archived: 4 - 10 Feb, 2007         Back                 Next

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 3, 2007

                        OBIDIAH J
                        “SHOCKED?” 

Junkie:  Obidia J’s letter below to TPJ is in response to Michael Carmichael’s article covering former Sen. John Edwards’ speech to the Herzliya Conference.  Carmichael’s article can be found at this link:  EDWARDS VEERS HARD RIGHT  

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Are you really that shocked by John Edwards? The same caring, progressive John Edwards that tried to damage Cheney by alerting the public to the lesbianism in the family?  The John Edwards whose Senatorial track record, aside from the Patient's Bill of Rights, was ghostly?  Come on, the writing is on the wall. Edwards is politician first, progressive (maybe) second.  Do you think if he weren't running for president he would have really fought to raise the wages of hotel workers? 

His speech to the Herzliya Conference was the same old song and dance: political posturing to another ideological group, another politician swaying like a long leaf pine in the wind, bending in whatever direction it blows.  It is unfortunate this particular gust was to the right, but other than its direction it is no different than the majority of what we will see for the foreseeable future. 

Despite all this, and his now 'devotee' status to the DLC (give me a break), I may still vote for Edwards.  If we progressives go off our meds every time a potential future leader gives a slanted speech to a slanted group, where will we be?  That would write off every potential candidate we have that could win (sorry, Jimmy Carter and Dennis Kucinich don't stand a chance).   

So in 2008, having turned our backs on what I guess are the 'least worst candidates, we would be left with John McCain or Mitt Romney.  What a fantastic choice.  John Edwards, along with every candidate (I'm getting issue emails from Obama every other day), must and will posture in hopes of getting, first, into the big dance, and second, into the White House.  And they are going to say some things along the way that we won't like, that they won't be able to do, and that will likely get them in hot water with the people who liked what they said in the first place. 

Mr. Carmichael, it may be I am missing something.  But do you really think John Edwards would invade Iran?  Did you always think it possible or did he change your mind with this one speech?  Do you really think he 'bashed' and 'attacked' the Palestinian people when the article says he attacked the Palestinian Authority, saying the Hamas government was no partner, and that

Israel should make efforts to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas against Hamas?'  And is the press lying to us when they tell us Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the Holocaust as "a myth," suggested that Israel be moved to Europe, and claimed the time of tribulation for America and Israel is at hand?  There are so many more questions, but I digress.  So I will ask only one more: 

When will we learn the way to win is to stop the habit of circling the wagons to form a firing squad? 

                        DAVID SOKAL
                        “BACKBONE”  

To help give the Dems in Congress some backbone, don't throw away all those surveys and appeals for $$ that you get.  On each one, write "Impeach Bush!!" in several places, inside and out, and send it back - with or without a contribution. 

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JUNKIE:  Dave Sokal is Organizer of the Durham, North Carolina Impeach Bush-Cheney Meetup