if he [Obama] means what he says – and I see no reason to believe he does not

I have reason to doubt the things Obama, Clinton or Edwards have to say. In some ways it’s very easy to say they are all phonies.

Clinton says she’s a Modern Progressive. Just what is that when you sign onto Kyl-Lieberman and promote a flag-burning bill? She’s a joke.

Obama says many things and no things and leaves a way for anyone to find something in him to support. What are his core values? What has he truly fought for? What has he fought against? Who is he? What sparked the interest in him to become involved in politics? Nobody knows. If he’s going to be a pander-bear and a phony, then could he at least do it better?

Edwards was a NC senator and behaved accordingly. As a presidential candidate he’s been much more Progressive and anti-corp. Which is the real JRE? Frankly I don’t care as long as he executes his plans for the presidency as well as he’s handled his campaign and his senate work. He’s entirely consistent, says what needs to be done (IMO) and gives a pretty decent speech which has been copied by Obama and Huckabee.

If I’ve got to look at 3 phonies at least give me the best one — not the Goldwater Girl or the rookie.

when compared to the difference authorizing the war (Edwards, and Clinton) and opposing the war (Obama).
It’s about judgment and foresight. We’re picking the next president here (we certainly hope), not the next regional military commander.

Are you going to use the Republican talking point that voting for the AUMF was a vote to go to war? You do realize don’t you that the AUMF had caveats which should’ve stopped Bush, right? It was Bush who went beyond the resolution and invaded improperly. Do you deny it was Bush’s fault? Are you really trying to put the blame on the Dem senators who voted for the AUMF?

Obama showed his colors when, after saying he was against the war, he voted for reauthorization. That’s inconsistent.

Clinton? Or Edwards? Both of whom authorized the war, and neither of whom has voted to stop it since?

I don’t think Edwards has been in the senate for reauthorization votes. Correct me if you can.

Anyway, both were declared hawks and voted as such. They aren’t the only ones who did.

Still, that doesn’t mean the positions either takes now is in any way related to that time. Events have happened, time has passed. We have to move on and both have said they want to do that. Do you begrudge them the opportunity to change with the times?

Obama spoke against going into Iraq originally. Unfortunately Clinton (and Edwards) did not.

Two points on this:

1) Edwards was a senator from NC at the time and acted the part. Why? One had to be that way to get elected and to get reelected. I’d guess he got sick of the senate and went back to being himself when he ran for president.

2) Senators have a different standard to uphold than Obama had. There were lots of people against the war and yet I don’t blame any senator for voting either year or nay to Karl Rove’s crazy resolution. It wasn’t put there to get the Senate’s approval. It was put there to make Dems declare their support for the president in a time of war or to declare themselves unfit for the presidency. But, more than that, they received briefings from the administration and were led to believe there were WMDs (nukes). They also had the self-made requirement to ’support the president’ so that if they became president they could expect senatorial support.

In short, it’s irrelevant. Bush was gonna invade anyway.T

Hate to tell you but I’m not all that big a fan of Edwards and a lot of his positions anymore than I am of Obama or Clinton, so using Edwards’ positions as a baseline for comparison does not particularly move me.

When the storm comes those who are not moved will be blown away.

Edwards ties it all together and is amazingly consistent and Progressive in his plans.

Clinton doesn’t even pretend any more to be Progressive and everyone laughs when she says she’s an ‘agent of change’.

Obama is much more clearly now pandering to anyone and everyone. Earlier it wasn’t so clear because he was just stealing Edwards best lines to win the Progressive vote. Now that Edwards is down Obama is flailing wildly to win every vote, no matter how unProgressive they may be. If he’s going to be a fake it would be nice if he could do it better.

So whose leadership do you find more compelling? Who are you supporting?

He created a health care plan so good that Hillary copied it almost in it’s entirety.

He announced an economic stimulus plan a month before Bush and Pelosi sealed a deal.

He has focused like a laser on all the key issues of the day and watched all the other candidates, including a Republican Huckabee, catch up to him months later.

He’s talked about a moral challenge to our nation that can unite us with a common purpose — something which we’ve been seeking since the end of the Cold War.

It’s John Edwards.

i will vote for Obama or Hillary. i won’t like it very much but i will do it.

As time passes and the campaign goes on we see much more about the candidates and begin to realize neither Hillary nor Obama are all they would like us to believe. In fact, their errors, weaknesses and panderings become painful to watch. If you’re going to have a phony let’s at least have one who is really really good at it.

And you think Clinton’s backing of the Flag bill and lack of leadership in countering the Bush administration is leadership? OK then, you can have her.

No thanks. That was one of the first items up for discussion about the candidates back in the spring of last year. Some people just weren’t into the discussion at that time.

John Edwards — He understands Freedom of Speech

We are in desperate need of moral leadership, but it’s not going to come from our government. There has to be a righteous cause, a leader like Dr. King, and the people behind it. Sadly, I don’t see any of the many crises facing our nation to be righteous enough, in the eyes of the average American, to start a movement for change.

John Edwards has been saying for a long time that the moral challenge of our generation is whether we can pass along to our children an America that is better than what we had.

John Edwards — Moral Leadership for all of America!