Login HereThe Mellencamp concert for John Edwards last night was a huge success for the campaign. It was well attended (easily twice the size of the Huckabee "Huck'n'Chuck" rally the night before), the crowd was enthusiastic and responded to his message. The people he assembled on the stage represented the image he was trying to put forth -- working class, labor, the people who have been forgotten and disenfranchised and disempowered. They're pissed off and they respond to Edwards' message that you can't reach a "bipartisan agreement" with people who won't pay for a liver transplant for a teenage girl for the sake of profit. You're going to have to fight them.
The whole thing was well stage-managed and the pieces were put in place for a consistent message. Elizabeth Edwards was great and Mellencamp really worked for them, but my problem was strangely -- Edwards himself.
He's better than I've ever seen him before and he connected with the crowd well, but the obvious comparison with Edwards was not Obama or Clinton but the populist Huckabee, who had been on that very stage the night before. Edwards doesn't have Huckabee's affability, his sense of humor, his ease in front of an audience. I like Edwards message, it appeals to me, but I got the sense that if I wasn't already on his team I might not be persuaded by listening to him. Edwards speaks like a man who is convinced he's right and will doggedly pursue his message whether people want to hear it or not. Which I respect. But Huckabee has a sense of himself as a man with a message that is right for the time, and all people need to do is hear it and they'll think so too. The populist frame is not all that different, but one message is alienating, the other enfranchising.
Edwards could do it in Iowa. He seems to have channeled people's economic frustrations (as opposed to amorphous frustrations with the political process) better than anyone. He's got solid labor support and those people show up.
But if he goes forward, he needs some media training. I'm assuming he's had plenty, but he needs someone else. Someone to lighten him up and shift his pitch to ride the wave on the left that Huckabee has surfed on the right.
I'm listening to Ron Paul speak right now to an enthusiastic audience. There's a tremendous hunger for change in this state. The only question is -- whose package are they buying?
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Jane!
ZED! Go Edwards!!
Everyone was wondering what was in the Ron Paul box lunch?
Rooting for Edwards here!
Is Ron Paul the George Wallace of his time? Populist BS that preys on prejudices of people.
Both CBL and I are solid for Edwards right now. Love to hear he is doing well in Iowa.
Maybe you have to be angry to connect.
Can Edwards do it in Iowa? Maybe. I hope so… Hillary might then come in third. That would stun her and Bubba. Then watch out when they crank their machine!
Do you think the $100 a barrel oil will be on peoples minds tonight in Iowa?
Boy, you nailed it Jane.
Tweety is already trying to “Dean Scream” Edwards for being “angry”…Huck’s sense of humor is entirely what is floating his boat..
I think Edwards will do well and with a little better sense of humor (he needs to go back and carefully listen to Bobby K)… strength, logic, and snark..that was his charm.
I’m pullin’ for Edwards.
Yeah, and Huckabee seems well under his skin, so to speak. But I know what you mean, Jane. Huckabee comes across as a natural, easy going, and not acting at all. Quite a contrast to Mitt and Mama…
MSM is calling Edwards angry. I get a kick out of this. An angry white man. Watever happened to the angry black man? *g* I guess Obama wouldn’t quite fit that.
I have heard a similar criticism (and thought the same thing myself). Edwards needs the lighter side to show through a little more. He doesn’t come across as “relaxed.”
That’s okay with me because it’s usually a big act from people like the Decider and Bubba, and probably even Huckabee. But it’s a sign of polish and professionalism that may prove invaluable for the party’s nominee next November.
Ab Fab Jane & Jeralyn - who is Patsy & who is Edwina?
Jane,
Perhaps you’re just too close to objectively scrutinize what transpired. I think the caucus goers who attended the rally probably had different experiences. I don’t know or even dare to prognosticate what the differences might be. However, I do believe that your intense involvement in the campaign along with your own decided selection of your candidate of choice is very different from the people who will actually caucus tonight.
Maybe I’ve missed something, but it seems that Julie Anni has disappeared from the news entirely. I know that he is in Florida, but is he still a contender? What’s up?
The question for me is do I think that voters will recognize that Huckabee does not engender the prospect for change. It should be obvious that Mr. Huckabee, at best, represents a continuation of the Bush era, with all it’s accompanying failed attributes.
Mr. Edwards would be fine with me. As would Dodd. Of course Edwards could polish his message a bit perhaps. Couldn’t we all?
“Huckabee has a sense of himself as a man with a message that is right for the time, and all people need to do is hear it and they’ll think so too. The populist frame is not all that different, but one message is alienating, the other enfranchising.”
My take on that is that John knows he’s saying things (and will be ) that people don’t want to hear.
OTOH, Huckabee is the “Southern preacher” incarnation of Dubya. He’s practiced at his presentation because he’s seducing, not convincing. The people he appealed to in the past were already convinced about his message.
I’ve seen too many like Huck over my growing up years in the south. Their moving out of the mansion Target registry (and for the recommitment ceremony) is just par for the course. He has no real principles that translate well to governing a country…..just a style that works in a particular culture. And it’s mostly about him.
Edwards is my guy. It was close between him and Dodd though. About his chances to win Iowa, my gut tells me that he’s not going to win. Maybe second, but I guess we’ll be seeing for sure this evening. I think that the other candidates are going to kill him with the expectations game. If he doesn’t come in second at least the press will spin this as Edwards is a loser. But that’s just my gut. Maybe I just need to get something to eat….
I’ve heard his delivery described as the defense lawyer style, making eye contact with every person on the jury until they are convinced. If that’s accurate, perhaps it works better in small gatherings than in large crowds. More media training might help, but the problem with training is that the subject has to know he needs it first, otherwise it won’t be effective. Edwards was fine at the WGA rally in NYC, but it was a friendly informal crowd, not voters trying to make up their minds. So it was no test, and we all had no basis of comparison, like you did with Huckster.
Check out his latest ad
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/062467.php
I think Edwards is really solid and I think the turn out for Dems will be huge. I also think a lot of talking knobs heads will explode over the next couple of days…
Completely OT, Owww terrorists and gay folks..scary…../s
(Baghdad) The Iraq government is considering the release of some 5,000 prisoners but a spokesperson said it would not include terrorists or homosexuals.
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/01/010208iraq.htm
Jane,
Will you be coveying these impressions to the Edwards campaign?
Now that is scary!
Tweety is already trying to “Dean Scream” Edwards for being “angry”…
Heard Mrs. Greenspan pushing the same crap this morning. Repub’s are *desperately* loooking/pushing for a “Rodney King” D candidate.
“Can’t we all just get along”?
NO!!
I suspect that the patina of “inevitability” has started to wear off with HRC, thank goodness. Obama is still a neophyte… one good convention speecha and two years in the Senate hardly make someone presidential, I have to wonder how much of his run is ego, and how much is truly understanding what he’s asking for; also we don’t need another president who is going to be getting massive amounts of “OJT” because his ego overcame his good sense.
If Obama ran in ‘12 or ‘16 he’d have my support if he remains true to the principles he’s espousing. But a quick glance at the record as it sits… he could not be bothered to do anymore to “protect and defend the Constitution” by literally standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chris Dodd in the well of the Senate, for the FISA/Telecom immunity issue. If he (and HRC and Biden) could not drag their asses off the campaign trail for something of that import, what is there to suggest that if given the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Obama or any of them would behave differently?
And this get interesting for Huckeeberry:
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin.....tters.html
We are in support of Edwards and Dodd. We think either could defeat Huckabee.
Edwards knows he needs to be angry to win the nomination — Democrats are angry and need a vessel for our anger. He’s it. I hope we’ll see a return to the sunnier Edwards for the general election.
I don’t want him to tack right for the general. I don’t think he needs to. But I think a little tuneup in the disposition department will serve him well. Americans like a cheerful president. Between two populists — Huck & JRE — America might choose the more cheerful one.
(Baghdad) The Iraq government is considering the release of some 5,000 prisoners but a spokesperson said it would not include terrorists or homosexuals.
In other words, 5,000 utterly innocent people?
How, umm, *decent* of them…
…gets interesting…
the description of Hucksterbee sounds like ronnie raygun and oh boy
I guess we should be looking in Hoolywood for people to run for office
masters and misstresses of the universe….Please give us Edwards
All due respect, Jane, but is it possible that you have been influenced by your proximity to the massive mainstream media juggernaut in Iowa? This sounds a bit like the usual “can’t win” MSM criticism: “too angry”, “too strident”, “not enough passion”, “too distant”, “too raw”, “too polished”, etc.
I’ve been an Edwards supporter from the minute Kerry conceded. I was looking forward to his candidacy since then. And he’s always left me feeling a little empty or disappointed or something. But screw those “feelings”. he da man. Jane, I’m assuming we’ll see a different Edwards as things head south and I’m also assuming he can connect with Southerners just like he did with NC juries. He’ll be OK if the mulah hold out.
THAT was insightful. Really nice pickup.
But I get Jane’s point as well. I think Edwards, b/c he is so damn pretty looking has always had to struggle to be taken seriously and has learned a demeanor to achieve that. (otherwise all commentary about him would be even MORE focused on his haircuts and his pearly whites.)
It’s kinda late inthe game to try to chnage that and if he did, I’m afraid it would come off as very phony.
That being said, if the pressure is getting to him, he could be coming across as very strained. It might eb as imple as getting some sleep and sipping a little cammomile—and, yes, I know how trite that sounds and how unlikley a litigator (used to pushing himself past his limits and “gutting” things out) would even consider sucha thing.
Maybe a massage and steam?
Who the hell is equating these two groups?
The really hilarious thing is that the Villagers have been trying for years to convince the Dems that they need to appeal to the “angry white male.” I guess you’re supposed to pander to them, but you’re not supposed to actually be one.
And Obama, I’m sure, knows very well that an angry black man would go nowhere in national politics. I believe his conciliatory style is sincere, but I also believe he has fewer other options for that reason (as does Clinton, in fact.)
Musharraf is now thelling us that Bhutto is responsible for her own death. Perhaps big brain Huckabee could give us his take on this.
Is it me but I find Huckabee just plain dumb and uninformed. The difference between him and Dubya, is that Huckabee doesn’t try to hide it.
How low have our standards fallen that affability is a big concern in a presidential race? We are in deep s*** as a country.
1,750 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Thanks for the report on the Edwards rally, I really think that regardless of large or small turnout Edwards’ unpollable support and his consistent strength with the “independents” will torpedo the corporate media efforts to make ‘im invisible. As for your worry about the “affability” factor, I would like to suggest that you may be over analayzin’ this one…don’t fall into the trap of advancin’ cosmetics and marketing psychology over issues and the ability of voters to identify with the honesty of experience of a candidate. The people who count and the greater base of the Democratic Party are hurtin’ BIG time and identify with Edwards’ politics as well as his personal presense. Put the Elmer Gantry up on the same stage as Edwards and he’ll shrink to the size of a penny in the collection plate.
I am more afraid of Barak O’Lieberman foolin’ the “newbies” in the Democratic Party, especially the young, than I am a general election confrontation with a fascist phony.
KEEP THE FAITH AND GO TO JAMAICA IF YA WANNA SEE WHAT FASCIST ECONOMICS WILL DO FOR AMERICA!!
Could it be as simple as the difference in their backgrounds. Huckabee has had to earn donations most of his life with mythical tales from sympathetic parishioners. Edwards had to earn by channeling anger into justice, with facts, through courts of law on behalf of those who have been taken for a ride.
I must admit that one of my main reasons for liking Edwards is that anger. I think that’s what we need more of. I’ve often asked, “Where’s the outrage!” I’m glad Edwards is supplying it. It’s time! Americans should be angry at what’s going on with our government! I wish it were more geared toward our loss of Civil Liberties and subjugation of the Constitution to the Personality Cult of the President. But at least it’s there.
Your misgivings do give me pause, though, Jane. What would he need to do in your opinion to close his argument, and as a trial lawyer, shouldn’t he be convincing enough to do that without further guidance? What base is it that he’s not touching for you. I doubt it’s ideology, I don’t think it’s philosophy, what? Does he just seem “on” all the time? Does he not seem real and trustworthy? I bet his wife has a lot of what you feel he lacks, because Elizabeth seems extremely personable. I even wonder if it’s his little boy countenance, that Dick Clark look of his, that “I never age!” look that may be off-putting.
Re-read your post (since the servers seem to be having a breakdown) and I think it may just be that Edwards needs to learn the benefits of meditation or some other similar practice, bio-whatever, or zen or something. He needs to get more comfortable in his own skin.
All due respect, Jane, but is it possible that you have been influenced by your proximity to the massive mainstream media juggernaut in Iowa? This sounds a bit like the usual “can’t win” MSM criticism: “too angry”, “too strident”, “not enough passion”, “too distant”, “too raw”, “too polished”, etc.
Hillary’s Zionist MSM support switched to Obama a couple of months ago.
Hill looks lost in the wilderness ever since.
I have to agree with Jim the Cynic where he says “…your own decided selection of your candidate of choice is very different from the people who will actually caucus tonight.”
It surprises me Jane, after all this time you are only just seeing Edwards? Then when he had a great event with over 3,000 enthusiastic people you make it sound like he was mediocre? And while he was on a 36 hour tour? Obviously you have had your own candidate of choice and haven’t been paying attention.
I have seen John Edwards engage crowds too many times. People leave feeling he spoke directly to them. So maybe he had an off day where he was running low at that point, I don’t know, I wasn’t there. I have only heard enthusiastic reports from many sources about that event.
This is the only one that was sour. ?
Edwards populism vs. Huckabee populism:
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/......aspx#more
Don’t tell me server problems still? Is it the underlying OS or the Blog app that seems to be causing the glitches? It took me 5 to 6 minutes to get my connection back. Whats up??
Can Jane get some time with Elizabeth Edwards and tell her that? I hope so. He seems to have the ability. Maybe John should try playing the guitar. I just want him to win.
Wasn’t last night the end of Edwards 36 hour campaign marathon? He could be forgiven for being a tiny bit off his game at that point.
If the Huck gets even close to getting the nomination, I believe the GOP will empty the coffers to stop it. Most of those elected would have no idea how to even talk with this man. He’s pathetic.
‘ ‘terrorists or homosexuals.’
Who the hell is equating these two groups?’
Biodum,
It’s from this link, I’m not linking the two together…
(Baghdad) The Iraq government is considering the release of some 5,000 prisoners but a spokesperson said it would not include terrorists or homosexuals.
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/01/010208iraq.htm
I don’t think you fully understand what she is saying. If I read it correctly, it seems as though she is saying that John needs to lighten up things a bit. He is so serious, that a little levity can go a long way.
Gosh, what a relief - I was concerned about all those gay people attacking ‘mercans./s
Could it be as simple as the difference in their backgrounds. Huckabee has had to earn donations most of his life with mythical tales from sympathetic parishioners. Edwards had to earn by channeling anger into justice, with facts, through courts of law on behalf of those who have been taken for a ride.
All Edwards would have to do in a general against Huckabee is replay Huckabee’s statement about being an author who supports writers with footage of him crossing a picket line juxtaposed with footage of Edwards supporting strikers and working in New Orleans. Simple honest facts would be all that’s needed to show Edwards as a man of intelligence and conviction.. and show Huck as another dumb hypocrite looking for a handout.
On the other hand, an Iowa teacher who called into Ed Shultz when I was out this afternoon really liked the fact that Edwards was dead serious and didn’t try to throw in some jokes. And he certainly had plenty of humor in the YKos post-debate session, so it may be a case of the right strategy for the time. Right now in Iowa, it’s less about convincing the undecided and more about convincing supporters to actually show up (especially at a rally of supporters.)
When Edwards takes Iowa by 4% points I’m going to have so much fun telling the Hillary supporters at my union to suck it.
She’s seen Edwards several times, in cluding at YKos and has written about them. Good lord, people, it’s Jane’s personal opinion. If you don’t agree with it and you were there and saw something different, then by all means detail what you saw, felt, heard, etc.
Presidential campaigns are tough to report, because people adopt a particular candidate and then take anything said about them very, very personally. But every candidate has strengths and weaknesses, and can use constructive criticism from someone on the outside of their campaign circle — which is, I think, Jane’s objective on this. We benefit from the best candidate fighting for all of us — would you all feel better if Jane only pulled her punches on Edwards and let him keep going forward without addressing something that needed work, even if she thought it would make him even better over the long run?
This isn’t some popularity contest, it’s politics. It’s nasty, it is a sales job, and media training has long been a part of it. Good media training. If a candidate isn’t getting that, then his staff and the people around him need to know that — otherwise even if he wins the nomination, we’ll get creamed in the general and we cannot afford a President McCain or Huckabee. We simply can’t. The stakes are FAR too high this year for mincey niceness.
And JaneNYC — you are absolutely right on the Huckabee Target registry — that just screamed “trashy” to me, too. Blergh.
Love that line “as another dumb hypocrite looking for a handout.” That’s Huck in a nutshell.
you owe my cat an apology. she doesn’t seem to like the coffee on her face….
Sorry, Kitty. I love cats.
Opps, forgot smiley face thingy :):):)
Dodd getting facetime with Noron on CNN, decrying “deals” where candidates tell their supporters what to do. Says he hopes his supporters, if they need to, will support their own second choice candidate.
Hear, hear, Christy. I certainly respect Jane’s opinion. I’m not convinced it’s a problem, but if it is, I hope it’s not too big of one, because I’m doubtful that anyone this far into the ego-trip of a presidential campaign is capable of seeing they need that kind of retooling.
“My own decided candidate?”
Nice try. I don’t have one.
I don’t think she ready to accept anything from either of us yet. I’m getting the ‘evil cat eye thing’….
After all, it’s the most important election of our lifetime. . .just like the last one, and the one before that, and the one before that.
Great post and very helpful Jane. You’re tracking the things that matter the most to lots of people- thanks.
I’m not liking all this “deal making” going on about who gives who’s votes to whom. Dodd was just on, and he said people want to make up their own minds about who to vote for. The latest is some Obama/Richardson deal. Just stop it.
Edwards has re-tooled his message, and his delivery, several times in this campaign. I think Jane’s seeing something specific he’s tailored for Iowa. Something not necessarily attractive to outsiders. This guy really knows Iowans, and he knows how to close the deal with them.
I trust him, and I also trust Elizabeth.
rotsa ruck
Yes it really is. I watched a very informative documentary on Nader (PBS) last month. One of the things I learned was how many D’s offered Nader and his causes a whole lot of money to drop out in 2000. I strongly suspect this will happen to Huck if need be this year. Nader didn’t accept the bribes.. Huckabee absolutely will. Bushco can count zeros.. and they have an appetite in multi-billions.. Huck can’t count high enough to have the level of greed.
As do I and, I suspect, the vast majority of people who frequent this blog. I don’t see anyone in this thread denying Jane’s right to her opinion, or minimizing her hard work in developing her opinion. I just see people analyzing and unpacking her opinion, trying to glean as much as possible from it, and figure out what it means.
I heard Dodd talking about the same thing. Does anyone know if there are records kept of which candidates the second-round votes in caucuses actually come from? It’d be interesting to know whether we actually know how many supporters follow their candidate’s request to “give” them to another candidate, or whether it’s just speculation.
I have met John Edwards, spoken with him, and I found him honest as well as likeable. When he spoke to the crowd the evening I saw him, he spoke with humor as well as frustration over the country’s current situation.
If I want humor, I’ll watch M.A.S.H re-runs, or our laugh-a-minute Idiot-In-Chief…
I’m just worried about the media. Heck, Channel 6 here in Philadelphia reran the whole “Dean Scream” thing here last night. I guess I just wish that Edwards would put a boot up Blitzer, Tweety or Russert’s ass.
I agree. Dodd seems to have a core of integrity that won’t allow anyone to seriously dilute or redirect it. Imagine that! As for Edwards and his anger, he needs to speak to it proactively. Who wouldn’t be angry? We have had feces dumped on us for seven long, anguished years. Don’t dodge this. Turn it into an asset. Remember the old “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention”? Turn this on its ear. Or maybe he already is. Remember me? The one who doesn’t watch the tube? Not always a good thing. Maybe.
Won’t it be nice if/when we can knock the GOP down far enough that every election isn’t the most important one of our lifetime?
Agree completely about trusting J & E. However, I cannot imagine the stress at this juncture of the campaign. We can count on the fact that Elizabeth misses absolutely nothing.
Now, OTOH, would love for some of the Edwards campaign staff to read Jane’s great post.
I’ll go one step farther; I want Huckabee to win for Rs. I don’t think Huck can win a general election for reasons too numerous to mention, so I’m hoping he is their chosen candidate. It gives our side a bigger edge, IMO.
In Response to Biodun @27
S
Signed, Your penpal,
KKKKarl
Seems to me that Iowans realize that they are really important to the election process, and I wouldn’t dare tell any of them how to vote. They are very independent people and I think would resent that.
“I just wish that Edwards would put a boot up Blitzer, Tweety or Russert’s ass.”
I’d send another contribution to Edwards campaign just to see that…
You know what? I have this vision of Edwards, shaver in hand, shearing off his golden locks, staring into the camera and saying, “Now. Pay attention to what matters.”
I don’t believe records are kept. Until this year, it wasn’t even illegal to misreport your precinct caucus results.
On another note, I worry that those Iowans most responsive to JRE’s message — second- and third-shift workers, oddjobbers, service and waitstaff folks — won’t be able to get off work for two hours at 6:30pm to vote for him. We also already know that military serving have no way to cast absentee ballots.
Gotta find a better way in 2012.
Have never thought of that possibility. However, you are right. Enough zeros on the check and I think the “Huckster” will go away.
He and Rudy love money more than power now that they have a taste of the former.
That’s what I’m talkin bout!
A valid concern. If we could just get some media attention for red-faced screaming freepers who show up at every protest and probably will show up at Dem events, it would make pretty clear the difference between anger and passion. (Oh, who am I kidding; regular people already understand it, it’s just the Beltway media who don’t because they don’t want to.)
2 questions:
1) Is Edwards your choice over all the candidates?
2) If you had never met Edwards, would you be interested in hearing him speak as someone talking with you, instead of at you?
In a show of support, John and Jack wanted to shave their heads before EE’s chemo and she wouldn’t let them.
Also, gang, FWIW the Richardson campaign is saying that they did NOT direct supporters to caucus for anyone else. More here.
In the past two weeks, Sunny John Edwards has been eclipsed by Fightin’ John Edwards — but did the shift come too late? When John Edwards is on, he is The BEST — but there have been too many missteps and missed opportunities along the way.
Here’s hoping he wins tonight, and rides the wave to victory.
Whew. I was worried about that one.
1,750 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hamsher:
I really appreciate your post on the Edwards rally and your musin’ about the “affability” factor as a frame to compare the phony with the real populist. I really believe that we are at a watershed election here not unlike the election of 1932 …what this means is that the real conditions and experiences of the people votin’ will be able to cut right thru the marketing cosmetics that were so successful in 1980 and made the 2000 election stealable for the Chimpenfuehrer. The fascist movement is skewed not on it’s own petard but on the reality of it’s own corruption and incompetence.
KEEP THE FAITH AND DO IT TO THEM BEFORE THE BASTARDS DO IT TO US AGAIN!!
In the last 4 months I have seen Obama speak 3 times, Edwards once and Bill Clinton once.
Obama is an uneven speaker. The first time he was pedestrian. The second time at the J@J Dinner he was absolutely on fire. The last time, two weeks ago, he was flat as hell.
I saw Edwards 4 days ago. Like Jane, I felt he gave a decent speech, but something was missing. Perhaps, it was that he had given the same speech too many times. It reminded me of some of the less than buffo performances he gave running as the VP candidate in 2004.
I saw Bill Clinton 5 days ago. He was sensational. The crowd, virtually the same one that saw Edwards the next day, in fact it was given in the same gym, loved him. There must be something in the water in Hope, Arkansas.
I hope people are not confused by this sentence in Jane’s post:
The conditional “if” is more important than some may notice. Jane’s not on a team; she was speaking as if she was someone who was on Edwards’ team. Which she’s not.
Where you been, in the bunker?
John Edwards gave a dynamite interview with the hapless Chris Matthews on MSNBC a couple of weeks ago. That was one on one and he came across wonderfully.
Iowa and NH are special cases. Most of the campaign will be waged over the air in debates and on ads. What Edwards has going for him is his intelligence and his sincerity. Huckabubba on the other hand may have a sincere air about him but he’s still batshit crazy. Edwards maybe could use a little fine tuning but I would advise against a do over. That way leads to the chameleon like rubberiness of Romney.
As do I and, I suspect, the vast majority of people who frequent this blog.
Damn, bet I didn’t make that cut!
Edwards is my choice, but I would answer yes to question 2 for any of the Dem candidates. While I disagree with some on policy, strategy, or style, I think they’re all thoughtful, educated people who would be interesting to have a conversation with.
The Republicans, not so much.
My sentiments, exactly… thanks for the short version.
I was in Edwards’ breakout session at YearlyKos. His honesty and integrity blew me away. Zero bullshit. If he didn’t know something or he disagreed with you, you knew immediately. And there were many questions that he wasn’t expecting or wasn’t ready for.
Well now he can. Hell, I’d do it, too. Might, in fact. My David’s hair started to fall out yesterday, so he’s on the road to bald pate, courtesy of chemo. Chrome domes for Edwards, I say!
Tweety made the call for Obama and that self serving media snot will do anything in his power to prove himself right.
But that’s Tweety’s deal. I’m in complete agreement about Edwards. He is definitely my preference of the big three with Hil a distant third. BUT I, too, have been struck by his woodenness and lack of affability. I know it’s there, he just needs to let it out. I wonder if he’s worried about people making fun of his lustrous hair in the event he let’s his