Lots and lots of Edwards news today and lots of diaries up related to him. So I'll try to just touch on a little bit of everything. One thing about Edwards - there is lots of news. He isn't running a timid campaign by any means.
Two big things today - Edwards calls for Congress to respond to GB's veto and defunding by sending the same bill back again.
Secondly, Edwards rejects the conventional right wing framing of "global war on terror". Its time for a new paradigm.
Along with those big stories are a few others, such as Edwards moving up in NH, Elizabeth getting rave reviews on the stump, and much more.
So stick around and catch you on the flip side.
Cross-Posted at Blogspot
This is the moment of truth on Iraq.
John Edwards sent out a plea today asking everyone to support him in ending the war. Part of his effort has been to creat an ad that will run Thursday in the DC media market to help push Congress. Check out the ad - its awesome:
This has the ad as well as some uploads from regular folks attached. If you want to see the ad directly: http://www.youtube.com/... (its also in the ads here on DKos)
TomP has a great diary on this that was recced earlier today that includes the video.
And you can help make this happen by donating, adding your own video, and sending a customized postcard to your representatives.
Some other great diaries related to Edwards in the northwest today: mcjoan's front page diary on Edwards in Seattle, Sarahlane's dairy on Oregon, Hubbirb's Portland diary, and to be inspired's diary on Edwards at the CA convention.
And the big story out of the Northwest - Edwards rejects the neocon framing of the Global War on Terror (GWOT)
This got some press when Edwards made a point not to raise his hand at the South Carolina debate when asked by Brian Williams who believed in the GWOT and elaborated later in the debate:
"I believe -- and this goes to the question you asked earlier, just a few minutes ago -- global war on terror. I think there are dangerous people and dangerous leaders in the world that America must deal with and deal with strongly, but we have more tools available to us than bombs. And America needs to use the tools that are available to them so that these people who are sitting on the fence, who terrorists are trying to recruit, the next generation, get pushed to our side, not to the other side. We've had no long-term strategy, and we need one, and I will provide one."
Edwards went beyond that today and elaborated as covered by Jonathan Singer at MyDD, Times (Edwards rejects "War on Terror"), and goes on the offensive for the upcoming Repug debate.
Edwards ties the whole together so well. Its not just about Iraq or terrorists, its about this whole failed foreign policy that makes us less safe and loses allies rather than gains them. Its time for a change.
From the Times (all bolded, its that good):
"This political language has created a frame that is not accurate and that Bush and his gang have used to justify anything they want to do," Edwards said in a phone interview from Everett, Wash. "It's been used to justify a whole series of things that are not justifiable, ranging from the war in Iraq, to torture, to violation of the civil liberties of Americans, to illegal spying on Americans. Anyone who speaks out against these things is treated as unpatriotic. I also think it suggests that there's a fixed enemy that we can defeat with just a military campaign. I just don't think that's true."
Other news (in brief):
Edwards Comes Full Circle on Iraq
No top-tier Democratic presidential candidate has been clearer than former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in pushing for an aggressive confrontation with President Bush over his veto of an Iraq spending bill that included a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal.
ARG Polls - Edwards continues to lead in Iowa and moves into a strong second in New Hampshire. Its Arg which has been a bit off, but it has tended to be lower than other polls for Edwards in the past so hard to see this as anything but good news.
Edwards gains more support in Oregon and Wisconsin.
Edwards OneCorps members (including Edwards) joined Moveon.Org members across the country today to protest Bush's veto and press for Congress to stand strong. If you want to go to more events - check here.
John Edwards’ wife reaches out to voters
Elizabeth is getting rave reviews and seems to have a real knack at explaining important issues in simple human terms.
By baring her life’s pain and sadness, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards says she is finding ways to reach out and connect intimately to voters.
So that's about it for now. Check out the links above and add your own below. No more baby steps folks - its time for big bold change. And that change can start now - help John Edwards (see above) and Congress to end George Bush's war.
UPDATE:
Other good diaries today -
Edwards: Are You Safer Than You Were Seven Years Ago? by dday
Has a lot on Edwards with Wolf Blitzer on the Situation Room
(in response to a video of Guliani spinning):
Fearmongering. It's the same old fearmongering that they've been engaged in for years. Hey, what I would ask Americans is do you feel safer than you did when George Bush was elected in 2000? Do you feel safer today? Are you happy with what's happened in Iraq? Because what Giuliani, McCain, Romney, all of them, the best I can tell, are saying is, that we're going to stay on this same course. I mean, the question for the American people is, do they believe we can be smarter and still be aggressive about protecting this country. And I think they're going to answer that question in a resounding way come November 2008.
See the video: http://www.cnn.com/...
transcript: http://transcripts.cnn.com/...
Edwards Joins MOVE ON in today's protest by Wade Norris
More on Edwards joining MoveOn to end the war.