I Think Edwards was Pressured to Drop Out

I think Edwards was pressured to drop out at this time. Don't ask me for a link, I don't have one. But the undercurrents in the coverage have just been very strange lately. And if you haven't noticed this, you're not paying attention :-)

First of all, McCain rises from the dead, literally. Note that all the MSM and talking heads have been completely going off the deep end endorsing him and pronouncing all other candidates as "not having a chance". This started prior to FL and has been reiterated since. Some pundits try to fight back to this recurring meme and are quickly shouted down or interrupted. Everyone lines up behind McCain from the Republican establishment. Romeny is quickly marginalized.

So McCain has been crowned on the republican side and then Hillary goes out and does a fake victory rally, which is actually covered by the MSM. This after she was trounced in the "real" primary in S Carolina; after her campaign came under intense scrutiny for tactics and after the media started to focus on Obama as having a real chance at the nomination.. and after the Kennedy endorsements.

All of a sudden, within the space of a day.. McCain and Hillary are the inevitable nominees. Edwards bows out the day before the Super Tuesday Debate. This is Edwards, who has devoted the past four years to this eventual run and who has vowed to stay in until the convention. The same Edwards who just raised 4 million dollars in about a month. All of a sudden, the likelihood of a brokered democratic convention becomes unlikely.. just days ago it was nearly inevitable. Today, Hillary is all but crowned, Edwards is gone and Obama is repeatedly memed as having little chance, even tho he is drawing crowds of ten thousand per appearance.

Something is rotten in America. I can't imagine what might have been said to him or what pressure might have been brought to bear, but I don't think for a second he just woke up and decided to quit today. I don't.

When asked if today is a sad day... that only increases suspicion, in my mind.

Yes, real answers will be had someday...

Hey, I support the guy. But he won NOTHING. His showing in NV was worse than Giuliani's.
It demeans Edwards to say the M$M had something to do with his poor showing. Face it.

:thumbsup:

I will vote for him. I have campaigned for him. I have donated to him. But be real; what has he won? I'm wholeheartedly disappointed he hasn't done better. I thought he'd kick ass in NV and SC!
I hope he gets the VP slot now.
But don't you tell me I hate Edwards. You don't know me from Obama.

Not that the media reported it.

It made me proud. But the media are only concerned with what happened five minutes ago. If Edwards would have won SC or NV, he'd have had the spotlight. But his miserable showing in NV then his third-place finish in his HOME state made him moot. I don't like it, but that's the fucking reality of it all!

when I say you are either stupid, or you are lying.

anybody with half a brain, and even some with less, have observed this, and it's effect on fundraising, votes, public profile.

check almost any media watchdog, and you will find analysts dismayed at the complete lack of free media - which is the foundation of ANY campaign.


find another reason to diminish him, but don't deny the powerful and insidious role of the msm.

sheesh.

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you are correct

I sense the pendulum is swinging Obama's way. Maybe too little too late for him, but the signs are all there...

Get it? Voters are going to be manipulated into voting for whichever of the final two candidates that corporate leaders and the news media have chosen. To date, most of that money has gone to Obamam and Clinton with little to GOP candidates.

All the money in the campaigns and influence over media message and coverage is being used to sway voters and create the illusion they are in control. We're just spectators.

The message of McCain's win last night from corporate America was "we're in charge; we'll let McCain win if you don't force Edwards out of the race".

.. who gets to run and not run, that's for sure.

The media has deftly eliminated Kucinich and Edwards.

The ultimate winner will be a corporofascist lackey,
no matter who s/he is.

If he would fold so easily and without a fight we are better off.

only guessing :-)

speeches with no real reason for bailing out and no endorsement. It would appear something has happened that we are not privy to. I just can't see any reason for him to drop out before super Tuesday, if for no other reason than to accumulate some delegates. Something isn't right here. The only reason I could have seen was that Elizabeth was on her death bed and instead she was there by his side looking well enough to stand and smile so something else is afoot.

does that, and something about him just seemed "off". I hate putting on my tinfoil hat, but this is a man I've followed and campaigned for since 2003. And it just doesn't fit.

message, and the corporations and the media and the powers that be did not like his message. They quickly put him on back burner literally.

maybe something is up?:hide:

back for "history! the campign didn't even know till this morning. Elizabeths 'its complicated telegraphs something.

lovely Cletia, but I will say this:
My son was born three days before Christmas in 2003. My mother, who was in advanced stages of lung cancer, was living by herself at her house. My uncle came up and drove her to the hospital to see me and the baby a day after he was born, on the 23rd of Dec. She walked in just fine. I have pictures of her holding him.
She died on Jan.2.
For things one has to do, one can find the strength...and look fairly normal, also.
Another example is Peter Jennings.

Honestly, I think this is about money. All campaigns are, and when you're out of the $$$ and the momentum, suddenly people stop sending $$$. Especially big contributors.

His manager probably took a good look at what it was going to cost to travel and campaign in the Super Tuesday states and said, "We can't do it."

That's what happens when the f'n media completely ignores your entire campaign. :-(

you're right, if the media ignores you, no amount of money is going to help. I don't even think Romney's $$ is going to help him now that McCain has pretty much been dubbed the nominee by the MSM.

He was budgeting $3 million of his own plus matching federal funds for a $6 million dollar buy. That would have changed the momentum of the Dem primary.

Edwards probably didn't suspend his campaign because he was going to lose, but because he was likely to start winning and was a bigger threat than ever to the status quo. Someone must have made an ugly threat to make him pull out.

he's worthless.

You short term disruptors who have invaded DU in droves this year aren't paid by the candidates or by the GOP. You're paid by the corporate backers! Cool, I bet they pay a lot better. Do you get any benefits besides free pizza and pop?

warning you Edwards supporters that his rhetoric was just that- rhetoric. He promised to take his campaign all the way to the convention over and over.

If the only way you can rationalize this outcome is to blame it on some conspiracy theory that he was forced to quit because the "powers that be" gave him an ultimatum,
you're still living in la la land.

for idiots who feel their biased, fallacious reasoning means something.

You are dusturbed. Then again, you're an Obamite, aren't you?

I support Hillary.

Edwards probably didn't suspend his campaign because he was going to lose, but because he was likely to start winning and was a bigger threat than ever to the status quo.


Everyone should be pissed about this! :argh: If they can do that to Edwards, who is next on their hit parade?

Please vote for him anyway... he can use the delegates.

really torn as to what to do. I'm terribly afraid of a Clinton victory now and not sure whether I need to vote Edwards or Obama. Not that my one vote will mean a lot at this point, but sheesh...

but I also don't think there's enough difference to get passionate about supporting her.

So it's not a tough decision for me to still support Edwards to try to get delegates.

It all depends on what you think of the other two...

he could be "pressured" to do so. Presidentin' is hard work, subject to a lot of pressure.

I am in agreement with Mr. Funk for a second time.

Actually I am in disagreement with the OP I do not think that he was pressured out.

I don't think that is what did it at all.

I don't see anyone saying that. And if anything, the Hillary show was very much underplayed in the press and most of the press speculation is that Edwards dropping out will help Obama, not Hillary. I think you are on real thin ice with this analysis.

all day long. The comments about Obama and Edwards have been anything but objective and/or fair. I may be on thin ice.. never said I wasn't ! :hi:

voters, for whatever reason. After Iowa, New Hampshire and S. Carolina it was clear the best he could hope for was to be a "kingmaker" in a brokered convention. Evidently he did not want that role. This is nothing against Edwards as a person. He is a nice guy - he just did not catch on with voters.

it makes no sense! Unless it's Elizabeth's health. WHY else?

He couldn't even get through his speech today. He was obviously reading from a script. I don't remember him using a scripted speech before. I can understand dropping out after Super Tuesday if things didn't go well. Why now?

They didn't want to wait until that "inevitability" so they did something behind the scenes, kneecapping or something else, that made sure that that "inevitability" didn't happen.

My first thought when I heard Edwards news was that it had something to do with McCain winning and Giuliani dropping out last night.

I also think it had to do with Edwards recent announcement that he was putting $6 million into media buys before Super Tuesday. The MSM couldn't tolerate that, its not part of the game rules.

There is still a shadowy group of people who are calling the shots on who will win the primaries and the GE. The plan has been to use huge infusions of corporate cash and highly scripted media coverage to control the process. Any candidate who is taking the cash is a willing player, though I doubt any of them know the outcome, either. I think they're all being told that they will get X amount of money and X amount of media coverage if they hew to the corporate agenda and whoever best follows the script and picks up the most voters with their allotted cash and media time.

Edwards has been the fly in the ointment. The David against Goliath. He refuses to participate in the game, he talks about things they don't want him to talk about and he has pulled back the curtain and educated the public about the extent of corporate control and the game they are playing with the election and with our government. And worst of all, he was threatening to upset the plan by buying his own media.

We're crazy if we think we have any control over it. We don't. My guess is corporate America told Edwards, if you don't pull out we'll make sure McCain wins the GE. If you do pull out, we'll think about letting a Dem win. For Edwards is was a choice between the lesser of two evils.

That's why I'm not going to donate, volunteer or do anything for Clinton or Obama. It doesn't matter, it won't make any difference. Someone else is in charge of who wins and who doesn't and its not the voters or the delegates, or the Democratic Party.

disturbing. Unfortunately, I don't see any difference in Clinton and McCain policy wise, and I think that's why the MSM is pushing that particular scenario on us. I think for "them", it has to be one of those two. Obama isn't part of the Plan, I don't think.

is Hillary the inevitable nominee. My suggestion is to turn off the TV.

Chamber of Commerce CEO

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-chamber8jan08,0,4301350.story?coll=la-home-center




or founder of DLC, Al From:


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/15/172352/445/940/437405

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/deminks/124



or both.

quote gave me chills:

"We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said.

It makes no sense. Yes he came in third in SC, but his support was growing immensely after the debate. He 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. His support was growing. He repeatedly said he was in until the end. I'm not saying he would/could have won the nomination, but he certainly had a role to play, an important one, that up until today he appeared to embrace. With momentum building, at least enough to keep him viable in the race, why on earth do you quit when you've been promising people who you appear to genuinely care about that you won't? In my mind, something very sketchy had to have gone down. Whether it was the powers that be telling him to get out of the way so that one of the "historical candidates" can be the nominee (note that I didn't say win, because I am truly scared that they can't. I want them to, any Dem is better than anything else, but I am worried) or something else, we may never know. Sad, sad day.

The DLC?!?!?!?!?!?!?

"strange happenings" inside the Edwards camp from Trippi and other campaign insiders.. I wish I were smart enough to connect the dots, but I'm just not.

Doors closing by themselves? Dogs and cats living together?

was pretty implicit that he was going to advise Edwards not to support Clinton because her support of NAFTA has really hurt the poor and rural areas. It is diaried at KOS right now.

I think someone might have leaned on him, possibly made some kind of unsavory threat to push him out of the race, the problem is we don't have the evidence we need.

He may have been waterboarded.

I'm trying to show you the ridiculousness of what you are saying.

being an ass. If you don't like what you read here, go away. But stop being a jerk.

:rofl:

(By the way, I was for Edwards)

She's been home and off the campaign trail for something like a week and I am worried.

i am also concerned about this possibility.

If he was and McCain is the anointed Repug candidate - why would he drop out. In my mind - he would be in a stronger position today.

Something is wrong in Denmark.

Edwards was the only one who polled to beat them

If he was and McCain is the anointed Repug candidate - why would he drop out. In my mind - he would be in a stronger position today.

Something is wrong in Denmark.

Let it go. He wasn't that popular.

being an ass and go back to freerepublic.

How about you go to FR?

She actually WON in a state where no one campaigned and won by a large margin. I just called friends and FL and some people are talking of suing the DNC for disenfranchising their votes. The party can't afford to ignore 1.5 million people!!!!!

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I'm someone who believed enough in her candidate to spend countless hours and plenty of money making sure that she does well in my state on the 5th.

Satisfied?

and you could hear it in his voice - that he was reluctant.
Edwards looked suddenly young again, like someone who is relieved of a big burden...He looked to me like someone who struggled with a decision for a long time - and now that he made, h felt happy on some level...Just my impression.

watching the clip from that perspective later on ! :hi:

But my guy and I were commenting on this the moment we saw him: he looks young and he looks happy...:hi: back

now what could changed from yesterday to today?? Was John pushed out?? Just assuming here. But this does not sound right at all.



Dear ,

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Raising this money gives us the opportunity to expand our efforts in the next round of key states that will vote or caucus on February 5. It allows us to buy time to broadcast spots, purchase newspaper advertisements, organize public events with John Edwards and expand our phone bank calls.

That's why we appreciate so much your response to the challenge so far -- and why I'm asking you to help us raise the $73,000 that will put us over the top.

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This is still a three-person race for the Democratic nomination. We have identified the key February 5 states where we know John Edwards will have a strong showing -- and where we are going to win delegates.

Over the next 7 days, John is crisscrossing the country, taking his message of bold change into these key states. This is the message he has said he intends to carry all the way to the Democratic Convention, the nomination -- and then on to the White House.

Your continuing support means a great deal to John and to this campaign.

I know you can help us set a new campaign record between now and January 31 -- and your contribution today will make a difference for us as we head toward the important contests on February 5.

Thank you for all you do.

--Joe Trippi
Senior Advisor, John Edwards for President
January 29, 2008

I was thinking about the big media buy also...again it seemed that everyone that got to actually here John or his message responded favorably.

Did you ever stop to think he saw the writing on the wall and he couldn't carry his own state and he'd need many many millions to compete in the Super Tuesday election. He's a smart man and he knows how to count. Also did you ever think that maybe someone offered him a position in their administration? He'd be a fool not to take it. It would give him a huge leg up in the 2016 election for president. I think he's made a good move and I hope to see him and his platform 8 years from now...then Obama can take over. We have such good candidates! If we play our cards right we should be in control of the white house for at least the next 24 years.

Now pull that hat over your eyes and ears and fingers too.

There ain't no conspiracy...just plain old fashioned stinking politics!

supporters. Expected and not surprising at all. And the reason we will have nothing but division if HRC is the nominee.

conspiracy theory. And it was a humorous answer and not really nasty.

Now this is nasty... You are one of the worst ones here who post negative nasty Hillary posts. So I'd say you were the pot calling the kettle black.
Now you can close the door.

By the way...I don't post nasty things about ANY of the candidates...only the ones who post disgusting posts regarding Hillary so you've gotten a lot of attention from me as you asked for it. Bye-bye!

to pursue an anti-poverty agenda, and that's what he was fighting for.

I think he received a telephone call. The telephone call, though, came at a time when he and Elizabeth were in a depressed state. Candidates, like their supporters reach political heartbreak hotel. They had to have been there. Look at the huge investment they have made over such a long period of time and the small return they have received as a reward. True, he made his best pitch at the worst time, that time being when two candidates representing a historic choice to the American voting base also stepped out, but the fact remains he carried a superior message.

But overall, looking at the sacrifice the Edwards have made, not just in the financial sense, but in the sense of the family deprivation, the huge energy expenditure, and the continuous slap-downs they received in return from the media, from the party itself, and most hurtfully, from the voters themselves, any ring of the telephone in the middle of the night from a powerful person presenting an argument "For the good of the party and for the sake of your future standing with your fellow Democrats, bow out now so the election will not go to a brokered convention" -- that type of call landing shortly after the heartbreak of the South Carolina loss, was just enough to convince Edwards to do something he had not planned to do.

And he is a practical, logical man. Looking at the sacrifices he had asked his family to make, and realizing the sacrifices he would continue to ask them to make in the future must have prompted the self-questioning of "Why, what is it for? Is the sacrifice worth the price they are paying?"

I posted a thread here some time ago presenting the speculation Edwards and Obama might be talking about a mutually-beneficial spirit of cooperation. In that thread, I was first out of the gate to present the suggestion he would make an excellent Attorney General. He is the perfect anti-Gonzales. This was pre-Novak and pre-New York Times blurbs. I still think this might be possible, and since his sudden withdrawal, I sincerely hope it is a very real possibility. I just do not want to see him disappear from the political horizon.

But as I said at the start of this post, while many of his supporters are devastated, perhaps it would be a good thing to stop for a moment and ponder how devastated this good and honest man himself must be, along with his family, to have made such a Herculean investment in "Change" only to see their longstanding efforts halted with an unexpected sudden call.

Yes, I think Edwards was pressured, because that is the way the Establishment works. But beyond that, I think this good and decent politician will end up in the same political garden in which Al Gore now plants his good works. That garden has a warning sign alerting travelers therein of the toxicity of the soil and suggests finding works to save the planet and its inhabitants might in itself be a lot more fulfilling than trying to save a political system over which we no longer have influence.

Sorry for the rambling, I am just feeling that for all our recent political rhetoric, nothing ever really changes. Tomorrow is another day.

force for good in the world and I too look forward to seeing where his message will take us. Thanks for posting :hi:

influence over Edwards?

I will not say it. You should give this question some thought on your own, and in time, one or two names will come to you. But you will probably never have the satisfaction of knowing if you are correct; it will just be your gut talking to you.

There are only one or two people I can think of, but there is definitely one I have in mind. And there would have been no threats involved; just a reasoned argument well thought thought out enough to persuade a logical, good hearted person he had to do what was best for the party. Obviously, it would have been someone John Edwards also admires. Think about it.

Gardens can heal the earth when enough are planted with love.....

I thought people would think that was corny. It is amazing how John Edwards and Al Gore seem to have both landed in the same ditch -- two great politicians who find the system just too toxic and thus unrewarding.

Someone got to Edwards. I have NO DOUBT about that. :tinfoilhat:

Hillary is gonna be in Atlanta some time this week and they are already projecting 75,000 so far from what CNN said. I think that in itself speaks volumes.

I suspect he felt a little guilty about putting her thru the ordeal of the campaign at such a time in her life. I think her chances of successfully dealing with the chemo and the rest will be greater now that they are not so deeply involved in the campaign.

I wish them well, as I'm sure everyone else does.

the whole thing smells like rotten fish.

The man's campaign manager just MONDAY kicked off a fundraising effort.

This happened too suddenly.

He said he was staying in to give us a voice. He said it wasn't about the money. He said it wasn't Elizabeth's health (she looked great today, BTW).

He fucking stood there today and said that this was "hard" and that the supporters the last few days and the homeless living under the bridge asked him to "not forget him". I don't care who you are -- that goes to the soul.

Something happened.

Perhaps he was offered something that he felt he could make a viable difference in.

Perhaps he was being told that he would be destroyed (politically) if he stayed in.

I don't know -- but I am not buying this at all.

Sorry for ranting in your thread.

:hug:

that is came so swiftly out of left field would certainly cause me to wonder "Why!" . . . especially after Edwards had said repeatedly that he was in it til the convention . . .

something does indeed stink . . .

I think he made a decision based on the personal and not the political, which I have always maintained is the right thing to do. Even before my husband, I remember posting to the idiots who were pissed at Sandra Day O'Connor for choosing her husband over her position.

... might not have been based on his belief that he wouldn't be able to pull greater than 15% of the vote in Super Tuesday states, and so his -- and his supporters' -- money would be unnecessarily spent, where Edwards might view his supporters as people who don't have a lot of money and so continuing a campaign that wouldn't produce any further tangible results (i.e. delegates) would not be the best usage of their money.

Just a thought.

Something the media or anyone inside dares not speak about! But there's definitely in my book something evil lurking the halls of Washington that is NOT accountability to the people but to something else that at this point is nameless, but dangerous!