Lessig

You are saying the only Senator who represents you is Elizabeth Dole, but in the same breath complaining that Edwards is "Republican lite."

Edwards, like every other Presidential candidate, has missed votes in the Senate during the campaign trail and he is very upfront about this. Furthermore, his voting record is public information.

Senator Edwards has fought for working people all his life. He was elected by a majority of voters from North Carolina and most are proud of the work he has done, including his work on the Patient's Bill of Rights. He is winning South Carolina with a great margain, moving up in Iowa and is in 3rd place in New Hampshire. Senator Edwards' campaign is successful for one simple reason: people know he will work hard for them every single day.

In the interest of disclosure, I'm a Dean man.

That being said, I like Edwards, he's a good speaker, and a very good debater, and a strong candidate.

If he gets the nomination, I'd vote for him, but then agan, I'd vote for Pat Buchanon against Bush, and I'm a Jewish Zionist.

What bothers me about him (and something about all the candidates, including Dean, bother me) is that I get the sense that politically, he's a dillitant.

From what I've read, I'm not alone, so I'd like to see him address it when he guest blogs.

What is a dillitant?

That word doesn't even exist based on Dictionary.com...

Well, if he would have poste..."Dilettante"...then I could have figured out what he was talking about, but he didn't. He posted..."dillitant."

I read somewhere (Kevin Phillips perhaps) that the Bush I administration was very committed to making certain industries wealthy (oil being the obvious one, but also finance and insurance, if I remember correctly), partly because of where he came from, and how he got financed, but largely because they were entrenched in his whole geo-political scheme, which that family (including Prescott Bush) has spent at least two life-times developing (and now, a third – W’s).

I believe Phillips says that Bush I ignored the emerging high-tech industry because it didn’t fit into his scheme and his regional politics, and it challenged the hegemony of the industries he favored. Phillips says that Ross Perot got involved in the ‘92 race because he was tired of Republicans ignoring his industry’s needs. I think Phillips also says that Clinton was embraced by the hi-tech industry because he was committed to the idea that people and small businesses, and businesses trying to move the economy forward (rather than backward, like the auto-industry, which is based on the internal-combustion engine, which is a century-old technology!) deserve the government’s support.

And, incidentally, my impression is that the hi-tech industry has some inherently liberalizing tendencies. One, is that it tends to spread a lot of wealth very broadly. Once you take out the Wall St-IPO-401(k) ripoff angle (the Republicans find a way to make easy money off EVERYTHING!) you’re still left with an industry which rewards ideas that can be manifested without the need for a ton of capitalization. So, a group of immigrant Cal or Stanford graduates, or any group of Americans willing to work hard, can turn an idea into profits without having to go to Andover, or without having to have your dad, GHWB get members of the bin Laden family to invest a couple grand in your dumb, lazy son’s soon-to-fail oil business. To me, hi-tech, more than the auto industry, or oil business, or finance business, embodies progress, through, for example, price-competition, the drive for innovation, and the desire to bring value to the lives of consumers. Therefore, it seems to me that it should find a natural home in the Democratic party.

So, I was just wondering if Edwards could comment on how the tech-industry sits in terms of being Democratic-leaning or Republican leaning. I’m just wondering if the situation Phillips described as existing in ’92 still prevails today, or if things have changed, and if the tech-industry is now more about finance tricks and less about innovation and competition and bringing value to the public. After all, once the oil industry was a strong supporter of Democrats because they needed to get over the hump of the protectionism the Republicans were providing for the industries that dominated the economy before the oil industry dominated the economy.

Can you ask Senator Edwards to discuss his views on the future for people in the 20-36 age group the so called Gen X,Y. Especially if he would comment on his plans for affirmative action and race relations. As a young caucasian I am aware that we are entering a time where many will not remember or understand the significance of an Emmitt Tills and the progress on civil rights that had been systematically blocked by the southern Senators during the 1st half of the 20th century. What has been the effect of time on the African American population who does not have direct or even indirect knowledge of the true nature of the fight for civil rights (poll tax, lynching, brown etc)? Also, are we now seeing the discrimination (albeit to a lesser extent) against gays and Latino's. It is almost impossible now to appreciate how Emmitt Tills could happen in the US but in 40 years will future generations scratch their heads on today's views of same sex marriage and parenting. Any comments?

For the record, candidate Kucinich has not missed a vote.

Another Dean supporter here, glad to see Edwards get his "day on the Lessig blog". Edwards brings an echo of Clinton's charisma and presence, that down-home Southern charm that is so seductive. I regard Clinton as the best president of the last 40 years, regardless of his personal foibles. Edwards has that same "slickness" Clinton had from what I've seen of him, but does he have the same policy instincts? All the Democratic candidates have fairly similar official platforms when it comes to the "major issues"; but what about issues that aren't on those platforms, where will Edwards tend to fall on those? Best example is the copyright issues we discuss here. They're not on the top 10 lists of any candidate as far as I know.

For the record, candidate Kucinich has not missed a vote.

I admire that dedication. Still, I would rather see Kucinich as Secretary of the Interior than President at this point. I think that job would be a perfect fit for him, and the country has needed someone like Kucinich in that post for a long long time now.

For the record, I voted for Edwards. He's been running for President since we elected him to the Senate five years ago. He's been missing votes since he got in. Not just a vote here and there, but a lot of votes, everywhere.

Being on the campaign trail is no excuse. I point to Kucinich's sterling vote record in the House.

I voted for a Senator. Someone to represent me in Congress. What I got was a man running for president, who refuses to represent me in Congress. If he is not even going to make his votes, he should at least have the decency to resign and let the Governor appoint a good Democrat to take his place, be an incumbent, and represent the good people of NC.

I admit that he talks a good game. I am much less impressed by his actions. I would point out that bushie boy talked a good game too. Remember "compassionate conservatism" anyone? Listen to what they say, but watch what they do.

What has killed the Democrats over the last couple of decades is their drift to the right. As exemplified by John Edwards. I'm tired of it. I'm going to do something about it. Supporting my "home town boy," who hasn't earned my respect, is not part of my plan. I don't think Edwards can win the NC primary. If he can't carry his home state, that should tell you something. Watch and see.

I'm working for good Democrats in NC. We just re-elected our mayor, and my district's city councilwoman. Good Democrates both. It's a start. From the grass roots up, we are going to take our country back. Senator Edwards needs to get out of our way.

"even with the assistance of my technical peer, who happens to be a right wing kook"

that's giving Bennett too much credit, if it's Bennett you're talking about. jeez, I can't wait for him to blather on to Edwards about something pretending to be a productive topic, and fighting off the troll nicknames he deserves.

I agree, Eric, but sometimes I've wished (and will again this week, I suspect) that his expert knowledge wasn't accompanied by such blatant pedantry, and condescension. There's enough non-trolling people out there with the same knowledge, I'd rather read them. Here's to hoping.

Bruce Watson is reposting letters that have mysteriously appeared in newspapers all over NC and on blogs all over the internet.

This doesn't change the fact that these letters are full of lies.

John Edwards has been and continues to be a very good Senator - his staff is highly responsive, and he is looking out for the people of this State. In addition, his campaign has brought exposure and respect to everyone in this State who is not an idiot.

I really have a great appreciation for Senator Edwards. As I read the comments of others, I can’t help but think some of them don’t sound like they know this man very well. His character is impeccable as far as I know. The only thing that is Republican like about him is that he really does have the family values, ethics, and decency that Republicans only pretend to have. HE has true Christianity, which is simply Christ like compassion, which comes from the heart. It is far removed from the hypocritical, pandering lip service to the “Church” issues of the Republican party.

Edwards has taken a stand on all the important issues in Senate as far as I know, even while campaigning. What exactly are you saying that he missed. Occasionally the best senators boycott votes that they find irrelevant or hopeless causes. I know that he will continue to fight Patriot Act type legislation and reclaim our rights to privacy, and liberty and hold off the Bush/Ashcroft tyranny. HE has also sought harder than anyone to block the stacking of the courts with Bush’s hand selected tyrants and yes men.

I really appreciate the comment of L. LaP. He is stating something very important about the shady roots of the Bush Administration. He manages to do this without sounding paranoid. Something I have yet to accomplish, because quite frankly Bush, scares me! I have trouble talking about it without getting passionate. I hate Bush and everything he stands for. From his hostile takeover in the 2000 election, and his business dealings with Ben Lauden money, to his insane, Crusading, power mad, witch hunting Dictatorship set up shortly after 9/11. I don’t understand how he gets away with this stuff. He seems to have a blank check to ignore the constitution, as well as common sense. Thanks for putting these issues out there so calmly.

I am seeing in the political climate a strange, weird, and perhaps wonderful bonding between the far left (anti-war and ecology types), and the far right (Conspiracy theory types.) They are actually linking each other’s sites now to share attacks on Bush. They are quoting each other! They are finding that they have a lot in common, especially a common foe. I find this amazing. I wonder what, if anything, John Edwards plans to do to appeal to these folks on the fringes. To me anything that opposes G.W. is wonderful, no matter how strange. I think the extremists could be useful. They are courageous, active, and vocal. Perhaps a little nutty and volatile, but they are at least paying attention. How does he feel about Left and Right extremists joining hands to passionately fight Government tyranny? I think the far right is ready to swing Democrat, at least for now. They are ripe for the picking! They do represent a growing number of votes! Their literature also influences popular thought much more than most people like to admit. Who (even among even us liberals) didn’t at some point consider the validity of Right Wing conspiracy theory during this Bush administration? I thought about a lot of the stuff I scoffed at 10 years ago. Any way what can Edwards, offer extremists other than an end to Bush, which would probably be enough?

Also I want to know how Edwards plans to put an end to war and tension in the mid-east? How will he repair the injured relations between the US and the rest of the world? How can he assure the Muslims that we are not “Crusaders” seeking to crush Islam. I agree that our main focus should be our shattered economy, but what do we do about this giant mess in Iraq. I agree that spending money on government contracts to G.W.’s buddies isn’t the answer, but what is?

Love & Peace
FC

Bugs Bunny would be better President than the appointed one we now have. Having said that, I think Edwards would be a good president but I wish someone would re-light a fire under him. He is starting to play safe. I don't like that. That is the thing that interests me about Dean (even though he hasn't got a clue about the deep South).

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