If Senator Edwards were to step back into the nomination race,

[saltpoint]

he would have my grateful and enthusiastic support.

The "suspended" campaign leaves a slither of light coming through the barn ceiling, but mostly I'm snoozing in the hayloft, not really counting the hours and days. I was happier when all 8 of our announced candidates were on stage debating, finding things to respect in all of them.

Now we're down to three. My first 4 choices are already out of the race. Of the 3 left, I agree more with Senator Gravel, but there's as much chance of his being elected president as Colonel Sanders.

Not that I don't like fried chicken. I prefer it barbequed, but am negotiable.

I have a list of grievances against Sens. Clinton and Obama but the long-term landscape gives me a McCain White House, which would be a bloodthirsty string of Cold War bombast combined with a domestic trainwreck. No sale.

Never a Clinton Democrat, I find some admirable traits to Sen. Clinton but am not going to support her in my state's primary. I thought the Obama campaign badly stumbled with the McClurkin affiliation and feel he needs to acknowledge -- publicly, please -- that Edwards' domestic proposals were vastly superior to anyone else's out there at the current time, and adopt them liberally into his agenda.

The momentum in the race has turned decidedly in Obama's favor, IMO. Which means, in the long run, that it has turned against the Republicans. Not just against Bush's 8 years of calamities, but against the gutting of public service and government initiatives to address human needs. Our ticket will seek to restore that, and likely can't be elected unless it says so when it asks for voters' support.

John, come back into the race any time you want. I'm still an Edwards voter.

If you aren't coming back, I need someone who can whup the Pukes.

[Catchawave]

1. A well thought out and rational decision.....

darn you :D

[saltpoint]

5. Oh yeah? Well I accuse you of even MORE rational decisions in the course

of your registration on these boards.

so there!

:hi:

[asdjrocky]

2. Hey OC!

Great to see you as always. My take? I'm not just a Democrat, I'm an Edwards Dem, that being said, I feel the only chance we have to be heard, if it's not be John Edwards in the White House, then any Dem in the White House is better than any pug. At least with a Dem, they have to at least pretend to listen to us.

Right now, I find myself stumbling through the world, in a rather nasty mood, waiting for John to give me some direction. It would be so much eaiser for me, if he would only tell us his thoughts on the last two.

[saltpoint]

6. No need for any modesty, even though it it is virtue, so let me say it out loud:

You were likely attracted to the Edwards campaign in the first place in part because you are so good at making your own conclusions on world events, whether in far-flung capitals or just down the street.

John and Elizabeth Edwards, IMO, would likely trust your decision now, whatever it is.

[Yael]

3. This Edwards Democrat has come to the same conclusion

For the first time in 20 years (yes, he has been there that long), we have a real chance to replace our (R) Congressman with a Democrat. Race was close last time (2002).

I think Obama has the coattails and can get the people out to the polls and I just don't see Hillary drawing that level of excitement and motivation.

With a huge downticket win, it doesn't matter which (current) policies are out there -- the entire landscape will change and we will be able to move this party back to the left.

We have not seen the last of John Edwards -- OR his plans for moving this country forward. Mark my words. We stack the congress with people who aren't afraid to enact progressive legislation and it is a whole new ballgame for this country.

:patriot:

[saltpoint]

7. Hi, Yael. Yes. John Edwards' influence in this nomination has been

pervasive, forcing the other two candidates to adopt many of his more-left directives for social justice.

He didn't win the nomination. But he forced the other two to run their best races.

[kelligesq]

4. Yes John needs to come back in -

either he's waiting to see how things shake out

or he's really not coming back - and who can blame him - impossible to get press and media - like the song goes, "They did him wrong".

And you're right. The momentum is behind Obama.

Which is more than scary.

IMO he's an empty suit, to be sure an expensive suit, but slogans, no substance.

This country has had enough of "learning on the job" and being surrounded by those wh will tell him what to do. Who? His mentors Lieberman and Daschle? Seems to be.

The government is broken. John said it and it's the truth.
You notice they dont mention that anymore

The entire government needs reform

and I dont think Obama is going to provide that.

If Edwards doesn't come back - I'll have to vote Clinton - at least she's been there already.

The moron has left the next president an impossible mess - purposely.

Why any of them would want the thankless job of trying to repair the damages is beyond me -

[saltpoint]

8. It is a mess, and I agree that Dubya doesn't care about the mess he's made,

or doesn't realize it's important -- or something like that.

I understand your decision for Clinton.

It may be that our next president -- and let's say it's a Democrat! -- will need us to be at our best so that he or she can be the best possible leader for our nation of communities.

I'll help either one and my hunch is that people in the John Edwards group here will be ahead of me in line.

[saracat]

9. Well, I cannot vote for obama under any circumsatnces so by default that leaves Hillary. But should

Obama be the nominee, I will write in John Edwards.What will be will be and I am not so certain I care anymore. It has become clear my party has left me so it really doesn't matter who I vote for or, if in fact, I vote.What a sad state of affairs it is.

[MissDeeds]

10. I'm seriously considering writing Edwards in, too

I've tried to find something in the other two that would make me vote for them, and I come up with zilch.

The party bigs probably believe that we will all fall in line on election day and vote fro whomever has a "D" behind his/her name. But the selected ones do not reflect the issues and values of many of us, and if we go along, it gives tacit approval to them and everything for which they stand. My vote, singular as it may be, is too important to be used to perpetuate something with which I fiercely disagree.

HRC has done nothing to inspire my faith and trust. She is a politician through and through and will be guided by political advantage more than ethical ideology. And Obama strikes me as one whose speeches contain three things: a noun, a verb, and "change" - with apologies to Sen. Biden.
BO is a terrific motivational speaker, but there is no "there there".