And we’ve got our team.
Kerrys email sent to his million plus supporters:
In just a few minutes, I will announce that Senator John Edwards will join me as my running-mate on the Democratic ticket as a candidate for vice president of the United States. Teresa and I could not be more excited that John and Elizabeth Edwards will be our partners in our journey to make America stronger at home and respected in the world.
You are the heart and soul of our campaign. You've shattered records and expectations every step of the way. Every time someone said you couldn't do it, you proved them wrong. Because of your incredible grassroots energy and commitment, I wanted to make the first official announcement of my decision to you -- more than one million online supporters at johnkerry.com.
I want you to know why I'm excited about running for president with John Edwards by my side. John understands and defends the values of America. He has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle class Americans and those struggling to reach the middle class. In the Senate, he worked to reform our intelligence, to combat bioterrorism, and keep our military strong. John reaches across party lines and speaks to the heart of America -- hope and optimism. Throughout his own campaign for President, John spoke about the great divide in this country -- the "Two Americas" -- that exist between those who are doing well today and those that are struggling to make it from day to day. And I am so proud that we're going to build one America together.
In the next 120 days and in the administration that follows, John Edwards and I will be fighting for the America we love. We'll be fighting to give the middle class a voice by providing good paying jobs and affordable health care. We'll be fighting to make America energy independent. We'll be fighting to build a strong military and lead strong alliances, so young Americans are never put in harm's way because we insisted on going it alone.
I can't tell you how proud I am to have John Edwards on my team, or how eager I am for the day this fall when he stands up for our vision and goes toe-to-toe with Dick Cheney.
This is the most important election of our lifetime, and a defining moment in our history. With you by our side every day of this campaign, John and I will lead the most spirited presidential campaign America has ever seen and fight to lead our nation in a new and better direction.
Thank you,
well - still i think Kerry should have picked Gephardt for VP - assuming the republicans retain control of the Senate - Gephardt's experience as democrat leader of the house would be invaluable as president of the senate.
Edwards is a solid choice - and was clearly the party favorite - with his strong support in the South but would he be able to stand toe-to-toe against Cheney? that remains to be seen...
I find the choice a little odd in one sense - however - since Kerry had previously indicated that if he had to drop out of the primaries - he would have supported Gephardt.
COME ON - Let's win The White House!
u've already 'won' the White House.. regardless of what candidate "wins" the election.. it's gonna be the same sh*t diff 'hole..
Edwards is the best available pretty face.
Give me McCain and anybody....
Not impressed … still voting for Nadar .. 
I think Kerry chose far too early. Should have waited. Time would have given him a better barometer of the battleground states that are up for grabs in the election.
Two curious things to me are first that we now have a DEM ticket consisting of two US Senators. The Senate is not historically the best place to launch a Presidential campaign from. In the last 80 years I can think of only one sitting US Senator to be elected President (Kennedy).
Second, during the primary, I recall Kerry differentiating himself from Edwards by saying that Edwards was simply too young and inexperienced to be President. He also said the number one qualification of his VP would be that the VP would be qualified to be a President if something happened to Kerry. That is certainly going to be played over and over again in the coming election. So what’s Kerry’s answer? “I changed my mind about Edward’s qualifications?” “I was wrong when I said that?” “Edwards has become qualified for President by losing the DEM primary?” Exactly why is Edwards qualified today when he wasn’t qualified three months ago? 
I think Kerry would have better balanced his ticket by choosing a congressman or governor from a key battleground state with more than a few electoral votes that is up for grabs.
is he a mix of Nader from CA and Radar from MASH?
FYI
(I’m no genius, this stuff is just very predictable)
Here’s a very long WWW page. The GOP was quite prepared, it seems.
http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=4355
JOHN EDWARDS
JOHN KERRY
ATTACKS/AT ODDS
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON HEALTH CARE
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON TAXES
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON EXPERIENCE
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON SPECIAL INTERESTS
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS AS REGIONAL CANDIDATE
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON TRADE
KERRY ATTACKS EDWARDS ON NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING
KERRY’S MISCELLANEOUS ATTACKS ON EDWARDS
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON PAYING FOR PROPOSALS
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON POVERTY
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON IRAQ/NATIONAL SECURITY
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON HEALTH CARE
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON BACKGROUND
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON BEING WASHINGTON INSIDER
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON ELECTABILITY
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON SPECIAL INTERESTS
EDWARDS ATTACKS KERRY ON TRADE
EDWARDS’ MISCELLANEOUS ATTACKS ON KERRY
AT ODDS ON FOREIGN POLICY
AT ODDS ON DEFENSE
AT ODDS ON VETERANS
AT ODDS ON DEATH PENALTY
AT ODDS ON BUDGET AND TAXES
AT ODDS ON TRADE
AT ODDS ON AGRICULTURE
AT ODDS ON ENVIRONMENT
AT ODDS ON ENERGY
AT ODDS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE
AT ODDS ON GUNS
AT ODDS ON TOBACCO
AT ODDS ON EDUCATION
AT ODDS ON MEDICAL RESEARCH
AT ODDS ON LIABILITY
Actually they kept the secret pretty well, and did a good job of "unveiling" to get maximum exposure on the tube. I suppose that they would have delayed things ifg there was a terrorist attack or something over the holiday.
This thing is a little like a NASCAR race. only the last lap counts, and they guy in second place has somewhat of an advantage...
Yeah, I have the Bush Chaney attack/odd thing going on my website. But unfortunately, it seems, Bush is in total agreement with Dick.
Let's face it, Edwards is a pretty face. Nothing wrong with him, but certainly not the best qualified human being to be President someday. He helps in the South, but the emerging theme from Bush/Cheney is liberal, liberal, liberal. Not since Kennedy have we elected a liberal from the north.
Edwards is also disliked by corporations, as a trial lawyer. Donations to Bush will increase as a result.
Ultimately Bush's communications skills are the biggest liability in the campaign. Kerry ion the other hand is not going to set the world on fire. I have met Kerry, and lobbied him on healthcare issues. In over an hour of meetings he would not commit to a thing. Over and over he would say, "I'll defer to the Senior Senator (Kennedy) on that issue." In other words, Kerry knew nothing about health care issues, and did whatever Kennedy told him. That is a little scary. Kennedy had a great deal of talent on his staff, but over and over during the primaries, there was Teddy in the front row. Kerry may well be a robot, with Kennedy at the controls.... look for wires....
I don't see Kennedy pulling the strings on Kerry. He's no longer the Junior Senator and I think he has a lot more talent and knowledge to pull from now that he is going to be the nominee. Besides, the worst thing to happen to this country in my lifetime has been the puppet masters behind our current president and as bad as Teddy may be, he is far less dangerous than the neo-cons pulling the strings now.
Seminole,
Believe me, I have seen it…
From the WSJ:
“Indeed, the Kerry campaign often resembles a subsidiary of the Kennedy political empire. Its inner circle is led by Mary Beth Cahill, who was Mr. Kennedy’s chief of staff until six months ago. Press secretary Stephanie Cutter performed the same duties for Mr. Kennedy. And Bob Shrum, who has worked closely with Mr. Kennedy since he wrote his famous “the dream shall never die” defense of liberalism at the 1980 Democratic Convention, is the campaign’s chief consultant and shapes virtually all of the candidate’s messages.”
OG, I do not doubt an overlap of employees and even similar positions on many policies, but I still don't see Kerry as Kennedy's robot. Kennedy is not a power broker. And remember, the last time a liberal from the north was elected he also had a southern VP.
And btw Bush wasn't 'the best qualified to be president' and he was on the top of the ticket!
“Kennedy also has been active behind the scenes. He talks with Kerry daily by phone when the candidate is on the road. Friends of both senators say Kennedy rises early to read the morning newspapers and often calls Kerry’s cell phone by 7 a.m. with advice. During the campaign’s toughest months late last year and in early January, that often led Kerry to call top aides with fresh orders.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-03-24-kennedy-kerry-cover_x.htm
Sorry my friend, I have seen it, and if Teddy is the first phone call every morning, I would tend to believe that Teddy has a lot of influence. Teddy will be a major focus for Bush/Cheney. Kerrys last original thought was on the Vietnam war. Not that I dislike him, he is sort of like watching beige paint dry.
And, for the record, I did not vote for Bush…
It's going to be real interesting to see if the Kennedy/Pelosi wing of the Democratic Party takes control of the convention and party platform. I would think that Kerry will try to do everything possible to keep Teddy and Nancy hidden in shadows during the general election. The more he is pictured as being like them, the less likely he will garner the independent vote.
As to the success of the Kennedy/Johnson ticket, JFK was far from a liberal reformer and Johnson was the single most powerful member of Congress in 1960. Intersting fact about the selection of Johnson, the Kennedy's were surprised and beside themselves when he accepted the invitation to be JFK's running mate. Edward's is no LBJ. And JFK II, is no JFK.
John Edwards is a great choice that invigorates the ticket. Edwards is able to connect to small town America which is what Kerry needed. The questionable choice of choosing a senator and thus creating a senator ticket isn’t much of a factor as Edwards is able to portray himself as a Washington outsider.
In less than a years time we have gone from a many saying Bush couldn’t be beat to where we are now, quite a remarkable turn around. With 3+ months to go anything could happen but the organization and unity of those trying to remove team Bush this November is only growing and while up till now what has united those opposed to Bush have been the negative feelings they share towards him I believe with Edwards on the ticket we're going to see people uniting and organizing because of the positivity that Kerry and Edwards bring and will bring to the country .
PA, while you’re clearly alienated by U.S. politics your statement of
"same sh*t diff hole" is far from the truth. The path that that Bush has chosen to lead the U.S. down is one that has alienated millions of Americans, the ‘go it alone ask questions later’ is a policy that is dangerous and unacceptable and one that will be out the door come post election.
Edwards will get the southern states for Kerry. Also I think he will do much better in the VP debate with Cheney, I am sure he'll atleast give cheney a bloody nose.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by zman: *
Edwards will get the southern states for Kerry. Also I think he will do much better in the VP debate with Cheney, I am sure he'll atleast give cheney a bloody nose.
[/QUOTE]
This sounds like a little wishful thinking to me.
Q: What do Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia have in common?
A: They are all Southern states that Edwards could not even beat Kerry in during the Democratic primaries when Edwards was still actively campaigning.
People do not vote for VPs. Their biggest impact is usually limited to the State that they come from and are favorite sons.
As to the VP debate, Edwards will do quite well. He is a trial lawyer who is quick on his feet and is quite engaging. But Cheney's competence is not in doubt. The last VP debate between Lieberman and Cheney was actually much more entertaining than the Presidential debates. Because of Edwards' demeanor, this one ought to be quite entertaining as well.