Reply #43: this is my thought on all three candidates and the war.

[illinoisprogressive]

Edwards made some major mistakes in championing the war and not just voting for it. However, people have the right to second thoughts and he is mature enough to admit to making a mistake. I think he feels the guilt over this period alot.
I believe some of it was aspirations and some belief. He did not want to look wimpy when he ran for president so he tried to be super macho. After he knew he made a mistake.

Hillary knew the intellegence from a couple years earlier. She had access to more info than most.I don't think she so much believed in it as was doing it for aspirations. Not trashing but, she is very much a political person who calculates the political rather than the belief. I don't think she really had much belief either way. I really do not hold her vote against her so much as her not taking responsibility and blaming someone else. She was lied to, she was a victim.

Obama took many factors into concideration. At the time, he was the only one out the 3 who had no presidential ambitions. He is very much someone who knows the culture and thinking of that part of the world. this was a major plus for him in his assessment. He also thought like many of us that the war was with bin laden and we did not need to go and invade a country for maybes. Like it or not, obama does alot of deep thinking and getting experts opinions. whether you believe it or not, he tries to stay true to himself and his belief on issues.

I don't think the vote was the biggest problem for myself. it was the actions and the sheer calculated way and actions going into the vote. You need to vote your belief and not with an eye to future aspirations and being calculated.