US corporate elite fear Edwards

[ursi]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Ask corporate lobbyists which presidential contender is most feared by their clients and the answer is almost always the same -- Democrat John Edwards.

The former North Carolina senator's chosen profession alone raises the hackles of business people. Before entering politics, he made a fortune as a trial lawyer. In litigious America, trial lawyers bring lawsuits against companies on behalf of aggrieved individuals and sometimes win multimillion-dollar settlements. Edwards won several.

But beyond his profession, Edwards' tone and language on the campaign trail have increased business antipathy toward him. His stump speeches are peppered with attacks on "corporate greed" and warnings of "the destruction of the middle class."
He accuses lobbyists of "corrupting the government" and says Americans lack universal health care because of "drug companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists."

Despite not winning the two state nominating contests completed so far, with 48 to go, Edwards insists he is in the race to stay. An Edwards campaign spokesman said on Thursday that inside-the-Beltway operatives who fight to defend the powerful and the privileged should be afraid.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7217369

---

Interesting story running in England. Imagine it from their perspective.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Now there's an epiphany

Of course they're scared shitless of Edwards; he pretty much told them the party's over.

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. You think we'll see some jumping out of the windows again? n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. We should be so lucky. nt

[JDPriestly]

4. That is why I am for him.

The party will soon be over for a lot of Americans. The illusions that Reagan sold the American middle class are about to dissipate. The dollar is descending in the East, and it will not rise until the middle class takes charge of the country again as it did after the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Honest businessmen have nothing to fear. They are the leaders of the middle class. It's the extremist greedy who should be watching their steps right now.

[ihavenobias]

19. It's so disheartening that Edwards seems to be

a distant third.

Even MORE depressing is how much the media has played an enormous role in making that happen. But as I've written before, I want him to stay in the race to keep PUSHING the other two candidates further and further down the progressive end of the spectrum.

They need to be pushed *as far as possible*, because they'll begin sliding back toward the center/right as soon as the general election begins (if not sooner).

www.theyoungturks.com

[JDPriestly]

23. Are you making telephone calls or walking your precinct or tabling?

Can you do anything this weekend?

[kelligesq]

63. Big thread on this in Gen Discuss here

trying to organize DU Edwards supporters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2641270&mesg_id=2641270

Write your letters tothe Editors why you support JOhn to your local newspapers

to counteract no publlicity on tv....owned by big multi nationas like GE -

major amrmaments firm, did you know?

[kelligesq]

69. Wouldn't Donahue of Chamber be shocked recieving 1000's of letters from DU

members saying

" IF YOU CONTINUE YOUR ANTI AMERICAN INTERFERENCE IN THE PEOPLE'S ELECTION WE

WILL STOP BUYING PRODUCTS OF ANY MEMBER YOU HAVE ESPECIALLY THOSE ON

YOUR BOARD SUCH AS ATT, FEDEX, NIKE, VERIZON"


I could envision pickets outside Donahue DC office
"CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNAMERICAN"

They call themselves US Chamber of Commerce but they are not a govt agency, they're a non profit, might be a 501C not supposed to be involved in politics or
contributing to politics which they do in races for judges, attorney generals, presidential, Nice huh?




List of their board members:

Board of Directors
John Amore
Chief Executive Officer
Zurich Financial Services
New York, NY

Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE
President & CEO
National Association of
Chain Drug Stores
Alexandria, VA

George L. Argyros
Chairman & CEO, Arnel & Affiliates
Costa Mesa, CA

Linda N. Awkard
Awkard & Associates
Washington, DC

John W. Bachmann
Senior Partner
Edward Jones
St. Louis, MO

Richard H. Bagger
Senior Vice President for
Worldwide Public Affairs & Policy
Pfizer Inc.
New York, NY

Thomas D. Bell, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cousins Properties Incorporated
Atlanta, GA

Don L. Blankenship
Chairman, CEO and President
Massey Energy Company
Belfry, KY

Mark T. Bobak
Group Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
St. Louis, MO

James C. Carter
Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer
Nike, Inc.
Beaverton, OR

John S. Chen
Chairman, CEO & President
Sybase, Inc.
Dublin, CA

James W. Cicconi
Senior Executive Vice President
External and Legislative Affairs
AT&T
Washington, DC

Harry W. Clark
Managing Partner
Stanwich Group LLC
Greenwich, CT

Edwin M. Crawford
Chairman and Director
CVS Caremark Corp.
Woonsocket, RI

Jeffrey C. Crowe
Chairman
Landstar System, Inc
Jacksonville, FL

Brian D. Dailey
Senior Vice President
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Arlington, VA

Brackett B. Denniston III
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
General Electric Company
Fairfield, CT

Brian L. Derksen
Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO
Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
New York, NY

Edward B. Dinan
Regional President & General Manager of Northern New England
Verizon Communications, Inc.
Portland, ME

Maura W. Donahue
President
DonahueFavret Contractors Holding Company
Mandeville, LA

Thomas E. Donilon
O'Melveny & Myers
Washington, DC

Thomas J. Donohue
President and Chief Executive Officer
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Washington, D.C.

Michael L. Ducker
President
International
FedEx Express
Memphis, TN

Dwight H. Evans
President
External Affairs Group
Southern Company
Atlanta, GA

Robert D. Fatovic
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Ryder System, Inc.
Miami, FL

Roger W. Ferguson
Chairman
Head of Financial Services Group
Swiss Re Holding Corporation
Washington, DC

Lynn L. Franzoi
Senior Vice President
Fox Entertainment Group
Los Angeles, CA

Mark D. French
President
Leading Authorities, Inc.
Washington, D.C.

Ted R. French
Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Textron, Inc.
Bloomfield Hills, MI

Craig L. Fuller
Executive Vice President
APCO Worldwide
Washington, DC

Walter J. Galvin
Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Emerson
St. Louis, MO

Thomas A. Gottschalk
Of Counsel
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Washington, DC

Peter T. Grauer
Chairman and President
Bloomberg, L.P.
New York, NY

Shannon L. Greene
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Tandy Leather Factory, Inc.
Fort Worth, TX

James M. Guyette
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rolls-Royce North America, Inc.
Chantilly, VA

Winthrop M. Hallett, III
President
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Mobile, AL

Cathy A. Harper
Vice President, Public Affairs
United Parcel Service
Washington, DC

Shigeru Hayakawa
President and Chief Operating Officer
Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
New York, NY

James A. Hixon
Executive Vice President
Finance and Public Affairs
Norfolk Southern Company
Norfolk, VA

Jeffrey D. Holley
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
CUNA Mutual Group
Madison, WI

Scott L. Holman, Sr.
Founder & Senior Advisor,
The Bay Cast Companies
Bay City, MI

John L. Hopkins
Group President, Government
Fluor Corporation
Irving, TX

C.A. Howlett
Senior Vice President – Public Affairs
US Airways
Phoenix, AZ

Orrin H. Ingram
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ingram Industries Inc.
Nashville, TN

Jan L. Jones
President of Government Relations
and External Communications
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
Las Vegas, NV

Paul W. Jones
Chairman and CEO
A.O. Smith Corporation
Milwaukee, WI

Fred Kaiser
Chairman and CEO
Alpha Technologies, Inc.
Bellingham, WA

Jeff Kelly
Executive Vice President, Americas
EDS
Plano, TX

David E. Kepler
Senior Vice President, Shared Services, Environment, Health and Safety and Chief Information Officer
The Dow Chemical Company
Midland, MI

Dan Kirby
President
Kirby Financial, LLC
Sioux Falls, SD

C. Virginia Kirkpatrick
President/Owner
CVK Personnel Management
& Training Specialists
Innsbrook, MO

Paul J. Klaassen
Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Sunrise Senior Living, Inc.
McLean, VA

Greg Lebedev
Senior Advisor
The Robertson Foundation
Arlington, VA

Thomas C. Leppert
Mayor of Dallas
Dallas, TX

Larry A. Liebenow
Providence, RI

William G. Little
President & CEO
Quam-Nichols Company, Inc.
Chicago, IL

Mark Loughridge
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
IBM Corporation
Armonk, NY
Wes W. Lucas
President & CEO
Quebecor World
Montreal, Canada

Gary M. Mabrey, III, CCE
President and CEO
Johnson City, Jonesborough,
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Johnson City, TN

Robert D. MacDonald
Senior Vice President
Marketing and Sales 3M
St. Paul, MN

Michael D. Maves
Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer
American Medical Association
Chicago, IL

Joan McCoy
Partner
Nexus Northwest, LLC
Santa Fe, NM


Richard H. McClure
President
UniGroup, Inc.
Fenton, MO

James W. Mendenhall, P.E.
Business Development Manager
Nana Development Corporation
Anchorage, AK

Gerard K. Meuchner
Director
Communications and Public Affairs
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY

David L. Miller
Chief Operating Officer
Con-way Freight Inc.
Ann Arbor, MI

Robert S. Milligan
Chairman
MI Industries
Lincoln, NE

Ronald T. Monford
Chairman and CEO
Mindover Corp.
Baltimore, MD

David F. Moxam
President and CEO
Authentix, Inc.
Addison, TX

Ernest J. Mrozek
President & Chief Financial Officer
The ServiceMaster Company
Memphis, TN

Dennis M. Nally
Chairman and Senior Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, NY

Daniel P. Neary
Chairman and CEO
The Mutual of Omaha Companies
Omaha, NE

Terry F. Neimeyer
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
KCI Technologies, Inc.
Hunt Valley, MD

Dennis E. Nixon
President & CEO
International Bancshares Corporation
Laredo, TX

George Nolen
President and CEO
Siemens Corporation
New York, NY

Brian O'Hara
Chairman, President & CEO
XL Capital Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda

Fredrick Palmer
Senior Vice President - Government Relations
Peabody Energy
St. Louis, MO

Rhonda J. Parish
Executive Vice President, Chief Adminstrative Officer
General Counsel and Secretary
Denny's Corporation
Spartanburg, SC

Manuel Perez de la Mesa
President and CEO
Pool Corporation
Covington, LA

Raymond E. Pinard
President and CEO
48hourprint.com
Boston, MA

James E. Press
Vice Chairman and President
Chrysler LLC
Auburn Hills, MI

David W. Raisbeck
Vice Chairman
Cargill, Incorporated
Minneapolis, MN

Larree M. Renda
Executive Vice President, Chief Strategist & Administrative Officer
Safeway, Inc.
Pleasanton, CA

Martin H. Richenhagen
Chairman & CEO
AGCO Corporation
Duluth, GA

James E. Rogers
President and CEO
Duke Energy Corp.
Charlotte, NC

Raul R. Romero
President and CEO
Alliance Consulting Group
Washington, D.C.

John Ruan III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ruan Transportation Management Systems
Des Moines, IA

James E. Rutrough
Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer
State Farm Insurance Companies
Bloomington, IL

Tracy G. Schmidt
Chief Financial Officer
CNL Financial Group, Inc.
Orlando, FL

Gerald L. Shaheen
Peoria, IL

Steven R. Shane
Managing Director - Public Service North America
Accenture
Reston, VA

Donald J. Shepard
Chairman and CEO of the
Executive Board
AEGON N.V.
Baltimore, MD

Dr. Rajendra Singh
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Telcom Ventures, L.L.C.
Alexandria, VA

Joshua I. Smith
Chairman and Managing Partner
The Coaching Group, LLC
Silver Spring, MD

Paul S. Speranza, Jr., Esq.
Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Secretary
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Rochester, NY

Charles R. Stamp, Jr.
Vice President
Public Affairs Worldwide
Deere & Company
Moline, IL

David A. Steinberg
President & CEO
CAIVIS Acquisition Corp.
Washington, DC


Jeffry E. Sterba
Chairman, President and CEO
PNM Resources, Inc.
Albuquerque, NM

Sy Sternberg
Chairman and CEO
New York Life Insurance Company
New York, NY

Harland Stonecipher
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
Ada, OK

Gary J. Taylor
President and Chief Executive Officer
Entergy Nuclear
New Orleans, LA

Larry D. Thompson
Senior Vice President for Government Affairs,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
PepsiCo, Inc.
Purchase, NY

Leon Trammell
Chief Executive Officer
Tramco, Inc.
Wichita, KS

Steve Van Andel
Chairman
Alticor Inc.
Ada, MI

Frank L. VanderSloot
President and Chief Executive Officer
Melaleuca, Inc.
Idaho Falls, ID

Steven F. Walker
Chairman of the Board, President &
Chief Executive Officer
Walker Information
Indianapolis, IN

William L. Walton
Chairman, President and CEO
Allied Capital Corporation
Washington, DC

Edward Wanandi
Chairman
Trailmobile Corporation
Lake Forest, IL

H. Thomas Watkins
President and Chief Executive Officer
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Rockville, MD

William Weidner
President and Chief Operating Officer
Las Vegas Sands
Las Vegas, NV

Ronald E. Weinberg
Chairman & CEO
Hawk Corporation
Cleveland, OH

James M. Wordsworth
President
J.R.'s Stockyards Inn
McLean, VA

Dennis R. Wraase
Chairman, President and CEO
Pepco Holdings
Washington, DC

[Two Americas]

92. don't beg, don't plead, don't negotiate

We, the American people are the rightful owners of this country and our government. We should not need to shame, boycott, plead with, ask favors from or otherwise negotiate and compromise with those who have grabbed power from us or anything else that indicates acceptance of and acquiescence to their ill-gotten power and disgusting anti-democratic and predatory use of that power against the American people.

People won't give up power because we throw marshmallows at them, and that is what "speaking truth to power" amounts to. Let's speak truth to the powerless, and rally them and together seize back our country and our government from those who deviously stole it from its rightful owners for their own narrow personal gain.

Let's get up off of our knees, stand straight and tall and stop thinking and acting like weak and powerless nobodies who need to beg the wealthy and powerful for favors.

We need to fight for what is right, not try to reform those who have made no pretenses about what they are doing - gearing up to fight us and to destroy us.

The point is not that those in power are doing bad things to their little subjects - all of us - although they are. The point is that they should not have that power to begin with. Our lives, out fate, our well-being should not be in their hands at all, whether they are nice guys or mean guys. If someone stole your car, you wouldn't ask them to please be careful when they drive it. If someone stole your home, you wouldn't ask them to please not throw you out.

"Please be a nicer tyrant or we will use harsh language on you" is not going to get it.

[AntiFascist]

94. Corporate sponsors need to realize at least one thing...

by continuing the policies of the Bush administration, even under a Democratic administration, it is destroying capitalism as we know it. Greedy multi-nationals are becoming too powerful and have nothing to fear from competition when they become the government. If you like the corporatist system that exists in China, then we will become more and more like that, while the corporate oligarchy benefits, the people will become one indistiguishable block, powerless, and serving the needs of the Elite.

[ihavenobias]

78. I've done some of the second

which is a bit of an adventure as I now live in a conservative leaning suburb outside of Chicago (long story, I moved from the city out of necessity). I also talk to and send information to everyone I know about why I believe JE is the best candidate.

And I donate regularly. I want to meet up with my local DFA group, but scheduling conflicts have stalled that for now. I actually was able to go to a meeting at a local bar only to find out they put the wrong date on the website (I double checked)! I sat there for 30 nervous minutes before asking the bartender who informed me the group had met there *the day before*. Oh well, eventually we'll make it happen.

[ikojo]

54. Yes the dollar is in free fall but the American people

are being sold lies by the corporate media. I saw a report on either NBC or CBS news about how the low dollar is good for tourism! Seems foreign visitors are flocking to the US because it's cheap! So, for the rest of the world the US is Wal-Mart.

I want a better US.

[NJCher]

77. Europe vs. U.S.

My husband travels regularly to Europe, particularly France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. When he is home, he is in and out of NY about every other day or evening. He says the restaurants in Europe are empty and the restauranteurs are crying the blues. He says they have other foreign customers but nobody spends like an American.

They have truly killed the goose that laid the golden egg: the U.S. middle class.

The restaurants in NY are full, though--with citizens from the UK, Netherlands, etc.

I also saw a report about how many of the reporters covering the U.S. election are from foreign countries. Why? Because after two terms of bush, these countries know how important the affairs of America are in their own economy.



Cher

[Hulk]

100. That's simply bullshit.....tourism is waaaay down!!

Visas are being denied and it is increasingly difficult to enter the US, thanks to 9/11 and the "show" of security in this insane country.

Whoever is shouting tourism is up needs to get some facts. It is NOT up....it is down, WAY DOWN!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

60. That's why I am for him as well. Also, even if not elected, he brought the issue into the open!!!

Their party has to be stopped now.

[AntiFascist]

93. K&R, and great response! n/t

[Gonnuts]

75. Well, he must have had a change of heart ...

from the days when he visited the Bilderberg Group and became their "golden boy" for his support of NAFTA. Which considering his turn-about on Iraq might not be a stretch. But there is good reason his populace message scares the powers that be and it's why he hasn't got a chance of winning.

No one who doesn't kowtow to the corporations will get past the massive media manipulation or the corrupted election system.

Old boss same as the new boss ... and will WILL get fooled again, and again, and again, and ...

[Two Americas]

91. you make a good point here

Old boss same as the new boss ... and will WILL get fooled again, and again, and again, and ...

This is an important point, but I believe that it is misapplied in this case.

Yes, of course we could get fooled again. That would be true of any candidate at any time, and we certainly need to be alert to the possibility.

Here is the critical difference, and the reason why I am supporting Edwards.

Other candidates have forced us to guess - to hope that perhaps they were fighting the good fight despite the fact that they are reluctant to come out and say where they stand. Edwards is fearlessly and overtly setting the battle lines. Was he there in the past? No. Will he betray us now? Perhaps. But the power of setting out the battle lines in clear and unmistakable terms is so powerful, that it must dwarf all other concerns by comparison.

We have standards by which to measure what Edwards does when he becomes president. Expectations have been raised. The program is being set out. We do not have to hope and guess and wish and go through all of that kinda sorta I think he's on our side and he is better than Republicans bullshit we have had to swallow in election after election.

We can never know with certainty whether or not a candidate will follow through and do the job once elected. But we finally have a candidate who is willing to define the job and who is willing to say that he will fight for us.

Should he fail or betray us, we will know what it is he failed at, or how he betrayed us, and what it was we were shooting for. That value and power of that clarity, after decades of pandering and compromising and weaseling, cannot be overstated. It is political dynamite, no matter what happens with the Edwards campaign.

I would rather have a candidate who sets out the principles and the plan and who defines the battle lines and fails, then to have a candidate who succeeds but who tries to be all things to all people to get elected, who waffles and speaks in vague and indecisive terms, who compromises on the fundamental Democratic party principles and ideals.

How much difference, in terms of the administrations unfettered ability to proceed with their plans, has it made to elect Democrats to the current Congress? Yet the idea that first we get them elected, and then by some magic they become strong Democrats once they are in office is still being promoted here. When if ever will that approach be discredited if it has not been by recent events?

Edwards has found a way to strongly and unequivocally present traditional Democratic party principles and ideals to the public in terms they understand and are responding to without being completely marginalized and dismissed, and he still has a damned good chance of being the nominee. Is that not what we have been looking for over the last 30 years?

[Gonnuts]

104. Benefit of doubt

Edwards was at least man enough to say he was wrong on Iraq, although I didn't consider that such a leap - if you were deaf, dumb and blind you should have been able to tell that Iraq was going to be a disaster. And whether he's just using this populace message as his ploy to separate himself from the same-old-same-old message from everyone else is something we'd find out soon enough if he should get to be POTUS. And of all the candidates that have a shot - but then again, here I am thinking the lesser of the evils - ah ...

I don't know. It's a long way till the election and any number of things can happen to throw the whole thing on it's ear. Bush could attack Iran, the economy looks like it is ready to implode, another "false flag" attack could even propel Giuliani into the Oval Office. Take your pick or all of the above.

Either way, I still don't have much hope. I believe this country is so far gone that no one man will be able to come close to righting this ship before it capsizes.

[ooglymoogly]

81. Though its been said many times before......

It apparently needs to be said many times more KR

[Triana]

3. Can't get a better endorsement than that!! (n/t)

[99th_Monkey]

22. Totally! Which is why HIllary's my LAST choice, Obama my 3rd..

Even back months ago, there were reports of Bush & Rove giving these "front-runners" back-door "advice", to the effect that
"if you were actually sitting in the Oval Office and knew what WE know, you'd change your tune" on Iraq, Iran, etc... lots of
things, because after all ... (hee hee) WE are spying on EVERYone (including you) now and know LOTS of stuff" ..
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/24/bush-dems-strategy/

And more recently in the wake of Hillary's Iowa defeat, Neocons were going berserk ... "confused & depressed" even ...
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_080108_conservative_right_c.htm
because they are so utterly prepared and convinced they can chew Clinton2 up and spit her out in any General Election race...
and besides, if she won anyway, so what? We still get a continuation of the cozy quarter-century old Bush/Clinton Dynasty.

When I point this out to Hillary supporters, some have come back with "well, Obama's even more 'in bed' with the Big Boys", cuz
of blah blah, yadda yadda. ... I've even seen obscene hit pieces on Edwards to this effect which I won't even link to.

But when you ask a corporate lobbiest, or a neocon, or by inference the M$M, or the US National Chamber of Commerce (which by
the way just came out explicitly saying several days ago they would pull out all the stops to severely "punish anti-corporate
rhetoric" by Presidential candidate), then the picture comes into much clearer focus.

As a Kucinich supporter, I'm still holding out for him because I think he deserves my support, but Edwards is my clear choice over
either of the other two alternatives when it comes to standing up for the only kind of "change" that's really going to make a whit
of difference in DC...that gets more directly to the roots of our national crisis.

[stickernation]

38. this means so much to me.

personally, a kucinich supporter empathizing and even enthusing about Edwards is the greatest thing in the world. kucinich is a hero and it never even occurs to me that my 100% support for Edwards is any kind of withdrawal of support for kucinich. i listen and learn from kucinich, i listen and learn from Edwards. indeed, DK would make such an interesting running mate for JE, non ? :) i won't get into the realpolitik of that combo right now, it is time for bed.

[ooglymoogly]

114. Your thoughts are my thoughts on this

beyond that my fear on this whole thing is if Edwards or Kucinich for that matter gets even close to the presidency he will be silenced by what the corporate media will tell us "by a lone gunman with shots miraculously fired from three different angles" and the nation will be shocked for a few days until a pretty blond girl goes missing and Repukes and DINO's (to give the appearance of bi partisanship) will be mysteriously elected all round against all odds and the country will go back to sleep until they feel the heat of the incinerators or begin to smell cyclon b or feel the tazers herding them into concentration camps.

[TacticalPeek]

5. Link?

:)

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Link: :-)

U.S. corporate elite fear candidate Edwards

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7217369

[TacticalPeek]

10. Thanks.

:patriot:

[Rhiannon12866]

17. You're more than welcome.

I think that the OP is pretty new here, but this is an important story...:hi:

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I'm so glad someone has them worried.

[UpInArms]

7. Delegates: Edwards has 18, Hillary 24, Obama 25

that says it all - 2 states - and it's way too soon to write Edwards off into the dustbin of history.

He is the most sincere without any corporate money backing him.

I say - go John go!

[medeak]

21. great post!

am with you friend!

[JDPriestly]

24. Thanks. Are you tabling, calling, walking your precinct?

Personal contact is important. You'd be surprised at how many voters you can win for Edwards by showing interest in them and sharing your information and enthusiasm with them.

[Binka]

37. I Am And Taking My Daughter With Me

Peyton and I spend an hour after I get off work when I pick her up from daycare walking and talking about Edwards. Of course we'd rather be at home but this is so damn important. She is only 6 but after 6 years of hearing me rail against Bush I want to teach her how we can make change.

Here is my princess, lots of hearts are moved by her. Her brother nearly died in Iraq and let me tell you those words coming from her resonate. Get your kids involved!

[midnight]

42. She is beautiful.... So glad that you are showing her the ropes.

In my case it is the other way around. My daughter is showing me the ropes.

[leftchick]

47. Hi ya Binka!

Pey is beautful, just like her mom. :)

I hope all is well. PM me sometime.

peace,
lc

[EFerrari]

64. That's how old I was when my mom took me to walk with her

for Jack Kennedy. I got to spend extra time with my mom and when he won, I thought WE had won. lol

[tanstaafl]

48. Don't forget the SuperDelegates

Hillary has the most "points" total if you include the superdelegates, i.e. endorsements.

[paparush]

9. Go John! Keep Beating that Populist Drum! Put THE FEAR into these greedy bastards..

[99th_Monkey]

25. Did you see this? Nat'l Chamber of Comm. vows to "punish populist anti-corporate" talk

by presidential candidates. Gee, I wonder WHO they might have been referring to? The wording was scathing. Shit like "We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-chamber8jan08,1,5346679.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

O-o-o-o-o-o I'm so scared now. This was the best NON-endorsement Edwards has gotten so far, second only to the M$M's obvious "Edwards who?" color-him-invisible treatment.

[paparush]

51. I did see that...the ugly face of Corporatocracy rears its ugly head.

[zazzle]

82. The corporate media promotes "hope" and "tears" - and so-called Progressives fall in line

The media has gone to extraordinary lengths to smear and dismiss Edwards!
Hopefully, people will wake up!!

The CORPORATE media represents CORPORATE interests! and promote the 2 Dem corporate candidates!

[balantz]

11. I'm behind John all the way!

100%!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

50. Same here.

[vanboggie]

12. That won't make it to print here

Bastards. Go get 'em John. We're with you!!

[medeak]

13. the pendulum is swinging your way John! n/t

[rockybelt]

14. Need someone to break the military industrial relationship?

That would be John Edwards. An Edwards/Kucinich ticket would be heaven. k&r

[harun]

15. That ticket would be some sweet fruit

They would have against them: the establishment of both parties, the corpo-fascists, the military industrial complex, the financial community and nearly ALL media.

Which is exactly why that would be a great ticket.

[lisainmilo]

16. Fantastic Post!!!!!

They will be held accountable! :bounce:
YaY JRE! :bounce:
Vote JRE!:bounce:
The Peoples President ROCKS! :patriot:

[McCamy Taylor]

18. Is Reuters putting this in the US press or is this still just in the Guardian?

[ursi]

28. I did find it on a non-UK link of Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSN1128828020080111

[kelligesq]

62. Originally in LATimes & big thread on it here in Gen Disc

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2641270&mesg_id=2641270

[zazzle]

83. Corporate media promotes Corporate Democrats - Obama & Hillary supporters fall for it

[wundermaus]

20. Be afraid, fascists, be very afraid...

We know who and what you are...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5GcFl_oQi4

and the hunter becomes the hunted...

[99th_Monkey]

26. Nat'l Chamber of Com to Edwards: "We'll punish you, we'll bite you in the butt til you bleed"

I've never wanted JE to be the candidate more than when I read these words. GO Johnny GO!!!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-chamber8jan08,1,5346679.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[asdjrocky]

27. Now THAT'S an endorsement I can live with. n/t

[ngGale]

29. K&R...

We do have to thank the Brits for this one. Now I can go to sleep with good news, for a change.:)

[Dover]

30. Yeah, the corporations fear him so much they invited him to the Bilderberg meeting

And he's so in touch with the average Joe he built a multi-million dollar compound that puts the OTHER Southern White House in Texas to shame. Is he expecting to need it as a base of operations in the near future as was the case with the building in Crawford prior to Bush's (s)election?

The populist rhetoric like the hot button Christian rhetoric that was fed to many in the lower income conservative base, is just that...RHETORIC.
And the media is helping to position Edwards as an outsider and populist candidate.
Populism is a big seller this year and any time there is an economic bottoming out.

PUHLEEEEEEEEEZE!

[ursi]

31. I don't see why a rich man can't stick up for the poor?

If we were meant to be like Jesus, poor and barefoot, that would put the Republicans out of business!

[Dover]

32. Lol!........that's rich...n/t

[fascisthunter]

76. Do You Have Something Against the Rich Helping the Poor?

Or do you have something against the poor?

[onager]

34. Edwards wasn't always rich.

I posted this over in the Atheists group, so I'm repeating myself here:

Back when I was a baby in Upstate South Carolina, my mother worked in a cotton mill (like her father, mother and most of her family). She used to car-pool with a married couple who both worked in the same mill.

That couple was John Edwards' parents.

[Dover]

36. Let me ask you this:

And I too have posted this elsewhere so am repeating myself.

A) Do you believe that the U.S. is still a true, functioning and unfettered Democracy?
B) That the multi-BILLION dollar corporations and global elite would, for one minute, allow a true populist to be elected or leave such an election to 'chance' or to the populace?

Edwards was not invited to Bilderberg because he represents a populist position.

[stickernation]

39. Edwards was invited to Bilderberg to debate Ralph Reed.

Ralph Reed is a grade-A right wing blowhard anti-abortion asshole.

Edwards mopped the floor with him.

End of story.

Also to questions A and B: No and yes.

We survived the Cuban Missile Crisis. Therefore we live in the GOOD universe, not the BAD universe.

The good will inherit the earth, and we want the world and we want it NOW !!!

That said, we live in the United States of Anaesthesia.

WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND MAKE THE JOHN EDWARDS PRESIDENCY AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL SUPERMAJORITY HAPPEN NOW ! OURSELVES ! DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, EMERGE FROM HIDING AND OVERWHELM THE CYNICISM OF POSTERS LIKE THE ONE I AM RIGHT NOW RESPONDING TO AND TRANSFORM IT INTO THE WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT FOR THE DEMOCRACY WE DESERVE !!! (tremble at my caps lock !!!)

[Dover]

41. Oh, that explains it then. Got a transcript of that incredible debate?

The NYT was certainly impressed enough to write about it.

Funny...such a secretive group, the Bildebergs. And yet so much has been spoken about Edward's heroic performance there. Can't wait to read the transcipt or hear more from those Bilderberg insiders about this. Talkative bunch.

[AntiFascist]

97. Well, if I were running for president I would accept the invitation...

you're right, they aren't a talkative bunch and being at their meeting is a perfect way to find out what is up with them. As was pointed out upthread, Edwards grew up in a relatively poor family so I'm sure that this is a continuing education for him.

Looking at it from the Bilderberg perspective, why wouldn't they invite someone if they fear that his populist message might ignite and he might become the leader of the Western world? Just because Bush is compromised and kowtows to these people doesn't mean Edwards will, even if he attended their meeting.

[Plucketeer]

73. Well, ask yourself A & B

Then ask yourself why you're yammering here. Just when do you think a guy who shops at Goodwill will come to the fore, run a rousing campaign and end up in the White House??? It's NOT gonna happen. Our best hope is someone who HAS made it and bothers to look back. And while that person will appear like a savior to many of us, there'll be those that tear at his image because they see him as a threat to their own aspirations. Perspective can clarify or cloud your view - I don't care what your vantagepoint is.

[99th_Monkey]

40. JFK & RFK had big houses too. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

70. What do you think Bilderberg is?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bilderberg_attendees

He's not the only one.
Bill Clinton '91
Hillary Clinton '97
Edwards '04
Richardson '99 '00
Dodd '99 '00 '01
Dukakis '88

All this means is that they recognized him as a player and invited him. It means as much as Obama being invited to join the DLC. It doesn't mean he has bought into their conspiracy to take over the world. It could even mean that, brought in and introduced to high level neocons, he saw through them and rejected them -- which is why he is being soundly ignored by the media today.

This can be interpreted so many ways. The best way to handle it is to ignore the white noise and look at his actual words and deeds. And THAT scares the neocons.

[ToeBot]

108. Welcome to the pile. nt

[Nutmegger]

33. Typical ... R&K [n\t]

[Divine Discontent]

35. Super KICK n/t

[annabanana]

43. Edwards is NOT a threat to responsible businesses!!

He is a boon to small businesses who don't get the kind of leverage that the multinationals do. American businesses would do very well if the masses of American money wasn't shipped offshore. A decent health plan would unburden small businesses of major expenses.

It is the BIG, Lawless, International criminal businesses that are shaking in their boots.

If responsible businesses are afraid of him, they are listening to the wrong voices!

[mother earth]

111. annabanana, this needs to be said more and more. John is

no enemy to business, they are going to tell us that all of this is bad for business, NO! Their irresponsibility is bad for people, and THAT is not good for business!

You are right on, small business suffers when the big lawless ones muscle them out.
John Edwards is their candidate too.

[cyclezealot]

44. Remembering Edwards chatting with Hillary. Get Kucinich out of here.

When a candidate does not respect the rights of others to present their case, why should we have concern about Edward's . First the Chamber of Commerce type's went after Kucinich with their corporate stoolies. Murdock's WSJ, MSNBC prepares the way to slander a candidate's reputation with lies. Just like they did with Dean and the Dean scream. / Did Edwards' worry about the rights of others. No . As they say. (See below.}
Edwards did not care when they did a hit job on Kucinich. Now it will be his turn. Why should we Kucinich supporters give a dam. I am sure Edwards' chance at being slandered will soon be in high gear.


When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew

[noel711]

89. The full quotation of Martin Niemoeller

still packs a punch... give him credit... and we alllll need to remember the power of not speaking out.

Martin Niemoeller's message, in its true form, carries a powerful moral impact. Telling the story and drawing the lessons of the SHOAH are weakened, not strengthened, when carelessness or self-indulgence permits a corrupted text to be widely disseminated. The true sequence, which culminates the Nazi genocide of the Jews, is both literally and morally stronger than the corrupt forms that are becoming now widespread:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/niem.htm

[cyclezealot]

98. So I say those three , up on the stage

should have their consciousness's bothering them. The Republican party in New Hampshire showed a conscious towards Fox News. But, it appears the Democrats did not. ( Fox news refused to invite Ron Paul at the Fox debate. ) And thanks for posting the whole quote , I should have. I guess, it was just I felt the quote to be so famous.

[mother earth]

113. You are wrong, This is not an Edwards issue, ask your own

candidate. I frankly feel little sympathy for Kucinich after some of the attacks he has made geared to Edwards, and esp. kissing up to Hannity on Fox Noise, and BEFORE all of that I very much liked him. I too would like to see Kucinich be a part of the debate, he blew his chance the last time by not agreeing to support the nominee no matter who it would be. Maybe he ought to just be an independent, since he seems hell bent on dividing his own party.

We are fighting the same problems with Edwards that Kucinich has, and now you wish to throw stones at the Edwards supporters? Please...take your quote and apply it to yourself. We are not the enemy.

[Omaha Steve]

45. K & R

Great article.

[liberal N proud]

46. I think we all knew this already

He doesn't play their corporate game and they fear what he will do to their status quo should he get elected.

His corporate stand is just one of the things that separates him from the others.

[santamargarita]

49. If the fascist hate him, then he's my choice

"(Republican, Bush) Fascism: Any program for setting up a centralized authcratic national regime with severely nationalistic policies, exercising regimentation of industry, commerce, and finance, rigid censorship, and forcible suppression of opposition." --Merriam-Webster Dictionary

[paparush]

52. Who is really protecting your interests?

This guy(US Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donahue) -


Or This Guy-

[MannyGoldstein]

53. Do The Hedge Funds Specializing In Predatory Lending Fear Edwards?

Not likely, because until recently, he was a member of one such outfit.

[kelligesq]

71. He made millions suing for injured plaintiffs, have to invest it somewhere for interest

so what's wrong with that? I'm not crazy about msft or Gates policies of insourcing , but I made money on his stock and I bet you invest your bucks to make money in places you dont particularly like either.

[MannyGoldstein]

80. A. He Was Their Employee

He made $500 thousand from Fortress in one year working to help make a killing in predatory lending. Guess he needed the money.

B. You think that it's OK to invest in, say, slave trading companies? Where do you draw the line.

[colsohlibgal]

55. The "Wealthy " Knock Is Ridiculous

As has been pointed out JFK was rich. FDR was from a well off family as well. Unlike John they grew up with the silver spoon too. It didn't preclude them from working to help the masses. This whole issue is so phony, it's part of the multi level shell game our big media promotes.

Donahue wouldn't rail against JE like he did if he didn't think Edwards was going to try to take back a big piece of the pie from the corporate fat cats.

Kudos to the Guardian for telling it like it is unlike our MSM. That's what it's come to, if you want real reporting, real news, 99% of it is from outside the US,

[7horses]

68. Does anyone think that...

Hillary and Obama are not rich also? I think they may have more money than Edwards.
Edwards has money, but knows his roots.

[focusfan]

56. you know i don't know why people won't vote for John Edwards

we don't need Hillary and we sure don't need Obama.I think
John Edwards is the candiate we need to be president.

[kelligesq]

72. They are voting for him but corporate news wont give him equal publicity..

gee, I wonder why. Cause he would stop the insane amount of monies spent on
cable and news ads - and 100 million each to the candidates from lobbyists.

They're our airwaves - we should compalint to the channels and the FCC - that w will write the FCC dont renew their license!!

that might get their attention

After all John has 18 electorate, not so far behind 24 and 25 of the other two...and he got that with almost zilch airtime interviews!!

[zazzle]

84. I never fell under Obama's spell --- Go Edwards!

[stillrockin]

57. Wake up, sheeple!

:bounce:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

58. DUH! And what's the reason this country is suffering today? Corporations.

God I hate them, and the power the Republicans have given them, and the fact that our election system is designed to have to depend on their money or it doesn't run at all.

[Orsino]

61. What else do we need to know? n/t

[pjt7]

65. If Edwards does poorly in South Carolina

I'd like to see him make a agreement with Obama & throw his support in for an Attorney General position.

[Orsino]

66. Or VP.

Something that puts him in a position to live up to his new(ish) anti-corporate stance. We need him in a position of power.

[ursi]

99. Edwards needs to be Attorney General if not President!

kick some blackwater ass!

[7horses]

67. That's why...

we need to get Edwards nominated and elected.

[earth mom]

74. Wake Up America!

:kick:

[ursi]

79. the casino moguls for Hillary in NV are coming UNGLUED over the Culinary Union endorsement for Obama

REad this and the comments! UNGLUED!

http://www.lasvegasgleaner.com/las_vegas_gleaner/2008/01/well-alrighty-t.html?cid=96873882#comment-96873882

They don't want the workers to have a say for Barack Obama or anyone else!

[zazzle]

85. Union bosses sold out for Obama!

The unions KNOW the CORPORATE media has promoted Obama and Hillary - and DISSED the REAL union candidate.
Edwards has received LITTLE positive media coverage - he walked picket lines in 2006 and helped union workers in 6 states get minimum wage on the ballot.

The CORPORATE media fears John Edwards committment to unions!

So - who does the SEIU and Culinary Union endorse? The candidate the CORPORATE media has promoted 24/7.

Obama is in bed with Wall Street and won't do anymore than Hillary would for unions.

[AzDar]

86. Go, Johnny, GO!!!

:patriot:

[Acadia Blue]

87. That is why the **** media placed him in 2nd tier really fast

and has said over and over that he won't win. The corporate pigs are afraid of him. No Teddy Roosevelt or FDR...They want to keep their fascistic power....we are in big trouble.

[ryanmuegge]

88. There is no corporate elite in our country. We're a classless society.

Nobody has a disproportionate amount of power over the political process.

[Two Americas]

95. yes

... and it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime.

[Spiffarino]

90. Proud to be K&R number 80

This is THE story of the 2008 campaign. All the other candidates are vetted by the "loose affiliation of millionaires and billionaires" as Paul Simon called them in his song, The Boy in the Bubble. Edwards and Kucinich are their number one enemies and they have begun to pull out all the stops to get rid of them; in DK's case, by removing him from the televised debates, and with Edwards by "disappearing" him with a virtual media blackout.

Even Ron Paul scares them, because as insanely libertarian as his ideas are, they are incredibly dangerous to the corporatocracy. That's why Faux "News" and the rest of the Republican establishment are frantically trying to discredit him.

[ursi]

96. proof positive that the media and corporations don't want a president for the people

[Spiffarino]

102. Naturally. The people scare them.

Oh, they love our money. But our rights? The corporatazis would prefer to use the Constitution as toilet paper and run the country in the Mussolini mold. What they fail to understand is that their wealth is built on our freedom and middle class economic prosperity. Once our liberties and prosperity disappear, so does most of their income and power.

[smokey nj]

101. K&R!!!!

[McCamy Taylor]

103. Lawrence O'Donnell persuaded the Huffington Post to publish his hit piece but he works for MSNBC

The fact that it is in the Huffington Post will be used by Edwards opponents to justify their claim that he is unpopular with Democrats, when in fact it is corporate Democrats who object to him.

I was not intending to write so soon about the Circular Firing Squad they are trying to force us in, but since it seems to be the preferred tactic of Corporate America right now, I did. This one is nasty, because they are using it as a sneaky way to interject some racial issues into the campaign without seeming to play the race card (yet).

As best I can tell, America's corporations are hoping to nominate McCain, whom they can live with, and they are hoping to use the MSM to make sure that the Dems nominate Obama or Hillary but definitely not Edwards. Then, they will savage the Dem in the general election. That will spell the end of all hopes of health care reform, corporate reform, tax reform or any other reform for four more years.

Can we move this election to some other country, one that has a decent press?

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/McCamy%20Taylor/122

[eib1]

105. I have no sympathy for the corporate elite.

They are the reprobate.
There is no hope for them.
They're traitors, they deprive the people of productive employment.
They've been most culpable in the assault that has been non-stop on the American economy and infrastructure.
Screw the bastards.
I support Edwards because he has the courage to tell them the truth about how the people feel.

[OhioChick]

106. As They Should. n/t

[Gloria]

107. Hey, John--invoke Eisenhower and the military industrial complex !

Get to Rethugs to wake up, too!

[chknltl]

109. Is my gut analysis close here?

WE THE PEOPLE are Democracy.
The bottom line for WE THE PEOPLE is preserving that Democracy.
The largest class, the largest force within that Democracy, is the Middle Class.
We The People ARE the Middle Class. (We hold sway over the upper and lower class because of our voting numbers.)
When the Middle Class is strong, Democracy is strong. It is in our own best interests to keep that Middle Class strong!

We The Corporations are NOT Democracy.
The bottom line for We The Corporations is PROFIT.
We The Corporations have a right to maximize our bottom line in a Democracy, it is called capitalism.
We the Corporations are set up like kingdoms: A King or CEO, Barons-Dukes are Upper Management, the Peasants are the Workers. (In this system the Middle Class is small and has little to no impact on their own lot.)

We The People have rules which protect us from We The Corporations.
When We The People determine what is best for ALL, We The Corporations find it directly impacts their bottom line.
Therefore We The Corporations do not want members of the very Democracy that they prosper in, to have say in their affairs. (What the Cons call "loosening restrictions", strengthens the corporations and weakens the Middle Class)

When our founding Fathers set up our government they set it up for a strong Middle Class, they wanted a government: "of the people, by the people and for the people". They wanted a government unlike the kingdoms of Europe which had Kings and Barons, a small Middle Class and a large working poor class.

When our early Government allowed it's citizens to go out and stake claims on land, (The Homestead Act), it was great for WE The People. This greatly helped to build a strong Middle Class.

When the industrial revolution corporations, (steel, rail, and oil), rose to power unrestricted by that government, they weakened the Middle Class.

When that same group of corporations grew powerful enough, they further expanded into our government. For two administrations prior to the Great Depression, our Republican controlled government further fueled these corporations through huge tax breaks. This further weakened the Middle Class. Democracy was in deep trouble here!

In order to pull us out of the Great Depression, Roosevelt strengthened the Middle Class at the expense of the corporations. He further strengthened the Middle class with government jobs, social security, minimum wage and stronger unions.

Therefore, in order for Democracy to thrive, WE THE PEOPLE must hold sway over the corporations who would operate within our Democracy, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

Since Reagan, We The Corporations have slowly regained their strength.

Since Reagan We The Middle Class have had our power weakened.

We stand at the brink once again.

I think Edwards is aware of this and wants to restore the Middle Class OVER the Corporations.

The Military Industrial Complex industry DOES NOT WANT THIS. (Not to mention WAR is good for their bottom line!)
The Pharmaceutical industry does NOT want this.
The Medical industry does NOT want this.
The Media industry does NOT want this.
The energy industry does NOT want this.
The insurance industry does NOT want this.

The Middle Class needs this, Democracy NEEDS this.
Democracy can not survive under a group of kings, barons and dukes.

This is why big business is afraid of Edwards

Our Constitution reads : WE THE PEOPLE...!
Not: WE THE PEOPLE and COROPRATIONS....! (the status quo)
Not: WE THE CORPORATIONS (which is where things are heading.)

Democracy can not long endure when WE THE PEOPLE share power with WE THE CORPORATIONS
If we want to keep our bottom line intact, WE THE MIDDLE CLASS must take that power back!
I do not think any candidate, Dem, repug or indy, fully represents the Middle Class, but I feel that Edwards comes closest! What DEMOCRACY needs is another Roosevelt!

What the Middle Class needs is a better understanding of these things...I am aware that my analysis is simplistic, but deep in my heart, I think it gets me close enough to see the true face of the enemy to Democracy, it is called: Corporatocracy!

Oh and a plug for Thom Hartmann's book: "SCREWED The Undeclared War Against The Middle Class" , the very book which got me thinking along these lines.

[GeniusLib]

110. Is Edwards still in the race?

[rhett o rick]

112. Of course, we have had only two states voting. What kind of comment is that? nm