Hey Fellow Edwards' Supporters...

[pamela]

Seriously, folks, they are laying it on thick now. We must CONFORM, right? Well, no thanks. I still believe John Edwards is our best chance to beat the Republicans in November and I'm not going down without a fight. I will not cry that the media is choosing our candidate and then turn around and let the media choose MY candidate.

Two roads converged in a woods and I... well I noticed they were both headed in the wrong direction so I made my own path. And that has made all the difference.

[saltpoint]

1. I don't believe any of the Republican candidates have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Edwards has.

In fact, I doubt if most of the Republican candidates even know where Kilimanjaro is, let alone climb the thing.

Go, Johnny go.

[EVDebs]

79. Go to post #78 I've dug some stuff up for Edwards supporters !

[Warpy]

2. I'm one of the cats our leaders complain bitterly about

having to try to herd. It just doesn't work and it annoys the cat.

Now that Richardson is out, my support goes to Edwards, no coin toss needed.

I will vote for whomever gets the nod, though. They're all better than the group of second and third string nominees the GOP has dredged up.

[XOKCowboy]

6. Amen...

I'll vote ABAR (Anyone But A Repubican) in November no matter who gets the nomination. I have convictions but we can't afford another Repug president.

[bdamomma]

86. repigs have done so much damage to us neo cons too.

John has to stay in, I am sure he realizes what is happening that the media is not giving him no play. We just need to donate to him and volunteer. Let's just see how he fairs in the upcoming primaries.

[pamela]

7. Thanks Warpy.

I wish Richardson wouldn't drop out, though. He's one of the good guys.

[jwirr]

10. Thank you.

[XOKCowboy]

3. I'm not leavin' till he leaves...

I believe in his ideas and message more than the others. I just hope that more people get exposed to his message.

:toast:

[smokey nj]

4. As long as John Edwards is in the race, I'm sticking with him!!

[surfermaw]

76. I'm with you smokey been there since the first in the senate race be there till the last dog come h.

[Yael]

5. I am right behind him all the way

:thumbsup:

[Mojambo]

8. Yep Yep. n/t

[sandyd921]

9. We're the herders not the sheeple!

Edwards supporters need to help others to see "the forest from the trees". The MSM have clouded (and purposely limited) the choices. I have been talking to friends and people I work with. Lots of 'em are confused and unsure where the truth is regarding these candidates. I help them sort out the facts and it logically leads to the conclusion that Edwards is the best choice. It's up to each of us to talk to our circle about this election and about John Edwards.

[pamela]

23. Well said.

There are a lot of ways we can insert ourselves into the national conversation. It would be nice to have the media's help, hell, it would be nice to have the Democratic Party's help, but since we don't, we'll just have to get more creative.

[bpeale]

55. we are the ones who REFUSE to conform no matter how much pressure is placed

on us to do so.

like peter pan said "i'll never grow up" ... I'LL NEVER GIVE UP

[judaspriestess]

11. I am in no way shape or form abandoning ship

I am with John and Elizabeth Edwards till the white house or whatever comes in between.

[BlackVelvet04]

12. Edwards is my first choice.....

Hillary number 2. I'll keep supporting Edwards as long as he's in.

[frogmarch]

13. Hi, Pamela. What a great cartoon. Thanks for your

upbeat post, too. Glad you're here!

:kick: and Recommended

[pamela]

16. Hi Frogmarch!

Glad you liked the cartoon. It's one of my all time favorite Far Side cartoons.

[frogmarch]

17. haha - It's now one of my favs too!

I also like the Gary Larson cartoon showing cows grazing. One of them looks up and says, "Hey! This is grass! We've been eating grass!"

Larson cartoons are the best. :-)

[OzarkDem]

14. Still on board

the Edwards Express.

Mom always said I was an individualist.

[AmBlue]

15. As long as John is in, I'm in. GO, JOHN, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Norwood]

18. I'm not jumping off unless he decides to drop out of the race

[Gloria]

19. With him to the end, even if it means a write-in in Nov.

Unless he makes a deal, at which time I quit thinking about politics forever. Just a waste of time, we're stuck.

[pamela]

21. Boy, I hear ya.

I keep telling my husband that I'm going to quit caring about politics if this thing plays out like another DLC coup. He says "Oh, you'll vote for the Dem no matter who it is..." but I swear, I'm honestly not sure. I'm tired of being an easy vote for the Democratic party. And I'm not "fringe" by any means-I'm just a middle-aged, middle-class woman who has been voting a straight Dem ticket for 28 years.

[lisainmilo]

27. that's exactly how I feel tonight!....but JRE all the way....

If he keeps plugging along so do I !

[KoKo]

38. He and Kucinich need to stay in. Who knows what smears Obama will come up against and

we all know what will be rehashed about Clintons. Right now both of them have every advantage staying in and letting the smears go at the top two. Of course the Repug and DLC Attack Teams might decide that it's better to get Kooch and Edwards out NOW...to stop them being alternatives so it could get uglier for both of them.

Agree ...after this...it's hard to look at our Party as helping Progressives. Better to donate and work for other causes that can make a difference ...supporting the groups fighting for change outside the parties.

[bpeale]

56. i, too, am writing his name in the GE if he doesn't get the nod

[DaLittle Kitty]

20. You ARE On The Correct Path! The FAD ... Will Fade, Just Wait Beside John And Liz!

:) It's the Smart Move!

[defendandprotect]

22. We have to keep him in, get him nominated -- and keep him ALIVE --- !!!

[liberalla]

24. I'm not giving up until John Edwards does !

GREAT POST!!!!

"I will not cry that the media is choosing our candidate and then turn around and let the media choose MY candidate."

Onwards, Upwards,
Edwards. 2008

[JDPriestly]

25. I spent a couple of hours walking my precinct today.

I persuaded two undecided voters to vote for Edwards. One of them immediately put up a yard sign. It is really fun. Don't get mad, get active. That's my motto.

[pamela]

29. "Don't get mad, get active."

Love it.

Thank you for your hard work today. I sincerely mean that.

[JDPriestly]

30. It was so much fun.

I met wonderful people, an actress-writer who is working on a screenplay (I'm in L.A.), an Englishman who would vote for Edwards if only he could, and a woman a few years younger than myself who is disabled and quite lonely. In addition to giving me the opportunity to work for a candidate that I really believe would be the best for America, I had the excuse to get to know my neighbors better.

I will table tomorrow and walk again on Friday. I want to do as much for Edwards as I possibly can. Whether he wins or not, I want to get his message out there.

People instinctively like Edwards, but the bandwagon effect is strong and favors other candidates. I have some advantages in tabling and canvassing. Like Edwards, I have a southern-midwestern smile. In addition, I'm female, older (64) (but I don't look too old) and I am very short, so people are not afraid to open the door. So when I go to the door, people are very friendly. That gives me a big advantage.

We live in a lower middle class area of Northeastern Los Angeles where people have backyards and nice views of the mountains. The houses were built in the 1920s and 1930s. There are lots of Spanish speaking people. Lots of Democrats. I had the impression that several of the women who were home today are backing Hillary. They just want to see a woman elected president, and they are nostalgic about the Clinton years. I mentioned Maggie Thatcher. (I gather they only vaguely remember who she is.) I also mentioned NAFTA and the outsourcing of jobs. I think I might have caused them to question Hillary just a bit. I don't think it is really helpful to be overly confrontational. I always try to respect other people's right to their opinions and always leave on good terms without compromising my own opinions.

One of the women told me that she is a poll worker. Her house was a disastrous mess -- and I'm not that great a housekeeper myself. She is middle-aged, single, unemployed, poor and depressed. She told me that she had a job for a short time as an inventory clerk and had worried that she might not be able to work at the polls because of the job. She explained that she quit the job because it was too far away. Her car is too old to go so far. I felt a tremendous compassion for her. She is one of the many women who suffer from the terrible job market. She can't earn enough to justify the cost of traveling to the areas where she can get work. I do not believe that Hillary Clinton knows or cares about women like her. I think that John Edwards knows and cares about women like her.

In my tabling and contact with voters, the most common objection to Edwards is that he is a trial lawyer. I am a lawyer myself, so I respect Edwards' work. I think his experience as a trial lawyer makes Edwards a better listener and a better communicator All of the candidates say something like "I met a woman in Des Moines who had no health insurance." Edwards says, I met and then he says the person's name who lives in and then he names the town and who and then he tells the details of life and the problems of the person about whom he is. To Edwards people are real. Edwards doesn't just tell an abstract story about someone. As a trial lawyer, Edwards has learned to pay attention to a person's story. He instinctively identifies the elements of the story that make the person interesting and that will cause others to care about that person.

As a lawyer, I suspect that Edwards knows more about the lives of the individuals he has represented than most people know about anyone other than themselves and members of their families. Edwards knows how much his clients make, how much it costs them to live, how much their medical care costs are. Lawyers meet the families of their clients. I know so much about the families of my clients. I do not think that either Hillary or Obama really know people like Edwards knows his clients.

You can tell that from his speeches that Obama experiences things and expresses things in the abstract. He is too intellectual for me. Hillary focuses on policy. There is nothing wrong with that. But, for me, Edwards' experience representing people makes him the best candidate. Edwards likes people. He understands people. He knows how to get people to tell him their stories. He cares about people. We have never had a president like Edwards.

I am so happy that Edwards is staying in the race. I think the other candidates would lose their way if it weren't for Edwards' ability to bring the discourse back on target over and over. The other candidates constantly borrow from Edwards. I am sticking with Edwards because I love my country, and I believe Edwards is best for our country.

Please forgive the long rambling personal post. I appreciate your great posts on Edwards.

[pamela]

31. Wonderful post.

You just presented the best case for Edwards that I've ever heard. It was interesting, intelligent and eloquent. I bookmarked this thread just to save your post. I hope a lot of people read this.

You know, this thread is making me feel so good and energized. Edwards supporters are such great people.

[bpeale]

60. i learned how to save specific posts

press the permalink button & it moves the post to the top where you can then bookmark it

[CorpGovActivist]

26. Larson Did a Good One of Lemmings, Too...

... nice job!

K&R!

- Dave

[pamela]

28. Here you go...

[Mnpaul]

70. I guess we all know which one is the Edwards supporter

in that 'toon. Vote for real change.

[CorpGovActivist]

85. SWEET!

What's the URL on that? I could only find a B&W one.

- Dave

[pamela]

88. It was from a risk management website...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://riskmanagementinsight.com/riskanalysis/%3Fm%3D200706&h=520&w=425&sz=29&hl=en&start=2&sig2=wC1T8iTtGdPhhaLsb5579A&um=1&tbnid=m_d0sVk4dxbAaM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=107&ei=9fCGR-GtIIuGetKHsNoO&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Bfar%2Bside%2Blemmings%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

[Nutmegger]

32. A great POSITIVE post, thank you for this.

R&K!

[chknltl]

33. New Edwards supporter here.

His talk about strengthening the Middle Class won me over. If you think about it, We The People ARE the Middle Class. What strengthens the Middle Class strengthens Democracy, what weakens the Middle Class, weakens Democracy.
May I recommend to all: "Screwed, The Undeclared War Against The Middle Class" by Thom Hartmann :patriot:

[PATRICK]

34. People forget it isn't winner

take all anywhere in the process unless people give up their votes repeatedly. Your vote can win delegates. Delegates win platform planks and other things. You empower your candidate. you effect the voice of the party and the direction of the campaign.

But let's get back to winning. I am trying to puzzle out this unique season compared to others. usually, despite the drama, the expected candidate of weight prevails. Hillary has some of that incumbency glow that helps in those cases. Kerry had to earn it hard but by the end of the season the whole roller coaster arrived back where it started. People running for the first time, senators particularly in this post brokered convention world, have a real tough time. They are the contenders against the favorite or front runner or someone emerging from the pack who has the opportunity and smarts to capitalize on "inexperience". Obama seems good at this for a young Senator. Neither one though has a lock on the factor that seals the deal. The media has purposefully/stupidly obscured everything but that is not so unusual either.

There is a good chance in the locked three way so far that Edwards can win. This is the stuff of past drama. Number one: he is running a very effective and smart campaign with better personal experience. He is not being left behind on any memes or issues like last time. He is leading and driving many aspects of the campaign and issues even if he doesn't seem to get anything out of it himself yet. He is providing beef and passions and specificity to the issues, passion and challenge to the politicking, and is a de facto better lure for everyone, especially party pros who want the biggest surest, widest spread win. He has defined he is going to be progressive leader, not crowned head of the status quo. None of these aspects add up to the portrait of a loser as much as the doubts and puffery of the other two, shaky and stumbling at times(though by no means fatally or significantly- yet).

Forget about the material disadvantages, the ideological opposition that is STILL braying bipartisanship with criminals as if nothing had happened that needs accountability. His is a remarkable and shining candidacy well worth playing out to the end. Bill Clinton had worse but with better bucks and worse rivals. With the seesaw in place, the whole process is still in play. Iowa and NH have been washes and blips despite the hoopla. The REAL excitement happens now. I would not bet the farm against
Hillary or Obama, as opposed to other years when it became apparent how and why someone say, like Jimmy Who? was going to win.

But votes for DK and Edwards are vital no matter the guesswork because we must swell the voice that has the most important facts and ideal based ideas. We can bleed and we can lead. That isn't about numbers and winning or we wouldn't be in this mess now. It is about putting what is right against what is wrong, until something eventually gives. Edwards seems vastly pledged like the liberals of old to stand by his platform and the people even when the prospects of personal ambition fade. As democrats, if we believe in that type of platform and that kind of candidate we have to ramp it up and prove what we think we know. To ourselves if no one else. The best challenge and the best candidacy and the best result. Compared to the giants of the past, some winning, some not, how can we give up heart with this man? And he will not just make us feel good or secure and passively taken care of after election day. He will lead our charge to the future and open the doors to OUR democratic power, greater than his own advancement by far. The potential to win is very very strong in essence and dynamism and while the establishment searches for the flaw in the muffled silence that surrounds the grass roots, the mammoth or tragic flaws of the system's misguided collaborators eat away sourly at the absurd, tattered myths
that reduces patriots to weak fans and citizen participants to infrequently enervated spectators.

I'll be buried where I fall, advancing, not where I lie down and submit. Man, message and a most reasonable chance for "miraculous" success.

[KoKo]

36. Well Said PATRICK....thanks for that pump up!

Let's hope the DLC doesn't force Edwards out. I Think they forced Richardson out and now with Kerry endorsing Obama it's a sign that Edwards is getting some pressure at his back.

[Triana]

35. Ain't it the truth...WRITE THE MEDIA! LINK to addresses and example letters...

...PLEASE SEE rocky's thread about writing to the news media asking for more Edwards coverage!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4017273

[bpeale]

63. folks, Rocky needs our help to stay with the campaign onsite

check his message out on JE Supporters group & help if you can

[Phillycat]

37. I am with him as long as he is in the race!

Go John go!

[onehandle]

39. kick. nt

[Seabiscuit]

40. John has got more vision for this country than all of the others combined, I'm

staying with John until the convention. Go John!!!:dem:

[Lugnut]

41. I'm sticking as long as John does.

I will absoultely be voting for him in the PA primaries.

How simply accurate is this one sentence? I think it's perfect!

"I will not cry that the media is choosing our candidate and then turn around and let the media choose MY candidate."

[TBUSA]

42. We have to get his message heard

Once his message of fighting for the U.S., versus the corporations is heard ,
He will be carried in. That may explain why his message is not being broadcast.
How do we get his message to the masses?

[pamela]

47. "How do we get his message to the masses?"

Anyway we can.

Write letters to the Editor. Contribute to John's campaign. https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/ Sign up on the John Edwards pages at YouTube, MySpace etc http://www.johnedwards.com/action/networking/ TAKE ACTION http://www.johnedwards.com/action/

Contact the media. Here is the list of contact info that Rocky posted in another thread. I'm sure he won't mind if I post it here. Keep it handy. Let them know that they will not be choosing your candidate for you.


*Associated Press
[email protected]
1-212-621-1500

*NBC Nightly News
[email protected]
Phone: [phone]

*NBC Nightly News
[email protected]
Phone: [phone]

Chuck Todd, Political Editor
NBC/MSNBC
Todd, Chuck
[email protected]

MSNBC
[email protected]
[phone]

*CBS Evening News:
[email protected]
212-975-4321

*CNN
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv /
404-827-1500

USA Today
http://feedbackforms.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback/fe...
Phone: [phone] or 703-854-3400
[phone] (Reader's Editor)
Fax: [phone]

[midlife_mo_Jo]

43. great post! K&R

[nonconformist]

44. Do you think that I, of all people, will CONFORM?!

Tee hee! NOT A CHANCE

GO EDWARDS!!

[pamela]

52. Now, that made me smile.

I read your subject line and then looked over at your name and cracked up.


Did you ever see the movie Harold and Maude?

"The problem with the world, Harold, is that too many people are this...



but allow themselves to be treated as that..."

[grmamo]

45. Great post - He is and will be my Candidate till the end.

[FlyingSquirrel]

46. Don't look now but Obama's winning 50% of DU post-NH poll

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4004441&mesg_id=4004441

[Dawggie]

48. That's okay. Although I'm an Edwards fan, I won't diss anyone else for their choice.

We're all in the tent together!

[Phillycat]

49. Bizarre.

This is also post-NH, in GD instead of GDP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2640707

[Phx_Dem]

50. Great post

K&R

[ooglymoogly]

51. Excellent thread Pamela keep em coming.

[Snotcicles]

53. My whole 2007/08 election budget is going to John Edwards, except

A fifty here and there for Al Franken.
My fifteen year old son asked why.
I told him I will never be a rich man and won't have much to leave him like some of his friends parents. That getting him through collage will be tough if we can do it at all. So the least I can do for my son is give what I can to the one person I think will do everything he can to help us. My son knows how deeply I feel about John Edwards and told me that if JE didn't get elected he knows JE and I did everything we could and that was enough for him.

[pamela]

59. That's beautiful, Snotcicles!

And may I add that I never thought I'd use the words beautiful and snotcicles in the same sentence. JK! Thanks for contributing!

[Snotcicles]

72. thanx pam. nt

[bpeale]

54. i really like that last paragraph! can i quote you?

[pamela]

62. Of course...

I'd be honored.

[piedmont]

57. I'll support him as long as he runs. And I WILL donate to his campaign. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. K & R

[CANDO]

61. April 22, 2008 PA Primary Edwards gets my vote!

eom

[upi402]

64. fighting the good fight

feels good and burns me out too sometimes. i cycle in and out in recent years; activism and fighting it all, and getting away from it all. it's frustrating to see even Democratic voters falling for the "moderate" corporatist bullshit. seeing true-blue fighters for justice being called "not legitimate" is discouraging when it comes from our side.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

65. I agree with you

But I'm afraid the true Democratic candidate in this race and our one hope in November has been swept under by the backwash of the Clinton and Obama brand names.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

66. John Edwards certainly don't need no stinkin' Kerry kiss of death.

The only real Democrat who can win in November.

[elizfeelinggreat]

67. yes

I like Edwards, I like what he says and what he's willing to fight for and I'm sticking with him.

[zalinda]

68. I donated today, not much but what I could afford

I also bought a yard sign and bumper sticker. My house is around the corner and about 2 blocks from the polling place, so maybe it will nudge some people in the right direction.

zalinda

[pamela]

69. Thanks, I love you guys.

I wish I could respond to every single post in this thread but I'm afraid it would look like I'm just trying to kick my own thread. But I have been so touched by all the great, positive messages.

Edwards supporters ROCK!

[Snotcicles]

71. As long as he is steering, I'm rowing. nt

[MissDeeds]

73. K & R

Edwards is not giving up on this country and I am not giving up on him. He is the best choice and the best hope we have. Period.

Thanks, Pamela, for the encouraging words. I'm right there with you.
Woot!

[Two Americas]

74. stand firm

Of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy. Did we brave all them to falter now? - now, when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered, and belligerent? The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail - if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate, or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later, the victory is sure to come.

Abraham Lincoln
"House Divided" speech

[Divine Discontent]

75. WOOHOO! GO JOHN! Come on South Carolinian Democrats! n/t

[Blackhatjack]

81. S.C. African American Democrats might not appreciate being taken for granted...

They are perceptive, vote their interest, and know when they are being patronized. Edwards has an excellent opportunity to make inroads with them before the Primary.

They must be insulted to sit at home and watch idiots like Chuck Todd of MSNBC say they will vote for Obama because he is African American.

[Divine Discontent]

90. heya BHJ, I agree

Chuck Todd.... boy, there's a piece of work.

[RBInMaine]

77. I love Edwards but...

I love Edwards, and he had been my first choice. But folks, reality is reality. Politics is as much about timing as anything else. The problem here is that he is up against two candidates that have tons of money between them and are simply sucking up chunks of the electorate that leaves Edwards with the "scraps." The other thing that is putting people off is that when he loses he does not offer any kind of graceful concession, only more of the stump speech. His money is drying up, and while his populist rhetoric has been great, it has been making him seem kind of "angry" and too "single-issue." (Don't get me wrong, I, again, love the tough populist talk which has been very much needed in the debate.) The problem and reality for Edwards is simply his timing, financing, and the divide in the electorate that just doesn't come down his way. If he can't win after Nevada and South Carolina, he is DONE, and it is doubtful he'll win either of those. In a primary situation, you either start winning or the bucks dry up and you start looking non-credible, out of reality, and foolish to keep trying to hang on and continuing to lose just to make some kind of point. Dodd, Biden, and Richardson are great Democrats who understand this and gracefully bowed out. Sadly, I'd love to have seen Edwards do it, but it just doesn't look like it can happen now, and Edwards shouldn't risk being a spoiler candidate. I have therefore gone to Obama, as we need a very new direction and Obama is the only one left with the resources and electoral potential to overcome Hillary's machine. (At the same time, if Hillary does win the nomination, I will be behind her 100% because we MUST take back the White House, and while Hillary is more vulnerable in the general election, she CAN win with the right running mate and the right campaign.)

[EVDebs]

78. Oh ye of little faith. Read THIS thread and I mean it,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4027493&mesg_id=4027493

then when your done read

The Long Haul
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/us/politics/10edwards.html?ref=politics

[EVDebs]

80. Obama met Bloomberg not long ago...what's that about, eh ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4027493&mesg_id=4027610

and

Bloomberg meets with Obama November 30, 2007
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-11-30-obama-nyc_N.htm

[Lint Head]

82. I will exercise my freedom to choose and John Edwards is my.

choice. I refuse to let anyone bully me into following the crowd. :dem:

[Raine]

83. I will not give up on Edwards

he's our last best hope and I believe there is plenty of time for him to pull it out.

[7horses]

84. Great... never give up!

We all need to stick with John Edwards and never give up!
Vote, send money write letters, emails, etc.
Don't listen to the Media... don't let them talk you out of
your vote, your choice.

[pamela]

89. Hi 7horses!

Welcome to DU!:hi:

[tnlefty]

87. Checking in!

2 primary votes here! (Unless something happens between now and Feb 5th).

Long story made short: My oldest will turn 18 5 days after our primary. I told him that since it's so close to his being able to vote that we'll discuss my primary vote, but he has to have facts, etc. for our discussions. We've both been torn between Kucinich, Dodd (who is out now) and Edwards. As of now it's solidly Edwards, even though the final decision is mine, but he's in the Edwards camp now. His Dad has always been in the Edwards camp. :hi:

[asdjrocky]

91. Very nice Pamela, k&r

[yurbud]

92. he is still viable until AT LEAST super Tuesday