Edwards on Iowa Bus Tour: "WE are the Party of the People!"

by NCDemAmy, Mon Aug 13, 2007 at 02:35:10 PM EDT

John Edwards kicked off his 31 county, seven day, Iowa Bus Tour today in Des Moines.

"Over the next seven days, Edwards will talk about his vision for our country. Each day of the bus tour will focus on a different critical issue facing America - ending the war in Iraq, restoring economic fairness to rural America, rewarding work, delivering true universal health care, creating a new energy economy, strengthening education and building a One America where every person has a chance to succeed."

"We are the Party of the People!"

On Day One, Edwards a "Standing by Our Heroes" plan to reform the Veterans' Administration (VA) and make it easier for injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to get the care they need. The plan builds on the proposal Edwards unveiled last May to repair our country's Sacred Contract with our veterans and military families by guaranteeing quality health care, supporting military families and providing education and economic opportunities for civilian life. With August turning out to be one of the deadliest months for American troops since the war began, Edwards also called upon the Iraqi parliament to end their four-week vacation and take greater responsibility for the security of their country.
As president, Edwards will enact a 5-point plan to help returning service men and women with disabilities by:
1. Processing the backlog of disability claims that exists when he takes office by Memorial Day 2009, and cutting the average processing time in half.
2. Fixing the disconnect between the Department of Defense and the VA by launching a broad effort to coordinate all DOD and VA functions and by only having the VA make disability determinations.
3. Hiring at least 300 more VA caseworkers and implementing an accelerated and targeted training program for them, including family outreach.
4. Providing each service member with a comprehensive, standardized medical examination immediately upon leaving the service, and linking that examination with the service member's disability rating.
5. Facilitating care for "signature injuries"--post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), by increasing capacity within the Department of Defense for recognizing and addressing these injuries, increasing counseling resources, permitting access outside of the networks, and ensuring outreach to family members, who can help recognize symptoms.

Click here for more pictures of the Iowa Tour

Meanwhile, Bush made a quick stop at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for a photo op before heading off for yet another vacation. As John Edwards said, Bush's empty gesture is "too little, too late."

Tags: Iowa, Iowa Bus tour, John Edwards, presidential primaries (all tags)

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Great diary!

Love the video.

by TomP 2007-08-13 02:41PM | 0 recs

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Re: Great diary!

Thanks.

I too, like the video but moreover, appreciate Edwards' efforts to empower the people. He understands that the real power, lies with the people and it's up to all of us, to restore our democracy.

by NCDemAmy 2007-08-13 02:51PM | 0 recs

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Re:Veterans' Administration

Edwards is really pointing out the needs of veterans returning from the wars.

I find the attitude of Bush and the Republicans to be so callous when they let the VA hospitals and services deteriorate right when they are needed badly.

I really think they just see these soldiers as props to their war and not as people. There is a coldness there that is despicable.

Good for Edwards for caring.

by pioneer111 2007-08-13 03:46PM | 0 recs

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Re:Veterans' Administration

The veterans' services seem to be where the Bush administration makes cuts because of the expense of the war in Iraq. This is the last place we should be cutting back. All Americans want or veterans to be taken care of.

Edwards is able to see the big picture on these issues. He does not overlook anything that should be done. I believe he will be an outstanding president.

by bettync 2007-08-13 04:14PM | 0 recs

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Re: Edwards on Iowa Bus Tour

Nice video. I remain an Edwards fan, but I really don't know what he has to do to get the Big Mo back in his corner. This much I know, the message about Washington lobbyists ain't it.

by Steve M 2007-08-13 03:54PM | 0 recs

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Re: Edwards on Iowa Bus Tour

I think we are going to see that Big Mo can start at the grass roots and end up more effective than the artificial momentum the mainstream media tries to shove down our throats.

Edwards is gaining momentum around the country at the county and local levels. A supporter in California wrote a nice diary at the JohnEdwards.com site about Edwards winning the California Democratic Council's straw poll by a big margin.

Edwards will be talking about a number of great ideas on his Iowa tour. A lot of people do care about the lobbyist issue, but he will be talking about many other issues too!

by bettync 2007-08-13 04:24PM | 0 recs

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The Big Mo? What about The Big Larry?

Ok. Maybe Jonathan Edwards does not yet have The Big Mo. That's fine. It is too early. He is growing an organic living system,
not pulling on a turnip.

But when you ask yourself
"Who has The Big Larry?",
you've got to admit...it's John. Who else?
Dodd?
I mean, Dodd is great and Dodd is good and all, but he certainly does NOT have The Big Larry. Never has. Never will.

When thinking about The Big Curly, one
has to walk a fine line. I'll move on. Org-
asms are, to some, off topic. if I keep shaking this tree, will you finally let go?
That sort of thing.

So yes. The Big Larry.
And not a minute too soon.

Vote Democratic, Vote Edwards
He's really cool.

Brought to you by
Anonymoses Digression Corporation Inc.
Mohenjo Daro, Erde

by anonyMoses 2007-08-13 05:59PM | 0 recs

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Re: The Big Mo? What about The Big Larry?

I can't say I have any idea what you were saying, anonyMoses, but it made me laugh.

If Edwards does have the Big Larry or the Big Mo, but the press doesn't report on it, does that mean the Big Larry and Mo never existed? Is it one of those quantum physics type things where mere observance changes its being?

Personally, I think there is a tsumani-like Big Larry/Mo and even Curly for Edwards that will take everyone tuned solely into the MCM reality by surprise.

by ashlarah 2007-08-13 06:09PM | 0 recs

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Curly in Photography

I used to hear people talk about "Curly in photography", and never really knew what they meant, until I went to my pseudopope who reaasured me that Curly in photography was much, much different than curly in theory, claiming that "he is not curly at all". I'll have to take his word. No one else will.

As to the existence of Mo and Larry...
Larry precedes essence. Either that or essence precedes Larry. Try one, then the other, and if neither work...consult your family existentialist.

I do know though that if a Mo falls in the woods and know one hears it, then said Mo has to turn in his badge. Not sure if this applies to little or medium size Mo's.

I agree with your assessment that there will be a trifecta of Mo-Larry-Curly synergizing the Edwards campaign toward victory.

Thanks for participating! :)

-dave b

by anonyMoses 2007-08-14 05:15AM | 0 recs

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Re: Curly in Photography

My family existentialist explained that Larry was lonely and scared by his sudden recognition of essence. The consequence of this was the manifestiion of Mo and Curly into existence.

IMO, your pseudopope is correct: Curly in photography was purely for fun and has no bearing on Curly in theory at all.

Surely, the trifecta will make everything clear.

Love your comments!

by ashlarah 2007-08-14 08:19PM | 0 recs

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Thanks for the laughs!

Sometimes it's good to go surreal...

by anonyMoses 2007-08-14 11:20PM | 0 recs

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Re: Edwards on Iowa Bus Tour

Steve M, why do you think not? I'd be interested to hear whether you think its irrelevant to voters or some other reason?

From where I sit, that resonates with Dem primary voters much more than poverty or health care, because its a clear distinction from Clinton. I would agree that for a general, campaign finance is not a winning issue but for the stage of the campaign where we are now -- candidates trying to define themselves to early state primary voters -- I think lobbyists is perhaps his best issue.

by desmoulins 2007-08-13 06:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: Edwards on Iowa Bus Tour

I think severing the link between lobbyists and legislation is an important issue. There's a reason why Nancy Pelosi put it at the top of the 100 Hours Agenda.

Calling on the other candidates to stop taking money from "Washington lobbyists," on the other hand, is valueless. It changes nothing about the substance of whether lobbyists run America, it's pure optics.

I don't like Edwards any less because he's making this point, it's just my opinion that it's unhelpful for him.

by Steve M 2007-08-13 07:02PM | 0 recs

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His plans always show in depth understanding

of the problems.

The veterans plan includes the quiet detail that vets can get care outside the network, but it is a critical detail to returning national guard vets. They don't stay at the base where they initially return because their homes, jobs and families are elsewhere. Naturally, they are anxious to get back.

They shouldn't have to choose between getting on with their lives (along with responsibilities to waiting employers and families) and getting treatment. With PTSD and TBI, they may not even be aware that they need treatment until after they return home, where they have access to little or no support or treatment.

Edwards' plans are always thoroughly thought through.

by ashlarah 2007-08-13 06:01PM | 0 recs

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Re: His plans always show in depth understanding

Great Response to Edwards, here..

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/14/ 11195/1292

by Edna Howard 2007-08-14 08:30AM | 0 recs

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Re: His plans always show in depth understanding

Thanks for the link, Edna. I miss some interesting diaries. There are more than I have time to read, sometimes.

To me, one of the important aspects of having detailed health care plan like Edwards' is that we need to have a president voted in with a mandate to do exactly that. A fuzzy recognition that universal health care is an important issue isn't sufficient to make Congress get on the ball.

We desperately need universal health care, so it is an issue about which the voters have to be adament and candidates have to be specific. As the diary you linked points out, Hillary just has not done that.

by ashlarah 2007-08-14 08:45PM | 0 recs

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If Dems want to win

Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton were all Southern males and if someone can win for the Democrats it probably has to be a Southern Democrat like Edwards.

by realtime 2007-08-14 11:54AM | 0 recs