For Edwards Supporters Only: How do you justify

[sjdnb]

supporting H or O after the embarrassingly petty/juvenile/media/celebrity driven campaigns they've run to date as well as their lapping up the unwarranted/un-issues-related celebrity status bestowed on them. Neither one spoke out saying anything to redirect the conversation towards the issues/policies nor did either advocate fair/balanced media coverage for all candidates, their policies, and positions?

Fact is, neither comes close to representing/supporting any of the positions JE (or, any progressives) stood for -- that is, until today, as they ran around positioning themselves in an attempt to latch onto his supporters.

How can anyone fail to understand why principle driven progressives, are turned off by the Democrats?

[Critters2]

1. Pretty much sums up my feelings. nt

[rpannier]

2. I am voting Edwards in the primaries

And like JE, I will vote for the Democratic nominee in November -- Unless it's Zell Miller or Ed Koch

[avaistheone1]

4. That is my plan too, and one I will recommend to my friends and clients.

[barb162]

7. Mine too

[Bjornsdotter]

15. That's our thought also

....my daughter already voted for Edwards in a absentee ballot, the rest of us will vote Edwards on Tuesday.

Cheers

[BlackVelvet04]

3. Fortunately I'm not required to justify myself

to you or anyone else.

[sjdnb]

9. So, why did you respond? Just to flip off an Edward's supporter

who so brazenly posted their thoughts about the primary to date? I didn't send this to you PM, you could have ignored/not responded -- I've ignored a whole crapload of pandering for my support by H/O supporters today ... but, like so many others, in the H/O camps, you felt the need to attack/dismiss - not with reason or logic - just the all to often expected, not-so-passive aggressiveness.

[patrice]

10. Way to go sjdnb!!!

:applause:

[BlackVelvet04]

33. Oh, yes, way to go....

I WAS an Edwards support until he dropped out. I'm sick of people trying to make us feel ashamed for now supporting someone actually RUNNING.

[BlackVelvet04]

31. I WAS an Edwards supporter until he dropped out....

now, don't you look foolish.

I'm tired of people trying to make Edwards supporters feel ashamed for now supporting someone who is actually running.

[venable]

36. why would they feel foolish - the OP asked Edwards supporters a question

and you said you didn't have to answer it. (which seems a pointless waste of keyboard strikes)

so, don't you feel too self-righteous by half for suggesting anyone should feel foolish here?

it's a political website where people do things like ask questions, and others answer... except those who - for reasons known only to them - prance around arrogantly.

it's simply about an attitude, and i don't think you're getting why some here are offended by yours.

[venable]

18. classy accountability, champ, and why again are you on a political website?

if you've got no more to say than that?

you are where the new Democratic Party and the Republicans meet... a self-important cesspool of arrogance and mindless dismissal

"I don't have to justify myself' - a pox on this

[BlackVelvet04]

32. No, I don't have to justify

why I, as a previous Edwards supporter, am supporting someone who is actually running. I've had plenty good to say about Edwards but he is no longer in the race.

[QC]

27. You're also not required to be a horse's ass. n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

34. Nope...

neither was the OP.

[begin_within]

5. I don't...

Even if one or both of them has an "awakening" to progressive ideals, it would probably be just to attract Edwards supporters, and I would view it as merely pandering to progressives. And we've all seen that before.

[Malikshah]

6. Because one million lives have already been lost.

And I don't want to exponentially add to that number with a McCain "bombbombbombbombbomb...Iran" to win.

I'm taking the wait and see attitude for now, but will support the Democratic ticket.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. I gave my $ and my time to Edwards. To me, he was saying things that needed to be said.....

... things that no one else had said, the Two Americas, the corporate abuse, the lack of jobs, the need for unions to grow. I sensed he wouldn't make it because he was taking no money for corporations, and he was talking truth to power. The media ruled him out and began not covering much of what he was doing and saying. Now that he's quit, I've examined both candidates, Obama and Hillary. To me and only to me, both candidates seem very much alike. Both are better than Republicans in every way. Both want access to health care. Both want to increase jobs. I realize that Hillary Clinton might give more of an impression of "establishment", but I think Obama is not some way out there liberal at all. Both are similar, but both are DEMOCRATS. They will be a million times better than the kindest Republican. STOP losing sight of what the Repukes have done to us. DO NOT take your eye off them for even one minute, for they will swallow you up and spit out your skeleton.

[sjdnb]

13. I'm 50 y/o, have worked campaigns since McGovern ... and, here's what I think

Our party has been pushed so far to/by the right, many have forgotten what Democratic principles are.

Edwards would be considered a moderate, by most Dem alum -- but, in this 'not so brave' new world, the Dem Leadership has acquiesced to, we are damn near Communists.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. I agree, but that happened because we allowed everything to turn right wing by....

.... not being active. I myself was active in nothing. Meantime, the Repukes were all infiltrating like a cancer, into all aspects of our country, filling all positions from library and school boards, from local govt., county govt., state govt., federal govt., you name it. They organized ordinary people into belonging to groups meant to trash us. They infiltrated churches and even changed theology into one that now holds anti-abortion and anti-gay as the 2 most important theological aspects of American Christianity. They mestastasized everywhere. They took over radio stations programs and made them into vicious talk shows meant to destroy the Dems. They spent 2 billion dollars on 43 right wing extremist think tank groups over a period of 30 years. By the time we libs woke up from our sleep, we were surrounded, and our voices couldn't be heard. We couldn't even express our own opinions because were instantly called communist, or lesbian, or homosexual, or tree hugger, or any number of other names and epithets. I recall being actually afraid of admitting I support abortion. I felt at times I was the only one who was lib. I was depressed, upset, spent a hell of a lot of time crying.

It's our fault. We slept while it all happened. It came on over us like Naziism over the Germans.

But I've changed. I am no longer idle or lazy about participating or keeping my eyes open on what Repukes are doing. I'm VERY ACTIVE in many things now. I just will never let my guard down again.

[sjdnb]

22. Don't feel too bad ...

I was 'active' ... and, it didn't make one ounce of difference, in the end. Just diverted my attention from things where maybe I could have made a real difference.

Politics has become the least of my priorities.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

24. You were pretty much alone my friend....

... MOST of the Democrats who are whining right now because *their* candidate is not going to be the nominee, and who are threatening to get another Repuke into the White House, were doing absolutely NOTHING back then when they could've been averting the takeover of these fascist monsters. In fact, many of them were probably applauding Reagan like trained seals.

[jackson_dem]

11. Because they are all we have and they are both good

Edwards was great; Hillary and Obama are good. We have to choose between what we have, not what we want. :(

[sjdnb]

16. You know I respect you Jackson, but on this, we'll have to

agree to disagree.

I have to vote my conscience, I've compromise too much in the past ... and, right now, my conscience is telling me neither Obama or Hillary are, who I, as an individual, can support.

So, I'll write in JE in the primary and hope that either he or Gore jump back in.

I'm sick and tired of settling ... or supporting folks, just for the good of the party.

Been there, done that, just to see the party cave (into the status quo) far too often.

[jackson_dem]

29. Sure. I understand your feelings. I will note vote in the primaries now

I will support the nominee in the general but I don't have a passionate preference among the remaining candidates. I hope by the time we have a nominee us Edwardians can regain some of our enthusiasm for politics and the direction of our party. If you don't I will fully understand. I am disappointed the party rejected Edwards so soundly. He did well in Iowa but he didn't get more than 18% anywhere else. He was talking about what used to be the fundamental mission of our party while Obama ran on vague slogans and Hillary had no identifiable message. I am not saying the party is wrong for voting for others but the fact that Edwards didn't do nearly as well as the celebrity candidates reflects poorly on our party. The rethugs have had three different winners and at one point had five strong candidates. Why was our party so much more narrow-minded during the primaries?

[SheilaT]

12. I don't support

either of them.

And neither of them can win. It's all over.

[frogmarch]

14. John Edwards

was the only candidate I supported, and I did so with all my heart.

Now that he's dropped out, I feel depressed and angry, but I'm a realist. I hate republicanz, and I will therefore back whichever Democratic candidate I think has the best chance of beating the republicanz in November.

[LVjinx]

17. Who else would they endorse?

2000 showed us what getting petty accomplished. Hillary or Obama will be the nominee. Not voting for one of them will lead to a continuation of the Bush Doctrine. Is disappointment worth allowing that to happen?

[OzarkDem]

20. Primary race will be over by next week

My state's primary isn't until March, there won't be much point in voting.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. That's exactly how I feel.

I am still bummed. I was so looking forward to the caucus, but all the air went out of my balloon. Now I'm just tired.

[krabigirl]

23. I can't.

[Rowdyboy]

25. In 1976 as a senior in college I loathed Jimmy Carter as the Democratic nominee.....

A one-term moderate/conservative Georgia governor with a stupid grin was my least favorite Democratic candidate. I backed Fred Harris and Mo Udall, the two most liberal of that years crop. When Carter beat them and won the nomination, I was furious. Eugene McCarthy was running as a liberal 3rd party independent and I decided to vote for him.

The night before the election Jimmy Carter made a last minute appeal talking about his Democratic ideals and he really touched me. At the last minute I changed my mind and voted for Carter instead. Its a vote that, 32 years later, I'm still very proud of. Today he's one of the people I most admire.

So thats how I can bring myself to swallow my pride, suck up my disappointment and vote for someone thats not really what I long for. Maybe I'll be let down this time, maybe not but regardless I do it-because of Jimmy Carter.

[Andrea]

26. As of now, I can't justify it and I won't do it

Come November, I may decide that there is some slight chance that one of them will be better than the war-mongerer McCain and vote for the nominee. I sure can't see myself giving money I can't afford to give and working myself until I'm sick to campaign for either of them.

The Democratic wing of the Democratic Party has been dealt a severe blow.

I'll hope and pray that somehow Gore will jump in or some decent Third Party candidate will come along.

[knight_of_the_star]

28. I don't

Because I don't support either one of them.

[Irishonly]

30. I voted for Edwards by Absentee last week

My husband is waiting for his absentee ballot to arrive and he will also vote for Edwards. This November will be the our daughter's first election. She has already registered but doesn't turn 18 until April. She is asking me about a write in candidate and I have explained the process to her and what she has to do.

I do not support either Hillary or Obama. I will probably vote for the eventual nominee because I don't think our country can survive another repuke. I have encouraged my daughter to vote with her conscience and to be honest, I am a little sad I have become so jaded.

Right now I am taking a breather and have decided not to read much about candidates. I want to focus on other issues like illegal water boarding. FISA, and other things. I chose Edwards because of his message. I wrote so many letters of complaint to news organizations about the lack of coverage.

We have tried to teach her to be an activist. We go to protests together. She tutors children in one of the homeless shelters our church operates. Edwards inspired her by his actions as well as his words.

[ChiciB1]

35. Can't Justify... Won't Do It... He Was THE ONE... I'll Vote For Him &

then it's time for me to go!