John Edwards needs to blow this next debate out of the water.

He needs to address every subject from a fresh angle and keep them on their toes... if I hear John mention his parents having worked in a mill again, I'm going to be very put out.

Its the only way he's going to pull votes out. His tagteam act backfired last time.

Edwards revealed how he'll frame his opponents when he was recently on Olbermann....

He said Clinton represented the Status Quo and Obama is the only other "Change" candidate but his approach is "intellectual" and "philosophical"...somebody who "just talks about it, for whom it's more of a political issue...the politicians are going to do the political thing."

He’s appears to have a two-part strategy to pick off one opponent at a time. First he distinguished the Change-Makers from the Status Quo, then later he'll distinguish the Change-Makers, one from the other. When it’s Obama’s turn to be the target, he’ll be painted as a same old-same old - gasp - politician, which will soon become a dirty word (and a handy frame in which to hang the GOP candidates too when the time comes!)

That's how I'm hoping it goes!




              Edwards '08 tees!

"Shelby Steele, author of A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win, explains the “magic” to John J. Miller: “Obama’s what I call a bargainer. He’s someone who . . . says ‘I will never rub the shameful history of America’s racism in your face if you will not hold my race against me.’ And white Americans love that thought.”"

http://radio.nationalreview.com/betweenthecovers/post/?q=ZTZlNzEzM2RhYTcwOWQ0Y2I1ZGI3NzZjMTM3NDg1ZTU=

It will cover all, without any ability to pay for it, plus it will be paid by making the 'over $200,000 income' group pay for it. Just keep it simple. Polls have shown that he's not getting the support he needs from the low income groups, who mostly don't have time to analyze what's being said.

The story was moving the first 50,000 times I heard it. Time for some new material, John.

You have heard that story many times. But, that is how we learn. The speeches and the debates are not for people like you and me who listen frequently. They are for the people who don't pay much attention. Edwards is focused. The repetition is good. He knows what he is doing. He is a pro at this. He is not doing it for your sake.

The same principle applies to familiar stories. People tell the stories to themselves as they hear them.. It works very well. You almost can't repeat a story too often.

Every time an ordinary voter hears that story and recognizes it, the voter feels good that he knows and remembers the story. The voter feels endorsed and intelligent. That is how you get people to agree with you. Just live with it. Edwards knows what he is doing.

Like the change thing, if I hear that schlock of depressing stories over and over, it really does grate on you, its like a broken record.

I'm also sick to death of that "change" thing, its annoying a lot of people now.

I'm reasonably certain that he'll use the word "mill" at some point.

He might not say "parents", though. He might say "father" instead. ;)

there like he did for the Lakeys - expect no mercy from him.

i think he will be very good. i think hil will make the mistake of playing it safe, and barack will be very good, he's going to prepare "substance", i think hil will be the odd man out. yikes, i hope not, but this is what i fear.

he's not connecting enough with most Dem and Indy voters.

he has got to attack issues, not other candidates, and he has got to attack MORE issues that just corporate america. I have no problem with an Edwards ticket, but he has boxed himself in and has no one to blame but himself.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4039340&mesg_id=4040114

Enron, WorldCom, exorbitant CEO pay, offshored jobs, offshored corporate profits (untaxable via our corporate written tax code), privatized profits, socialized costs (meaning the middle and lower classes foot the bills), subprime loan fiascoes due to de or un regulation of mortgage companies, or just outright GOP ignoring DOJ and SEC oversight of corporations, corporate welfare due to threats to leave town (all the while outsourcing jobs anyway), etc etc etc

Only Edwards is this specific. He is attacking these issues and Obama and HRC have gotten a free ride via the corporate M$M thus far.

Only when A Bound Man is forced to get specific will the Obama folks realize that Edwards is the better candidate due to the vagueness of his 'hope' agenda. Hope for what ? A plan based upon compromises with insurance companies Obama will make sure are invited to the table ? Get real Barack.

HRC's original free-market-based universal healthcare plan was based upon Alain Enthoven of Stanford's plans. More GOP pandering 'free market' doomed to failure crap. Obama will serve us up more of same. No thank you. I'll take Edward's plans !!!!

"A plan based upon compromises with insurance companies Obama will make sure are invited to the table ?"

You'd think people would have learned from the first time we went around that block.

You'd also think that the DLC would have learned from Election 2004 why closing down the race early is godsend to the Republican opposition.

I wonder if Bob Shrum really retired? They seem to be repeating all of his mistakes, yet again.

We're fighting against entrenched corporate interests 'from the (Mississippi)Delta to the DLC (in DC)'. John should start his campaign swings like that "Gooooooooood Morning, Vietnam" !

They are enemies of the populist principles the Democratic Party was founded upon, just as much as the Republicans are.

America is the source and the beneficiary of the corruption in our government. And we are about to see another round of government sell-offs of public assets. Here in California Republican Schwarzenegger who claims to be an environmentalist is planning to close state parks. There you go again. Grabbing public commons to give to private megawealth. That's the Republican way.

John has to show us how Washington is now owned by corporations, and I mean really show us... Not just a few people stories and some "corporations are in control in Washington" rhetoric.

participation in combat in Iraq within a year after taking office. He has the strongest plan to recharge our ailing economy. Edwards is by far the strongest candidate. If you think he does not connect to people, you haven't watched his videos.

Hillary tends to connect more with women and Obama with young people and members of minorities (although Edwards does well among minority members, especially union members). I base this on tabling and talking to people. Hillary appeals to young professional women a lot. Those women have very little time for politics. They connect with what Hillary symbolizes, not with the real Hillary. They don't really know much about her. The same is true for Obama. He appeals to a lot of very young people. They haven't heard the hope message for a zillion years. It is new to them.

Edwards is the cross-over candidate for a lot of Republicans. I know because I am out there talking to them. Edwards appeals to working class union people. He also appeals to a lot of older, well-educated Americans. Several college professors regularly come to our table and say they support Edwards.

http://www.youdecide2008.com/2007/06/13/full-2008-debate-schedule-from-dnc-and-gop/

Caucus of African-American Nevadans, I think. I don't know this organization and I may have mixed the name up a bit.

not sure about the time.

on edit: 6 - 8pm PST

:D

his economic message is increasingly relevant and I don't expect he'll change it.

Edwards hasn't won one debate, ever, this goes back to the campaign in 2004.

He is a Johnny one note, and he will hammer those talking points relentlessly.

and gets through soon enough to avert a recession, or worse DEPRESSION. Wall Street loves Obama and HRC because they won't go after corporate power, and they know it. THAT one note is good enough for me btw.

They are far more immediate and relevant than the "hope for change" message of Obama. And, does Hillary even have a message other than "I'm your girl" and "vote for me because my husband was a wonderful president." If so, I really haven't heard it.

It seems to me that Edwards is the only candidate with a real message. The others talk about "change" in the abstract. Edwards tells you what he will change and how. If you haven't heard that, it is because you haven't listened.

How many does he need to blow out of the water before he gets to be the frontrunner?

I *suspect* that prowess in the field of honest debate isn't really the issue here.

Americans are too stupid or stubborn to let common sense sink in, I'm afraid. n/t

of ordinary Americans. Remember, Rush Limbaugh is the voice of most of America. And he is the absolute anti-intellectual. Of the top candidates, only Edwards knows how to talk to people. He has won over juries for years. That is the experience that will count in the election. Had he been the VP for someone less reserved and distant and detached than Kerry, they probably would have won. Kerry is a thoughtful man, but he can't let go for the life of him. He hides from intimacy. Edwards reveals himself. People love it. If he had the same press coverage and recognition that Obama and Hillary have had, he would be the only contender left at this point.

Look, this is about winning in November. Hillary and Obama can't win in November. Only Edwards can.

I have actually met several people who firmly believe that the Clintons are criminals. And Obama is an inexperienced campaigner. He would make a good VP candidate, but the toughest candidate he has faced thus far was Alan Keyes. He is a babe in the woods when it comes to campaigning. If he survives until the convention, he will not survive until November. He does not know how to take a jury. And the American people, that's the biggest jury in the country. Vote for Edwards. He will win in November.

No more mentioning the mill, his grandma, grandpa, etc.

No more mentioning the cleft palate.

No more mentioning the girl who died because the insurance company wouldn't pay.

Show less anger, sound friendly.

Sound less southern because his accent is too deep.

Sound presidential, kind and patient.

Be polite as hell even when defending himself.

Tell us more about what he intends to do and the type of people he will put in his cabinet.

That is what he has been doing. And that is what he should continue to do. Let the chips fall where they may. Be yourself. Be authentic. Lying puts distance between you and your audience. Don't lie. Be yourself. Have you read, Gerry Spence's book, How to Argue & Win Every Time: At Home, At Work, In Court, Everywhere, Everyday. Great book. Be real. Be who you are. Never mind what other people tell you to be.

The tougher the fight, the stronger this guy gets.

Mostly what he needs is $. JMHO.

It is about authentic. It is about being who you are.

I love hearing him talk.......yes he does fight for the people.......let him speak on issues........that should shake Obama up.........He has to fight for what he believes....

I voted for Kerry last time because of Edwards.......Edwards wanted to fight for our votes to be counted.....but .that didn't happen

I do wish you Edwards voters well......and for John Edwards to give them Hell in the Debates.....GoodLuck........

of abuse of ordinary people who need help in this country... John Refer to past people genrally on the stump and addddd NEW EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE... THAT WILL WORK BETTER... :)