Edwards should bow out when....

[Bread and Circus]

and only when he believes the following things:

1.) When he believes in his heart of hearts he cannot win the nomination.
2.) When he believes in his heart of hearts that he is fogging up the windows of the nomination process rather than shedding more light.
3.) When he believes in his heart of hearts that is time for him to "release" his supporters to other candidates so they can take the time to make the right choice.
4.) When he believes in his heart of hearts that he will serve his message, his country, and his supporters better by gracefully bowing out.
5.) When he believes in his heart of hearts that he obstructs the nomination process more than he helps it.

That said, Edwards still has real chance of turning this all around and winning (I personally don't see it happening, but I won't count him out now). I think it's fair for him to stay in the race and give it all that he has. He gives his supporters and the people he fights for a voice. Their voice deserves to continue to be heard.

But at some point, if he doesn't gain ground and numerically he can't compute a way to success, then he needs to do the honorable thing and bow out.

As much as politics is a circus, it is not a game. There are real consequences for real people. Edwards, Obama, Clinton, and the rest need to be mindful of when they are doing more harm than good for their supporters and Americans in general.

[Tennessee Gal]

1. NEVER!

Onwards Edwards.

He has the relevant and critical message.

[Bread and Circus]

4. I appreciate the sentiment and I encourage him and you to fight

on... the message he has needs to be heard.

However, would you not reasonable agree when the conditions will be that running as a candidate is counter-productive.

BTW, there are other ways to create a movement other than running for the nomination of a party.

Furthermore, Edward's message is antithetical to how the Democratic Party actually does business. He might do more good for it if he did as Gore did and work outside the bounds of running for elected office.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Very good post, and the same applies to Hillary and Obama.

edit to add: I don't want them to play the "message" game, like a Kucinich or a Paul. That's for less-serious candidates. Edwards wouldn't do that, he's a grown-up.

[Bread and Circus]

5. /agree 100%

[AzDar]

3. How do you not fry your keyboard while writing this with all that irony dripping from your hands?

John Edwards is this country's best hope.

[Bread and Circus]

6. when people call something ironic that is not ironic is just a little

bit ironic.

Nonetheless, I'm trying to be nice and if I thought Edwards had a more real chance of winning, I'd seriously consider backing him. However, he put all his chips in Iowa (which he admits) and he didn't get the payoff he is looking for.

His message is great and spot on. So is Obama's for that matter. Like I said, Edwards should keep preachin' the gospel. Hopefully he will gain ground.

I would love for this to be an Obama vs Edwards fight to the end. I don't see that happenening. In other threads, I have pointed out how women will be force to be reckoned with this election cycle and Clinton is likely to be there to the end with that built-in support. Also, Clinton is the establishment and DLC candidate, so that will be hard to contend with.

[AzDar]

8. You obviously support Obama (per your avatar), and you don't think your

post is ironic?
How ironic.


On edit : This would all be about perspective, I suppose.
Personally, I think if either Clinton or Obama gets the Dem. nomination, they'll surely lose the GE.
Since I believe this to be true, everything you've written regarding Edwards can/should be applied to the person (s) you support.
Thus,(wait for it)...irony.

[Bread and Circus]

10. Well, I guess we have different interpretations of irony...

but it's stupid to argue that any more. It's beside the point.

Ultimately what I'm saying is that Edwards still has a chance and he should go for it. However, any reasonable person will see that his chances aren't that great and that had some point he's going to have to make a hard choice.

[AzDar]

11. Errr, okay.

[EVDebs]

7. If the Democratic party can't nominate someone who'll take on corporate power

Then I see no other option but to form a new Bull Moose Party and have Edwards lead it. Sadly, if knowing the other candidates cannot or will not take on the WorldComs, Enrons, of the future (and they are out there), then we are in worse shape than if Edwards doesn't bolt.

[mth44sc]

9. I think he should bow out

after he's served both terms...