IMHO, if Gore doesn't get in the race, Edwards just

[rateyes]

clinched Iowa. And, he's right. He was saying to Congress, and his fellow candidates....go ahead and send funding, but tie it to a mandatory withdrawal timeline starting now. Make the president veto the funding, and then turn around, if you can't override the veto, and send the same bill back...over and over again...and, if the troops don't get funded, it's because of Bush's veto and stubbornness, not because the Democrats wouldn't appropriate the funds.

Things are getting real interesting. Edwards has painted those in Congress who won't vote for a mandatory timeline and stick with it as spineless cowards. And, again, IMHO, he's right.

If Gore doesn't get in the race...Edwards just clinched Iowa, and perhaps, the nomination.

That's my prediction.

We'll see.

[Colobo]

1. He's in a horse race in Iowa, Clinton is quite close and Obama

is starting to put his stuff together over there...

[rateyes]

3. It's going to be fun to watch. nt

[Frances]

5. Our top three candidates are all very strong

It's nice to have such good choices. I have not made my final decision yet.

[cobalt1999]

45. Edwards has been focused on Iowa for a long time

Clinton and Obama meanwhile built a strong organization nationwide. Once those two turn their full attention on Iowa, it's going to be tough for Edwards to keep up.

[Demoiselle]

2. I liked it, too. Smart move on Edward's part. eom

[rateyes]

6. Edwards just put the debate in Iowa on his own terms...

he framed the debate, and they'll be using his language to debate it. He offered the only real alternative to what Bush is saying. It was a very wise use of his money. I hope he runs that commercial over and over again on all the networks.

[southerncrone]

4. Hope you're right! I know Edwards is right on this!!

[movonne]

7. What do you feel he been wrong on??

[southerncrone]

12. Can't think of anything. I think you misinterpreted my response.

I feel like Edwards has hit the bull's-eye here. I support Edwards, he is my second choice behind Kucinich. I suspect I may end up voting for him because of the MSM not giving Kucinich enough attention because he doesn't have the $ that Edwards has. I like both guys VERY MUCH.

These 2 are the only ones who are in tune w/the "little guy".....because both of them have "been there".

[cboy4]

8. I thought Edwards' spot tonight on MSNBC was

just outstanding!

:thumbsup:

[rateyes]

10. He framed the debate....

put his horse in the lead, and I don't think anybody will be catching him in Iowa. Smart move.

[Colobo]

13. Mmm... Obama framed it yesterday. Then Clinton and Edwards weighed in.

[rateyes]

17. I think Obama TRIED to frame the debate....

but, Obama's speech was to one crowd, and reported on by the media. Edwards' speech was short, to the point, and to all who were watching MSNBC, and clips of it will be played over and over again on the other networks, all at no cost to Edwards.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong. I've been wrong before.

I'm not doing a commercial for Edwards. I'm still hoping for Gore. If not, then Edwards might get my vote...he certainly stated my position on the Iraq War and funding.

Again, time will tell.

[sandnsea]

32. Dems already support tieing funding to a deadline

The problem is the cloture vote to get it to the floor. Edwards full well knows it.

[jsamuel]

35. they already passed cloture in May

that is not a problem, Bush then vetoed it and congress then gave him the funding in a new bill which he signed (included min. wage)

[sandnsea]

36. Don't think so

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Portal:National_Security_and_Foreign_Policy_(U.S.)

[BeyondGeography]

9. Thanks for the legislative advice, John

now, let's have a chat about that IWR co-sponsorship that you defended until 2005...

[rateyes]

11. I hear you....

but that won't be the debate. The debate is now about how we get out, not how we got in, and that only helps Edwards.

I'm just handicapping the race here.

[GreenArrow]

15. It was a lot easier to get in than it will be to get out

and try though he might, he's not going to escape the fact that he voted for the former. Co-sponsored it. Wrote Op-eds in favor of it. After a series of "mistakes" such as those, one might think that honor and shame would trump any additional political ambitions. He did all those things for the same reason he's running his little commercial now -- to get himself elected President. He wants that title on his resume so bad he can taste it. His ambition and insincerity are palpable, and that will be the debate, as far as he's concerned. He's gone too far in two different directions, too may times, and the dude's credibility is nil.

[rateyes]

22. You may be right.

We'll see. I'm just stating my opinion.

[Cameron27]

14. Obama's has to start bringing the fight to Edwards BG,

he can't let Edwards run over him, especially on Iraq.

[Colobo]

18. He already framed the debate yesterday, He is leading, Edwards is just following.

[Cameron27]

23. I hope you're right Katz,

I saw how Edwards misrepresented the numbers in Obama's withdrawal plan, and he can't let that go. What are the latest numbers nationwide for both of them.

[Colobo]

I do agree that Obama should be more aggressive at this stage.

[BeyondGeography]

30. I don't disagree...Obama is a great counter-puncher

and Edwards has tried to get in his face before in the NH debate and Obama laid him out good with "It's taken you four-and-a-half years to lead on this issue, John." For whatever reason, Edwards' fans need to hear this again and again. Of all the IWR voters in this race and 2004, Edwards was the least apologetic about his vote (until 2005) and the least articulate critic of the war (until 2005). He has earned the right to lecture no one on this issue.

[Cameron27]

44. That's what I'm talking about,

he delivered a knock-out punch with a single sentence. Now's the time to refresh Edwards' memory again.

[partylessinOhio]

16. Kucinich has been saying this all along. Give him some credit, please.

[rateyes]

19. Hey, I'm with you...

I like Dennis Kucinich. He WAS the first to say it, and if Gore doesn't get in the race, he may very well get my vote. I still think, however, Edwards made the smart move tonight.

We'll see.

[sandnsea]

20. He just left-flanked himself into loserville

Like Howard Dean did before him. But that's the last time I'll say it.

[rateyes]

24. You may be right, too...

I'm just stating my opinion. It's going to be fun to watch in the next few weeks how the debate turns in Iowa.

[patrice]

21. No Timeline? No Funding. No Excuses! nt

[rateyes]

25. That's my position...

and I think it's the right one.

[patrice]

27. I'm calling Congress tomorrow.

And every week from now until further notice.

[rateyes]

29. Me too. nt

[sandnsea]

31. We need 60 for a cloture vote

It's the Republicans blocking bringing the vote to the floor. We can't send it to Bush to challenge the veto until we move some of the waivering Republicans. And Edwards damn well knew it when he said this shit too.

Smith, Coleman, Sununu, Snowe, Collins, Warner, Hagel, Voinovich, Specter, Lugar. And maybe Dole and Murkowski too.

These are the ones we need to be pressuring. The Dems are already perfectly willing to pass a bill tying funding to a deadline.

[zulchzulu]

26. Is the Exxon Valdez captain giving advice to fellow Exxon tanker captains after resigning?

That's what this looks like to me.

[rateyes]

28. I imagine it does look like that to you...

I don't think it looks like that to the undecided voter, however.

[FrenchieCat]

33. Which is what Edwards is betting on.......that the uninformed will

not remember his recent words in where HE, Edwards was linking 9/11 to Iraq, and when HE, Edwards was exerting pressure on the Congress....but that time, to get into this damn war. That's the problem with John Edwards; not enough really know what he said prior to yesterday..... :shrug:

Edwards linking 9/11 to Iraq.....

"This week, a week where we remember the sacrifice of thousands of innocent Americans made on 9-11, the choice could not be starker. Had we known that such attacks were imminent, we surely would have used every means at our disposal to prevent them and take out the plotters. We cannot wait for such a terrible event -- or, if weapons of mass destruction are used, one far worse -- to address the clear and present danger posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq."
Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
US Senate floor statement: "Iraqi Dictator Must Go"
September 12, 2002
http://web.archive.org/web/20030219152335/edwards.senate.gov/press/2002/0912a-pr.html

[Gloria]

34. Yes, making Bush veto his own funding is a perfect setup....why can't

the Congressional Dems get off their butts and do it????

[DURHAM D]

37. I just got in from a meeting and I can't believe JE's commercial.

He is giving marching orders to Congress - a body that he left in the dust. His vote helped make the mess that he is now ordering others to clean it up. How arrogant. I am stunned.

Furthermore, I am sick to death of the msm, and now JE, of using the false and constantly repeated right wing setup that in 2006 Dems were voted into congress to stop the war. Stopping the war was 4th on the list of items of interest to the voters. Joe Trippi needs to go.

Obama should be able to clean his clock in a matter seconds.

[jsamuel]

38. Sorry...

"Obama should be able to clean his clock" except that he can't because he isn't willing to argue for ending the war like Edwards is. Obama was right in 2002, but Edwards is right now.

[DURHAM D]

40. John has opened himself up to a variety of comments -

Something like -

How easy it is to throw empty bottles from the bleachers at the team on the floor...

If you wanted to tell members of Congress how to behave you should have stayed in the Senate...

You helped create this problem from within the body and now you smugly give orders from outside?

JE also opens an opportunity (for the first time) for Obama to talk about the fact that John was on the Intelligence Committee and had access to more info than all of the other Senate candidates and didn't even read it. Also, he co-authored the IWR.

I am afraid the only debate this commercial frames is one about John - not ending the war. It was reckless.

[jsamuel]

41. Yet ANOTHER "some might say" post.

Again and again you attack John Edwards through the veil of "some might say."

[DURHAM D]

42. As usual - you completely miss the point . . .

I didn't say a word about what some might say. Just explaining John's mistake. Try using your brain.

Good bye.

[saracat]

43. As opposed to Ms.Hillary who doesn't tell Congress what to do at all while she is still in it?

Hillary had virtually nothing to say today.Again she was not appearing to take a side.And I wouldn't be raising the question of arrogance if I supported Hillary.There is a lot there as well.I recall her refusing to admit she made a mistake! Please.The commercial was fabulous and a brilliant campaign idea.Edwards threw the gauntlet down and it is up to the others to get off their duffs.

[liskddksil]

46. He did not leave the body in the dust

John Edwards left the senate because he made a firm committment that he was going to run for president in 2004 and not seek reelection as senator unlike some other candidates who wont make a committment either way. He has unequivocally apologised for his support of the war and offers a reasonable plan to end the war. Just because he is not in the senate right now does not mean he doesnt have the right to urge the American people to call on Congress to do what they were elected to do and set a firm timeline.

[Ninja Jordan]

39. Winning Iowa isn't going to 'clinch' anything.

I like Edwards, though. Unless he just blows everyone out in Iowa, it won't have a huge impact. He doesn't have the $$$ of Obama and Hillary.