Would John Edwards bolt the Democratic party and run as an independent ?

[EVDebs]

Is this even possible ? Assume that this is why Ralph Nader threw his support to JE, is it possible for Edwards to run as the Green Party candidate if the Dems pick HRC or Obama ? Just curious.

The only anti-corporatist out there would make it very difficult for me to vote for either HRC or Obama based on what I've seen so far and I'm sure many others would prefer to stick with JE no matter what.

[MadBadger]

1. He wouldnt

[Mythsaje]

2. I seriously doubt it.

JE is a Democrat. He's a REAL Democrat.

[Dhampir Kampf]

3. I'd hope he wouldn't..

...someone who would once again cause us to lose an election.

(And Edwards is my first choice)

[RoyGBiv]

4. If he's stupid, yes ...

But he ain't stupid.

[MadBadger]

5. If Edwards ran in a third party, the Repubs would win

Hands down

[EVDebs]

16. No, from what I'm witnessing the corporate interests would win nt

[Bongo Prophet]

6. No

[MADem]

7. Would Obama? Maybe run with Bloomberg as his VP?

Why would Edwards sully his hard earned reputation like that? He'd have to have a brain tumor or something.

[melody]

8. No, never

Never happen.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. That sounds like the kind of self-serving assholic thing he'd do. So, sure.

[More Than A Feeling]

19. Will you post a thread taking that back when he doesn't?

[still_one]

10. no, if for nothing else, he knows it wouldn't work /nt

[Lisa0825]

11. No,

I have never gotten that sense from anything I have heard or read from him. I think he wants to bring the party back to its historical focus on the working people, not to screw us by splitting the liberal vote. If he does not get the nomination, I hope that he will continue to work within the party to bring about change in some other role.

[FrenchieCat]

14. DId you read this ? cause

That's where a trillion of our dollars have gone!

Delivered on October 7, 2002 in the Halls of power-
This week, the U.S. Senate will have an historic debate on the most difficult decision a country ever makes: whether to send American soldiers into harm's way to defend our nation. The President will address these issues in his speech tonight.

My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. I am a co-sponsor of the bipartisan resolution we're currently considering.

Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave threat to America and our allies -- including our vital ally, Israel.
snip

After 11 years of watching Saddam play shell games with his weapons programs, there is no reason to believe he has any real intention to disarm.

At the end of the day, there must be no question that America and our allies are willing to use force to eliminate the threat of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction once and for all. And I believe if America leads, the world will join us.

Eliminating Iraq's destructive capacity is only part one of our responsibility, however.

We must make a genuine commitment to help build a democratic Iraq after the fall of Saddam. And let's be clear: a genuine commitment means a real commitment of time, resources, and yes, leadership. Democracy will not spring up by itself or overnight in a multi-ethnic, complicated, society that has suffered under one repressive regime after another for generations. The Iraqi people deserve and need our help to rebuild their lives and to create a prosperous, thriving, open society. All Iraqis — including Sunnis, Shia and Kurds — deserve to be represented.

This is not just a moral imperative. It is a security imperative. It is in America's national interest to help build an Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors, because a democratic, tolerant and accountable Iraq will be a peaceful regional partner. And such an Iraq could serve as a model for the entire Arab world.
snip
We must also remember why disarming Saddam is critical to American security – because halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and ensuring they don't fall into the wrong hands, including terrorist hands, is critical to American security. This is a problem much bigger than Iraq.
snip
Even as we lead the world to eliminate the Iraqi weapons threat in particular and global proliferation in general, we must maintain our resolve in the long-term fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.

I reject the notion that this is an either-or choice. Our national security requires us to do both, and we are up to the challenge. We fought World War II on four continents simultaneously. America worked to rebuild Germany and Japan at the same time, under the Marshall Plan. We waged the Cold War in every corner of the globe, and we won. --John Edwards
http://www.cfr.org/publication/5441/americas_role_in_the_world.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F9641%2Fjohn_edwards%3Fgroupby%3D3%26hide%3D1%26id%3D9641%26filter%3D2002

Oops...I remember now, three years later, before another run, he said Sorry! John Edwards is just so really good about his timing.

I don't think he'll go with the green party either.

[EVDebs]

18. WHAT 'liberal vote' ? In NH and IA hardly anybody turns out to vote !

"850,836 total registered voters -- 26% Democratic, 30% Republican, 44% Independent" 517,000 or so voted, meaning a 61% turnout, with 39% either sitting this out or not having their votes counted.

http://political.shoutingmat.ch/comments/2059829.html

This is the real story. Our so-called Democracy is being destroyed by couch-potatoes. Either that or Edwards is busting his ass off for people who can't make it to the polls to vote for him. Why bother ? The corporate candidates are sewing up the vote right now anyway, eh ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4009174&mesg_id=4019420

I'm told that only around 300,00 of Iowa's potential 2 million voters actually caucused !

[Renew Deal]

12. No, Edwards doesn't mean the anti-corporate stuff.

He won't leave the party. He's just pandering to the left.

[hfojvt]

22. Too bad he didn't pander to the corporations

Then he could be the front-runner like Hillary. What the hell was he thinking? Expecting the post-Clinton Democratic party to be liberal?

[OHdem10]

13. I do not think this would be a good time for it.

There are too many undercurrents in Dem Rarty right now.

You have Bloomberg and the Boren Group up to something.
Elites oh Elites. They will help the Democrats snatch
Defeat from the Jaws o f Victory.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. Even I don't have that low of an opinion of him.

No.

[sjdnb]

17. Wish on that star all you might, but Edwards

will not become President unless he wins the Democratic nomination.

And, it's looking like our only hope is a late Gore entry with Edwards as the VP.

Otherwise, we're left with either Hillary/Bill or Oprahope-ama.

If that is the case, I'll be voting for Hillary/Billary ...

While Bill Clinton was President: Family Leave Act; Brady Bill; Pakistan/Indian nuclear war averted; balanced budget; $35/barrel oil; middle class tax cuts vs tax cuts for ONLY the wealthy/corporations; screw Corporate Welfare/exorbitant bonuses/salaries for corporate CEOs when the only reason they are making any profits is either because of US worker productivity OR they have gone offshore and are paying slave wages to folks who are more like slaves than valued workers all while collecting subsidies and avoiding taxes with offshore entities ... etc.

[EVDebs]

26. If Bloomberg enters the race Obama or HRC lose

If Bloomberg enters and evens up the race for the GOP to have a chance, then you'll be begging to have had John in as a third party independent to take some of the wind out of Bloomberg's sails. Who knows, by then--in the GOP's little waiting game--Edwards may have enough popular support to run the table.

This isn't a scenario that's out of the question. It's highly probable.

[MagickMuffin]

20. John has said NO to a 3rd party run. He is a Democrat and supports the Democratic Party

:party:

I'm sure many others would prefer to stick with JE no matter what.:applause:

[EVDebs]

23. If Obama wants my vote he'll have to take on The Corporation someday. nt

[JI7]

21. no

[Bread and Circus]

24. I seriously encourage anyone to run a third party bid...

I wholeheartedly support Obama but in the long run the 2-Party Stranglehold on this country is killing it.

However, I seriously doubt he would do it.

Also, if people want to run Independent, they should do it from the beginning, not as an alternate path to advancement.

If you want to be independent, then do it.

[EVDebs]

25. If Bloomberg enters the race as an Independent you'll change your tune FAST.

If Bloomberg enters this race, and Obama OR Hilary is the nominee, the Democrat will lose. Pure and simple.

Obama and/or Hilary still has a chance of winning if Edwards bolts. Howzat for ya ?

[Blue_In_AK]

27. I really don't see him doing that. n/t