I didn't think it was going to be this hard...

I didn't think I would be this sad, I didn't think I would feel this lost. I'm a realist and I saw the writing on the wall, but it doesn't make it any easier. I have put my heart, soul and money into Edwards campaign and his message so right now I feel devastated.

All you Clinton/Obama supporters can flame me as much as you want, I don't care. All along I said that I will support our party's nominee and I will, but right now I feel that I have lost my best friend and any hope for us common Americans.

So please, give us the time to figure this out and make a decision. I will fully support the party's nominee, I want a Dem in the White House, but right now I am just a little distracted.

I understand completely --I was a Clarkie in '04

Take your time :)

for your understanding, but have you read some of the threads on here today? Unbelievable.

my first few trips into bizarro DU was quite enough

Gee, I don't know. Perhaps the reason I felt the need to post this earlier:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4291185

My iggy list went from 3 to its current state of 21 in about an hour today.

The shit was being flung far and wide at anything that moved.

That I'm not on it!

:)

I love your posts.

The flames were horrific. One asswipe even opened a thread to talk about his prediction last summer about Edwards dropping out and wanted everyone to kiss his oversized ass over it.

It was pretty bad this morning, Maddiejoan.

Glad you missed it.

:hug:

I'm sorry you DIDN'T miss it.

Don't worry --the poop will all be gone when primary season is over :)
(at least most of it)

Lots of wonderful people here. :)

Not all of us are willing, as dajoki is in her generosity, to support that which we cannot abide.

So, we'll be flamed and told we aren't welcome and our votes aren't needed, anyway.

When you're doing your "get out the votes" stuff for hillary, I hope you remember what I've said. Many of us have been chased out.

We've been the target of so much hostility, and it's time to understand there is a HUGE division in the party.

So, yes, flame away.

No big deal, just to let you know.

:pals:

This internet gender thing is a puzzlement sometimes.

Thanks! :hi:

it happens to all of us.:pals:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4297022&mesg_id=4297549

Callous people who don't give a shit about each other.

Yet, we're supposed to be willing to vote to continue that.

No thanks.

You asked why would anyone flame.

Well, that is an example of what we get.

You can care and understand.

Or not.

Up to you.

was not to say nobody flamed

it was to agree the with OP's points --and assure them that I saw no need to flame.

But thank you for attacking me for supporting the OP.

We can all understand each other, and come together for the support of people, or we can call all attempts to understand "attacks" and discount each other.

That's the choice.

No need to get your hackles up.. it wasn't about you... it was about what we have been dealing with. "Attack" is your perception... certainly nothing that I said to you was an attack, but do with that as you wish.

I was supporting the OP --and incidentally your own POV as well.

I guess all you see is the Hillary sig and decide to jump on my ass for no reason.

How's that working for you?

I can understand or not.

I think I said that to you when you first took it as a slam to you, which I will repeat for the upteenth time that it was not.

Understanding others is a personal choice.

Not one that is taken very often at DU.

I thought, from your first post, that you were one who wanted to understand.

Pardon me for misunderstanding you on that.

you chose to misinterpret my post as saying nobody would flame --when it was clearly nobody SHOULD flame.

pain. :grouphug:

It comes down to nominating a DOer or a TALKer. HRC is a DOer that can/will get the job that needs to be done, DONE! Hope Edwards is part of her administration.

Posting under you as I iggied before I responded.

The OP was expressing very real feelings (feelings any candidate's supporters would feel if THEIR candidate were to drop out) and did so eloquently and respectfully, without casting aspersions on anyone else.

It's bad enough that people feel the need to be ugly in the heat of a political argument, but there is absolutely no need to be so rude to people who are just saying how they feel.

Politics is a funny thing and political fortunes change with the wind. For all you know, Hillary Clinton could be the next candidate to step out of the ring - if that happens, you should hope that others aren't as nasty to you at that time as you are being to the OP.

to the BASIC difference between the two remaining candidates. I am also sad John Edwards is out of the race; his life's work is exactly what this country needs NOW!

it is what she's chooses to "do" that pissed the shit out of me. Thank you for the IWR, Kly/Lieberman, "universal health care", corporate tit-sucking...

more than 130 'presents' is NOT a leader.

I was on the phone with her for an hour after he announced. Of course it's hard. You had a dream for the future which you will never see. And now you have to choose between two people you already rejected.

My sister's second choice was always Obama. She's been admonishing me straight thru for not being "fair" to him. So she surprised the heck out of me today by saying she'd vote for Hillary instead. It wasn't even a toss up.

I don't know what you'll do. Only that it's important that you don't opt out.

As for the miasma of depression engulfing you, I'd suggest chocolate and whatever other thing you consider a very personal indulgence. Take care of you. It's your heart that just got broken.

I will never opt out, that is not even a thought. And thanks for your suggestion of chocolate, if I was a drinker, I'd have half a bottle of Scotch gone already, but I'm not.

but for some reason this has hit me the hardest.

I'm sorry you are going through this. It truly sucks.
I am sad that JE stepped out too.
Just ignore the creeps. Some people are truly clueless.

When JFK died, Patrick Moynihan lamented, "To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart." I'm not Irish, but I feel the same can be said for those of us who are politically committed and who really care.

I have been disappointed many, many times in politics. And each time, I thought I would just about die, that the world was coming apart at the seams, that things would never be right ever again.

But it really gets better. I know you feel awful, but it really isn't the end of the world. John Edwards is a good man and he fought a good fight and he isn't going anywhere - he's just going to serve in a different capacity.

Hang in there.

:hug:

this country. So our sadness and disappointment runs deep.

I really don't want to be messed with today.

I was so angry and frustrated as I watched the closer they would get to Iowa how the media made sure there was little to no coverage of Biden. Some stations would talk about the candidates and flick a quick shot of Biden and would say nothing about him... I was also for General Clark and they did the same but this time it seemed more obvious..

As a Biden supporter, nothing prepared me for how I felt when he dropped out. Each person is different, but for most, it will take time and the support of other Edwards people.

I hope you find a place for your energy and commitment. Many of us are still looking, but we have no regrets about our support. It has been a real learning experience.

and yes, it is a real learning experience.

:hug:


How I felt about Dean in 2004 and Kucinich just a bit ago.

:hug:

I worked hard for Wes Clark in 04.

:hug:

You're heartbroken and I totally empathize. It will take time to heal, but here's a :hug:. Hope it helps.

Let the swelling go down.

Check back in with campaign-world on February 5th. See what happens.

No rush.

because I will definitely support our nominee, whoever that is. I particularly like your advice of "no rush." Thanks

At least from us Edwardians!

We care about you, and we need you!

edited to add: If you're an introvert, and need to process by yourself, that is fine, and please come back to us. :)

But, to just disappear because that's what DU tells people to do is silly.... we're here as a community, and there are those of us who care and understand, and want to be here for you!

Isolation is just as destructive as attacks..... Teaching people to isolate themselves has caused so much of the pain and inability to empathize that we're seeing.

You're a valued member of the Edwardian community, and we don't wish you to go away!

it is so hard to lose your candidate. Candidates are our champions. We bond with them.
They ride out ahead of us. They say what we want said. They do what we want done.
They fight the battles we want to win.

Something deep responds in us, when we find a champion. It is a fusion that
is not put away easily. Nor should it be. You came to your decision to support
Edwards with thought and passion. Take your time to sort out your feelings.

And know that when your grieving is complete that you remain a proud citizen of
this country who cares about its future. That is attribute that no one can deny.

PS: I am very sorry about the flames.

YOU have nothing to be sorry about. Your post is eloquent and heartfelt.

I feel your pain! :P

Many of us know the incredible opportunity the Democratic party has now to make some genuine, and desperately needed, change in our country. We see this as a time of do or die, forward movement or stagnation. We want -- need -- a visionary leader who shows courage and committment to modern Democratic principles. And when you see the person you feel to be the best suited to achieve that leave the race, you are of course bereft. You are watching the future you envisioned slip away, to be replaced with more of the same ol' same ol'. :shrug:

I was incredibly depressed when I heard the news this morning -- I had always hoped Edwards would stay in there as an critically important counter/alternative to Obama and Clinton.

It's okay to feel this bad for your country -- it shows you care about us. :)

They'll always win.

Until 200 million people rise out of their slumber and start caring, that's the way it's always going to be, unfortunately. We're just not a caring country, completely apathetic to those most in need of help and far too accommodating to those least in need of it.

After 8 years of Bush, it will be a great feeling when a Democrat raises their right hand next January. I'm hoping it's Obama, but I'll still feel great no matter who McCain congratulates on election night.

That said, don't give up hope. There are still many important ways you can help make this country as great as it should be. You can support Edwards's College For Everybody program or Habitat for Humanity or any other number of ways. It may seem dark to you these days, but its not hopeless.

:pals:

He is truely the only one worthy of my support..

I'm right there with ya, friend. :pals:

This sucks. :cry:

A lot of it is the unexpected surprise, which, given my age, means that I haven't been paying attention. Politics is NEVER predictable, except when it shouldn't be. :)

I thought I was prepared for him to lose the nomination, although that had me down enough. I thought I was handling it. We need a champion in our corner so badly, and we have been let down by the party so much that it's hard for us to hope. We don't want to take that risk anymore. So, when we do allow ourselves to hope, and it's looking good, then we see how the party treats the one who steadfastly stands WITH us, it hurts all over again.

One can't concentrate everyday on what an outcast one is. It's like climbing into a dumpster everyday... one can only do it so much before one FEELS like garbage.

To have someone who treats us as valuable, rather than as an outcast, and to lose that person.... of COURSE we're down and depressed! We need each other more than ever now!

My only hope, for what it's worth to you, is knowing that John and Elizabeth ARE steadfast! If not, he would have sold out long ago, given the speeches people wanted, rather than sticking with his conviction and passion for us -- in short, he would have become just like the others. Instead, he became even MORE vocal about what we are facing! So, we know, or at least we have a good clue, that he won't abandon us.

I do have hope that, maybe with us pushing him, Edwards will become the Al Gore of poverty! Make it such a compelling cause that it causes the ignorant masses to undergo an epiphany, and start letting their hearts lead them, rather than their fears!

How's that for a fantasy?!

Take heart, dear dajoki, I need you, and rely on your sweet kindness. I hope you'll stick around and keep expressing what you are feeling, because you are part of us.

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

Oh I'll be here fighting for what we belirve in.

Take heart, dear dajoki, I need you, and rely on your sweet kindness. I hope you'll stick around and keep expressing what you are feeling, because you are part of us.

Never have I heard such kind words, you are truely appreciated and are in my thoughts. Thanks bobbolink
:hug: :hi:

It makes me so sad that those of us on the bottom rung are constantly beaten down, and so rarely are told we are valued.

THAT must change!

You have brought me much, and please don't forget that!

:hug: :yourock: :hug: