With the New Hampshire SOS's recount
http://www.sos.nh.gov/recountresults.htm">tallies not changing, there's nothing new to report on the recount.
So, join me below for my reasons as to why it's time to back the real Progressive in the Democratic Party's nomination process.
According to
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/19/politics/main3731581.shtml">CBS news, Hillary Clinton has won the Nevada Caucuses. Not that there's any surprise in that, since she and Obama were seen as the true possible winners most of the way through. No, Nevada's just telling us what we've known all along. The big two media darlings are going to be the front runners. Let's look at the results:
It's actually Mr. Edwards I'm interested in for this posting. John Edwards set himself up, at least for this run at the Presidency, as the 'Progressive' and the 'Populist' alternative to the big two media darlings. Indeed, he's been one of the Big Three media darlings leading up to the primary season.
What has it gotten him? A statistical tie for second place in Iowa, and two crushing losses in New Hampshire and Nevada. Nevada's interesting in that in a poll done Jan. 11 - 13 by the
http://www.rgj.com/blogs/inside-nevada-politics/2008/01/new-poll-democratic-race-in-nevada-dead.html">Reno Gazette-Journal, the numbers were like this:
Barack Obama: 32 percent
Hillary Clinton: 30 percent
John Edwards: 27 percent
Of course, the Edwards supporters were jumping all over this. Proof, of course, that John's message was catching on.
Edwards ballon meets Nevada Caucuses: POP!
Now, I'm not an Edwards supporter. I've always seen him as little different than HRC or BO. I think the differences between them are window dressing at best. And I've never seen him as a 'Progressive' alternative to the others. I still don't. And so I'm not surprised that John is being beaten by the two other media darlings. His campaign has been trumped by Hillary's and Obama's 'historic' candidacies, for good or for bad. I think it was bound to happen, for if you have three similar choices, the more obvious the selling points the more likely the wins.
Now, what I'm going to suggest below is for those of you who are progressives but support Edwards due to his one-time viability. If you are a true Edwards supporters, bully! Keep supporting him until he drops out of the race or until the DN Convention. To ask a true Edwards supporter to change is no better than asking a true Kucinich supporter to change their support.
With that major caveat listed:
You see, there is a 'Progressive' candidate who's in the running for the nomination. That 'Progressive' candidate is Dennis Kucinich. And Dennis' 'progressivism' and 'populism' has been the underpinnings of his years in public service. From the time he was a city coucilman, through his time as mayor, through his time in the political wilderness, through his comeback and now during his time in Congress Dennis has walked the progressive and populist walk.
If there is to be a 'progressive' or 'populist' alternative to the corporate center, it's going to be Dennis Kucinich. We now know this. It's time for 'progressives' and 'populists' to make that hard choice. It's time for those who would support Dennis, save for his viability, to support Dennis as the voice speaking for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. It's time we choose the true Progressive alternative to the corporate-military-industrial-media establishment. It's time we support Dennis Kucinich.
And if you need a reminder:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x85983If you decide to look at Dennis as the alternative to the corporate-military-industrial-media establishment, go to his campaign site
http://dennis4president.com">
http://dennis4president.com. There you can read his positions, join his volunteers through his
http://action.dennis4president.com">Action Center and even donate to his campaign!
As always, now more than ever,
Go Dennis! :woohoo:
http://dennis4president.comVote your conscience, choose peace!
The orignal version of this post is here:
http://rjones2818.blogspot.com/2008/01/for-progressives-its-time-to-back-real.html