John Edwards visited San Jose, CA this evening. He was at San Jose State University for a public speech ($15). I sent him my contribution and then showed up for the speech. I arrived by 5 and Edwards showed up by 5:30. He talked until 6, shook hands until 6:30 and then was gone.
It was an interesting crowd. It was a smallish room that was filled. I estimate that there were roughly 700 people there. There were people of all ages and types. It appeared to me that there were more women than men. There wasn’t a lot of diversity however. It was a primarily white and asian audience. People were dressed in everything from suits to shorts. I didn’t see a lot of students, aside from the volunteers. The vast majority of people looked like they had just come from work.
So, at 5:15 we get a speech by a local politician. He thanks all of the other politicians in attendence. There were probably 2 or 3 dozen other local politicians. It was a very impressive showing in my book. I don’t know what else the guy said because it really wasn’t important.
Edwards shows up and starts speaking at 5:30. He’s got his rolled up sleeves and no tie motif thing going. He starts his speech talking about the fund Iraq vote that passed last week. He hits his favorite line that Congress should have continued passing the same funding with the requirement of bringing the troops home again and again after bush vetoed the bill. I agree with this, however, it wasn’t, I believe, possible. So, while it’s a good line and Congress should have done it, the votes weren’t there. And, since he isn’t in Congress, it’s easy for him to say.
Moving beyond that point, after a 10 minute riff on Iraq, he says, ‘The first thing that I”ll do as president, on the first day, is to close Guantanamo, stop torture, and stop the government from spying on Americans.’ Works for me!
He talked about traveling the world as an ambassador. Talking to the people, rather than the ‘leaders behind closed doors’. He wants to help improve the imagine of America around the world. He talked about how since the world basically hates us (my words), we can’t lead on anything. We have to improve our standing in the world before we can lead.
And, leading was really a theme for Edwards. He talked about being bold. And, some of his ideas require serious boldness.
He talked about ending poverty in America in 30 years. He talked about the living wage. A family that is working shouldn’t be starving. He talked about improving unions so that they have strength again.
He implored people in the audience to work towards getting someone they like elected. He didn’t say himself. He talked about how just voting isn’t enough. It should be. But, it isn’t. People have to work.
He finished up with a quote by Ghandi. I doubt that I remember it. It went something like ‘you have to be the change. You can’t watch the change.’ Meaning that you have to work for change rather than just being a passive observer.
He started shaking hands. I missed him on both sides of the room. But, it was fun seeing him up close. I took some pics with my phone that I’ll upload later.
All in all, it was a good experience. My problem with him is probably not unique to Edwards. He has great plans and great ideas, but the Democratic party is timid and the Republicans are obstructionist. Anything that he gets passed will have to passed over the GOP’s dead body (better sooner than later) and with less than a unanimous Democratic vote. I have to know how he’s going to convince a reluctant Congress to go along with his very bold ideas. He talks about cutting back bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy. No biggee there because I think that those tax cuts have an end of life. But, enforcing a living wage will not get any gop votes and will lose Democratic votes. Possibly getting more protection for the unions might get through the Democrats. Health care for the poor will face a very tough fight.
More on this later.
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