Discussion Thread: John Edwards Announces Presidential Candidacy on The Today Show

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

There are published reports Edwards has already informed friends he will seek the Democratic nomination.

He will be appearing on The Today Show in a few minutes to make it official.

[leadpenny]

Bump to find out what the empty suit has to say. I can't make myself watch the Chit-Chat shows of the morning.

[leadpenny]

BTW, over the holiday weekend I heard some pundit say that he might as well run for prez because his poll numbers are so low in NC that he probably won't get re-elected anyway.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Today I'll set up an exploratory committee to run for President."

Why are you running?: "I want to be a champion for regular people."

He emphasized he was first from his family to attend college. He has "fought for" such regular people all his life (presumably as trial lawyer).

What about the negative impact on your young family of running? "Have a strong marriage, etc. and came to decision together."

Only two Senators have been elected, JFK and Harding. Also, in polls, you came in well down the list, with only 4%. How can you turn numbers around? "By presenting ideas and a vision for turning the country around. Make US safer, going after terrorists within our midst, making sure people know what to do in event of terrorist attack, get the economy going again. Fiscal discipline. Tax cuts for regular folks not just richest Americans. College for everyone."

Voters in NC: only 35% of NC voters want you to run for President. Why? "I think they want me to be their Senator?"

You'll run for President and for re-election as Senator? "I'll make a decision later to run for Senator. My Senate seat is up for election in 2003."

Trial lawyers don't always have best image. Fleischer said when Edwards considered as VP candidate with Gore: "bring on the ambulance chaser."

Edwards: "very proud of what I did. I was a champion for people in tough places."

Pres. Bush enjoying high approval ratings. How will potential war with Iraq influence ratings? "Impossible to know, in any case decisions shouldn't be influenced by those factors. We must announce Iraq must never had nuclear weapons. Confident we'll be able to disarm Iraq."

Do you think war with Iraq is inevitable? "No, hopeful we'll be able to disarm him."

North Korea, how has President handled situation? "Need to recognize N. Korea is a crisis. Start by trying to rebuild relations with S. Korea. Build an international coalition to deal with problem: Russia, China, etc. Be willing to sit down at table, be tough, but deal with N. Korea."

Repeats in closing: "I will be a champion for regular people in the White House every day."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Matt Lauer conducted the interview, and while he asked some foreign policy questions, he never asked the most obvious question:

"You have been Senator for only four years, and have no significant military or foreign policy experience. In this time of war against terrorism, why should the American people make someone as inexperienced as you Commander in Chief?"

[gcraig]

Yawn. I'm ready to vote against him in the next Senate race. We need two conservative Senators from NC.

[leadpenny]

" . . My Senate seat is up for election in 2003."

Wouldn't the pretty boy be up for re-election in '04?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My mistake, he did say 2004.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I also found his announcement boring. One thing is clear, he's come up with his slogan: "I'm going to be the "champion" of the "regular" people."

This is a variation of the Democrat demaoguery of their support for "real" people.

I guess that makes us the "unreal irregulars"!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...why should the American people make someone as inexperienced as you Commander in Chief?...

This is exactly why the RATS will nominate Al Sharpton.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Hmm. To add some gravitas to his ticket, perhaps the Reverend Al could convince Teddy Kennedy to be his running mate.

[Photo2003]

Regular people?? How about ALL of the people!!!

[OldFriend]

Oh no.........more FOR THE PEOPLE NOT THE POWERFUL.......

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Gravitas is only necessary when a red-meat campaign finds itself in a quagmire.

[mewzilla]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Edwards merely formed an exploratory committee? That doesn't sound to me like the guy's definitely running. Just definitely thinking about it. Now, there's a profile in courage.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Correct, he announced formation of an exploratory committee. He didn't give a flat out: "today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States."

[leadpenny]

Let's see. The "maybes" are:

Lieberman
Gebhardt
Daschle
Kerry (more than maybe)
Dodd
Edwards
Sharpton
The fellow from Vermont?
Graham
Anyone else?

Hillary! with a sardonic smile in the background.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

We won't know for sure if Edwards is running for president until the Lovenstein Institute of Scranton, Pennsylvania publishes his IQ.

[PJ-Comix]

Let us now welcome Edwards' candidacy with this camaign song:

Hello ambulance, my old friend, I've come to chase you once again,
Because a money vision creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain,
Still remains, within the sound of sirens.

In restless dreams I ran alone, through the streets on my cellphone,
'neath the halos of the street lamps, I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a rescue light
That split the night, and heard the sound of sirens.

And in the naked light I saw, Ten injured people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening,
Suing others, without any care.
Since Johnny's there, Amidst the sound of sirens.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know, how sirens set my heart a glow.
I use the courts that I might teach you, I use lawsuits that I might reach you."
But my words like heavy raindrops fell,
And echoed, Like the wail of sirens.

And those alike bowed and prayed, To the flashing gods they made.
And the strobe flashed out its warning, In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the juries are written on the ER walls
And patient halls." and whisper'd in the sound of sirens.

...in the sound of sirens....

[KeyBored]

"Why are you running?: "I want to be a champion for regular people."

Then open up a prune stand