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John Edwards steps up attacks on Bush (Senator's hopes for White House ride on a risky strategy)
Charlotte Observer ^ | Sept 16, 2002 | CHARLES HURT

Posted on 09/16/2002 10:04:36 AM PDT by jern

U.S. Sen. John Edwards is ratcheting up criticism of President Bush as he unofficially seeks the Democratic nomination to challenge the president in 2004.

While Edwards says it's not a deliberate strategy, others say North Carolina's junior senator must increasingly take on Bush directly to win national attention and establish himself as a presidential contender.

"The need is purely political," said Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report in Washington. "The ratcheting-up is partly the importance of being heard but it's also about staking out some ideological ground for himself."

Edwards has taken Bush to task on:

Iraq. Hours after Bush spoke to the United Nations about Iraq on Thursday, Edwards criticized Bush for not better making his case to the American people. And he said Bush hasn't planned properly for filling the dangerous power vacuum that would exist after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is gone.

Education. Speaking to Democrats under a tent in Iowa last month, Edwards attacked Bush for his education policy. "I listen to this president go around the country and he loves to say over and over: `No child left behind.' He's leaving millions of children behind every single day."

Tax cuts. "Our country is trying to fund homeland security, we're in deficit spending, we're fighting a war on terrorism, we're in a recession," Edwards said during the same Iowa speech. "How responsible is it to implement a tax cut for the richest 1 percent of Americans? We should roll back that tax cut."

Edwards said he has not made any conscious effort to criticize Bush more lately. And, he said, his political ambitions have not had any influence on his statements.

"What I have said is what I believe," he said Friday. "I say when I think he's wrong."

But earlier this year, Edwards' stump speeches across the country were tightly limited to vignettes about his childhood and explanations of his basic ideals of government. Rarely did he mention the Bush administration.

White House spokeswoman Jeannie Mamo declined to discuss Edwards' political aspirations, and only said: "President Bush is focused on winning the war on terrorism, sustaining economic growth, making sure every child gets a first-rate education and dealing with threats around the world."

While other possible presidential contenders such as Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt are routinely turned to for negative reactions to Bush and his policies, Duffy said, Edwards must try harder to be heard.

Nevertheless, it's a risky approach. Bush's popularity remains high in the polls amid the U.S. war on terror.

"It's a game that's fraught with perils," Duffy said. "But it's a game he has to play anyway."

Edwards has also spoken out against Bush for his environmental policy, health-care positions, response to terrorism and handling of post-Taliban Afghanistan.

"We just have a different view of the world than this administration or this president," he told Iowa Democrats.

Edwards' rhetoric apparently has not gone unnoticed by the Bush administration, or unreciprocated.

When Bush decided to launch his campaign against personal-injury lawyers (Edwards was one for 20 years) for driving up insurance and health costs, Bush picked Edwards' home state for the rollout. He then named one of Edwards' cases as a prime example of what's wrong with the current system.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: edwardswatch; johnedwards
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1 posted on 09/16/2002 10:04:36 AM PDT by jern
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To: jern; Constitution Day; mykids'mom
AMBULANCE CHASER ALERT!!!


2 posted on 09/16/2002 10:07:52 AM PDT by kayak
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To: jern
I've watched this guy carefully for the past year.

Talk about an empty suit.

He makes Bill Clinton look like a man of gravitas!

3 posted on 09/16/2002 10:08:25 AM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
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To: jern
Why don't we just go to war against sneveling, narcissistic, socialists, communist, traitors that are the basis of the democratic party. THE ENEMY IS WITHIN. A revolution is a necessary.
4 posted on 09/16/2002 10:10:12 AM PDT by Digger
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To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
Let's see. His place is line will be behind AlGore, Hillary, Daschle, Dippy Gekhart, McCainiac, Lieberman, Reno, etc., etc., etc. He's going to claw his way past all of them. Course he's a trial attorney, so he's an expert at underhanded tactics and dirty fighting.
5 posted on 09/16/2002 10:13:54 AM PDT by holyscroller
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To: kayak; mykdsmom
I'll hit my ping list.

By the way, it's "mykdsmom" not "mykids'mom"... they are two different Freepers.

"mykdsmom" is the one from NC.

6 posted on 09/16/2002 10:14:42 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: *Edwards Watch; mykdsmom; Lee'sGhost; KOZ.; borntodiefree; azhenfud; callisto; Overtaxed; ianync; ..
Edwards Watch:
Articles relating to NC Senator John Edwards
(esp. regarding his Senate duties and upcoming campaign for President in 2004)
To add to this list, type *Edwards Watch
in the "To:" field.
To view articles on this list, click the link above.


7 posted on 09/16/2002 10:17:16 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day; mykdsmom
Thanks for correcting me on that! I had never picked up the distinction.

mkm ~~~ My apologies.

8 posted on 09/16/2002 10:18:01 AM PDT by kayak
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To: jern
"we're in a recession," Edwards said . . . We should roll back that tax cut."

Yup, nothing like a tax increase to snap an economy out of a recession. Of course, the Democrat solution for everything - from a recession to a booming economy - is a tax increase!

9 posted on 09/16/2002 10:21:14 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: holyscroller
Edwards should take to the stump for Erskine Bowles. If Bowles were to upset EDole, Edwards could "claim victory" for himself. The momemtum could move him up the pecking order of the Democrat liberals. Gore could do the same for the Democrat gubernatorial and senatorial nominess in TN.
That would be smart Democrat strategy.
10 posted on 09/16/2002 10:26:54 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: jern

11 posted on 09/16/2002 10:29:19 AM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: jern
And this putz is going to vote to support Bush on Iraq after he said all these things. LMAO!!!!!!
12 posted on 09/16/2002 10:43:26 AM PDT by finnman69
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To: jern
I hope this SOB goes down in flames.
13 posted on 09/16/2002 10:45:08 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: Theodore R.
It would be smart strategy if their colleagues win, but both will lose - Clement in TN and Bowles in NC. Nevertheless, they'll both play good soldier in these races, but their anti-Bush comments are damaging to their friends.
14 posted on 09/16/2002 10:49:58 AM PDT by mwl1
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To: jern
This guy is a scum-sucking legal hairdo who lied about Charles Pickering, Bush's candidate for a judgeship.

Edwards is the perfect illustration of Coulter's book Slander.

15 posted on 09/16/2002 12:16:18 PM PDT by an amused spectator
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To: jern
John Edwards steps up attacks on Bush

What does some "psychic" who talks to the dead have against Bush?

16 posted on 09/16/2002 12:20:56 PM PDT by steve-b
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To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
I have also been tracking this very dangerous vermin for sometime.

Edwards is a classic slick sociopath and is, in far too many ways, a Clinton clone. He is utterly corrupt and is a chunky hurl trial lawyer (a redundant statement).

17 posted on 09/16/2002 1:34:43 PM PDT by friendly
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Constitution Day
Filthy rich personal claims lawyer, buys a Senate seat with his own shamelessly aquired gain, moves to Washington and finds the only house in town that he considers fit for the likes of him, is already occupied and present occupant intent upon remaining for at least eight years. What to do?

Simple,the lawyer turned Senator gained all his wealth and power making adults believe in fairy tales, sets about convincing owners of coveted mansion, that the present occupant is a bad tenant-it's a lie- but results, not truth, is all that is essential for a successful fairy tale.

WE will learn in a couple of years, if the owners of the mansion are dumb as dog doo doo as the smug Senator believes or endowed with common sense and insight beyond the yarn spinning conspiritor's comprehension.
19 posted on 09/16/2002 4:14:18 PM PDT by F.J. Mitchell
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To: jern
Hillary is doing this - but you knew that, right??
20 posted on 09/16/2002 7:14:48 PM PDT by CyberAnt
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