Ken Salazar Hires Former JRE Staffer

Haley's Comment (blog for the Denver Post) reports that Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) has hired Jeff Lane, former chief of staff for John Edwards. It's supposed to help raise his profile.

I agree with ColoradoLib that no matter how good the consultant was for Edwards, Edwards just has natural charisma, and one cannot transform a person from low key to barn burner speaker.

Tags: Ken Salazar, Colorado politics, Coloradolib, John Edwards, Jeff Lane, benny's world

Remember that Letter to Sen Obama?

That I wrote on November 11?


I finally got a response. Here's what it read:

Dear Benny:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on John Bolton's service as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

I was disappointed that the President chose to bypass the Senate last year and install John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador through his power of "recess appointment." At a time when we are facing some of the gravest threats to our security we've ever known, the United States needs a credible, effective messenger at the United Nations who will be able to advance the security and safety of our citizens. In my view, Mr. Bolton was not that person.

I believe that in November the voters made a powerful statement that they want a change in the direction of U.S. foreign policy. And I am pleased that when it became clear during the current lame duck session that the Senate would not confirm Mr. Bolton as U.N. Ambassador, he submitted his resignation to the President.

The President has indicated that he wants to work with the Democratic majority in the Senate, and I hope he will now put forward a nominee for U.N. Ambassador who can garner a broad base of support, both in the Senate and from the nations assembled in New York. The U.S. needs a representative at the U.N. who can command the respect of the world and engage in the diplomacy necessary to build coalitions both to tackle internal challenges at the U.N. and isolate our enemies in the world.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Barack Obama
United States Senator



Jeeps, I guess he had to wait until Bolton resigned in order to form an opinion.

Tags: Barack Obama, UN Ambassadorship, Benny's World

Noteable Quote in Time Magazine

"I am not planning on running for President. I'm not trying to be coy. I kind of fell out of love with the political process."

---Al Gore, when asked about making another run for the presidency


Tags: Al Gore, Presidential Race 2008, Time, benny's world

Smokeout in the Toddlin' Town

Edwards entering before New Year

Posted by Mark Silva at 11 am CST, Chicago Tribune.

John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina and Democratic candidate for vice president in 2004, is poised to announce his candidacy for his party's presidential nomination in 2008.

A reliable source says Edwards will make his announcement on Dec. 29 – the Friday before the New Year's holiday weekend – to gain a headstart on the heavyweight announcements expected in January

.

What say you, Obama?

Tags: John Edwards, Chicago Tribune, Presidential Race 2008, benny's world

New NBC-Poll Favors A Southerner

Shows HRC in the lead, Obama second, Edwards third for winning the Dem primary in 2008. Nothin' new right?

Well, John Nichols from the Nation had a different take:

Everyone's talking about Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton and the man and the woman to beat for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2OO8.

So who beats the man who is generally portrayed as the leading Republican candidate for the presidency?

According to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is the strongest contender.

The 2OO4 Democratic nominee for vice president who is pondering a 2OO8 run, tops Arizona Republican John McCain by two points: 43 percent to 41 percent.

McCain beats Clinton by four points: 47-43.

McCain beats Obama by five points: 43-38.

Tags: John Edwards, polls, John Nichols, Presidential Race 2008, benny's world

Taylor Marsh Likes Edwards' Middle Class Values

Taylor Marsh is a syndicated radio talk show host, and best I can tell, she favors Democratic party pols.

In the past two days, she has been talkin' up Edwards and his populist messages, here and here.

Most of the comments are about Edwards' appearance on Hardball. Since she blogged about the event before I got around to making my comments, just go to the links listed, rather than my blathering on about the appearance.

I do like this picture, taken by NCDem, one of my favorite OAC bloggers, and posted at BlueNC blog. She was at the gig and gave a short CJ report.

Maybe Taylor Marsh should find this pic and use it too.




Tags: John Edwards, Taylor Marsh, Presidential Race 2008, Hardball, populism, middle class, values, benny's world.

Iowans Like John Edwards for 2008

From the Quad Cities-Times:

Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards is the top choice among likely Iowa caucus-goers asked to say who they would support in the 2008 caucuses, according to a new poll.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., finished third.

Edwards, who is considering a presidential bid and has traveled to the state extensively since the 2004 campaign when he was the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee, won the support of 36 percent of those polled. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., finished second at 16 percent, and Obama had 13 percent.

LINK

Second poll in which Edwards has led the potential pack. There was one in June too.

Tags: John Edwards, Iowa polls, Presidential Race 2008, benny's world

John and Elizabeth Edwards on Hardball

This afternoon, at 5pm ET. It will be live from UNC-CH.

Tags: John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Hardball, Chris Matthews, benny's world

Great Comic Timing

Oliver Willis was writing about the Presidential Races today, and this is what he had to say about another Dem entering the race:

"Forget Obama, forget Hillary, forget them all... Dennis Kucinich is in the race.

The rest of them should just drop out now."

heh, heh. OW's got that one right--for the funny bone.

Tags: Oliver Willis, Presidential Race 2008, humor, benny's world

Hard to Embrace December and Early Jan

I'm not a big fan of the Winter Solstice. The days are far too short for me. I dislike waking up in the dark and coming out of work when it is totally dark.

Guess the silver lining is that I don't live in Alaska.

Tags: Winter Solstice, benny's world.