Democratic Agenda in '07

The Democratic Party's priorities, as it takes control in January 2007 of both houses of Congress, are set forth in its report, A New Direction for America, which was signed by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and published 100 days before the November elections. The following is a summary of that six-point plan.

(Also see Liberalism 101: Guide to the Democratic Party Agenda.)

SUMMARY OF: A New Direction for America:
Six for '06 - Priorities for All Americans, Not Just a Privileged Few

Introduction
"... America needs-- and Americans deserve-- a New Direction that provides security, prosperity, and opportunity for ALL.

With integrity, civility and fiscal discipline, our New Direction for America will use commonsense principles to address the aspirations and fulfill the hopes and dreams of all Americans."

I. Real Security - At Home and Overseas
* Implement the proposals of the 9/11 Commission.
* Require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country.
* Begin phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq.
* Double the size of Special Forces to destroy bin Laden and terrorist networks like al Qaeda.
* Fully man, train and equip our National Guard and our police, firefighters and other first responders.
* Enact a GI Bill of Rights to honor our commitment to US veterans

II. Energy Independence - Lower Gas Prices
* Create a cleaner environment, and free the US from dependence on foreign oil, with initiatives for energy-efficient technologies and domestically-produced alternatives.
* Increase biofuels sold in the US
* End tax giveaways to Big Oil companies.
* Enact tough laws to stop price gouging of the American public.

III. College Access for All
* Increase tax deductions and tax credits for college tuition.
* Slash interest rates for student loans.
* Expand Pell Grants, the need-based, undergraduate federally-funded program

IV. Better American Jobs. Better Pay. Prosperity for All.
* Raise the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $5.15 since 1997.
* End tax giveaways that reward companies for moving US jobs overseas.
* Affordable broadband access for every American.
* Renewed US commitment to research & development.
* Educate 100,000 new US scientists, engineers and mathmaticians in the next four years.

V. Retirement Security and Dignity
* Fight privatization of Social Security
* Expand tax incentives for middle-class and working families to save
* Pension reform via greater transparency and fairness, and protection for older workers.

VI. Affordable Health Care
* Promote stem cell research that offers real hope to milions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.
* Fix the Medicare prescription drug benefit by negotiating lower drug prices and ending wasteful giveaways to drug companies and HMOs.

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'08 Democratic Convention

In August, Convention Co-Chair, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, unveiled the overarching message of the '08 Democratic convention, set for August 25 to 28, 2008, in Denver, Colorado: CHANGE THE COURSE OF A NATION.

Gov. Sebelius commented, "Millions of Americans are facing tough challenges every day - from the economy to the war in Iraq to the housing crisis to crippling energy costs... The 2008 Convention is about ensuring that those peoples' voices are heard and their call for change is heeded."

Each of the first three days, "everyday Americans" will speak in primetime to share their concerns and struggles, and to explain why they support Barack Obama for the presidency.

(Details about the Final Day - Obama's Acceptance Speech are at page two of this article.)

THE 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver:

AMERICANS GATHERING TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF A NATION

(Also see Religious Faith at the '08 Democratic Convention). Monday, August 25, 2008

Day One will be held at the Pepsi Center arena, the 19,000-seat home of the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

Convention Day One message is "ONE NATION" and the headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama, who will focus on her husband's background and core beliefs. Also speaking will be Maya Soetoro-Ng, Sen. Obama's sister and Craig Robinson, Michelle's brother.

Day One will feature a tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy, a U.S. senator for 46 years, who is recuperating from treatment for brain cancer. Kennedy has videoed a message as part of the tribute.

Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be honored for helping lead the Democratic party back to power in Congress.

Other prominent speakers set for Day One include former President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri , a national co-chair of Obama's campaign, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

Speaking in the "Celebrate Everyday Americans" spot will be: Mike and Cheryl Fisher (Beech Grove, IN) Margie Perez (New Orleans, LA) Candi Schmieder (Marengo, IA)Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Convention Day Two message is "RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE." Day Two will be held at the Pepsi Center arena, the 19,000-seat home of the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

The keynote speaker, usually a rising party leader, will be former Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia, a 2008 Senate candidate. At the 2004 convention, keynote speaker Barack Obama delivered his acclaimed "OUT OF MANY, ONE" speeech.

Another prime-time speaker will be Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has chosen to be introduced by daughter Chelsea Clinton. Clinton will focus on health care, jobs and the economy.

Hillary Clinton's speech is calendered for the 88th anniversary of ratification of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Sen. Clinton will be joined on stage by all current women Democratic senators, which includes:

Sen. Barbara Boxer of California
Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana
Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas
Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri
Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington
Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan

State governors set to speak on Day Two include:

Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana
Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts
Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas
Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona
Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia
Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio
Gov. David Paterson of New York and
Gov. Chet Culver of Iowa.

Other Day Two speakers are Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania; Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel.

Speaking in the "Celebrate Everyday Americans" spot will be: Pauline Beck (Oakland, CA) Pamella Cash-Roper (Pittsboro, NC) David Gipp (Fort Yates, ND) Robin Golden (Wyoming, MI) Katherine Marcano (Cedar Rapids, IA)Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Convention Day Three message is "SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE."

Day Three will be held at the Pepsi Center arena, the 19,000-seat home of the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

The headline prime-time speaker is six-term Sen. Joe Biden, Barack Obama's Vice Presidential Nominee, who will deliver an acceptance speech focusing on national security and veterans.

Biden, the outspoken Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 110th Congress, has helped shape U.S. security and foreign relations policies for decades.

Also set to speak on Day Three are former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn.

Other members Congress who will address the Convention on Day Three are Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida. Speaking in the "Celebrate Everyday Americans" spot will be: Mark Docherty (Sterling Heights, MI) Michele Jones (Washington, DC) Beth Robinson (Norfolk, VA) Xiomara Rodriguez (Reno, NV) Michael Wilson (Melbourne, FL) Rep. Patrick Murphy and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute to veterans, active duty military and their families.

Per the Convention committee, "Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy to make our country more secure and advance our interests in the world."

RELATED READING

ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES

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Rating Barack Obama - Debate Scoreboard for the 2008 Democratic Race

Follow the links for more info about each event.

Des Moines Register debate on Dec 13, 2007 - Barack Obama was honest, forthright, fair, respectable, competent, family-oriented, religious, and very bright, but seen by detractors as inexperienced, mild, too intellectual, naive, and short on policy specifics.

CNN Debate in Las Vegas, November 15, 2007, moderated by Wolf Blitzer - Barack Obama consistently offered thoughtful, brilliant responses, and appropriately challenged Sen. Clinton when her soundbites were misleading. I cheered loudly in agreement when Sen. Obama...

NBC News/Philadelphia Debate, October 30, 2007, moderated by Brian Williams, Tim Russert - As he intellectualized and yakked and promised the media ahead of the debate, Barack Obama came out swinging at Hillary Clinton. Sort of. Eventually. Softly at first, morphing into medium-strength...

ABC News/Iowa Debate, August 19, 2007, moderated by George Stephanopoulos - Sen. Obama demonstrated a firm, mature grasp of the issues, and resisted the politico urge to speak in angry tones or rehearsed slogans. Obama actually answered questions...

CNN-YouTube Debate, July 23, 2007, moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper - At last, a format that allows Barack Obama to display his quick wit and intellect, and his quasi-rock star presence. CNN focus groups interviewed after the program named him the candidate who most understood their issues.

PBS-Howard University debate, June 28, 2007, moderated by Tavis Smiley - Sen. Obama gave intelligent, thoughtfully nuanced answers. His insights were unique and progressive, yet moderate. Sen. Obama is a brilliant man, as well as a likeable, mature person. But Sen. Clinton was clearly in-charge on that stage.

California Democratic Convention, April 28-29, 2007 - Obama delivered a superbly uplifting speech that brought the delegates to their feet time and time again. He spoke unvarnished truth to power on the Iraq War, on education, on price-gouging by Big Pharma, and on torture...

DNC Winter Kick-Off Meeting, February 1-3, 2007 - I respect that Sen. Obama is not one to pander to a particular crowd. His no-frills approach was appropriate and, frankly, a welcome relief from the gamesmanship of US political campaigns. I respect that he didn't bait his hungry Democratic audience into a frenzy with cheap-cliche manipulation. But the senator's staff needs to remind him that dour rarely wins the day, much less the election.

View the original article here

Rating Barack Obama - Debate Scoreboard for the 2008 Democratic Race

Follow the links for more info about each event.

Des Moines Register debate on Dec 13, 2007 - Barack Obama was honest, forthright, fair, respectable, competent, family-oriented, religious, and very bright, but seen by detractors as inexperienced, mild, too intellectual, naive, and short on policy specifics.

CNN Debate in Las Vegas, November 15, 2007, moderated by Wolf Blitzer - Barack Obama consistently offered thoughtful, brilliant responses, and appropriately challenged Sen. Clinton when her soundbites were misleading. I cheered loudly in agreement when Sen. Obama...

NBC News/Philadelphia Debate, October 30, 2007, moderated by Brian Williams, Tim Russert - As he intellectualized and yakked and promised the media ahead of the debate, Barack Obama came out swinging at Hillary Clinton. Sort of. Eventually. Softly at first, morphing into medium-strength...

ABC News/Iowa Debate, August 19, 2007, moderated by George Stephanopoulos - Sen. Obama demonstrated a firm, mature grasp of the issues, and resisted the politico urge to speak in angry tones or rehearsed slogans. Obama actually answered questions...

CNN-YouTube Debate, July 23, 2007, moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper - At last, a format that allows Barack Obama to display his quick wit and intellect, and his quasi-rock star presence. CNN focus groups interviewed after the program named him the candidate who most understood their issues.

PBS-Howard University debate, June 28, 2007, moderated by Tavis Smiley - Sen. Obama gave intelligent, thoughtfully nuanced answers. His insights were unique and progressive, yet moderate. Sen. Obama is a brilliant man, as well as a likeable, mature person. But Sen. Clinton was clearly in-charge on that stage.

California Democratic Convention, April 28-29, 2007 - Obama delivered a superbly uplifting speech that brought the delegates to their feet time and time again. He spoke unvarnished truth to power on the Iraq War, on education, on price-gouging by Big Pharma, and on torture...

DNC Winter Kick-Off Meeting, February 1-3, 2007 - I respect that Sen. Obama is not one to pander to a particular crowd. His no-frills approach was appropriate and, frankly, a welcome relief from the gamesmanship of US political campaigns. I respect that he didn't bait his hungry Democratic audience into a frenzy with cheap-cliche manipulation. But the senator's staff needs to remind him that dour rarely wins the day, much less the election.

View the original article here

Elizabeth Edwards, Married to John Edwards, Democratic 2008 Candidate

Elizabeth Edwards is a feisty, outspoken advocate for her husband's candidacy for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Despite her health challenges, she travels and actively campaigns with John throughout the U.S.

Elizabeth Edwards, an attorney with sharp political instincts and shared devotion to her husband's compassoniate causes, is considered to be one of John's closest advisors. Elizabeth is a popular and in-demand, charismatic speaker and a press favorite.

After the 1996 death in a car accident of the Edwards' 16 year old son, Elizabeth retired from her law practice. She has since focused on raising their two children born in 1998 and 2000, and on the Wade Edwards Foundation, established in honor of their late son.

Quote about the 2008 Campaign
"John has a set of things in which he believes, and those are the reasons he's running. He really believes in those things: eliminating poverty, and really doing something about universal health care, and standing up to the President on the war, and going after the environment in a really aggressive way.

The problem for me with the other candidates is I don't know what it is that drives them. What is it they really believe in that makes them get up in the morning and want to do this? I should think the President has to be somebody who has that kind of vision outside themselves."

Source: The Progressive, August 2007 issue

Personal Data
Breast Cancer: On November 3, 2004, only days after John Kerry and John Edwards conceded the 2004 presidential election, Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Said John in early 2006, ""The good news is that Elizabeth's doing great. She's doing very, very well."

But on March 22, 2007, Elizabeth and John publicly revealed that her cancer has recurred, and had possibly spread to her lungs, ribs and hip. Her University of North Carolina doctor stated that Elizabeth's cancer is incurable but treatable.

Marriage: to John Edwards on July 30, 1977. (For more info, see John and Elizabeth Edwards Marriage Profile.)

Children: Wade (b. 1979, d. 1996), Cate (b. 1982), Emma Claire (1998), Jack (2000)

Education: B.A. in English, followed by a J.D. in May 1977 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Birth: July 3, 1949 in Jacksonville, Florida to a U.S. Navy pilot and his wife. Elizabeth spent much of her childhood in Japan, where her father was stationed.

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