Reply #27: That's why the coming election and primaries are important

[Armstead]

I think you're trying to avoid stepping into the cow-pie field of specific candidates.

But I will. If John Edwards makes a strong enough showing to either win or come close to the top, it's going to be an unavoidable wake-up call -- both to the Corporate Democrats and to the MSM.

Edwards has a clear and unambiguous message. He is also basically "mainstream" and moderate in many ways. But moderate is different from being a "centrist" corporate collaborator.

If he were to win the nomination, the entire party would be forced to align with him, and the values and positions he represents. Then, if he wins the General, he would be in a position where he has to respond to the concerns of the real base of the Demnocratic Party, even if he becomes more compromising.

It doesn't mean the Democratic Party would suddenly become unified. But it would shift the balance of power towards the side that represents the clearest opoposition to all the GOP stands for.

I also realize there is a certain gamble there. If Edwards were to win the nomination but lose the general, the "liberals" and the "left" would get blamed. But nothing is gained without a gamble. And there is going to be a gamble no matter which candidate wins the nomination.