Anyone Knocking Edwards Supporters, Listen Up

[KingOfLostSouls]

and I got my flame proof suit on so kiss it.

WE, the supporters of joe biden (myself included), john edwards, bill richardson, chris dodd, and dennis kucinich are the deal breakers now.


so you better listen up and listen up well. we're the ones who decide to next democratic candidate. not you guys. you can't break a stalemate without us. you can't win the general without us.

so its time to start doing one thing: what are you and your candidates going to do to get the rest of us to support you?


just putting ya'll on notice. edwards ran a classy campaign, and as a biden supporter, has earned my respect and a lot of others. but he's gotten the tie breaking votes. so you better start making nice and spare us. because right now, you're making a lot of us ashamed that you're calling yourselves democrats.

thanks for playing. now back to your regular "handshake invoked" childish bickering.

[OzarkDem]

1. My theory

Obama or Clinton will get forced out before the Convention, probably not long after Super Tuesday. The convention will become a coronation.

[KingOfLostSouls]

3. I honestly feel bad

once biden dropped out, a lot of us felt lost

I liked john at the debates and would not have felt bad voting for him one bit. in the past, yeah he hasn't impressed me. but he EARNED my respect.

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again: he got a raw deal.


at least he doesn't want to "make nice" and "end the partisan dialogue" with people like karl rove like a certain candidate does.

[dflprincess]

7. Oh God please no.

I have the option of caucusing as "uncommitted" next Tuesday and that's exactly what I'm going do. If enough people caucus this way, Minnesota could send delegates to the National Convention that are bound to vote that way on the first ballot.

I hope everyone who is in a state that has this option takes it. Let 'em know we're not happy with the candidates the MSM picked for us and that any candidate who wants/needs our support had better be prepared to make some deals with us (ie no vague promises about "affordabe healthcare" that actually just lines the pockets of for profit companies). Better to get their attention before the convention than on election day.

[bigbrother05]

2. Lets see if the two candidates keep their pledge

[judaspriestess]

4. nice post

the ridiculous slimy attitude of some posters (who support Obama mainly) are just so ridiculous and petty that it makes me run from Obama even faster. Clinton supporters have been better except when they argue with Obama supporters then it gets pretty childish.

[newmajority]

6. I don't know any Obama supporters who are ridicuous and petty.

Sorry if you met people like that. They must not understand what Barack is all about.

[judaspriestess]

33. with 33 post I can see why you haven't met any

but keep reading my dear, keep reading.

[comradebillyboy]

8. As a Clinton supporter I must sadly agree with you

I have been drawn into too many pointless pissing contests with the Obamites and lose my cool more than I should. I am also willing to poke them in the eye myself from time to time. Biden, Dodd, Richardson and Edwards were all first class people in my book and I would have supported any of them with much more enthusiasm than I can possibly muster for Obama.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I supported Biden, as well, and then Edwards.

It's hard to believe that we end up with Clinton and Obama after all the truly best candidates fell by the wayside (and I'm including Dodd, Richardson and Kucinich). Politics in this country is a sham -- or shame maybe.

I may just caucus for Gravel.

[sjdnb]

9. I'd like to play, but I'm sick and tired of compromising my principles for a party

that has, more often than not, caved to the Admin even before 'caving' was necessary;
that has, more often than not, NOT stood up for the principles some of us grew up believing were the party's principles;
that has, more often than not, used 'calculations' rather than principle to determine their activities, policies, support, actions, etc.

Even if they start 'courting' us ... it would just be another calculated/manipulative move, IMO.

I'll write in JE in the primary and the GE, if things stay as they are today.

[Gloria]

10. I'm with you...,.beyond feeling forced to vote for people I don't want to vote for....

[Lifelong Protester]

30. My Sentiments Exactly

I am tired of being given the 'no choice' choice. I'm sick of the few picking who we feel bound to vote for because they are of 'our' (and I use that advisedly) party.

I am sticking with Edwards through the GE. Period.

And for the record, spouse was an avid Richardson supporter. We both feel the best candidates got left in the dust before the true race began.

What a sham.

Time for a national primary. Getting tired of a handful of states 'picking' who the MSM 'annoits'.

[flyarm]

11. understand this also..Edwards did not withdraw his candidacy..he suspended it..big difference!!

from his letter tonight..

Dear xxxx,

Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.

Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.

I began my presidential campaign in New Orleans to remind the country that all of us -- as citizens and as a government -- have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters.

Now, it's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to the White House -- but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history.

And, along the way, all of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, I am asking you to continue speaking out for those who have no voice, just as Elizabeth and I will continue to do. We need you.

Do not turn away from the great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us -- all of us together -- to make the two Americas one. We need you.

I hope you will take a few moments to listen to the video clip of my speech in New Orleans earlier this afternoon or to read it below.

In the meantime, Elizabeth and my family join me in thanking all of you for your support and for working so hard on my behalf. We are truly blessed to have such friends.

Thank you.

John Edwards
January 30, 2008

---

[Yael]

13. That is so that he can legally collect matching funds and continue

to pay his staff until they find other work (or run out the timeframe set).

Don't read anything into this.

I am voting for him in my upcoming APRIL primary, and I stand with the man, but this just sets up for a fall.

[flyarm]

19. he would get the money anyway..it is delegates he would lose..

http://www.slate.com/id/1004841/

explainer: Answers to your questions about the news.
Do Delegates Have Free Will?
Ted Rose
Posted Tuesday, March 14, 2000, at 3:02 PM ET
Last Thursday, Bill Bradley withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and Republican John McCain announced that he was "suspending" his campaign. Bradley said he would not release his delegates to the Democratic nominating convention. Similarly, news reports suggested that McCain used the term "suspending"--as opposed to "withdrawing"--in order to retain control of the delegates he has won so far. How do the candidates keep control of their delegates?

The two national parties set the rules for the selection and responsibilities of their delegates. (All states have their own laws regarding delegates, but in recent decades the U.S. Supreme Court has struck them down, ruling that the parties can set the policies.) Democrats dictate their policy from the top down: All delegates are pledged, but not bound, to reflect the conscience of the candidate they were chosen to represent. The Republican Party, on the other hand, relies heavily on its organization in each state to set the rules regarding its delegates. A handful of state parties give delegates complete autonomy to vote at the convention for whomever they chose. Others require that the delegates vote for their candidate until the candidate releases them from that obligation.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

snip:

Bill Bradley may say he is retaining his delegates, but in the Democratic Party an official withdrawal severely weakens a candidate's power at the convention. Since he has withdrawn, Bradley will not be able to appoint supporters to the all-important convention committees, which determine the rules and the platform for the convention.

In addition, he will lose a significant number of the delegates already placed in his column by news organizations. In the Democratic primary process, one group of delegates from every state--the at-large delegates--is officially allocated late in the primary season. If a candidate drops out of the race, party rules dictate that his at-large delegates are to be distributed among the remaining candidates. In New York, for example, MSNBC News reported that Bradley earned 87 delegates. At the convention, this number will drop to roughly 70.

As a result, Democratic candidates, unlike their Republican counterparts, have a real incentive to "suspend" their campaigns, as opposed to ending them. In recent history, a number of Democrats have chosen to suspend their presidential candidacies, including Al Gore in 1988. By contrast, only one other Republican in recent memory has chosen to suspend a campaign that made it into the primaries: John McCain's new nemesis Pat Robertson, in 1988.

[Yael]

20. Thanks fly

[flyarm]

23. your welcome!!..it ain't over till the fat lady sings..and that will be at the convention

say..well say Obama gets indicted in the Rezko deal..even the Chicago Trib left themselves an opening with their obama endorsment ..they claimed a caveat on Obama,.and the Rezko arrest and crimes.

lets just keep voting for John and see where this leads..all it can do is add to his delegates!!

fly

[Yael]

29. Oh, he has my vote in my upcoming primary, but you know that!

I can't go to either of them.

:hug:

[liberalla]

18. I noticed that earlier today and wondered about it.

Of course it gave me a brief moment of hope and I almost posted about the use of the word 'suspended'.

I'm so glad that you posted about it now - I feel less silly.

I know you worked very hard for Edwards. I'd like to thank you for your efforts.

[flyarm]

25. thats very nice and sweet of you Liberalla..thank you...

i am tired and emotionally tired today..

and so very sad..but i do not and will not believe it is over..until or unless John says he withdraws..

suspend means that and John does not waste words..something else struck me today..i was a kerry/Edwards delegate in 2004..i have seen this man give speeches many many many times..i have never seen him read one..

he read this one..why ?/ to keep his legal options open..he was not going to screw up one word he needed to say to keep his options open.

keep that in mind..John is a Lawyer and a very good one at that..he does not make mistakes or say words he does not mean.

he meant ..suspend..not withdraw.

and he wanted people to know that..that is why he said it publically.

thanks Liberalla..i am going to sleep tommorrow..and hope that if someone has baggage that needs exposing that it gets exposed before it is too late for our dear nation.

fly

[Yael]

26. From your lips, Fly

[troubleinwinter]

31. Yep, fly, nap tomorrow... ya earned it! Sweet dreams of many of us casting our votes for John Tues!

[liberalla]

35. OMG! That's right! He READ it!

:think: Wow.

Every word had to be spoken accurately - they were chosen carefully, and he didn't want to misspeak. Leaving an opening if necessary. I like it. Another thing noticed by NastyRiffraff here was him flubbing his words and the delivery of the speech. He never flubs his words. That of goes along with him needing to speak precisely, rather than naturally.

Wow. Well, I'll still be voting for Edwards on Tuesday - I hope it means something.
Thanks again!

[Yael]

12. Brahaha-VO!!

Tip of the hat to Senator Biden while I'm here.

:hi:

[troubleinwinter]

32. Hey, me too!

[tritsofme]

14. DU politicking is irrelevant to election outcomes.

People can be big assholes about things without affecting any significant portion of the electorate.

People need to start understanding that with few exceptions, things said on DU do not affect the real world.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Hey, just look at the issues and facts.

If you're as honest and classy as Edwards, I've no worry that you'll pick the only remaining acceptable candidate.

[sheelz]

24. Yes...

smart post!

[LittleClarkie]

16. The thing I like about you guys is when you play referee

When you say a post sucks, that means it sucks, on either side between Obama and Hillary. Since you're not for either of them necessarily, it seems to happen naturally.

I used to have that, but then I picked a candidate and now my perspective is a bit skewed.

[Yael]

21. Thanks for bringing something positive to light here

It is a weird feeling for me. This is the first candidate I have been so invested in since the beginning.

Now, I have no dog in the hunt at all.

[LittleClarkie]

22. I know. I felt that way when Kerry decided not to run

He was the first candidate I'd ever campaigned for. I grant you it took a while for me to warm up to him. And when he lost I cried.

And then cried again when he wasn't going to run.

I had no dog in this hunt until he endorsed Obama. He'd gone out on a limb so I figured I'd better get out there too.

Hang in there.

[troubleinwinter]

34. It IS an interesting question...

What WILL be done to entice the supporters of John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich to these candidates, when we have mostly seen bloody battles over such things as "the handshake", "you're likeable enough", "kindergarten essays" and such asininity?

[cooolandrew]

17. I can't convince you myself but I would say the array of endorsement is an insight to Obama.

[Bluerthanblue]

27. all supporters should listen up- this isn't (or shouldn't be) mob rule-

This rudeness cuts across all the spectrum. It isn't just Obama or Hillary supporters-

You chose to support Joe Biden for your own personal reasons- You don't have any need to "justify" or defend you position. No one should have to answer for why they support any candidate. I see so much anger and outrage on this board- not about actual issues (most of the time) but the "My candidate can beat up your candidate" middle-school age crap.

Many of us are disappointed that those who have dropped out are no longer in the running. I know I AM.

If the behaviour of an individual who claims to support a candidate is something that makes or breaks your decision, can I ask you- who is it you are really casting a vote for? Can I also remind you that the candidates don't get to "choose" their supporters- I can't blame ______ that _______ supports them.

I'm troubled by the way we are devolving into such arrogant, rude, bigoted bullies. So many posts which:

proudly boast that the writer will not be swayed by anyones input- (why post)?

claim clairvoyant abilities and forecast doom and destruction if _______________ is elected-(self fulfilling prophesy?)

repeat over and over the same tired media memes- (by the 40th post, what more needs to be said?)

claim neutrality while trashing another candidate- (who are you really fooling?)

demand that "we" convince someone to choose a certain candidate- (shove it down your throat-or defend my perspective?)


You get the gist. Today was a difficult day for many people. For some of them, J.Edwards wasn't their first choice, but he was a close second.

And the call to clean up our act- should be made to everyone.

Don't mean to be preaching at you- And please hear this as me- bluerthanblue- not any "candidate" speaking.

My behaviour belongs to me- just as all of ours does.

Hillary & Obama should be chosen for the individuals they are, and the platforms they offer. NOT by people who hide bad
behaviour behind thier candidate.


Everyone's vote is important- but no one should use their vote to manipulate others.

If we do that- everyone loses.

IMO-
peace~

[ecstatic]

28. That's ridiculous. Monitor what the candidate's stances are

They cannot control all of their supporters. This isn't a game. There's an illegal war going on in all of our names right now.