Tuesday, July 06, 2004

An alert reader from Hickory forwards this link to a website that apparently scooped everyone on the Kerry/Edwards story. 4:38:05 PM    comment []

"Vandals dance on Old Oak Ridge Road." Charles Davenport Jr. has a good column in today's N&R (not posted, but distributed by FedEx foes via email). 1:38:01 PM    comment []

Britt Blaser: "We're silent not because we're strong but because we cannot comprehend how stupidly the inexperienced bulk of society speaks of war as a rational option that we're entitled to use on people the way a company might launch a hostile takeover: Boys with tin soldiers, attempting to seem grown up." 1:23:23 PM    comment []

Matt Gross says putting Edwards on the ticket changes the Senate contest in North Carolina, and that Erskine Bowles "suddenly faces a tough and very expensive race." Tougher and more expensive, perhaps. This was never going to be a cakewalk, although Bowles has been strong in early polls. I think this helps Bowles, and will make Bush work for NC. Edwards is tough, smart, and charismatic. He will bring money and interest to the Democrats in NC and beyond. Hard to see him as anything but a positive for Bowles and for Kerry. 11:20:02 AM    comment []

Here's the Kerry email announcing his decision: 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, John Kerry 9:05:22 AM    comment []

In related news, Dewey beats Truman... I rode my bike to Lasola's market to get the paper and some breakfast. Oh, crap, he picked the wrong guy, I thought, and I bought a copy of the Post. At the table I said, maybe they're wrong. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law said how can they be wrong about something so big? Let's go John Edwards. 9:02:00 AM    comment []