Is the reason Edwards is playing "nice" because he's going for VP?

[patricia92243]

[Langis]

1. I hope someone picks him up

I really like Edwards!

[Josh]

2. possibly. I read a Bob Novak column (I know, I know)

the other day that postulated that Edwards would have had a much better chance at being picked for VP if he HADN'T run for president.

[mikewriter]

3. Edwards said no to VP

but that could change. I think he would help someone's ticket but maybe not this year, I think he wants the big job now.

[mikewriter]

4. Edwards said no to VP

but that could change. I think he would help someone's ticket but maybe not this year, I think he wants the big job now.

[mikewriter]

5. Edwards said no to VP

but that could change. I think he would help someone's ticket but maybe not this year, I think he wants the big job now.

[spooky3]

6. he told Tweety "no" last night

[DjTj]

7. Maybe he's just a nice guy...

...but seriously, I think he would make a great VP for any of the candidates.

I'm sure he would prefer the top spot over the VP spot, but his demeanor seems to indicate that he would be more receptive to being VP than many of the other candidates.

[jsw_81]

8. Absolutely

Either VP or Attorney General.

[cindyw]

9. Edwards said No, but he had to

A candidate would render himself moot if he said he was going for VP. Especially when he has some momentum in the polls. I think he would take it if offered.

[jsw_81]

10. Of course he'd take it

Who wouldn't?

[arewethereyet]

14. lots of people

its not the springboard to success later on that some people seem to think.

[jsw_81]

18. Really?

Seven vice presidents became president last century (T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, A. Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Bush); and with the single exception of Quayle, every vice president who has run for president since 1952 has been nominated (Nixon, Humphrey, Mondale, Bush, Gore).

[arewethereyet]

21. OK so look at the recent history

Ford fell into the Oval office when Nixon quit.
Bush I rode the wave and then crashed when it was his turn to paddle his own canoe.
Mondale, disaster.
Gore, got zero benefit form his 8 years of paying dues.

Its a do nothing role and lends no respect any more as no one appreciates dues paying any more.

And running for an eventual loser is the worst of all. Victory for our side is anything but assured.

Noone will care if he doesn't get the nomination but Lieberman is Gore's albatross forever.

[AP]

11. Rope a Dope.

Dean wanted Edwards to take Gep votes, so he played nice with Edwards. Edwards played nice back. Now that Edwards is going to get 15% in IA, he's going to take the votes of Lieberman, Kerry, Sharpton, Kucinich, CMB if they don't get 15%. It'll give his campaign a big boost.

[arewethereyet]

12. Edwards wants to talk about his vision, not someone else's

he wants the top job, he's not interested in 2nd fiddle and the tide is starting to swing his way at a very good time.

Edwards for PRESIDENT,sounds like a winner to me !

[chimpymustgo]

15. I SWANNEE! Y'all don't even know that word, I'll bet.

I'm so proud of Johnny Reid. He's grabbing for the brass ring.

[arewethereyet]

16. I know that word

heard it from Mom many times whe I was little.

[mmonk]

13. I doubt it

He has had ambitions for this presidential run.

[DemBones DemBones]

17. How do you know he's "playing" nice? Some people ARE nice.

And Southerners are bred to be nice and always remember their manners. This is true for millworkers' sons as well as for the rich.

(I mention this because I have known people from the Northeast who moved to the South and thought Southerners were very odd, not "open" enough. Some were perplexed by the changes in their own children, who adapted to be like their Southern-bred classmates. One colleague confided to me that he thought his son was mocking him when he started saying "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" to him. )

Being nice doesn't preclude being tough and fighting for your position, though. He obviously knows how to win trials, and he beat a GOP incumbent for his Senate seat. He expresses himself very well and I don't think you have to be Southern to get his message. I find him very likable and think he's serious about fighting for people.

[andym]

19. No, he intends to win by promoting himself, not by attacking

[SadEagle]

20. Or because he is smart.

Being negative didn't do Kerry, Gep and Lieberman much good. His sunny attitude populism, on other hand, seems to have made his stock rise w/many people. I certainly like him a lot better lately.

[ozone_man]

22. He seems a bit slick to me.

In the previous debate, Michelle Norris asked him if he would send his kids to public schools if he was president, he dodged the question, answering that his older kids had gone to public schools. His younger kids must be in private schools now. I just didn't like the dodge, he was very slick. Let me know if I'm wrong about this.

I would vote for him, if he beat Dean.

[jsw_81]

23. We shouldn't demand that a president's children attend public schools

[spooky3]

24. if the kids are in DC (where they have a house) rather than NC

the public schools in DC are statistically among the worst in the country, and parents who can afford it, even those of modest means, use private schools. The vast majority of area parents live in the suburbs, where public schools are better.

Their youngest one is pre-school age, right?

[chimpymustgo]

25. His younger kids are in a Catholic preschool program near their home.

Listen, the school situation in DC is not like in the rest of the country. There are a couple of elementary schools that are okay, but everybody who can, goes to private school.

I was very upset when Clinton put Chelsea at Sidwell Friends, thinking he could make a real statement, and help turn the public schools around by putting her in one.

But alas, the Clintons did what they thought was best for their daughter, and not for public education in DC. And the schools have only gotten worse here since then.

I know John - and Elizabeth Edwards - would do whatever they could to improve public education here. It will be interesting to watch what they do with the little tykes.