John Edwards

Oh :swooooooon: I'll drink his kool aid any day! Yes, this is a personal letter just to me.......NOT! LOL. Though I did take out all the *donate* hyperlinks, just wanted to share this lovely man with you all. I'm so smitten with the whole package...family photo follows letter...

Only 3 years to Primary Season, but wanted you to keep your eyes and ears open for Edwards between now and then. If Bush hasn't sold our souls to the Red Chinese by then. (Yes, we're in debt up to our elephant eyes and donkey ears to them right now :( Enjoy the letter...the secret word is "poverty". Oops, I gave it away !

Dear ******,

As Elizabeth and I look back on the past year, we are so happy to have you as a supporter and a friend. When I think of what we've accomplished together — the candidates we've supported, the initiatives we've championed, the thousands of lives we've touched — I know that none of it would have been possible without you. Elizabeth and I thank you for all that you've done, and we are inspired by your generous commitment to the many causes we share.

I want to start by letting you know that Elizabeth is doing very well. She completed her treatment earlier this year, and she feels great and has her energy back. Throughout this ordeal your compassion and loving support have given us great courage and strength. You've become a part of our family, and we're so glad that you've been there for us in our time of need.

I want to talk a little about the issues we care about so deeply. Sadly, millions of Americans still suffer in poverty every day, and it took a disaster like Hurricane Katrina to remind many Americans how dangerous and tragic this poverty is. But you and I have known about the true nature of poverty for a long time, and that's why we've been working tirelessly all year to shine a spotlight on poverty around the country, especially among working Americans. Together, we have pushed for important anti-poverty initiatives like increasing the minimum wage and expanding the earned-income tax credit, and in the coming year we will continue to push for these initiatives and others so that thousands of working Americans have a real shot at getting out of poverty and creating safe, stable lives for their families. Fighting poverty is the most basic and important cause we share, and Elizabeth and I are so glad that you've joined us in that fight.

In fact, this fight against poverty is so important that I believe it will become the cause of the next generation. That's why this past fall I went on a college tour to encourage students to join us in this fight. At ten campuses across the country I spoke to young people about the ways that we can work together to lift thousands of working Americans above the poverty line, and I encouraged them to apply their tremendous energy and creativity to our all-important effort. I knew that young people would be particularly eager to get involved, but I admit I was overwhelmed by the support I saw. Thousands of students signed up, and the devotion they've shown so far has been amazing.

Thanks to your support I've also been able to commit my time to traveling the country, rallying our fellow Democrats and telling others why I think America needs the Democratic Party. We know that it's important to project our message all over the country — not just in our Democratic strongholds — because we know that in every state there are Americans who are eager to fight poverty and to get this country back on track. Like you, I believe that our Party fights for the core American values — educating our children, expanding health care, governing with integrity, recognizing the dignity and honor of hard work, and making sure our workers have a voice at work. When I speak about these values in states around the country, I know that I speak for you as well, and that makes my voice stronger. Thank you for always being right there by my side.

I'm also glad that you've committed to strengthening our Democratic Party from the ground up, and together we have helped raise over $4.5 million to help elect Democratic candidates around the country. This money we've raised is so vital. With these candidates in office, we can pass crucial reforms at every level — reforms that will fight poverty, improve health care and education, and raise the minimum wage. These candidates will also serve as the future leaders of our Democratic Party, providing a foundation at the state level that we can build on nationwide, and that's why our Raising the States program is so important. All Democrats want our Party to be stronger, but you set yourself apart — you made the Party stronger by stepping forward and supporting our candidates. I am so proud of what we've done through the Raising the States campaign, and you should be proud to know that none of it could have happened without you.

It's amazing to think about how much we've already accomplished together. Just this past September we started the College for Everyone pilot program. This program helps low-income North Carolina high school students in a poor rural county by offering them a bargain: if they earn admission to participating state universities or community colleges, if they pledge to work at least ten hours a week during their first semester (either at a job or doing community service), and if they pledge to abstain from alcohol and drugs and stay out of trouble, then we will pay for their tuition, books and fees. I feel like we are already making a difference for these kids and I can't wait to see the paths they decide to take once they finish college.

We've also done some great work abroad. I had a chance to meet with British leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when I visited London earlier this year to discuss the fight against poverty in America and in Britain. I traveled to India in November to see how the Indian government is dealing with the rampant poverty there, and I had an opportunity to discuss the issue in-depth with not only the leaders of India, but also with a number of Indians who struggle with poverty every day. And on behalf of the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on American-Russian Relations, I traveled to Moscow with Jack Kemp to determine how America should help Russia become a more open, free, and democratic society.

These are only a few of the many things we have accomplished together over the past year. I'm so proud to think of how many lives we've touched with our efforts. I thank you for the tremendous work you've done, and I look forward to the even greater work we have yet to do.

God Bless you, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season.

John

in the White House, I don't know of one that would!

Very inspiring :hi:

Let's see if we can't help them get there now.

I am absolutely in love with that man -- not just with his looks but with his heart. He has what this country so DESPERATELY needs right now: A truly sunny, optimistic disposition, honesty, a compelling personal story, compassion, REAL FAMILY VALUES ... He WILL be in the White House someday; I just want it to be in '08, and not later!!!!

What a wonderful and intelligent couple. I so wish that they were in the White House.

If we're still are under a Democracy. This BUSHCO debt w/China really worries me. Glad he's making friends in Russia :)

Him and Dean, just my personal opinion. I get a feeling a lot of Americans are finally getting tired of these, Washington insider club, blue-blood, country club, 20 year with no results, career politicians. Even the ones on our side who could and should have spoken up more against the war. Edwards and Dean were two of the first viable candidates who have actually had a real job in the past 20 years, not immersed in the corrupted Washington, D.C. cesspool.

Good luck to both.

While I may be more passionate towards feel good candidates, Edwards is currently the least political of all of them. As of now, I think the GOP fears him most, he's certainly flying under the radar :)

>>Edwards is currently the least political of all of them.<<

Very true and he is a little more diplomatic than Dean, not taking anything away from Dean though. I respect Dean a lot for always sticking to his original views and statements. I was sorry to see some of Edward's original anti-Iraq views censored by the Kerry campaign handlers. It was a great debate he had against Cheney where I felt he held nothing back.

Along with a 30 minute blog from both of them .I love those people.NOW thats a REAL first family!!!!

electoral college, you're talkin' John and Elizabeth Edwards more than Hillary.

After Dubya, "experience as a governor" is less a factor than ever before. Experience as anything doesn't do Dubya any good. Either he skips the commitment outright or fucks it up beyond recognition, and then lies about it.

A spirit of government as public service might be a hell of a lot more imperative in the Democratic ticket in '08 than anyone can gauge right now, and if that's so, the sight of John and Elizabeth on the cornfields of snowy Iowa will look mighty good to a lot of people.

Always have. Voted for him for NC Senator when we lived there. I say it every time it comes up, but I remember WAYYY back when his Senatorial race commercials came out. I told my husband after I saw the first one that John Edwards was REALLY running for the White House.

I think he is smart, compassionate, charismatic and the opposite of Bush in every way. When you consider that is what Americans say they are looking for, I think he would be a good choice for Democratic nominee.

Perhaps, and I can't say positively, only going on what I've gathered up these past two years... we could do so much worse!!

Democrats need to come back home to a certain reality... that they are the party of the "middle class!" And even though Edward's and his family have advanced to a higher level, I doubt they've forgotten their "roots!"

Aren't we as Americans finally ready to get back to OUR Roots? I feel this is the type of person and extended family that can actually show us what AMERICA was and can be again!!!

A dream, a wish, a hope... maybe a REALITY!!!