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You can probably see where I'm going with this. Back in the 20s, there was "race music" and then there was "real music." Gershwin took the former, diluted and repackaged it and was wildly successful in selling it to the whole country. Kucinich is a comparatively unknown blues singer, and Edwards is Gershwin. Or you could do the Elvis and Big Mama Thornton analogy just as easily.
I'm not trying to insult Edwards here--just keep on extending the analogy to see why. Gershwin was a very fine musician in his own right, and many people who hadn't ever heard the the music he based his own renditions on were soon inspired to find out more about the originals. After Gershwin, it became far more common for lots of black musicians of every style to have significant crossover audiences. And get real--how many Americans would ever have heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo without Paul Simon?
Do you suppose that bluesmen living on pennies from their cups ever resented Gershwin? Did Otis Redding die still pissed off that it was Aretha Franklin who recorded the canonical version of Respect? You get what I mean here--Kucinich wouldn't be human if he didn't resent Edwards, even though he made a really serious mistake in letting that interfere with his strategic judgement.
This sort of thing predates 20th century American music and 21st century American politics by eons.
A hundred cities now claim Homer dead Through which the living Homer begged his bread.
A message to all Kucinich and Edwards supporters. It's all about the VALUES. It's all about the ISSUES, the ones that Kucinich has always been behind and the ones that Edwards has come around to supporting. It's all about how we can push whoever is the eventual nominee the furthest in our direction. It's all about how we all have to work toward creating a political culture in which people of modest means feel that they have at least some ownership of the system, getting beyond that "Why even bother--they're all crooks" attitude, that Another World Is Possible, that having their lives run by the One Percenters is not inevitable, that a garrison state based on permanent war is not inevitable. It's all about an ongoing commitment that goes way beyond a single presidential election year.
The best strategy for any of us thie year a is highly individual thing. Are you in a caucus or primary state? Early or late? Red, purple or blue precinct/county/state? Who has the lead when it comes time to make your final decision? Is there a risk of Edwards not being statistically viable at that point, or will he put on a surge? It's hard to know until you have to decide.
For me, it's caucus state/blue precinct, county and LD. I'll take my progressive politics up straight, thankyewverymuch, like hot undiluted expresso. No foamed milk, raspberry shot or even a little extra hot water for this kid. I'd do the same if it was all red where I live. Purple? Well, in that case it might make some sense to foam up a little milk just in case.
To all the Kucitizens still hanging in there. Our candidate is a visionary. Social change on any issue has historically required visionaries on the barricades like MLK, Jr, and also armtwisters like Lyndon Johnson to get legislation through. Kucinich wants to be MLK, Jr and LBJ at the same time. The odds for successfully combining these roles are not high, and terminally perky people who even want to try it don't come along very often. Kucinich actually does know this, which is why he calls his candidacy a long shot. As in 2004, we will probably wind up with a kitten. Keep asking for a pony anyway--it advances the agenda.
To all the Edwards supporters. I called out my candidate for bad judgment, publicly and privately. Howzabout you do the same with yours on the debate participation issue? First they cut out Gravel, and then Kucinich. Given that Edwards is the most outspokenly populist candidate still allowed on stage, who do you think is going to be next? Even if he continues to gain support, the MSM is going to be pulling the ignore and then demean strategy more and more often and pretending it isn't happening. They may even succeed in sinking him completely. Dean Scream, anybody? The full-out feral cat face-clawing treatment won't be necessary--a light paw-swat with claws barely tipped out will do.
To anybody who has ever said "I agree the most with Kucinich, but he isn't electable." If the candidate you are backing instead convincingly pulls ahead and you still haven't voted/caucused, support Kucinich. Stand up for the agenda you really want, because at that point your other choice no longer needs you.
Yours in solidarity for any of the candidates
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