Elizabeth Edwards says her hubby is the man to build a social movement 3

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1. 

   dkpant Posted 9:53 am
   08 Jan 2008

   She absolutely nails it!If Edwards himself would only say this every time he gets a chance in front of the media and every time they paint him as just being angry and negative. This is a very positive message. It is what I was saying FDR did.

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   caniscandida Posted 7:12 pm
   08 Jan 2008

   "angry and negative"?Yes, DKPant, you are right.  John Edwards's indignation is based on real observations of how the US as a social network ought to work for very many Americans in need, but deplorably does not.  But his essential message is hopeful and positive, because he envisions a practical way of restoring America as a true, functioning community.
   Whether it is fair to say, as Elizabeth Edwards suggests, that Barack Obama got all or most of his good ideas from John Edwards, I do not know.  But it strikes me that Obama's persistence with his point that people in "red" America and people in "blue" America are basically all the same, with the same values and aspirations, is irresponsible.  That worked well enough, perhaps, at the Democratic National Convention in July, 2004, as an anti-Karl-Rove tactic.  But it tends to overlook real and significant differences among Americans.  It may very well develop into a vague social movement, but to what end?
   
   Chickens are our cousins! So are fish! So are other sentient animals! Let us learn to be kind.

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3. 

   dkpant Posted 2:45 am
   09 Jan 2008

   Human consciousnessRichard Greene last week on Air America talked about a book called Power vs Force, by David Hawkins, which I am reading now. It has a chart of human emotions ranging from desperation and apathy all the way through anger, courage, to reason, love, and peace. It is fascinating to read this material and look at his chart while thinking about the political messages and strategies of the various candidates. One thing that strikes me is that Obama's message of hope and unity is higher on the scale of consciousness, yet his tendency to capitulate and compromise reflects a level of fear that is low on the chart. People focus on Edward's anger, but I think he moreso characterizes courage and empathy for humanity which are very high on the chart, and a lack of fear. In actuality, we all are a mixture of these states of consciousness. But we use certain lower emotions to build towards the higher states of consciousness. I think that is exactly what Edwards is doing when he appears angry. You don't get courage unless you get some anger first. He is trying to motivate the general populace which is a bit lower on the scale than he is. He needs to articulate the whole scale a little more, like Elizabeth did.

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