"You don't care about what your own people care about..."

[Emit]

Bill Clinton says to the reporter(s), "You don't care about what your own people care about. They care about what happens to the American people. That's one thing John Edwards was right about during the debate."

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/01/23/bill.clinton.yellin.cnn


That comment is very telling. This confirms, IMO, that Edwards has been driving the debate for some time -- certainly back to this incident in NH.

Without Edwards consistently bringing the American people into the fray between Obama and Clinton, I doubt seriously that we would even be hearing what the "American people care about" from either Clinton or Obama. It would just be more "He said" "She said" bickering between Obama and the Clintons.

[Fresh_Start]

1. yes, they are interested in the political battle

but not the least bit interested in what the political process is supposed to accomplish
Thats why we don't see detailed analysis of candidates positions
If there's compare an contrast its in a table with 3-4 words to describe it

Its a freaking beauty contest.
Lets see if a nipple shows.
Will the candidate slip and fall on their ass

Its not the least bit helpful

[patrice]

2. I thought his question about Obama's 100 Present votes was pretty smart.

Does anyone REALLY think a trial lawyer would ask a question like that without some idea of what the answer was going to be?

Q. What kind of attorney doesn't do enough oppo research to know how the Illinois Senate uses the "present vote" to allow senators to express their technical objections to a bill without being forced to either support it or kill it (just as Obama said)? A. A poor attorney and that ain't John Edwards.

He asked that question to let Obama respond to the Clinton Machine while at the same time counting coup on him (and I do mean counting coup in the same manner as some Native American tribes used to do it - a kind of pro forma striking, just to show that you can do more if you wish). It was a polite way to use what was going on between the other two, not only to his own advantage and without getting dirty doing it, but also to Obama's advantage against HC, but I don't think you'll ever see any Obama supporters recognizing what JE did for him with that question.

P.S. I'm married to an attorney. Questions are never just questions.

[Emit]

3. I caught that, too, patrice

and thanks for your explanation/insight -- I work for a firm that does Vocational Forensic expert testimony. The first thing I learned was no good attorney was going to ask a question he/she didn't already know the answer to.

[patrice]

6. I wonder if Obama caught it. nt

[Emit]

8. I get the feeling that Edwards and Obama have a better understanding

or rapport than Edwards/Clinton or Obama/Clinton.

But, what do I know? I could be just imagining -- although they did seem to team up on her in that NH debate.

[eridani]

4. The only reason Edwards appears to be driving the debate--

--was that he forced out the far more populist and liberal Kucinich.

[Emit]

5. Actually

I do not disagree with your statement. :hi:

[slipslidingaway]

7. Some people have told me they thought he dropped out :( n/t