JRE Buzz (26): College for Everyone Edition

Update, Sept 14th, 2006:

Edwards' College for Everyone Visit to Greene County again today story from the Fayetteville Online:

Edwards comes again to rural N.C. promising college money

After handing out $300,000 in scholarships to last year's graduates, former vice presidential candidate John Edwards returned Thursday to a high school in rural eastern North Carolina promising to help pay the bills of another class of college-bound seniors.

Edwards met with Greene Central High School students to explain the guidelines of his "College For Everyone" program. Last year, the program helped cover college costs for about 80 graduates, nearly two-thirds of the senior class. College enrollment from the school hovered at about 25 percent two years ago.

"All the early indications say this program is going to be very successful," said Edwards, who grew up in Robbins, about 140 miles west of Snow Hill. "My hope is that it will become a model for the rest of North Carolina and the rest of the country."

(photo credit: Charles Buchanan, the Free Press)

Note that JRE's engagement was in the school's library!

Reaction Positive..

Edwards again extended the offer to about 150 seniors Thursday. The program, which is now partnered with all 16 public universities and four of the state's community colleges, covers the cost of tuition, books and required fees for the first year of college.

"This gives everyone an equal opportunity to go to college," said student body president Robert Taylor Jr., who wants to study performing arts and music at Appalachian State University or the North Carolina School of the Arts. "I'm just honored to be a part of it."

Me too, JRE

Mr Sugar was disappointed in Not Being Invited to a JRE Gig with bloggers in CH last night. I don't blame Mr. Sugar; Coturnix wasn't either.

Jeepers, Pete Calos from the Tribstar in Indiana thought JRE has a half a chance to be a front winner this time. That's optimistic from our tippycanoe friends.

In Yesterday's News..

California Notes blogger Randy Bayne gives a CJ account of the Angelides Rally last Saturday.

(photo credit by Randy Bayne)

"Phil Angelides shared the stage with former North Carolina Senator and candidate for President, John Edwards on Saturday at a rally in San Francisco. Also there, warming up the crowd were California Democratic Party Chairman, Art Torres, soon to be Lt. Governor, John Garamendi, Assemblyman Mark Leno, and Board of Equalization member Betty Yee.Following the opening comments and an introduction by Garamendi, Edwards and Angelides took the stage together.

Edwards spoke first.

"We need to speak for those who don't have a voice."

Read the rest here at California Notes--and more pics too.

Link to Angelides for Governor slide show on Flickr.

Another report from BayArea Reporter. Nice pic too.


This just in...

The Buzz: Florida Politics reports JRE will be in Miami on Friday afternoon for a Jim Davis rally. Davis's events web page confirms the following:

Miami Dade Community College, Room 2106 Bldg 2,
Second Floor300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, Florida 33132

9/15/2006 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Another upcoming event: JRE on David Bender's Politically Direct show next week on Air America Left on XMRadio.

Personal Activism/netroots/Grassroots..Will they Take Hold?

Today another candidate, who is sort of compared to Ned Lamont is Carol Shea-Porter, who won a primary against Jim Craig. Steve Kornacki (who has been mentioned here before) writes about Shea-Porter's race:

"In a high turnout environment, it’s entirely possible Shea-Porter would have lost tonight’s primary, an unknown name on the ballot to the horde of casual voters who only show up when there are marquee statewide contests. But hers was the only competitive Democratic primary in the state, producing historically low turnout – and the opportunity to flex her organizing muscle.

Indeed, few of the 12,000 or so votes Shea-Porter received – 51 percent of the tally, compared to 37 percent for Jim Craig, the prohibitive favorite before the ballots were counted – were products of name recognition (she essentially had none), establishment support (Craig had the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and a host of prominent state Democrats, or money (Craig raised better than $325,000, to about $30,000 for Shea-Porter). Instead, she relied on a sizeable network of loyal and industrious activists, who spread the word through letters to the editor and unique and persistent personal appeals."

Sounds like a John Edwards Democrat to me, but she may like Wes Clark still.

I'll be looking to see if JRE will be lending her a hand up.

Finally..

A nice blog who wishes for what we at BW do. PSoTD blog seems to think we are ready for American Camelot II, and we are ripe for someone like JRE after the dark age of Bush.

Have to agree, but that's at least two years away. But I can see Emma Claire and Jack running around the place, albeit I think Elizabeth would try to be a little more transparent about how she does business as First Lady, compared to Jackie K.

More buzz l8tr...

Tags: John Edwards, JRE, Phil Angelides, California Notes blog, Benny's World, PSoTD blog, Florida Politics, Tampa, Jim Davis, Carol Shea-Porter, Steve Kornacki, NH Politics, Politically Direct, David Bender, Air America Radio, American Camelot II, Greene County, NC, College for Everyone, Bay Area Reporter, Terre Haute