I don't think that it's "sweet" when any Democratic candidate bows out.

[Maddy McCall]

We need all their voices on the issues. The primary is a great time for Democratic progressive views to be heard by people who never pay attention to politics.

Why should we ever celebrate a candidate's voice being eliminated? Whether it's Kucinich, Dodd, or Edwards--Obama or Clinton--they all present progressive positions every time they debate.

Shutting any of them up results in less of OUR voices being heard by John and Jane Q.

[Beaverhausen]

1. I agree

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Damn straight, Maddy! K&R! n/t

[SeattleGirl]

3. Absolutely agree with you, Maddy!

We do need all their voices. The Democratic Party is supposed to be the party of many voices, the big tent party, but how can we be that way when one after another of those voices are silenced?

[Colobo]

4. If Obama happened to lose badly tonight and he dropped

the number of DUers cheering and making fun of it would be incredibly high.

It's sad, but true.

[Beaverhausen]

5. Even though I don't support him, I would be not be cheering

We need all their voices out there speaking about the important issues. I am very sorry that DK dropped out, even though I also didn't support him.

[Turn CO Blue]

8. Well, not me for one. I agree with you that the level of discourse

has sadly lowered over the last couple of months, but I think there are some obvious trouble-makers on the board known for spamming and posting most of the volatile and inflammatory crap threads we've been seeing - the vast majority of DU'ers just come here to read.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. and it makes it easier on the GOP

Think about it--if Kucinich, Dodd, Richardson, Biden had stayed in, we would have the benefit of all their voices--and the GOP couldn't start their relentless smear campaign early. I think one of the reasons Kerry had such a tough time in 2004 was because he was the obvious nominee after Iowa--giving the GOP plenty of time to concoct swift boat liars and other garbage.

[Turn CO Blue]

7. I'll be the 5th on this to counter that other ugly thread...

[hayu_lol]

12. Had most of our candidates stayed in the race, at least until SuperTuesday,

we would not be having such poisonous and Rove-like debate and posts.

So many dropped out so early that this is the result.

[Turn CO Blue]

14. I agree. We could have really used Biden, Dodd, Richardson

and Kucinich getting some airtime to express their own pet issues earlier and going into Super-duper Tuesday because the voting populace seems to be awake and attentive (just look at the record turnouts for Dems!) Instead it's been a constant drumbeat of coverage about the horserace itself and media-interpreted character debates - not about the remaining candidates' platforms or the actual ACTIONS they will take on problems and policy.


on edit: for clarity

[frogmarch]

9. Thanks for speaking up, Maddy. I feel

the same as you about it.

K&R

[whatchamacallit]

10. The only responses I had to the "sweet" post would get me tombstoned

so I pretended I didn't see it.

[gateley]

11. The more voices we hear, the more aware we become of the issues, and the

other candidates would have to address those issues as well.

I think we all lose when we lose a candidate.

[monmouth]

13. It's heartbreaking for a candidate to drop out, whether yours or not.

They pour money and themselves into a campaign with a lot of hope and vision. When it just doesn't come along I think it's sad. We've lost some great potential candidates, each and every one of them. I have no doubt however, when we finally do have a Dem President, those candidates, if they so choose and make it known, would have no problem securing a cabinet position.

[LowerManhattanite]

15. Understand exactly what you're responding to...

It's an odious sentiment to play and it indicates just how far we've sunk around here of late. It's been a rough primary season and while everyone is entitled to an excess here or there, it's simply egregious when folks CHEER on the demise of another Democratic candidate. Celebrate your choice, yes...but to sneer, hiss and kick dirt on the loser and in essence LAUGH at the loss of a strong voice?

Wow.

Those kinds of posts are what limit my participation in the forum. They're flamebait designed to get a rise. And instead of falling for that trick...I've found it's better to fall back, and away.

Which is sad because these forums are about fostering discussion, not encouraging shouting matches.

Thank you for your heartfelt statement.

LowerManhattanite

[Nutmegger]

16. I'm really sad that Dodd and Biden are out.

I admire them both, and they have positions that should be heard. After one freaking state voted, they dropped.

I'm also disappointed that Richardson dropped out too. I thought for sure he would hang on until Super Tuesday.

The haters here feast on their opponents defeats, not realizing (or maybe they just don't give a damn) that in the end we're all Democrats and in November.