A must read: Edwards' cool levels debate field

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Edwards' cool levels debate field
By ROB CHRISTENSEN, Staff Writer



In this 1997 photo, John Edwards speaks with the mother of Valerie Lakey, injured by a pool drain, before beginning his closing argument. The jury awarded Lakey the largest personal-injury verdict at the time.
News & Observer File Photo


RALEIGH -- If Vice President Dick Cheney thinks he'll be facing the "Breck Girl" - the epithet Republicans like to pin on John Edwards - he may be in for an unpleasant surprise in their debate Tuesday.

Edwards is a canny fighter who outprepares his opponents, according to lawyers who have faced him in the courtroom. He isn't afraid of more experienced adversaries, has a large bag of rhetorical tricks and connects with audiences.

"If I'm going in a knife fight, and I have my choice, I am taking John Edwards," said Jim Cooney of Charlotte. "John doesn't like to lose."

Cooney ought to know. He dueled with Edwards in 10 cases.

Cooney is one of many Tar Heel lawyers who debated Edwards before a jury during the 1980s and 1990s, when Edwards made his fortune as a trial lawyer before being elected to the U.S. Senate.

Their advice for Cheney: Under no circumstances take Edwards lightly.

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http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/politicians/edwards/story/1699641p-7949529c.html

[Must_B_Free]

1. At least his wife isn;t up there with him

she seemed nervous on Larry King.

And what the fuck is this shit about hair? Who looks at a guy and says "Oooh he has nice hair"... Either he has hair or he doesn't. I guess Edwards is one of the few guys on Capitol hill that actually HAS real hair.

[murielm99]

5. They do try to make a big deal about his hair.

My daughter was listening to talk radio one day when she was home over the summer. It was that stupid Judy and Kathy show on WGN, which is not overtly political.

Anyway, those two airheads were speculating that Edwards dyes his hair or wears a rug. I caught only the tail end of this exchange, because I was out. But when I walked in the door, my kid was on the radio talking to these space cadets.

She told them that she had met Edwards over the summer, and shaken his hand. She said, "He is not much taller than me, and I saw his hair. I know it is real, and I know dyed hair when I see it. Do you dye your hair? And this is important because....?"

Let them trivialize. In the long run, it will do them no good. If Edwards shaves his head and shows up as bald as crashcart, he will still be the better man. Let them underestimate a smart southern boy with working class roots. Let them think that Edwards, a lawyer, has not seen dirty tricks before, and is unprepared.

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8. LOL

I met John Edwars a couple of weeks ago. His hair is real, and it sure didn't look dyed to me.

He's one hell of a nice guy. :-)

[MissMarple]

2. I admire John Edwards. He's what we call the real deal.

He and Howard Dean are my personal favorites, and John Kerry stands with them in our fight to win back our democratic way of life.

Dick Cheney is a hollow man, a man of smoke and mirrors. He has no valid defense.

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

3. Great article!

I shared it with the other board I'm on. :D I'm even more excited now to see Edwards bring out his whopass can to Cheney like Kerry did to Bush. YEAH! GO EDWARDS!

[Hamlette]

6. if you haven't read "Four Trials" by Edwards....do, it's a great book. n/t

[OneBlueSky]

4. he's a trial lawyer . . .

able to think on his feet and respond quickly and articulately to whatever is thrown at him . . . he'll do fine against the biggest dick in Washington . . .

oh yeah . . . he's also got the issues on his side . . . get out the popcorn and dust off the recliner . . . should be an interesting evening . . .

[enigmatic]

7. Great article..

I'm looking forward to this debate..

[knight_of_the_star]

9. I can't believe they are that STUPID

As to underestimate not just a trial lawyer but one that has a reputation of being a VERY good trial lawyer who hauled in huge settlements. Ah well, in the words of Sun Tzu, "Know they enemy as you know thyself and you will not be afraid of the outcome of a thousand battles."