- Edwards jabs at Bush fiscal policies
- Edwards' State of the Union "Prebuttal"
- More from Chattanooga
- Northwest Progressive Institute Official Blog Endorses John Edwards
- John Edwards: "You're Voice Will Be Heard!"
- John Edwards aggressively buys ads in Feb 5 states due to booming fundraising
- Diary Roundup
1. Edwards jabs at Bush fiscal policies
Edwards jabs at Bush fiscal policies
"I look at what Bush has done over the last seven years, plus what he intends to propose tonight (at the State of the Union address), making sure the rich get richer, the profits of the biggest corporations keep going up while working people and the middle class and low-income families are literally having a terrible time just surviving," Edwards said.
He challenged audiences at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers auditorium in Chattanooga and a United Steelworkers office in Nashville to be part of a "tidal wave of change" in America. He planned a campaign stop with Teamsters in Springfield, Mo., later Monday.
Edwards said he favors increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour and that "to strengthen and grow the middle class in this country we must strengthen and grow the organized labor movement." Congress last year voted to step up the minimum wage to $7.25 by July 2009.
2. Edwards' State of the Union "Prebuttal"
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
"Even he and his people admit it's gonna take months for this stimulus to actually kick in," said Edwards before a buoyant crowd of over 400 people. "The truth of the matter is, it is so important that between now and January of 2009 that we stand up to this president, that we stand up for what's right, that we don't let him continue to make it so hard for the middle class."
Earlier in Chattanooga, Edwards said, "I think a lot of us know what the state of the union is."
"And the president will walk into the Congress, to the United States House of Representatives, and he'll give a speech about his stimulus plan to try to stimulate the economy.
"And you know what'll happen is he'll go in there and the Congress - who kinda quit listening to him a while back - but they'll all stand up, cheer, clap. You know, the truth is that Washington is out of touch with what's happening here in the real world."
3. More from Chattanooga
Video:
http://www.newschannel9.com/...
John Edwards Sways Chattanooga Voters
Edwards also touches on global warming, and the war in Iraq. "The first year that I'm President of the United States, we will end this mess of a war in Iraq."
But it's education that UTC student Elizabeth James Tallman wants to hear more of. "I think that's the most important thing, and I'm not sure which candidate has the strongest platform on that."
Edwards touches on education during his speech. He says, "Here's my idea. It's called 'College for Everyone.' If you're willing to work while you're in college, at least 10 hours a week, America pays your tuition and books at a state university or community college."
Edwards has said the more voters who hear from him, the more supporters he'll have. Tallman says his 20 minute speech gained her support. "I do think that I've changed my mind." Reporter asks, "Are you going to vote for Edwards?" Tallman says, "Yes I am."
4. Northwest Progressive Institute Official Blog Endorses John Edwards
Why we are supporting John Edwards
Edwards has our support until the end - until such time as he says he doesn't want it any more. There are a few specific reasons for this.
The first has to do with the selection of causes and issues that Edwards has chosen to base his campaign on. He's the one who has pulled talk about the poor, about the worsening class-divide in America, into this year's presidential race.
His "Two Americas" theme, which he's been shouting from the rooftops for a long time now, is a important theme, because the right wing's assault on the middle class is (and has been) absolutely devastating.
Healthcare that costs too much and doesn't do anything, legislative "reforms" that let corporations walk with increasingly spiky heels all over their workers, monetary policies and lax regulations that encourage predatory home lending, the slow whittling-down of our public schools (personally, I scarcely know how I'm going to help my kids through college!)
5. John Edwards: "You're Voice Will Be Heard!"
6. John Edwards aggressively buys ads in Feb 5 states due to booming fundraising
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
In a conference call today, the Edwards campaign announced an "aggressive media buy" in ten states over the next 48 hours, which it plans to expand as February 5th approaches. According to the campaign, the ad buys will give the public more exposure to Edwards' message and help him win support because, "as we saw in South Carolina, once people have a chance to hear directly from John Edwards, the numbers move."
The campaign added that fundraising is booming, totaling almost $4 million dollars even before Federal Matching Funds took effect. The campaign noted that the most significant trend in an increase in fundraising came from long-time online supporters who made first-time contributions.
The campaign is confident going into the race for delegates on Feb 5th, citing several states in which Edwards has strong support and backing (AL, CA, ID, GA, MA, MN, MO, NM, ND, OK, TN).
7. Diary Roundup
John Edwards' Path to Victory: It Can be Done by NCDem Amy
JRE $200,000 Day: Giving Voice to the Voiceless by poligirl
John Edwards Goes to Plan B: The Marathon by philgoblue
Krugman: John Edwards is focused on the issues by JedReport
The busy schedule of third place... by chuckles1
Update: John Edwards' Response to the State of the Union
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
"The president tonight renewed his call for an economic recovery plan. But the plan he and Congress have offered leaves out tens of millions of Americans who need help the most. This plan would take months to have any impact, and the people I meet everyday on the campaign trail do not have months to wait. These people are hurting now and need this help now. Over the past seven years, typical workers’ paychecks have failed to keep up with inflation, millions of families are facing the loss of their homes to foreclosures, health insurance premiums have doubled, and families are spending $1,000 more a year on gasoline. The State of the Union may be interesting political theater, but until we find bold solutions to the challenges facing the country, we will be stuck with the same old small, Washington answers.
"And in the chamber of the House of Representatives where the president speaks, even though this Congress stopped listening to him a while ago, they will still applaud and cheer him. The truth is that Washington is out of touch with what's happening across the country. Between now and January of 2009, Democrats must stand up to this president, stand up for what's right, so he does not continue to forget about the middle class in this country."
Bonus:
Remember to phonebank and donate to keep our momentum going!
http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/
https://www.johnedwards.com/...
Also, on Wednesday: