What I wanna know, is when Edwards is gonna drop out.

[LoZoccolo]

Come on, be Mr. Smart Guy and leave it alone.

Obama or Clinton, and no one else!

[Semper_FiFi]

1. Wow!!!

:popcorn:

[LoZoccolo]

3. I just thought I'd do my part in this intelligent conversation.

I am honing my persuasive rhetoric skills.

[Semper_FiFi]

4. I'm surprised you haven't gotten flamed yet...

it must the the late hour that is keeping everyone sedated?:shrug:

[billyoc]

7. Needs work.

:hi:

[MethuenProgressive]

51. It'll be part of his plan - just like being in 4th place is "strategic" on his part...

Honest, that's what the Edwardians were posting yesterday - that being so far behind is part of his "master plan"! :rofl:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. O_o

:rofl:

:popcorn:

[Frances]

5. I hope he doesn't drop out because

he's one of my top choices.

[JDPriestly]

6. I tabled for Edwards this afternoon, and saw an amazing amount of

support for him. I think he is likely to surprise you.

According to Rachel Maddow, Hillary Clinton announced her plan for rural America in D.C. in the offices of the lobbyist for Monsanto. That is a huge faux pas. (Pun intended.) She just shovels the material for her critics. Democrats look for the real thing. Hillary will be seen for what she is sooner or later. I hope it is sooner. At the very least, I hope people see through Hillary before the early primaries. She would be such a mistake.

Edwards announced his plan for rural America earlier and, appropriately, in a rural area. Edwards is for real.

[zulchzulu]

27. Thanks for doing that!

Seriously, there is nothing like getting the table set up out outside and supporting your candidate with the public coming by and checking it out.

Hats off to you!

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karynnj]

9. No one has voted yet - Edwards could still win Iowa

which would change the dynamic. Kerry was in worse shape in 2003.

I am not an Edwards supporter - and thought Edwards looked like a grade schooler in the later debates when it was just Kuchinich, Kerry and him, but suggesting he will quit before Iowa is stupid. He spent huge parts of the last 2 years there.

[bigwillq]

12. You're so right

No offical votes have been cast. He shouldn't drop out unless he has poor showings in the first few primaries.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. People are voting with their campaign contributions

Obama and Clinton are far ahead of the pack.

[karynnj]

15. The percent of people who contribute to campaigns is small

relative to the % who vote. It also is not necessarily representative - and likely biased by income level. Not to mention just looking at tabulations counts a person giving $2,300 more than 100 people giving $20, but they each get one vote.

Edwards would be betraying his supporters if he quit while still viable in Iowa, where polls are notoriously poor at predicting caucus participation months in advance. Having worked on this for over 2 years, why would he drop out in the last 4 months? His goal has always been to win Iowa and then use that momentum to win states like SC and Nevada. There are two "ifs" in this, if he wins Iowa and if that pushes him enough in other states.

I am not an Edwards supporter - I ruled him out as my choice long ago, but this arm twisting to get everyone to drop out before the coronation (opps election is not democratic.

[youthere]

20. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Edwards win Iowa.

[Clark2008]

23. Me either - but I'd cringe that they bought into his phony rhetoric.

[youthere]

24. agree..

I'm not an Edwards supporter..though I will support him if he wins the nom.

[JDPriestly]

30. What is phony about his "rhetoric"?

What precisely is it that you do not like? I am an Edwards supporter. I am a good judge of people, so I don' think there is anything about Edwards as a person that is phony. Is there some policy or configuration of policies that is phony or inconsistent to you?

My favorite candidate is Edwards, but I like all the other candidates also -- except Hillary. I have well considered reasons for not liking Hillary -- specific things she has said and done, as well as specific speech and other mannerisms that make me think she is a "phony." Please elaborate about what you think is "phony" about Edwards.

Edwards has asked people to vote for the person they trust. So, if you don't trust him, please explain why.

[maximusveritas]

39. How about the fact that it doesn't match up with his record?

He's changed his position on almost every major issue, from the Iraq War to gay rights, from economic matters to the environment. All these changes just happened to be in the direction that will benefit him in the election.
Does this not strike you as the least bit phony?

Hillary, on the other hand, is running her Presidential campaign almost exactly like she's served in the Senate. She hasn't really made any 180 degree changes on issues, other than slowly moving in the direction of the rest of the country on Iraq.

I do agree that Edwards seems less phony in his mannerisms and speech patterns, but that's mostly due to his extensive training as a trial lawyer.

[JDPriestly]

40. What is wrong with having a president who lives and learns?

As one who has lived a long time and changed my mind about lots of things, I think that is a good trait. There is no progress unless people change their minds. Personally, I have had enough of a president who can never say he made a mistake, who can never say she is sorry. Hillary was wrong about the War in Iraq, and she refuses to take responsibility for being wrong. That is a red flag to me.

And, by the way, I supported the War in Iraq based on the statements of Colin Powell before the United Nations. I was wrong. I changed my mind, and I am proud that I changed. Maybe that is why I like the fact that Edwards admits that he was mislead.

Edwards explains how he made his decision in 2002, and why it was wrong. He also talks about the importance of choosing a candidate you can trust. Here is the video link:
http://johnedwards.com/media/video/nh-iraq-vote/

I love this video.

[maximusveritas]

43. If it was just the war, I might believe him

but it's not. It's all those other issues. He didn't think the country was ready for civil unions in 2004. Now he thinks we're not ready for gay marriage.
He supported the bankruptcy bill in the Senate, now he says that was a mistake. He supported dumping nuclear waste in the Yucca mountains. Now, he says he doesn't. It goes on and on.
Admitting mistakes is fine, but you've got to take into account the reasons for doing so. The fact that all these admissions and changes are taking place before this primary race raises too many questions about their sincerity. The question then becomes, which is the real Edwards? The new one or the old one? Perhaps it is the new one, but even then, how can we trust him not to change back to the old one when it suits him politically?

I've also changed my mind on a few issues, but not all at once, and not all before some election in which it would help me to do so. That's what makes Edwards a phony in my book.

[robcon]

10. Edwards has a "chance" in Iowa.

Clinton 28
Edwards 20
Obama 23
Richardson 9
http://www.pollster.com/08-IA-Dem-Pres-Primary.php

If he doesn't win or come close there, I think he may drop out, since his polling is currently so poor in most of the other early primary states.

If he drops out, it will be interesting to see who will pick up most of his supporters.

[Ninga]

11. I refuse to take your bait and refuse to call you a smart ass. So there. I would guess that

you haven't run for office yourself, nor have broken a sweat working hard for the candidate of your choice.


Edwards is doing terrific.....hasn't been knocked off the top tier........all the while having been outspent.

Whether you understand it or not....it is meaningful that he is still a viable candidate.

[LoZoccolo]

22. I ran for President in 2004. n/t

[Olney Blue]

37. Kerry, is that you?

:hi:

[DangerDave921]

14. After the first two or three primaries

I have resigned myself to the fact that Clinton will be the nominee. I think the machine is in place, the media has chosen her, and it is inevitable.

[robcon]

16. I think the people of the Demoicratic Party seem to have chosen her,

according to the polls. Your snarky words "machine," "media have chosen" and "inevitable" suggest you're a sore loser, even before she has won.

The campaign is not over, and the Democratic Party will decide on their candidate.

[JDPriestly]

50. When did "the first two or three priimaries" take place?

I don't believe any primaries have taken place yet.

[dembotoz]

17. perhaps when hillary becomes a democrat

[Adelante]

18. Even though you're just blowing smoke, LoZ

I feel like answering.

Edwards has no reason to drop out at this time, especially if he thinks he can pull at least third out of Iowa. He's already shown he is capable of a surprise there, so he'll stay in to see if lightning can strike twice. If he doesn't do well in South Carolina, he will have to reconsider, unless he decides (I don't expect it) to hold on for VP again in which case he will continue his campaign for as long as he can manage to stay in it.

[gasperc]

19. Never, because Edwards will win the nomination

[hedgehog]

21. Maybe about the fourth or fifth ballot at the convention in August

when he throws his support to the candidate he feels he can best support.


On edit: maybe that's the ballot that sees all the delegates shift to Edwards!

[PurityOfEssence]

26. Much as I'd like to see him bolt out of the starting gate and clinch it, it would be nice...

...to actually have a real convention for the first time in a long, long time. We'll probably have a nominee-presumptive on February 5th, which meanst the person will have to withstand 9 months of focused rage, derision and slander, whereas if there's no clear victor, that buys us 5 months where they have to split their energies against us.

Not only that, it's damned good theatre.

[slick8790]

46. Agreed, if at all.

A convention fight would be very interesting indeed.

[rusty fender]

25. He should drop out when...

...President Howard Dean announces the location of his Presidential Library.

[cleveramerican]

28. January11th

[KittyWampus]

29. What an offensive post. I am not an Edwards supporter and have issues w/him. But this is just

flamebait.

[ChiciB1]

31. THIS Is How DU Is Operating Now... As An Edwards Supporter I Suppose

it's useless to try anymore. I will keep supporting him, but when all is said and done, and since Hillary has already been anointed Queen, then SO WHAT!!

Two families running ONE country for decades isn't my idea of Democracy! And no, I won't reply... I KNOW what is going to be posted already! Democrats used to be the "big tent" party, but somewhere along the way, it got lost too!

[Ignis]

32. No, THIS is how THAT poster has always operated. (nt)

[Rhythm and Blue]

33. What's your angle here?

Edit: Ah, never mind.

[NoPasaran]

34. I expect he'll stick it out until Iowa

And should he win, a bit longer. But I think a third-place finish would be the end for him.

[LoZoccolo]

35. That's interesting, because when Dean finished third in Iowa...

...he was gonna go to North Dakota! And Michigan! And Ohio! And New Mexico! YEEAAAAAAAARGH!

[Blue_In_AK]

36. Where's your sarcasm smiley?

You can't be serious.

[slick8790]

47. Oh come on.

That was funny. I liked Dean a lot too, and it was way overplayed, but the "dean scream" made me chuckle.

[Joe the Revelator]

38. I agree, Edwards ceased to be relevant when he decided to accept ...

....fund sharing. He needs to drop out.

[smalll]

41. He should. He really needs get out of the race to spend more time with his...

house! :hide:

Hey, don't feel so bad, Edwardsians; why, I read on the DU somewhere today that John Edwards' low poll numbers - are all part of his plan! He's in phase two of his plan -- the "Lulling Phase." :rofl:

[avrdream]

42. Does that house have a bowling alley?

Looks like it has a barn.

Back on topic, no candidate should drop out until the race begins with real votes and I say that as a Hillary supporter. John should stay in.

[annabanana]

44. Oh really. . You think the Gore & Kucinich people won't go there?

I think Edwards is the natural #3 for these folks...

[GreenArrow]

45. I'll vote for Kucinich as things stand now

but there is no way in hell I'll vote for Edwards. Can't stand him. He's televangelistic. Obama's the only one of the top three I'd consider.

[LoZoccolo]

48. They might go there.

But that would be like getting off one sinking ship and stepping on another one, lol.

[usregimechange]

49. 2016