So... what did Obama have to promise Edwards to get his endorsement today?

[Seabiscuit]

Their relationship in the past has always been cordial but cool. Due to their differences on the issue of health care, Obama's relationship with Elizabeth Edwards might more aptly be described as frigid.

Edwards until the past week, at least, had followed Al Gore's advice, and stayed out of the fray.

So to not only agree to endorse, but to agree to be called out on a moment's notice today as part of a political strategy to attempt to stem the damage done in West Virginia last night, I figure Obama had to promise absolutely to do the following for John Edwards: Either make him his VP, or his Attorney General, or give him his choice of any cabinet post; and make an absolute commitment to support Edwards' issues such as poverty and universal healthcare from now on.

Anything short of that doesn't make any sense at all.

[anonymous171]

1. HIS SOUL

[Seabiscuit]

4. Well,

don't you have to have one to give one?

[cici4691]

No, his soul stayed home in NC and kept her integrity intact

Hopefully Elizabeth will stay out of the fray.

[OzarkDem]

38. Hopefully she won't

She's stated that she prefers Clinton's health care reform plan, hopefully she'll stick to her beliefs.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. A jet ski.

[Seabiscuit]

6. A cheaper barber?

[anonymous171]

11. I knew that was coming.

You'd better hide.

[Seabiscuit]

27. OK.

:hide:

[rocktivity]

29. LOL--I knew the very might Edwards said that on Colbert

that was leaning toward Obama. He was just waiting for it to have the best effect (why waste in on a state he was going to win handily?). And I wouldn't be surprised if their "cordial relationship" was planted in the media's imagination.

:headbang:
rocknation

[The Magistrate]

3. He Must Have Promised Him Something, Sir

Probably something damned decent....

"There's no such thing as a free lunch --- or these drinks would cost a lot less."

[karynnj]

126. Possible future relevance - Obama already has the nomination won

What Edwards has to offer is the start of all the prominent Democrats admitting that he is the presumptive nominee and getting behind him. I don't think a position has to be promised. Edwards actually needs Obama's support more than Obama needs his. At this point, though Edwards has joined some organizations that are addressing poverty - he has no elected or appointed position. No real power base. Even if he reached the Gore level of being seen as a movement leader - something that might be harder to do with poverty, a known problem that is addressed at least every few decades than with global warming.

[lisa58]

5. So now Edwards isn't honest?

[Seabiscuit]

10. I didn't suggest that. I'm suggesting there has been some serious horse-trading, that's all.

[lisa58]

16. I think he get's to promote his College for Everyone Program...

...but he could have done that if he endorsed Hillary.

I think he endorsed who he believes is the better candidate.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

74. he mentioned that he hadn't gotten his jet sky yet

in my heart of hearts, I trust John Edwards.

I live in North Carolina, and even here some people didn't appreciate
him until he dropped out of the race, and then they moaned and wailed.

Because he is so slick looking, some people held it against him.

I have always respected his skills as a lawyer and his desire to
help the under dog.

I can't presume to know his motives but I believe they are good,
whatever they are.

And I DO believe he wants to unite the party so that we
don't have 4 more years of George Bush.

[Condem]

7. C'mon, Sweetie

Why go down that road?

[babylonsister]

8. Nothing. Clintons' feet in mouth caught up with them. nt

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

15. Sorry, hon, it's all about her and them. Follow the SDs! nt

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

33. No. You asked a question, I answered honestly. Too bad you can't

face reality.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

59. Grow up. Too bad you're not getting the answer you're seeking. nt

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Condem]

69. Seabiscuit

We lose you very soon, don't we?

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Danger Mouse]

64. wow. you outdid yourself this time.

[Seabiscuit]

83. Aw...

You're all gonna have to whine one more time:

[Beacool]

9. I would think the VP post.

When you fail once, twice, what's one more time?

:shrug:

[cali]

23. ridiculous hillbot "logic"

No way will Obama offer Edwards the VP spot. And poor little hillypoo is the loser. Get used to it. Obama is the next president.

[Beacool]

49. Dream on!!!!!!! n/t

[cali]

56. bwahahaha.

Any dem could beat McCain this year. Tough shit for hillbots that hillypoo blew the primaries so badly. Do try and keep up.

[Danger Mouse]

12. A swift end to the primary.

[lisa58]

36. bingo...

...it will certainly help.

[Danger Mouse]

60. i mean, honetly, the edwards endorsement isn't to snag obama more votes..

but to encourage more supers to come out in support of obama, really.

[cliffordu]

14. Cheap, tawdry sex.

Or maybe attorney general....

[Colobo]

22. Yep. Man-to-man loving was promised.

[jsmirman]

47. It's like you were in the damn room

how did you know?

[lisa58]

24. you crack me up!

[cliffordu]

50. LOL

:hi:

[Andy823]

17. Maybe

He just decided that Obama was the best choice of the two to instigate the "change" this country needs. I don't know "why" he chose Obama, that is his choice, as it would have been if he had chosen Hillary. I would vote for Edwards today in a hear beat. I really think he was, and still would be, the best candidate for the party, but since he is not in the running, I feel that Obama would be the better of the two to give this country "real" change. If he had chosen Hillary I would have been unhappy, but I would not put him down for doing so.

[sfam]

19. A Jet Ski....or, um, that poverty thing...nt

[Cha]

20. A lot you know...you sound like your

mouth is full of fucking sour grapes.

[NashVegas]

35. So

I like grapes.

Have a jet-ski.

[Seabiscuit]

43. Aaaaaaeeeeeeh......

:rofl:

[OzarkDem]

21. Its a leap of faith for Edwards

Obama has an industry written health care reform plan and has a history of letting private insurance companies write health care reform at the state level.

Edwards, OTOH, copied Clinton's health care reform plan and has adamantly insisted that insurance companies not be given a "place at the table" when negotiating reform.

Apparently Edwards is gullible enough to think Obama will change his ways. His principles about good public policy have been trumped by something, not sure what.

[JI7]

41. maybe Edwards didn't think Hillary did much in the 90s

and will give up when it gets tough .

[Colobo]

42. Ozark, John has done the right thing. He has endorsed our nominee.

[Seabiscuit]

46. Edwards didn't copy Clinton's health care plan. She copied his.

OTOH, I'm beginning to think that Edwards does have a gullible side to him.

[OzarkDem]

89. She had been working on her plan for some time

The type of plan both of them proposed had been discussed by health care think tank groups for some time.

Needless to say, Obama chose a less viable plan and that's what Edwards has decided to support, not to mention Obama's willingness to let private insurers have a "place at the table".

[Seabiscuit]

125. After watching the endorsement speech on U-Tube, I got a different impression:

Edwards mentioned his poverty program and said Obama was standing behind him on it.

Then he mentioned "true universal healthcare for all" (a reference, IMHO to Elizabeth Edwards' plan) and said that's what people would get from an Obama Presidency.

Both of these items are some of the things I think he negotiated with Obama in exchange for the endorsement - so rather than Edwards deciding to support Obama's "less viable plan", I think Edwards was saying Obama promised to support his and Elizabeth's plan.

[rusty quoin]

25. Maybe Edwards was going to endorse him all along, and it was the right time. n/t

[Kittycat]

26. I believe they're promoting JEs new Proverty Campaign together. ***ETA: Link

nothing wrong with that. A win-win for both, and it fits in well with Obama's policies.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/
Halving poverty was key.

[tledford]

28. You must not watch "The Cobert Report."

Edwards announced on 4/17 what it would take to win his endorsement:

1. 2 Kawasaki 800 SXR jetskis.
2. He will be made a spy.
3. His picture will be on money.
4. There will be three new national holidays, each named for one of his three children.

Sheesh, try to keep up, willya?

[Seabiscuit]

51. No, I watch "The Colbert Report". And yes, Edwards was funny in that episode.

[jefferson_dem]

30. what did Obama have to promise Edwards to get his endorsement today?

To be himself.

That is all...as it should be.

[last1standing]

31. What on Earth makes you think this was "on a moment's notice"?

This has been planned for at least a week with careful precision. that's why Edwards resurfaced to make appearances and gin up interest in his endorsement. Every living human being knew that Hillary would win WV and that she would try to play it like it meant something. Obama knew that there was a chance the media would go along with her charade so he orchestrated a maneuver that would blow any positive publicity out of the headlines.

And it worked. Too bad for Hillary, huh?

What did Obama promise Edwards, likely nothing since Edwards needs nothing that Obama could offer. More likely Edwards wants the party to win in November, unlike the creature who would not die. However, there's always a chance that a cabinet post was suggested, which would be a good thing considering Edwards' tremendous ability.

[Seabiscuit]

53. Because no one could have predicted how badly Obama got trounced in WVA. That's why.

The timing points to that.

The morning after, Edwards gets the call from Obama. Obviously, they already had an agreement. It was all about timing. Within a few hours, Edwards was with Obama onstage giving his speech.

[Forkboy]

65. You're contradicting yourself.

Because no one could have predicted how badly Obama got trounced in WVA.

Obviously, they already had an agreement.

Which is it?

[last1standing]

66. What the Hell? EVERYONE knew Obama would be trounced. All the polls pointed to it.

Where do you get your news?

FOX?

[Hippo_Tron]

100. Everyone was predicting how bad Obama would get beaten in West Virginia

He barely even campaigned there. IMO he already had Edwards lined up and was saving him until the day after West Virginia for that reason.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Seabiscuit]

57. I'm honored to have you posting in my thread, Gravelbot.

[quakerboy]

34. I am going with

a deal on Universal health care. and AG.

But thats just a guess. Maybe it really was a jet ski. Who ever really knows.

[Tribetime]

37. Let Edwards win at basketball

[Raine]

39. Be a good President. nt

[jsmirman]

52. exactly *

nm

[Doctor_J]

40. To put his poverty plan in the platform

that's pretty much it.

[asdjrocky]

44. I heard it was a jet ski.

And when Obama becomes President, John gets to be a spy.

[saltpoint]

45. The deal was very exacting. Obama gets the Edwards endorsement in

exchange for a Tom Seaver, a Roger Maris, a Frank Robinson, 2 Vada Pinsons (including the rookie year), and an All-Star Game poster of Juan Marichal.

[asdjrocky]

54. Better than mine.

Way better.

[saltpoint]

58. I don't know. I might take the jet ski.

How about a jet ski with Juan Marichal's picture on it?


:hi:

[asdjrocky]

82. I'm a Willie Mays guy myself....

Actually got to see him play a few times, at the Stick.

[saltpoint]

88. O god that had to be wonderful.

Mr. Mays played baseball.

And you saw him at that creaky old fog-rotted wind-blasted holy temple?

You
are
a
fortunate
soul.

[asdjrocky]

106. Better yet OC-

I was sitting next to the greatest man in the world every single time. My father.

[saltpoint]

108. That trumps a lot of high wishes. There's a great national romance

in taking a young person to a baseball game, and it's not all on the field, either.

Good on ya, and good on your dad.

[asdjrocky]

111. I stopped watching the Majors some time ago...

I guess the last strke just did me in. But my two home towns has a couple of great AAA teams, and that makes for a great day, or night, at the park.

[saltpoint]

115. I hear you loud and clear on that one. The minor leagues are

a truer baseball.

It's still played as if it were a religion in Cuba.

[asdjrocky]

116. And Bull Durham is my all time favorite move.

I wanted to be three things as a kid, a writer, a rock star, and a baseball player. Hell, I would have played the railroad league and been happy. I'm still working on 2 of em, but I fear my hitting and fielding days are behind me.

[saltpoint]

117. Well it sounds like you got farther than I did. I played a rural little league,

blue jeans and t-shirts, and loved it, but that was as far as I ever got.

My father blamed the Beatles for distracting me.

Good call.

[asdjrocky]

118. Ten years of organized ball, from the time I was 8.

My dad was very, very big on sports. He got a look at my scouting report and it had me too small, and too slow off the bag.

[Seabiscuit]

91. I got to see him play at the Polo Grounds.

:toast:

You guessed it: I'm an old fart. For someone living in Long Island a the time, 50's baseball was as good as it gets: we had the Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants all within a relatively short driving distance. They don't make teams like that any more.

[asdjrocky]

92. Polo Grounds? Wow.

Now I'll date myself by saying the first Forty Niners game I saw was at Kisar stadium. (Not sure if I spelled that right.)

[Seabiscuit]

129. I think it's spelled Kezar Stadium - home of the 49'ers from 1946 to 1970.

That covers a lot of time - did you see them there in the 60's? Because they were also there in the 50's and 40's.

[saltpoint]

110. Seabiscuit and Rocky, I am weeping with jealousy right now.

[Seabiscuit]

72. I think it was far more exacting than that:

a Babe Ruth, a Lou Gehrig, a Joe Dimaggio, a Yogi Berra, a Jackie Robinson, a Mickey Mantle, a Willie Mays, 2 Duke Sniders and a Hammerin' Hank Aaron.

AND a jet ski.

[saltpoint]

77. I had the pleasure of watching Hank Aaron blast two -- count 'em --

TWO line-drive home runs in riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati off the Reds' fireballer Don Gullett.

Don't get me wrong -- Gullett was throwing fire that game, mowing down Braves left and right.

But he never got the vibe against Henry, who had the hand-eye coordination goin' full-tilt that day, and good god in heaven did those homers leave left field in a rush.

[Seabiscuit]

90. That must have been something... I had the pleasure

of seeing Mickey Mantle hit that monster home run just below the top of the highest point of the old Yankee Stadium (before the rebuild) right field roof. The one referred to by Billy Crystal in the movie "61". A few more inches up (or a few feet more to the left) and it would have gone way, way out of the park. I was sitting right behind 3rd base.

[saltpoint]

93. No fair! You got to part of History!

Mantle was so quintessentially American in so man ways, too.

Damn.

I'm getting homesick in a hurry here.

Have you read Don DeLillo's UNDERWORLD?

It starts out with a very famous home run ball -- the shot heard around the world homer -- and goes on from there.

[Samantha]

107. Well, as long as everyone is going off thread in a sporting way

I visited Mohammed Ali when he had his training camp just before the Jimmy Young fight. I have pictures taken right up at ring side that are originals -- not a soul on this earth has a copy. One of them shows Mohammed from the waist up with beads of sweat clearly visible on his incredibly muscular arms.

I believe it was Mohammed Ali's rope-a-dope strategy that Obama employed early in the campaign to give Bill and Hillary a false sense of inevitability (there I am back on topic).

Sorry I don't know much about baseball, but it's always nice to find you in a thread I am enjoying, OC.

Sam

[saltpoint]

109. Early photos of Ali. That earns a loud 'Whoa.'

Ali had to have stepped out of ancient myth into our modern time.

How else to explain how he looked and how he captivated people?

Sam, awfully nice to see you. Hope all's well your way.

[msallied]

55. Easy. Airport bathroom sex.

[Radical Activist]

61. If there was a deal it would have happened earlier.

Obama didn't want a deal. That's why he didn't endorse before now.

[kdmorris]

62. To bring justice and poverty to the forefront of his campaign

That would be my guess anyway.

[tkmorris]

105. I doubt that

It doesn't really resonate with Obama's normal schtick, plus it's just words. Promises can be broken. I expect there is something more tangible than that, though I have no idea what it was.

You know what I HOPE it was though, don't ya? Oh yes.

[kdmorris]

128. Yes, dear

I know what you HOPE for. :evilgrin:

Of course, you know I would love that, too.

[Dinger]

63. I Know!

He promised not to tell! And he probably promised an Elizabeth endorsement right after Hillary beats Obama in KY by 41 points.

[Life Long Dem]

67. Edward's just didn't want to be told by

the Clinton's about how it is too late for his endorsement. Obama doesn't have the screw you attitude the Clinton's have. Richardson's endorsement is greeted with pleasure by Obama, as is the Edwards endorsement.

[kenny blankenship]

68. Hope and Change?

worked on me.

[LowerManhattanite]

70. God...please...

Let this evening rush end so “ignore” comes back on.

Please?

[kwenu]

71. Hey geniuses! If promising a post is all it took to get Edwards, why didn't Hillary do it first?

The answer is that this thread is dumb and Edwards genuinely expressed his true feelings. I know. I know. America can't be America without a good conspiracy theory.

[JVS]

87. Because the Clintons are above trading posts for favors, unless you're Richardson, in which case...

YOU OWE THEM BIG.

:evilgrin:

[stray cat]

76. Something he believed in more than a tank of free gas that Hillary offered us all

[Beregond2]

78. I think

it is far more likely that the promises, if any, were made long ago.

[RaleighNCDUer]

79. You might have something there

if Hillary had actually done him any damage yesterday. That MASSIVE VICTORY gave her a net gain of ten delegates, leaving her still 150 behind.

It's kind of like she just goosed her car to pass him, and it looks good, but she happens to be on lap 46 and he's on 50 and closing on the checkered flag.

[Seabiscuit]

86. That wasn't the problem. The problem was the bad press he was getting as a result of

WVA.

The usually reliable bobbleheads in the MSM were raising questions and turning on him.

So he played the ace up his sleeve.

[David Zephyr]

80. I think Edwards knew he had to endorse Obama quickly before Jimmy Carter does.

I'm not that impressed with this johnny-come-lately endorsement. It seems to be very self-serving after he played it safe.

Not impressed at all.

[hisownpetard]

81. I beg your pardon. He never promised him a rose garden.

[whistle]

84. Suppose what you suggest is correct and I don't believe it is, then isn't that American politics?

[Seabiscuit]

85. Precisely my point.

[whistle]

101. Well then say it, this is the way American politics is played, Edwards won

...those delegates and has held them right up to the point where he was able to leverage their votes to the best political advantage for all concerned.

[TexasObserver]

94. Obama had to promise Edwards that he wouldn't choose Hillary for VP or anything important

And that makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

[whistle]

102. You don't know that

[TexasObserver]

103. Yes, yes, I do know that. Because JE knows how dangerous Hillary is.

All you know is what you know, so what you really mean is you don't know that.

[whistle]

124. Where has John Edwards gone on public record stating Hillary Clinton

...as "dangerous" and exactly what does "dangerous" mean the way you are using that term?

[AtomicKitten]

95. * jet ski * His endorsement of Barack made perfect sense & is most welcome.

[Liberal Veteran]

96. A shrubbery!

[Hippo_Tron]

97. I bet he had to do none of the above, Edwards endorsed after Obama became inevitable

Obama intentionally saved the endorsement until after West Virginia so that the media would talk about something else.

[DearAbby]

98. Obama promised

his firstborn son....then they danced around a bonfire nakey.

[book_worm]

99. So if he had endorsed Hillary all would be right in the world

I've never seen so many sore losers as some Hillary supporters on DU. He didn't endorse your candidate so obviously he was bought.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

104. I don't understand the point of your OP.

Are you giving Obama a mandate?

[anonymous171]

112. God, the Edwards forum here reads like FR. Then even use the "Barry" smear.

:puke:

[canadian_is_cold]

113. Edwards said it was a jet-ski n/t

[helderheid]

114. He'll fight for an end to poverty?

[Blondiegrrl]

119. Maybe Edwards just doesn't want to see the Democratic Party ripped apart.

He stayed out of it as long as he could. IMO he's not a big fan of Hillary or Barack either one. But he sees what most people see: That Obama will be the nominee, and the longer this fight is dragged out, the better McCain's chances will be in the fall.

[Muttocracy]

120. Didn't he mention the poverty plan agreement right in his endorsement speech tonight? nt

[thewiseguy]

121. lifetime membership to this kickass barber shop Obama goes to

:hide:

[StrongBad]

122. A "wipeout" in the General Election

[crankychatter]

123. It can't be that he wants the Party unified behind one nominee

no way... it has to be that he's a shallow opportunist, right?

kma

[CK_John]

127. Head of the Red Cross. n/t