Edwards is driving the debate.

[AmBlue]

It is plainly evident that John Edwards is driving the debate in this election. His message is bold, courageous and-- however inconvenient-- he relentlessly dares to plop the whole bloody mess of poverty and corporatism in the glaring spotlight for all to see. To make it even more jarringly obvious, he proceeds to slam the status quo in Washington that plays blind to it and the greedy top 1% in this country that perpetuate it. Then, quite sensibly, he rolls up his shirtsleeves and spells out proposal after proposal that would end the Two Americas and give every American a fair shot at hope and opportunity.

The reason that John Edwards is so immediately believable is this: By forcing these issues into the larger debate, he is already delivering on one of his primary campaign promises: To be the Voice of the Voiceless.

"If we do not speak up for the voiceless, who will do it? We will."

The magnitude of this is startling. He's not waiting to be nominated by the party. He's already gone to work. Whether he wins the nomination or not, by staying in the race--

"Let me make this perfectly clear. I am in this race all the way to the Convention."

--at great personal expense to himself and his family-- and consistently remaining on message, Edwards selflessly puts himself in a position to be pulverized by the Corporate Owned News (CON) and a juggernaut of powerful interests already converged in battle against his message getting out. Why would he do such a thing? Because, as Edwards says:

"This is not about me. No matter what happens here, Elizabeth and I will be okay.... The question is, 'Will America be okay?'"

"We're gonna do what we actually believe in."

The sheer honesty and magnitude of it is humbling. John Edwards is using the platform he has as a candidate for the nomination of the Democratic Party not as his own but, rather, as a voice for all of The People who are voiceless. It is OUR job to make sure that his powerful message-- and their voices-- are heard. Whether he wins the nomination or not.

We would be so blessed to have John Edwards for our next President.

[grasswire]

1. Katrina vanden Heuvel noted that.

She was quick to point out the contribution that Edwards is making to the debate. Go, Johnny, go!

[AmBlue]

2. No one else is hammering on these important issues.

I'm so glad he's there, win or lose, because it elevates the discourse and makes them answerable.

Unfortunately, the fact that neither of the other top two candidates are bringing these issues up specifically-- like occams hatchet says, "in so many words"-- is troubling. These are some of the biggest issues of our time and people need concrete answers and a means to finding a path forward.

[HughMoran]

39. I knew I heard this point mentioned on TV lately

That woman is extremely bright and has very well thought out arguments!

[AmBlue]

43. Katrina ROCKS!! She's one of the best.

Right up there with Rachel Maddow.

[HughMoran]

46. I've not often seen a person who can present intellectual arguments

so adroitly as to not be stepped on my the loud-mouth jerks!

She is really amazing!

[Blackhatjack]

3. Exactly! K & R !!!!!

[Triana]

4. He is the catalyst. What you say is exactly true.

And we would be SOO blessed to have him as President. He's the antidote for the disease of corporatocracy that has eaten away at this country like a cancer.

I guess some voters would rather have more cancer than a cure. And certainly the Republicans, the corporations they exclusively represent, and the corporate-owned media would rather have the cancer - because THEY are profiting so much from it.

Meanhile, this country as we know it, is dying of the disease.

Edwards is the only candidate who points that out and offers to help do something about it.

[AmBlue]

9. I think "some voters" are blinded...

...by the white hot sparkling lights of Hollywood and aren't paying attention to the difficult issues we face, nor the many hard battles that lie ahead. This is a beast that's been hidden in plain view and in the broad daylight, right under our noses. We as an apathetic nation have allowed it to go on for far too long. Having a leader like John Edwards will make the way so much more clear.

Without him, I fear for our very way of life, the quaint notions of freedom and democracy that we hold so dear... and this grand experiment we call America.

[bvar22]

33. Edwards is not "The Only" candidate,

Kucinich has been carrying it for much longer than Edwards.
I AM glad to see a top tier candidate FINALLY addressing the issues of The Left.

Edwards has MY vote, but I love Kooch.

[AmBlue]

44. I give kudos to Kooch for his policies...

However, I was very disappointed with his "tactics" in Iowa.

[WillyT]

5. Excellent Post !!! - K & R !!!

:applause::kick::applause:

[The Traveler]

6. Which is why I have just joined the campaign

as a volunteer. I'll send money when the next pay check comes in. We gotta keep shaping this debate. I'd love to see John in the White House, but if his agenda is well represented therein he and we shall be well rewarded.

[AmBlue]

11. Wonderful!!!

Welcome to the family!
:hi:

[The Traveler]

12. Thanks!

It was time to get off my butt, I figured ...

[B Calm]

7. recommended greatest

congrats AmBlue

[AmBlue]

10. Thanks!

My 6yo asked me today why they show all the other people but not John Edwards. I told him that they don't want him to be heard because he's telling the truth and it's not pretty. He said,

"Well, somebody really needs to tell them that that's cheating." Then he said, "They can't do that. That's illegal right, Mommy?"

I so wish I had better answers for him. It hit me hard (again) that our children are the Voiceless in this nation and we are fighting this for them, too.

[balantz]

25. My ten year old spots these blatant ignorings all the time.

[waiting for hope]

30. My son is six too -

and when they have Election stuff on the tube, he's always asking.."Where's John Edwards?" God bless him, I guess I don't need to get him "Why Mommy's A Democrat", he knows.

Wonderful post - K&R!

[AmBlue]

49. They are so smart and coming into their own...

...at this age. Aren't they?

[aquart]

8. My sister told me that two minutes ago.

That he's keeping the discussion populist.

And if you go with him, you're making a damned fine choice.

[defendandprotect]

36. So, obviously we have a corporate-media which is either dumb, deaf and blind . ..

or it's something they don't want to see . . . !!!

Why are you watching --- ???

[Inspired]

13. K&R

[progressoid]

14. Exactly. If it weren't for his campaign this would be just a beauty contest.

It would be like watching Extra or TMZ.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. More of an ego contest. Between who will be the first black president or...

who will be the first woman president. Oops, I guess I am being racist/sexist :eyes: :argh:

[MadHound]

15. And what is driving this populist-come-lately?

Oh, yeah, that's right, all those positions that he stole from Kucinich. Sorry, but I don't trust somebody who came to the populist party late, who stole his platform from others, and is still getting paid off by both the financial and legal sectors.

Kucinich is the real deal, Edwards nothing but a latecomer trying to pick up votes.

[AmBlue]

17. There's nothing "lately" about it.

Edwards has been talking about Two Americas since 2003.

[MadHound]

18. As opposed to Kucinich?

Sorry, but Edwards is a populist come lately, and given the backers he's getting from both the financial and legal sectors, his populist stance is suspect.

I will grant you, he is talking a good game, I just have my doubts about how well he would follow through once in office.

[AmBlue]

19. I'm talking about top-tier candidates.

And I couldn't disagree more about Edwards "stealing" anything from Kucinich. Sorry that both Dennis and his supporters are not having a good time of it just now. But Dennis trying to inflict damage on Edwards now does us all a disservice.

[madokie]

16. Yes I agree

and especially the part about us being so blessed

[onehandle]

20. kick.nt

[tgnyc]

21. Hilary's speech last night was 70% cribbed from Edwards

[AmBlue]

24. Precisely.

Though it's a bit maddening because she's co-opting his themes, it's the biggest compliment possible. Nobody (especially not Hillary) delivers this message with the passion of John Edwards. They just can't compare because it's who he is.

[defendandprotect]

37. Right--!! I couldn't believe it--!! She stole his comments almost verbatim --- !!!!

Something he's been saying all along in his campaigns --- !!!

THAT'S what made me feel so aggravated with her --- her pretenses and lack of honesty!!

[DaLittle Kitty]

52. Her and Obama ARE THE BIGGEST PLAGIARISTS IN HISTORY!

:puke:

[Justice Is Comin]

23. We have to hope

the rest of the nation doesn't use the same logic as New Hampshire. We'll end up with president preacher Huck.

[balantz]

26. Right on! The others follow John's lead because they have no saving agenda for America.

Not only that, these other "shining and experienced" candidates can't even seem to afford buying their own slogans, phrases like "This is personal to me" and etc. They lack substance even to that degree.

[defendandprotect]

38. And, I'm quite sure there wouldn't have been ANY emphasis on single-payer health care . ..

without Edwards ---

Obama and Clinton would have just walked away from it ---!!

[smokey nj]

27. K&R!!

[B Calm]

28. Kicked and recommended!

[judaspriestess]

29. 2 down 48 more to go

:bounce:

[Uncle Joe]

31. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, AmBlue.

[AmBlue]

45. My pleasure, Uncle Joe.

I only hope it resonates with a voter or two that hadn't considered him.

[frogmarch]

32. K&R Fabulous thread, fabulous posts...

for the most part.

[Ninga]

34. Let's kick this all the way to 48....for JRE !

:woohoo:

:hi:

[AmBlue]

42. Thanks guys and gals!!

And, yes, let's kick this on up to the top!! For John Edwards.
:hi:

[defendandprotect]

35. Right --- he and Kucinich have been the only ones talking about something ...

other than the benign "change" . . .
they are specific and it's obviously these messages which the rightwing need to get out of the way!

[Yuugal]

40. K&R nt

[Kurovski]

41. K&R. (nt)

[kelligesq]

47. Yes he is, so US Chamber of Commerce is threatening Edwards. Dems n all populists - see

Donahue US Chamber of Commerce threatens Edwards, Dems and Populists in
General Discussion,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2641270&mesg_id=2641270

[AmBlue]

50. wow.... pretty vile stuff n/t

[mod mom]

53. Greedy scumbag bullies like the party they back.

[DaLittle Kitty]

54. THIS IS The Fear That is Struck in the Hearts of Corporate America By John Edwards!

and WE want to nominate Hillary... or Obama?

UNBELIEVABLE! :puke:

[supernova]

48. Fully believe that's why JE is running

to pull our national discourse to the left.

I really believe that's why Elizabeth is as motivated as she is also, even with being ill.

[DaLittle Kitty]

51. The Corporately Employed Pundits Underestimate John And Elizabeth's Resolve If They Think Their Mere

Cries for John To Quit will Be Heeded by The Edwards Candidate Couple.

John and Elizabeth are not only doing this for America They are doing this ... AS THEIR LEGACY and THE LEGACY FOR THEIR LOST SON WADE!




It is obvious to even the most jaded among us that there is a passion burning inside these folks that is worn on their shared sleeve.

John May in the END fail to win... FOR US, ELIZABETH AND FOREVER YOUNG WADE,

BUT John Edwards... WILL NEVER QUIT!



Thank you John, Elizabeth and yes Wade as well... May We All Revel in your PATRIOTISM AND COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING THAT IS BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES! :)

ANOTHER $50 to the Edwards Campaign! :bounce: ChaChing!