John Edwards speech at New School University -4-14-05

http://www.oneamericacommittee.com/new-school.asp

There was nothing good about the Good Friday when the Great Emancipator was shot. It was one hundred and forty years ago tonight, that John Wilkes Booth climbed the steps to President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater.

We know that the President fought for nine hours to live. He perished from this earth the next morning, but his country still lives

What most people don’t know is what President Lincoln had in his pockets that tragic night. He had two pairs of glasses, some lens polisher, a pocketknife, handkerchief, a five-dollar Confederate note, and nine newspaper clippings.

One of those clippings was of Lincoln and Johnson’s platform. The article read, “That the national faith pledged for the redemption of public debt must be kept inviolate, and that for this purpose we recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures, and a vigorous and just system of taxation.”

There it was in a time of great struggle a simple statement of principle—“a vigorous and just system of taxation.” And during the Civil War, Lincoln signed into law the Internal Revenue Act of 1862.

More...........he continues to inspire me :)

Republicans try to argue that in times of terror, we need to forget about fairness, equity, protecting people below the top 2%, etc., because it's much more important just to be safe and alive.

Edwards' metaphor argues (proves) that at times a great trouble -- when the nation almost split in two -- things like taxation and budgets and equity are never more important.

...what resonated with me was thinking the wealthy did get richer off the backs of the lower and middle working classes. So they should be happy to pay their fair share, rather than look for ways not to.

He was in 2004, and will be again in 2008. I hope the party can get behind him next time.

his help could be strong enough to help themselves.

But Obi-Wan did help them learn how they could help themselves before he sacrificed himself.

And Obi-Wan did feel everyone's pain. Remember when Tatooine was destroyed? He could feel a million voices crying out.

Certainly don't want JRE to sacrifice himself.

(MAybe that should have been help us Obi-tom delaybi)