Vote for John Edwards...anyway.

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

****

These are the The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith, (although frequently attributed to Mother Theresa.) I think they fit John Edwards and his message perfectly but I'd like to add a few more...

People will say that supporting John Edwards is futile. Support him anyway.

People will say that donating money to his campaign is a waste. Donate money anyway.

People will tell you that John Edwards can't win. Vote for John Edwards anyway.

Fight for the underdog.

:kick:

He should have been the nomination for 04 and he should be in 08. If we lose its because we deserve to lose again because we are sending the wrong person for the general election no matter if it's Obama or Hillary.

You have no idea what this post means to me.

I never cry, but there are tears in my eyes now.

It's hard not to feel discouraged. I've had a few dark moments myself lately, too. But this is a fight worth fighting and the only thing that can defeat us is ourselves.

Hugs to you my friend.:hug:

Maybe I didn't make a misake after all. My heart is still with John Edwards. Maybe he can have a role in our future, regardless of who is elected. He's the only person I trust one hundred percent now.

Your post is lovely beyond words.

:D

and I've donated and will donate again. We need his voice and we need his wisdom and his above the fray spirit.

I can't wait to vote for him. We don't vote in Maryland until the Tuesday after Super Tuesday but I'll be voting for John that day, come hell or high water. I'm donating again tomorrow, in honor of the 200,000 homeless vets and FDR's birthday.

I'm with John all the way!!! :woohoo:

We ought to have an Mid-Atlantic meet-up one of these days. Maybe right around the time of John's inauguration, hey?

After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided I must go with what seems right in my soul. I will vote for Edwards.

Going with what seems right in your soul is the only way to go. If everyone would do that, John Edwards would be our next president.

Sorry but that line of thinking is self defeating.



Go vote against the candidate who can win without taking Lobbyist money.

Great post to the OP

You're one of the folks that inspire me to keep fighting, too.

We aren't giving up and we're not letting the corporate media try and make this a two person race between two "celebrity" candidates with $200 million between them.

:hug:

I love all your great threads. :hi:

But after thinking about what are saying, I'm relieved that I voted my conscience. I just am so upset that more people don't think the same way that I do, even though that is really arrogant, I know.

Thanks for making this post; it's very nice to have some place to express these feeling.

It sucks knowing that any chances Edwards has left to win the nomination will be difficult and near impossible. But the fight continues, and the mission continues. I plan on sending money to the campaign, making phone calls through their online phone banking website to 2/5 states, and I just sent off an e-mail to the editor of our local paper.

I'm not giving up without a fight.

John Edwards seems to have a lot of fight left in him. And so do I!!

You voted correctly, and I can't wait for the 5th to do my part by voting for Senator Edwards as well. This is the first primary I'll ever vote in, and I'm damn proud it's for John.

I was listening to one of my favorite Dan Fogelburg songs earlier. These lyrics describe how I've been feeling lately.

I have these moments
All steady and strong
I’m feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know
I’m all worried and weak
And I feel myself
Starting to crumble.

The meanings get lost
And the teachings get tossed
And you don’t know what you’re
Going to do next.
You wait for the sun
But it never quite comes
Some kind of message comes
Through to you.
Some kind of message comes through.

And it says to you...

Love when you can
Cry when you have to...
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival
And one day we’ll all understand...

So he'll get delegates on Super Tuesday.

The question is how many. And his campaign is fighting to make sure it's plenty!!

I just looked at Florida's results and said to my husband "Well look at John Edwards' bad self getting 15% in Florida." hehe

(On a side note, if I disappear from DU for a few days it may be that my husband has had me committed.)

and I we were robbed in 2000. I guess that's a stupid sentimental reason to be in Edwards camp-but heck I liked him before I was a big Kerry supporter. He's still in there.

Someone on the other thread called the little subset here-"Edwards Underground"-well at least it feels authentic and small and passionate.

How I often heard those that wax nostalgic about the first years of DU. I was late to that party-2004 so I will never know-but I guess it's like that at least a little.

Do what you feel is the right thing-anyway.

Actually we are The John Edwards Revolution. Have you seen lame54's great video? Here's a link if you haven't seen it. I think you'll like it. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=86713&mesg_id=86713

Hi Pamela. Thanks for that post! :hi:

:hi:

come hell or high water!


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

And over 100,000 (for Edwards) were too - in Florida

And a big plus is to- "watch" them (Obama & Hillary) squirm / fight / cheat / and lie for are votes

And we still get to keep are dignity..


And Vote for Edwards

Two hundred thousand people said "I'm voting for John Edwards anyway!" It's a movement and it's growing. :applause:

:woohoo:

And it's all I've fought for, all my life.

Any Democratic candidate needs 2025 delegates to win the nomination. On Super Tuesday, IN JUST ONE WEEK, 1688 delegates will be pledged. Another 447 by the end of February. Any predictions before then are just that - PREDICTIONS. Personally, I think the telephone polls aren't good predictors because way too many people don't have land lines anymore and cell phones generally can't be called.

And then there's the definition of "likely voter". I'm guessing that there are a lot more African American voters who stayed home for previous elections that will turn out this time. With our pitiful voter turnouts, Black Americans could be a more powerful force than their 12% would normally allow. All they have to do is show up to the polls like senior citizens do. Better yet, vote early!

I would think with our struggling economy that Edward's populist message would be more, well, popular, but I guess we can never discount the power of media coverage, whether it's paid for or free.

+

I sure hope it works out this time.

Take your pick, eh.

A big win in SC, several major endorsements, millions of bucks and non-stop media coverage. A real underdog.

This thread is in response to all the threads saying John can't win or that John should drop out. It's for his supporters who are being told they are wasting their time, their money or their vote by continuing to support John. I just wanted them to know that nothing in life is a sure thing and it would be a pretty dull existence if it were. And it would be a sad and bleak existence if we didn't do what we felt is right, simply because we aren't guaranteed a positive outcome.

He's still my candidate.

all the way to the GE.

I have voted early for him.

Stay John stay!!!

No regrets.

As long as his name is on our ballot, I will vote for him.

I will support the D in November, but I will still wish it had been Edwards.

I like Clinton or Obama.

Beautiful thread, pamela. I am so sad this morning. Your thread is just the pickup I need.
I plan to vote for John Edwards, February 5 in California, and will strongly encourage others to do the same.

I don't think we can just put aside the importance and meaning of Edward's campaign. We must support him all the way.

or is that "100-Year Occupation" McCain? Excellent idea. Speaking of the general election, of course.

Absentee in NJ.

It's going to be tough watching his speech at 1pm...

be Elizabeth! What a shame, what a loss! Guess my political involvement has ended quicker than I thought. Better for the nerves I guess!

The present day Bobby Kennedy! Been there, my heart is in the DUNGEON Now!

again!! This dirty, nasty corrupt POWER that has taken over this country really has "turned me completely" OFF!!!!

I sure hope not.

Elizabeth, which is GREAT for John Edwards. Losing her would be devastating! I'm still voting Edwards! Can't tear me away! I don't feel the other two are WORTHY! Go ahead, hit me! I don't care ANYMORE!!

We have eliminated all but one of the pretenders. It's time to face reality and get to work for HRC.

:thumbsup:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4285825

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4286520


I most likely will still vote for John. Thanks for this thread.

not as the media tells you.

Unless you want another four years of war!

I was for Edwards too, but for me the writing was on the wall after SC.

for another equally un-electable pretender.

Hillary is inevitable. Get on board or get out of the way.

your candidate. There have been several pushy Clinton supporters on here and it's turning people off. The veneer of Clinton inevitability was knocked off in Iowa and reinforced in South Carolina. She might win and heck I may decide to support her over Obama. Until I have time to decide, BACK OFF! Thanks.

Assholes like you are why I could give a shit if Hillary wins or not...

I'll vote Edwards in the primary (IN WISCONSIN).

Now fuck off

RL

Not that looking like an idiot is anything new for you...

One word: DELEGATES.

You know, I love John Edwards, and despite being an Obama supporter, I was sad this morning to see him leave. But then again, let's think about this in strategic terms.

To the John Edwards supporters: If you want to see any of John's ideas become reality, the best way to see that happen at this point is to vote Obama. Voting for Edwards at this point out of protest now knowing he is NOT going to win is a surefire way to see that Hillary Clinton will win. You know it. Edwards himself said it: Obama represents change. Hillary represents the status quo.

the Edwards message provided the narrative for the campaign is reason enough to still support him.
Stop supporting him and the message is silenced. The only way the leading fund raisers will get the message is if we don't abandon ours: Stop the corporate greed and treasury looting by the moneyed elites.
Bring back the middle-class. Raise living standards for all Americans.

I wonder how FAST that will fade? Maybe a day?? Sounds good, but TRUTH is... it's about POWER and THEIR agenda, so we must stay and keep the "meesage" of John Edwards ALIVE!!

from what I hear, he will STILL get my vote.

I want Clinton and Obama to get the message: the progressive wing of the Democratic Party is not dead. And we will never let up on the pressure to KEEP the party progressive.

I am soooooooooooo disappointed that Edwards is dropping out.........
I am going to write him in.

:hi:

Edwards is a good man - but Vote your heart my friend!!

Obama = LANDSLIDE - if he gets the nomination.... But BILLARY are unbelievably powerful, and will stop at nothing to get the nomination.

Edwards can be effective as the "Al Gore of Poverty"

Billary Clinton was DISGUSTING in the way he/she (they are one man/woman sandwich) race-baited people before SC - appealing to the lowest form of Bigotry and Fear - trying to "tarnish" Obama as the "black candidate" - then pander and pay old friend black ministers to "get out their flocks" -- well the flocks sure got out - and they put Billary in her/his place!!!

The BILLARY MACHINE - is the past. and represents all the worst of politics.

I'm a white 39 year old and MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND I - who loved Kucinich - BOTH LOVE OBAMA.

He is not some compromise - he is quite simply the greatest candidate for president in My LIFETIME - and probably 3rd best in my Mom's lifetime.

We should all be incredibly proud of Obama - he makes us proud to be Americans again.

You'd do as much good voting for Elmer Fudd.

to come to this thread, on this day, when so many Edwards' supporters are hurting, and crap all over it.

YOU are the ones who crapped on HRC many, many times over. You and the Obamaniacs. Now GET OVER IT, Get ON BOARD, or GET OUT OF THE WAY

Classy! :hi:

It's no different now. It would be almost a protest vote.

there are 2 choices left. You can try to rebel against the system but trust me, nobody will notice. Do all of us a favor and vote for the lesser of 2 evils. If you supported Edwards I'm pretty sure you believe Obama is the person you should be voting for as he is much closer to Edward's positions than HRC is.

who said today waterboarding is not technically torture..oh you jest right????????

or a differenc e with Hillary?? when the fix was in for fla for her for over a year with the DLC and DCCC..what a jokester you are!!

you have me rolling laughing!!

or would the difference be a media that did not con your ass off?????

please save it!!

not now and not ever do i want to hear about the difference you are speaking of..sorry that is wasted on me with the kool aide drinkers here on even DU!!

fly

Are people around here lately completely incapable of having a serious discussion? Personally I can't wait for primaries to be over so this bullshit can stop.

For the most part I supported Edwards. Edwards dropped out today. That sucks, but it is what it is. You have the choice to vote for 2 people. One a proud DLC member the other one opposed to the DLC. If you want to throw your vote away to stick it to the man you are free to do that, I'm just pointing out that I think you could make your vote mean something instead.

i can't write anything without my anger screaming out of me.

i am so damn pissed..pissed at the MSM..but more pissed at the people who allowed it.

yes the people sitting next to you or posting next to you..
this is a disgrace.

Crooks stay in but the best man for the job can't get 5 minutes of media..until he steps aside.

i am more than fed up...

i am going to give up for the time being..and i am going to reregister as an independant..i never thought i would say that..and to think i was a 2004 dem delegate for my state..but my values are not for sale..

i have fought against the crooks and murderers on the repig side..i will not compromise myself and support a party that supports the crooks in our own party.'

thats all i have to say today..

my life has been this campaign for months now..i need to unpack and get my life back..i still have bags packed from Iowa..and now bags from South Carolina..and i worked all day yesterday for our election here in Fla..i am angry and tired.

keep fighting the fight..and i do not believe anyone should tell anyone else how to vote..

so vote your heart..

vote what you believe in..

vote your values..not someone else's!

don't get pulled in by the rehtoric...don't get pulled in by paid operatives or bullshit artists..

keep your heart intact.

believe what you believe..and don't ever give that up.

Don't let the media tell you what to believe..and don't drink the kool aide..

My heart is John Edwards..and i voted for him yesterday..and i will write him in in November..because i for one, will not vote for crooks..never ever.

fly

Too tired of all the "hoopla" of what the other TWO will do for America!! They say they will keep his message alive, like I believe that for a MINUTE!!

We SHALL see!

The news today was pretty devastating to all of us who believe that Edwards was our best hope to get the country back on track. I feel like someone who has lost hope. Maybe tomorrow will be better and I'll see things differently, but I doubt it. The other candidates do not inspire me and do not address the same issues as Edwards. Of course, now that he's out of the race, his platform will be seized by whomever thinks it will be advantageous to their candidacy, but he was the was the one who spoke out first and most forcefully for the voiceless members of this country. It feels like such a loss.

By the way, flyarm, thanks for all you did on behalf of the Edwards campaign. :pals:

Our primary is on Feb 19....I think it's too late for Edwards to have his name taken off the ballot....so he's getting my vote...just so I can poke a finger in the eyes of the media-selected-focus-group-annointed-front-runners.


so there! :rant:

Your vote will be assigned to either Hillary or Obama, through the delegate process at the Convention.

If you are okay with that, then fine, vote for Edwards.

If you aren't okay with that, then vote for whichever of those two you prefer.

I have not decided what I will be doing.

He's on the ballot in all the Super Tuesday states. He can still collect delegates.

He's polling at 16% in my state. I'm still voting for him.

I have worked too hard to have my primary vote taken away.

I have always said that in the general election I will vote for whoever our candidate is, but this vote I have to give on Tuesday go to John Edwards. I deserve to be able to vote my heart. I earned it.

:peace:

Simply because he's asking us NOT to vote for him. He dropped out for a reason - to unite the party. Voting for him divides it.

As much as it pains me, and as much I'd like to vote for Edwards, I have to vote for someone else. I'm going to pick the candidate besides Edwards who I feel has the best chance in November. This election is too important.

Something happened and I got an error. So, let me say this now. I won't stop supporting him, and will skip the POTUS vote on the machine or if there is a place to vote "other" that's my plan.

What is most disturbing to me is that NOW Clinton & Obama pledge to work on issues of POVERTY et al, the things that John Edwards so desperately tried to get front an center. I will now spend what time I can helping those less fortunate, spending the time I WOULD have for a candidate by campaigning. I won't miss doing the "grunt" work down here in FL! It's hot, you get back aches, sore feet and sometimes nasty people who just shut their doors in your face! Making phone calls you won't have to listen to those nasty remarks either.

Call me a sore loser, call me anything... it doesn't matter much anymore. I just got a card from the Florida Democratic Party asking me for money. I'm going to the website and telling them not to contact me anymore, especially after all that has gone on down here. I would mail it back to them, but don't want to waste the stamp on them.

So say what you will, for some of us it was about the message John Edwards tried to get front and center. It was ALWAYS an up hill climb, up against the FIRST WOMAN & FIRST BLACK candidate that had lots of MONEY and got traction. Still it doesn't mean that these two were the best for the FIRST BLACK or FIRST WOMAN candidate. I personally don't think so.

They have garnered more money and media attention BECAUSE of it, and "white men" aren't in vogue this time around. I understand some of the theory about these "firsts" but when it's generated by hype, D.C. Elites, POWER & MONEY, it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. I don't see what Democrats are really doing for "we the people" now, and I wonder when it will happen! I've seen very very little since 2006, and the "players" are still playing. I have often wondered how it will come out in the wash. America just MAY have screwed up again.

But who am I? Just one of those citizens who believes we should be represented, but see very little of what they are willing to do for US!

Go ahead, throw the vegetables, or throw s--t at me, I'm sure it's coming anyway!

Left us hanging man. WTF.

I voted absentee a few days ago.

thank you :hi:

For bringing them to my attention. I am a "newbie" here, also not the "brightest bulb in the chandelier" but I do know which words to ABSORB when I read them. OUTSTANDING post, TY,TY,TY, I really needed to be reminded why we do the things we do, when it would be much more convenient to "let someone else" do them---AGAIN. :applause:

:kick:

I will

:hi:

I have no idea who I will support as of now but I can tell you one thing.....I won't WASTE my vote like you recommend.

For all the sheep who recommended this flowery post devoid of logic I feel sorry for you.

No I take that back.....I feel sorry for the Whole Country.

YESTERDAY at 7:44 pm.

If JE still gets a large percentage of the vote on Super Tuesday regardless of having withdrawn, that will send a loud and clear message that we reject the way the MSM locked him out of the race.

My New York vote went to Edwards.

I will vote to for Edwards.

And he will get it, regardless.

and as for the democratic and republican parties...

go to hell fascists.

Edwards was my first choice. But now he's out. As disappointing as it may be, that's life and this is politics. It's a contest. He lost. That's the way it goes. Adults deal with it. Now let's move on, finish out the primaries, and get behind our nominee no matter who it is.

Corporate media killed his voice. The rest are two candidates whom corporate media picked for us for whatever the reason. We will probably find it out this fall.

Ah yes. It was December 12, 2000.

...if only to keep the Republicans out. I dread Hillary getting the nomination, though. She'll have the haters in America lined up at every polling place to keep her from getting in. I'm leaning Obama now.

I am extremely heartbroken and disappointed by John dropping out of the race. I have never contributed or volunteered for any type of political campaign until this year.
John Edwards gave me hope and optimism that when we are willing to stand up and speak out for the forgotten and the less fortunate, that change can happen and America can be a better place. John you may not be the next President of the United States; however YOU ARE MY PRESIDENT.
You may not have gotten all the press or media attention, but you spoke up for millions of struggling Americans all across this country. I want to say thank you for having the courage and the backbone to fight for what you believe in. You pushed the agenda for this campaign, and spoke about the hardships that people face every single day.
I also want to thank you being the voice that gave me hope for a better world. I will continue to follow you and support you. I pray for you and Elizabeth and your family. May the grace of God shine upon you and may you continue to give voice to the voiceless. I found a quote by Robert F. Kennedy and it reminded me of you. He said, "Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, and the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change". Your voice a will never be forgotten, but more importantly the voices of all those you continue to struggle and continue to work for a better tomorrow, will never be forgotten.
Thank you Mr. Edwards, you give me hope.

"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public"- Robert F. Kennedy

Those were the days my friends...


I'm going to repost a response I made to someone upthread this morning, hours before I heard the news today. I'll change a few words to past tense so as not to add further to the confusion...

"This thread (was) in response to all the threads saying John couldn't win or that John should drop out. It's for his supporters who (were) being told they were wasting their time, their money or their vote by continuing to support John. I just wanted them to know that nothing in life is a sure thing and it would be a pretty dull existence if it were. And it would be a sad and bleak existence if we didn't do what we felt is right, simply because we aren't guaranteed a positive outcome."

We didn't get the outcome we wanted but I still believe in the spirit of this message. I don't know where we go from here but I know our fight was just and it wasn't in vain.

Now I'm going to go take a long bath and try to wash the stench of politics off my ornery hide.

I'm terribly disappointed, but not yet disillusioned. John struck a chord of unity today. He also got a pledge from both candidates that they will make poverty a central issue in their campaigns. Because of this, and because he didn't endorse either one, I'm going to honor what he says and make my choice in the primary.

Right now I am leaning heavily toward Obama because he doesn't galvanize the Reich base the way Clinton does. He also comes with less of the Clinton conservative baggage even though he strikes me as similarly equivocating when it's politically expedient.

I think Edwards was sincere today. I'll take him at his word.


EDIT: K and R

Ask yourself how John can do the most good in america & that would be to team up with the best candidate & FOLLOW thru on his speeches & be the Attorney General of the United States.

I hope John picks Obama

If he endorses anyone, it'll probably be at the convention.

Your post makes a lot of sense. I hope others will be as sensible as you. John Edwards does not want anyone to "throw" their vote away. Voting for him when he has quit the race is equivalent to throwing a vote away. This race is just too damn important for that now.

So to Edwards' supporters, I plead with you to think about who you want to support between Obama & HRC, to vote with your head & your heart, to choose between the two people who are left in this race -- the one you think is the best person to be our next president.

I say, no vote for ANYONE but Edwards.

SO DID MY SPOUSE.