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The candidates are not directly addressing the issues of poverty because despite what many 'progressives' claim, most Americans have done well over tha past 40+ years so that poverty is relatively less an issue thn it was in the 1960s (NOT SAYING IT NO LONGER EXISTS!!!). Additionally, the poor as a group vote in such smaller proportion to their place in the electorate (for many reasons). This is why the Clinton-DLC part of the Democratic coalition sought (successfully in 1990s) to redefine progressivism as more concerned with the plight of the forgotten working middle class.

#9

Did you see that doc about Shriver on PBS? Excellent.

There is something off about John Edwards "life mission" to end poverty. It almost feels as if he has become obsessed with his own rhetoric on ending poverty and "his father and the mill", and has thus convinced himself that this is truly his life purpose. However, I don't feel convinced that he has a tangible, realistic plan for "ending poverty. That is a HUGE statement - I want to END POVERTY - and his grand ideals feel lofty without adequate substance behind the fancy words. He is starting to remind me of Ms. America declaring World Peace.

Edwards worked in the background for Pillowtex workers when that company went bankrupt, along with its health plan; he fought to help the newly deprived workers get temporary health insurance until they qualified for a special federal program.

Of course, it wasn't just MLK who spoke of the end of poverty. Sargent Shriver, for example, was a vociferous advocate of such an idea. Now these ideas are considered crazy, socialist and nutty.

your theme music is creeping me out
promise you'll change it after super tuesday

Edwards as Progressive champion in the South? So why didn't he run for re-election to the Senate from North Carolina (answer: 'cause he knew he'd likely lose).

And as for his anti-free trade & anti-corporate rhetoric, one has to ask what he wants instead. Shut down global trade & get rid of corporations & their profits and there go pensions, health insurance, jobs, prosperity and any chance for 'ending poverty'. True progressive policy entails embracing the wealth-creating process of markets, enterprise, profits & global trade, while taking some of that wealth generated to help people acquire the skills, education & capital they need to participate more equally in the progress.

My family has lived in NC 35 years. Edwards did absolutely nothing for his constitutes as senator. Once elected, he was too busy running for prez. using his as position senator as a springboard for bigger and better things.

Rick,

As far as I'm concerned this show has become a de facto campaign commercial for Hillary at this point. Sooooo biased.

Let's hear an examination of Hillary. I've heard at least one piece focusing on Obama that seemed slanted (and a hell of a lot of biased conversations about him in favor of Hillary along the way)

Where is the piece on Hillary? Let's start with the Clinton lies about Obama's Reagan statements and how SHE AND BILL SAID THE SAME THING IN THE PAST!

It seems to me that they all support foreign policy hawks which concerns me about foreign interventionism. Edwards and the others have talked tough on Iran. He also did a report where he advocated a confrontational position with Russia.

I read in American Conservative Magazine:

In addition, the Democrats have created a Center for a New American Security founded by former Clinton defense officials Michele Flournoy and Kurt Campbell. (The ironic similarity in name to the neoconservative Project for the New American Century has not been lost.)

The group, which includes Derek Chollet, a key adviser to the John Edwards campaign, supports a long-term, albeit smaller, U.S. presence in Iraq, but insists that future foreign interventions shouldn’t be curtailed because of Iraq’s failures.

This concerns me. I am really not in a mood for more foreign interventionism.

thanks AB. agreed. the pieces on Obama and Clinton were not framed as looking for contradictions ( no one pointed out that the 35 years line is total BS).

Russ Feinfgold is full of it. it's a little differnet to be the senator from NC than from WI. also, feingold did not have the balls to run so he should keep his mouth shut.

BTW. Every Senator voted for the Patriot except Feingold. This includes Wellstone who was from Minnesota and was NOT running for President. Give me a break!!

Have we EVER had a piece like this about Hillary and her statements and so-called "experience"? If so, I missed it!

Can you please mention on air that Senator Clinton is holding a rally tonight at 7pm in North Bergen, NJ (directly across the Hudson).