Political junkie that I am, I've been paying close attention to the media coverage Edwards has been receiving even prior to his announcement.
First of all, I've been curious as to why the media seems to be smitten with Hillary and Obama. And the majority of reporters seemed to be mentioning Edwards very briefly, and only at the end of their discussion with words like "second tier candidate."
I found this odd. The manner in which they had been handling Edwards implied he wasn't all that, in their eyes of course.
OK, flash-forward to his announcement. I think it was on CNN, as Senator Edwards stood where Katrina has destroyed homes and Fema had failed so many, where Edwards has generously gone to help rebuild homes in that devastated community, the network plastered beneath the image of Edwards:
"MULTI-MILLIONAIRE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT."
That was it. I knew that I was right, and I knew that the media had it in for Edwards. I still don't understand why. With so much praise and flattery for Obama, why such tactics and games with Edwards?
I think any person with a one-once brain could see through their attempt to cut Edwards down by making it a point to refer to him as a "multi-millionaire." It was an attempt to point out that John Edwards, who clearly understands that there are two Americas, certainly doesn't live in your America. The populist candidate isn't sincere seemed to be the implicit message from the media.
More of this from CNN. Another interviewer questioned Edwards about a home he and his wife were building and stated that the home was worth some three-million dollars. Why do we have to know that?
Overall, I truly feel the media has an agenda here, and that agenda is to make Edwards appear as if he is insincere when he talks about dealing with poverty, which would hurt him with voters. Well, not with this voter. I have a mind of my own, and I see the game being used here and it makes me angry.
Personally, I feel that if this keeps up, we should nail 'em on it. We should write/email in protest to this obvious yet subtle attempt to sabotage Edwards.
I think I'm money on this one, but if you disagree, tell me so. And if you agree, I'd like to hear that as well.
Lastly, that Edwards was able to succeed as an attorney and made his own money only makes me respect him more. I don't see how this quality can be twisted into a negative, and the attempt on the part of the media to do so is shameful.
Click here to read Chris Matthews comments on the same subject:
http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/28/23108.aspx
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
John Edwards - The Right Leader at the Right Time
by Teresa Beau
Polarization, it seems, has been the political strategy of choice over the last several years. It is a strategy that has torn our great Country apart and created a bitter divide that has become more and more difficult to breach, leaving our national psyche broken and yearning for a voice of wisdom, unity, and inspiration. In John Edwards, we have finally heard that voice.
As a Nation, we find ourselves facing challenges that will not only shape our future, but indeed, the future of the World. We have many pressing domestic challenges, including: alternative energy innovation and conservation, our educational systems' inequities, poverty, racism, immigration, national security and terrorism, a shameful lack of ethics and integrity in our government, an ever ballooning national deficit, and the critical need to restore our Gulf Coast to not only what it once was, but what it must be in order to sustain itself in the future, along with many others.
Perhaps the most pressing of the challenges we face, however, are those we face as the World's enduring leader and the "bright light" for freedom, justice, and equality. The current Administration has let that light dim, but we are not diminished. We do remember "The America We Believed In." John Edwards has reminded us, inspired us to take charge and work as one to meet these challenges. In our finest hours, this is how Americans have always faced challenges of great magnitude.
This Country, throughout history, has set a shining example for the World. Our diversity, tolerance, and compassion have made us strong and brought us a unique creativity and wisdom. John Edwards has inspired us to remember the America we all believe in, and to stand up and take action and responsibility, each and every one of us, together. Only together can we tap into the fierce will, courage, and determination with which we have always prevailed over tyranny and hopelessness. We must now, more than ever, provide the leadership and stability the World has been lacking.
We find ourselves bogged down in Iraq, with no strategy or compass, our brave and honorable military and the Iraqi people sliding deeper and deeper into an abyss of pointless violence, and other nations, such as Darfur and Uganda, have been sliding, unchecked, into violence and hopelessness.
For too long, we have acted as individuals, unable to reach inward and outward to restore the reason, hope, and dignity necessary to guide the troubled nations of the World towards peace, prosperity, and security.
Our greatest leaders have always asked great things of us, and together time and time again, we have achieved that greatness. John Edward is asking great things of us, and he has the vision, leadership, and experience to guide the way.
Let us join together, and stand up to face these challenges. Now is the time and John Edwards is the leader.
Polarization, it seems, has been the political strategy of choice over the last several years. It is a strategy that has torn our great Country apart and created a bitter divide that has become more and more difficult to breach, leaving our national psyche broken and yearning for a voice of wisdom, unity, and inspiration. In John Edwards, we have finally heard that voice.
As a Nation, we find ourselves facing challenges that will not only shape our future, but indeed, the future of the World. We have many pressing domestic challenges, including: alternative energy innovation and conservation, our educational systems' inequities, poverty, racism, immigration, national security and terrorism, a shameful lack of ethics and integrity in our government, an ever ballooning national deficit, and the critical need to restore our Gulf Coast to not only what it once was, but what it must be in order to sustain itself in the future, along with many others.
Perhaps the most pressing of the challenges we face, however, are those we face as the World's enduring leader and the "bright light" for freedom, justice, and equality. The current Administration has let that light dim, but we are not diminished. We do remember "The America We Believed In." John Edwards has reminded us, inspired us to take charge and work as one to meet these challenges. In our finest hours, this is how Americans have always faced challenges of great magnitude.
This Country, throughout history, has set a shining example for the World. Our diversity, tolerance, and compassion have made us strong and brought us a unique creativity and wisdom. John Edwards has inspired us to remember the America we all believe in, and to stand up and take action and responsibility, each and every one of us, together. Only together can we tap into the fierce will, courage, and determination with which we have always prevailed over tyranny and hopelessness. We must now, more than ever, provide the leadership and stability the World has been lacking.
We find ourselves bogged down in Iraq, with no strategy or compass, our brave and honorable military and the Iraqi people sliding deeper and deeper into an abyss of pointless violence, and other nations, such as Darfur and Uganda, have been sliding, unchecked, into violence and hopelessness.
For too long, we have acted as individuals, unable to reach inward and outward to restore the reason, hope, and dignity necessary to guide the troubled nations of the World towards peace, prosperity, and security.
Our greatest leaders have always asked great things of us, and together time and time again, we have achieved that greatness. John Edward is asking great things of us, and he has the vision, leadership, and experience to guide the way.
Let us join together, and stand up to face these challenges. Now is the time and John Edwards is the leader.
Friday, December 22, 2006
The Obvious Choice in 2008
The Obvious Choice in 2008
Every generation has a shared experience, a set of circumstances that shape and define their lives, and sadly, ours is looking like a generation defined by economic oppression and a lack of opportunities. That life has become more stressful and that more of us are struggling to keep a roof over our heads is clear, and that we have less than our parents had at our age is also a cold reality.
In New York, it has been said that rents have tripled in the last decade; people no longer can afford to move out at 18. In fact, adults in this economy move out somewhere near the age of 30. So, rents have tripled, but our salaries have not.The quality of jobs, fairness in wages, and disappearing benefits have impacted our personal lives in countless ways; we're working harder, many households are either 2 or 3 income families, not by choice but by necessity. We're working more hours often because we need the overtime and some are taking 2 jobs to make ends meet. Suffice is to say that we're working more, but we're getting less.
Benefits are no longer a given, and corporate America has found a loophole to cheat workers - part-time workers don't qualify for benefits. Part-time workers also don't get paid sick days; 401K(s) are becoming something we fantasize about. Having two part-time jobs is something of the norm, even among those that hold advanced degrees.In an economy that oppresses so many, I think we're all ready for a leader who will stand up to corporate greed, a leader that detests the manner in which workers are being exploited; someone that cares that workers are not being paid fair wages, someone that realizes that America has to right this wrong being done to Americans. Suffice it to say that we are all ready for what is long overdue in this country - kinder and gentler capitalism.
The leader that seems to understand this is Senator John Edwards (D-NC). Senator Edwards is bravely doing what most politicians fear - pointing out corporate greed and standing up for the worker. Many political figures look to corporate America for contributions, and so, a certain blindness exists in them, and "see no evil" means that the evil is allowed to flourish and the exploitation continues. But I think our leaders can do better than that. I also think that we've seen enough corporate influence in Washington. And the way to stop this madness is to send a non "insider" to Washington in 2008.If being experienced and a Washington "insider" means seeing more failures on domestic policy, then we're far better off electing someone without this kind of "experience." Senator Edwards does not come across as a man entrenched in Washington dysfunction and corruption, rather, this "outsider" with common-sense values has a pure desire to serve the American people. His focus on domestic policy puts America on the right track.
While we all comprehend the seriousness of foreign policy and our global image, Senator Edwards seems to have brilliantly recognized what Washington "insiders" seems to have missed, and his platform of America putting Americans first is exactly what America needs.Ours is a great country, and when Americans are at their best, they are a fair and generous people with a will and a desire to help everyone around the world, but when we fail to provide economic opportunties at home, we strip America of her ability to remain the benevolent superpower that she is.
We must invest in our people, and we must develop a domestic policy that enables us to educate our people, and to provide them with good, soild jobs. To squander our assests abroad and neglect our people at home seems to be the policy of our current leaders, and this is to the peril of our people and our country, and also, to the rest of the world. Keeping America strong by nuturing its citizens benefits the entire world, and it seems that John Edwards has put two and two together on this critical matter.Our ability to have a postive impact on the world starts at home; on your block, in your city, and in your state. And when each and every American is given the promise of a better tomorrow, they're more likely to do better today. The bitter divide in this country stems from the "two Americas" that Senator Edwards has so eloquently spoken of in the past, and his wonderful vision of one America sounds good to me.
In a America obsessed with the mess in Iraq, nukes in N.Korea, and tensions with Iran, it sure is refreshing to see that someone knows the root to healing these ills starts with healing our own ills at home first. For if we fail to solidify our country and nuture our citizens, it then becomes of matter of when, and not if, we'll sink. Therefore, all I can say about someone like John Edwards is, it's about time.
Every generation has a shared experience, a set of circumstances that shape and define their lives, and sadly, ours is looking like a generation defined by economic oppression and a lack of opportunities. That life has become more stressful and that more of us are struggling to keep a roof over our heads is clear, and that we have less than our parents had at our age is also a cold reality.
In New York, it has been said that rents have tripled in the last decade; people no longer can afford to move out at 18. In fact, adults in this economy move out somewhere near the age of 30. So, rents have tripled, but our salaries have not.The quality of jobs, fairness in wages, and disappearing benefits have impacted our personal lives in countless ways; we're working harder, many households are either 2 or 3 income families, not by choice but by necessity. We're working more hours often because we need the overtime and some are taking 2 jobs to make ends meet. Suffice is to say that we're working more, but we're getting less.
Benefits are no longer a given, and corporate America has found a loophole to cheat workers - part-time workers don't qualify for benefits. Part-time workers also don't get paid sick days; 401K(s) are becoming something we fantasize about. Having two part-time jobs is something of the norm, even among those that hold advanced degrees.In an economy that oppresses so many, I think we're all ready for a leader who will stand up to corporate greed, a leader that detests the manner in which workers are being exploited; someone that cares that workers are not being paid fair wages, someone that realizes that America has to right this wrong being done to Americans. Suffice it to say that we are all ready for what is long overdue in this country - kinder and gentler capitalism.
The leader that seems to understand this is Senator John Edwards (D-NC). Senator Edwards is bravely doing what most politicians fear - pointing out corporate greed and standing up for the worker. Many political figures look to corporate America for contributions, and so, a certain blindness exists in them, and "see no evil" means that the evil is allowed to flourish and the exploitation continues. But I think our leaders can do better than that. I also think that we've seen enough corporate influence in Washington. And the way to stop this madness is to send a non "insider" to Washington in 2008.If being experienced and a Washington "insider" means seeing more failures on domestic policy, then we're far better off electing someone without this kind of "experience." Senator Edwards does not come across as a man entrenched in Washington dysfunction and corruption, rather, this "outsider" with common-sense values has a pure desire to serve the American people. His focus on domestic policy puts America on the right track.
While we all comprehend the seriousness of foreign policy and our global image, Senator Edwards seems to have brilliantly recognized what Washington "insiders" seems to have missed, and his platform of America putting Americans first is exactly what America needs.Ours is a great country, and when Americans are at their best, they are a fair and generous people with a will and a desire to help everyone around the world, but when we fail to provide economic opportunties at home, we strip America of her ability to remain the benevolent superpower that she is.
We must invest in our people, and we must develop a domestic policy that enables us to educate our people, and to provide them with good, soild jobs. To squander our assests abroad and neglect our people at home seems to be the policy of our current leaders, and this is to the peril of our people and our country, and also, to the rest of the world. Keeping America strong by nuturing its citizens benefits the entire world, and it seems that John Edwards has put two and two together on this critical matter.Our ability to have a postive impact on the world starts at home; on your block, in your city, and in your state. And when each and every American is given the promise of a better tomorrow, they're more likely to do better today. The bitter divide in this country stems from the "two Americas" that Senator Edwards has so eloquently spoken of in the past, and his wonderful vision of one America sounds good to me.
In a America obsessed with the mess in Iraq, nukes in N.Korea, and tensions with Iran, it sure is refreshing to see that someone knows the root to healing these ills starts with healing our own ills at home first. For if we fail to solidify our country and nuture our citizens, it then becomes of matter of when, and not if, we'll sink. Therefore, all I can say about someone like John Edwards is, it's about time.
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