John Edwards, Erskine Bowles Are Mum [After NC Senate Meeting]

Charlotte News and Observer ^ | Thursday July 10, 2003 | John Wagner and Rob Christenson

[ewing]

US Senator [and 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate] John Edwards met behind closed doors Wednesday with Erskine Bowles, a Democrat very interested in pursing his Senate seat if Edwards continues running for President of the United States.

Both emerged from their meeting in Raleigh tight lipped about their political futures.

'What they discussed is private between them,' said Jennifer Palmieri, Edwards Presidential Campaign Press Secretary.

Neither Edwards or Bowles, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate last year, would comment directly.

While Edwards could legally appear on the ballot for both offices in 2004, most political observers believe that scenario is unlikely.

He [Sen. Edwards] is under increasing pressure from Democrats in North Carolina to make a choice so that the Party's Senate nominee will have enouogh time to raise money and mount a credible campaign.

[warchild9]

North Carolina suffers all these conditions because the Yankees are USED to high taxes and regulation, and the state legislature realizes just how very much they'll put up with. Natives are rendered passive with sports and television, and the politicians--of both parties--run them ragged.

[warchild9]

Sir, among my four college degrees is a degree in history, and I consider myself more of a Merovingian (they were a bit more rebellious). And I was born in Elizabeth City, a fine Southern city on the ocean, and not some Yankee pest-breeding center. And I apologize to all New Yorkers, since I really, really enjoyed my years in that great city.

[deport]

fyi.........

[gonewt]

Your argument doesn't fly, warchild.

Florida has TONS more "Yankee" transplants as NC, yet they have ZERO state income tax. None. Nada.

[JohnnyZ]

And I apologize to all New Yorkers, since I really, really enjoyed my years in that great city.

LOL! Yankee wannabe! Yankee wannabe! I'll bet Jeff Gordon is your favorite NASCAR driver.

Oh, this is too rich . . .

as for the Merovingians: the original French rednecks! also slaveowners

[warchild9]

That's because the Yankees are senile and the Southerners are politically active. And the Cubans help keep the politicians honest (they know from socialism). And I'm not "arguing." Yankees don't belong here. They need to go back home and clean up their own nests before soiling mine.

[warchild9]

NASCAR is for boobs and New York is truly the city of books. I returned home with a collection in excess of 5,000, and would have collected more had the Mrs. allowed it. I never had so much fun until I lived in New York.
Also, sir, I am half-Yankee--my mother was born in Illinois, though HER mother was born in Denmark. I trace my paternal lineage into Kentucky before that fine state was a state.
You're still a Yankee, and have to live with it. My condolences.

[warchild9]

Oh, and I'm French/Swedish on my daddy's side. Hence, the Merovingian...though that culture wasn't strong in Lorraine, where his really, really way back ancestors are from.

[JohnnyZ]

NASCAR is for boobs

LOL! You're way behind. Hooters isn't sponsoring a car any more.

[warchild9]

I think Jessie Jackson is, though, by an assumed name.

[ought-six]

Erskine Bowles is a Clinton ambassador. There's no question but that he met with Edwards for and on behalf of the Clintons. And someone earlier alluded to the reason: Edwards will be the running mate for the Hildabeast in 2004, since, make no mistake about it, the Beast will be the Dem candidate in 2004. She doesn't need Graham because she believes she can take Florida without him. But she does need the Piedmont, and N. Carolina -- which is becoming more and more influential -- is smack dab in the middle of the Piedmont. With the two coasts and Florida, she has the requisite electoral votes.

[TommyDale]

Both Edwards and Bowles are mum bacause they are too stupid to know what to say.

[mathluv]

D*mn yankee - those who stay.

[warchild9]

Some Yankees are okay. Wait a few minutes while I think of one.

[Rebelbase]

"Yes! Yes! We are your masters you miserable hicks!"

A typical carpetbagger attitude.

[okie01]

"But Edwards oozes slime, if you ask me. I dont think he'll ever get elected president..."

And Bill Clinton didn't...???

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

If NC has been overrun by northern immigrants from NJ, NY, PA, MD, OH, etc

Having lived in N.C. most all my adult life, I don't thing the state is overrun with those folks.

But, even so, opie's win was a fluke.

He used his fraudulently populist message to run against a Senator that was not well liked by either party, and a Senator that carried a ton of baggage.

There has been enough bad press; r.e., opie's absence from doing his job as a N.C. Senator that any Dem will have a tough time winning the general election.

[Theodore R.]

I remember that on election night the networks called FL quickly for Gore but hestitated for some time to call NC for Bush. The networks must have thought that NC was more liberal than it is. Let's hope Burr is a strong candidate, but many GOP representatives who try for the Senate in the South falter: Moore (LA, 1986), McCollum (FL, 2000), Hartnett (SC, 1992), Inglis (SC, 1998), Beard (TN, 1982), Smith (AL, 1984), Walker (MS, 1966), Bethune (AR, 1984), Thompson (GA, 1972), a fairly long list. Of course, there are winners too like Mack (FL, 1988), Gramm (TX, 1984), Hutchinson (AR, 1996), Chambliss (GA, 2002), and Graham (SC, 2002).