I'm posting and running, but most of the questions about Edwards from those sincerely undecided are with regard to the "trust" factor. That's a valid concern for all candidates...all people.
I've compiled what I feel is a good summary about Edwards: 1) the link to the post discussing his Senate record; 2) my comments with regard to "trust"; and, 3) Two America's post with regard to his CANDIDACY (I hope it's okay I did that...I think it's spot on and brilliant), as well as the link that goes with #2 and #3.
I realize no one asked for my opinion, but I'm sharing this summary anyway in case it helps someone make a decision, one way or another. Being undecided is a challenging place to be, IMHO, so I feel for anyone struggling with that. I'm not telling you nor asking you to vote for Edwards, I'm simply asking anyone on the fence to please open your mind and heart (yeah, yeah, I'm a touchy-feely gal) and consider what is written below.
The first is a link to the thread discussing his Senate record:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph ...
This link is a general discussion that may be helpful. I've copied and pasted two posts from this thread below as well, as I think it gets to the heart of the matter.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph ...
I wrote the following last night with regard to some people looking at Edwards and not trusting him versus those of us who do:Many here despise the "gut" thing...gut instinct rather than something vetted and written in a report and published with all the details that can't be disputed, set out for all to see in black and white. Damn, I wish all our decisions could be made on such a nice, neat basis, but rarely are there facts that are that all-encompassing and indisputable. Our individual interpretations (unless one is a lemming) and perceptions then come into play after we've gathered information.
It's like those ink blot tests: everyone looks at the same image and they all see (interpret) different things. It doesn't mean one drank the Kool-Aid or didn't do his/her homework, they simply react differently and perceive differently based on his/her experiences.
My gut instinct says I can trust Edwards; indeed, I believe the passion he is displaying can ignite the people to feel empowered once again, reclaim the "process" and demand accountability. That decision is based on having read all the good, bad and ugly about him there is to read, and then weighing that against my gut instinct and doing the same with the other candidates.
I completely understand that another reasonable, realistic, informed person can look at him, his record, his platform and his delivery and think "he can't be trusted, he's too slick," "his record doesn't reflect what he's saying now," "his hair is too nice for me to like him," "he can't possibly do what he's saying he's gonna do."
That's how others may react to him, and in turn they (hopefully) resonate with another Dem candidate. And that's cool!
But when I hear that, like me, he lost a child, and after that loss he and Elizabeth clarified their path and decided upon public service when he had plenty of money to do what he wanted, I see integrity. Others may see him as "using" this loss as a sympathy vote. But based on MY personal experience, I see integrity and a selfless decision.
When I hear him admit to having made mistakes and admittedly having gone through a major learning process during his time in the Senate, I see someone who is holding himself accountable and acknowledging that we continue to learn and hopefully strive to do better. Others hear him admit to multiple mistakes and see a screw-up.
When I see pictures of his huge house and reports about his wealth, I wonder, "Why the heck are you putting you and your wife and family through such a brutal process when you clearly don't HAVE to?" And then the integrity issue and the choices they have made as a family, after and during loss, come to my mind to answer my own question. And I appreciate the fact that he acknowledges that he has been so lucky that his hard work paid off and his family is secure, and he wants to fight so that everyone who works hard has the same opportunity. I always say, I'd rather have a rich man fighting for me than a rich man fighting against me (we have plenty of that, eh?).
Others see pics of his house and reports of his wealth and see a hypocrite. That's their opinion.
Even armed with information, we see what we want to see based on our interests, our perspectives, and our experiences. I personally would feel better about life in general if more people tapped into their gut instinct and followed it.
As always, this is all just my humble opinion.
This post is from Two Americas, and I believe it describes his CANDIDACY perfectly. Not the man, but his candidacy:"Speaking for myself, and from what other Edwards supporters have told me, it is not Edwards that people are "over the moon" for, it is the promise and power implicit in his message and the potential that has for overhauling the entire political landscape.
Other candidates have much more "star appeal," and better resumes, more charisma, more talent and are better speakers.
There are, of course, some who are infatuated with Edwards, just as there always are with every candidate, but there is something different going on with the Edwards following.
I will support any Democrat who says what Edwards is saying. I strongly believe that if every Democrat were saying what Edwards is saying, that the right wingers would be totally routed for a generation or more. If every Democrat said what Edwards is saying - even if they were lying or failed to come through (as people insinuate about Edwards) - the revitalization and success of the Democratic party would be assured, because an aroused population would demand it and sooner or later the politicians would have to come through for us.
I also believe that there are Democrats who are resisting this because they do not want the Democratic party to return to its roots and regain its former prowess and success. They are personally comfortable with the party the way it is.
Edwards is far from perfect. If politicians were rainstorms, he would be a sprinkle. But that could grow into the downpour we need, and after decades of drought people who are dying of thirst are excited by the first sign of rain and that is why their heads are pointed skyward and their palms are outstretched to catch every drop. For those who are themselves not dying of thirst, and who are oblivious to the millions around them who are, it is difficult for them to understand the Edwards phenomenon. That is OK. Everyone will come around eventually. It is just a matter of time now, and is much, much bigger than the Edwards candidacy."
Best wishes to everyone in their "discovery process"!
:patriot:
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