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# Posted 8:36 PM by Dan

JOHN EDWARDS GETS SLAMMED. Remember folks, it's May of 2002. The next Presidential election is over two years away. Yet based on his appearance on "Meet the Press" last Sunday, many in the punditocracy have decided that Edwards is not a viable contender for the Democratic ticket come 2004. Stuart Rothenberg declared, "he set the bar pretty low for himself with Tim Russert on Sunday." Edwards made the following foreign policy "gaffes":

1) He said Afghanistan was returning to Taliban control, but opposed a U.S. troop buildup there.

2) He would not criticize Israeli settlements or military incursions in the Palestinian territories, and could not explain how the United States as an uncritical supporter of Israel could help achieve Middle East peace.

Let's go back to November 1999, one year before the Presidential election:

"Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?"

"The new Pakistani general, he's just been elected - not elected, this guy took over office. It appears this guy is going to bring stability to the country and I think that's good news for the sub-continent," the Republican candidate offered.

Good news, but not an answer, and the interviewer insisted: "Can you name him?"

"General. I can't name the general. General"

So Bush benefited from the "soft bigotry of low expections." Is Edwards harmed by the "soft bigotry of high expectations?" It's too early to count him out. Do we expect more from Edwards because of the elevated importance of foreign policy post 9/11 or did we expect less from Dubya?

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