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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



You’re so vain…

Posted: Friday, August 24, 2007 3:43 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

From NBC’s Carrie Dann

…You probably think this bus tour's about you.
 
On Day Two of the New Hampshire media blitz designed to paint him as the change candidate, Edwards insists that his retooled anti-establishment stump speech isn't intended to slam his Democratic rivals.

"Nothing I said yesterday has to do with other presidential candidates," Edwards told reporters in Manchester this morning. "They need to move on from thinking about themselves and think about what's important to the country."
 
Edwards faced tough questioning from journalists in the wake of comments yesterday that appeared to deliver a head-on accusation of too-cozy relations between the Clinton administration and DC lobbyists. (The Clinton camp responded by labeling his "angry attacks" as the mark of a "flagging" campaign.)

But after touting his universal health care plan today, Edwards insisted that he's not trying to pick fights -- OR to be the main attraction. “This is not about me, or about Senator Clinton, or Senator Obama," he said. 
 
As for the bitter back-and-forth with his rivals? "Unfortunately, that's the response you get when you're actually trying to talk," he said, "instead of talking about politics."

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I think that would have been a good shot by Edwards - the "not everything is about you" line - if not for the fact that his reference to the Lincoln Bedroom for sale sounds an awful lot like it was directed at the Clintons.
(The Clinton camp responded by labeling his "angry attacks" as the mark of a "flagging" campaign.) edwards didn't make any angry attacks,looks like hillary did, he just stated some facts, the truth apparently hurts mrs. clinton, she best get used to it because in the coming months more ugly little facts will be unveiled about hillary, this is just the tip of the preverbal ice berg
The Clinton campaign should be careful about using the word "flagging" to describe the Edwards campaign, because those low expectations for him only add to the blow if he beats her in Iowa; Clinton has thus far been counting on the expectations assumption that Edwards winning Iowa wouldn't really hurt her too badly if she came in a close second, but these kinds of comments dismissing Edwards completely will make beating him in Iowa a must for her if she keeps it up.
"They need to move on from thinking about themselves and think about what's important to the country." Was that an attack? Hmm
Tell it like it is John!

Edwards 08
Just like a wimmpy man, pick a fight then say thats not what I'm doing. Talk tough, then back down when called on it.

Edwards foreign policy in a nut(less) shell. The terrorists will love old John in the WH; he will talk tough, but do nothing except get a haircut to look good on TV when he announces that he is doing nothing.

Wait I hear the tough talk coming, ......wait for it.......here it is; Lizzy is taking the mike to proclaim that John was talking about that B^*$& and the inexperienced senator. He is just to polite in his southern way to say so.

John if you are going to talk tough at least back it up for one day. Be a man for one day, not a parse the words lawyer.

Hillarys team is laughing at you so hard that they cannot even see straight. The SS Minnow sinks again.
"The 'Lincoln Bedroom' remark had nothing to do with Sen. Clinton."  Right.  Edwards can now add to his other character flaws (phony, wimp) that he's a liar.
Slick Johnnie, just pick up your carpet bag and head back to that enormous mansion on the hill.  Take a full measure of comfort in you filthy, ill-gotten gains and your dashing (dashed) appearance on the national scene.  At least you have a gazing pool at the mansion where you can sit by the hour and admire your god-like elegance.  If that doesn't work, I offer to buy you two of the finest hand mirrors to accomplish the same task with one mirror for each of your smug faces.
A Hillary presidency simply means more corruption and selling our democracy to the highest bidder, notwithstanding that her candidacy would hurt other Democrats running for office in the Rocky Mountain states.
This destroys the no experience arguement:

Brzezinski Embraces Obama Over Clinton for President
Janine Zacharia 58 minutes ago

Aug. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the most influential foreign-policy experts in the Democratic Party, threw his support behind Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, saying the Illinois senator has a better global grasp than his chief rival, Hillary Clinton.

Obama ``recognizes that the challenge is a new face, a new sense of direction, a new definition of America's role in the world,'' Brzezinski said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt.''
``Obama is clearly more effective and has the upper hand,'' Brzezinski, who was President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, said. ``He has a sense of what is historically relevant, and what is needed from the United States in relationship to the world.''
Brzezinski, 79, dismissed the notion that Clinton, 59, a New York senator and the wife of former President Bill Clinton, is more seasoned than Obama, 46. ``Being a former first lady doesn't prepare you to be president,'' Brzezinski said.
Clinton's foreign-policy approach is ``very conventional,'' Brzezinski said. ``I don't think the country needs to go back to what we had eight years ago.''
``There is a need for a fundamental rethinking of how we conduct world affairs,'' he added. ``And Obama seems to me to have both the guts and the intelligence to address that issue and to change the nature of America's relationship with the world.''
Negotiating With Foes
Brzezinski also sided with Obama, who was criticized by Clinton as being ``irresponsible'' and ``naïve'' for saying he would meet in his first year as president with leaders of adversaries such as Iran and Syria. ``What's the hang-up about negotiating with the Syrians or with the Iranians?'' Brzezinksi said. ``What it in effect means'' is ``that you only talk to people who agree with you.''
Clinton has the backing of her own Democratic foreign- policy heavyweights, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke, both of whom served in her husband's administration.
Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, had no comment on Brzezinski's remarks.
Iraq

I bet you think this song is about you, don't you!
The song is about all of us and we must support all the democrats.  It is time to hit the repuks with some fact checking. Want ti be prepared for the last dance.
Poor John - I wish he would go home and take care of his wife instead of wasting her last few precious days on this nonsense.  He hasn't got a hope in Hades.

Go Hillary!!!!
I'm feeling sick about politics these days. I like my Democrats being civil to one another and attacking real jerks like Coulter and Rove. My mind is made up, its Edwards for me. The rest can just go away.
Thanks CD,NC for bringing those remarks to our attention.
Edwards is right about Hilary and lobbyists and he needs to pound that message home.
Thank you CD:
'Brzezinski, 79, dismissed the notion that Clinton, 59, a New York senator and the wife of former President Bill Clinton, is more seasoned than Obama, 46. ``Being a former first lady doesn't prepare you to be president,'' Brzezinski said'

Thanks for not doing an article on this, First Read
Insignificant, right ?

Thanks, First Read for managing to poke Edwards and put a pro-Clinton spin on this !!
Great Job !!

Alan in phx: The problem isn't being 'tough' !
Bush, Biden, Dodd and Clinton are 'tough' on terrorism (and sweet on the flag and apple pie)!!
(bush especially after he dodged the draft)

The poroblem is being dumb on terrorism !!
Alan is the Bush and Bush-lite disease, being dumb on terrorism !!
Amy B,fits my line of thinkin'.
Sierra - I did not put words in his mouth, he did. If you say something then stand behind it and not retreat and be a wimp.

Bush is not on the ballot and who cares about W. I don't and never did, but he did take the fight to them, like it or not we have not been hit again and the terrorist hate us for actually standing up for ourselves. Something Bill, Hillays husband, another southern, gun hating i don't fight, wimp never did.

I do green business but prefer my taxes low.
CD thanks for posting this article.  Why is this not in First Read???? And the front pages everywhere?

"Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the most influential foreign-policy experts in the Democratic Party, threw his support behind Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, saying the Illinois senator has a better global grasp than his chief rival, Hillary Clinton.

``Obama is clearly more effective and has the upper hand,'' Brzezinski, who was President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, said. ``He has a sense of what is historically relevant, and what is needed from the United States in relationship to the world.''
(And haven't we posted this often:)
``Being a former first lady doesn't prepare you to be president,'' Brzezinski said.
Clinton's foreign-policy approach is ``very conventional,'' Brzezinski said. ``I don't think the country needs to go back to what we had eight years ago.''

YES Let's MOVE forward, OBAMA '08 and '12


John getting pretty desperate, arn't ya ?
When will democrats get their heads out of the sand about the Clintons being holier-than-thou.  The Clintons rented othe the Lincoln Bedroom.  There I said it.  The Clintons did a lot of bad stuff while in the White House.  The renting out of the Lincoln Bedroom was the least of the bad stuff they did.  There is too much stuff to name.  It is hilarious that democrats are now acting like Bill Clinton was a saint.  I am a yellow dog democrat and even I had to choke while I vote for Bill the second time.   I was happy to see the Clintns leave the White House and I don't want to see them there again.  If Hillary wins the nomination I will vote for her, but I can't defend her against repugs because my heart won't be in it.  I am a democrat who is in the minority, but this is the way I feel.  
Folks..consider what is on John Edwards website and possibly rethink the accusations that he must be talking about Hillary as there is a record of 270 "guests of the Lincoln Bedroom" DURING G.W. Bushs' reign ,(so far) and many were 'top donors' to the current cabal..change any thoughts out there? if not, it obviously doesnt really matter. VERIFY
Brzezinski, what a joke, the Russian who likes to hear himself talk.  I can never understand a word he says. Nor do I care to listen.
People should read the entire speech. It's beautiful. Some have chosen to take one item out of context. He says so much in the speech. You can read it on John's website. Don't let media whores frame your vote.k
There are those that would say John Edwards doesn't have a chance. I must say John Edwards is your only chance to have a democrat as your president. We need a president that will fight for ALL of us. This country can not afford to have a nominee that can not win against the republicans. Not again.


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