men should never be a part of the executive branch of our government.

Gephardt? Surely this isn't the best we can do. I have lived in Missouri most of my life and I can tell you that Dick Gephardt would do well to carry St. Louis, let alone the rest of the state. We really don't have much use for him here. As a congressman he has met with little opposition. On a national stage he would probably cost Kerry points in the polls.

My choice is one that most likely will not happen, and that is Bill Richardson. If anyone has a true chance at delivering some electoral votes for Kerry it is him. He could possibly help to carry three southwestern states, which would be an unbelievable boost to us. Richardson has all of the credentials. His only drawback, if you can consider it one is his ties to the Clinton administration. I don't, but a lot of people might.

I will live with whoever Kerry picks that accepts the position, and I will put on my partisan face. Hell, we all learned to live with Lieberman didn't we?

Joe Fields

[janx]

56. Richardson would be a good pick, no doubt.

But I've seen him refute the notion when interviewed. Then again, they all do that.

[Adelante]

57. Welcome to DU, Joe Fields

:hi:

You don't seem to know much about Wes Clark, so I will excuse it, this time. Kerry will pick who he needs most and none of us knows what's in his heart and mind. The field is strong and I won't have trouble voting for the ticket, including Bill Richardson or Gep or Edwards. However, Clark is as qualified as any and certainly moreso in terms of national security and foreign policy. Kerry could do a whole lot worse and I believe he knows it. This is not to say Wes Clark will be VP, but that he is a serious and worthy contender who is not to be dismissed lightly in the way you do.

[Joe Fields]

60. Hi, Wes Dem

Not trying to make enemies here, but as a blogger, I make it my business to know about politicians. I still hold to my statements.

[Adelante]

61. Well, in that case

I guess you will have to back them up. Be my guest.

[funky_bug]

58. Don't hate me if I'm laughing in two weeks.

If you would stop baiting Clark supporters with comments like "I'm surprised the Clark supporters didn't jump on this" and "Clarkies, ready to go on offensive" or "Typical Clark supporter" then MAYBE, just maybe we wouldn't feel compelled to crash your party... on second thought, most every one of these spiteful little jabs is an open invitation to a flame war.

The people who are making these comments seriously need to grow up. If Edwards gets the nod, then you can all go around saying "Told you so" until you're blue in the face. But if he doesn't, you're all going to look like a bunch of boomin' arses. Karma is a bitch. You'd better hope she's not coming for you.

[wjsander]

59. Well, don't make yourselves so easy to bait...

... and there will probably be a lot less conflit.

It's a silly VP role. Lighten up! :+

[TexasSissy]

63. Maybe Kerry was explaining to Edwards why he wasn't picked.

Or maybe they were arranging the announcement that Edwards is chosen. Could be anything.