Is Edwards becoming the next Nader?? OR If he continues losing, does he stick it out to try to

[madmunchie]

buy into his way for VP? Interesting thoughts during pundits conversations tonight. Much food for thought.

[Mythsaje]

1. The "next Nader?"

:wtf: is that supposed to mean?

[madmunchie]

7. A person who continues to run for an office that they know they will not win, but do so to affect

the outcome........ maybe the Obama spoiler. Yeah, I know Nader wasn't a Dem, and I know the race is just starting.....but JE has already said he is in it for the longrun and if he continues losing - well why would he continue to stay in a race that he will eventually lose?

[texastoast]

16. There's a thing called the National Democratic Convention

I believe it is in June. That's when the official nominee will be announced.

Media be damned.

[Mythsaje]

25. Oh, I don't know...

Maybe you should ask the other two candidates who are starting to use his rhetoric in more and more of their speeches? Because he represents at least a sizeable minority of Democratic voters who like to see a distinct anti-corruption candidate?

You object to the voters having more choices than simply Candidate A and Candidate B?

[madmunchie]

51. Actually I wonder when John will bow out if he continues losing or if he stays in for all 48 other

states like he said he would.....

[Sarah Ibarruri]

31. Does that mean that the only candidate that should be running is Hillary Clinton? Or is it Obama?

Which one should be the only one running? LOL!

[madmunchie]

50. No, but I wonder when JE will drop out if he continues to lose.....

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. I wonder this.....

IF Edwards drops out, which of the two candidates will it benefit, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?

[readmoreoften]

2. How the fuck can he be the next Nader? He's a goddamned Democrat.

What? Is a "Nader" any progressive candidate with less than 34% of the vote in a three way race?

[GreenArrow]

5. well, Nader was a Democrat once, too.

He did endorse John E. this time around, and Edwards' rhetoric does sound very Naderesque at times.

[madmunchie]

8. Hi GreenArrow, nice to hear from you. Have any heads exploded yet???????

[GreenArrow]

29. I don't think so.

The fortifications are too strong. But hell, I voted for Nader in 2000, and while I don't agree with his endorsement this time, it's pretty amusing to hear his sort of rhetoric being spouted by a more-or-less viable Democratic contestant. And it's good rhetoric, for the most part, though the devil is in the details, and he doesn't really take things too far from the center, even as he makes it sound like he's parting the Red Sea and leading the people out of the wilderness.

But I don't really see Edwards jumping parties if things go south for him; I really think part of the reason he's running is to keep angry and disaffected Democrats from bolting from the party. He's offering a voice that people want to hear, and I think when the game's over for him, he'll endorse the winner.

[Mythsaje]

32. I think he's influencing the other candidates somewhat.

You can hear it in their speeches. They're talking to and about the same people Edwards does more than ever now.

It's a good thing.

[GreenArrow]

36. Clintons victory speech the other night was a good example

I wouldn't give Edwards all the credit though, as Obama is touching some of the same places, and even Clinton, simply by virtue of being a woman has inspired hope in a great many.

But a lot of the stuff Edwards has been saying, is stuff Nader was saying, and it's interesting that one of the things that he said, roundly villified on here, is that maybe things needed to get a whole lot worse before people would be ready to do what's necessary for them to get better. I'm a cynic though, and while I believe that scales are falling off of some eyes, however slowly, they're quick to regrow, and things are going to get a whole lot worse yet.

(edit for grammar)

[Mythsaje]

37. No, I don't think Edwards deserves all the credit for it...

But he's kept it front and center throughout the campaign so far, and it's important that we remember those who are so easily forgotten. I was proud of Hillary's statements that night. She sounded like a Dem. All in all, she came across as quite likeable and genuine to me.

Obama's speech was inspired. I'm sure some people found it inspiring. Me--not so much. I'm just not connecting there for some reason and I haven't figured out why yet.

[madmunchie]

54. Good points but I never thought JE would jump from the Party,

[Mythsaje]

27. Well, they do have somewhat similar histories...

One a consumer advocate, the other a people's trial attorney fighting the same sort of battles against similar opponents.

Nader may have went squirrely in 2000, but he had a long history of telling the American People the truth about what was going on. Not that we listened. Hence the situation we find ourselves in NOW.

[AX10]

3. He's a Democrat. He CANNOT be a Ralph Nader.

:eyes:

Stupid post!

[Lebam in LA]

4. 2 States Have Spoken

I'm leaning Clinton but I'd like a majority of states to select our nominee

[laureloak]

6. He's only 6 delegates behind Clinton, you know.

[madmunchie]

12. What would you say if JE lost South Carolina??? When do you think its time to get out?

[jackson_dem]

18. When should your candidate get out?

Obama lost despite all the money and media support in the world. He blew a double digit lead in a matter of days. Maybe Obama should quit and give Edwards a shot. Let's see what Edwards could do with media attention and more cash.

[madmunchie]

23. JE was a known name since the 2004' election. He had that OVER Obama

and the double digit lead Obama supposedly had was just really supposedly gained in the last couple of days, long before that HC had sustained a strong lead. It was only since Iowa that Obama "supposedly" got the lead AND AGAIN, who said I was for Obama?????

[jackson_dem]

30. Obama had a year's worth of hype and over $100 million

He outspent everyone in Iowa and beat someone he spent three times more by eight points there and another candidate he outspent by nine. In New Hampshire he blew it and was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in history.

Wait a minute. Things can change? Like the unstoppable Obama collapsing? Thanks for making the case for Edwards continuing.

Only angry shell-shocked Obamites are crying that Edwards should quit. These are the same folks who were crowning Obama just 48 hours ago and talking about who his vice president would be, how it was over, etc.

[madmunchie]

52. Not an Obama supporter, just someone pointing out the fact that JE has been

running for the WH since 02 or 03 with a few months vacation from 04 - 07 - 100% of his time has been on running for the WH and trying to get support. Other candidates actually have jobs to do BESIDES just running for POTUS. Have you ever asked yourself how did Obama outraise JE so quickly and by so much when he entered the race much later and at least started out with less name recognition??????? I have.

[laureloak]

19. Not if his delegate count was still competitive.

[jackson_dem]

45. It will be

Super Tuesday is a national primary. The national poll average has Hillary at 37, Obama at 30, and the little engine that could at 18. That will mean no one would be close to having the 2,000 delegates needed to win the nomination and the fight would go on.

[peace13]

9. These primaries started way too early.

That being said, we have committed candidates and it is up to them to decide when to get out. What is the rush? When our candidate is selected the press will have a hay day so let's not rush into anything.

[madmunchie]

17. For as much effort and time that JE put into Iowa......the only got 2nd

Obama didn't almost live there for the last 3 years, and now NH, a distant third. How about him getting such low support from the poor, uneducated.....? The champion of the people that seem to be supporting others.

[jackson_dem]

20. Obama outspending everyone and still needing Republican support?

How about Barack, Mr. Hope, the new JFK with all the money and media support needing to rely on Republicans and independents to even have a chance to win a Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton? What is he going to do during all-Democratic primaries?

[peace13]

48. It is what it is.

Each candidate has a role to play. I don't understand the rush. Obama makes his choices and I am sure they will pan out for him. Be patient and be thankful that your candidate was not whitewashed out of the debate picture early on. Every day in the game is a good one. Peace, Kim

[madmunchie]

53. Definitely interesting and somewhat faith restoring.

[laureloak]

22. I'm glad the primaries didn't end in NH or Iowa, no matter

how much Chris Matthews tries to make it so.

[rwheeler31]

10. He has to stay. If Obama falls he will pick him up.

[LiberalFighter]

11. Nader ran as a Green in the General Election

Edwards running in the Primary for the nomination does not make him a Nader

[Fovea]

13. You are daft

And you don't seem quite up to speed on how candidates are chosen.

[crim son]

14. He is not yet in a real position to be a Nader.

You're buying into the hype. This isn't nearly over yet.

[madmunchie]

24. We'll see. I am not sure what is going to happen, but I do know that JE has performed

his own expectations. Hillary below hers and Obama, well he is really still a wait and see.

[jackson_dem]

15. Delegates: Obama 25 Hillary 24 Edwards 18

:yawn: Obamites need to get over it. OBAMA lost. It isn't Edwards fault and he has a right to continue.

[melody]

21. He's staying in because no one else is addressing in detail what he is

Which of his people, many of whom are on the road working for him on borrowed funds because they believe in him
and how he's helped them, would you choose to break their heart?

[GreenArrow]

39. "no one else is addressing in detail what he is"

Well, actually Kucinich is, and has been, but no, he's not electable.

[melody]

49. None of the other frontrunners are, I meant to say n/t

[depakid]

26. "Much food for thought?"

Junk food, maybe.

[comradebillyboy]

28. I'm no Edwards fan but he does not deserve to be

compared to Ralph Nader. Edwards is a legitimate Democratic candidate running in the primaries. He has every right to stay as long as he can, support whichever democrat he chooses and further his political agenda. But I still reserve the right to make snotty comments about him and some of his more annoying supporters.

[Joe the Revelator]

33. I think Edwards, and his DU supporters, are becoming the next Kuccinich

[Mythsaje]

34. ?

[Warren Stupidity]

43. .

what is wrong with these people?

[Nutmegger]

38. Excuse me??? [n\t]

[BattyDem]

35. This is not the General Election

This is the primary process and the whole point of this process is to allow citizens of this country to choose a person to represent their party in the General Election.

Edwards currently has 6 less delegates than Clinton and 7 less than Obama. There has only been 1 caucus and 1 primary held. Contrary to popular belief, the nomination is not the birthright of Obama or Clinton. They have to earn it and neither has done that yet. There is no front-runner at the moment and as long as Edwards has a competitive delegate count, there is no reason for him to get out.

For the first time, my state has an early primary, which means my vote will actually count towards choosing the nominee. In past elections, it was pretty much a done deal by the time I got to vote. As long as my candidate is still competitive, I would like to have the opportunity to vote for him ... if that's all right with supporters of the "chosen one" (and who that is depends on who you ask). :eyes:


NOTE: I am not criticizing Obama or Clinton ... or anyone's support for them. If either gets the nomination, I will vote for them in the GE. However, the "get out of the way so my candidate can claim what is rightfully theirs" attitude of some DUers is very disturbing. That's not how democracy works. EVERYONE is supposed to get a say, not just two states.



edited: typo :blush:

[ChiciB1]

40. I Think I'm Going To Have To Stop Checking In Here! Two States

any people running for the door like rats! But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this is what we've become. My candidate doesn't look like he's going to win, SOOOOO I need to go with a winner!

Seems to be what it's all about anyway!

[JDPriestly]

41. Walking my precinct today,

in one street I talked to two voters who were undecided and are now going to vote for Edwards. One of them put an Edwards yard sign in front of her house. So, calling all Edwards supporters, get out there. Start walking instead of just talking.

[Warren Stupidity]

42. LoZocolo, is that you?

Running as a Democrat in the Democratic primaries is both democratic and Democratic. As our primaries dole out delegates roughly proportional to votes, Edwards is actually getting enough delegates to be the king maker at the convention should Obama and Clinton continue to run neck and neck. Was that your point? I doubt Edwards wants to be veep again, but it is possible. Perhaps he will push the party platform a bit to the progressive populist left as his price for victory?

[madmunchie]

57. Yep, you got my point. Your point is good to think about to though.

Although with the right circumstances, I believe that JE would definetly go for VP.

[AndyA]

44. Support for Edwards is growing, and people need to stop letting MONEY elect Presidents.

In case you noticed, it hasn't worked out so well for us lately. :eyes:

Obama and Clinton are spending a fortune compared to Edwards, and they are also getting plenty of media coverage. Considering those facts, Edwards is doing pretty well.

It would seem most here at DU judge the worthiness of a candidate solely on the amount of money they're able to raise. And that's just what the big self-serving corporations who own the media want you to believe. STOP LETTING MONEY ELECT PRESIDENTS! IT'S NOT GOOD FOR AMERICA!!

[Jim Sagle]

46. Edwards is the only real Democrat in the race. How does that make him Nader?

:shrug:

[robcon]

61. ALL our candidates are real Democrats.

Every one of them.

[JDPriestly]

47. Edwards is the best candidate. The press wants Hillary.

They are putting Obama up so it isn't so obvious that Hillary is the chosen one. Obama would be easily brought down if Edwards left the contest. Edwards doesn't buy the press manipulation of our democracy, and neither do I. I want Edwards to call the bluff of the media and stay in until the convention.

[balantz]

58. That there is the simple facts of the scene.

[last_texas_dem]

55. Has John Edwards withdrawn from the Democratic primary to announce his run

as a third-party candidate? Has he started taking contributions from Republicans and campaigning heavily in swing states that are important to a Democratic victory? No? Well, then, I wouldn't say Edwards is becoming the next Nader. In fact, I don't think he's even remotely close to it.

[cali]

56. Absolutely NOT

I am no Edwards supporter, but the comparison to Nader- saying he is a spoiler, is just offensive.

[Horse with no Name]

60. Nader was not a proud Democrat

How dare you insinuate that someone is destroying their party by running a clean campaign that strikes into the heart of many Americans.
Shame on you.