To the Kucinich Supporters:

[Mythsaje]

I'm not going to say anything to diminish the value your candidate had in this campaign--or the last one, for that matter. I think he's a good man, but one probably more suited to be leading the fight in Congress than in the White House. I realize this is a personal opinion, but that's what any of this is.

Some of you will move to Clinton, or to Obama, or maybe even choose not to decide between the primary candidates. That's okay, but I have to say I hope you'll join us in voting for the winner against the Repug candidate in November.

I know several of you have shifted to supporting Edwards and I, for one, welcome you. Edwards may not be as solid as Kucinich, but he's certainly farther left in terms of supporting labor and standing against the corporate cronyism that's crippling our government and economy. He's got us moving in the right direction and talking about the issues that matter. Just today I got an e-mail from his campaign asking me to support the fight against Telcom immunity.

No, Johnny's not perfect. Of course, neither was Dennis. And we can all agree that the other two aren't either.


Well, that's all I wanted to say.

If you're undecided, I ask you to take a closer look at John Edwards. He has said it plainly enough...he believes this election is about the American People, not the candidates, and not special interests.

And he's right.

[Webster Green]

1. I would think that most of Dennis' support will migrate to Edwards..

I will be doing so, unless Gore runs.

[stellanoir]

2. Kucinich was the most spiritually enlightened of all of the candidates.

So he got marginalized by the media.

Perhaps he's the real maverick.

Edwards has been marginalized to a lesser degree as well.

It's been astonishing really.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. I hope Kucinich folks move to Edwards. I love Kucinich. My dream would be....

to have Edwards as president, and Kucinich as attorney general to go after the fascist scumbags of the U.S. :evilgrin:

[whatchamacallit]

4. That's pretty much how I feel about it too

Still not sure if I can muster the strength to pull the lever for Hillary if it comes to that...

[hootinholler]

5. I think Edwards is the least evil of the EYE SPY (ALL THREE), to borrow a phrase.

He's moved his rhetoric closer and closer to Dennis, but I doubt his sincerity. There is nothing about that I can rationally quantify.

The difference is that Dennis gave me someone to vote for rather than simply voting against my perception of greater evil.

-Hoot

[Mythsaje]

6. I'm SO glad to share a party with a bunch of telepaths.

It's almost like the future is already here.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. Edwards has been fighting big corporations his entire adult life.

So you doubt his sincerity because he's a plaintiffs' lawyer?

I think he's far more sincere than some other candidates because he's been a trial lawyer, and because he won't take any money from lobbyists.

[mikelgb]

7. Gravel or maybe still vote Kucinich as he is on the ballot.

Can't vote Clinton, Obama or Edwards

[slipslidingaway]

8. Thanks for the invitation, but I will respectfully decline. n/t

[Mythsaje]

9. Which invitation would that be?

To vote against the Repug in November, or to take a closer look at Edwards?

[slipslidingaway]

11. To take a closer look at Edwards, I've already taken a close

look :(

"If you're undecided, I ask you to take a closer look at John Edwards."

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. It's cool. Edwards isn't everyones' cup of tea. I am sorry that Dennis dropped out.

I like him and like that he fights the good fight!

[slipslidingaway]

16. Thank you...

it will be interesting to see what he says tomorrow. For the American people I would like him to stay and fight, but not enough people are willing to fight with him.

The other part of me wishes that he remains involved trying to educate people about the problems of our country and the system while taking a step back from politics.

We'll know shortly, I believe he'll put his time into running for his Congressional seat for now, although he faces several opponents.

[Yael]

10. Well said, saje.

:)

[madrchsod]

13. i`m voting for dennis if i have to write him in

edwards is the closest to dennis but i have to vote on principal

[Mythsaje]

15. And on principle too!

:)

[elias7]

17. I keep trying to like JE, but he's running on rhetoric, not record

He talks a passionate game, but I don't hear any details of his plan to de-corporatize America. I don't see much in his record (unlike Kucinich) that backs up his current themes. But I have an open mind for anyone who'd care to convince me of his viability...

[LWolf]

18. I can agree with you on many points.

I, too, believe that DKs best position is leading the fight in Congress. If our choices in the primary approached the vision, platform, and record he offers, I don't think he would have run. I think he was there to give us the choice to vote FOR that vision and platform, since the rest don't rise to the level we want to work for.

To be frank, he should replace Pelosi as speaker. The next president, assuming that it is a dem, and that dems retain a majority in congress, should concretely and explicitly support that move. It wouldn't hurt, right now, if the other candidates would express support for his efforts in congress.

Meanwhile, I've seen this coming for awhile. I can't pretend that it doesn't matter, even though it's not a surprise. There is less hope in the world, from my perspective, than there was a couple of days ago. I don't care if Obama is running on slogans about the "politics of hope." Real, concrete hope is what DK has offered all along. Remember his '04 campaign? "The end of fear, the beginning of hope." I'm tired of, disgusted by, seeing voters reject hope and cling to fear. That's my evaluation of the situation, from my personal perspective. My perspective is as valid as anyone's.

As far as moving on to another candidate, there's only one chance left to guarantee my vote for a dem in November, and that is Edwards.

Not because he's great. Not because I'm blind to all his flaws. For the following reasons:

I don't know how authentic his "shift" my way since '04 is, but his platform is at least better than the other 2, and so is his campaign. With Edwards, there is at least the possibility that I'll see some movement on some of the issues that drive my vote.

It's also a protest vote. A flat-out "fuck you and the votes you rode in on" to both HRC and Obama. An angry hit back at those who think they can shove a corporate/media supported candidate down my throat, put my back to the wall, and force me to vote for that candidate, who can later claim a mandate based on my forced vote.

I won't be forced. I won't be casting that vote in November. If Edwards is on my ballot, I'll give him a shot in November. If not, then the electorate has judged my vote to be expendable.

For the record, I would also have voted for the rest of those who have already been eliminated. The electorate had my eventual support with 6 out of the original 8; that's a willingness to compromise, on my part, with 75% of the candidates.

Meanwhile, I'll be supporting Edwards and hoping for a strong enough showing on super Tuesday to keep him in contention. I don't get to cast a vote until May 20th. I hope he still needs the vote by then.

[GalleryGod]

19. John's record speaks for itself ! A Good man!

:patriot: