![](\"https:\/\/BradBlog.com\/Images\/JohnEdwards.jpg\")
In a harshly worded fund raising letter sent to members of John Edwards’s 2008 presidential campaign e-mail list late this afternoon, his new Campaign Manager, former Congressman David Bonior (D-MI), holds little back in his sharp criticism of both George W. Bush and Democratic members of Congress for their Iraq War policies and politics. (Email posted in full at end of this article.<\/i>)<\/p>\n
The email — with the eye-popping, if impolitic, subject line “Total Bull” — first takes aim at Bush’s recent pronouncements, as reported by U.S. News and World Report<\/i><\/a> and elsewhere after Bush’s appearance<\/a> on CBS’ 60 Minutes<\/i> last Sunday, “that Congress does not have the power to stop his proposed escalation of the war in Iraq.”<\/p>\n “That’s bull,” Bonior writes before going on in the email to criticize his former Democratic colleagues in Congress, taking them to task for their failure to “step up to the plate and use their power to stop the president from escalating the war.”<\/p>\n “I can assure you that Congress does<\/i> have the power to stop this escalation,” says the 26-year former Congressman.<\/p>\n “Some [in Congress] are calling for symbolic statements that do nothing to stop the escalation,” he writes. “If you hear a member of Congress say ‘non-binding resolution,’ then you’re really hearing them say ‘pass the buck.'”<\/p>\n Citing Edwards’s position “calling on Congress to stand up and take responsibility by using its power to prevent this war from getting any worse,” Bonior goes on to announce the campaign’s plan to run a full page ad in Roll Call<\/i>, with a petition against the escalation and the “tens of thousands” of signatures from supporters who’ve signed it. The e-mail asks supporters to contribute money as well towards purchase of the ad.<\/p>\n Edwards’s short petition, which can be signed here<\/a>, calls on Congress to block funding for Bush’s escalation plan. It reads in full:<\/p>\n LATE RELATED-ISH UPDATE:<\/i> First Zogby poll out of Iowa<\/a> shows Edwards leading the Dem pack with 27%. Far ahead of “second tier dog-fight” between Obama, Hillary, and home state Gov. Vilsack. No big surprises on the Republican side with McCain and Giuliani duking it out, though Newt coming in an eyebrow-raisingly close third place. (Thanks reader TC for the tip.<\/i>)<\/p>\n The e-mail sent to supporters via the JohnEdwards.com<\/a> mailing list follows in full below…<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/BradBlog.com\/Images\/Bush60Minutes_011407.jpg\")
<\/a>“And some members of Congress are waiting for — well, we don’t know what they’re waiting for.”<\/p>\nI am opposed to President Bush’s plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Congress must act now to block funding of Bush’s escalation of the war “\u201d and demand that the President provide a plan to leave Iraq.<\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/BradBlog.com\/Images\/JohnEdwards_TotalBullEmail_011706.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"