John Edwards
The selection of John Edwards selection has been widely praised in Democratic circles, I have not talked to anyone unhappy with it. He was the safe choice all along, and has more star-power than all the other likely candidates combined. The only really compelling argument for Gepheart was at least that would ensure Kerry was most invigorating guy on the ticket. Ouch. Kerry showed strength by picking someone younger, more charismatic (hear that word enough yet), and a better speaker than he. Of course, as we all have been reminded, people always vote for the top name on the ticket; but still Kerry basks in Edwards' glow and shines brighter. Edwards seems like Kerry's wife out there, defending him, praising him, humanizing him. Plus all the hugging. Score one for Kerry.
Lots of discussion concerns the VP debate. The first thing I see is the visual- the young, handsome, tan John Edwards, beaming his TV-friendly smile across at the balding, pasty, bespectacled Dick Cheney. This sends a powerful message that resonates today just like 1992 "Change versus more of the same." Cheney comes off to many as harsh, scolding, like a old curmudgeon. If so, the smooth trial lawyer will then run away with it, although if we could have that great Nixon-Kennedy TV versus radio poll again it would be a similar result.
Unsurprisingly, the response from the Republican side has been not as favorable- GOP.com calls him "A Disingenuous, Unaccomplished Liberal" right there on the top of the page. It then lists a laundry list of things wrong about Edwards.
To dissect it would take far too long, so let me hit some highlights real quick:
Edwards Voted To Put Onerous Restrictions On Missile Defense Program. Edwards voted for an amendment that would “require the Pentagon to test the national missile defense system against reasonable decoys and countermeasures that the system could encounter in a launch, and establish an independent panel to review the testing.” (S. 2549, CQ Vote #178: Motion Agreed To 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-45, 6/13/00, Edwards Voted Nay)
So let me get this straight- Edwards voted so that before we spend a bunch of money on this, we should test it to see if it works. Ironic that "reasonable" becomes "onerous".
Edwards Rural Populist Message … Just Another Gimmick?
Edwards Has “Never Done Any Serious Farming.”
Edwards Doesn’t Follow Weekly NASCAR Races, Adds He “Doesn’t Follow Anything Except Politicking.”
Edwards Hasn’t Hunted Or Fished “In Years.”
Edwards Has “In The Past Been A Country Music Fan.”
These are disqualifiers for being president? NASCAR? Edwards also may reveal during the campaign that he has never drank beer straight out of a can whilst wearing a wifebeater while listening to Jeff Foxworthy tell him whether or not he is a redneck. Stay tuned for that revelation if it sneaks out during the campaign.
*Personal Favorite*- Spending (let's keep in mind we now have the biggest federal deficit both in dollars and as percent GDP in the history of the United States thanks to the biggest percentage increase in federal spending under Bush and a Republican congress)
Edwards’ Liberal Record On Spending:Sen. John Edwards Proposed Approximately $972 Billion In New Spending Over The Next 10 Years.
Increase Pay For Teachers, $30 Billion. Improve Preschool Programs, $30 Billion. Afterschool Programs, $6 Billion. Increase Pell Grants, $11.405 Billion. Scholarships For Students Who Volunteer After College On Homeland Security Issues, $300 Million.
Okay, John Edwards likes education. I can dig it.
$2,500 Tax Credit For Families With Newborns, $40 Billion. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs, $500 Million. Expand Family Leave, $800 Million.
He likes families also. Okay.
Federalize Nuclear Security, $126 Million. Enact Building Security Act, $41 Million. Enact Emergency Warning Act, $10 Million. Increase Funding For Homeland Security, $50 Billion. Strategy To Fight WMD, $20 Billion.
Now, we know what he does not like. Terrorists. Anybody got a problem with that?
Provide Money To Help Disabled Find Employment, $200 Million Job Training Program, $1 Billion. Invest In Training And Support Of Nurses, $3 Billion. Enact Employment Nondiscrimination Act Of 2001, $124.05 Million. Ensure Equal Pay For Women, $12 Million.
Apparently he likes people to have good jobs and to get paid fairly for what they do. I can live with that.
Election Reform, $6.24 Billion
Insert your own ironic Election 2000 joke here.
Edwards Denounced Negative Politics But Bashed Bush
GOP.com is immune to irony.
More to come...
Lots of discussion concerns the VP debate. The first thing I see is the visual- the young, handsome, tan John Edwards, beaming his TV-friendly smile across at the balding, pasty, bespectacled Dick Cheney. This sends a powerful message that resonates today just like 1992 "Change versus more of the same." Cheney comes off to many as harsh, scolding, like a old curmudgeon. If so, the smooth trial lawyer will then run away with it, although if we could have that great Nixon-Kennedy TV versus radio poll again it would be a similar result.
Unsurprisingly, the response from the Republican side has been not as favorable- GOP.com calls him "A Disingenuous, Unaccomplished Liberal" right there on the top of the page. It then lists a laundry list of things wrong about Edwards.
To dissect it would take far too long, so let me hit some highlights real quick:
Edwards Voted To Put Onerous Restrictions On Missile Defense Program. Edwards voted for an amendment that would “require the Pentagon to test the national missile defense system against reasonable decoys and countermeasures that the system could encounter in a launch, and establish an independent panel to review the testing.” (S. 2549, CQ Vote #178: Motion Agreed To 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-45, 6/13/00, Edwards Voted Nay)
So let me get this straight- Edwards voted so that before we spend a bunch of money on this, we should test it to see if it works. Ironic that "reasonable" becomes "onerous".
Edwards Rural Populist Message … Just Another Gimmick?
Edwards Has “Never Done Any Serious Farming.”
Edwards Doesn’t Follow Weekly NASCAR Races, Adds He “Doesn’t Follow Anything Except Politicking.”
Edwards Hasn’t Hunted Or Fished “In Years.”
Edwards Has “In The Past Been A Country Music Fan.”
These are disqualifiers for being president? NASCAR? Edwards also may reveal during the campaign that he has never drank beer straight out of a can whilst wearing a wifebeater while listening to Jeff Foxworthy tell him whether or not he is a redneck. Stay tuned for that revelation if it sneaks out during the campaign.
*Personal Favorite*- Spending (let's keep in mind we now have the biggest federal deficit both in dollars and as percent GDP in the history of the United States thanks to the biggest percentage increase in federal spending under Bush and a Republican congress)
Edwards’ Liberal Record On Spending:Sen. John Edwards Proposed Approximately $972 Billion In New Spending Over The Next 10 Years.
Increase Pay For Teachers, $30 Billion. Improve Preschool Programs, $30 Billion. Afterschool Programs, $6 Billion. Increase Pell Grants, $11.405 Billion. Scholarships For Students Who Volunteer After College On Homeland Security Issues, $300 Million.
Okay, John Edwards likes education. I can dig it.
$2,500 Tax Credit For Families With Newborns, $40 Billion. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs, $500 Million. Expand Family Leave, $800 Million.
He likes families also. Okay.
Federalize Nuclear Security, $126 Million. Enact Building Security Act, $41 Million. Enact Emergency Warning Act, $10 Million. Increase Funding For Homeland Security, $50 Billion. Strategy To Fight WMD, $20 Billion.
Now, we know what he does not like. Terrorists. Anybody got a problem with that?
Provide Money To Help Disabled Find Employment, $200 Million Job Training Program, $1 Billion. Invest In Training And Support Of Nurses, $3 Billion. Enact Employment Nondiscrimination Act Of 2001, $124.05 Million. Ensure Equal Pay For Women, $12 Million.
Apparently he likes people to have good jobs and to get paid fairly for what they do. I can live with that.
Election Reform, $6.24 Billion
Insert your own ironic Election 2000 joke here.
Edwards Denounced Negative Politics But Bashed Bush
GOP.com is immune to irony.
More to come...
posted by Scott L. Stuart at
9:22 PM
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