EDWARDS: The Rising Star, has mass appeal across the political spectrum.

[Meldread]

EDWARDS: The Rising Star, has mass appeal across the political spectrum.

Edwards has shown himself to be Presidential, he has shown himself to be one of the best (if not the best) speakers before us. Image matters and Edwards has that image. Judging by the exit polls Edwards captured a large chunk (I believe more than Kerry) of Moderate Republicans and Independents that voted. As he stated this is key to winning in the General Election.

I watched his interview with Chris Matthews tonight on Hardball and I must say, his honest response to a question about jobs has signaled to me that I can put trust in him. Can I believe *ANYTHING* Kerry says? I know I can't trust Bush, but is Kerry really any better? At least Edwards takes responsibility for his Iraq vote, at least he owns up to it. At least he can answer a simple yes or no question with a yes or no without launching into a huge explanation. Is there *ANYTHING* John Kerry won't say to win?

On Hardball a President from one of the major Unions in the United States was telling the panel that Kerry promised them that they could drill (for oil) "all over the place". He basically said anything and everything to get their support. There was an article about Bush and the type of debt he has accumulated -- being beholden to all these special interest groups and making so many promises -- Kerry is doing the same thing. Basically the article stated that Bush promised to make all of these guys happy, but in the end he's done nothing but make them all pissed because of so many conflicting interests.

I wonder what those who supported the environment thought to night after hearing that Kerry has all but promised drilling to take place basically anywhere they wanted. How will those Unions feel when Kerry doesn't do it? What about RE-Electability? *IF* Kerry manages to win he's no doubt going to be a one term President like Bush. Why? Because he managed to promise everyone everything.

Edwards has broad appeal. He was my third choice after Clark, but tonight he's certainly moved into my second slot. While I disagree with him on more issues than with Dean or Clark, at least I can stand back and say that I respect him. I had many issues with Joe Lieberman yet I would have voted for him in the General Election over John Kerry -- why? Because I could respect him. There was some form of trust. I can't trust Kerry and therefore I cannot respect him. Unlike some people I'm going to use my head and laugh when someone promises me the Earth, the Moon, and the Stars -- I live in reality and know it ain't gonna happen.

People can speculate for whatever reason why Edwards did so well tonight. Some might blame it on the Drudge Report. To that excuse I laugh, and say "I told you so." If you want to use that excuse you're admitting that his campaign is running off hot air and momentum. If something like that can cause him to lose NEARLY 30 POINTS in a matter of days, then frankly, we're doomed in the General Election if he is the nominee.

The simple and honest answer is that Edwards is just a damn good candidate. He's got a good message, he's got broad appeal, and most importantly he speaks to people one-on-one. He levels with you. He doesn't treat you like an idiot and tell you flat out lies and spin. It was also a character issue -- other than the fact that people feel Edwards cares about them -- Edwards also knows how to inspire people. Where as Howard Dean is a motivator John Edwards is an inspirer. He makes you believe that you can make the world a better place, Howard Dean shows you how and points in the right direction.

I believe a Edwards/Dean ticket would be a strong ticket in November. I hope Edwards wins the nomination if Howard Dean can't, and if Dean drops out I hope he endorse Edwards. If he stays in I hope he goes after John Kerry hardcore to give Edwards enough power to grab the nomination. I can't believe Kerry knocked Edwards off tonight right before he was going to give the speech, one of his Campaign people called, "the speech of his political career". If he was going to do that you would have thought he could have at least shown some type of emotion.

If you want to win in November, Kerry is not your man. If you want to make Bush the first American President and first Human to set foot on Mars (it's a one way ticket) then either vote for Edwards or Dean. They are our best chance at winning this election, they will lead this country in a new direction. Don't buy into the lies that John Kerry is feeding you.

With that said I'm going to bed and I'll respond tomorrow.

EDIT: One more thing. I'm seeing several Kerry supporters talking about there being some huge Republican conspiracy to try and help Edwards. Spare me the insane conspiracy theories. Somehow I don't believe there was this huge mass of Republicans out to change the vote (all 11% of them). As someone who lives in a Southern State I know many SELF-PROCLAIMED Republicans who do not vote straight Republican tickets and the same said for Democrats. That's a pathetic excuse for why Kerry is doing poorly. The simple fact is (in my opinion at least) he's peeked, he's coming down, there is a bit of buyers remorse, and now the race is going to become extremely tight. Edwards might have a chance to win the nomination. I hope that he can pull it off.

[eileen_d]

1. Edwards: HE'S NOT KERRY.

Who's going to print the bumperstickers?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

21. That's it! I'll only vote for Kerry in the GE, no one else!

Especially Trial Lawyer Edwards.

[DemDogs]

23. Read priogressive paper Cap Times in Madison endorsement

Of Edwards, Progressive1. If you are truly progressive, you may surprise yourself and find you are an Edwards supporter after all.
<http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/editorial/68084.php>

[eileen_d]

30. I read that endorsement - thought it was great

My comment was directed more to some of the sudden converts to Edwards who are blinded by hatred towards Kerry.

[fearnobush]

2. Nice Guy,

But nice guys finish last.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Since when is the "political spectrum" from center to right?

Edwards is even less liberal than Kerry who is hardly a flaming leftist.

[corporatewhore]

5. he has appeal because hes spoken out against NAFTA

not far enough mind ya and still is a warmonger

[Meldread]

7. That's true.

If you want to look at things ironically, the DLC is all but endorsing Kerry and telling everyone to get out of the race yet Edwards (aside from NAFTA) is a clear DLC Democrat.

Really, for me at least, it comes down to respect. I can respect Edwards. I can even respect Joe Lieberman. I can't respect John Kerry because he's lying to my face and I don't respect liars.

[corporatewhore]

4. cons and libs both agree they dont like their jobs goin to india and JE

has spoken out against NAFTA no hes no DK and should be going farther but the media pays attention to him and thats why hes rising I am still going to vote DK in Primary

[mmonk]

6. think

Is he the one to go against the "wartime president"? How long will trade really carry him? Will everything in the economy remain the same? What about security? The stock market and/or taxes?

[Meldread]

8. Get Real.

If you think John Kerry can go up against Bush with some old "you skipped out on Guard Duty" accusations that will be played to death before November (they are already fading from the media spotlight), and "I served in Vietnam" claims then you need to think again.

Look at what Americans care about most. The Economy, Jobs, and Healthcare are what are on their minds. The Exit Polls consistently say this. If Bush can turn our deficit into a surplus, if Bush can create a surplus of jobs (more than he came in with), if he can provide Health Care to every man, woman and child in America BEFORE November... then *I'll* even vote for the guy because we're screwed no matter WHO is running. However, seeing as how NONE of that will happen why fight Bush on his home turf?

EVEN BILL CLINTON -- the guy who BEAT the first Bush said to frame the debate. This whole thing of "bring it on" is stupid. Why do battle on issues that the American people care about the LEAST? Why not talk about the issues American people care about the MOST? That's how you win.

The General Election is going to be a much different election than these Primaries and whoever we send out there is going to need mass appeal. Kerry doesn't have it. He's going to end up alienating Liberal Voters by trying to pander to the Moderates, and he's going to end up alienating Moderates when his record of liberal voting comes out. PEROID. You can't have your cake and eat it to, John Kerry is trying to do just that and mark my words -- he's going to choke on it if he gets this nomination.

[ibegurpard]

11. I'm not sure I can get behind Edwards

But I agree with almost everything you've said.

[mmonk]

13. You're still counting on the economy still being in the tank

and nothing positive happening in the foreign policy arena as well. You're also convinced everyone thinks as dems do that trade will fix everything. A lot of ifs. I personally think it will take more depth to win in the general election.

[corporatewhore]

15. most of my neighbors are more afraid of losing their jobs thanofterrorists

[mmonk]

17. there are millions and millions of dollars

ready to be spent to change their minds or convince them not to take any risks with Edwards.

[Redneck Socialist]

9. Do you have a link for the "drill all over the place" quote?

I'm no fan of Kerry. In fact I'm on record as willing to support Edwards should Dean drop out, but Kerry has one of the strongest pro environmental voting records in the Senate and I have a hard time believing that Kerry told anyone that they could drill "all over the place."

Sorry to be argumentative but I would like to see some documentation on that one.

[mmonk]

14. Thank you for that

Edwards doesn't have a very high ranking with the League of Conservation voters to boot. Kerry is pro environment and can better take issue with the admin on the issue.

[Meldread]

19. Anyone who was watching Hardball tonight...

can vouch for what was said. I know Kerry's record. That's why I said they would be disappointed when he didn't do it. That he was promising everyone everything.

What will happen is that people like that guy will go on TV or before a reporter say Kerry promised me X, Y, Z. An a opposing side will read it or watch it and then will become angry at Kerry for it.

Abraham Lincoln said it best: "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

[OneBlueSky]

10. Edwards/Dean would get killed by Bush in November . . .

wouldn't even be close . . . Rove is licking his chops for an Edwards nomination . . . in a world full of terrorists and danger, his lack of foreign policy experience would be exploited to the tune of 200 million bucks . . . Kerry is the only candidate with any chance of beating Bush in the GE now that Clark has dropped out . . . a Kerry/Clark ticket would be bulletproof on foreign policy and national security issues and would have the best chance of victory come November . . .

[fearnobush]

12. Right on!!!!

Remember people, Rove had every Repuke to vote against Kerry in this one. It was a free party primary. 11% of Edwards vote was GOP. and you can bet that most of them, no matter who the nominee is will be voting for the Chimp.

[SangamonTaylor]

16. wha huh? Where is this phantom foreign experience for Kerry coming from?

Is it that he served his country in Vietnam? To his credit, he is on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, which helps in his foreign policy. I don't really think that the Democratic nominee will win this campaign on national security. That's framing the debate right into the republican's hands.

Remember what Gore said in TN, "He played on our fears."

[mmonk]

18. you at least need an answer

because they will play to those fears again.

[DjTj]

20. Edwards' answer:

"The truth is this: Every family, every child in America will be safer in a world where America is once again looked up to and respected."

[tkmorris]

27. How about this?

"I John Edwards, have exactly as much foreign policy experience as George Bush had upon taking office. The difference between us is that Bush has spent 4 years PROVING he can't do the job. I can. I'm John Edwards, and I approved this message."

Short, sweet, and lands a right cross to Bush to boot.

[Meldread]

24. And Rove is licking his chops for Kerry to base his campgin off FP and NS.

If Kerry plans to do that then we might as well forget about this whole nomination process and not run a candidate at all. It's a waste of time, money and effort.

If I was Bush I would respond as follows: "After 9/11 I lead this country as best I could. We face a powerful and dangerous threat that is unique and different to any we've ever known. While I respect your experience in Vietnam Mr. Kerry, the situations we face today are entirely different. I have experience in dealing with these unique and dangerous threats to America, and I believe that if the American people were to elect someone without this type of experience we could face another terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11 or worse."

BOOM. Kerry's campaign falls flat. Kerry would turn his focus to jobs, but oops! Edwards does better there! Then to the Economy! Oops again! Dean out does him there, he's actually balanced a budget. Well then there is always Healthcare... Oops! Dean out does him again, he's actually provided it as well as worked on policy to give it to people who don't have it.

What *WILL* Kerry run on? Edwards and Dean out do him on those issues -- the issues the VOTERS are saying are the most important. (The only thing Kerry consistently does well on in the exit polls is electability, and once that myth is dispelled Kerry goes under.)

He fails to inspire and he fails to motivate. The motivation behind his voters is the fact they all have one thing in common: They hate Bush enough to vote for a second class politician because they think he has the best chance of beating him.

The one thing we know for a fact is that the majority of voters are no where NEAR as informed as we are, and if Kerry was to be open and exposed constantly having the media put his record on display he would crash and burn. That will happen in a general election. The only thing going for Kerry then are people's sheer hatred for Bush but is that enough to win? How many will stay home or vote for someone else if they don't feel Kerry properly represents them?

Kerry isn't going to make it in the General Election unless he starts making some major changes.

[katieforeman]

25. You don't understand Rove

Rove has nothing to attack Edwards with.

Edwards already has more foreign policy experience than George W. Bush, Clinton, or Reagan had when they were elected. Remember Bush couldn't name the leader of Pakistan in 2000. John Edwards has been to Pakistan and Afgahnistan and met with these leaders already.

Rove attacks and destroys Democrats for lack of leadership and integrity by finding inconsistencies in their statements or voting records. Kerry has given him plenty of ammo.

-Kerry advocated and voted for cutting intelligence spending in 1997. Then after Sept. 11th, Kerry blamed our lack of intelligence.

-Kerry voted against the first gulf war and for the current Iraq war. he gave inconsistent reasons for these two votes.

-Kerry was against the death penalty for terrorists in the 1980's and he supports it now.

This kind of experience is not an asset. Bush will have over $200 million dollars to inform Americans of this record. Will Kerry be strong on defense when Rove is done with him?

[Meldread]

29. So true, and Kerry would be dead in the water. -nt-

[rucky]

28. Fear and danger is SO last year.

Bush milked it for all it was worth (for about half of us). people are starting to wake up now that they know they have some options.

[SerpentX]

22. Except among minorities. Or Northerners. Or Westerners.

But if he got the nom at this point, electability would be moot. If he can beat today's odds, he can beat November's odds.

[katieforeman]

26. I agree.

Electability is really all about credibility and Edwards has this in spades.

[KittyWampus]

31. Edwards Gets The Wealth, White Suburban Male

Kerry gets the diversity vote.

And that the GOP & their mediawhores are pumping Edwards now while trying to assasinate KErry is a FACT.

It is not a conspiracy. It is an obvious FACT.

Did Gray Davis choose the opponent he wanted to run against?

[amandabeech]

32. That union guy on Matthews last night was the younger Hoffa,

current head of the Teamsters. He's obviously a major Cheese.

Kerry has stated his intention to make sure that the U.S. is independent of Middle Eastern oil. While I don't think that is possible over the long run, the idea of reducing oil use overall appeals greatly to me.

However, I did not realize that Kerry wants to achieve his goal by drilling willy-nilly all over excluded land. While I think that might be necessary 30 years from now, I see no reason to rush it.

Kerry's environmental stance has been a major plus for him in my mind, but this is very troubling.


Amanda