JE and the IWR

[iamjoy]

I really, really like John Edwards. I like the way he speaks so passionately about poverty and lets face it, he's very charismatic, which in a potential Presidential candidate is a good thing.

But, I have a hard time forgiving him for the IWR. Now, John Edwards tries to justify his vote by saying "if he knew then what he knows now..." But I wonder how much he knew then. He was on the Intelligence committee, so didn't he have access to much of the same information as say, Bob Graham who voted against the IWR? And Graham is no dove.

I think John Edwards is possibly vulnerable to being called a Johnny Come Lately in his war opposition, or using the advantage of hindsight.

Don't jump on me and tell me he's better than say, Lieberman, who still thinks the war is a good thing. If I'm going to back him (which I'm seriously considering), I need to come to terms with this.


HELP!

[citizen snips]

1. did you read his washington post op-ed piece?

http://oneamericacommittee.com/news/headlines/wp20051113/

Edwards also believes in immediately withdrawing 40,000 troops from Iraq.

[iamjoy]

2. Yes

and I like that he admits he made a mistake.

I dunno, I got past this in 2004 and was an enthusiastic supporter of his. But, I'm a little more cynical now. In 2004, there really weren't any candidates with a serious chance who had voted against the war. Now I know Clark and Dean had said they opposed it, but they never had to go on record by casting a vote. And I know Kucinich DID vote against it, but poor guy didn't (and still doesn't) stand a serious chance. Too bad Kucinich doesn't look like Edwards, he'd probably get more traction. That's not to say Edwards is just a pretty face, but the pretty face gets him noticed. What he does with that pretty face (and body) keeps the attention. What he does with it (and the brain behind it) is amazing.

So, I'll probably get past the IWR vote, but if any one else questions me about it, I'll probably seem a little weak in my defense.

And, I also like Barak Obama.

Tough decision.

[citizen snips]

3. this issue is frequently brought up in the GD-P forum

and when I say frequently I mean it is brought up in almost every Edwards thread. And the best argument I can give is say it is not the status quo and Edwards is now against the war.