After the town hall event, Edwards made an unplanned stop at the MoveOn.org emergency veto rally. Someone in the crowd asked, "What will you do on your first day in office?" Edwards replied: "I'm going to close Guantanamo!"

I didn't go to the rally but I remember him saying this at the "town hall" meeting.

Kinda off-topic: I'm curious about whether or not Progressive Happy Hour is still alive and well. If so, how does one get details? On-topic tie-in: It would be nice to discuss the Edwards visit (and other candidates' potential upcoming visits) with like-minded progressives. :)

At the risk of bringing in a discordant note, John Edwards is right on just about every issue out there, but he is wrong on a VERY big issue - free trade. He's against it.

So, for me, it's between Barack and Hillary.

So, for me, it's between Barack and Hillary.

Great. That way we can count on keeping an attack on Iran on the table.

I have strong reservations about Edwards, especially because he voted for the war despite being on the intelligence committee in 2002 and knowing the public propaganda was all lies. There is also the factor that he doesn't have enough political experience to be president. The same can be said of Obama. Unfortunately, Hillary has too much - of the wrong kind.

Unless a genuine alternative, such as Alaska governor Mike Gravel, emerges from the primaries I will be regarding Edwards as an acceptable evil.

I agree with his opposition to Iraq, and his support for working people.

I am horrified by his pandering to Israel. He is only against agressive war when it has become unpopular.

Hey Urban Planning Overlord, none of the Democratic candidates, save maybe Bill Richardson, are for unregulated trade. Nor are any of them against trade. The reality is that a huge number of people oppose unregulated trade. Strong constituencies in the Democratic Party oppose unregulated trade. Democrats cannot oppose such widespread opinion easily. Here, check this PIPA study: http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Globalization/CAFTA_Jul05/CAFTA_Jul05_rpt.pdf

The press release says at one point: Presented three options only 16% endorsed current government policy saying, “I support the growth of international trade in principle and I approve of the way the US is going about expanding international trade.” But only 23% chose a position in opposition to the growth of trade. Rather 56% chose the position “I support the growth of international trade in principle, but I am not satisfied with the way the US government is dealing with the effects of trade on American jobs, the poor in other countries and the environment.”

It might encourage you to know that Edwards merely is promoting stronger labor and environmental standards, including carbon emissions caps, in our trade agreements, that he will pursue further trade if he is elected; he has said he will seek fast-track authority.

Gravel is a nutjob. He wants a national initiative. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of a nightmare that would be!

<h2>I went to the Edwards event at the Park Blocks thanks to a 'evite' from Move-On, however prior to Edwards' arrival it was a very sorry event; the most disorganized, boring, pathetic 'anti-veto' rally or any rally for that matter! My God, what if Edwards never showed?! There was absolutely no organization. My heart goes out to spokesperson for Move-On (full disclosure, I am not a member of Move-On) who spoke her part but then inexplicably allowed 'open-mike' until Edwards showed (or was he? No one seemed to be all that certain.) What resulted were speakers who liked hearing the sound of their own voice and a parade of 'conspiracy' minded individuals (9/11 was a hoax, etc.) intent on getting out the word about the big lie. Give Edwards points for showing up at an event like this...but, please, in the future get a damn agenda!</h2>