I don't respond to every negative group email I receive, but just below is one that called me to action:

Subject: Fw: Why not Hillary? let me count the ways!

Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 9:41 PM
Subject: Why not Hillary? let me count the ways!

OK M, because you asked for it.. Here goes. ( bccd to most of my women - and some men- friends who care about the world - thank you!)

This saturday Dec. 15th 2007 is Bill Of Rights Day.

I would expect to see the liberal/progressive blogs pushing this as a way to fund raise for our candidates and for our rights, but I see little.

I've been waiting for all the Hillary supporters to stand up and tell us why you love her. Specifically. There have been very few blogs why you think she is the best. Get to work and convince me.

So here goes….

Edwards slips on single-payer

snip

John Edwards, who, by some indications, has offered perhaps of the best healthcare plan of any candidate, has decided to take a far different approach.

Edwards is also careful to temper his progressivism with more centrist positions. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Edwards ... even demonized single-payer health care: "Do you think the American people want the same people who responded to Hurricane Katrina to run their health-care system?"/b>

Between the netroots (informed) and the 'regular joe' in the street (uninformed, according to most of us), I've come to the conclusion that the 'regular joe' is smarter...well, at least when it comes to 2008 candidates.

First there was the $400 hair cut, then the connection to a despicable hedge fund. Then there was the “I shouldn’t have listened to consultants in the IWR vote”. And now we find that he lied in an interview about reading the NIE.

Many of us get into arguments discussions over at dKos and elsewhere when Edwards supporters tout the fact that his apology for his IWR vote absolves him of all sin. In fact they go a step further by slamming Hillary for standing by her vote. Personally I don't care whether she apologizes or not. To me it was the original vote that was the sin, and no amount of recanting (when things turned to sh*t) will wipe it away.

crossposted from DailyKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/9/134749/5586

Global Warming and the Iraq War have the same root cause: powerful corporate leaders telling the White House and Congress how to run the country. Global Warming and the Iraq war are twin failures of neoliberal/neoconservative politics.

The trouble starts when the man or woman sitting in the White House meets behind closed doors with the head of General Motors or Exxon or whomever to decide for 300 million people how to use our tax dollars.

Congratulations to John Edwards for an inspiring speech at Riverside Church today. I really do recommend that everyone listen to it.

http://johnedwards.com/media/audio/riversidechurch.mp3

I was particularly pleased that Senator Edwards got a huge response when he began to speak against the President's proposed military surge in Iraq. I've tried to transcribe a small piece of it here. All omissions and mistakes, if any, are unintentional and are mine.

"...It is a betrayal not to speak out against an escalation of the war in Iraq. (applause, prolonged applause and cheers). ...I voted for this war, and I was wrong. I take responsibility for that vote. It is not anyone else's responsibility. I accept responsibility for that.... And the challenge today is not how do we achieve a military victory in Iraq. There will never be a military victory in Iraq.... The question is how do we achieve a political solution that will bring peace.... The best way for that to happen is for America to make clear that we are leaving Iraq, and the best way to make clear that we're leaving Iraq is to actually start leaving Iraq.... Congress must step up now and stop this President from putting more troops in harm's way.... Silence is betrayal....Do not allow this President to make another mistake and escalate this war in Iraq."