My Tender Heart
Thanks to Kevin’s link to a piece in the Opinion Journal, my favorite new senator is James Webb. Edwards/Webb ‘08 I say - it’d be bajillion times better than any ticket with Obama on it. Of course, I’m still not so sure about Edwards am I? Like Shakes, I watched him with Jon Stewart and felt like even if I couldn’t competely trust him yet not to, post-election, pull off that handsome face to reveal the DLC vampire beneath, I was certainly further along that road. But then I read this from Tim Tagaris’ Lamont Campaign post mortem.
He is listing who among the Democrats helped Lamont and who did not:
Barack Obama
Quite possibly the biggest disappointment … period.
Oh sorry, not that - I just like reading constant confirmation of my instincts when it comes to Obama. I mean this part about Edwards:
Update [2006-11-14 16:16:6 by ttagaris]: There are a few
comments about Senator Edwards and his role in the days immediately
following the primary. He was in town, he did say Joe shouldn’t run,
and he did have a $250 a person fundraiser for Ned. All that is
terrific, and was much appreciated. But here’s the deal from my
perspective as the online guy w/ Ned’s campaign — take it for what
it’s worth: in the days following the primary ‘08ers (and a few others)
couldn’t get their press releases/$5,000 checks out the door quick
enough. Call me a cynic, but most of it had to do with the amount of
online support we had received and their reaching out to you through
Ned. It just is what it is. When the spotlight wore with time and more
races claimed a share of the attention, there were a few people who
stuck around and actually held Joe’s feet to the fire on Iraq and other
issues … Senator Edwards just wasn’t one of them. I’m sorry. I wish
he was, but he wasn’t.
I wish he was too. I wish he had done more for Lamont to put some action behind his ‘05 apology for supporting BushCo’s War on Iraq. He didn’t. So that’s there’s where I am with Edwards. I want to like him. I am in love with his populist positioning. I want to believe. I want him to be my guy so I can get all 2008-y, vote early and often and all that, but he’s just not that guy. I’m sorry. I wish he was, but he isn’t.
November 16th, 2006 at 3:58 am
I think the support of Americans is the greater litmus test.
And when I consider so many potential Prez contenders who gave no time to LaMont at all, I’m not disappointed by Edwards’ efforts.
Yes, I know that LaMont’s backers are angry at numerous people, but there were a ton of races deserving support and those who outdid Rahm’s narrow list should be granted credit.
Edwards isn’t perfect - he’s been too hawkish and is pro-death penalty - but I remember that RFK was a SOB early on in his career, and he evolved into a liberal populist. I’ve gradually shifted because of all I’ve seen him doing, and there’s few that can match the way Elizabeth connects to people either.
Webb, despite his recent rhetoric, has a past with Reagan that I’m hardly a fan of.
As for Obama, I understand your concerns. He’s too centrist for my tastes, too. But he’d definitely be viable as a Veep. There, I’d hope for him, Richardson or Napolitano as my top three choices.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Good point about RFK. I don’t know enough about Webb but I liked that piece you found. Also, he doesn’t try to hide his past. I get the idea that Edwards is hiding something. I freely admit that that’s probably my problem, but every time I feel like I’ve gotten past it, something happens again to get me thinking that I’d like someone else more.
I don’t know Napolitano at all. Richardson is too DLC for me - but I don’t know too much about him either. He got rid of touchscreen voting machines in NM, which made me cheer. I think I’m still waiting for that player to be named later to show up and wow me. If s/he never does, I’ll be okay with Edwards or maybe even Richardson. It’ll be fun to watch, that’s for sure.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
I don’t completely agree. For one, Edwards is no DLC ass kisser. Which is something we should watch in regards to Carvelles little tantrum the other day. I smell a Hilary behind that one.
But, I do find it much too early to think 08 in that not everyone has announced. And some that are being put before us may decide not to run.
I think it is not good to think of Webb yet. The man is extreemly intellegent and passionate about his beliefs. But, we really do not know enough about him to tout him for much. Let’s see what happens.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Sorry to double post but, I forgot to say this.
Obama is my senator and is a good one. Many people are trying too hard to pigeonhole him as this or that. I think he is trying to define a new position in light of the extreem polarization of the country and this bothers him. As an activist for many years he is probably trying to find a way to wipe out the hate speech of the right and try to find solutions to problems as the name calling is not helping anyone.
His wife grew up best friends with Jesse jackson’s daughter and am sure some of his ideas are due to Jackson’s influence. Like the rainbow coalition premise.