Welcome BW readers to the Labor Day edition of JRE Buzz. Note to all readers: this was really published on September 4th, just started a draft on 9/2.
As you see by Gil Talbot's photo, Edwards was on the road, literally on a union' man's day of hard work.
The photo was taken in Manchester where he spoke to the NH AFL-CIO at their post-rally breakfast. And yep, Edwards quite a few things to say, including that Rummy needed to give up his cabinet seat for the terrible mess he has made in Iraq.
Edwards also continued to talk about the right to belonging to unions, sort of in response to Wal-mart and big corporations who continue to fire workers if they try to be union agents or have outsourced manufacturing jobs in their march to weaken unions.
Here's what JRE had to say (that I posted on the Daily Kos earlier today):
The manufacturing jobs that everyone is so worried about losing to overseas competition "weren't good jobs before the union," he said.
Edwards said he favors increasing the minimum wage to $7.50 an hour and banning the hiring of permanent replacements for striking workers.He also backed making it easier for workers to unionize.
"If Americans can join the Republican Party by signing their name to a card, they should be able to sign a card to join a union," he said.
I find the quote in bold intriguing and I will have to think it about more, as to what he meant.
But here's the to the AP story, first reported in the Boston Globe, but has been picked up in a dozen other newspapers and TV news sites. Edwards is in Hampton, IL, where I had hoped to cover the story, but trip was going to be too much for me going at it alone for 9 hours out of one day, and probably wouldn't have gotten to say hello anyway. Senator Durbin, Congressman hopeful Bruce Braley from Iowa and our beloved IL governor (sarcasm) were to supposed to be there with JRE and some local Dems at the picnic.
But I'll be looking for a post in a couple of hours from the Trib.
Edwards is on route as I speak to Springfield, MO to attend the Labor Day rally and to stump for Claire McCaskill, who is running a tough campaign against incumbent Jim "I'll put those who pursue embroyo stem research in jail" Talent. Again, I'll be looking for posts from the Dispatch and the KC star to see if they cover the event.
Meantime, what happened over the weekend...
?? Here's the blog round-up.
, a blog I've mentioned here at BW before, maintains Edwards remains steady in his number 2 spot behind HRC as one of the Dem forerunners. Interesting since the that Friends of HRC seem to think she will not run. l also ranks JRE number 2.
says that Edwards, along with HRC has dropped in the polls and Gore is gaining, along with Kerry.
Speaking of polls, saw numbers from a Zogby poll (which I cannot find at the moment) that shows JRE in 5th, but still ahead of HRC.
US News World Report is releasing a piece this week that says that Gore is not to be counted out but: "Meanwhile, party insiders say former Sen.
John Edwards of North Carolina has taken to the road, presumably testing presidential waters. His pitch: economic equity coupled with tough talk on President Bush. He is considered particularly strong in Iowa, which caucuses in January 2008.
" (sorry no link--I found out about the article a different way)
Hillary the next Pro-War Democratic Candidate to Fall? Randolph T. Holhut writes that Hillary has tried to position herself as tough with not making her true view about the war (was it a mistake) transparent.
Lieberman has, but his view will hurt him in his run against Ned. Why does this matter? Because JRE came out early and apologized for his vote.
, who writes for the FMNN that I mentioned in the JRE Buzz last week, ponders aloud about the New Democrats, on his blog. He asserts that Edwards is the only real New Democrat:
"John Edwards is a New Democrat, and among the three frontrunners, only he is a New Democrat. He could well get the nomination now.
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