Edwards the new RFK?

[SarahinOhio]

John Edwards is a smart politician who knows the value of modesty. When asked about Robert F. Kennedy, he says simply, "I don't deserve to be compared to him." But throughout his campaign for the Democrat's 2008 presidential nomination, Edwards has not-so-subtly encouraged the Kennedy comparison. He notes that no presidential candidate "in 40 years"—since Kennedy—has run a campaign centered on the plight of America's poor. Last week he ended his three-day, 1,800-plus-mile "Road to One America" poverty tour in Prestonburg, Ky., the town where, four decades earlier, Kennedy concluded his own tour of impoverished Appalachia. "I want you to join us," Edwards told his audience, "to end the work Bobby Kennedy started."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19886671/site/newsweek/

Haircut aside, why do you think Edwards isn't getting the kind of traction that one would expect? He's got the clearest message of the Democratic candidates, a very popular wife, and should resonate with many potential voters as a former vice-presidential candidate who nearly saw victory*. Is he too slick? Has the media, sniffing blood, pounced on the same trivialities that doomed Gore in 2000? Have Obama and Clinton just sucked up all the oxygen?

For the Democrats out there, or any incensed Canadians, who are you leaning toward now, and why?


*No scoffing at Kerry allowed. Haskins.

[robeiae]

Imo, he erred by accepting Kerry's offer to run as VP. If he hadn't, he'd be a lock for the nomination now and would likely have breezed through the 2008 election. Because of running in the last election, I don't think he has any chance to get the nomination, now. People are used to his shtick and he comes across as contrived and phony, again imo.

[William Haskins]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19886671/site/newsweek/

Haircut aside, why do you think Edwards isn't getting the kind of traction that one would expect?

because you can smell the snake oil on him even through the internets.

[Bird of Prey]

Personally, I think it's a little early to tell how he'll do. However, my guess is - as he's already run - he's probably of less interest because he did so poorly. For me, that ambulance-chasing smile is not all that trustworthy and I thought he was unconvincing in the debates, so as of now, he wouldn't get my vote.

Look, Clinton is a power house. Obama comes across as a nice guy, but whether he could win is another matter, given his inexperience. I mean, I'd vote for him if it was only about ethics, but, sigh. . . .i remember Jimmy Carter was ethical, too, and didn't have much in the way of practical management savvy.

Clinton made a disturbing comment about the continuance of the war, so I'm not sure she's my top pick anymore. Eh. Hard to say.

[William Haskins]

Clinton made a disturbing comment about the continuance of the war, so I'm not sure she's my top pick anymore. Eh. Hard to say.

she won't be denied.



http://www.hilldabeast.com/hillpics/babyeater.jpg

[Bird of Prey]

she won't be denied.





I think you need help.

[William Haskins]

i need help campaigning for our next president, hillary rodham clinton.

damn right.

[Bird of Prey]

i need help campaigning for our next president, hillary rodham clinton.



Well you're not going to get it, because winning is the idea.

[William Haskins]

yes. she is a winner, isn't she?

[Bird of Prey]

yes. she is a winner, isn't she?

Not if you have anything to do with it.

[William Haskins]

there's not another poster on this board who has done more than i to keep hillary in the public eye. i can't wait until january 2009 when she takes the oath of office.

[Bird of Prey]

there's not another poster on this board who has done more than i to keep hillary in the public eye. i can't wait until january 2009 when she takes the oath of office.


Lol! You sure have kept her right there in the limelight, Haskins. Yes sir, every ugly picture you could find was plastered right here for our edification.

Oh! Even one eating a baby!

She owes ya one; that's a fact.

[William Haskins]

maybe i'm just a bigger person, and i don't judge the most visionary and talented statespeople of our age by their looks.

she's perfectly beautiful to me.

http://www.swocr.com/images/hillary_closer.jpg

[SarahinOhio]

because you can smell the snake oil on him even through the internets.

Most politicians are salesmen. But why would he pick such an impotent issue, like poverty, to sell and center his candidacy around if he weren't sincere? He transitioned into politics only after the death of his son, and adopted this poverty crusade from the get go. Considering where he came from (and how, after 2004, could we forget?), it's only natural that he would champion this cause above all others.

And yet I agree that he comes across too slick. Maybe it's the lawyer in him. Elizabeth is so much more authentic that it's a shame she can't stand in for him more. I like Edwards. But RFK? No. He doesn't have the eloquence of RFK or Obama, the rigorous discipline of Clinton, or the history-making appeal of either one. If he doesn't win Iowa, he's history.

I'm leaning toward Obama right now. It would be nice to have a Constitutional law scholar in the White House. Spring cleaning after Bush's shit parade.

[Bird of Prey]

maybe i'm just a bigger person, and i don't judge the most visionary and talented statespeople of our age by their looks.

she's perfectly beautiful to me.

http://www.swocr.com/images/hillary_closer.jpg


LOL! Yet another underhanded - no wait - right hook to poor Hillary! Are you a frothing neocon, old boy?

[Sheryl Nantus]

all I know is that you Yanks are NUTS for starting this whole thing so early...

I predict major voter fatigue by the time you get around to the actual event.

:)

[SarahinOhio]

Obama comes across as a nice guy, but whether he could win is another matter, given his inexperience. I mean, I'd vote for him if it was only about ethics, but, sigh. . . .i remember Jimmy Carter was ethical, too, and didn't have much in the way of practical management savvy.

Obama had a great reputation in the Illinois state house for rallying support from both sides of the aisle, and for making tough, pragmatic compromises. When he says he's a uniter, I actually believe him. He rarely takes cheap shots just to score with the left. I realize this is different from executive experience, but that didn't serve Bush all too well.

Edwards' populism is too shrill for me at times. I don't know how it would serve him in a general election. Yet I do think it's pretty ballsy to lay your ass on the line for the most powerless constituency in the country, especially when they aren't as likely to vote as many others.

[William Haskins]

i've used the same picasso as an avatar before. how neat.

obama is a rookie who plays well in front of the friendlies, but will fold like a cheap card table when the heat is on.

[SarahinOhio]

i've used the same picasso as an avatar before. how neat.

Goddamit. Must find a Matisse now.

I thought it might be too dark.

obama is a rookie who plays well in front of the friendlies, but will fold like a cheap card table when the heat is on.

Pray tell, Nostradamus, is this what your Magic 8 ball says? Or are you just saying this for Hillary's sake? :LilLove:

[William Haskins]

Goddamit. Must find a Matisse now.

oh yes, please do.
(http://poisonpen.net/poetry/la-femme-qui-pleure)

[SarahinOhio]

oh yes, please do.
(http://poisonpen.net/poetry/la-femme-qui-pleure)

Tranquil enough?

[William Haskins]

I predict major voter fatigue by the time you get around to the actual event.

:)

funny you should mention that... i mean really, really funny.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072200818_pf.html

The Democratic presidential candidates will line a stage in Charleston (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Charleston?tid=informline), S.C. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/South+Carolina?tid=informline), tonight for their first official debate.

And already, debate fatigue is setting in.

[William Haskins]

Tranquil enough?

it's stunning.

[TheGaffer]

As a big Democrat, I gotta agree with my more conservative AWers here about Edwards. I find him slimy. I found the patrician Kerry more honest, if only because he seemed like a doofus.

[William Haskins]

"seemed"??



*No scoffing at Kerry allowed. Haskins.

dammit.

[maestrowork]

I do think the problem with Edwards is his slickness, and how he reminds people of Bill Clinton -- that helps him in some ways (the "boy, do we want Bill Clinton back after eight years of Bush" thing -- unfortunately for Edwards, Hilary is also running), and hurts him in others ("we don't need Slick Willy II"). I think it's still too early to tell. Edwards is doing very well in the South, less so in blue states where Clinto and Obama have the strong hold. But the fact that Edwards is running a close 3rd 15 months away means he shouldn't be so easily ruled out.

[William Haskins]

Edwards is doing very well in the South

which ones?

[blacbird]

To paraphrase the late Lloyd Bentsen: "Senator, I knew Robert Kennedy, and you're not Robert Kennedy."

I'm not as rabidly anti-Edwards as numerous people here are, but there's no doubt he has a veneer problem nearly as bad as the late Tammy Faye. He's a smart enough guy (God knows we could use one of those, after what we've put up with the last six 1/2 years), with some potentially good qualities, but he's letting frivolous image things get in the way, and chances are those will kill off his candidacy. He should have stayed in the Senate another term or so, and grown a foundation from which he could be a candidate of greater substance.

My 19-year-old son, by the way, mostly liberal in his nascent political attitudes, hates John Edwards with passion, and finds Ron Paul fascinating.

caw

[SpookyWriter]

which ones?Are there more than one south?

[Magdalen]

The two party system sucks big ones. I'm lookin to find me a suitable independent. If only Mr. Haskins would run!!!

[Magdalen]

He's a native born American and over 35, right?

[SpookyWriter]

The two party system sucks big ones. I'm lookin to find me a suitable independent. If only Mr. Haskins would run!!!
No need to suck up. Haskins still won't rep you.

[Magdalen]

Can't count on Edwards. What if she, uh, um, you know, wears herself out on the campaign trail? The last thing we need is a grief-stricken president.

[Magdalen]

No need to suck up. Haskins still won't rep you.


Does he rep anybody?

[SpookyWriter]

Does he rep anybody?That depends on his constituency.

[Magdalen]

You mean it depends on whether he ate cabbage or beans?

[SpookyWriter]

You mean it depends on whether he ate cabbage or beans?Word of warning. Never feed both to Haskins at the same meal. Big mistake, especially during an election.

[Magdalen]

I've never failed to seduce a man with my B-B-Q Ribs, Cole Slaw and Beans. I'd be willing to take the risk!!!

[blacbird]

He's a native born American and over 35, right?

Over 35 what?

caw

[blacbird]

The last thing we need is a grief-stricken president.

Not. There are a whole lot of things we need less than a grief-stricken President. Start with an idiot. I'll take a grief-stricken President ahead of an idiot any day.

caw

[SpookyWriter]

I've never failed to seduce a man with my B-B-Q Ribs, Cole Slaw and Beans. I'd be willing to take the risk!!!This sounds more like a receipt for a heart attack than an aphrodisiac.

[William Haskins]

Are there more than one south?

yeah that was worded weakly. i meant: in which southern states is he doing "very well"?

[Bird of Prey]

The two party system sucks big ones. I'm lookin to find me a suitable independent. If only Mr. Haskins would run!!!

I agree. The two party system does not adequately represent America, not by a long shot. If a remotely qualified candidate ran on a third party ticket, I would vote for him or her, for no other reason than to establish a viable alternative for America.

But wishing Mr. Haskins would run is like searing 666 into the flesh of every citizen and bracing for the apocalypse.

But nothing is all bad. Your First Amendment rights would be protected while waiting in line at the gates of hell.

[SarahinOhio]

If only Mr. Haskins would run!!!

1) Who would be his running mate?

2) Is Canada as nice as Alec Baldwin seems to think?

[billythrilly7th]

We already talked about this.

He's a hump.

Lock thread.

[FatTire]

We already talked about this.

He's a hump.

Lock thread.

Aren't they all?

[MattW]

My 19-year-old son ... finds Ron Paul fascinating.
Kids like the reggae music.