Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Note to Elizabeth Edwards: Lay Off MoveOn

Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Note to Elizabeth Edwards: Lay Off MoveOn:

"You’re a smart woman. You of all people should know about the asymmetrical
intimidation problem that Paul Krugman talks about — the one where the media is
afraid to go after Rudy Guiliani for claiming he’s a rescue worker, but they’ll
try to demolish your husband over a haircut because they know that they’ll get
swarmed by the right wing noise machine for the former and pay no price for the
latter. That’s how it works. So I was really disappointed today to read at
Taylor Marsh’s place that you had joined with Diaper Dave Vitter and John
“McCarthy” McCain to attack MoveOn. We (and by that I mean the netroots) defend
you when the MSM try to make your campaign a pinata over stupid, insignificant
stuff. When they try to say your race should end because of your illness, but
don’t say squat about Fred Thompson’s lymphoma. We’re your first line of
defense, the only messaging machine that progressives have."

Dear MoveOn,

What happened to freedom of expression in this country. When you sign up to be in the move on forces is it submitting yourself to a form of control that is known as Democratic Centralism. Yeah, thats the kind of government that they have in China. Basically is says that you don't have the right to say bad things about the party. That would make MoveOn the new communist party in this country, and to speak ill against it is to be thrown out of it. The party only supports those that follow its line and don't question every step that it takes.

Heads up MoveOn-ers, lay off Elisabeth. You accuse her of repeating right wing talking points, as it the idea had to have come from the right. Do you think that Mrs. Edwards is so stupid that she needs other people to think for her. You must. You think that you must do her thinking for her, and that she should just follow what your party says is right. When she steps out of line, since she is too stupid in your mind to think for herself, she must be repeating someone else's ideas.

A short story. A visitor came to Washington during the Jefferson administration. While waiting in the lobby he saw that there were all these magazines filled with the most hateful things about Jefferson, on the table. He picked one up and took it with him when we talked to Jefferson. He asked him why he allowed those papers to be there. Jefferson told him, that if anyone asked what freedom of the press meant, to show them that paper and tell them where he got it.

MoveOn, your time has come, move on.

A Blog For All: Is Elizabeth Edwards Running For President?

A Blog For All: Is Elizabeth Edwards Running For President?:

"You know, it's interesting that Elizabeth Edwards gets far more press than her
husband. She just came out opposing the MoveOn.org ad smearing General David
Petraeus. It's the right call, but is it surprising that John Edwards didn't
make that statement himself? This is a pattern over the past several months."

This appears to be an effort to reach womyn voters, speak to them in a way that they are not getting from John. This is important in this campaign because of Hilary being in the race. She has a natural advantage for the womyn vote. That is unless Elisabeth can associate herself close enough with the campaign that voters think of her when they think of John.

Edwards Jumps The Shark

Captain's Quarters: Edwards Jumps The Shark

"Former Sen. John Edwards on Friday fired the latest round in his ongoing
verbal feud with Ann Coulter, calling her a 'she-devil' at a public event before
quickly adding that he shouldn't engage in name-calling. Edwards, D-N.C., was
railing against the right-wing media -- including Fox News and Rush Limbaugh --
when he reminded a crowd in Burlington, Iowa, that his wife stood up to Coulter
in a public spat earlier this summer. 'We know these people. We know their game
plan. They're going to attack us personally,' Edwards said. 'They attacked
Elizabeth personally, because she stood up to that she-devil Ann Coulter. … I
should not have name-called. But the truth is -- forget the names -- people like
Ann Coulter, they engage in hateful language.'"

I think this is a losing strategy for Edwards, for a number of reasons. The first one to come to mind is that he has everything to lose, and Ann Coulter and Fox News have everything to gain. How many people who are going to be listening to an Edwards speech are going to stop watching Fox just because he said so. Most of them probably don't watch it anyways - otherwise they wouldn't buy the attack. The same thing with Ann Coulter, how many people in his audience purchase her books or go to events where she is a paid speaker - my guess is none. He is preaching to the choir. However, his attacks give both Ann Coulter and fox News reason to cheer. Ann courts a clearly conservative audience, and when someone liberal like Edwards is attacking her, it becomes a selling point for herself and her ideas. Fox News can bring out the same game, what is he afraid of, why is he attacking us, is it because he is afriad of the truth?

Further it does nothing to tell America how he is different from his other democratic candidates. IT does not promote his ideas, and explain the kind of leader he is going to be. Unless the kind of leader he is going to be is one that attacks those who disagree with him. I think Edwards needs to stick to that issues, he has a solid base to work from when talking about poverty - focus on that. Fox News and Ann Coulter have and will be engaged in their own politics of attack. Ignore them, it will make them look silly, like they are talking to themselves.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Irony Alert: Elizabeth Edwards on strong opinions

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Irony Alert: Elizabeth Edwards on strong opinions:

"“But I like it when somebody expresses their view with clarity and force,” she
said. “It was Nietzsche or Kierkegaard who said you have to believe in something
so strongly that you don’t acknowledge another’s point of view: That’s what real
belief is.”"

While it is true that you can express yourself with vigor and force and not be abusive, I think Edwards has a larger point that is true here. There are two dangers in the political conversation, the first is that it will become heated with strong opinions. The second is that it will be stale, and not allow strong opinions. Honestly it is the second that I fear the most. Honest and open discussion is what we need for our system to operate, and sometimes honest and open is offensive.

Elizabeth Edwards calls Ann Coulter