Edwards terrific on Meet the Press

[DemDogs]

Edwards had complete control of the discussion, however tough the questions by Russert. He was not as squishy as other candidates on Iraq and really strong and decisive about what was wrong and what Bush is doing wrong AND what he would do differently. On the Patriot Act he did not bite on Biden and Feinstein's defense of the Patriot Act, kept up his criticism, explained why Feingold amendments had problems. Showed that he wasn't pandering to anyone.

He was devastating to Dean (without criticizing him directly) about how the Party needs to reach voters everywhere, not just the South, by respecting them and not by saying they are too stupid to know what's good for them and we need to go tell them. That elitist outfit gets the Democratic Party killed. That's something Edwards understands that Dean doesn't.

The hatchet job that Russert did to Kerry on the budget did not happen with Edwards because Edwards kept saying exactly what he was doing, what he was cutting, what he was spending.

This is exactly the kind of nominee who will beat George Bush.

[KoKo]

1. I don't think you and I and some others saw the same show this morning....

I don't think you caught the part where Edwards parroted Condi Rice's Saddam is an Evil Man, he Has weapons of Mass Destruction, he has Nuclear Capability he will Use that Against Us........etc., etc., etc.

If he's your candidate, then I think that's great if you are still with him after this. And, maybe you support the Invasion of Iraq, which is your right to do.

But, gotta tell you he supported Bush this morning on Invading Iraq and never criticized him for his policy, or the lies that got us into Iraq. If that's okay by you....well, the party is a Big Tent.....but Edwards is closer to Lieberman than where I am in this tent. His performance angered many of us here.

[soothsayer]

4. amen, i saw that "saddam would have LIKE to have aquired nukes"

..."so we had to take him out" BS and shut him off

That's a shame, it was my very first exposure to that feller, and now we've gotten off on the wrong foot

[Larkspur]

2. As a Northerner, I'm sick and tired of Southerners telling me that I have

to vote for a Southern Dem to win the White House. That's regional bias.

Dean's confederate flag comments had been spoken since Feb and Edwards never called him on it until he realized that Dean is on the verge of blowing out the Dem Prez field in the 4th quarter fundraising. No where in Dean's controversial comment does he condone what the confed flag stands for, but Dean is right to appeal to that group because whether you like it or not, the President of the United States must represent them, not their bias, and look out for their well being, as well as African Americans.

[DemDogs]

23. Edwards said voters in all regions deserve respect

He did not say that the nominee had to be a Southern. He did imply it had to be someone who respected voters everywhere.

Edwards on Meet the Press said that there were two problems with what Dean said.
One is obvious: African-Americans know what the confederate flag means. They have seen it wherever there is violence against them, wherever they are looked down upon, and they don't misunderstand it for a minute. It is the emblem of oppression. You can't wear it or walk next to someone wearing it and not have African-Americans doubt whether you understand the America in which they live. Just a fact.

The second is less obvious, and Edwards really nailed it: When Dean said these confederate flag whites didn't know that the Republican party was wrong for them, this is what he was saying: they are too stupid to know that they are being manipulated, they don't understand where there economic interest lies and I will come down and show them. It's elitist (and that's not a very popular character trait in the south or midwest) and it's disrespectful. Edwards said that the party has to give everyone a reason to be WITH us and respect them enough to let them decide.

And I have a third. There was a great article in one of the papers in the last day or so where Dean was called a "great American" -- by the biggest racist in South Carolina who said he would vote for him in the primary except that he's a Republican. Democrats don't ever win these people. This is the Republican party in the south among the less affluent population -- narrow minded, filled with hate, in love with or at least tolerant of racist images and symbols.

It is not smart politically because with a single reference he turned off Southern African-Americans, disrespected Southern whites, and pleased white racist voters who will NEVER vote Democratic.

Edwards won the white non-racist vote in North Carolina, the independents and the conservative Democrats who sometimes vote Republican. He knows the South and he knows how to respect voters everywhere. If we are going to win in 2004, we need to be listening to him and certainly not to Dean on this issue, and that wouldn't change if Edwards was from Vermont and Dean from North Carolina. One is right, the other is wrong.

[pinkpops]

3. It just came on here

I liked him at first but now he sounds like Condi Rice.

[Ilsa]

5. I liked that Edwards attacked Bush

on points of being disconnected from average Americans. I think he made some excellent points about that and the jobless recovery and what that means to average people. But I also got sick to my stomach hearing him being supportive of the Iraq invasion.

Anyone watching This Week With George Stephanopoulos? Holbrooke is all over Perle. I think even George Will was arguing with Perle.

[surfermaw]

6. Give the man a break,

He voted to support the war, he said he did so in good consience, what did you want him to do lie...Dean didn't have to vote on wheather to go to war or not, and if he had he would have done exactly what Edwards and Kerry did...you people make me sick, oh yes you stood by him and said nice words as long as it wasn't getting into Dean's terrirory.Dean got himself into the hot seat, Edward had to stand up to him, after all he is looking to S.C to help him win.

He spoke on the subject that is going to come down to the deciding factor, the economy..and he spoke firmly about republicans claiming a growth the economy, while calling the recovery a recovery without jobs.

Come off your high horse, Dean was right we do have to get the rebel flag carriers, but people who carry flags are the most conservative and will never vote democrat, so he was misusing words, why didn't he say the NASCAR following white southern men...He dosen't understane the south..

By the way last week when he(DEAN) stuck his foot in his mouth , I tried to cover his ssa,but I see the way it is with you Dean peopel, you would rather Bush win than support another candidate...well my vote is going to Dennis now and not Dr. Dean as I had planned.

[AP]

17. I like that he made it about policy, not personality.

[Egnever]

7. One thing he said bothered me

On the subject of civil unions edwards first said he thought it was a states issue and that the important thing for the president to do is to support everyone having equal rights, Trying to leave the impression that he supported civil unions, But when russert asked him if civil unions were being considered in his state would he support it edwards said no he wouldnt.

:wtf:

so he thinks its important for the president to support equal rights but wouldnt support civil unions?

He lost me there

Over all it wasnt a terrible performance I thought the Kerry line coming off his lips was funny though " I"ve seen polls that have me ahead in blah blah"

I like edwards but his civil unions comment leaves me cold.

[ringmastery]

8. wait a minute

I thought it was "gay marriage" that he didn't support.

There's a difference, although it's just silly semantics.

[Egnever]

9. I am pretty sure

tim asked him if civil unions was up for a vote in his state would he support it and edwards said no.

I will be watching it again. But I am pretty sure thats what I heard.

[AP]

18. He said that it's a state issue. He said, hypothetically,

he wouldn't vote for it in his state. You have to infer he meant that if he were in the state legislature or if there were a state referendum on the issue.

There is no scenario in which a US Senator would be voting to make state law in NC.

He said that he thinks the federal treatment of this matter should be to ensure that every FEDERAL right enjoyned by married couples should be shared by same-sex couples.

That part is wiithin the federal jurisdiction.

I suspect that this is just about the most liberal thing you're going to hear from any of the candidates.

Basically, the argument is let the states be as liberal as they want to be about recognizing same sex ceremonies. However, when we're talking about Federal rights (which have nothing to do with recognizing ceremonies) the Fed gov't will discriminate against nobody.

[surfermaw]

11. Right on there ringmaster.....

[Egnever]

16. You are right I missheard him.

My apologies to anyone who was misslead by my account. Heres that part of the transcript. And it was regarding wehter he would support the recognition of couples married in canada if it came up in his state.

I understand the distinction he is trying to make. It was a loaded question looking for a soundbyte and I apologize for buying into it.

SEN. EDWARDS: I think that the issue of civil unions is one that should be decided by individual states. I think that’s the natural way that that decision would be made. Having said that, I think it’s also very important for the president of the United States to make clear that everybody who lives in this country is entitled to equality, including gays and lesbians and those involved in committed gay and lesbian relationships, which means we should have partnership benefits. It means we should end discrimination in the workplace, which we still have not done. We should do something about—I think that just made reference to it—something about our adoption law, something about our immigration laws. I think the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of the military is something that clearly needs to be revisited with our military leaders. Now, I think it’s important for us to make clear to people in this country that we welcome all of them.
MR. RUSSERT: If a gay couple goes to Canada and is married legally and returns to the United States, should that marriage be honored here?
SEN. EDWARDS: Again, I think this is a decision that has to be made on a state—individual states have to make that decision and...
MR. RUSSERT: If you were governor of a state, would you be supportive of that?
SEN. EDWARDS: No, I would not.
MR. RUSSERT: You would not. Why?
SEN. EDWARDS: I would not. Because, well, first of all, you probably know this, I just went through my discussion of what rights I think need to be given to gays and lesbians, those in committed gay and lesbian relationships, but I don’t support gay marriage.

Again it was my mistake I confused the reference to civil unions being a states rights issue for edwards and mariage falling under the same conditions. He was speaking of marriage not civil unions.

[DemDogs]

24. Very gracious - thanks (n/t)

[surfermaw]

10. Come off it, Eedwards suupports the very thing Dean dose

And if you don't come off this junk, you are going to see Bush back in the White House.. Is it Dean or no one with some of you..We need to bash Bush not Edwards and other democrats...

[chimpymustgo]

12. Edwards was really terrific. I posted similar impressions in GD.

Watching Gore now, can't help but wonder if he had named Edwards vp in 2000...

[AP]

19. There's at least one thing Edwards would never have done had he been VP...

...nom.

Unlike Lieberman, I doubt he would ever had conceded that UNFRANKED unstamped overseas millitary ballots would not have have been counted.

The law was clear: no stamp necessary, but they had to be francked with a date before election day.

Lieberman unilaterally made a promise on national TV not to challenge those ballots.

Stupid? Yes! Calculated? God, I hope not.

[Egnever]

14. Sry thats what I heard him say

I may have misheard him but I doubt it. I will watch when it repeats later and if I heard him wrong I will happily admit it.

You are right though bush is the prize.

[DemDogs]

15. Every candidate has the same position

Edwards, Kerry, Dean, Gephardt . . . all say civil unions are okay but a matter of state law.

[Zynx]

13. For the sake of my dignity, I will not support a Washington Democrat.

Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt, and Lieberman can all shove it. They all have done a crappy job being Democrats by letting Bush pass whatever he wants and sometimes voting for it. I was never so ashamed of the Democratic party as I was when the IWR was passed. I can never forgive those people for that.

Go Dean and Clark! To hell with these other people.

[AP]

20. Open your eyes. I don't know what you're describing, but these Dems

are doing a great job of standing up against Bush and criticizing Bush. Especially since last spring.

Some of them make me very proud to be a Democrat.

[DemDogs]

21. Get ready for four more years

Because if you cannot support the Democrats who have kept your air from getting more polluted, who have fought for choice, who have laid down in front of miserable judicial nominees, who have fought hard even when the House and the Senate and the White House were in Republican hands, you can just get used to the fact that the power will stay in Republican hands.
This was Nader's rant and look where it got us. This Dean's rant: they are all scoundrels. He is wrong. And he will get us just what Nader did: another Bush election.

SUPPORT THE PARTY!

[Khephra]

25. SUPPORT THE PARTY!

When I was at the beach the last time, I could have sworn that was the last thing I heard the lemmings saying as they jumped off the cliff in unison. I've heard that from people here every election since 2000. Look where it's gotten us. NOWHERE.

Support the person.

I support people who actually support me, and since Bush has been in office there's been very, very few of those--and of those who did, none of them voted for the IWR.

[blm]

22. Will watch it tonight.

They repeat on cnbc Sunday nights.

[DemDogs]

26. On again now on CNBC (n/t)

[genius]

27. I really like Edwards. I agree more with Dennis. However,

both seem to have a pretty good grasp of the Constitution. Dennis woke up earlier, which is why he opposed USA-PATRIOT from the start. Together, they would make a great ticket, pulling in both people who want a liberal and people who want a Southerner. Both have reputations for honesty. I think this ticket would be a guaranteed win.