Full disclosure…

I am sitting in an airport in Houston. I see a lot of people are wondering who is paying for the trip. I wasn’t supposed to announce what I was doing until I got to New Orleans, but since news schedules have been moved up (John Edwards announced he’s running for President today) I’m sure the campaign won’t mind.

PodTech will pick up my travel expenses to and from, and my hotel and meal expenses. At least that’s the current plan. If that changes, I will let you know. Again, if I sell my soul, I’ll do it in full public view so you know all my biases and conflicts of interest.

I am covering this trip as a journalist for ScobleShow.com. I am not being paid or compensated by the Edwards’ campaign. They are paying for a plane to fly us around, though, and I’m not sure if that’s something that PodTech can compensate for, so let’s just say that’s being covered by the Edwards’ campaign.

More to come tomorrow after I get in, figure out what’s up, and all that.

Are there any restrictions as to what I can write or shoot? Not that I know of. None have been communicated yet.

Why me? I don’t yet know that. Other than Edwards was at Gnomedex and Ryan Montoya, one of his campaign guys, was on a panel discussion there with me, and then later Maryam and me met (and presented to) Elizabeth Edwards, John’s wife.

I have no idea what I’m going to be doing there. The first emails were basically “would you like to come along while John Edwards announces he’s running for President?”

Oh, and Maryam is working hard to keep my ego down. I’ll forever be known as “Maryam’s husband” now. πŸ™‚

And I agree with Dave Winer that Edwards should go attend to matters of state. I’ll be very disappointed if Edwards decides to announce some other day (this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me), but I’ll understand. UPDATE: he already announced, a day early, Google News reports, due to a slipup where his campaign staff accidentally opened up the Web site a day early.

Memeorandum has more on the day’s political and current event news.

112 thoughts on “Full disclosure…

  1. Is Edwards’ announcement more important the the passing of a beloved President? I think not.

    If he has any manners and class, he will wait.

    Like

  2. Is Edwards’ announcement more important the the passing of a beloved President? I think not.

    If he has any manners and class, he will wait.

    Like

  3. oh, and p.s. when you see him, ask him why he didnt carry his own state back in 2004 and what he intends to do to get the people there to vote for him.

    Like

  4. oh, and p.s. when you see him, ask him why he didnt carry his own state back in 2004 and what he intends to do to get the people there to vote for him.

    Like

  5. Ann, that’s a great question. I’ll start collecting questions to ask him on camera. I plan to ask him about the “Four Americas that won’t vote for him” next time. That should kick off an interesting conversation.

    Like

  6. Ann, that’s a great question. I’ll start collecting questions to ask him on camera. I plan to ask him about the “Four Americas that won’t vote for him” next time. That should kick off an interesting conversation.

    Like

  7. Sounds like a fun gig. Given that Edwards won’t get nominated it shouldn’t take up too much of your time in the future.

    Like

  8. Sounds like a fun gig. Given that Edwards won’t get nominated it shouldn’t take up too much of your time in the future.

    Like

  9. Michael.NET: the tech industry has a LOT to care about in politics. Net neutrality comes to mind. Anti-trust, is another. Environmental policy is another. Taxation in virtual worlds or online commerce is another.

    The geeks who ignore what the politicians are doing to their industry have nothing to complain about when they get involved.

    Like

  10. Michael.NET: the tech industry has a LOT to care about in politics. Net neutrality comes to mind. Anti-trust, is another. Environmental policy is another. Taxation in virtual worlds or online commerce is another.

    The geeks who ignore what the politicians are doing to their industry have nothing to complain about when they get involved.

    Like

  11. Question for the man: When he sent email last week to his list, was he honestly asking for input about a decision that he hadn’t yet made? (Imagine getting email from Balmer asking us all whether they should go ahead and ship Zune.)
    I got the email on the 23rd.
    Question for the journalist: Were you already onboard by then for covering the announcement?

    Here’s a snippet of the Edwards email:
    BTW: here’s an excerpt:

    “So the only question is: Are you ready?

    “If you want to take this effort to next level, send me an e-mail and
    let me know: JohnEdwards@readytochangeamerica.com

    “Stay tuned: I’ll let you know what we decide early next week.”

    Like

  12. Question for the man: When he sent email last week to his list, was he honestly asking for input about a decision that he hadn’t yet made? (Imagine getting email from Balmer asking us all whether they should go ahead and ship Zune.)
    I got the email on the 23rd.
    Question for the journalist: Were you already onboard by then for covering the announcement?

    Here’s a snippet of the Edwards email:
    BTW: here’s an excerpt:

    “So the only question is: Are you ready?

    “If you want to take this effort to next level, send me an e-mail and
    let me know: JohnEdwards@readytochangeamerica.com

    “Stay tuned: I’ll let you know what we decide early next week.”

    Like

  13. Ask him why our tax dollars pay for 20% of the Israeli defense budget (3 billion annually) and if that has anything to do with why so many people in the middle east hate us so much.

    Info here: http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3387

    Welcome to politics … I agree that you should split this into another blog … I usually come here for fun and easy stuff like technology vendor wars.

    Like

  14. Ask him why our tax dollars pay for 20% of the Israeli defense budget (3 billion annually) and if that has anything to do with why so many people in the middle east hate us so much.

    Info here: http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3387

    Welcome to politics … I agree that you should split this into another blog … I usually come here for fun and easy stuff like technology vendor wars.

    Like

  15. Trail-lawyer historically-losing Senatorial ooze, announcing during Ford’s passing, all from New Orleans in a generically-staged political tussle, about as crass as his obviously fake campaign. And then a ‘leak slip up’ from the most supposedly “techy” guy, to top it all off. The gang that can’t shoot straight. Egads. Even if cunningly-calculated intentional, just gives the impression of skating on thin ice. Sent all the interns down to Walmart to pick up the PS3’s, eh? But Screaming Dean he is not, and even that was just as faux as all the usual ‘Snakes on a Plane’ internet hype. Besides, it’s way way too early, don’t play your hand before you even know the gameplan.

    The only thing he is (really) running for is Federal Matching Dollars.

    So what did we all get? Yet Another Stab at Euro-styled Socialized Medicine, and another cue up of the usual over-microwaved Robin Hoodish “Eliminating Poverty” canned-feel-good stump-speech, with “Tax Fairness” as code for generating a generations worth of entitlement programs, all with the usual WalMart bashing, what Kmart and Target escape his wrath? No mention of Iraq and all that messiness, eh? Amazing how once Demo’s get control, and lose a Bush-bash platform, suddenly the ‘Elephant in Starbucks’ disappears, I’ve been noticing that trend. πŸ˜‰

    Like

  16. Trail-lawyer historically-losing Senatorial ooze, announcing during Ford’s passing, all from New Orleans in a generically-staged political tussle, about as crass as his obviously fake campaign. And then a ‘leak slip up’ from the most supposedly “techy” guy, to top it all off. The gang that can’t shoot straight. Egads. Even if cunningly-calculated intentional, just gives the impression of skating on thin ice. Sent all the interns down to Walmart to pick up the PS3’s, eh? But Screaming Dean he is not, and even that was just as faux as all the usual ‘Snakes on a Plane’ internet hype. Besides, it’s way way too early, don’t play your hand before you even know the gameplan.

    The only thing he is (really) running for is Federal Matching Dollars.

    So what did we all get? Yet Another Stab at Euro-styled Socialized Medicine, and another cue up of the usual over-microwaved Robin Hoodish “Eliminating Poverty” canned-feel-good stump-speech, with “Tax Fairness” as code for generating a generations worth of entitlement programs, all with the usual WalMart bashing, what Kmart and Target escape his wrath? No mention of Iraq and all that messiness, eh? Amazing how once Demo’s get control, and lose a Bush-bash platform, suddenly the ‘Elephant in Starbucks’ disappears, I’ve been noticing that trend. πŸ˜‰

    Like

  17. Edwards isn’t going to win the nomination. He still has no more experience governing than he did 4 years ago. That is to say, that he and Barack Obama will have almost identical experience by 2008. And I’m not supporting Obama. Edwards has also chosen the politically expedient location of New Orleans to make his announcement that he’s running for President, even though he’s not from Louisiana. All he’s doing is taking advantage of hurricane victims. Good looks and down-home charm may win a campaign, but they’re not going to get the job done (George W. Bush has taught us that). The only candidate (and he’s yet to announce) with the experience to get the job done is New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Visit Washington for Richardson to learn more about how Richardson will make a great President.

    Like

  18. Edwards isn’t going to win the nomination. He still has no more experience governing than he did 4 years ago. That is to say, that he and Barack Obama will have almost identical experience by 2008. And I’m not supporting Obama. Edwards has also chosen the politically expedient location of New Orleans to make his announcement that he’s running for President, even though he’s not from Louisiana. All he’s doing is taking advantage of hurricane victims. Good looks and down-home charm may win a campaign, but they’re not going to get the job done (George W. Bush has taught us that). The only candidate (and he’s yet to announce) with the experience to get the job done is New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Visit Washington for Richardson to learn more about how Richardson will make a great President.

    Like

  19. Robert:
    Maryam didnΒ΄t notice I called you the king of blogosphere in my blog yesterday. I apologize now I should have called you the Emperor. But dont fantasize I am still in love with Gina (she loves me too I know) so I donΒ΄t mind if you cover a presidential candidate or not, I know you are doing the right thing. So sorry I cannot vote, I live in Mexico. And I listen to Rush sometimes.

    Like

  20. Robert:
    Maryam didnΒ΄t notice I called you the king of blogosphere in my blog yesterday. I apologize now I should have called you the Emperor. But dont fantasize I am still in love with Gina (she loves me too I know) so I donΒ΄t mind if you cover a presidential candidate or not, I know you are doing the right thing. So sorry I cannot vote, I live in Mexico. And I listen to Rush sometimes.

    Like

  21. Ask him if Bush’s warrantless wiretapping is contrary to the Fourth Amendment:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

    Ask him if Bush’s support of torture is contrary to the Eighth Amendment:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

    Ask him if extraordinary rendition violates Habeas Corpus:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeus_corpus

    What does he recommend the people do to defend and preserve our consitution?

    What should we do if the President does not do this?

    Like

  22. Ask him if Bush’s warrantless wiretapping is contrary to the Fourth Amendment:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

    Ask him if Bush’s support of torture is contrary to the Eighth Amendment:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

    Ask him if extraordinary rendition violates Habeas Corpus:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeus_corpus

    What does he recommend the people do to defend and preserve our consitution?

    What should we do if the President does not do this?

    Like

  23. Hey Robert, Cool gig with John Edwards. Are you coming to New Hampshire? I live in Hampton, New Hampshire and would love to hook up with you if you are coming this way.

    Back in college I did an internship with US Senator Ed Muskie, and later worked for Sen. Bill Hathaway. Politics is fun, but technology pays the bills.

    Don Dodge

    Like

  24. Hey Robert, Cool gig with John Edwards. Are you coming to New Hampshire? I live in Hampton, New Hampshire and would love to hook up with you if you are coming this way.

    Back in college I did an internship with US Senator Ed Muskie, and later worked for Sen. Bill Hathaway. Politics is fun, but technology pays the bills.

    Don Dodge

    Like

  25. Nice one, coulter.
    I’ve read this blog and your comments long enough.
    Let me rephrase, your slamming of Edwards is typical C Coulter political slag.
    “your guy’ is the man and party in power.
    You, who parrot the Rush/Hannity (have you tried hannidate yet? I hear the right wing ladies love the shaved head look) talking points, will slam any one left of G Liddy.

    Surprised you moved out to San Fransisco.

    Like

  26. Nice one, coulter.
    I’ve read this blog and your comments long enough.
    Let me rephrase, your slamming of Edwards is typical C Coulter political slag.
    “your guy’ is the man and party in power.
    You, who parrot the Rush/Hannity (have you tried hannidate yet? I hear the right wing ladies love the shaved head look) talking points, will slam any one left of G Liddy.

    Surprised you moved out to San Fransisco.

    Like

  27. Robert,

    I can’t stand politics in my Tech space. For that reason I usually unsubscribe from Dave Winer because of the noise around election time. It is not the noise that bothers me I just want it from the normal places. Do me a favor and just cover the Edwards Campaign like you covered Microsoft. Give us the warts and all. Call out the folks that need to be called out and don’t hide or cover up anything. If you get tossed you get tossed. Just tell it like it is. The good the bad and the ugly.

    Like

  28. Robert,

    I can’t stand politics in my Tech space. For that reason I usually unsubscribe from Dave Winer because of the noise around election time. It is not the noise that bothers me I just want it from the normal places. Do me a favor and just cover the Edwards Campaign like you covered Microsoft. Give us the warts and all. Call out the folks that need to be called out and don’t hide or cover up anything. If you get tossed you get tossed. Just tell it like it is. The good the bad and the ugly.

    Like

  29. This is certainly a coup of sorts for Robert and PodTech, but the cynic in me sees it as a lame attempt by the staff of an accomplished ambulance chaser with no legislative record to buy some cred from one of the cool people in the tech blogosphere. Edwards ran a lame campaign in 04; if he thinks that class envy “two Americas” stuff is going to work better this time, he’ll find himself back chasing the “evil tobacco companies and asbestos manufacturers” before you can say Obama three times.
    I was so disappointed when the Clinton DOJ came after Microsoft in the 90s. Like many Microsofties on board at the time, I thought that lobbying was for losers who couldn’t build a better mousetrap, or market the one they had. I despise that companies great and small have to pay tribute to politicians who know nothing about tech and the economy other than how to demagogue issues like “pay equity” and whose tech policies come down in favor of the biggest campaign contributor.
    Still, I look forward to reading about Robert’s experience with the campaign from the tech blogger perspective. I also hope that you’re offered the opportunity to take an up-close look at every candidate in the race and report to us on their policies vis a vis business and technology, and how they plan to use technology in their campaigns. I could care less about the D’s and R’s; I care about what the person knows, has done, and is willing to stand for without waffling–you know, principles and character, something most politicians only know about from glancing at the episodes of Sesame Street that their kids watch.

    Like

  30. This is certainly a coup of sorts for Robert and PodTech, but the cynic in me sees it as a lame attempt by the staff of an accomplished ambulance chaser with no legislative record to buy some cred from one of the cool people in the tech blogosphere. Edwards ran a lame campaign in 04; if he thinks that class envy “two Americas” stuff is going to work better this time, he’ll find himself back chasing the “evil tobacco companies and asbestos manufacturers” before you can say Obama three times.
    I was so disappointed when the Clinton DOJ came after Microsoft in the 90s. Like many Microsofties on board at the time, I thought that lobbying was for losers who couldn’t build a better mousetrap, or market the one they had. I despise that companies great and small have to pay tribute to politicians who know nothing about tech and the economy other than how to demagogue issues like “pay equity” and whose tech policies come down in favor of the biggest campaign contributor.
    Still, I look forward to reading about Robert’s experience with the campaign from the tech blogger perspective. I also hope that you’re offered the opportunity to take an up-close look at every candidate in the race and report to us on their policies vis a vis business and technology, and how they plan to use technology in their campaigns. I could care less about the D’s and R’s; I care about what the person knows, has done, and is willing to stand for without waffling–you know, principles and character, something most politicians only know about from glancing at the episodes of Sesame Street that their kids watch.

    Like

  31. @17. And yet TWICE the Dems failed to defeat him. What’s that say about the Dems. Like I said in a previous post, do the Dem’s not pay any attention to history. Senators DO NOT get elected president. The have voting records that expose them for what they are. Unbelievable the Dems will have at least 3 running. Do they deliberately try to lose elections?

    Like

  32. @17. And yet TWICE the Dems failed to defeat him. What’s that say about the Dems. Like I said in a previous post, do the Dem’s not pay any attention to history. Senators DO NOT get elected president. The have voting records that expose them for what they are. Unbelievable the Dems will have at least 3 running. Do they deliberately try to lose elections?

    Like

  33. PodTech will not be covering any expenses from the Edward plane. Does the NYTimes pay for the expense when they fly on airforce one?

    Robert: have fun, tell us the story, cover the stories, and get behind the scene coverage.

    Like

  34. PodTech will not be covering any expenses from the Edward plane. Does the NYTimes pay for the expense when they fly on airforce one?

    Robert: have fun, tell us the story, cover the stories, and get behind the scene coverage.

    Like

  35. @19

    1) As long as its not UNREASONABLE. What’s unreasonable about listen in on conversations that originate from or are sent to known terrorist locations?

    @2) the Eight Amendment as well as every other Amendment, applies to US Citizens. What evidence do we have of the govt torturing their own Citizens? Perhaps you instead meant to reference the 3rd and 4th Geneva Convention?

    #3) Possibly. But it has yet to be tested in the courts.

    That said, all if this is likely over Edwards’ head. Unless it involves chasing an ambulance and suing a company, he likely is out of his league.

    Like

  36. @19

    1) As long as its not UNREASONABLE. What’s unreasonable about listen in on conversations that originate from or are sent to known terrorist locations?

    @2) the Eight Amendment as well as every other Amendment, applies to US Citizens. What evidence do we have of the govt torturing their own Citizens? Perhaps you instead meant to reference the 3rd and 4th Geneva Convention?

    #3) Possibly. But it has yet to be tested in the courts.

    That said, all if this is likely over Edwards’ head. Unless it involves chasing an ambulance and suing a company, he likely is out of his league.

    Like

  37. After discussing with my wife, she made the rather astute observation that you have to be doubly assured that Edwards is the guy you that you want to attach your personal brand to.
    There will be more pres announcements coming, and is he the right guy or the first guy to ask?

    Like

  38. After discussing with my wife, she made the rather astute observation that you have to be doubly assured that Edwards is the guy you that you want to attach your personal brand to.
    There will be more pres announcements coming, and is he the right guy or the first guy to ask?

    Like

  39. I think Edwards is an excellent candidate. He speaks a langaguage that many in this country can understand. While my loyalities and first love go to Obama (I’m from Illinois after all), I have the upmost respect for Edwards and wish him all the best.

    Sincerely,

    LEO
    webmaster
    IllinoisDemNet

    ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC NETWORK
    http://www.IllinoisDemNet.com

    P.S. Someone should tell these dolts that just because a weekly tabloid like Newsweek, with no particular insight into the process, puts you on its cover — that doesn’t make you’re a leading contender.

    Like

  40. I think Edwards is an excellent candidate. He speaks a langaguage that many in this country can understand. While my loyalities and first love go to Obama (I’m from Illinois after all), I have the upmost respect for Edwards and wish him all the best.

    Sincerely,

    LEO
    webmaster
    IllinoisDemNet

    ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC NETWORK
    http://www.IllinoisDemNet.com

    P.S. Someone should tell these dolts that just because a weekly tabloid like Newsweek, with no particular insight into the process, puts you on its cover — that doesn’t make you’re a leading contender.

    Like

  41. “Does the NYTimes pay for the expense when they fly on airforce one?”

    Yes.

    All media outlets that fly with the President are billed by the White House Travel Office. The price varies depending on how many other media members are traveling.

    For example

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081101834_pf.html

    “The cost of covering the president has risen dramatically at a time when the news media, anxious about economic pressures, are aggressively cutting costs. For a one-day trip to St. Louis, for instance, the White House billed The Washington Post $3,317. To go to Yuma, Ariz., for a day, the bill came to $3,795. A two-day trip to Europe cost $8,283, not counting hotel charges.”

    Like

  42. “Does the NYTimes pay for the expense when they fly on airforce one?”

    Yes.

    All media outlets that fly with the President are billed by the White House Travel Office. The price varies depending on how many other media members are traveling.

    For example

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081101834_pf.html

    “The cost of covering the president has risen dramatically at a time when the news media, anxious about economic pressures, are aggressively cutting costs. For a one-day trip to St. Louis, for instance, the White House billed The Washington Post $3,317. To go to Yuma, Ariz., for a day, the bill came to $3,795. A two-day trip to Europe cost $8,283, not counting hotel charges.”

    Like

  43. Robert,

    You have become a dicksee chick! Hope you do not go the same way. Watch the blog desolve now.

    What next? The polar ice caps melting due to overheating of our motherboards. Not impressed!!! AT ALL!!

    Open another blog for the above garbage.

    Disappointed, but will still read on.

    IMHO

    Like

  44. Robert,

    You have become a dicksee chick! Hope you do not go the same way. Watch the blog desolve now.

    What next? The polar ice caps melting due to overheating of our motherboards. Not impressed!!! AT ALL!!

    Open another blog for the above garbage.

    Disappointed, but will still read on.

    IMHO

    Like

  45. Robert, you asked, Why me?

    I am with #29 when he said (in part) “buy some cred from one of the cool people in the tech blogosphere”.

    All your blog readers know that you are *all about* full disclosure and won’t gloss over things (having a partner like Maryam to keep you balanced is a huge benefit too).

    It will be very interesting to see what you see through the lens of that camera…

    Like

  46. Robert, you asked, Why me?

    I am with #29 when he said (in part) “buy some cred from one of the cool people in the tech blogosphere”.

    All your blog readers know that you are *all about* full disclosure and won’t gloss over things (having a partner like Maryam to keep you balanced is a huge benefit too).

    It will be very interesting to see what you see through the lens of that camera…

    Like

  47. Ann: It was Kerry who failed to carry NC, not Edwards. Kerry couldn’t have carried this state with any running mate. Edwards has a better chance than Clinton or Obama here in 2008, since they have essentially no chance. Democrats do win in North Carolina. The governor and the legislature are Democratic. But, to win Dems need to be devoid of any taint of stereotypical liberalism. Compare and contrast Mike Easely and Erskine Bowles.

    Like

  48. Ann: It was Kerry who failed to carry NC, not Edwards. Kerry couldn’t have carried this state with any running mate. Edwards has a better chance than Clinton or Obama here in 2008, since they have essentially no chance. Democrats do win in North Carolina. The governor and the legislature are Democratic. But, to win Dems need to be devoid of any taint of stereotypical liberalism. Compare and contrast Mike Easely and Erskine Bowles.

    Like

  49. Edwards and the media do a good job of obscuring his past: this guy was an ambulance chaser. Yes, someone has to do it and I’m sure there are probably trial lawyers that don’t suck money for money’s sake. If he wasn’t in it for using the system to coerce money, then we would have heard about all of his good work. From what I can see, his abilities lie in being able to convince juries to stick it to people and collect big bucks.

    It’s nice that he wants to run on poverty, but this won’t go too far because sooner or later the public will realize that we have made great strides over the past decades and there is much more to being president. He’ll switch to education or something at some point as his trial lawyer skills kick in. To him, the we’re a sap jury waiting to be influenced.

    I’m not so sure the press will get behind him either. In the end, if it seems that Hillary is electable, I think the press will rally behind her. (The press is much more likely to show their favorites these days.)

    Like

  50. Edwards and the media do a good job of obscuring his past: this guy was an ambulance chaser. Yes, someone has to do it and I’m sure there are probably trial lawyers that don’t suck money for money’s sake. If he wasn’t in it for using the system to coerce money, then we would have heard about all of his good work. From what I can see, his abilities lie in being able to convince juries to stick it to people and collect big bucks.

    It’s nice that he wants to run on poverty, but this won’t go too far because sooner or later the public will realize that we have made great strides over the past decades and there is much more to being president. He’ll switch to education or something at some point as his trial lawyer skills kick in. To him, the we’re a sap jury waiting to be influenced.

    I’m not so sure the press will get behind him either. In the end, if it seems that Hillary is electable, I think the press will rally behind her. (The press is much more likely to show their favorites these days.)

    Like

  51. Al: Since corporate monopolies and oligopolies — energy, health, media, tech, food and agriculture, transportation — control so much of our daily lives, they are the biggest threat to our way of life. I think Edwards is far from an ambulance-chasing lawyer, but the more lawyers chasing those guys, the better.

    Robert: It strikes me that a lot of the criticism of your taking this little roadtrip is rooted in the critics’ disdain and contempt for the game of politics as it is currently played, independent of any single candidate. There’s an interesting parallel in the hostility many free and open source software advocates evince toward Microsoft and other IT corporations.

    Like

  52. Al: Since corporate monopolies and oligopolies — energy, health, media, tech, food and agriculture, transportation — control so much of our daily lives, they are the biggest threat to our way of life. I think Edwards is far from an ambulance-chasing lawyer, but the more lawyers chasing those guys, the better.

    Robert: It strikes me that a lot of the criticism of your taking this little roadtrip is rooted in the critics’ disdain and contempt for the game of politics as it is currently played, independent of any single candidate. There’s an interesting parallel in the hostility many free and open source software advocates evince toward Microsoft and other IT corporations.

    Like

  53. Ahh, you can’t box me into the Right/Left slag, equal opportunity snark. And I ooonnnnly share a last name with Ann, not a platform, tho I’d like to share her wealth, Miami and Palm Beach, sigh.

    Tho I got a better mash-up…Rushanity or Seanush. πŸ˜‰

    Like

  54. Ahh, you can’t box me into the Right/Left slag, equal opportunity snark. And I ooonnnnly share a last name with Ann, not a platform, tho I’d like to share her wealth, Miami and Palm Beach, sigh.

    Tho I got a better mash-up…Rushanity or Seanush. πŸ˜‰

    Like

  55. Billg:
    You’re funny! The irony is comical. You rattled off a huge chunk of the econonmy and somehow think that the millions that work in those industries control us. I can tell you don’t like big organizations, but I suspect that you would have no trouble moving those industries to government control – which is really one huge, non-competitive, corrupt organization (without oversight) that would be a much bigger threat to our lives!
    I love you lefty’s!

    Like

  56. Billg:
    You’re funny! The irony is comical. You rattled off a huge chunk of the econonmy and somehow think that the millions that work in those industries control us. I can tell you don’t like big organizations, but I suspect that you would have no trouble moving those industries to government control – which is really one huge, non-competitive, corrupt organization (without oversight) that would be a much bigger threat to our lives!
    I love you lefty’s!

    Like

  57. LayZ,

    Thank you for your response … I still would like to see what Edwards has to say on these Constitutional issues that I believe are vital to our Republic.

    Regarding #1, please consider reading these:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FISA_Court

    http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F1FFF3D540C758DDDAB0994DD404482

    … it is not about being reasonable. It is about him not following the law which mandates the use of the FISA courts for any such activity.

    Regarding #2 … I am not a legal expert … so you are saying that it is legal for us to torture non-citizens?

    and regarding a test case for Habeas Corpus, here is one:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Padilla_%28alleged_terrorist%29

    Robert, I see this as an opportunity for Edwards to respond to some really tough questions that are considered too controversial to bring up … like our Israeli policy and its impact on the middle east. If he can provide a candid vision and start a meaningful dialog with the public on these issues via your show then you will have done us a great service.

    Erik

    Like

  58. LayZ,

    Thank you for your response … I still would like to see what Edwards has to say on these Constitutional issues that I believe are vital to our Republic.

    Regarding #1, please consider reading these:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FISA_Court

    http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F1FFF3D540C758DDDAB0994DD404482

    … it is not about being reasonable. It is about him not following the law which mandates the use of the FISA courts for any such activity.

    Regarding #2 … I am not a legal expert … so you are saying that it is legal for us to torture non-citizens?

    and regarding a test case for Habeas Corpus, here is one:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Padilla_%28alleged_terrorist%29

    Robert, I see this as an opportunity for Edwards to respond to some really tough questions that are considered too controversial to bring up … like our Israeli policy and its impact on the middle east. If he can provide a candid vision and start a meaningful dialog with the public on these issues via your show then you will have done us a great service.

    Erik

    Like

  59. >>”I suspect that you would have no trouble moving those industries to government control …”

    Don’t make knee-jerk assumptions, Al, without evidence to support them. You’ve nothing to go on about my opinions other than one short comment. Some of us are capable of independent thought.

    Like

  60. >>”I suspect that you would have no trouble moving those industries to government control …”

    Don’t make knee-jerk assumptions, Al, without evidence to support them. You’ve nothing to go on about my opinions other than one short comment. Some of us are capable of independent thought.

    Like

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