EDWARDS SPEAKS AGAINST WASHINGTON CORRUPTION

[babylonsister]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/11/460579.aspx

From NBC/NJ’s Tricia Miller
IOWA JEFFERSON-JACKSON DINNER COVERAGE


DES MOINES, IA – John Edwards took advantage of a bustling, enthusiastic crowd of Democratic activists at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner by railing again against the corruption in Washington.

“Washington is awash with corrupt money, with lobbyists who pass it out, with politicians who ask for it,” he said.

Edwards was the first presidential candidate to speak at the monster event, and he was one of only two candidates to take the stage alone during the introductions preceding the speeches. Both he and Hillary Clinton came without their spouses. Elizabeth Edwards is in North Carolina.

As he spoke, the Richardson campaign handed out a press release attacking Edwards’ Iraq position. It listed quotes from Edwards saying he couldn’t commit to getting troops out by 2013, he would continue combat missions in Iraq from elsewhere in the Middle East and he would leave almost 100,000 troops in Iraq “indefinitely.”

“Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who has pledged to get all of our troops out of Iraq by the end of his first year in office,” it said.

Edwards himself has called on voters to ask all candidates what their specific plan is on Iraq, including whether they will withdraw all combat troops in their first year in office. He says that he will, beginning with the immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50,000 troops when he is elected.

more...

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/11/460579.aspx

[saracat]

1. Edwards rocks! That was the speech of a lifetime. None of the others matched him.

He deserves to win!

[Rabo Karabekian]

5. Eliminate the Competition

That's because they didn't allow Gravel and Kucinich there. Vote Dennis!

[saracat]

6. Sorry but Gravel is batshit crazy and much as I love Dennis positions,

he isn't as "electable" as John. We can "win" across the board with John and we have the added bonus of Elizabeth! I want to see President Edwards in the WH!

[Rabo Karabekian]

9. Electability Does Not a Good Candidate Make

Why is Gravel "batshit crazy", Kucinich has been winning straw polls (or coming out near the top) left and right.

[Yael]

12. You are so right!!!

We don't need electability to win an ELECTION. We just need pipe dreams and starry eyed ideals. Because that has worked so well in the past. Yay us!!

Thanks for pointing that out.

:rofl:

[Rabo Karabekian]

15. No DINO's for Me, Not that Edwards is One

Well, your entitled to your opinion, but I agree with Truman. When the public is given a Republican and a Democrat imitating a Republican, they will vote for the Republican every time.

[saracat]

16. Anyone who would "boast ' about defrauding his creditors during a national debate and who

treats the other opponents sharing the stage with him with utter disrespect, is bat shit crazy. And Kucinich might be winning "straw polls" but mainstream America, which includes all kinds of Americans, including Indies and Repukes whose votes we "need" would never vote for him because of his "whoo whoo" philosophies(which I happen to like) and the fundies won't like that, or his several marriages and the new young wife. Add his physical qualities into the mix (and yeah, they do count) and he isn't electable. And it isn't enough to be a great candidate or person , you have to win.

[Rabo Karabekian]

23. Yeah Some of that Stuff Counts, But I'm Not Saying It's Right

Well, in the interest of taking this in a lighter direction (instead of a knock down drag out), I've often wondered what would happen for Dennis if he looked like John Edwards. Or how about teaming John Edwards up with Mrs. Kucinich? Lol.

[Rabo Karabekian]

22. Gravel is an Articulate Decent Man

I don't normal follow up threads diligently on DU, but that was really bad, calling Gravel 'batshit crazy'. I noticed you couldn't elaborate when I requested that you did.

[saracat]

27. I did. I said anyone who admitted publicly in a Presidential Debate to

"proudly" defrauding his creditors was batshit crazy. And treats his fellow opponents with angerand disrespect and insults them. That is just not rational behavior. And I actually agree with many of his positions.He just handles himself really badly!

[GreenArrow]

26. actually, Gravel is stone cold sane

while Edwards is a pandering narcissistic flibbertygibbet.

[surfermaw]

24. I'm with you , John Edwards President of the United States

[waiting for hope]

8. They don't have offices in Iowa -

That's why they were not there. It's not a conspiracy, those are the guidelines. Sheesh.

[creeksneakers2]

21. Kucinich wasn't allowed?

That's not fair. Dodd was allowed and everybody polls higher than Dodd.

[Yael]

11. Oh, yea -- it was a thing of beauty.

:woohoo:

[Rabo Karabekian]

2. One Huge Blunder

Edwards is good, it really hurt him, though when he said we could still be in Iraq in 2012.

[rodeodance]

3. It really was an inspiring speech

[Renew Deal]

4. I really think Richardson is there to protect Hillary

It's almost bizarre.

[saracat]

7. I agree.it is getting downright creepy.And I liked Bill.And somehow I think he is

deliberately "blowing' the debates because I have seen him speak several times and spoken with him and he has been fabulous! The man is a diplomat for god's sake and their is no reason he can't speak or seem to get his point across.

[surfermaw]

25. You know I had the same thought

[Yael]

10. Bill needs to think about what he is doing

Shamelessly tugging on Hillary's pantsuit with "I WANT TO BE VP" written all over him.

When Mr. Edwards takes the nomination, there may not be room for an attacking Richardson in that administration...

[mtnsnake]

13. Several of the candidates spoke out againt it, not just Preacher Boy

Hillary and Obama nailed Bush and his corrupt DC cronies as well.

[itsrobert]

17. Preacher boy?

Are we back in kindergarten?

[asdjrocky]

29. Don't worry,

I've never seen a substantive post from this person.

[saracat]

19. Hillary really really can't go there. Really.It was the culture of the 90's that was referred too.

And we really don't want to go backward to that era.It wasn't all bad but the corruption was real.

[polichick]

14. That was just flat-out rude of Richardson. nt

[Yael]

18. Yeah. Disappointing isn't it?

Oh well, now I have an Anyone But Richardson meme to add to the list.

Low class, Bill. See ya back in New Mexico. :hi:

[Nutmegger]

20. R&K for Edwards!

He did us proud last night!

Edwards 2008! :bounce::woohoo::bounce:

[asdjrocky]

28. Keep 'em coming.

[Czolgosz]

30. k + r

[Ninga]

31. That was easy......

:thumbsup:

[earth mom]

32. Wow-Does Edwards read DU? Because he's saying what a lot of us have been saying!

:applause: Edwards is sounding better and better to me. If I can't have Gore.... Edwards/Kucinich? Kucinich/Edwards?

BTW-does anyone remember when Elizabeth Edwards posted here on DU? It was great!

[mmonk]

33. I don't want to be too critical of Edwards since

I like him the best of the three front runners (I support the second tier though), but if he's against corruption, he wouldn't be against impeachment.