I'm feeling a bit angry at John.

[AndyA]

Just yesterday, he said he was in it to the convention.

They sent me an E-mail about a big fundraiser to break records before the end of the month.

He said I would have a voice.

Maybe I'll feel better after the shock wears off, but I'm not too happy with John right now. I hope he offers an explanation for his change of heart.

Not wanting to trash him or anything, but I'll bet I'm not alone in my feelings.

[iris5426]

1. Me too a little bit...

I am trusting that he will have a good reason though...

[AndyA]

2. I fear this has something to do with Elizabeth.

This was a sudden change for him. She hasn't been traveling lately. I fear she's had bad news from her Doctor, although I'm praying I'm wrong.

[iris5426]

3. She looked good on TV at least

[Silver Gaia]

6. Andy, that was my gut reaction, too. I hope we are wrong.

[Seabiscuit]

7. I fear that it is Elizabeth. It seemed so sudden as he was making plans

to give speeches and town hall meetings as of yesterday. Something happened to make them take this step and I can't think that he would quit just like that. I wish John and Elizabeth well and will miss them.

[smokey nj]

4. I'm a little disappointed with him today. I don't think he would have given up without

a good reason though.

[MzNov]

5. Hell I'm still pissed at Al Gore.

I'll get to JE next month.

Unless of course, he gets chosen for VP. Then we vote for that candidate!!!!

[bpeale]

8. i am more than a bit angry

have you seen his webpage? a thank you, but no explanation. that just tweaks my melon. to say i am pissed would be an understatement. livid i think would about cover it.

[Two Americas]

15. I am furious

I can't believe how quickly so many are rolling over and surrendering.

I will probably be very unpopular here for the next few days, but with everything that is at stake, and all of the people suffering in this country, the very last thing on my mind is my own personal emotional disappointment.

Did our favorite sports team lose or something? I mean WTF? Did anything Edwards said matter, did anything we all have been saying matter?

[Andrea]

9. Me too

I am still open to hearing an explanation. I hope this is not about Elizabeth's health. If it is, however, then it is understandable. There are other things that might be acceptable explanations. But NO explanation? that's not acceptable to me. I feel right now that the guy who was supposed to care more about me than the elite just through in with the elite.

This is a sad, sad day.

Here is my letter to John, which I sent about an hour ago:

=============================================

Dear Senator Edwards,

I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am in your decision. There was one candidate for president who cared about regular people in this country and now there is none.

I can't understand why you would abandon your supporters at this time. Your support has been growing. Campaign contributions have been increasing at a record-breaking pace. I have contributed to you several times this campaign, and in 2004. Just yesterday I received an email from Joe Trippi asking for another contribution. I planned to contribute tomorrow when I get paid, because until then I literally have no money. I contribute and volunteer because I believe in your cause.

Why would you drop out the day before a debate, when you would have another chance to bring your issues to the attention of the people? Why would you drop out one week before Super Tuesday when you stood to gain more delegates? By doing this now, you have not only ended your candidacy, you have lost opportunities to influence the course of the campaign, the convention, and the attention of the eventual candidate, even if it is not you.

In addition, why would you drop out without at least sending an email to your supporters before your announcement (or, I might add, even after your announcement)?

Why would you ask your supporters to give their hard-earned money the day before you drop out? I'm glad I couldn't give until tomorrow. Otherwise, I would have just thrown $20 down the toilet by giving to your campaign yesterday. Now I can use that $20 for groceries when I get paid tomorrow.

I can't believe this. I thought you were going to stand with us. I thought you were going to stay in right up to the convention. I believed you.

Well, that's it. There is no one else seeking to represent me. There is no one else running who even believes in giving me a fair shake. Barring a brokered convention (now much less likely with only two candidates instead of three) or a third party candidate, there is no possibility of there being anyone on the ballot I can vote for in November. I am unlikely to vote.

I am thoroughly disenfranchised and will now begin in earnest investigating moving to another country.

You have squandered an enormous amount of good will all across this country.

I am ever the optimist and absolutely crave for you to do or say something that would redeem you in my eyes, but as of now there is no one left to believe in.

With great sadness,
Andrea

[iris5426]

12. You just inspired me to do the same, and I feel a little better for it. Thank you.

I borrowed a little from you, your letter was so good that I couldn't say it better. :hug: So long that he probably will never read it, but I feel better. Here's mine:

Dear Senator Edwards,

After hearing the news that you were announcing your departure from the race today, I was devastated. I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am in your decision. Even then, I thought "Maybe he'll come out and say Just Kidding, I just wanted to get more coverage than the other two for a minute!" I held that secret hope until the end of your speech. You were the one candidate for president who spoke for regular people in this country. Now there is no one.

I can't understand why you would abandon your supporters at this time. Your support has been growing. You raised more money in the past 25 days than in all of the 4th quarter of last year, and over half was from new donors. I have contributed to you several times this campaign, and I have never before been moved by a candidate so much that I donated money to their campaign. Only this past weekend I donated again, in the hopes that it would keep you feeling supported after South Carolina. Just yesterday I received an email from Joe Trippi asking for another contribution.

It just makes no sense. Yes you came in third in SC, but support was growing immensely after the last debate. Why would you drop out the day before a debate, when you would have another chance to bring your issues to the attention of the people? Why would you drop out one week before Super Tuesday when you stood to gain more delegates? By doing this now, you have not only ended your candidacy, you have lost opportunities to influence the course of the campaign, the convention, and the attention of the eventual candidate, even if it is not you.

You repeatedly said you were in until the end. With momentum building, at least enough to keep you viable in the race for delegates, why on earth do you quit when you've been promising people who you appear to genuinely care about that you won't? In addition, why would you drop out without at least sending an email to your supporters before your announcement (or, I might add, even after your announcement)?

In my mind, something very sketchy has to have gone down. I don't think you came to this decision easily, and I can't help but think that you were pressured into it by someone or something. Even when we weren't winning, you were still the candidate that was most feared by the establishment and corporate America. I have a sinking feeling that they played a role in what happened today.

I'm pretty sure there is no one else in this race to represent me. Barring a brokered convention (now much less likely with only two candidates instead of three) or a third party candidate, there is no possibility of there being anyone on the ballot I can vote for in November. I will still vote, but I won't do it happily. I am tired of having to hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. You inspired me to be involved, volunteering for your campaign and spending all of my free time working to get you elected because I believed in your message and in you. This was my first real foray into political activism, and I have to tell you, through tears, that I fear it will be my last. I feel thoroughly disenfranchised, and hopeless. Obama claims to be the candidate of hope, but it was you who was offering real hope. Who will give voice to the voiceless now?

My prayers are with you and Elizabeth, the only bright side to all of this is that you'll be able to spend more time with her and your children.

[Andrea]

13. Good letter, Iris

I always doubt that the candidates or officeholders read my letters, but I think the staffers do. I hope they will convey what they are hearing, at least in generalities. Maybe if enough people write, he will feel compelled to at least give a reason.

And, it made me feel a little better, too. At least I expressed what I'm feeling.

BTW, no problem with borrowing from my letter. Anyone else that would like to is welcome to.

[NastyRiffraff]

10. Something happened, and it was sudden.

One clue, when he was talking about people who urged him to not "forget us." He said "you almost changed my mind."

I don't know what happened. I do strongly suspect he did not want to drop out; it was in his body language and in the delivery of that speech. John Edwards never flubs words; he did so about three times in that speech.

Maybe someday we'll know; maybe not. Right now, I'm too upset to even try to figure it out. I know something else. I'll be voting for John Edwards on February 12. And I, along with John, will hold the nominee's feet to the fire to honor his or her pledge to make poverty central to their campaign, and the presidency. If anything good comes out of this, it will be that. If Obama or Clinton doesn't mention this cause at least once in every single speech, they'll hear from me. If they don't propose strong and effective solutions, throughout their campaigns and the presidency, they'll hear from me.

I think they'll have to be reminded again and again.

[liberalla]

17. Flubbing his words! I noticed that and thought the same thing.

He does not do that. It's so unlike him.

Yes, it was sudden, and I question if it was entirely voluntary. After his promises to stay in it... for some reason, I thought he meant it. I just don't understand why he didn't stay in through the debate tomorrow.

I hope we know the true story someday.

[Yael]

18. On the speech -- have you EVER seen him READ a speech?

[Beaverhausen]

11. but really, what did you expect him to say?

I am really shocked but if you think about it, what could he have said? He couldn't have telegraphed that he was thinking about leaving, could he?

He had to keep the momentum going until he had to make the big, final decision.

[Ladyinblack]

14. Elizabeth

I have noticed her absence in the last month or even more. I can not help but think that her condition has worsened. I hope I am wrong. I think he would have been a great president.

I am saddened. There must be good reason.

[sandyd921]

16. I'm not sure what to feel

I'm simultaneously both quite miffed at him and heartbroken!


:banghead: