This is not a two person primary race!

[tavalon]

Not that you would know it by how the media is spinning it. We can't save Kucinich or Gravel and that sucks, but maybe, just maybe, we can force the world to notice John Edwards, the other frontrunner? Remember him? Nice hair, really likeable wife, populist agenda to warm a lefties heart? Yeah, him. Well, our Symbolman, who can be found at www.takebackthemedia.com has decided to leave Hawaii, his family and follow John Edwards around and then blast the footage around the net, viral like, remember like they did in the movie Serenity? He's doing this on a hope and a prayer and a fervent belief in Democracy. I'm not even sure if Edwards is his preferred candidate but he's burned up, as I am, that the media can just erase John, as though he never even existed! It's infuriating.

If you care about our Democracy (and you wouldn't be here if you didn'ta0, don't let the media get away with this. Go to his website and donate to help him. This isn't an official DU sanctioned thing. See, we already did that and it came and went and I hope he got so much money that he's able to follow John all the way to the convention. But I doubt he got that much money. I know he's the kind of guy who couch surfs to save money as well, so if he's coming to your neck of the woods, please think about opening your house to his pillow, his video equipment and probably a heck of a lot of great road storiies.

This isn't about supporting a specific candidate as much as it is refusing to let the "mainstream" media determine who our candidates are.

[jasmine621]

1. Yes it is. And Edwards is running with Obama.

Take it to the bank.

[tavalon]

2. Actually, I wanted Obama to run with Edwards

But, if it's the other way around, then I'm going to be just fine. But the point I was making is that the media is trying to block Edwards out. We need to be the media.

[LWolf]

25. No thanks. Those conditions would cause me to

take my vote outside the party in November.

Edwards? I'll vote for him in November. A compromise on my part, seeing that he's not the best option.

Obama doesn't get my vote, though. If he's on the ticket, the vote goes elsewhere.

[tavalon]

26. Why?

[LWolf]

30. Several reasons.

1. I'm a teacher, and I won't cast a vote for any supporter of merit pay. Yes, I've listened to him and read his position papers. I've already watched the steady, insidious destruction of my profession since the Reagan years. I will not help ANYONE continue on that path.

2. I won't cast a vote for anyone who leaves preemptive strikes against other nations on the table. Period. EVER.

3. I don't respect someone who campaigns on "I was against the war from the beginning" and then votes repeatedly to fund it. Walking the talk means something to me.

4. I don't trust someone who wants to bring evangelicals, or any faith, "to the table." That's not a clear enough separation of church and state. I certainly respect the right of every person to vote and participate as a citizen, but government, and public policy, cannot pander to majority religion. That's too close to theocracy, and, incidentally, too close to republicans, for me.

5. I'm certainly willing to work on whatever common ground can be found with the opposition, but I find allowing homophobic evangelical religious leaders TO CAMPAIGN with him to be beyond acceptable bounds.

6. I'm not willing to leave for-profit insurance companies at the health care table.

7. I dislike, and distrust, a campaign built on charisma rather than substance. That's an accurate description from where I sit.

There's more, but that's enough to make my point.

Since you asked. Please note that I'm not asking you to address my reasons. Agree, or don't; your, or anybody's, disagreement won't change my reasons or my vote.

[tavalon]

3. ps

I just sent $100.00 Edwards way as well.

[bonito]

4. K&R n/t

[MissDeeds]

5. K&R

Thanks for bringing this our way, tavalon. It's great that symbolman is doing this, but it's also infuriating that in this country a private citizen has to take it upon himself to cover a candidate for president because the media won't. Edwards finished second in Iowa, and still the media hoopla was all about Obama and Clinton. It is scary that the media is attempting to select who our candidates will be. It will be even scarier if we allow that to happen.

[tavalon]

6. That's exactly what they're aiming to do

And Symbolman is aiming to stop them and I'm aiming to help him do it! It's just not right!

[tavalon]

7. kicked before I walk my kiddo out to the bus!

Just one tall latte a day could keep symbolman on the road, helping out with democracy. He takes paypal!!!!

[Orsino]

8. Ah. So it's a three-person primary race...

...and my favorite candidate is just outta luck. Okay. got it.

[tavalon]

9. I am so sorry about that

Sorrier than you will ever know. I wanted Kucinich. Hell, I wanted Gravel in because at least he talked about things no one would mention and he took the young whipper snappers to task, as they should be. Thing is, there isn't all the money and the time in the world. We had to pick the most viable one that was being ignored. It's sad. I'm not being flippant, it really is sad. It's wrong that the media can fuck with us like this.

[Orsino]

10. Uh-huh. Now extend that thought to the Edwards campaign.

See, I'd like to hear from all the candidates who stay in the race. I want them mandated equal air time.

It's the stupid American worship of money that has marginalized Kucinich, and that is marginalizing Edwards.

[tavalon]

11. Right, I do extend it to that philosphically

I don't have enough money or time to give them what they each deserve. Rather than do nothing, I have chosen this. Yes, I'm tilting at windmills and yes, I'm picking the most pramatic of windmills.

I'm trying to say that I feel for all of us who are being fucked by the media without lube. I'm doing this one thing. It would be great if we all took up a candidate and did the same for them. I can't do it all.

It seems like your dissing me for something and I'm really not understanding what it is? Help me to?

[Orsino]

12. Not dissing you.

Just wishing that the field were wider and more completely covered in the media. You're right to remind us that there are more than two contenders. I'm just saying that there ought to be more than three.

The sad state of affairs certainly isn't your fault any more than it is mine.

[tavalon]

20. Thanks

I get it now and we are on the same page. It steams me that they (the media) have any right to package our political system. As a child, I would never have imagined that I would find the media so repulsive.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

13. There are hundreds of candidates for president.

A line has to be drawn somewhere. I think that the correct place to draw it is certainly below Edwards and, sadly, probably above Kucinich, given how few supporters he has, although that's much less clear-cut.

What has marginalised Kucinich is *not* primarily his lack of money, it's the fact that he holds political positions which, sadly, most Americans disagree with. There's an element of a vicious circle to it, but it's truer to say that that causes his lack of support than vice versa.

[Orsino]

14. No, it's not primarlily Kucinich's lack of money...

...it's the much bigger money arrayed against him. He never had much of a chance, and now that's all but gone.

[hootinholler]

19. Which ones do most americans disagree with?

Out of Iraq?
Holding this criminal administration accountable?
Single payer healthcare?

Help me out here because Dennis gets the loudest applause when his positions are actually allowed to be presented.

-Hoot

[northzax]

15. the other frontrunner?

you mean the guy in third place in every poll?

[tavalon]

21. Snark much?

Did I miss something? Was your comment meant to elucidate something or complain that I bent the precious American (not English) language to suit what I was trying to say?

[northzax]

24. just that it's hard to call someone a frontrunner

when they are losing in every poll to two other people. Yes, Edwards is one of the top three candidates, but at some point, you have to go with the people with a shot to actually win. he hasn't proven that ability.

[tavalon]

27. That's what the media tells me and I'll be damned if I'll let them make up my mind

They are locking out candidates so we can focus on who we're supposed to and that is just wrong.

[northzax]

28. ok

personally, I think Mike GRavel should get just as much airtime as Hillary or Obama. let's have a nice debate of one liners, since no one gets enough time to actually talk about policy. good times.,

[tavalon]

29. I sent money to Gravel, not because I wanted him as my candidate

but because he was talking about things that the others refused to.

[Cabcere]

16. Thanks for posting this.

:kick: for symbolman! :thumbsup:

[hootinholler]

17. The irony of the open mike thing during that early debate would be delicious

If it weren't so sickening that candidates are actively being excluded.

-Hoot

[dkofos]

18. Sure it is. The M$M told me so. Aren't you listening!!

[tavalon]

23. I hear more than they want me to

I would be happy to see all the smiley bobblefaces sent away to a Twilight Zone like funhouse.

[smokey nj]

22. K&R!!!