As a retired Dean supporter I see the wisdom in Edwards.

[liberalnurse]

As a dedicated Dean Campaign worker, I saw the need to give my heart and soul to bringing our democratic party back to life. Dean has definately done this and I am proud to of served the mission. There are D.C insiders from our party that are resistant to letting go of the power.....so I'm going with Edwards. I'm tired of being gangster slapped around by the D.C insiders.

If we are to evolve and to really beat *bush, we must back Edwards; otherwise nothing changes and we may find ourselves prisoners of the *bush regime once again.

[edzontar]

1. I personally prefer Tweedle Dum over Tweedle Dee

nt.

[CWebster]

2. Edwards is an insider

A slick trial lawyer whose only asset maybe that he isn't the dour, dirty bore, Kerry.

;-)

[liberalnurse]

3. No he isn't. An love slick trial lawyers.

The have high IQ's. We need someone who can out-fox the enemies!

[flpoljunkie]

17. Edwards is running a faux populist campaign whose record belies rhetoric

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/politics/campaign/19CAMP.html?pagewa...

Asked about the criticism, Mr. Kerry's press secretary, Stephanie Cutter, responded, "This is an interesting line of attack from the positive campaign of John Edwards considering that his campaign is wholly funded by trial lawyers, which are widely recognized as special interests and lobbyists." Mr. Edwards himself is a former trial lawyer.

<>"Edwards promised to run a positive campaign," one Kerry campaign statement read, noting that Mr. Edwards had voted for the China trade agreement. "But now Edwards attacks John Kerry and runs from his own record."

<>"I think your record is an indication of what you'll do in the future and also shows the strength of your convictions on a particular issue," Mr. Edwards said. But Mr. Edwards acknowledged in an interview earlier this week that there was little evidence of his having opposed Nafta before 1997 or 1998, when he first ran for the Senate. He has close ties to the Democratic Leadership Council, a group of moderate Democrats that has pushed for liberalized trade agreements, but he said he had made his views known throughout that campaign.

"What I've said is when I campaigned in '98 — since I wasn't in the Congress when passed — I campaigned and I was against Nafta," he said in the interview. But he said it was not a major part of his Senate campaign.
_____________

Edward's campaign has received the most $2,000 contributions of all the candidates--66%--at year's end reporting, 2003.

[liberalnurse]

21. Thats fine with me!

God knows what will be leaked out by *bush if kerry gets the nomination. I sense he has real baggage.

[CWebster]

25. NYTimes has been batting for Kerry from the getgo

Anything they might promote must be viewed with a jaudiced eye. The plutocratic rag. ;-)

[HFishbine]

4. No can do

You and I have been comrades in arms to this point, Nurse, and you still have my respect. But we part ways here. My first attraction to Howard Dean was hearing him stand up to the mendacity of the Bush administration when no one else would. Edwards was complicit and an enabler of the Bush agenda -- especially on the war. The polar opposite of Howard Dean. There is no way I can, in good conscience, vote for someone who is unapologetic about his support for the war and who has articulated a lower standard for pre-emptive war than George W.

[liberalnurse]

11. We are down to two candidates.

Dean isn't on the list and I need to be a responsible voter. I am still keeping my action list handy as doing a Dean write-in remains an option. I could never vote kerry so that leaves Edwards, if I'm to behave as a responsible voter to evict *bush.

It's a dilemma for sure....so now I process what to do today as I know our Dean mission will need to rebuild.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

23. For the primaries

Dean IS still on the list. I will still vote for him in my primary and you can too.

[polpilot]

13. Who can forget Edwards surprise at the CA demo convention last year

when his pro-war comments were booed? This showed a supreme lack of intelligence to go out there and voice this pro-war message and then to be 'surprised'. He lost me that second.

Kerry's just re-processed 'tell me what to say' old time politico.

[eileen_d]

5. edited

:)

[dennis4868]

6. I cannot vote...

for Edwards who is proud of his vote to murder innocent Iraqis and over 500 of our soldiers for no good reason...he is still proud of his vote to this day!

[liberalnurse]

12. Well, you'll just have to get over it......

because both remaining lead candidates voted for the IWR. Edwards has owned his error much better than kerry's vague, " I'm a victim excuse".


We only have 2 to pick from.

[RafterMan]

14. He's owned it

But he does not understand it to be an error.

[liberalnurse]

16. If we are stuck with *bush......

we really won't have any accountability! Both remaining candidates voted for it......My choice, Dean dropped out......I have to just move on......fight another day but today, I must pick ......

[liberalnurse]

18. Well, that ultimately is the end result

no matter if you vote or not. Edward is not proud of his vote today. Kerry wants to twist his story to patronize the masses.....thats worse!

[bushalert]

7. Kerry is a good choice.

John Kerry is a good progressive, who will stick it to the repugs in the fall. I also like Edwards, but he sometimes comes across as a bit inexperienced and timid. Dean & Kerry had a lot in common, regarding leadership experience and a strong determination to beat Bush.

[Polemonium]

8. Edwards and Kerry are fruit from the same money tree

Vote for Dean, Kucinich, Sharpton, Braun or someone who will bring progressive values to the convention. Delegates = a say in the platform That is at this point better than nothing. Support for Kerry or Edwards before the convention gives either candidate the implied mandate from us that it's OK to be a part of and supported by the aristocracy. Just my 2 cents.

[bushalert]

10. Great, so we can guarantee another 4 years of Bush

[polmaven]

15. I don't think that is what was meant

by that post. The post clearly is speaking of the Democratic convention in July, not looking forward to November.

I am a Kerry supporter, and, if the roles were reversed, I would vote for my chosen candidate in our upcoming primary as well.

I think each of the candidates contribute to the final platform of the party, and to the ultimate direction of the party.

It is important to send the message to the convention that each candidate needs to continue to be heard if the Democratic party is to be successful.

Despite the republican's claims to the title, we are truly the "big tent" party. We are the ones who hear all views and have room for all of them.

I salute the loyalty of the true supporters of all of the candidates.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

26. In case no one noticed

Bush is NOT on the candidate list in the democratic primaries. We aren't to the general election yet. We are STILL in the primary phase and the choice does not have to be made now. Frankly I am a bit tired of the "Well you will guarantee Bush another 4 years" BS. It's rather dull and child like.

[liberalnurse]

19. Thats a protest vote only.

None of the above have any power.....equates to the Nader vote of 2000.


My delegates in Ohio, Dean delegates will vote kerry .......many of them are from the AFSME........what a shame!

[Polemonium]

27. Well in that case I'll just stop attending DNC meetings now

Because none of it but supporting one of the big candidates matters. Alas this metality is a big part of the problem in the Democratic Party today. I realize there will be delegate swaping etc. but requests for reforming this process are in the works. Further, I know many delegates will stick with their candidates, and they will bring representation of the platform ideas held by those delegates (that we initiated). If your telling me my participation in this process is a total waste of time then what is keeping me from going thrid party. Voting for and supporting a Democrat for the upcoming convention should not be compared to a Nader vote.

[Skwmom]

9. I don't see any wisdom in voting for Edwards.

Am I mad at Kerry for unfairly smearing General Clark (a good, decent and honorable man)? You are *amn right. However, do I think that Edwards just sat back and let the Kerry campaign do his dirty work? Yes.

My goal is to beat George Bush. Edwards would go down in flames. How is a man who has spent the majority of his life being a personal injury attorney (no they won't be using the term trial lawyer) going to beat the Republicans on national defense?

Even if he could win, electing a personal injury attorney to lead this nation during a time of national and international crisis is absurd. Have we learned nothing from electing morons like Ronald Reagan and George Bush (I and II)?

In addition, the Republicans would love to expose the guy as a phony populist fighting for the little guy. If they were successful in doing so (and I believe they would be very successful) this would give credence to the Republican meme that the Democrats have done nothing for the little guy, it is all empty rhetoric.

[unfrigginreal]

20. Sounds like the right move to me

Edwards will at least give us the ability to fight in the South. His connection to trial lawyers doesn't look so bad when stacked up against the Bush connection to corporations. And with Kerry we don't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting rid of Bush.

[MGKrebs]

22. Too bad Edwards accepted matching funds.

He'll run out of money around April, and Bush will attack constantly ($200 million worth), and John will not be able to respond for 4 months.

A bad scene, man.

[liberalnurse]

24. Can Dean rescue the situation

if he is the VP?

[GodHelpUsAll2]

28. No he can't

FEC laws won't allow it. I don't understand why the calls for Dean to rescue anything would even be made. Everyone was so anxious to see him drop out. He has. But now everyone is so anxious to have him bail out other candidates. Did anyone think about what the potential blow up could be before they stompled their feet for him to leave the race?

[MGKrebs]

30. FEC laws won't allow what?

[MGKrebs]

29. Interesting question.

In theory, yes, I think it could help. But, in order for it to help, Edwards would have to name Dean as his VP choice way early, approx. April. This is normally not done, and I'm not sure why or what the pros and cons might be. It seems like it wouldn't be a big problem if Edwards were to have enough delegates locked up by then, but it's hard to see that happening right now.

[liberalnurse]

31. So there can be a few more convolutions

to these primaries! hang on to your seats! Dean didn't completely drop!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. The fact that Kerry is closer to Dean on the issues doesn't matter.

All that matters is stopping Kerry at all costs.