In the final clip presented in Part 1 of this vlog, Edwards sums up the need for activism and engagement on the part of voters this time around. It’s a change election and though the “I can’t change this country by myself” meme is basic pabulum for any candidate seeking office, Edwards brings it into a very sharp focus in his final remarks. I’ve not heard any other candidate make the connection so persuasively between what we have and what we need.
To paraphrase Gandhi you’ve got to be the change that you believe in. You can’t stay home and hope that someone else is going to do this for you. You can’t.
I listen to Bush and Cheney, not much (laughter), but occasionally I do listen to them and I hear them say. This is what I hear them say, you tell me if you hear the same thing. “You stay home. Go shopping if you need to, but we’re going to take care of you.” I don’t want them to take care of me; that’s not America. We don’t go and cower in the corner. We are strong, brave and courageous people and we’re going to go out there and do what needs to be done… You look at the change that has happened in this country’s history. I grew up with the civil rights movement and I know where it happened. It didn’t happen in the oval office. It happened with good people with some backbone and courage…
LBJ is famous for telling civil rights leaders in this country: “Go out and make it possible for me to do the right thing here.” I know that as a member of this blog you do engage in the discussion and try to bring about the change this country desperately needs possible. Thank you for that because, today, there is nothing more important.
Video: Edwards in Dover: The NH Primary (1:20)
VictoryNH primary defenders were represented at the event. Do you support first in the nation status for the NH Primary?
Edwards does and while that may not come as a shock to you in the political blogging class his response had a twist to it. In short Edwards takes the opportunity to pop one off if you will, but for very good reason.
I do and I always have because this way of campaigning is so important. It’s important for a number of reasons. One of them is: if you can’t stand in front of NH voters and answer hard questions then you don’t deserve to be president of the United States. Second, this process separates the wheat from the chaff, you know? Anybody with enough practice can give a good speech. The question is: can you come and stand and answer hard questions? That demonstrates whether you really have the experience and the knowledge and the vision and ideas to be president.
Edwards has shown a commitment to campaign in the old style of hand to hand combat that Iowa and NH voters are privileged to see up close and personal and although many have commented on his predilection toward Iowa, his home away from home since 2004, it seems to me that Edwards is now comfortable with his level in the Hawkeye State and consequently will be showing an increased vigor in taking on the tough as nails Yankees, no not that kind, of the Granite State. NH must be his act two. Many have speculated that Edwards need only come in third to survive the snows and remain competitive in the race, but I think he’s going for it up here. I think he has now determined that without first class status going in to South Carolina he’s DOA on February 5th.
You may remember that in Iowa it was his campaign style and upbeat message that won voters over and catapulted him from also ran status to the top of the bunch on that cold Monday night in January. Those are the reasons the Des Moines Register editorial board gave for their endorsement in the final days. Unfortunately, for all of us in the whole country, Edwards got no bump out of Iowa. The press corps allowed only two stories to come out of NH: Kerry turns it around and Dean screams. Remember? There was virtually no mention or coverage of the amazing groundswell of support Edwards pulled out of what seemed to be a competitive three way race between Dean, Kerry and Gephardt only a month before the vote.
He closed in Iowa on spit and polish alone. He closed on a truth telling Two Americas theme. He closed like no candidate has ever closed in the final month anywhere in modern history and “you can take that to the bank,” but he can’t do it on guts and truth alone this time around. This time he’s up against the glitz and glamour of Clinton and Obama. This time will be the same for him, he’ll be drowned out by the chattering class and marginalized for having the temerity to be an upstart contender with a specific and detailed agenda that could actually bring about change in this country and not just incremental change at the margins but real honest to goodness fundamental change so desperately needed today. He will surely be outspent and, no offense to the hard working JRE team in Manchester, he’ll be up against the best machines that money can buy in American politics today.
This whole thing is going to be over in the blink of an eye, kids. He can’t close in NH without you. That’s the God’s honest truth. He needs you now. Your country needs you now. Send us a president, NH. Send us a detailed and specific agenda that has the potential to transform the political dialog in this country. We have been playing on their side of the field for far too long while the middle-class and the poor are dying in front of our eyes. I don’t mean that figuratively. Look at Katrina, Edwards was three years ahead of the curve on that one. Look at Sicko, no one else has a plan that requires coverage for everybody – everybody. Send us a president, NH. Send us Edwards and he’ll do the rest. “You can take that to the bank.”
I digress, wah’r ya gonna do?
Back to the show…
Video: Edwards in Dover: Capital Gains Tax (2:02)
I read in the papers today that Giuliani said the capital gains tax you favor would drive jobs and businesses from the US, any response?
Yeah, yeah I have got a response for Giuliani. (laughter) Romney said the same thing the day before… The capital gains rate is 15%, so that means, in fact Warren Buffet … has said that the result of that is he’s paying a lower tax rate than his secretary is paying. That is exactly what happens; people who make their money from investments … I’m here to tell you they are paying at most 15% on their income while the people who work for them are paying a much higher rate that’s my point. It’s not right. So what I’ve proposed is for people making over 250,000 dollars a year the capital gains rate go for from 15 to 28% because I think they ought to carry their fair share of the tax burden. Right now the middle-class is carrying the tax burden in this country. And so what I say to Giuliani and Romney, all that money that they’re making off their investments… I want them to pay their fair share of taxes on those investments and I want them not to be treated better than other Americans are treated. That’s my answer to them.
I might add that the Bush policy on capital gains tax today has done absolutely nothing to keep businesses an
d jobs in this country. They value wealth, we value work.
Video: Edwards in Dover: The Transition to a Green Economy (3:26)
Someone from Re-Energize New Hanpshire voices a concern. I’m concerned about how a transition to clean energy in this country will affect the working class. Your thoughts?
Thank you for bringing it up. I’m glad people know about this march, it’s a very important cause. I think that if we do the transformation from carbon, oil fuels to clean sources of renewable energy, if we do it the right way we can strengthen the economy in this country. We can create at least a million new jobs. They won’t be blue collar jobs… they’ll be green collar jobs. I think that we don’t look forward enough.
Then he goes off on a bit of a tangent here in a surprisingly frank way. The attendee voiced her concern about the effects on ordinary people in this country, but Edwards takes the discussion up a level in his answer.
In addition to dealing with a crisis that saves the planet, which is not a small thing. In addition to that I think we have a real potential to change the Middle East. In the Middle East we have bad governments and bad leaders and they have no incentive at all to change. They’re not interested in political reform or economic reform; they don’t educate their children because they’re on a drug and that drug is oil. They are mainlining that drug… Some countries in the Middle East that don’t have oil have already done that [reform.]
Edwards has coined the phrase that “we need to ask Americans to be patriotic about something more than war,” when calling for sacrifice and conservation in this country. I might add that we need to ask soldiers to sacrifice their lives for something more than SUVs,.
Video: Edwards in Dover: Iraq and then some (4:27)
I want the details on Iraq. What’s your solution?
The attendee is a knowledgeable on the subject and asks a pointed and fair question on Iraq.
Well I’m going to start by telling the truth, we’re not in a good place. The war is a mess and the environment on the ground is extraordinarily dangerous. And I think you have to start with a basis threshold question which is: what maximizes the chances for success? Anybody who tells you that they can guarantee any kind of success in Iraq is not being honest; it’s not the truth. Here’s what I believe, without some kind of reconciliation, some kind of coming to terms between Sunnis and Shi’a leadership there can not be stability in Iraq.
Edwards believes in an immediate troop withdrawal of 40,000 to 50,000 and a continued draw down of forces over 9-12 months. He states that this time period can be used as an opportunity to apply diplomatic pressure to achieve a political solution to the conflict between Sunnia and Shi’a which really is the only way to peace and stability in Iraq. The diplomacy piece to the Edwards solution in Iraq includes everyone in the region including Syria and Iran, especially Iran. Edwards tells us that Iran, being a Shi’a country, really does not want the conflict to broadened and under no circumstances do they want to get into a Sunni-Shi’a war in the region. That’s because Shi’a only represent 15% of the Muslim world and a full out sectarian war in Iraq could bring a million refugees across their western border.
He continues:
And now the question you didn’t ask that I think you’re getting to that no presidential candidate ever wants to talk about, the question that you never get to in any one of the debates is what do you do if things go bad? Here’s what I think. I think that as we leave Iraq we have to have a rapid deployment force in Kuwait… a naval presence in the Persian Gulf… I might station troops in Jordan if we had stationing authority, that’s something we’d have to evaluate… and strengthen our presence in Afghanistan given the resurgence of the Taliban. I would do all those things and then I would prepare for two possibilities. One is that the war actually starts to spill outside the borders of Iraq… And then the worst is what happens if genocide breaks out… And I think the answer to that would require an international response. (applause)
Video: Edwards in Dover: Edwardians want to know (4:27)
Slava and JJ wrap up our vlog. Slava asks how can we help and JJ asks Edwards how are you going to get ahead in the polls in NH like you are in Iowa?
Slava is definitely on the bus and it looks to me like JJ is driving his own bus in the fast lane and he ain’t stopping for no stinking tolls either. JJ says to Edwards to preface his question, “after seven years of George Bush and his tribe from Texas I can guarantee you the next president surely will be a Democrat as sure as I’m living and breathing.” JJ gets an applause line when he mentions that Edwards is running first in Iowa, not kidding – check the clip. I know JJ likes Edwards, but I also know that he takes his responsibility as a NH voter seriously and I never took the chance to ask him if he’s declared his preference yet. I sure hope he has decided on Edwards. I definitely want him to be “pounding on the doors” up there in the next couple of months for Edwards.
Send us a president, JJ. Send us an agenda we can run on and win.
I’m not associated with the campaign in any way. I support Edwards for the nomination and I do all these vlogs as an ordinary person with a cheap mini-DV, a PC and free tools available on the web.
See you out there
Thanks for what you do too, JJ
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I always appreciate it, but it’s not a must.
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These diaries really are meant to do two things. Inform readers and inspire others to do the same. And you have to do it fancy with all the video. Your perspective and engagement is what is so important, but beware: the full mbair type treatment takes a few hours. The transcription is the toughest part because I’m such a rotten typer. I have to review the tape over and over again.
and part 1. Very informative and concise. I admire your enthusiasm and determination.
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Couple of points.
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Since the last presidential election, NH has ‘gone’ Blue, and the trend is continuing. IMHO this helps Edwards even more because of his strong populist message.
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On the question of Iraq, and the bad options that we have there, I’d like to hear Edwards elaborate on just how he would propose to get more international/regional support. Our remaining allies aren’t exactly lining up to help us out of this fiasco, but I’m hopeful that a new administration might be able to leverage some goodwill. It’s in short supply at the moment, but I’d like to hear more.
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Right now, after 7 years of Bush/Cheney, and 10 years of Tom Delay, Edwards sounds like he’s from another planet. A better one.
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Also, in the other Edwards post, there was some back and forth about ‘winning over the moderates’, and GOP voters unhappy with their options. I think that’s a great concept, but after living through the recent GOP controlled “government”, and watching as the Constitution is trampled, I don’t have a lot of patience. If thinking people haven’t figured it out for themselves yet, I’m not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince them. That’s just me of course, and I’m glad that there are folks like you who are more willing to extend a hand.
that NH is so blue because they have a reputation for being one of the most conservative states in New England. The primary up there is open, by which I mean that independents can show up and pull a Democratic ballot. I think these voters are going to flock to the Dem ballots like we’ve never seen in recent history. The GOP is really stinking up the place and I see all the passion and enthusiasm among the Democrats.
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As far as Iraq, thought bubble over my head reads groan, I guess that anything Edwards says can change as events on the ground change, but it seems to me that he’s trying to demonstrate his level of knowledge and give us a picture of a country, on this planet, with a president that is respected and trusted. Iraq is a mess and nothing or no one is going to miraculously change that.
that working class [and the poor] are far more likely to suffer from asthma and other air pollution-induced health problems, and that green energy will reduce that suffering.
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It will also reduce the incredible difficulty that those people have in paying those hospital bills: not getting sick is better than a hospital stay for everyone, but if you’re uninsured or under-insured, it might make the difference between solvency and bankruptcy.
He might also point out that improved mass transit is important, even for the working class with cars. After all, when a rich guy’s car has a problem, he just drives his other one. For working class folks, their car crapping out could mean no transportation to work for a week or two — but mass transit can provide a stop-gap until they raise enough money to get their car in the shop and then get it back.
He might point out that while everybody’s energy costs are rising, it hits the working class the hardest. That’s why initiatives that will ultimately lower energy bills, ranging from efficiency programs to wind power to higher MPG standards in all vehicles will help working class people the most.
Even with seniors to take this idea one step further. Seniors on SS are hit really hard especially in cold climates when oil and gas prices rise.
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Ans as you correctly point out the poor and the middle-class living paycheck to check, as usual, are adversely affected by these issues the worst.
Edwards continues to intrigue me. Edwards is willing to talk about big issues that nobody else is, and he’s got more authentic visionary in him than most politicians one comes across. I really like his idea of where he wants to go, but it’s just how he plans to get there that still seems awfully vague. But he’s got the right priorities and a good vision…I wouldn’t mind seeing him pick up some movement outside of Iowa.
He has a good shot at Nevada immediately after Iowa, but NH really has to reinforce that momentum. As I wrote, I think he’ll be marginalized after Iowa. I can hear it now, “well Edwards won, but he had to win… Edwards has been ‘living in the state for four years no surprised he won the vote.’ ” Right?
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The grassroots in NH will have a huge role in the next one and they, the Democratic grassroots, are poised to make the most out of the 2008 primary. They put Carol Shea-Porter in against incumbent Jeb Bradley (R-NH01) and Paul Hodes over Charlie Bass (R-NH02) in the last mid-terms. Shea-Porter ran her primary campaign with 30K, that’s it. She never led in the polls for the general and yet she pulled it out on election day. Indes broke blue and that was the difference for her. That and her great team which I talked to up there last Labor Day a week before the primary.
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Carol and her crew:
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It looks like he’s running a grassroots campaign, but all those millions he’s up against with Clinton and Obama will be tough to beat. Air time in NH is very expensive, I think it’s basically all Boston stations with the exception of WMUR, they are an ABC affiliate and they are the only one of the majors in NH.
Edwards, Obama, Richardson, and Clinton are running grassroots campaigns. I’m starting to get a little tired of every candidate saying that they have a “grass-roots” campaign, as if all their opponents are paying everyone spreading their campaign.
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I think the big question in Nevada is where the unions come down, if they do endorse anyone. So far, few candidates are taking NV seriously…it’ll be interesting to see if anything changes.
A grassroots meme is what they all have. They all want people like this to work for them, but the grassroots wants a lot in return. Some candidates can’t pony up the specifics to get enough buy in, but you are correct and especially in a state like NH where they do this every few years or so.
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But for candidates that do not appeal to the grassroots that’s where money, mailings, poling, organization and TV commercials come in. Remember Lieberman before the primary last summer. He wasn’t going to get anything from the grassroots, but he had a lot of money. Nobody wanted to go out and knock on doors for him. So he bussed them in. By the truckloads.
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As far as Nevada, I read a good piece at DailyKos this week by David Sirota. He thinks that labor might sit this one out. If that issue is interesting to you then you might want to take a look at the diary: Edwards, Obama & Labor: Will the Populist Moment Become A Long-Term Movement?. Sirota really knows what he’s talking about on this subject. I hope he’s wrong. As far as I can tell, Dean put Nevada on the schedule where he did specifically to give labor a bigger say in the nominating process. Nevada is a caucus and they are also home to about 60,000 UNITE Here hotle workers. I think something like 25% of Democratic household in the state have a union member in them.
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I hope that Sirota is wrong at least as far as this one union goes and I hope that UNITE Here realizes they have been given a huge privilege by Dean, but with privilege comes responsibility.
About Lieberman’s campaign, there are plenty of questions, particularly about vague expenses that never received a full accounting. However, he was helped by many supporters who’d voted for him in the past, and the same Republican grassroots that kept Chris Shays in office.
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I’m not sure what labor is going to do in this primary. Given that labor threw in with Gephardt and Dean in 2000, I imagine many leaders are re-thinking the endorsement strategy.
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Finally, my impression is that the main rationale for the Nevada caucus was opening the early process up to minorities, particularly Hispanics. Furthermore, it does so in an area filled with states that Democrats are within range of turning blue. Labor was part of the reason, but only a part.