Monday, July 25, 2005
Some wish he would go away
The (Raleigh) News & Observer reports that some North Carolina Democrats are upset with former Sen. John Edwards. Seems that Johnnie Boy has been jetsetting across the country, promoting efforts to raise state minimum wages...while ignoring an initiative in the NCGA to do the same in his home state.
His rep claims its because Edwards is focusing on ballot initiatives rather than legislative action. I say that's bull. Two things drove Edwards' Dean-esque voyages to Michigan, and Arizona, and Ohio...but not to NC:
UPDATE: The question remains open, but darned if there aren't people trying to volunteer. Yesterday's DLC summer meeting in Columbus featured four hopefuls for the 2008 Democratic nomination in three years...with Hillary, of course, the most prominent...and Virginia's Mark Warner the most promising.
His rep claims its because Edwards is focusing on ballot initiatives rather than legislative action. I say that's bull. Two things drove Edwards' Dean-esque voyages to Michigan, and Arizona, and Ohio...but not to NC:
- Johnnie Boy is just delusional enough to think he can win the Presidency in 2008, and thus needs to keep his hat in the ring (and name in the news, nationwide), and...
- He smartly realizes that he has no political future in North Carolina.
UPDATE: The question remains open, but darned if there aren't people trying to volunteer. Yesterday's DLC summer meeting in Columbus featured four hopefuls for the 2008 Democratic nomination in three years...with Hillary, of course, the most prominent...and Virginia's Mark Warner the most promising.
Comments:
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I know. The Republican candidate has gotten more votes than the Democratic candidate in one of the past four elections. Hegemony!
# posted by 
: 4:24 PM
: 4:24 PM
None of the "major Dems" get me excited at all. Unfortunately, they all follow the lead of the DLC and try to run down the middle, picking off Republican votes at the margin, rather than trying to energize the millions who don't feel it's worth it to cast a vote. If there was a Dem who positioned himself as significantly different than the Republicans (having been against the Iraq war would be a nice start) I think you could motivate many of these people to vote...much more than trying to out-tough-guy the Republicans will win you.
That said, what's your beef with Johnny? I think he's an idiot. But that's only because he refused to listen when I told him that Iraq was a huge mistake. If he'd listened to me, he'd be sitting in the White House right now.
That said, what's your beef with Johnny? I think he's an idiot. But that's only because he refused to listen when I told him that Iraq was a huge mistake. If he'd listened to me, he'd be sitting in the White House right now.
My beef with Johnnie boy is personal, not political. I met him several times in high schools; twice as part of the NC High School Mock Trial competition, and once as I introduced him for a stump speech at my high school. Each time, I thought he was one of the self-centered, least genuine men I had ever met. You seriously wanted to wash your hand after shaking his...plus, he talked down to every audience (remember: this was before he "remembered" he had humble beginnings, and still acted like the asshole personal injury attorney he is.)
On top of that, I really hate how he uses his kids in his campaigns. Though he definitely loved to bring Jack and Emma Claire out on the campaign last year, I'm thinking specifically of his 1998 campaign, where every speech mentioned his dead son...to the point where that was his campaign message: "Vote for me, because I'm sad because my son died, and now I want to do something more meaningful than bankrupt hospitals."
(Note: I have several friends who went to Broughton High in Raleigh with Wade, and by all regards he was a good kid. It's terrible that he was killed by a drunk driver.)
The media story was that Edwards was everything we should want in a politician: a self made man who would represent the common good. The John Edwards I knew was anything but: a rich man who was bored with his chosen profession, chosen because it would make him rich, not because he gave a damn about his clients or the public good.
On top of that, I really hate how he uses his kids in his campaigns. Though he definitely loved to bring Jack and Emma Claire out on the campaign last year, I'm thinking specifically of his 1998 campaign, where every speech mentioned his dead son...to the point where that was his campaign message: "Vote for me, because I'm sad because my son died, and now I want to do something more meaningful than bankrupt hospitals."
(Note: I have several friends who went to Broughton High in Raleigh with Wade, and by all regards he was a good kid. It's terrible that he was killed by a drunk driver.)
The media story was that Edwards was everything we should want in a politician: a self made man who would represent the common good. The John Edwards I knew was anything but: a rich man who was bored with his chosen profession, chosen because it would make him rich, not because he gave a damn about his clients or the public good.
Seriously. I prefer my politicians to be honest, sincere, intelligent, and competent like Bush.
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# posted by : 12:11 PM
: 12:11 PM << Home
