The Art of Politics and Why & How to support John Edwards (DailyKOS)

[Triana]

by Valhalla
Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 09:15:04 PM PST

Friends, Fighters, and to all who Keep the Faith:

I want to talk to you about two things. The real nature of politics and why & how we should continue to support John Edwards.

...

Obama is a roll of the dice for progressives -- but he can be influenced if needs us. And if we want to influence him, it's not by voting for him but for someone else who purely represents us. He will have to reckon and bargain with our standard bearer or he will throw in with Clinton as we near what looks to be a brokered convention. Personality is ultimately meaningless if the power continues to remain in the hands of a few. Our hope is in the eternal truth of Progressivism not in the personality of one man.

...

Edwards plan is wildly ambitious. And yet, if your going to dream, why not dream big? If you haven't already, I invite you to check out his website and his incredible analysis of what we need to focus on and how to achieve it. I will speak to the core of the Edwards' mission, which is to change the way power is allocated in Washington. Currently, six men control 90% of all media, and the Fortune 500 has made Washington its personal concierge. Edwards wants to undo what Reagan hath wrought -- condensing our national wealth into the hands of a few while continually sucking the middle class dry (and leaving the working and underclass to starve). He understands that wealth is power. The only way to increase the power of the middle class is to increase its relative wealth. Moreover, he understands that Multi-national corporations (many of them with foreign shareholders) stand in the way of the Environmental, Educational, and Economic policies that we all want. Because he is proposing a counter-revolution that would overthrow Reaganism and return us to Rooseveltism, the forces of status quo have undermined in him every way possible. They have ignored him, belittled him, lied about him. But he has soldiered on, running a dignified and honorable campaign and always, always taking his rivals back to the issues and the importance of putting the good of (all) American people first. Against all odds, he has managed to capture about 20% of all votes cast to date. That is a miracle, and if I may be so bold, brothers and sisters, a sign of the essential truth of Edwards message.


MORE before and after the snip:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/29/0154/65163

[pamela]

1. Thank for this, Triana.

It's very, very good. K&R

[Triana]

2. I'm starting a collection of this stuff...

...links, and printing it up. Just to have handy....

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Me, too. Thanks, Triana. K&R n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Best of the representation available to us. BIg K & R for JE.

[NastyRiffraff]

4. Wise words; I read the whole thing

The closest I can think of to John Edwards is Bobby Kennedy. And look what happened to him. Now, the moneyed interests have far more subtle ways to silence someone who threatens them. The media (a big part of those interests) ignores and/or ridicules him (the haircut! the big house!).

But, as John has said over and over, he won't give up. And that goes beyond any presidential race. When he says he's been fighting for the poor and middle class all his life, he can back that up. And that really, really frightens the corporations, their lobbyists, and the power brokers. Whether he wins the nomination and the election or not, his voice will continue to resonate until it can no longer be ignored.

[pamela]

5. I wish I could recommend this again.

I love this part...

"This is a fight that is just beginning.

We need to be creative. We are up against a media brownout. We need to think of all the ways we can get Edwards core message of returning power to the people to as many people as possible. We need to explain the value of building a progressive coalition within the Democratic party and demanding that the bulk of Edwards' agenda be embraced. We need to reach out to Republicans -- but not in the "let's compromise" way that Obama does. Edwards won more Republicans in South Carolina than Obama with a clear and vital progressive/anti-corruption message. There are many many Republicans who are ready for something different as long as it is honest. Since we are up against the MSM, the Mutli-Nationals, and the DLC, we might as well kick in the door of the RNC while we're at it. Let's dream big.

In preparation for Super-Duper Tuesday, let’s make this January 30 a Wonderful Wednesday for the campaign of John Edwards.

Let’s keep on fighting with the mouth from the South, the Carolina anti-corporate crusader, the "angry" guy who just keeps on smiling, the voice for the voiceless, the man who proudly walks in the shadow of Martin Luther King Jr., the Truth-teller, the First on Universal Healthcare, the First to sound the alarm for the Recession we're in, the First to present an Economic stimulus plan, the enemy of O'Reilly, the voice for 200,000 homeless veterans, the champion of the 37 million Americans who live in Poverty, the man who doesn't know how or when to quit, the man smart enough to marry Elizabeth, the guy that makes Wall Street shake in its Gucci boots, the one guy Washington can't stand, the son of a mill worker, the Right to Organize candidate, the Raise the Minimum wage to a Living wage candidate, the guy who lets Dave Letterman mess up his hair, Ann Coulter's worst nightmare, the man who has and will move our Corporate Democrat party to the Progressive wing come hell or high-water.
Contribute on Wonderful Wednesday

I am asking my fellow Edwards’ supporters to spread the word, cross-link to any appropriate blog -- even conservatives -- and email their friends. I'm proposing we give (and any little bit helps) on Wednesday, January 30, the day before the LA Debates. Let's send a clear message to everyone that we believe in what John Edwards is fighting for and that we are not going anywhere.

Keep Fighting on January 30

It is time to take back this country from Corporate power. It is time to end poverty. It is time to show real respect for our men and women who wear our uniform. It is time to end the stranglehold of Lobbyists and it is time to send a message to Washington, to the Corporate-owned Media and to the Corporate Wing of the Democratic party.

So, Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to do your part to keep on fighting. Let's make January 30 a Wonderful Wednesday and a day to be heard."

[eridani]

6. He's definitely the best option left

Still in mourning for Kucinich, but I'm spreading the word. I think probably 2/3 of Kucinich supporters will wind up coming over with me. Some of the rest are for Obama, but many are quitting presidential politics this year and doing clean elections, health care, or local races.

[2hip]

7. Show your love

KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!

New Grassroots Fund Drive—Donate NOW!
(Please give the above link a kick for John!)

[surfermaw]

8. Run John Run

[BigBearJohn]

9. Thanks for this. It really hits home why I am voting for Edwards!