If it weren't for Edwards, I'd be so out of this whole election cycle

[sjdnb]

The Obama/Clinton 'war' has, at this point, gone from ridiculous to absurd to vicious and, now, is just too plain ugly to look at.

I don't think I could bring myself to get within 10 miles of either of their campaigns.

When mudslinging, one should make sure the mud is not shaped like a boomerang. (from a Digg comment I saw, author unknown)

[avaistheone1]

1. I couldn't agree more. Edwards stayed above the ugliness between the Clinton and Obama camps

Edwards earned alot of respect from many people for that. He was the only looking like a president.

[stravu9]

2. You Are So Right!

the other 2 sicken me!
John is the only Grown up1

[lumpy]

12. I am there also. Clinton and Obama have turned me completely

off. I have not been enthused at any time by either of them, but their childish bickering is the last straw. I don't think I can bring myself to vote for either of them no matter what. I am hoping Edwards gets the nomination at this point, cause he is the only Democrat running for Pres. that will get my vote.

[stravu9]

19. Sooo childish!

I expect them to stick their tongues out at each other!

[AP]

3. I have to say, nothing that matters to me is being debated by Clinton and Obama. Glad Edwards is in

there talking about giving power back to the people.

[2rth2pwr]

4. How is that done? He repeats lines over and over again

but what exactly does "giving power back to the people" mean?

[AP]

5. It means that political and economic power shifts away from people who donate $130,000 to pols and

goes to people who work for a living.

And it happens by fixing the tax code, labor laws, and all the laws that have tilted the playing field to the disadvantage of small business people, employees, students...

[2rth2pwr]

7. That's what I mean. .."fixing the tax code, labor laws, and all the laws that have tilted

the playing field to the disadvantage of small business people, employees, students..."

I hear that too, but fix them how? And how radically? He still has to go through Congress.

[AP]

8. Are you saying you'd rather vote for someone who doesn't want to do those things because Congress is

not going to pass them?

[2rth2pwr]

13. What things!!!! Geebuss, what is the plan to give power

back to the people and take it away from the corporations.

[AP]

39. Let's take one example. In 2004, all the Dems proposed their college plans.

Every one of them, except Edwards, proposed a plan for more student loans.

Only Edwards proposed a plan that reduced the principal.

That shifts power from Wall St to people trying to get into and stay in the middle class.

[AP]

40. A second example.

Edwards was the only candidate I heard in 2004 to propose a higher cap gains tax on higher levels of capital gains. (In 2008, I have no idea if O and C even care about this issue -- if they do, they're not foregrounding it).

Our tax code burdens people who work for a living, and it makes sure that people who buy and sell things do pretty well by taxing income from work twice as much as income from long term capital gains and dividends. Edwards's plan adds a little bit of progressivity to the tax code.

That would shift power away from Wall St and to people who work for a living.

[Justice Is Comin]

9. The power you exude over the congress

from the Oval Office is enormous because it's so tough to override a veto. We have to assume because it's pretty likely that we will have an even larger majority in both houses.

Once "good" bills shown to be beneficial to the middle class languish because of republican obstruction, the public will start demanding action and the pressure will get huge for the republicans to come to the table.

Remember Bill Clinton was ready to let the republicans shut down the government instead of caving on the budget he wanted? And at the last minute they backed down. That's what Edwards would do.

Not only that, a president can go right directly to the people with "fireside chats" if he wants to. Reagan was a master at that.

You only have to right man who doesn't take a backward step to those repuke slugs and the train will start to move. Edwards is that man.

[2rth2pwr]

14. go directly to the people with what?? I still haven't

heard one piece of legislation that would do what Edwards claims to want to do. Take away corporate "personhood"? Make private health insurance companies illegal? Raise taxes on the rich and send checks to the poor? What??

[Yuugal]

15. I'll start with 3

1) He is going to repeal Bush's tax cuts and use 120 billion of that to give every American health coverage.

If you can't afford it as in you don't pay taxes now, you will get it free.
People making up to 100k will receive help paying for it.
No pre-existing conditions crap
Dental and Eyecare included
You can keep the ins you have now if you want to.

Its the best deal us 90%-ers will ever get.

2)Public financing of campaigns: We just aren't going to get that from Obama or Hillary because they are already addicted to corporate cash.

3) Ending BS trade deals like NAFTA: Hillary sure as hell loves her some free trade and outsourcing, and Obama is too green not to get swindled, if he doesn't sellout anyway for another few hundred million in campaign contributions.

[2rth2pwr]

16. I don't know enough about #1, but Public financing for campaigns will never pass

And end Nafta, there is still a majority in Congress that support it in principle and only talk about tweaking it.

[Yuugal]

17. understood, but here is the rub:

Obama and Hillary can go on all day about "experience", "hope", "change". Its all dogcrap if they are sitting on a mountain of corporate bribes. Who is more trustworthy if not the guy who isn't taking any?

John Edwards is making specific promises he will be held to. Hillary and Obama have the smoke machine going so later on we can't hold them to anything.

[truedelphi]

26. While Lady clinton sings a song to the

Silicon Valley Computer entrepreneurs telling them how she will secure more HB 1 foreign worker visas.

SHe does that in one breath, and then in the very next,is saying that we need to address our children's declining interest in math and science.

Huh? HELLO:

If you see one or both parents shut out of the job market while the research facilities go to Singapore, and the H B 1 visa crowd designs the new hardware and software, why would any kid in their right mind want to study hard?

Study hard today so you can be unemployed tomorrow.

Compliments of the new Democratic party.

[saracat]

6. What does Hope and One America mean? Those are the Obama mantras!

[doc03]

29. Excuse me, what exactly does change/hope mean?

[Levgreee]

10. It seems the mud has slowed down a lot

there was a long time with it mostly being Hillary(unless you think Obama was subtly playing the race card), then Obama vs. Hillary in/around the debate, then the radio ads were pulled and it's been over. Except maybe for the media, and not as aggressive, legit(?) remarks by all camps, of course....

[asdjrocky]

11. I have to agree.

I'd be working on a local congressional race if it wasn't for Edwards.

[stravu9]

20. I will be Gone If Edwards Goes!

To me it will signal the end of the Democratic party which I have held as an ideal from childhood and might just truly require to , like some drug addict, have to hit ROCK BOTTOM before it can get better.
To crash and burn before it can be a phoenix rising from the ashes!

I will not be a Democratic Party Enabler!
If the Party is hell-bent on destroying itself, far be it from me to stand in it's way.

[PDittie]

18. Yeah, me too.

I'm barely hanging in there with the whole Democratic Party as it is.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Same here.

[stravu9]

24. Sad but true!

:(

[iris5426]

22. Ditto...nt

[glowing]

23. I so agree.. I actually jumped ships from Kucinich because he was

going after John.. John is similar in convictions... he may not have always done things the same, but he does care... that threw me off Kucinich.. too bitter and negative... that's when I really looked at the policies.. they are good, well thought out.. and if the two top keep stealing his ideas, then they must be something worth noting.. so, why not vote for the one who spurned them.

[eridani]

38. I'm with Edwards now, but I haven't forgotten that it was John who went after Dennis

--colluding with Clinton to eliminate him from the debates. And you expect Kucinich not to be mad at that? Not that I approve of how that clouded his strategic thinking though.

[Tennessee Gal]

25. I feel the same way.

[stravu9]

27. I think this might it for me. I may have to opt out .

No Black voters for John?! None?
This Party is so messed up now.
I can't do this anymore.
I think on Monday I'll change my Party affiliation to Green.

[sjdnb]

36. I don't understand how anyone sees the divides and hostilities

that have developed among the camps of the two 'spotlighted' candidates, as a result of this primary season, as a good sign.

It is clear that some campaigns, party representatives, and the media have opportunistically driven wedges between groups of people (race, gender, sexual preference, religious affiliation, etc.) for political gain. And, with each primary, the divide grows.

So much mud has been slung already, it is hard to imagine it will be cleared away, anytime soon.

[readmoreoften]

28. I'd be done with the Democratic party.

Republican vs Democrats has become free-trade fascists -vs- free-trade social moderates.

[totodeinhere]

33. I understand your frustration.

The DLC Democrats are crap. But overall the Democrats are light years ahead of the Rethugs.

[Nutmegger]

30. R&K because I would by tuned out this primary season. [n\t]

[FreeStateDemocrat]

31. The way the other two are acting it will be tough to win in November. Polarizing behaviors.

[RestoreGore]

32. I share your feelings

And this may be the last one for me for a while.

[SammyWinstonJack]

34. It will be the last one for me! I am done after this.

[Cybergata]

35. I agree! n/t

[femrap]

37. Same here. I am just

sick that people think Obama is a Dem when he is nothing more than a repugnant-lite.