In response to dreynoldsjr @ 125

Here’s a link to the initial letter signed by Webb, among 14 others, pushing Reid to put the SJC bill on the floor — because of concerns over telecom immunity:

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/1212-17.htm

Thank you, Christy! Any chance that Rollover Reid will actually listen to them?

Bob in HI

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards criticized rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday for leaving South Carolina in the run-up to the state’s primary, saying residents should question whether the New York senator would return if she became president.

“After the debate she flew out and won’t be back,” Edwards told a crowd of about 150 people in this small town. “What are the chances she’s coming back when she’s president of the United States?”

I don’t see any indication that Edwards is doing anything other than suggesting that Clinton should stay in South Carolina and campaign. That her leaving somehow indicates that she really doesn’t care about South Carolinians.

You are right, he says nothing about FISA, or either Hillary (or Obama, who continues to campaign in S.C.) going back to Washington to support Senator Dodd.

And regarding my comments about Edwards. It’s not that I don’t like him. He’s likeable enough. But at the same time I don’t see that he’s immune from criticism from many of the same things that are raised on this pro-Edwards site that others raise against the other candidates. I just don’t happen to worship at his feet and ignore these things. If I actually responded against Edwards EVERY TIME that someone praiused him to high heaven and criticised Obama or Clinton then every other post would be from me.

Apparently people on this site get all upset with cognitive dissonance when I point out Edwards role with Fortress Investment group, or his role in the bankruptcy bill, or his position in the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign in not renouncing their votes supporting the Iraq AUF Resolution.

Sorry. I agree that Edwards could come forward and make a statement encouraging his opponents to go back to Washington and support Senator Dodd. But his statements above are contrary in spirit to that end. It keeps Obama in SC (otherwise he would face the same criticism) and might encourage Hillary to return.

Instead Edwards should say he’ll suspend his campaign for the duration the other two Senators are in Washington supporting Dodd.

But frankly this is just so much political gamesmanship. Better to be writing letters and phoning the sitting Senators like Biden, Clinton, Obama, Feingold, etc.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/1212-17.htm

But to characterize it as Edwards telling her or Obama to “stay in South Carolina and campaign,” is not accurate. It’s just not. I know that you don’t like Edwards. I know because you frequently make remarks about him that are less than flattering each and every time his name comes up.

But, in this case, trying to use a tick tock article from the field from an AP reporter on deadline that needed to fill space with something fluffy as evidence that Edwards said that neither Obama or Clinton should leave the campaign trail to work on the FISA issue or actually do their jobs is just flat out wrong. Which is why I think it is beneath you, because normally you are very careful about making half-assed statements and innuendos.

The story simply has nothing to do with FISA or doing their jobs. Edwards has not yet issued a statement on that — I know because I just checked with his campaign — again — and with the others as well — again. Re-read the article, it’s about painting Clinton as an out-of-touch out-of-towner, jabbing her for campaigning elsewhere and not SC. NOT for going back to DC and doing her damned job. You are allowing your dislike of Edwards to cloud your reading of this. And in doing so, trying to score points against him whether or not that works in detriment to the work we are trying to do on FISA — and I’m not letting it pass without saying that is not what the article said…because it is NOT.

Essentially, his (very gracious) staff member expressed Senator Webb’s “deep concern” with the telecom immunity provisions originating from the Intelligence Committee.

His position, however, is unclear; although he’s expressed concern with immunity, his staff could/would not definitively communicate his position. Also, she stated that Senator Webb was also uncommitted to supporting the efforts of Chris Dodd.

Is there a link showing his past expressed support of efforts to block immunity?

In this case I think that it’s Edwards who isn’t in touch with what is important to the nation. He should be telling the sitting Senators that they shouldn’t be campaigning at all at this point…and go back to Washington.

Perhaps he could offer to temporarily suspend his own campaign if they did so.

Frankly, accusing me of an adolescent jab at a candidate who just made one himself is something that I wouldn’t have expected from YOU.

Shorter comments means faster posting. No paranoia necessary.