Help me send a message.....For Edwards supporters.

[AnneD]

The other day I was listening to NPR while on the way home. It was the news that John Edwards was withdrawing from the race. The announcer said that it was now a 2 candidate race. 'Funnily, I said sarcastically to my self, the way it was covered, you would have never know it there were more candidates-even after Edwards place second in Iowa'. Then, they started spit balling about the 'Edwards Voter' and I felt my blood pressure go up. I found out that I was male (this will be a surprise to my mom, daughter, and all the Edwards supporters in my knitting group) and middle class (barely hanging on these days).They talked about how Edwards always drew the loudest response when he mentioned 1) ending the war 2) the decimation of the middle class in America. They talked about this race being based on personality rather than issues-so it really doesn't matter.

Yesterday on NPR they again talked about Edwards and were doing an autopsy of his campaign. They mentioned that his message didn't sell because his 'tone was angrier' this time. And they brought up the tired old chestnut of a '$400' hair cut and that he had a 'mansion' and that confused his message. Now I am having to practice my breathing to lower my pressure. I watch the business and economics community carefully, and Edwards expenses were a drop in the bucket to the common practices. What does the media want....a candidate of the people show up to a business meeting in a sack cloth shirt and a coonskin cap.:eyes:

But today, on ABC's morning show-I went ballistic. A commentator was opining and castigating the two remaining DEM candidates for not debating issues. She went on and on in righteous anger that she had no bloodstained clothes to wave around.:puke:

I had been mulling this over for 2 days now. I want to send a very loud very clear message and I think I know a way to do it. I will still vote for Edwards in the primaries. If you haven't spewed coffee on your screen yet, let me explain why I think Edwards supporters need to do this.

I will back what ever candidate is chosen-I will not withhold my vote BUT, if I vote for Edwards in the primaries, this does several things.

1) It sends a message to the M$M that they really don't get it-it will force them to talk about Edwards and why are people still voting for him. It will bring the issues of the middle class to the forefront (the economy, loss of jobs, corruption in corporate America effecting the middle class) and is a way to highlight our anger over being screwed the last 8 years.

2) It will show pollsters how wrong they are. Just like New Hampshire and Iowa have done-it will humble them again and put their numbers into the proper perspective. They are not as smart as they would like to think they are. I want another Truman-Dewey moment.:evilgrin:

3) It continues to give Edwards the platform to voice his issues and some clout to back them. He will be able to go to the convention and present these core Democratic issues that 'elected leaders' in our party have ceased to stand up for (if they had the middle classes interests in mind-they never would have passed the bankruptcy bill or the bank deregulation bill). I know Edward may have voted for some of these measures but I truly believe he has seen the error of his ways. He speaks eloquently and forcefully for the middle class-and I still want him speaking up for us.

4)I am not sure how delegates are chosen to the convention and how they are bound-but a large block of Edwards delegates can make for an interesting convention. It could keep both Obama and Clinton in play til the end. I am tired of these 'Coronation' conventions. This will also force the DEM's to rethink the primary process. It is not working and for all practical matters makes the convention a waste of time and money. Since Edwards has not endorsed either candidate-this would force both candidates (and the DEM leadership)to reconnect with their grass roots in ways they haven't had to deal with us in a while. God forbid, the people will take over the Democratic Party and Edwards is the instrument of change.

I believe this will not hurt either candidate because those that will vote for them in the primaries, will vote for them. We will all unite behind the candidate. But this may be a chance for Edwards supporters to effect a real change. I think Edwards has snapped the ball to us. I think he is shrewed enough to use any opening we give him and I trust him to use it wisely. I trusted my future to Edwards-and I still trust him.

I hope that folks will kick this thread up so as many on the DU see this as possible. Flame if you will but I hope this will spark some real conversations about who the Democratic represents and what we stand for. I am grateful for any comments and recommendations.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Happy to K & R

:kick:

[AnneD]

5. Thank you....

I have just been so unhappy with the entire way M$M, our elected officials, and our business leaders have forgotten who we are and what we really stand for. They divide us in an artificial way. I feel if we reach out for the real center of America-we can gain ground. I think what really got me was that Michigan and Fla won't count. They had their primaries early so our 'leaders' would have to listen. That's the problem....they are not listening to us-they are just sucking up for a vote.

[alllyingwhores]

100. Again, why did Edwards feel it necessary to drop out before Super Tuesday?

[AnneD]

167. My guess, and this is a guess....

1) Edwards was probably as frustrated as we were with the lack of coverage. Imagine winning debates and still losing. I'll never forget them asking Kucinich about UFOs. We have got 2 wars going that are bankrupting us, an economy than was starting to flat line even then if some sNews folks had gotten their heads out of their butts long enough to look around, and they want to ask a lamebrain question like that And I don't care if his wife has a tongue ring, but I do want to know when we are getting out of Iraq and how we are going to deal with the deficit

2) Edwards was really running a campaign that didn't accept big money corporate donations. It was a shoestring campaign. I always saw lots of homemade signs at his rallies. You can only go so far and then you start hocking your kids future. I believe he is a realist...always with hope, but a realist none the less.

3)Elizabeth. How hard it is to take on the burden of a campaign, and your soul mates illness-and still have time for the kids. These guys are still human. I think of all the candidates, he had the toughest burdens to carry. No matter what was said, I am sure those were weighting on him.

Just MHO.

[factanonverba]

214. why edwards quit

Check out a story on onegoodmove.org

[MattSh]

226. No, it's worse than that...

The party "leaders" wanted him out.

1. Maybe it's because they wanted a candidate by the time the dust settles on "Super Tuesday" (might not happen with ~shudder~ three candidates in the race). Uniting the party early is more important than debating the issues and getting the right candidate.

2. Maybe JE was "too angry" (and thus not acceptable to the DLC-heads strangling the party).

3. Or maybe our leaders don't think voters can think and chew gum at the same time.

Either way, it ain't pretty.

[DaLittle Kitty]

170. K&R TRUST IN EDWARDS... If We Give Him AMMO We Give John A Voice NOW + @ The Convention

John Stepped aside to Make Way for this "MANUFACTURED HISTORY" Put in place in Boston in 2004... Terry McAuliffe was Behind Barack Obama from DAY ONE... Placing Barack BETWEEN Hillary and ANY other viable white male candidate... Which just happened to be Edwards!

Biden Richardson and yes Kucinich together only further diluted the "focus or lack there of, of the perpetually distracted DEMOCRATIC ELECTORATE." Which as planned, has put us and Hillary Clinton precisely in the position planed and executed four years ago in Boston by Terry... the Clinton's longtime ally.
"
Last nights debate was just the beginning of the "Unification Process" as Barack slowly but surely "SOFTENS THE BLOW" to his fervent supporters, many un-tested by defeat and inherently ANTI-HILLARY... As the messiah as it were "directs" his followers to get in line... for the good of "The Party" and the good of America.

The young Senator will be handsomely rewarded with status and perks ... from the Clintons and the Party for the balance of his days... But he will not take the oath of office... and likely as not neither will his remaining primary opponent.

Vote on Principle in the remaining Primaries people... VOTE FOR JOHN EDWARDS... You WILL GIVE HE AND US VOICE IN DOING SO........ While also instilling hope in the future as we stand fast to what matters to us and our still potent, but for the time being temporarily "sidelined" voice...:)

[Yael]

187. Wow. Thank you -- this was strong

:patriot:

[Beregond2]

179. Voting for Edwards

This is a great strategy, if you want McCain to be the next president. Hillary has as much chance of being elected president as I do. Every knuckle-dragging right-wing jackass in the country will turn out to defeat her, and if you think they can't, I suggest you look at the last two elections. A vote for Edwards at this point in time is a vote for a Republican president. You remind me of those idiots who voted their consciences by choosing Nader, thus creating the national nightmare we have been suffering through. Use your head!

[Yael]

189. So the "message" we need to send is that we follow Barack Obama

even though not ONE person here (much less he or his his website) can tell us what the project plan is to get us from here to "Hope for Change"?

:thumbsup:

Ps -- you may want to read the OP again.

Great weekend to you! :hi:

[last_texas_dem]

216. Polls seem to indicate Clinton and Obama doing about equally against McCain

So I don't see how a vote for Edwards in the primary does anything to make a McCain presidency more likely. And the Edwards=Nader comparison is still as stupid as it was the first time around, and now it's a very tired claim to make as well.

[bigtree]

2. no flame

but, I have to consider the effect of my vote on advancing, or inhibiting one of these candidates. That's likely to be my most important consideration, not some unknown effect of some unknown action Edwards may take in regard to the delegates he amassed.

[AnneD]

169. Obama or Clinton are slated to win..

and I'll back whomever. But MY first choice was and still is Edwards. This is a primary, not THE election. If you think the others are your candidate great-go vote. But this is a chance for those of us that supported another candidate to 'safely' get our message across without splitting the party or vote.

TBTB will sit up and take notice. Because if they don't they risk a split of the Dem party like the had in the middle of Clinton's first term. If you weren't going to vote for Edwards in the first place...it doesn't matter.

It's all about the message.

[bdamomma]

3. kick and rec.

I am still voting for him too. We must pull together on this one. Something may happen, for the good I hope.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. I am still voting for him.

:kick:

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Another thread may be helpful...

if you don't get the replies due to the fast pace of GD/P.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4317938

I am with you though. The messages sent by doing this are important to me personally.

:hi:

[AnneD]

8. I wanted to put it in GD but by the rules it fit here

I'd love to get as many people seeing this ASAP. Anyway that folks can help is appreciated. Thanks so much.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Not sure how many people go there...

but you may want to place in the Edwards' forum here, if you haven't already. Maybe people seriously trying to make decisions rather than engage in the catfights that GD/P has become go to the forums to get information. Just a suggestion...

[Yael]

16. I put a link to this thread in there just now

:hi:

[earth mom]

6. Just so you know, this thread will be gone in a day or two.

We are NOT allowed to talk about Edwards anymore.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. We never were, in reality. Now all they want is our support for their candidates.

Can't have mine.

[earth mom]

Can't have mine either.

Many of us are on the same page about that.

While some have sold their soul to the devil.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. I'm not selling out or selling my soul to the devil.

:thumbsup:

[earth mom]

20. Glad to hear it!

:thumbsup:

[Shakespeare]

62. Why, have the admins made a pronouncement to that effect? n/t

[earth mom]

64. Do a search on recent Edwards threads-way too many are archived after only a couple of days. nt

[Shakespeare]

67. Um....do you not realize how quickly threads move in this forum?

And I say this as an Edwards supporter, btw. If there's been no pronouncement from the admins, then I HIGHLY doubt we Edwards folks are being silenced. Do a search on ANY threads that were created at the same time, and you'll find most of them archived (which is an auto feature, btw--not something done by a mod or an admin). I happens at lightspeed in this forum.

[earth mom]

126. That would be true, except it's not across the board for ALL threads that started at the same time.

Here are a couple 2 day old threads that are archived:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4285918

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4302966



I did a search and there are 14 pages of Edwards threads on GD-primaries since the 30th when Edwards quit the race.

7-SEVEN!- of those pages are already archived, less than TWO DAYS later. :wtf:

What is the harm of letting those threads stay so people could see them? Because once they're archived, they rarely see the light of day.

[ChiciB1]

104. That's An Undersatement... Already One Of The LARGEST Pro Edwards

threads is sinking. The one posted ny ClericJohnPreston. Got over 601 responses and I see it's moving away. It such a shame!

I already voted down here in Florida, but also plan to vote for Edwards in GE!! JUST BECAUSE!

In time, I think there will be MORE as to WHY!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

229. ...

:thumbsup:

[cali]

11. Certainly you should vote for Edwards as that's where your heart is

but you're dreaming if you think you can send a mesage. Polls already indicate that Edwards voters are peeling off fast. And there is little chance that he will get the 15% of the votes he needs to pick up any delegates, and the number of pledged delegates he has is very small and won't impact anything.

It's a fantasy to think that voting for JE will change anything.

[AnneD]

19. It has the advantage....

of never being tried before. It will force some serious discussions among our 'leaders'. A kind of Mouse that roared thing. It is worth a shot. They more I have though about it the more I like it. It is a well targeted protest vote. It will not hurt the Democratic party, but they will stand up and notice.

[flyarm]

55. everyone i know that hasn't already voted are Voting Edwards Tuesday.

vote your heart in a primary..that is how it has always been done!!

vote your heart!

no one should tell you how to vote..

but Edwards could pick up more delegates..

just vote your heart..

fly

[zalinda]

23. Well for you and all the other

Obama supporters who in the last few months, have had to come in and piss on an Edwards thread, or have had to start an Edwards thread so they can piss on Edwards. And for all those Obama supporters who couldn't wait until he announced that he was departing the race, before scavenging for our votes. I have to say, that if I can't vote for Edwards, I will vote for Clinton.

Because I really don't care who gets the nomination. This is for you, those of you who can't STFU when we ask nicely.

zalinda

[Yael]

28. I am afraid to ask

what Ignored said this time.

:P

[flyarm]

61. oh just more of her nasty crap..she is nothing but a shit stirrer..i now have ignored on ignore!!

she can play all her silly games and bullshit on people who don't know better!!

she is nasty..plain and simple!

fly

[Name removed]

31. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. ...

:thumbsup:

[ClericJohnPreston]

29. You, of all people

could never change my mind ;)

[cali]

33. Are you so deluded that you think I give a shit what you do?

:rofl:

[foxer]

40. What precisely do you give a shit about?

[AnneD]

175. ClericJohn....

Funny thing, I hadn't read too many other posts when I began to think of this.I have the feeling the light bulb is going on in a lot of places. I generally stick to the Stock Watch Thread in DU-but this has really been weighing on my mind. I would kick your thread if I could-it is good. I think I have outlined why I think this can benefit us and we can make the media irrelevant (of course-we know they already are). Thanks for dropping in.

[foxer]

42. Has a better chance that voting for candidates under the influence

[citizen snips]

120. I guess you are right

but don't expect us to peel off to Obama.

[PATRICK]

12. I am skeptical

any of those worthy aims can be met considering the impression most Edwards' voters have that they can start divvying up into the horse race. So, taking just the opposite pessimistic tack, my little voice won't effect things at all and I am free at this stage to simply vote for what I believe is right. If I see Edwards on the ballot, that lever will go down. In the fall I will vote straight Dem and work for Massa NY-29 to turn this red district sky blue. It pays to be little if you can slip in some integrity and where the combined strength counts for something, I'll be there too.

And I haven't watched those idiots on TV for many years. Neither their increasingly poisonous lies, their ads, their entertainment. Nothing. Now there are more than Christian fundies opting out of the unpleasantries. Not that I ignore them because lacking profits they raid our Treasury and strip our regulations to make up for not having anything to produce and profit from honestly. I am at war with them to the grave with just reason and ever increasing justifying and damning evidence. And as I discover, I am millions and growing while their venues are shrinking and splintering as their corporate entities fatten and combine.

Don't give them a say. They suppress yours.

[Yael]

13. God bless you, sister. You watch and listen so we don't have to.

My head would have positively exploded. It was bad enough listening to CNN prattle on about how "his message never got any play" while waiting on the suspension speech. I wanted to throw a brick through my TV and scream, "and whose f'in fault was that???"

Fortunately, I have no loose bricks laying around because then I would be without a candidate and a TV. :evilgrin:

I stand on the record as pledged to vote for JRE in my primary. That is not until April when the candidate will be likely coronated, but even if they aren't, I just don't care. Whether Candidate A or Candidate B is chosen by the party -- is just fine.

I get a voice once every 4 years, and as that voice has been silenced from the debates and the message silenced for the 90% of the country who hasn't voted yet -- I will use my voice on April 22 and it will be to send a message to the DNC, the DLC and the M$M that Edwards' message resonated to this Edwards Democrat.

Thanks for posting. K&R

Have a great weekend. :hi:

[LuckyLib]

172. That's it exactly. 90% of the country hasn't yet voted, and decisions have been made by folks in

Iowa, New H., South C., Florida and Michigan. Got news for ya. There's a whole huge country out there that these states do NOT represent. We were shut out -- between those states and the MSM, Edwards didn't stand a chance. I'm voting for him in our caucus. I want him taking delegate leverage to the convention.

[Yael]

190. Caucus is a tougher proposition than a primary. THANK YOU for taking this stand

:patriot:

[UpInArms]

14. still supporting Edwards here

:thumbsup:

[nancyharris]

15. A note on your points..

1. It will not send a message to the MSM. They will completely ignore any votes made for Edwards in any further primaries. A vote for Edwards will be (rightfully) delegated to the category - "Other"

2. It will not show the pollsters anything. The percentage of voters supporting Edwards was low to begin with and after he dropped out of the race it will slip to insignificant. They will not even report his name. A vote for Edwards will be listed (rightfully) in the polls as - "Other".

3. It will not give Edwards a "voice". He withdrew from the race. He is no longer campaigning or making appearances. Unless he decides to support Clinton or Obama (and actually campaign for them), you will not see Edwards face or mention of him until the Convention. It is over. Sorry he did not get more Democratic Party support, but its over.

4. He has very few delegates now and will not get any more delegates in the remaining primaries. He has withdrawn from the race. He is no longer running. He will not play "kingmaker" as he hold no cards. There will not be a brokered convention. Edwards would never allow such a disastrous thing to happen to the Party he has worked for all of his life. He gave it a good shot - brought much to the debate table - should be congratulated for his efforts - but it is over - by his own declaration.

You of course can vote for whomever you want, and I urge you to do so. But the only message you are sending is to yourself. If that is what you want then go for it but don't pretend that it is something more than that.

[Yael]

21. No, they don't record it that way

They record the votes based on who was voted for. Do you know how many votes Kooch got in South Carolina? I do.

States differ in how they allocate delegates, and that is "uncommitted" not "other".

Yes, it does send a signal to the other candidates that they still aren't "accepted" by a bunch of the progressive community and that we are tired of being thrown under the bus by corporate backed trains.

No, the only message we are sending it not to ourselves -- and I will thank God for each and every head count I saw that stood on principle in the PRIMARY (remember, this isn't a general).

I am not "for" either of the remaining 2 candidates and I am not interested in voting AGAINST either of them. I am voting for MY candidate -- and will back the party in November with whatever the majority chooses.

Thanks for playing anyway.

[nancyharris]

30. To OP referred to the MSM and the polls.

Once Kucinich dropped from the race there was no mention of his name in the polls. What percentage of New York voters plan to vote for Kucinich? You can find it because once he dropped out his name was no longer polled. Edwards is in the same position as Kucinich, Biden, Dodd and Richardson. They are no longer polled and the MSM will not cover their day to day activities.

[Yael]

37. The M$M Dropped Edwards from the polls after NV

But in case you missed the debate, HIS message is still framing everything.

We are looking to ensure that it continues.

[AnneD]

26. It has never been done....

If enough people still vote for Edwards after he has withdrawn, the right people will notice!They break down the votes. Howard Dean came to speak at a fund raiser last year. I was amazed at the stats they had done on the election. Believe me....they'll hear.

[nancyharris]

32. get a grip

Enough people didn't vote for him when he WAS in the race to get noticed. You think he will get noticed after he withdraws from the race? This is not American Idol.

[Yael]

39. And this one added you a spot on my covered ignore list

I am sure you will enjoy the company.

[nancyharris]

51. There is little doubt in my mind

that there are quite a few people's words you choose to ignore. One of them is John Edwards, who withdrew from the race.

[redqueen]

56. So?

So now you have a problem with who that poster chooses to ignore?

Why?

[nancyharris]

72. I don't have a problem with the poster

The poster has a problem with me. If I am on the poster's "ignore" list, they did not even see my response.

[foxer]

69. Didn't withdraw, sent to detention, writing on blackboard

I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES I WILL NOT BRING UP ISSUES.......

[redqueen]

49. Do you really think your advice is going to be taken?

A word of advice from me: save yourself the effort.

:hi:

[nancyharris]

53. No, I don't

it's just sad to see Democrats taking this attitude. There are two VERY good candidates left in the race for our Party's nomination. It is sad to see Democrats vote for someone who no longer wants their vote.

[redqueen]

54. Why is it "sad"?

If the voters doing this really have no preference between the other two, how exactly is that "sad"?

[nancyharris]

71. It is sad

because not only is casting a vote a precious freedom but also running for elective office is a precious freedom. Casting a vote for someone not running for office demeans the value of both.

[redqueen]

74. Are you serious?

That's laughable, really.

Yeah, being able to vote is a precious right... but treating it like it's sacrosanct... well that's just silly.

[nancyharris]

83. Yes, I am very serious and it is not in the least bit silly.

Sorry you disagree. Good luck to you in your continued support for John Edwards. Vote for him if you like. It will undoubted be the last time you are likely to see his name on a ballot (anywhere / anytime).

[SaveAmerica]

183. Let people vote however they want to, it is THEIR vote, MYOB

[Yael]

191. Thank you

:hug:

:patriot:

[saracat]

76. Actually it is. Enjoy the Koolaid. Why are you even in this thread?

Why is it your business what we do?

[flyarm]

176. excuse me but..Edwards has not withdrawn..he has suspended..big difference...

Edwards' campaign has asked for Edwards' name to remain on

the ballot. "..in Rhode Island


http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/ne ws.apx.-content-articles-JAR-2008-02-01- 0015.html

here is article..because it was moved on the link i put above..


Edwards Wants To Remain On R.I. Ballot

Friday, Feb 01, 2008 - 12:31 PM
The order of names on Rhode Island's presidential primary ballot will be determined Friday.

Secretary of State Ralph Mollis is scheduled to hold a lottery at 5 p.m.

Mollis' office said the Democratic candidates are expected to be Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race this week and initially, his campaign asked the secretary of state to remove his name. But NBC 10 has learned that Edwards' campaign has since asked for Edwards' name to remain on the ballot.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

18. My plan right now is to still vote for him in May

Unless the dynamics of the race change markedly before then.
If Clinton is winning, I'll probably vote for Obama, not because I necessarily think he's much different on policy but because he does give us a smidgen more chance of actual change. maybe.

:shrug:

[foxer]

22. I'm not drinking the koolaide till I get Change for my dollar

[AnneD]

27. Do you want that change...

in Euro's?

[foxer]

35. krugerrands for me please, their made of gold

[AnneD]

38. Hey....

I'm holding on to my 1 Krugerrand. It's the only thing I have to protect me for this Greenscam-Chopper Ben induced inflation.:rofl:

[foxer]

44. If the Fed lowers interest much more ,they'll pay us to take dollars

[southern_belle]

24. He's still getting my vote

on Feb. 9th. That's the right thing to do. I'll still support the nominee in the General.

[balantz]

25. I'm with you there. I'm voting Edwards Tuesday.

I have all but given up though. This system is just too corrupt.

Remember, Diebold and friends will do as dictated by the corporate pigs with a lot of the votes yet to be placed.

I'm certain they have already had their hand in it.

Nonetheless, VOTE FOR JOHN EDWARDS!!!!

With your hearts and your souls!

[AnneD]

77. More importantly.....

bring out Edwards supporters......

[Shine]

34. I'm with ya, but sadly I don't think the M$M or pollsters gives a shit about our "message"

I am an Edwards supporter, too. I'm heartbroken he dropped out and I'm especially sad b/c this morning he was due to speak in San Jose and I'd been planning to go. I won't get to hear him now. :cry:

I watched last night's debate and I was impressed by their civility. I could live with either one of them as President.

I will probably go ahead and vote for Edwards on Tuesday, anyway...but it won't be because I'm trying to send anyone a "message".

It will simply be a vote of MY conscience, based on who I wanted to see in the Oval Office.

He's still on the ballot and he's still got my vote, dammit.

[Ninga]

41. Here is my philosophy.."If doing the right thing were easy...then everybody would do it."

What the hell.....let's just vote Edwards and do it for only one reason...for ourselves.

As this day unfolds, I predict Obama will be the nominee. Because there are legions of people who are carrying Obama on their shoulders to the nomination, I am going to carry John Edwards on my shoulder with my primary vote.

It can't hurt anyone....and I will pull the lever with tears in my eyes for what could have been.

love ya all

:loveya:

[waiting for hope]

36. I'm still voting for him -

It's my vote and it belongs to John.

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. Yes!

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT! :woohoo:

[waiting for hope]

52. Doesn't that saying just make

you feel justified? I know it does for me, like a new identity. Let's shout it!

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!

[SammyWinstonJack]

70. Yes Indeed! Always will be too!

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!

[Yuugal]

209. Amen

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!

[MaryRN]

178. Also voting for him

[Yael]

192. Thank you, Mary

:hug:

[smokey nj]

43. K&R!!

[iris5426]

45. Happy to K&R!!

He's got my vote! Great post...can we get it on Kos or something like that to spread the message?

[redqueen]

46. No flames for you...that's still my plan as well...

the only thing that might sway me from voting for John is if he endorses someone.

I love how people think NPR is liberal.

[K Gardner]

50. You will probably get help from people who aren't even "plugged in".. I got two emails today from

friends here in TN (who are on my daily email political update list) wanting to know if Edwards would still be on the ballot and if they could still vote for him. This may be a grassroots movement that evolves on its own. I happily told them "yes", they can certainly still vote for John!

[redqueen]

57. Glad to hear it!

:)

[flyarm]

65. I run numerous nationwide internet groups and everyone is voting EDWARDS!

people are pissed nationwide ..what they did to John..and this is what many are putting on their signature line..of emails...


Vote for John Edwards on Feb 5 and stick it to the corporate media
Stand up with some backbone, which our elected dems don't seem to have.



fly

[AnneD]

163. Please post some of these sites....

before this thread gets archived.

[Yael]

193. Anne makes a good point -- please add to the Edwards forum, Fly!

[AnneD]

66. I've talk to a few of my barely political folks....

(re:moderate GOP) and they liked Edwards-for all the reasons this liberal DEM loves Edwards. These divisions are created for a reason.....the whole time the middle class is squabbling-the easier it is to rob us and take away our rights.

[flyarm]

75. ahhh yes and i just can't get past this...

http://nalert.blogspot.com/2008/01/mob-linked-banker-listed-at-obama.html

i can not support either of the crooks left standing by the so called media!!

fly

[MaryRN]

181. Neither will EVER get my vote.

[Yael]

94. They don't want us to know that we have anything in common

thats how they keep them voting against their own economic interests. We are scary liberals and all that, don't ya know. We can't be 'for' anything that may benefit them. We are all just here to take their fetuses and "turn" them gay.

:(

[mnhtnbb]

58. I'm voting Edwards in NC May primary.

[rodriguez94]

166. here 2...

and I know more that will...spread the word...keep the movement alive!

America rising....

:patriot:

Vote for John Edwards on Feb 5 and stick it to the corporate media
Stand up with some backbone, which our elected dems don't seem to have.

[never_get_over_it]

59. There is no real difference between Obama or Clinton

I give a slight edge to Clinton for her experience - but on issues there is really VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE - so I say vote with your heart in the primary -but come back home in November for one reason and one reason only THE SUPREME COURT.....

[adnelson60087]

60. People don't want change...not really. They focus on the wrong things...

and now we're stuck with 2 folks who won't do what really needs to be done. Edwards has my vote all the way.

[saracat]

63. Already posted this plea but yeah and continue campigning for those Delegates.

I am putting up signs that just arrived and tabling.What have we got to lose?

[waiting for hope]

73. saracat - I'm with ya!

:hug:

[ChiciB1]

110. I'm Still Here Too! NGU!! I Don't "Feel" Any Warmth From The Two Left...

Actually, it's a bit of a turn-off! I don't see much difference between them and the other side. I don't know which one of the two is more symbiotic with the other side!

[waiting for hope]

117. Hey ChiciB1! -

They both leave me cold - I flipped last night to the debate (I really was going to sit it out) and caught Obama channeling Edwards on his immigration answer. I turned off, and just felt sick. Neither one would have the platform they have now if it wasn't for John.

There may be a silver lining, time will tell but in the meantime, I think I'll catch up on some things I've been neglecting. Hope you are well! :hi:

[ChiciB1]

129. Hi There "Hope"... You KNOW I Don't Use That Word Anymore...

and I guess you're TIRED of "waiting" for it too! Nah, I didn't even bother last night and I'm like you, gonna catch up on a lot of stuff that I've let go for a while.

PLUS, my husband is going out of town on Monday so I think I'll catch up on my reading too! He'll be gone for a couple of weeks and my house could use a GOOD cleaning for sure!

I didn't even bother watching the debate, my heart just isn't in it anymore. I can get ALL the news I need right here. I've put MSM on SNOOZE for sure!

But I'll be checking in here because it's become an addiction of sorts. Sure WISH we had MORE to look forward to. I'm still wondering WHAT really happened, but not holding my breath because I doubt "we the people" will be getting much more than what they want to dole out in dribs and drabs!

Gee, I sure have become quite the bitter cynic, but I KNOW I tried, as did so many of us. I'll NEVER forget our "Energizer Bunny" thread, it was so uplifting and positive. Gotta stop, going to choke up again. :cry:

Take care and perhaps there will be some kind of lining, not sure it will be SILVER though. I'm still in mourning, and so sick about what has happened! One thing for sure I've learned from politics all these years.... I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LOSE! Unfortunately, I happen to think so many others have LOST too!

So for you & Sara and All the rest of the gang... :hi: back at ya and a BIG :grouphug: too!

:yourock:

[DemReadingDU]

68. I agree with you! Somehow those voting machines

will mysteriously never show Edwards true numbers, thus Edwards will never get 15% to gather any delegates.


:eyes:

[AnneD]

78. Thanks so much for keeping this up.....

I am comforted to know there are others that feel the same way. I will support the winner in the primaries, but as my mule plowing Grandfather use to say...."sometimes you need a 2x4 upside the head to get their attention."

:dem: continue to K&R and spread the word....

[On the Road]

79. I Like Your Suggestion

and I think I will vote for Edwards in the primaries. I no longer have a dog in this hunt.

[SammyWinstonJack]

102. "I no longer have a dog in this hunt." Neither do I.

x(

[Yael]

80. Afternoon kick

[Mad_Dem_X]

81. I have every intention of writing in Edwards

when I vote in the primary.

[BonnieJW]

82. I will vote for Edwards in the primaries.

I still have the feeling that because of the MSM, my vote was stolen. I will exercise my freedome to vote my choice by voting for Edwards in the primaries.

[Lugnut]

107. I voted for Howard Dean the last time around.

I voted my choice even though it was meaningless at that point. It felt good. Howard Dean carried my little town by a wide margin just because people wanted to vote their choice.

[femmocrat]

168. I did too because I wanted to show my support for Dean. I will also vote for Edwards in PA

primary April 22. I assume he is on the ballot?

[peacock]

84. AnneD, we are on the same

wavelength as are many other supporters of JRE.

I am voting for Edwards in the TX primary. My thinking, in doing that, is that between Clinton and Obama, each have positives and negatives and neither are my choice and either would be okay as our nominee. I cannot see either of them necessarily beating McCain, if they can at all. So, in that I have no preference between the 2 of them, I´m sticking with JRE to continue forcing the issues.

When we have a Democratic Party nominee, I WILL vote for the nominee in the GE. I do however, fear that we will again lose to the Republicans, whether it is Clinton or Obama who gets the nomination.

[AnneD]

88. I'm In Houston.....

Maybe we can drum up the vote. Hell I have block walked and phone bank for other folks before-I have no trouble doing it for my own self interest now. PM me if you want. Let's get the party started:woohoo:

[SammyWinstonJack]

103. San Antonio here.

:woohoo:

[AnneD]

127. Let's put some feelers out

the Edwards folks need to know what is happening.

[SammyWinstonJack]

128. I'm game. Any suggestions?

[AnneD]

134. My first step is to contact your state...

talk to folks-they may feel like you do once the situation is explained. I would then e-mail everyone that supported Edward and tell them why we are voting for him in the primaries ask them to tell their other Edwards friends.

We have a lot of talent on the board-let's come up with something on You Tube, Face Book and vote it up so as many folks see it in time to think about it. I think we can go around the media on this one (heck, they ignored him anyway).

Just today, I spoke to a friend and told her this and she is going to the primary just to vote for Edwards (she was planning not to go-just vote in the general elections).

[kineneb]

85. actually sounds like an interesting plan

(popping over here from your link at SMW) Hi! :hi:

Lacking a viable 3rd party for protest votes, I rather like the idea. I was planning on voting for Edwards in the primaries, whether or not he "placed". On the primary level, one can actually (well, sort of) vote ones' conscience and personal choice, instead of for "the lesser of two weasels" (who ever the corporations/MSM have chosen).

Folks forget that theses are the Primaries, not the main election. Who ever gets nominated still represents the Party Platform, even if they are less than perfect. All I have to do is compare R vs. D platforms to know for whom I will vote: the one with the "D" behind their name (even if their name is "My Pet Rock").

Remember, it is not just the person, it is also the Party behind them.

[AnneD]

89. My thoughts exactly.....

that is why I say we really won't hurt anything, get a message to our party leaders and candidates and embarras the pollsters (shhhhh! let's keep it a secret from the pollsters-I want to see them scrap egg off their faces);)

Heck if enough people show up....the Snews may cover it.

[sazemisery]

86. Decided to do this also. K&R

[smokey nj]

87. John still has my vote!!!

[MissDeeds]

90. Count me in

No way am I going to miss a chance to vote for John Edwards. He fought for us, now it's our turn to fight for him - and send a message.

:kick:

[montanaliberaldem]

91. He is still my first choice and will get my vote in my primary.

I have been unmoved by either Clinton or Obama up to this point and I pay attention.

What truly amazes me is how the Democratic party can take having many well qualified candidates for president and turn it into a negative. To end up with 3 smart candidates after less than a month of voting and allow the media to convince us that it is a drawback is stunning. And for Dem's to continue the bickering and nastiness among supporters of the various candidates, even now, is just ignorant. I truly believe that Edwards was the only candidate who could win in the long run. My fear is that McCain will choose a very charismatic running mate and the Republicans will enjoy 12 more years of thuggery. Man, I hope I am wrong.

[desertflamingo]

92. me too...

i plan on voting for je today - absentee. HOWEVER, randi rhodes air america said yesterday that any ballots with je's name checked will be thrown out so we are wasting our vote. now, i no longer place her on a goddess platform, but she tends to be pretty accurate regarding voting rules and such. anyone out there know the real deal on how our votes will be treated? personally, i could give a shit less whether my vote is thrown out or not because i'm about as disaffected as they come now and probably won't vote in the general; HOWEVER, i do want to send a fuck you message to the m$m and a rah rah still love ya man to je.

[Yael]

96. "thrown out"? No

Votes are not thrown out.

Just go look at the South Carolina and Florida results -- they are reporting Kucinich's votes.

What she likely said is that there (i) won't be enough to get delegates or (ii) some states may not allow delegates on a suspended campaign.

That DOES NOT mean that your vote will not be counted.

:hi:

[grmamo]

93. Hello AnnieD, I could have written this myself as it fits me perfectly so perfectly it surprises

even me. I WILL be voting for Edwards in the primary for the exact reasons you mentioned.

I will vote for the Democratic candidate in the GE. After that, I am not sure what I will do.

I love the phrase "I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!" Wow, that's me.

[desertflamingo]

95. YES!!

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!!!:dem:

[Yael]

97. Does anyone know if johnedwardsphonebank.com

will be activated on Monday and Tuesday?

[grmamo]

98. I am an Edwards Democrat - - where do I buy the button? :) n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

105. Let me know it you locate one! I want one!

I AM AN EDWARDS DEMOCRAT!

[Yael]

143. We are working on that in the Edwards forum

:D

[SammyWinstonJack]

227. Cool!

:-)

[Yael]

144. We should have them ready in a few days

If you are a graphic artist, the more designs to include the merrier!

[grmamo]

253. thanks for the work Yael, here is your cafexpress link for others n/t

http://www.cafepress.com/edwardsdemocrat

[Lugnut]

99. K&R

Thank you. :kick:

[bobbolink]

101. Nominated. However, as I will definitely vote for Edwards, I think we need to do still more!

Letter to the editor!

Speak up to everyone who talks about the nominations!

Use every opportunity... this is an Obamination :rofl:, and we need to use the teachable moments presented to us.

:hi:

:hug:

[Greylyn58]

106. I was planning to do just that...

even though the North Carolina primary isn't until May. I am already sick of the media trying to second guess where my vote is going. Do they honestly believe that true Edwards supporters will change their allegiances so quickly? The man just suspended his run and they already see us jumping ship to someone else.

We're talking about something that meant a lot to us, some of us put out sweat, blood, and tears into his campaign. They want to treat it like we are simply changing our underwear, discarding them for something cleaner. Well damn all of them!!!!

My voice-such as it is-WILL BE HEARD!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

109. Not jumping here. No way No how. If I had wanted to support anyone but Edwards I would have.

I'm sticking with him. It's a matter of principle for me.

[troubleinwinter]

108. I absolutely will vote for Edwards on Tuesday. My vote, my ballot, my voice.

[SammyWinstonJack]

111. ...

:thumbsup:

[FlyingSquirrel]

112. Thanks, K&R nt

[Tansy_Gold]

113. Observations on the Edwards passion

I, too, would like to give my primary vote to John Edwards, and maybe I actually will, even though I know it will ultimately not change anything. As wonderful as your intentions are, and as much as I sympathize with them, I still feel they will not make any difference.

But not for the reasons you might think.

Back in late 2003 or maybe early 2004 -- and Saracat will, I think, back me up on this because she was there -- I told a small group of assembled Democrats in Phoenix that the party ought to get behind a ticket and not waste time, energy, and re$ource$ on a long, drawn-out primary battle. I said that from a strictly pragmatic viewpoint, a Kerry-Edwards ticket offered the best chance for beating booosh/cheeeeney. I also said that I thought ultimately that would be the choice of the primary voters, but it would come too late to do any good. The focused energy had to be there from the beginning. We will, of course, never know what might have happened if the Kerry-Edwards ticket had been able to mount a concerted assault from, say, April or May instead of August.

And yes, there were people here on DU who attacked me for turning over our right as voters to choose the party nominee, EVEN IF it meant dragging out the process and spending the resources. In the end, it simply meant that we were all thinking about ourselves and our personal preferences and not about the "greater good."

I personally would much rather see John Edwards at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2008 than either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama because Edwards is much closer to my own philosophy. But I also understand that, even though he was part of the 2004 ticket, his populist views and his anti-corporate politics run afoul of the powers that be. Certainly against the republican party, but also against many democrats'.

Why, then, given that the Edwards platform resonates with so many more people, did he not fare better when it came down to the actual voting? In my humble opinion, I think it's because the Powers that Be -- :tinfoilhat: but with some seriousness -- found a way to neutralize the Edwards passion. The means was identity politics, and the messenger was the MSM. The 2008 Democratic primary campaign was all about "the woman and the Black man," and the white southern boy didn't have a chance.

Was this intentional? Is there an Oz-like machine behind the Obama candidacy that put him out there to divide the voters along certain lines so that, no matter what happened, one of the non-populist candidates would win? I don't think anyone doubts that there is a machine behind Hillary Clinton. And I also think there's enough of an anti-Hillary machine that, had there not been an Obama, that machine would have gone to someone else. That it was able to put its resources behind Obama suggests that it's there and it's quite powerful.

I think that machine knew that if the Democratic nominating fight came down to Clinton vs. Edwards, Edwards would win, or at least he would come close enough that his populist message would get substantial coverage. What would we be hearing from John Edwards on the stock market crises, the drop in numbers of jobs, the sub-prime meltdown, the foreclosures, the stimulus plan, and on and on and on if he were still running close to the front?

The PTB know that the war in Iraq is not going to wind down quickly even under a new administration. It's simply not logistically possible. Yet so much of the MSM coverage has been on the differences, however slight or great, in war policy between Obama and Clinton; so little attention has been paid to the economic issues about which presidential policy could actually have an impact. And that lack of coverage to economic matters -- in depth coverage, that is -- protects the PTB, protects their candidates, and effectively silences John Edwards.

Voting for Edwards in the primaries now will not change the ultimate outcome because there simply are not enough people who care, who share the Edwards passion. This is sad, and it may even be disastrous in the long run, but it is also ture. A vote for Edwards at this stage will be a symbolic gesture, and symbols are very powerful to those bearing them.

I'm not sure if I posted it here on DU or not, or just in a more private forum, but I said some weeks ago, during the height of the mud-slinging between Clinton and Obama, that if I were Howard Dean, I'd sit them down and tell them to make nice RIGHT NOW. I'd tell them that the party was going to get behind a united ticket, which at the time I thought should be Clinton/Obama (based on age and experience). And then I thought one of President Hillary's first acts after the inauguration should be to appoint John Edwards as Attorney General, with a mandate to clean up the corporate corruption. After a year or so, when a Supreme Court vacancy allowed President Hillary to appoint a justice, Edwards should be her first nominee.

We need -- DESPERATELY -- someone to proclaim as loudly as possible that not only is our economy completely broken but that its brokenness is the direct and intentional result of pro-corporate (which is not quite the same as pro-business) right wing governmental policies. I don't think either Hillary or Obama will do this, and in the coming months theirs are the only voices that will be heard. But by uniting behind a ticket and essentially forming a government in anticipation of the election and inauguration, I think the Democrats can do more than just "win."

I've become more and more of a socialist the past few years, and less and less concerned with personal "winning." I think the republicans have slowly become aware that of their remaining candidates, only John McCain has a chance against the Dems, and I think they are in a position to unite behind him much the way they united behind booooosh -- fanatically. It is more important, therefore, in my opinion, for the Dems to look more pragmatically at the general election and less emotionally at the primaries. That may be the first step toward truly unifying our side and working together to make real change.

Tansy Gold

[NastyRiffraff]

121. I'm voting for John Edwards on Feb. 12

Here's why. Not delegates; I doubt if he'd get delegates, or at least enough to make a difference. I'm doing it not only to vote my heart, but to send a message.

That message is support of what John urged the two remaining candidates to do, and got their promises to do: to make poverty a central issue to their campaigns, and for whoever wins the presidency, to continue to do so in his or her administration.

Beyond voting, which is (at least in my state, that doesn't do caucuses) anonymous, I intend to write both Obama and Clinton and let them know I'm watching, to see if they're honoring their pledge to John. And praising his service in a debate isn't enough. Whoever does best with that will get my vote in the GE.

BTW, K&R!

[SammyWinstonJack]

123. You should post this alone. I'd like to read the responses.

[Tansy_Gold]

131. I'll try, but. . . .

It'll probably sink like a stone -- one of the reasons I rarely start threads is because I'm VERY long-winded and most people don't want to wade through my bombaste!

But thanks for the encouragement.


Tansy Gold, she of little self-confidence

[AnneD]

133. Not to sound like a fortune cookie here ...

but all journeys start with a first step. The DEM's have been moving away from their roots every since Bill Clinton signed NAFTA and stabbed unions in the back. I love the big Dawg as well as the next, and I'll defend him, but will say (in private among my Democratic friends) I think he was the best Republican president we ever had. I think on our next time at bat, we need to make it count.

I have watched our DEM leader act like bulls in the arena, charging every time the GOP shook their cape. The DEM's have tried to out GOP the GOP, instead of standing up for Americans and being Democrats. The 06 election should have given them strength-instead-their balls have shriveled up. Bush should not have gotten half the thing passed that he did since then. The Dem's seem confused as to whom they represent.

I am not so naive that I don't know that deal need to be made. Cut the deals that need to be done but stay as true to your DEM principals and get your lips off Corporate America's ass. All I know is that the Democratic Leaders have been making some sorry deals lately and I think part of that lies in the fact that they think that we are like the mindless GOP masses and we will do what ever they say. I grew up believing that I didn't belong to any organized party-I was a Democrat. Votes count and opinions matter.

You are right that our attention has been turned to TERRA TERRA TERRA and the Iraq war instead of the economy, but the expense of this off budget war IS effecting our economy and the middle class is being squeezed to death. I think this can be a kick in the shins that our leadership needs. We can help them win-but I want them to know we are out here watching and they work for us-not the other way 'round. We want more than just a change of President. They need to change their attitude, or they'll be changing their pants soon. Most Americans will not trust a GOP to look after their interests for a long time-this is the DEM's golden opportunity. We need to make it count.

[Yael]

146. This was an excellent read!

There is no way that he will carry 15% in my state.

I am using my voice to say (i) I stand behind this message and as a member of the Democratic party -- the candidates better not forget the pledge they made John on it and (ii) I really don't care which one wins. I am happy to let the rest of the party decide and tell me which line to stand in come November.

Make sense?

[AnneD]

162. Yes...

and that is what makes this such a great idea. We are agreeing to support them, but we are holding their feet to the fire. It is crazy like a fox.

Before this thread sinks to the bottom...we need to keep this word of mouth campign going. I will get my daughter to help me navigate You Tube. I want to cast a wide net.

[Yael]

194. Sweet! Post the link the Edwards forum as well

lame54 may be able to help as well as he has put up a few videos?

:hi: to Anne's daughter!

[AnneD]

241. Before this thread sink like the setting sun.....

I want to thank all of you that have K&R this. I also want to thank you for your words of support and yes even criticism (hey, I'm a DEM from Texas-you have to get tough or die). It has strengthen my conviction that we need to take back our party if they continue to ignore their base.

And most of all, I want to thank John and Elizabeth Edwards for giving me hope that one day we will have ONE AMERICA. An America that respects and values our greatest resources-our citizens, our environment, and most importantly, our children. Help us give them a better America.

Thank you for remembering where you came from and the people that help lift you up when you needed a hand. Thank you for speaking up for and defending those that cannot speak or defend themselves.

I leave you with a special pray. Although our family is not Catholic-we have a special place in our hearts for St Michael the Archangel.

So for John and Elisabeth and all of us that continue to fight what at times seem to be a hopeless fight.....

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

[kelligesq]

114. BRAVO couldnt have said it better myself -VOTE Edwards Feb 5

:bounce:

[Robyn66]

115. Still supporting Edwards

I voted for Edwards in the NH primary. The thing I find the most sad is that he has gotten more press and his message has gotten more play since his suspending his campaign than when he was running.

I hope people vote for him on Super Tuesday. I would love to see him get a higher percent than ever before.

I was listening on NPR when they were talking about the Edwards voters and who they were. I think the media is just as far off with that as with everything they have been saying lately. I heard them say that Edwards voters were not very educated, angry and more of the lower economic spectrum. I am sure that some Edwards supporters were, but none of the Edwards supporters I know fit that profile. They also said most Edwards supporters will go on to back Hillary- something else that I am a little surprised at.

I don't think the media should be having as much influence as they have in this election. I thought that there were rules about equal time.

But the main issue is that we get a Democrat in the White-house. I think no matter what we will all work very hard to see this happen in the end. I just think that it is a shame for this country to lose out on a candidate with true vision and a plan, which is who John Edwards is.

[SammyWinstonJack]

125. "Angry" I wasn't. but I am now.

:mad: not very educated, angry and more of the lower economic spectrum. Sounds like someone was projecting. :shrug:

[AnneD]

150. I have said ...

sarcastically, that Elizabeth would have to die (Knock on wood) before the media paid any attention to John's candidacy.

Elizabeth....I want to see you in the White House-at the Inaugural Ball. PM me-My 17 yo daughter is working at a fabric store to pay for college. We can get the fabric at a discount and I have some fashion design student friends that will make you a knock out gown-I'll spring for the cost. It would be an honour.

[Yael]

197. Welcome to DU!

Thanks Robyn! :hi:

[Mother Of Four]

116. KICK! nt

[citizen snips]

118. K&R

Thanks for your support AnneD

[JDPriestly]

119. Thanks. You speak for me. (Except I'm a woman)

[AnneD]

122. Well....

so am I, last time I checked...But with all this spying on Americans-maybe the media knows something about me that my Doc and I don't know:sarcasm:

[toadzilla]

124. I think I am still going to vote for him.

I'm not 100% but I really just don't have a preference between Hillary and Obama. Either one of them would be a fantastic president. personally I'd love to see a brokered convention.

[Yael]

198. Vote you heart (the issues) in the primary and the people in the General

:hi:

[cornermouse]

130. CBS basically said we're low income, uneducated, and low IQ.

[SammyWinstonJack]

138. Nice, huh? Like we all don't know what they are trying to imply with this statement.

:grr:

[Silver Gaia]

159. OMG. What sick fucks they are.

:grr: :puke:

[AnneD]

177. They mouthed that same crap on NPR....

Being a Nurse requires brains AND an education last time I checked. Otherwise we wouldn't have the shortage we do. And I took statistics too....I love when they try to let me take a poll. Those poor college kids earn their pay with me.

I love to be portrayed as an uneducated, dullard of a man. I want my Truman -Dewey moment.

[RoccoR5955]

132. EXACTOMUNDO!!! K & R

:kick:

Absofrikkinloutely correctomundo!

[kelligesq]

135. Happy Days Are Here Again - John Edwards is back in !!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4337743&mesg_id=4337871

[saracat]

136. Lets be careful not to misrepresent this.He is just back on the ballot.

He is on the ballot in most states.His camoign is still suspended but he can get delegates, which is why I suggest we do NOT suspend our campaign for Edwards!But this is an indication of at least interest.

[Senator]

137. "Neither of the above" works for me.

It's not like either Hillabamabot is likely to challenge the beltway brahmins or DO anything about the crimes of bushcheneyism -- other than ask us to go forward in denial and dishonesty (again).

===

[Virginian]

139. Thanks, I was still going to vote for him anyway.

You just gave me more reasons why.

[Yael]

199. On behalf of Anne and all JRE supporters here - thank you!

[Phred42]

140. I will vote for Edwards in the Primary

Edwards is already on the Primary ballot so I will vote for him

the rest of you can choose the Dem for the General - I don't care. Follow the money and I dont' see much difference between the Corporate Twins.

[Yael]

201. Thanks Phred -- you spoke for me on this

but how.

Great weekend!

[maxpower]

141. K&R

I am definitely voting for him on Tuesday. Let's send them a message.

[Yael]

200. Thanks Maxpower -- we appreciate the support!

[poppysgal]

142. I'm game

:bounce: I would gladly vote for Edwards next Tuesday and hopefully it would send a signal to someone that we would have liked to have this choice. My question though is this, will enough people do this that it will even be mentioned by anyone. They barely mentioned our candidate when he was running.

[AnneD]

147. Remember....

Everyone and their dog analyze these things to death. If they are still getting folks voting for Edwards after he has withdrawn-it will show up in the stats. If it continues to happen in primary after primary...the Democratic leadership and candidates will have to address it. The news media may continue to have their heads up their butts-but Howard Dean will be on it in a New York minute. DEM leaders will not want to alienate anyone in their base in what might be a close race and the fact Edwards has pull means that will get attention and a platform.

I can see him on the stage at the DEM convention-and they will have to pay more than lip service to our concerns. He has not released his delegates-if he continues to garner them, he will have to be listened to. Most of us are to young to remember but we use to go to conventions not knowing who would be the standard bearer. Deals were struck and frankly, if they are striking deals in the back room-I trust Edwards to look after my interests. This will give him the leverage he needs.

[Yael]

148. Maybe not to us, but check out post #26

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4331841#4332352

Politicos pay VERY close attention to the minutia. That is why we are sending the message!

[AnneD]

151. Exactamundo...

That is the one thing I remember so vividly when Dean came to speak to us. The guy is a Doctor...and no slouch academically. He dissected those stats like he was in a first year anatomy class working on a cadaver. THAT is why I think this thing will work. Even if the media never gets a whiff of it...the Boys in the Club House will. And they know they will have to listen to Edwards and he can then release his delegates and support a nominee if needed.

[Yael]

155. Now thats a visual

:rofl:

Dean with a scalpel carving up the results and throwing them at the party PTB and saying "read 'em and weep".

*snort*

[AnneD]

174. Having had human anatomy...

seeing the good doctor at work, he had such a command of the stats. If you have every had to learn anatomy-stats comes fairly easily. I think nothing would give the good doctor greater pleasure than throwing some of these stats in some folks faces.

[VOX]

145. Already voted by absentee ballot -- and marked Edwards for president. n/t

[liberalla]

149. I was already planning to do this, and

if enough people do this and we get noticed, then WOW! even better!

[AnneD]

152. This thread...

should give you hope.

[Henny Penny]

153. encouraging bump!!! n/t

[lonestarnot]

154. Had already done so.

[Bozita]

156. another proud kick for Edwards

I've got another kick, one for the MSM.

I'd like to deliver that one in person.

[hay rick]

157. me too

I will vote for Edwards in NJ. I have no stake in Hillary vs. Obama. I will support either one in the general election. If I had to choose one it would be Hillary. She's slightly better on health care and doesn't suffer from Obama's GWB-like delusion of being a "uniter." Also, she is the "hair-apparent" of the M$M slime machine now that Edwards is gone.

[Silver Gaia]

158. I had already decided to do this. I fully support this effort.

I cannot, in good conscience, vote for either of the other two candidates in the primaries.

They do not speak to or for me.

[KoKo]

160. Great Post AnneD. What an incredible message we could send them by voting Edwards

to let them know his message lives on and there are voters that it's so important to...that they won't let it go...just for some damned Unity...when most Americans haven't even voted yet!

Thanks for the post! :toast:

[shepardl619]

161. I'm in!

I had decided as soon as I heard Edwards had dropped out, that I was still going to vote for him in the primary. It's about time we took back our government and stopped allowing politicians and the media to tell us what to think and how to vote!!

[Lugnut]

206. I couldn't agree more.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[judaspriestess]

164. ............

:thumbsup:

(to borrow BlueStateNative's expression)

[mother earth]

165. As a continuing Edwards supporter, my support stays with him

until I hear that one or the other will have John Edwards in their administation. That's the deal-maker for me....no John...no vote for anyone else, I will write in John Edwards proudly on my ballot.

[SaveAmerica]

233. You should start another thread with that statement, that's good!

Dear Obama; this is how you can buy my vote, put Edwards on your ticket.

[ncliberal]

171. I'm definitely still voting for him.

I don't care for the other two.

[paulkienitz]

173. I already did exactly that

Edwards dropped out just before I sent in my absentee ballot. (I probably should reregister as non-absentee now that my state has gone un-paperless again.) I pondered and dithered about who I should vote for without Edwards, and finally just ended up voting for Edwards anyway. Because the issues he raised are far more important than any difference of personalities of historicities is, and that's the one way to say so.

[krabigirl]

180. Thanks for this. I already voted for Edwards in CA, absentee, before he dropped out.

[Time for change]

182. We need as many Edwards delegates at the convention as we can get

[liberalla]

184. Hey AnneD -

Did you notice this thread?

EDWARDS SUPPORTERS - JOHN EDWARDS IS BACK IN !

woo hoo! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[sellitman]

185. I disagree.

If JE wanted and needed my vote he would not of jumped out.

I will not let another voter pick the candidate for me.

I concider what you are advocating WASTING my vote.

[Yael]

204. Wasting the vote? Now you are talking my language!

Yesterday...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4319057

[spooky3]

186. K&r

[McCamy Taylor]

188. I am in Texas and I will probably vote Edwards too, because there is little to choose

from between Hillary and Obama. I will support either one, but neither is half the candidate Edwards was, which is why the corporate media had to shut him down.

:cry:

[Yael]

205. You are not alone.

:hug:

[Yael]

195. We are at 98 rec's. Can we get to 100 for the lady??

Yeah, I know Rec ho'in -- but just do it, K? :D

[catchnrelease]

196. My vote for John is in

Had already sent in my absentee ballot for John before he suspended. Glad to send a message that we won't just be following along with what "they" expect us to do.

OK, here's an R for you :hi:

[stillrockin]

202. Don't patronize Walmart Radio.

[Yael]

203. I started opening all of you in tabs to say thank you -- but there are so many of you!

Wow WOW!!!

Thank you all for your support of Senator Edwards' message.

If only our remaining candidates don't just continue to parrot it, but hear our voice and INTERNALIZE it.

:woohoo:

[mother earth]

207. Kicking this up for solidarity! John Edwards has my vote, he

speaks for me! My vote stays with him on super Tuesday.

I will NOT allow MSM to dictate the frontrunners, I will not be told to choose someone else, when John Edwards is the man who has the right message and the right plan. Let Hillary or Obama tell me John Edwards is part of their plan!:kick:

You want unity, Obama? You think you can lead on day one, Hillary? Well, let me hear how you are going to have John Edwards as part of your plan, then & only then, you will win my vote!

[peacock]

208. Please crosspost at

http://johnedwards.com/

[peacock]

210. Write to the local newspapers

If anyone here has a log-on to local newspapers, write in and urge people to vote for JRE.

[Yuugal]

211. Clinton and Obama are not going to

take much of Edwards message to heart. During the last debate they certainly didn't mention the homeless, the poor, or the disabled very much if at all. The corporate owned media has done what they were told to do: Give us a reliably corporate centrist.

The reps have watched all their candidates be shot down too and now they can choose between two centrist reps, McBain and Mittens. Things have gone swimmingly for the corporatists so far. That will continue.

[lisainmilo]

212. I decided to hours after his withdrawl....John Edwards 2008

There is no other candidate that stands for the positions I believe in!

[factanonverba]

213. thanks

it's been a depressing few days. I still intend to vote for Edwards on Tuesday.

[cgrindley]

215. You're wasting your vote

it would be proper and right and just for you to support a candidate who is still running. Jesus. Vote Gravel. I don't think he's dropped out out yet.

[peacock]

217. I am not wasting my vote

Clinton and Obama do not represent my views. Edwards does. Come the general I will vote for either. But for now I choose to stand up with JRE.

[cgrindley]

218. You cannot STAND with Edwards as he has already SAT down (nt)

[peacock]

220. I can vote for him and I will

[cgrindley]

234. Why not just change your registration to Republican now and avoid the rush?

I take it that you're going to waste your election vote too.

[mother earth]

236. Nobody's wasting a vote, by voting for him in the primary it sends

a message to the nominee to have him on board. We will have the chance we were denied.

[peacock]

244. Thank you, Mother Earth

Actually, that´s one reason I support JRE, because I support Mother Earth. JRE has the best environmental policies.

[peacock]

243. Don´t EVER call me a Republican!

I have never ever and will never ever vote for a Republican. Obama might though.

[cgrindley]

247. Then join the Democratic party and support its candidates

otherwise, you ARE supporting the Repukes.

[Pooka Fey]

219. K&R Yes, good idea.

[Buttercup McToots]

221. I'm in...

I will still vote for him...

Thanks Anne

[B Calm]

222. Even before your post, I planned to still vote for him.

[shepardl619]

223. Wasted vote?

Those who think a vote for John Edwards is a waste are missing the point. Thinking of it as a wasted vote is just perpetuating the system in which the media decides who is a viable candidate and who is not. As long as we think of voting for our candidate of choice as a wasted vote, the system will not change. Because I live in a state that does not have an early primary I should follow the lead of Iowa, NH, and South Carolina and let those states (and the media) decide who should be the nominee? I am not content to do that. If more people voted their conscience and didn't bow to the 'inevitability' so early in the contest maybe things would REALLY change!

[peacock]

224. Here, here!

[SammyWinstonJack]

228. ...

:thumbsup: If more people voted their conscience and didn't bow to the 'inevitability' so early in the contest maybe things would REALLY change! :applause:

[AnneD]

232. Hear hear...

I live in Texas and with the exception of Al Gore...the I have not been able to vote for the Democratic candidate of MY choosing all my voting life. Why, because our primaries are late. and unless these guys have deep pockets filled with corporate $, they can't make it this far. I am sick and angry that my 'leaders' choose what they think is best for me.

No offense, but the worst example of this was Mike Dukakis. Mike Dukakis was as popular down here in Texas as a Border Patrol Agent at a quinceanera. And our Dem leader sit around scratching their butts wondering why they lost Texas (a Democratic bastion in my childhood) and can't make inroads here. Top down management rarely works in business and will never work in politics.

I an not wasting a vote, I am voicing my strong opinion to our party leaders. Without the time and money this member put into politics (we helped get 2 union friendly school board member elected last year-giving us a majority :woohoo: )......THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS AT RISK OF SUFFERING AN EMBARRASSING LOSS 2 YEARS INTO THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL TERM (remember Newt) They are out of touch with a growing number of their members. I am not wasting my vote-I am using it as a warning to TPTB-grow a spin-rent borrow a pair of balls and start representing the Democratic base of this country.

[golddigger]

225. K&R...

I will still cast my vote for John Edwards in the Primary.

[liberal N proud]

230. I will vote Edwards in the primary

[Nay]

231. Not only am I voting for Edwards in my Feb 12 primary, I'm writing

him in on the ballot in November. I have made the decision to not support either of the two front runners and will be writing in Edwards.

[cgrindley]

235. That's so intensely stupid as to boggle the imagination

cry baby

[mother earth]

237. As far as I see, it may be a waste to vote in this election at all,

since the frontrunners were already decided long before it ever started, and since nothing has been done to ensure election integrity. Why are you wasting your vote?:sarcasm:

We've been dictated to, the people didn't choose, the media did. I think we've all had enough.

[cgrindley]

238. I don't get a vote... and this is why people like you piss me off

I am a resident alien.

I cannot vote.
I cannot sit on a jury.

There's all kinds of things I cannot do.

You Americans can do these things and yet all you people do is whine about getting out of jury duty and wasting your god damn vote. Grow up. Take living in this democracy seriously.

[mother earth]

239. I do & that's why I'm not buying this BS any more. You & I have

a difference of opinion on what is a "waste"d vote. Whining is for people like you, because that's all you can do, my vote is not wasted, it's sends a message & if enough people send that same message it means my voice and our voice will have the positive reaction we are working for. Why don't you just join up and help the two appointed frontrunners, but something tells me THAT will be a waste.

"We Americans" still believe in "we the people", I do my jury duty and I take my vote seriously, so spare me your envy. You have much to learn, and maybe as a resident alien, this just isn't your fight.

[cgrindley]

240. Wow. If you'd say that to a resident alien... what would you say to an undocumented one?

This is indeed my fight and I have nowhere near as much to learn as you do.

[mother earth]

245. Don't even try to give me that for an argument, I think you might know

better if you were undocumented, then you might actually understand why we support Edwards and you might be able to see the big picture. If this is your fight, than you have certainly lost your spirit.

[cgrindley]

246. Do you have any idea what the green card process is?

I doubt you do. If you did, you'd apologize.

[mother earth]

248. Why don't you start your own thread & I'll read it...tell me why

you are so opposed to those of us who want to vote for Edwards. Tell me why democracy only works for the few. You don't know me, and I don't know you, but I do know BS when I hear it.

[cgrindley]

249. By voting for a candidate who is NOT running, you are NOT supporting democracy (nt)

[mother earth]

250. Yeah, I'm not supporting your version of it. I'm completely

supporting mine, I didn't say I was voting this way in the GE, I'm voting this way in the primary, not that it would be any business of yours. The beautiful thing about the vote, if you believe it is still legitimate, it is YOURS, it is an expression of free will and choice. Sweetie, we can go round and round on this and the end result will be the same.

My vote is mine, not yours, you can be envious, you can villify, whatever....in the end, my vote, my choice. And if all it gets me is a bigger voice for Edwards, that's a win-win.

I think we've wasted enough time, you preach to the choir, Mr Grindley. :shrug:

[citizen snips]

242. so that is the reason on. . .

why you spout BS all the time

[Nay]

251. Thank you, mother earth. I realize I will be castigated for my decision,

but I indeed have reached my breaking point. As a 57-year-old Dem who has voted straight ticket dems in EVERY election all my life, I have reached my breaking point. That should say something to everybody. The two frontrunners have indeed been chosen for us, and the powers that be are so contemptuous of the people that the media doesn't even bother hiding the fact anymore. Shut Kucinich out, shut Edwards out, who cares if some political junkies complain, and produce the narrative, the story, the soap opera for the masses, of a black man and a woman running for president....

ain't life grand? Isn't everything just going along swimmingly? Aren't we just the most fantastic society on the face of the earth?

I've had it. I've simply had enough. I have been intensely angry for 8 years, and I'm done.

[mother earth]

252. Nay, our vote is ours, they want it, they need to give us a reason.

There is no shame in following your heart or your ideals. That's the whole reason we come together here. We shall not allow MSM to dictate, nor will we let anyone tell us our voice or our choice is a waste. Apparently our voice is already being heard and it isn't even Tuesday.

[Buttercup McToots]

254. Bump...up

:)

[Buttercup McToots]

255. Bump...up

Good Mornin`:donut: