Edwards Evening News for May 17, 2007
Thu May 17, 2007 at 06:42:41 PM PDT
Good evening. I'm Benny, the guest anchor for the EEN as Ladylib has the night off. I'm reporting almost live downstate from Senator Barack Obama's HQ but where John Edwards has visited more than once and has good friends/supporters in Central Illinois.
Here's a picture of Edwards and me from February 5th, in which I attended an event as a blogger and a groundbooter. I'm less in weight since then, but I wanted readers here to see what I look like. Democracy via the netroots and grassroots is very much a theme throughout Edwards' campaign and we will see more about this in the news tonight.
Tonight's diary will be a little different as it will be recapping the news of the day that may have been diaried here, there, or anywhere. Small, but very informal commentary (aka not analysis) will be included in this diary at the end as I have been watching this campaign unfold for quite awhile. As a long time supporter, I will use Edwards and "JRE" as he is known to many of us, interchangeably.
The news starts after the jump.
Tonight's news starts with the latest about Wolfie's Resignation from the World Bank and Edwards' response:
"It's about time. I called for Paul Wolfowitz's resignation a month ago when it became clear that his leadership was undermining America's ability to lead the fight against global poverty. Wolfowitz's tenure at the World Bank was marked by serious questions of financial integrity that alarmed our allies.
"Now, President Bush must choose a successor who will help restore America's credibility and moral leadership in the world. We need a leader who can convincingly make the case for global anti-poverty investments that can lift up billions of lives and make the world safer and more secure."
Edwards was the first to speak out about Wolfowitz. Not surprised that Edwards saw the problems of ethics and moral responsibility immediately, as Edwards traveled the globe for two years and heard stories about the US being ignored as a moral authority.
Raising Money for Southern Candidates, or the 50-State Strategy
Next, did you know JRE was the keynote speaker at the J-J Dinner in Atlanta today? Here's a comment from the Atlanta Constitution-Journal this evening:
With a high school drumline and a crowd of supporters to welcome him, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards made a grand entrance at the Georgia Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner Thursday, saying it was "time for another Democrat from the South" to win the presidency.
The presidential candidate from North Carolina was the featured speaker at the dinner, which Democratic officials said will raise more than $600,000 for the state party.
In a short news conference before the dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta, Edwards said congressional Democrats should continue to push for a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Still raising money for other candidates, just as he did in 2006.
Support the Troops, End the War on Radio
Edwards was a guest on Ed Schultz's show again. Here's the audio clip in case you missed it.
Edwards still pushed out his message "that we need to end this war". Notice though how Schultz saw the folly of Mike Huckabee's hit on JRE on the Debate two nights ago:
"..he's saying you are dam*ed good lookin' man.
JRE had to laugh at that one. Then they discussed how none of the Republican candidates and how that comment had to do with getting out of Iraq or what to do about health care."
Also, some good discussion about the escalation too, and how it's not working. Give it a listen.
Speaking of, did everyone get an e-mail from David Bonior today, in which the campaign received some personal responses about the patriotism we wish to show on Memorial Day? Tracy posted this on JRE's blog this evening:
In Raeford, North Carolina a woman whose husband is serving in Iraq is hosting a prayer vigil. She writes:
My husband is in Iraq, and I pray each and every day for the Troops and that maybe someday soon there will be an end to this war. Please join me in praying for my husband and all the troops that are deployed throughout the world.
In Milton, West Virginia, the mother of an Iraq War veteran is organizing a letter writing drive to Congress and the President.
And from Fort Riley, Kansas, a soldier writes simply:
As I get ready for my third tour into Iraq, I just want to say "BRING US HOME!"
You don't have to be a military family or a veteran to speak out now. You just have to be one of the millions of Americans who are done letting George Bush abuse the rhetoric of patriotism to defend policies that hurt our country and misuse our troops.
Real patriotism is about standing up to do what's right for our nation and the men and women who defend us. This Memorial Day weekend and beyond, let's wear our patriotism on our sleeve--and put it on our bumper--for all the world to see. Support the troops. End the war.
And remember--on Memorial Day itself (Monday the 28th)--let's all take time to solemnly honor all of those who have served in our armed forces and given their lives for our freedom.
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Additionally, one can get a free bumper sticker or contribute $20 for a t-shirt for the event on Memorial Day.
There is so much more I could post from the different diaries today here and other places. Please include a link to ones you may have done today on your posts.
Commentary by the Benny: The Tightrope
Last week, I was in Copenhagen, and I heard a speaker talk about what consumers are looking for from business libraries, but it seemed applicable to Edwards. She said that library users are wanting from libraries:
dissatisfied with the status quo
want to offer their own content
want a voice
want someone who is willing to be the change to promote change
want authenticity from librarians and leaders in general
want trust
want respect
And that in looking towards the future, each person on the tightrope takes baby steps first, looking down, but once they have the grasps down, they look ahead, and no longer look down as they reach for the future. Edwards took baby steps in the first campaign, but this time, he is walking the tightrope, not looking down or back, but forward towards the future.
Amen.
I'm reminded of Elizabeth Edwards's comment in Des Moines last summer concerning healthcare for all: "too many tomorrows have come and gone. We need universal health care." That comment was a window to the tightrope Edwards is walking on now.
She should know.
Let's continue the conversation here.
