More.

Questions from the audience:

Q: Stem-cell research. A: No ideological limitation on funding for stem-cell research. There's extraordinary possibility in it and America should be leading it. More funding for research institutions, NIH.

Q: Illegal immigration. A: There are several components crucial to reform. More secure borders, more technology. We need to be tougher on employers who hire illegals. We need to have a clear path to earned citizenship, no amnesty. People should have a chance to earn it. Illegals should pay a fine. Immigrants should learn to speak English.

Q: NCLB. A: Change it and fund it. (The answer doesn't satisfy me, for it should be ditched.) Mentioned his kids finished first and third grade in North Carolina public schools. Noted his daughter's school did nothing but teach to the test. Tests too intrusive. (Answer not satisfactory because he doesn't understand tests don't mean squat about what the students have learned. But it's par for the course for politicians.)

Q: Lobbyist influence. A: He's proud of the fact he has never taken a dime from a Washington lobbyist. He doesn't have lobbyists funding for him, and he doesn't take money for PACs, either. He thinks it should have been a law on it. As long as there is money in the process, there will be abuses. The only answer is public financing of elections, like Biden has proposed.

Q: Outsourcing. A: Eliminate tax breaks or incentives for companies to take jobs overseas. We need a trade policy that works for this country and other countries. Should adhere to labor standards, no hiring of children. We need to be truthtellers. We need to be the most educated, most innovative, hard to compete with other countries. We want to have those people in service jobs have decent wages, good health care. Talked about public schools and national investment in early childhood education, and "college for everyone." We need to have the vision to do this and make America strong. We should focus on science and technology. We have to be able to compete with workers in other countries with education, education, education.

Q: Patriot Act and signing statements. A: This president believes he's above the law. We need to have a president who is committed to complete transparency. The White House belongs to "you," not to the president. We need to have president open to sunshine, no more meetings with oil lobbyists like Cheney, etc. Transparency combined with real reform is the way to give the government back to the American people.

Q: Foreign policy and trade imbalance with China. Palestinian problem. A: Relationship with China is complex. Chinese take a long view of everything. They are driven by economic growth, and it controls everything. America must engage the Chinese in cleaning up the environment, but we must get our act together first. As for the trade imbalance, Edwards believes there is deliberate manipulation of the currency by the Chinese. It makes it harder to get American goods to be sold there, yet easier to get their goods here. We're a member of the WTO, but Bush and the gang won't do shit to correct the problem. Mentioned the human rights abuses in China. The Chinese are propping up the Sudan, which is engaging in genocide. We have to deal with the Chinese with our eyes wide open. The two great challenges facing America are the rise of violent Islam (Bush has made it worse, not better). The other challenge is the rise of China. We need engagement, being focused on it, experts reporting to the president on it, and our dictator has ignored it in favor of his disastrous Iraq policy. The next president will need to deal with China.

Q: Some writer talked about some proposals for energy policy and our government was covering it up. He wanted Edwards' input, as there was going to be some kind of meeting. Edwards said he would look into the matter. At that point, people were leaving early.

In closing, Edwards, like Obama, talked about pledge cards for donations and such to help his campaign.

After that was done, Edwards stayed around to sign posters and shake hands. I got yet another autograph from him, my third, and the second from him in person. I did take some pictures, and many of them turned out on the digital camera, but I will have to wait until I have the means to upload them.

I think I mentioned there is now a Reno office open for his campaign. I plan to volunteer for it when it gets going and when I get done with my next major vacation trip, which will be in less than two weeks.