Why do you think we here at DU seem to support Edwards in a percentage WAY more than generic Dems?

[Dawggie]

Koko1's original post (poll) here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2613988 made me wonder about this...

I won't lie, I am with the majority here in believing that he would be our best chance for meaningful and positive change here in America, but all the polls (if you choose to believe them) put both Hillary and Obama way above Edwards. It was nice to see him squeak by a 2nd place in Iowa and I'm really curious to see what New Hampshire brings.

OTOH, I do have to believe that the folks here are much more politically astute than the "typical" Democrat. Which leads me to ask if you believe marketing, political concerns by MSM shareholders and/or money are positing influences in this like the majority of American elections.

Are our Lords simply saying we can have one from column A or one from column B, but don't look at the rest of the menu because you can's afford it?

I guess as the vassals we have become in the last 50 years that we pretty much have no choice to serve our corporate Lords or we will be punished in one form or another.

Where a doctor would come to your house when I was a child, we must pay for the tens of thousands employed or serving the insurance in addition to the Doctor who will be paying off his student loans for 20 years after he or she begins practice and pays the insurance industry for protections in case of a fuck up.

Sorry... I'm going astray of the OP.

So what do you think it is? Are we smarter here than the general populace on Democratic policies and abilities or are we dumber?

Or are we just hoping more than the general populace?

[begin_within]

1. We're far more astute about all this than the general public, who mostly gets their info from TV

[Triana]

2. Smarter and better-informed. And the lame$tream media ignores Edwards..

...or they slam him. For those who don't hang at DU or aren't on the internets much, they know and hear about Obama/Clinton - and that's pretty much all they hear or are aware of with a puny mention of Edwards here and there (often negative).

So...Obama's glamorous and good at speechifying (so is Edwards but the M$M doesn't like what he says and doesn't want anyone to hear it much or they'd vote for him and support him and they don't WANT THAT!).

And Hillary - they'll never like her - regardless - and I believe a black man would be elected before a female as president anyway. I could be wrong but that's my take on it. WAY too much misogynism in this country yet.

So DUers are better informed. People who spend time on the internets are better informed. Lamestream media sux red monkey arses in Hell and ignores or slams Edwards.

WE on DU know better. But most 'Murkins don't and the lame$tream corprat-owned media likes it that way and they intend to keep it that way. Lest Johnny Edwards blows into Washington-town and breaks up their little monopoly party in DC and and loosens their hard lock on the US airwaves - which desperately NEEDS to happen.

[Bicoastal]

3. We're bigger policy wonks than most of the country, I think...

...and on paper Edwards looks great. Perhaps the best.

If it wasn't for the fact that our country just got over 8 years of Bush, Edwards would be the frontrunner easily.

But the country isn't just hurting because of failed policy, it's hurting because of a failed image, in our country's own mind's eye and on a world platform. And Obama's family history, life story, appearance, speaking technique-- yes, IMAGE--is different than anything our party, or country, even, has come up with as a Presidential possibility in its entire history.

That's why Edwards is losing--he's just not as inspiring for reasons he can't help.

[pansypoo53219]

4. we've been paying attention.

and we are informed not by gnews.

[Cleita]

5. We at DU aren't influenced by the MSM who are

pushing Clinton and Obama in everyone's face. Most people still think that CNN et al are giving them unbiased coverage.

[glowing]

6. I think if you are here you are paying attention to politics and realize the

influence that policies, laws, and judicial practices pertain to everything in your life... the jobs you have, your education, taxes, the environment, and even that gas price at the pump... Its the one thing I keep saying to by boss who is a small business owner... Your revenues being ok are done and the bad times coming; these are a direct cause- effect relationship to politics... It is important that you pay attention. I told her a year ago that it was going to get tough and that the her revenue would decrease... and now I'm hearing how tough it is from her own lips. Yet, she barely pays attention to the actual politics. Everyone complains, but doesn't spend enough time paying attention.

Of course as usual.. We all have our own opinions and our own life experiences, which lead us to support a candidate that we feel will bring about an America that we'd like to live in and that we'd like to pass on to the future. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. We are human. Mistakes happen. We either learn from them or keep repeating them... and to keep repeating the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of lunacy. Some people get it... other's do not. Most of it is already rigged... but ever so often you see something in someone or an ideal that feels real and it inspires you to work harder. For some its Obama. Other's its Edwards. And still others are fighting Wind Mills like don Quixote. I have a lot of hopes and dreams and determination... but I know that I have to fight for those things and I have to do the tough work... Its not going to be handed to me... most people who have been instilled with a good work ethic realize that.. and like that they are being asked to participate in doing the work.

I also think that John has the most realistic goals and a progressive platform. I like that his energy policies are sound and his health care platform leads us to universal coverage for all people. I like that he fights... Maybe its the Irish heritage in me...making me fiery and hot... I feel inspired for the first time in a long time...

[ihavenobias]

7. People buy into BS like this...

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/10050-fox-news-and-john-edwards?play=1

It's not just that people watch Fox News, it's also how the talking points expressed in that video clip above end up infecting the rest of the mainstream media.

A lot of the argument people make here sound *exactly* like those created over at Fox News!

[Naturyl]

10. Good video there, thanks for the link. n/t

[ihavenobias]

16. Thanks, I think it's really important

that people realize exactly who created many of these BS talking points.

A lot of people like to believe *they* just came to these conclusions on their own, and while that may be possible *to an extent*, I would never discount the direct and often indirect impact of the media on views of a given candidate.

[silverojo]

8. Because we're better informed

And we don't write off a candidate just because the MSM has.

[Naturyl]

9. Politics is a strong interest for most DUers

Otherwise, why be here? For the majority of Americans, however, politics is not such a strong interest. Most potential voters follow politics just enough to know who looks good to them and go no further. Naturally, the question of who looks good to them has a whole lot to do with who is being presented by the media and how.

[aein]

11. The people at DU are left of the typical democrat....also

Also, as for being more astute. I don't see it.

The average DU'er may be more knowledgeable as to what's going on in the ground, or what candidates said this or that. But this doesn't translate into more knowledge about economics, public policy, international relations, or law--the knowledge that a person requires to effectively judge the policies that will effectively solve our nation's problems.

So guys, don't fool yourselves. You don't know everything.

[FrenchieCat]

12. Edwards uses words many are dying to hear......which is why when he ran in '04

and didn't use those same words, he wasn't the one DU overwhelmingly supported.

Edwards learned, and the netroots was his natural constituency. He started courting us before he announced. He went through a few trials with us. Like his Iran boo-boo that he fixed just in the nick of time. Then there was that blogger issue that was messy, but quickly went away. But certainly he has tried hard to have gain majority support on the net.

The thing about Edwards is though....he only seems to learn after making a mistake. He made the mistake in 2004 on not courting the netroots fully, and now he has corrected it.

Some of us are more astute than others. Some just live in a different echo chamber than that of mainstream. It ain't always a neccessarily superior chamber, although we want to think so.

[robbedvoter]

13. Because, since 2004, Edwards' operatives took over DU until it became EU

If it were so "left" as you pride yourselves, Gravel, Kucinich would be gaining traction. You know, the guys who really opposed wars, even when in power.
Money pumped in advertising here and on some blogs like Kos for the past 2 years earned some allegiances that lead to disproportionate infatuation.which now looks..sorta like...the Ron Paul revolution. And re-tooling of the campaign to fit most of DU's views - even if an 180 degrees from the record - fooled many.

[dmosh42]

14. Better informed, is my opinion....

I also have a brother, (independent)and sister, (Repub)and both in 50s. We compared opinions recently, and found we all arrived at Edwards as our guy! I was surprised, as we have always avoided talking politics when together in order to keep it pleasant. Another thing I noticed on DU. If impeachment proceedings were up to this site, they would start immediately!

[NoPasaran]

15. Because many DUers seem to live in an alternate reality

Which also accounts for the previous feeding frenzies over Kucinich and Biden, as well as the fantasy that if Nancy Pelosi just winked, Bush and Cheney would be on the next rendition flight to The Hague.