A criticism I have of John Edwards tonight

[journalist3072]

So right now I'm sitting here watching John Edwards' live webcast from New Orleans. He is giving his own State of the Union and taking questions.

Anyway, when talking about last night's SOTU, he was saying it's "all theatre." He says it seems as though "people" (I assume he's referring to his former colleagues in the Congress) seem to know how to clap when they think they're supposed to. They know how to be quiet when they're supposed to, and it's all theatre and a game.

While I might agree with him on that basic point, he needs to be reminded that he was a part of that theatre. He played that game himself during the past SOTUs during which he was a Senator.

When someone has left political office, it's very easy for them to criticize their former colleagues, because they no longer have to vote on issues, etc.

But it just struck me as odd that he would bring up the "theatre" of the SOTU when he used to be part of that theatre.

[KoKo]

1. What "Theater" was he "excluded' from though...I didn't understand from your post.

as to what he felt he was "excluded from." :shrug:

[journalist3072]

2. I didn't say he felt excluded from the theater. I'm saying that

he played that "theatre" game himself when he was in the Senate and had to attend the SOTU. Virtually all of them do. And I find it curious that now that he's out of the Senate, he's critcizing the "theatre" that he participated in.

[KoKo]

5. Okay...you are saying he's critcizing the very body of Government

that he was a PART OF when all of us NC'linians worked hard to put him in the Senate to Represent US! :shrug: Or, did I get it wrong, again?

[journalist3072]

6. What part don't you understand? I'm saying that he played that theatre game very well

And now he wants to criticize it?

My point is that it's very easy to be critical of stuff when you are no longer a part of it, or have to vote on it, etc. He's engaging in Monday morning quarterbacking and I think it's disengenuous.

[KoKo]

10. That's a hostile answer when I said what it was I was criticizing.

:eyes:

[Pharaoh]

3. BOY!

You might look at this all a little more deeply.

[LSK]

7. .

:rofl:

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

4. Funny he said that about " theatre " of the SOTU

I noticed the same thing, standing up, clapping, all a game?

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

8. Figures he wouldn't answer my question.

I asked how he could advocate a possible war with Iran given the current debacle in Iraq and him saying his vote to authorize the war was a mistake.

[journalist3072]

12. He didn't answer my question either...

I asked him about his decision in 2004 to ask to have his name removed from the Presidential ballot here in DC, and where he stands on the issue of voting rights for DC residents.

[porphyrian]

9. Is that the only thing wrong with it?

I missed it. He probably went off-script and wiped out trying to wing a talking point. Anyway, if that's the worst he did, what was the best?

[journalist3072]

11. Yep, that's the only issue I took

Outside of the fact that he asked to have his name removed from the Presidential ballot here in DC in 2004, I really love John Edwards. I agree with him on many policy issues, and I absolutely love how he is focusing on poverty, and helping New Orleans (the forgotten city, IMO).

I just take issue with his recent criticisms of his former colleagues. Like I said, it's very easy to engage in Monday morning quarterbacking when you no longer have to vote on issues, etc.

So other than that, I thought he did outstandingly tonight.

[Bobbieo]

13. J-3072 - I Could not help but notice last night that they all seemed to move on cue

everyone, that is, except SCOTUS. They just sat there!!! Up and down - just like going to Mass