Given his relatively brief political history as a Senator and vice presidential candidate who was a strong supporter of the Iraq War,,a co-sponsor as a Senator of legislation giving Bush a blank check to invade, a vociferous proponent of the existence of Iraq's supposed WMDs and who even warned his Senate colleagues not to require Bush to obtain UN sanction or to try to micro manage the Iraq War from Capitol Hill, Edwards new found conversion to an anti-war stance is not especially credible.

Such an 'anti-war' stance is consistent with his stated reason for consulting for a 30 billion dollar international hedge fund based in the Cayman Islands - that it was to understand how such financial manipulataion might help the poor. Such are consistent in that his political stances are not especially credible given his own personal and political history, but rather, smack of rather crass and cynical political opportunism, if not demogoguery.

Based on the former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate's objective history, one is eventually forced to ask, "Where is the meat?"

The leftwing moon bats following John Edwards in his political crusade for power will undoubtedly create a spectacle on Memorial Day ending his political campaign.

War is neither illegal nor immoral where it seeks to liberate or protect a nation’s populace from tyranny and oppression. The sectarian violence in Iraq is being fueled by Iran, Syria, and al-Qaeda, albeit which is further aided and abetted by the progressive leftists seeking ever greater political power which has indiscriminately undermined the troops. It is truly saddening that modern liberalism is unable to discern where real evil exists and redirect their rhetoric towards those who have avowed to kill us wherever they find us. Running is not permitted says our enemy.

Those who would contemplate and exercise such a protest are not true patriots because their motivation is to disrupt the honor and sprit of those who have bravely sacrificed all for this nation. Display your disgraceful political protests another day.

You're Dismissed!

I have family fighting now in Afghanistan a Major no less but he's been to Iraq twice or more as well as including the first Iraq War in 91..

Now I have always had a real bug about how phony Memorial Day is when these right wingers talk in platitudes and then sell out and deny our Troops the help they need the rest of the 364 days of the year they should call it, Bob Dole Day..!

Why must The Democrats play this game of supporting the troops so they will continue to borrow billions not fund but borrow so as to facilitate more of them dying for these Iraqi's who are killing them when they are not killing their own people..?

Even while in their Iraqi Army uniforms..!

This whole war is false and will ruin our Army and Marines as well as national well being and international respect world wide..!

Your right that the Republicans who have so badly neglected our troops real needs, from equipment to health care and psychological care, will spin this issue on Memorial day, about these great Americans we are wasting the lives and sacrifice of sure of course these two faced lying bastards will make hay of Edwards calling for these demonstrations..!

The American people are so over worked and now for decades underpaid, they have no other days or time to even participate or demonstrate than Memorial Day..!

I think Americans against this War should all find meeting places in the large cities mostly, to demonstrate and be counted and seen at lunch hours daily or bi-weekly from 12-2pm..

Organize where you live, find a legal public place for those who hate this Administration and their criminality and this stupid wasteful War where you live, take the Demonstrations to the people make it easy for them to gather at lunch hour everywhere nation wide..

WE obviously can't trust our Congress of either party, it's up to every American to help protect our brothers and cousins and sisters and daughters and sons and even mothers in the armed services...!

Bush and his Republican horde of lying idiots won't even give them another $40.00, so how can any two faced lying Republican even claim to support "the troops .."?

They support war and waste and death and ruin and debt and Halliburton but not Our Troops, who are us, these Troops are us not Republican Fox News robot clones..!

Check out Stars4Peace..there's nothing in it for me but satisfaction..and 1st Amendment expression..!

The real Joe Conason would have never ended a column with the false premise that a perception exists in 2007 that the left devalues or ignores the sacrifice of the military. Joe Conason wouldn't take a cheap shot at John Edwards about insensitivity. We all know that is Maureen Dowd's and Adam Nagourney's beat.

Perhaps the nature of Memorial Day in Sag Harbor or Nantucket, where the American flags look very romantic against the small town shops and lush greenery, clouded the author's perception that we are not living in a romantic country at the moment.

Instead troops are denied a 3.5 percent wage increase during wartime and widows are denied $10 a week. Perhaps he forgot the military's own survey which gave the best reason to end this war. I don't want a military in Iraq where 30% to 47% believe torture is acceptable and find no reason to treat Iraqi civilians with dignity.

I want people like John Edwards to lead, not react, and that is what he is doing.

Absolutely TJ Colatrella, demonstrations against the U.S. Government for more medical, mental health, and cash assistance for our beloved troops and veterans is something I can get behind on Memorial Day or any day of the year. This would actually be a tribute to all who served our nation but therein lies a inexplicable disconnect that has existed between veterans and the government since I can remember from my military service in the 70’s. The situation existing then mirrors that of today despite whichever political party happens to be in power at the time.

My personal belief is that little will change and those needing help will receive only minimal care as I had received and thus have to basically slog through it all with a level of disbelief. Military service was never intended to be the gateway to utopia.

Your frustration with this cluster funk in Iraq is understandable and hopefully your loved one as well as others will return home safely once this mission is concluded.