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John Edwards Should Support Reid-Feingold

His supporters will say, indeed have said, that John Edwards supports the goals of Reid-Feingold, but that it does not go far enough:

EDWARDS: I can't tell from the way you're describing [Reid-Feingold] enough of the specifics. I can tell you what I support, if Bush vetoes a bill, we should send him a bill that forces a drawdown of troops.

Ben Smith at Politico asked the Edwards campaign to elaborate on Edwards' view of Reid-Feingold. Smith reports:

"EDWARDS: Spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield emails, "I wouldn't say he supports Reid-Feingold. He supports defunding as a policy and applauds Reid and Feingold for putting it on the table, but the plan he supports is his own -- which would force a drawdown of 40-50,000 immediately and have all combat troops out in 12-18 months." UPDATE: That is to say, says Bedingfield, his only quarrel with the bill is it doesn't go far enough, but he has no problem with the methods."

This is nice and all, but Edwards can and should make it simple - he should say he supports Reid-Feingold and advocates for even TOUGHER measures. But this is too cute by half. KISS Senator Edwards. Keep it simple.

Politico's Scorecard on Reid-
Feingold
:

UPDATE: Feingold aide Zach Lowe emails the current list of supporters, including only Dodd among the candidates: Feingold, Reid, Dodd, Kerry, Leahy, Boxer.

EDWARDS: Spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield emails, "I wouldn't say he supports Reid-Feingold. He supports defunding as a policy and applauds Reid and Feingold for putting it on the table, but the plan he supports is his own -- which would force a drawdown of 40-50,000 immediately and have all combat troops out in 12-18 months." UPDATE: That is to say, says Bedingfield, his only quarrel with the bill is it doesn't go far enough, but he has no problem with the methods.

OBAMA: Spokesman Bill Burton: "Still looking at it."

BIDEN: Spokeswoman Marion Steinfels: "He is still focused on the supplemental."
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  • Display: Sort:
    Seems like (5.00 / 5) (#1)
    by Edger on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:09:01 AM EST
    It should be simple enough.

    "centrist" progressives last week were all over antiwar and defunding proponents demanding concerted, unified effort.

    Ahem. Well? What exactly were they advocating?

    Heh (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:09:41 AM EST
    My thoughts exactly :-) (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Edger on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:10:14 AM EST
    I'm not sure what you meant by "centrist... (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by cal11 voter on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:57:05 AM EST
    progressives."  I don't see the issue of defunding as a right/left issue.

    Parent
    It was sarcasm (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Edger on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:04:05 PM EST
    I was taking a jab the "purity troll" labelling and attempts at marginalizing of 'end it now' defunding proponents that was coming from some sites who think of themselves as representing the definition of centrist last week...

    Parent
    I understand you now. Thanks for reply. n/t (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by cal11 voter on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:37:26 PM EST
    Bob Geiger's fleshed out that list a bit (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by bumblebums on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:45:35 AM EST
       * Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
       * Chris Dodd (D-CT)
       * Russ Feingold (D-WI)
       * Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
       * John Kerry (D-MA)
       * Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
       * Harry Reid (D-NV)
       * Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

    link

    I expected Diane Feinstein to be on this list by (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 01:12:57 PM EST
    now.

    Parent
    Edwards doesn't want to tie his fortunes to it? (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by cal11 voter on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:53:17 AM EST
    Edwards should support it unequivocally and without reservation.  If that is clear.  Same for the others.  Time for some Dem policy unity.

    But it is refreshing (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Alien Abductee on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:51:43 PM EST
    that at least his lack of support is based on the fact that Reid-Feingold doesn't go far enough. As long as that part is publicized it gives the Dem policy space a good hard shove leftward in Overton window terms, coming as it does from a major presidential candidate.

    Parent
    Even with modern instruments . . . (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by walt on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:23:04 PM EST
    . . . the triangulators are going to wear out their equipment trying to survey & calculate where to stand, or sit, on defunding, troop redeployment & post-occupation Iraq.  And what about total withdrawal?

    Oh, woe, how will we ever get out of Iraq?

    Looks as if they could use the C-5a, C-17 & C-130 fleets very effectively.  Bye-bye.

    Nice to see Kerry backing it (5.00 / 4) (#11)
    by Edger on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 01:05:31 PM EST
    I liked the plan Kerry gave in Greg Palast's dream about the '04 presidential debates:

    Mr. Tall could have won my vote with two words.  It's the two-word answer John Kerry gave three decades ago when asked the same question --

    "How can we get our troops out of a disastrous war?"

    Then, the clear-minded, tall young man said,

     "In ships."



    Parent
    There was a good comparison posted on Kos (none / 0) (#13)
    by dk2 on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 03:17:51 PM EST
    about this very subject, timeline and details:

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/5/85053/75091

    is there really that much difference?

    Um (none / 0) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 03:19:24 PM EST
    That's my link.

    Did you read my post at all?

    Parent

    Yes I read it, but must have missed your link. (none / 0) (#15)
    by dk2 on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 03:39:00 PM EST
    ALso this is my first time here, reading and (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by dk2 on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 03:41:06 PM EST
    posting, still getting used to this site.
    Sorry I didn't see it hard linked.


    Parent
    Thanks for stopping by (none / 0) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 04:00:39 PM EST
    Sorry for the harsh.

    But I do ask that folks read my posts before ripping them.

    Parent

    No problem, (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by dk2 on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 04:03:11 PM EST
    Keeping it simple is hard for US senators... (none / 0) (#19)
    by cal11 voter on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 07:19:54 PM EST
    to do IMHO.  I don't get it because they are not paid by the word.