August 18, 2007

Edwards Jumps The Shark

In 1992, one could tell the precise moment when George H. W. Bush lost his grip and the election. In a late campaign speech, he referred to Bill Clinton and Al Gore with sarcastic name-calling. I can't find the exact quote (see update below), but as I recall, he called Gore "Eco Boy" and Clinton something equally silly. It made Bush look immature and desperate; he managed to make Clinton look more presidential than the sitting President.

At least George Bush shot off his mouth at his actual political opponent. John Edwards has apparently decided he's competing with Ann Coulter to see which can prove themselves the most immature:

Former Sen. John Edwards on Friday fired the latest round in his ongoing verbal feud with Ann Coulter, calling her a "she-devil" at a public event before quickly adding that he shouldn't engage in name-calling.

Edwards, D-N.C., was railing against the right-wing media -- including Fox News and Rush Limbaugh -- when he reminded a crowd in Burlington, Iowa, that his wife stood up to Coulter in a public spat earlier this summer.

"We know these people. We know their game plan. They're going to attack us personally," Edwards said. "They attacked Elizabeth personally, because she stood up to that she-devil Ann Coulter. … I should not have name-called. But the truth is -- forget the names -- people like Ann Coulter, they engage in hateful language."

Let's take a moment to laugh at the utter hypocrisy of this statement first. Leave out the fact that calling someone a "she-devil" is a clear example of engaging in hateful language. What did Edwards think he was doing by talking up "right-wing media" in this manner? Was that discussing policy, or was it engaging in hateful speech?. He's waving the bloody shirt over conservative columnists rather than talk about why he should be President -- and all the while railing against personal attacks!

That's somewhat standard fare these days among Democrat presidential candidates, however. For some reason, they feel it necessary to complain about Rush Limbaugh and the conservative punditry as an electoral strategy, waving their own bloody shirts to rile up partisan bitterness rather than talk about policy. One doesn't hear Republican candidates whining about Keith Olbermann or Ed Schultz on the stump, probably because they take the process a little more seriously.

In this instance, though, Edwards has made it clear that he's not Presidential material. He made the same mistake Bush did in 1992, and this time he didn't even direct it at an opponent. He made himself look small and petty, and Americans don't elect small and petty people to the White House. Edwards also made it clear that he and Coulter have a very strange obsession with each other that goes beyond fundraising material.

Edwards had little chance of winning this election. He just dug his own political grave. Maybe he can get Coulter to read a eulogy.

UPDATE: Bush 41 called both Clinton and Gore "bozos", and referred to Gore as Ozone Man, and the remarks made national television in the last week of October 1992. Scott M provided the info in the comments. In fact, the Ozone Man comment was, "Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man."

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Comments (41)

Posted by Cowgirl | August 18, 2007 8:18 AM

Captain, you hit that one spot on. I, too, have been unable to glean any information of value from anything Edwards has said. Typical lib.... all talk; nothing they say makes sense; obviously living in some parallel dimension which rarely intersects with reality.

Posted by ScottM | August 18, 2007 8:34 AM

He called them "bozos." Also, he called Gore "Ozone Man."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3DC113AF931A35752C1A964958260

Posted by John | August 18, 2007 8:36 AM

The only iota of traction Edwards has gotten during the entire campaign came during the two times when he and his wife got into it with Ann Coulter, the first over the comment at CPAC and the second when John's wife went after Ann on "Hardball". In both cases, the Edwards campaign immediately sent out fudraising letters, knowing that among the far left, Coulter drives them into blind rage as much as just about anyone else not named George W. Bush on the conservative side.

So all this really amounts to is an effort by the Edwards campaign -- which just had to shut down operations in Nevada due to a lack of funds -- to goad Coulter into a new round of namecalling against Edwards, so that John and Elizabeth can send out a new round of cash solicitations telling the Kos, MoveOn and DU crowd that they have to pitch in to stop the Ann Coulters of the world from taking over.

If Ann is smart, she'll say exactly that and tell people Edwards is too embarrassing to warrant any kind of new attack, and that she's going to save her barbs for the serious Democratic presidential candidates. However, this is the same woman who -- after being asked why she made the first Edwards jibe at CPAC and took the focus away from the GOP presidential candidates in attendance -- told Sean Hannity that the CPAC attendees didn't come to see or hear the presidential candidates, they came to see and hear her. Anyone with that attitude won't be able to resist getting back into the spotlight with another shot across Edwards silky (but inconsequential) mane.

Posted by truthsword | August 18, 2007 8:58 AM

In retrospect, even though it was childish and not presidential, 41 was right on the mark. "Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man." Could just make that Goracle Man.

Posted by Bennett | August 18, 2007 9:08 AM

John Edwards is way too sensitive to be President. You need the skin of a rhinoceros to handle that job and he clearly doesn't have it. Bothered by Ann Coulter? Please. She just writes columns, Senator, and does the talking head bit on cable news. If you can't handle her jibes, why would we think you can stand up to Ahmadinejad or Assad or Kim Jong-Il.

Posted by JEM | August 18, 2007 9:13 AM

It may have seemed tacky, but Bush 41 was spot-on about Gore.

Posted by The Pirate | August 18, 2007 9:19 AM

Edward's calling Coulter a "she-devil" is pure psychological projection of the "she" and the "devil."

Posted by Brett | August 18, 2007 9:22 AM

"Americans don't elect small and petty people."

Of course they do.

Why the pandering? You're not running for office, are you?

Posted by Phillep | August 18, 2007 9:24 AM

I wonder if "man" in "Ozone Man, Ozone" was just thrown in for emphasis and not meant as a label:

"Ozone", man, "ozone".

How would he correct it without sounding lame?

I voted for Clinton because he struck me as a lazy, incompetent, do nothing bum who would not push for much of anything, reducing the rate at which the fedgov was intruding into our lives and rights.

I overlooked Hillary.

Posted by Jim,MtnViewCA,USA | August 18, 2007 9:46 AM

Sen Edwards is pretty much beneath contempt.
Here's another example to pile on to the others.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZGViOWQ4MzYwMzk4OTk3MTAxZTAwMjVkMTljN2QzMzA=

Posted by paul a'barge | August 18, 2007 9:54 AM

Who the heck is Ed Schultz?

She-Devil?

Wowser. Apparently Edwards is in fact a flaming fag.

Posted by sherlock | August 18, 2007 10:01 AM

NPR broke the code of omerta this morning about Edwards' $16 million investment in sub-prime mortgages. They played it straight too, ignoring the usual Dem-life-preserver, in this case the BS about "divesting" and "helping those people", and just hitting how the facts contrast with the candidate's projected image as savior of the poor. When the MSM starts reporting on a Dem without the soft halo vignetting you know its time for the cull.

Of course my local lib-rag is keeping the code of silence so far, but the dike may have broken on Silky.

Posted by sherlock | August 18, 2007 10:13 AM

ps. re NPR. Is it a coincidence that the first time in memory they have forthrightly criticized (okay, pointed out an obvious contradiction about) a Democrat candidate's positions, it was done by a substitute "news analyst" when Dan Schorr was on vacation?

I'm going to drop them a congratulatory note instead of one of my regular rockets, and suggest that there is an easy way to get more of them from me and perhaps many others - make that vacation permanent.

Posted by Philip | August 18, 2007 10:14 AM

Turns out that Bush 41 had Gore's number all along. The Goracle has proven to be exactly "Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man."

Posted by Neo | August 18, 2007 10:17 AM

This is talking about the people's issues ?

Sounds like Edwards is writing his own swan song.

Posted by hunter | August 18, 2007 10:34 AM

of the two women running for President,
John Edwards is certainly the more effeminate and emotionally unstable.

Posted by ERNurse | August 18, 2007 10:47 AM

Not only has Anne proven herself the better woman, she's also the better man.

Edwards is the epitome of the term "liberal wussy."

Posted by hunter | August 18, 2007 11:07 AM

sherlock, NPR is only attacking Edwards because he is not Hillary.
Hillary could be running a kiddie porn ring and NPR would either not report it or blame it on Bush.

Posted by english teacher | August 18, 2007 11:10 AM

so the captain writes a post about how it only hurts edwards to call coulter a name, to which his readers reply by calling edwards names like "fag" and "wussy". maybe you guys should pay a little more attention to what the host says.

Posted by bulbasaur | August 18, 2007 12:14 PM

english teacher,

The Silky Pony is engaged in a protracted job interview for President of the United States; his mistake was he showed he lacked the sense to keep his tongue in check.

What he said would be fine in a pub with his trial lawyer friends.

Certainly you can see the difference?

Posted by tomthemoderate | August 18, 2007 12:16 PM

How terrible that Edwards would resort to name calling after the high-minded discussion the right wing blogs and commentators have set for our nation.

Where does he get such hateful ideas! Oh dear me! I hope Ann is all right.

In Tammy Bruce's reasoned and wonderful take on this matter her first sentence calls Edwards "scum". For a lesbian, she sure lives in a glass house. You right wing guys can have her and Coulter and that man's man completely non-phony Fred Thompson.

One question: why wait for a comment to say it is an example of "typical lib" thinking? Just keep saying it: it is the sign of conformity that we love so much in your writing.

Posted by t | August 18, 2007 12:22 PM

Hunter you dog!!!!

You write:

John Edwards is certainly the more effeminate and emotionally unstable

hahahahaha that is a good one you good old boy rascal. I hope the MSM doesn't attack Thompson or denigrate him by character asissination. It would be un-rightwing blogworthy.

Vive Hypocrisy!

Posted by hunter | August 18, 2007 1:22 PM

t,
responding to the metrosexual candidate is not hypocrisy. And I forgot just exactly when I ever signed up for a sniveling lefty like you to pretend to be my jimminy cricket.
What is marvelous is how this never ending campaign season has already let us see just what an empty pretentuous suit Edwards is, and how childlike and reactionary Obama is.
Of course that leaves the other woman in the race, but she creeps way too many people ou as well.
We will once again have a Presidential campaign where the MSM is goig to be declaring the lefty a winner right up until the time they lose the election.
But hey, if you want to numb the pain by claiming I and others who see through Edwards are too mean, by all means proceed. It is the least I can do.

Posted by t | August 18, 2007 1:37 PM

hahahaha Hunter. You are as funny as Dennis Miller and Jackie Mason.

Man, move over Jon Stewart: Hunter is the new dog on the block. This is classic:

"Of course that leaves the other woman in the race...."

that means that all Democrats are WOMEN (sorry, womin') doesn't it? And being a woman is bad, so therefore democrats are bad and Republicans are good.

How do you guys think of great stuff like this? Is The Half Hour News Hour still hiring?

I just hope Fred Thompson speaks Hunter to the American People. What elevated diction and argument! And don't forget to write when someone says that Thompson's wife is younger than his daughter, or that he never owned a pick-up truck, ro whatever else will annoy you in your quest for Saddam-like one candidate elections.

Are you conformist yes, but what does one expect from the right blogosphere? You may not know this but William F. Buckley was and is effemintate and down-right snooty: he drank wine, loved classical music and ballet and all sorts of other 'womminy get-all starched shirt tarnation jimminy-jacks' --sorry of my discourse is rusty.


Gotta run. Rudy and I are working at the mine site collapse just the way we both worked at the WTC . Hope we don't get sick on our way to the truth.......

Posted by daveinboca | August 18, 2007 1:59 PM

ABC has the LEAST deformed-liberal bias of the three major broadcast networks, ever since NBC lost Neutron Jack Welch at GE as a monitor for keeping the nutroots like Zucker on the reservation. And CBS lost the "Tiffany" label back when Rather started to pollute the airwaves with his bigoted leftist pandering.

Yet ABC is not honest enough to put the entire Coulter/Edwards fracas into context. Actually, it's hilarious that after the Hardball confrontation between Ann and JE's malignant wife, the Edwards campaign claimed their coffers were overflowing and polls shooting skyward.

A month later, Edwards polls are slipping below 10% and he's closing down his Nevada operation to the dismay of Dingy Harry Reid! Is somebody fibbing about the Silk-maned Hair-and-Makeup candidate's coffers and numbers?

YES, Edwards and his Kossack Krew are liars, cheaters, and ambulance chasers "studying poverty" by consulting for a sub-prime mortgage offshore hedge fund that this prevaricator claims was a stint to "study poverty" while making $500K!

What a slick charlatan!

And Ann's cachet goes up with honest folk while louses like Maher, who want the VP to die, waltz unscathed through the corrupt media's briar patch.

Posted by t | August 18, 2007 2:21 PM

daveinboca


Did you ever read Captain Ed? He tries to write for everyone, not just the vicious, while your post was, as usual, neither serious nor reasoned commentary.

Vitriol is not thinking.

Captain Ed as recently as March wished Coulter would go away.

I tell you this, sincerely,Coulter is the best thing that ever happened to the left in recent years. Most Americans see her as a cross between a washed out cocktail waitress and de-frocked dominatrix who lost her position because it was discovered she was a transsexual. You can have her.

Posted by Rose | August 18, 2007 3:20 PM

I hate to disagree with so many about Ann Coulter, but frankly, I love it when she can say FAR LESS than the average MSM "journalist", i.e. Alan Colmes, whom everyone agrees is "sooooooo reasonable", and get such rabid attacks back for her baiting, both from the Left and from the right who are offended in behalf of the Left - while NOBODY reacts to the Left baiting the Conservatives.

I love it because it tells so much about those who rise to her bait - and WE NEED TO SEE THAT - because it is like someone else said about it, if they cannot tough it out in a fight with ANN, how do we expect them to deal with the real issues, like North Korea, China, Putin, Hamas, Hizbullah, and Toady Chappaquiddick Kennedy? And the 9th Circus?

I love it when Ann lets fly with far more truth in her little finger than the entire Socialist coven is capable of dealing with.

Some "on the Right" need to start learning how to deal with it, as well.

These little pansy parlor games they play while watching the Left flush America down the drain are getting far too much to stomach - especially from the crowd that demands ~we don't REALLY love America~ if we won't vote for Rudi or Fred!!!

I don't have no lick of use for ENABLERS, such as those who snoozed until they were sure CHINAGATE would see NO prosecutions.

Posted by Devil's Advocate | August 18, 2007 3:29 PM

I totally agree that Edwards is a hypocrite for his statements, but ABC is also to blame for its reporting.

ABC engaged in pure journalistic negligence.

They probably should have covered the real story about John Edwards that was posted in the Wall Street Journal.

But, the elitists continue to tell the audience, “The customer is always wrong and too stupid to know what good Journalism is.”

You can read my take about ABC's rekindling of the Edwards' vs. Coulter catfight (along with the blatant misquoting of Coulter) at Copious Dissent - Your Daily Dose of Liberty

Posted by viking01 | August 18, 2007 3:33 PM

Silky Pony Edwards hasn't realized yet that his true calling in life is to complete his dirtbag cycle of primordial ambulance chasing organism as hizzoner Roy "The Pants Judge" Pearson's Satanic twin.

Posted by Rose | August 18, 2007 3:48 PM

I grew up with DECADES of Americans being nice and polite and quiet when the Liberal Socialist idiots spoke - and unfortunately, the Political system took that as a RAGING GREEN LIGHT for Socialism.

If something is worth having, you better be ready to fight for it - or you will NOT have it.

The Dims have been fighting for their goals for 150+ years.

The GOP have been fighting to get Marquis of Queensbury rules established.
By the time the MQ Rules are established, there won't be anything left worth fighting over.

Excuse me when I'd rather bite the Dims on the leg than let them steal my home (i.e. KELO) without so much as a bloody WHIMPER from ME!

When they steal something of MINE, I want them to AT LEAST have a REMEMBERED FIGHT for it!

John Adams - Be not intimidated... nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice.

Samuel Adams:
If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.

Samuel Adams - If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.

Samuel Adams - Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.

Samuel Adams - The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.

He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections.
- Samuel Adams

How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!
- Samuel Adams

Patrick Henry - Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.


Patrick Henry - Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.... O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people!


Patrick Henry - It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. ... Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things, which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. ... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

"The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights; to consider the will of the society enscounced by the majority of a single vote as sacred as if unanimous is the first of all lessons in importance, yet the last which is thoroughly learnt. This law once disregarded, no other remains but that of force, which ends necessarily in military despotism." --Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, 1817. ME 15:127

Posted by Rose | August 18, 2007 3:53 PM

Most Americans see her as a cross between a washed out cocktail waitress and de-frocked dominatrix who lost her position because it was discovered she was a transsexual. You can have her.

Posted by: t at August 18, 2007 2:21 PM
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

HEY! When did the subject change to Hillary?

Posted by Rose | August 18, 2007 4:10 PM

... "Of course that leaves the other woman in the race...."

that means that all Democrats are WOMEN (sorry, womin') doesn't it? And being a woman is bad, so therefore democrats are bad and Republicans are good. ...


Posted by: t at August 18, 2007 1:37 PM

****************************

That is SOOOOOOOOO unbelieveably sad that not only do you so not get it - you obviously don't even have a clue!

SO LOL!

Reminds me of when Algore assured us in the Fall of 2000 that we Christians could KNOW he was one with us because John 16:3 was his favorite Bible verse!

Right up there with the Dim response to
Andrea Yates and Susan Smith!

Good Grief! How pathetic can you guys get? There seems to be no bottom to it!

So LOL!

Posted by Dugger SD | August 18, 2007 4:18 PM

Kieth who? and Ed Who? The only way these guys get anybody to hear them is when people such as Rush Limbaugh feature their comments on their shows. Otherwise, only a few people would hear of them.

Posted by hunter | August 18, 2007 4:53 PM

t,
Sorry, I forgot you are dhimmie, and dhimmies can't read for squat. I just sorta rolled it out there, more like bowling, and it still went over your head. Ya see, "woman" is singular. If I had written, "women", then I would have been using plural - that means more than one. So - follow closely, this is a point- when I said 'the other woman' in the race, I was referring to a 'single' (that means just one) other woman in the race. Now I know the other candidates are pretty much tweedle dee and tweedle dumber, but only to a troglodyte lefty like you could I be msiconstrued so blatantly. Which makes me wonder - are you actually Sen. Edwards or a member of his family or paid entourage just trolling trying to slow down the inevitable collapse of your pointless campaign? Just wondering.
Anyways, enjoy. Edwards was politically a doa candidate, even before he started hiding behind his wife and using Coulter misquotes to try and raise money. Talking about dat debbil woman, and rattling that empty can of ideas of his will ony entertain the lefties so long, as they cannot help but to watch Edwards and his totally phony bag of positions get raher ripe in the public square.
But whoever or whatever you are, enjoy yerself now, ya hear?

Posted by Dave D | August 18, 2007 4:54 PM

Gee, I always thought he was done when he promised to raise taxes to pay for universal health care. (Which I found weird because I heard how we already are actually providing it and doing so inefficiently so you'd think you could do it without raising taxes.)

Posted by Mike | August 18, 2007 6:31 PM

Hateful language? Perhaps if one buys into the comtemporary idea that any language that might in any way offend anyone must be considered hateful, even "hate speech." In actuality, it may be useful to have a sense of humor about this. I'm sure Ms. Coulter is, at this very moment, recovering from an uncontrollable bout of laughter and planning how to incorporate this into her next column, which will be substantially funnier and more enlightening than anything John Edwards could come up with.

Calling someone, in 2007, a "she-devil," smacks of a bad 1950's movie trailer for an equally bad "wild women" movie of the kind pioneered by Russ Meyers. Titles? How about "Conservative She-Devil From the Internet!" or "She-Devils Unleashed!" It's so campy as to be funny, and it's so outdated and just plain odd that it provides a bit of insight into what isn't functioning in Edward's overly coiffed head. Perhaps all the styling chemicals have finally caused irrepearable damage?

Posted by Mwalimu Daudi | August 18, 2007 9:38 PM

Coulter is Edwards' only fundraising weapon these days. Trouble is she is getting a bigger boost out of it than he is. And at this rate Ann will become President before the Breck Girl does.

Perhaps Coulter can title her next book Confessions of a She-Devil and really cash in.

Nah - Teresa Heinz-Kerry (with Edwards' help) would sue her for trademark infringement for sure.

Posted by docjim505 | August 18, 2007 9:43 PM

In a fight between Ann Coulter and Silky Pony, I'm betting on Coulter. I think Silky's trying for a repeat of the Hilldabeast / Rick Lazio debate where the mean ol' Republican menaced the poor widdle defensewess democwat woman.

I can see Silky on the Sunday morning talk shows now:

"[sniff] She was [snivel] MEAN to me!"

What a pansy ass little twit.

Posted by The Yell | August 19, 2007 4:06 AM

Now now, the trolls make an excellent point.

Edwards is no worse than we commenters.

So he clearly deserves 8000 nuclear warheads, veto power and a seat at the UN Security Council. I know I do.

Posted by Clyde | August 19, 2007 5:38 AM

My problem with Edwards is that he is a hypocrite, who frequently says one thing and does the opposite. He panders to audiences, telling them what they want to hear with his treacly populist message, but when the rubber meets the road, he's only in it to enrich himself. He could potentially be a worse president than Jimmy Carter, and that's saying something.

Posted by ERNurse | August 19, 2007 10:50 AM

Obviously, English Teacher does not comprehend the difference between "name-calling" and "pointed observations."

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