Reply #28: Real Clear Politics [View All]

[Mark D.]

As another indicated, you can go here to see something important. The ONLY candidate in an average of ALL polls (which RCP has on its site, Google 'Real Clear Politics' (minus quotes) if you want to see it regularly) to beat EVERY GOP CANDIDATE in the general election is John Edwards. Clinton loses to McCain, Obama ties McCain. If you think the South did in McCain, over adopting an Indonesian child, imagine how they'll jump on Obama. We can be 'hopeful' but this is real.

The last 3 Democrats to win elections for the presidency were southern white men. Change would be nice, Obama has a shot to win still, yes, and he'd be a great president. But as said by my (also racially mixed, 1/2 white/black) girlfriend, America is more ready for a black VP than black President. We'd vote for Obama, you would to. The deep south? Also, John being older will be better for Obama as VP who will still be relatively young in 8 years of an Edwards/Obama presidency, and able to run with youth on his side then.

Clearly Obama ran for Senate to run for president. That's ok. John probably did that too. Clinton's a great Senator for NY so let's keep her there. Wes Clark would be a great VP but I think he'd be a better Secretary of Defense or State (though Richardson might be better as the latter). Biden of course, a great VP choice, great with his message too, but just not as popular as Obama, and doesn't represent change as much. Popularity shouldn't matter, but it still does.

When folks in a more old-fashioned state like Iowa (and this is not a bad thing, being old-fashioned in the right ways...) mostly turned out for change when voting overwhelming for a Democrat, well, it bides well in other states I would think. We need to win this. Anyone who saw the debate saw potential and likability in Obama, great for a VP to learn more on the job. Edwards showed he's ready to hit the ground running on Day 1 as he says. Enough experience, but not so much he won't appear a catalyst for change.

Hillary is ready too, but unlike Edwards, she will be running with Lobbyists attached, expecting the payback for their financing her way today. Like Kucinich said earlier "I'm not for sale". And neither is Edwards. It's possible to make a stink about him getting money for his campaign from trial lawyers. Like they don't have a right to contribute? Like they'd want to see consumers in the middle class (where they get 90% of their biz) vanish in the corporate controlled govt. scheme we see turning the US into a 3rd world country? NOT.

If a product you're using, made in China by slave labor, sold by the greedy bastards at WalMart (who Clinton was once helping be greedy) blows up and seriously injures you, who you gonna call? Trial Lawyers. End of story. They're the 'devil' until you need one. It's a case of folks scared by Edwards real potential, on the right, trying to make him 'bad' for being one at one time, or getting their donations. That and his hair, there's not much else they've got on Edwards.

The results are real. When the Democratic candidate polling nationally 3rd can beat all the GOP in a head to head polling average of all major polls, it says something. Imagine if he's first place or the choice as nominee. You get the idea, Edwards would simply be unstoppable. Remember last resort politics by the GOP. They try to do the 'nice stuff' first. Then they try to do the scare us with
terrorists routine. Last resort, in the crucial south? Racism/sexism. Edwards can be hurt by that. It's why the right-wing owned corporate media does NOT want to talk about him.

I too felt he could have done better against Cheney in the 2004 debate. But he surely did better than Lieberman and his shortfalls were since addressed. Clearly, given his ability to be forceful with allies like Clinton in the debate, he'll clean up whoever he's debating this time as a prez or VP candidate. Obviously, if Obama gets the nod, Edwards could be a good VP choice, as was really so obvious in the debate. That alliance wasn't just to edge out Hillary, they're thinking ahead.