Edwards pressed for decision

[Freddie Stubbs]

Potential candidates want to know presidential hopeful's Senate plans

WATERLOO, Iowa -- U.S. Sen. John Edwards and his family shoved off Wednesday on a high-visibility bus tour of Iowa, the first presidential caucus state, as pressure mounted in North Carolina for a decision on whether he will seek re-election to the Senate.
In an interview in Raleigh with News & Observer editors, Marc Basnight, president pro tem of the state Senate, said Edwards' indecision about seeking re-election in 2004 is "hurting other candidates" who might run if Edwards does not.

"I think he should turn them loose," said Basnight, one of the most powerful Democrats in the state. "I think you have to choose, and it's a late time to be choosing."

Edwards remained quiet about his intentions Wednesday.

"I just haven't made that decision at this point. ... I'll decide later," he told reporters traveling with him on the "Real Solutions Express," a 45-foot campaign bus that is carrying Edwards around Iowa this week and will take him through New Hampshire next week.

more: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2775451p-2572106c.html

[mndemocrat_29]

1. He should continue running for president

And let Erskine Bowles run for senator. Bowles nearly beat Liddy Dole (if he'd had another month, he'd probably have done it). Facing Burr, Bowles could probably win.

Edwards should stay in the race. If he loses, but does extraordinarily well in the South, then we should consider putting him on the second half of the ticket. If he does poorly in the South, he should either A. Be a contender for Attorney General or B. Keep his profile raised and consider running against Sen. Dole in 2008.

[CSI Willows]

4. Agreed

[AP]

2. This RW spin is old. The papers were full of this

weeks ago, so Edwards and Erskine Bowles had a meeting after which Bowles said he wouldn't reveal the details, but he was perfectly happy with the situation. This spin then dropped out of the media for a few weeks only to be revived to undermine the beginning of the bus trip. What's next? Is someone going to call him the Breck girl of politics? Or maybe they'll reach back for some failed spin from 1998 and remind people that he was a trial lawyer.

[genius]

3. The good news about Edwards is he's a trial attorney

Trial attorneys uunderstand the Constitution and don't make stupid comments about supporting capital punishment because it allows people to be executed before their convictions are overturned. Trial attoreneys understand the importance of legal safeguars, designed to protect the innocent from getting executed. I am not planning to support Edwards but I think we can feel safe that he will support the Consitution and rights of innocent people who are caught up in the justice system.

[w4rma]

5. Careful with that broad brush. James Baker is a trial attorney, also.

A Legal Counterattack

Saudis hire some of the toniest U.S. law firms to defend them against the landmark $1 trillion lawsuit on behalf of the victims of 9-11. So why is the plaintiff’s counsel ecstatic? Plus, new heat on radical imam

April 16 — After months of working below the radar, a huge U.S. legal team hired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sprung into action and begun a major counteroffensive against a landmark lawsuit seeking $1 trillion in damages on behalf of the victims of the September 11 terror attacks.
…
Baker Botts, Sultan’s law firm, for example, still boasts former secretary of State James Baker as one of its senior partners. Its recent alumni include Robert Jordan, the former personal lawyer for President Bush who is now U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
…
http://www.msnbc.com/news/901320.asp

[chimpymustgo]

6. Edwards was fantastic at the forum today.

Really engaging, and lots of specific, great proposals.