Hi Everybody!
It is another busy Saturday and ten more days before Christmas and 19 more days to the Iowa caucuses. You can check out what is happening on the Iowa page at the Edwards website.
I am filling in as the anchor for jamess on the Edwards Evening News Roundup. The Edwards Campaign has been focusing on its theme that America Belongs to Us on its Main Street Express Bus Tour in Iowa this week. The weather hasn't been fully co-operative but everyone has adjusted. Here are some highlights as well as a couple of new stories.
- America Belongs to Us Tour brought to Iowa on the Main Street Express
- Tim Robbins Joined Edwards this week
- Weekend Events with Kevin Bacon as the Celebrity draw
- Elizabeth Edwards Back on the Trail
- Elizabeth Edwards greets Obama supporters
- Going the Extra Mile for John Edwards
- Diaries around the Blogs
- And for something totally different
1. America Belongs to Us Tour on the Main Street Express
Edwards is on an eight day tour around Iowa to head into the final stretch before the Christmas break and the caucuses.
The sign on the front of the bus emphasizes a main them of Edwards why he can take on the special interests in Washington DC.
On these tours Edwards develops a relationship with reporters. His campaign prides itself on being open and transparent. This delightful video (thanks to NCDem Amy) catches reporters and Edwards in a much more relaxed mode.
John Edwards--Accessible and Transparent
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2. Tim Robbins Joined Edwards this week.
Tim Robbins seemed to be quite comfortable touring with Edwards and introducing him at events.
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3. Weekend Events with Kevin Bacon as the Celebrity draw.
Today Edwards opened his latest campaign swing with a another celebrity — actor and musician Kevin Bacon — and he sought to make clear his differences with Obama and Clinton.
In Dubuque Edwards cites fight for party's soul
"I think if my party, the Democratic Party, if we're not willing to fight for, stand up and show some backbone on behalf of the poor, the homeless, the disabled, the disenfranchised, we have no soul," the former North Carolina senator said. "What are we going to stand for?"
Edwards ties in his theme of looking after the poor with taking care of Main Street issues such as universal health care. He stresses that he is willing to take on these special interests:
"We need a president who says to the American people that corporate greed and corporate power is not going to stop us any more," Edwards said. "I do actually believe we have an enormous fight in front of us."
Obama, who held rallies last weekend in the state with Oprah Winfrey, suggests that the health care debate should include all groups interested in the issue. Edwards cast the issue in terms of working people battling against special interests.
"I just fundamentally disagree," Edwards said. "I think we have an epic fight in front of us."
His main challengers take a more intellectual approach to politics than he does, Edwards contended. "I believe we need a fighter, not somebody who talks about it, who thinks about it," he said.
More than 300 people turned out on a snowy Saturday morning to hear Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, deliver their pitch. Bacon, who said he signed on with Edwards about a month ago, entertained the crowd with some songs by his band.
"He really struck me because he's got a dream and he's got a plan," Bacon said. "I kind of feel like that's what we need."
To the crowd, Edwards said: "If you are willing on a cold January night to stand up with me, I'm going to give you back your Democratic Party, I'm going to give you back the White House and I'm going to give you back your country. "If we don't take the power away from these people, they're not going to give it up."
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4. Elizabeth Edwards Back on the Trail
(Photo:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Elizabeth had taken a break from the camppaign trail for 3-4 weeks. Campaigning is strenuous work where you are always surrounded by people trying to get close to you. I was quite taken by this photo showing how well Elizabeth deals with the press corps.
Elizabeth continues with her openness and candor as she introduces her husband.
"Republicans should scare us in a lot of ways," she told the audience at Loras College. "Right now, according to the Quad City Times, the leading Republican candidate is Mike Huckabee. Seems like a nice, charming guy -- doesn’t believe in evolution and has some nutty views about what it is we should do in terms of ending violence in our inner city. We should make sure all of our young people are armed. Republicans scare me."
The Republicans scare me too, Elizabeth, they scare me too.
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5. Elizabeth Edwards greets Obama supporters
Then Edwards stepped outside the office, and as reporters stood poised to tape her walk back to the Main Street Express, the former senator's wife took a sharp right. A media crowd followed her to the front door of the Obama office next door. As mostly African-American Obama volunteers filed back into the office, they were surprised to shake the hand of none other than their rival's wife.
"It's great to see people working hard," she said. "Look me in the eye, and shake my hand. We're on the same team. Thank y'all. Appreciate y'all working so hard. I bet you look even more handsome smiling. You should try it."
A tall man toward the back of the line didn't recognize the woman shaking everyone's hand.
"Who are you, ma'am?" he asked.
"I'm Elizabeth Edwards, John's wife," she replied.
"Oh! Nice to meet you!" he replied, his eyes wide.
The candidate's wife shook a couple more hands and trudged back to the bus, a trail of staffers and still-surprised reporters trailing behind.
I just love Elizabeth's unorthodox approach to life and campaigning. She does her own thing.
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6. Going the Extra Mile for John Edwards
If you missed this story it is worth reading the whole diary. It is amazing what supporters are doing to express their desire for a new direction in America. I was so impressed and am thinking I need to do more walking outside, maybe carrying a sign?
Make that 6.1 miles.
Duncan, a 47-year-old food service employee for the New London School District, is walking home each work day until the Iowa caucuses carrying a sign for her favorite presidential candidate.
That might not seem like a big deal -- except she lives near Lowell.
"Every step I take is for the electability of John Edwards and for every American," she said.
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7. Diaries around the Blogs
The Timeline of My Decision by karateexplosions (must read if you haven't)
The Professor, the Politician, and the Voice of the People by jamess
Edwards: We need an independent investigation for CIA tapes by okamichan13
John Edwards Is Impressing Me More and More by bink (by a Clinton supporter)
A Short Note to the Edwards Supporters Around Here by Mehitabel9
Edwards New Ad 'Fight' natural contrast with Obama; 'Fighting for Change' by TarHeel at MyDD
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8. And for something totally different: Ezra Klein features a new Chistmas tune by the Bare Naked Ladies about Christmas and unions - Elf's Lament. It is great and depressing. Listen, read the lyrics
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You try to start a movement, and you think you see improvement
But when thrown into the moment, we just don't seem so courageous
~snip~
You look at yourself
You're an elf
And the shelf is just filled with disappointing memories
Trends come and go, and your friends wanna know
why you aren't just happy making crappy little gizmos
Every kid knows they'll just throw this stuff away
Think about what we want for Chistmas and the New Year. I want Edwards as president.
Happy Holidays Everyone! in all the different ways you choose to celebrate!