The Primaries
Gore’s apparent decision not to run has deflated us and left us scattered. At least that’s the way I have felt. He seemed our last hope for change.
Now, like you, I have to make a decision: Who will I support in the primaries?
The primaries are the prize. They are our only hope of stopping the HRC bulldozer and putting yet another Neo into the White House. We’ve been told she will be our choice often enough that we believe it. Not true. Even the possibility of election fraud has lessened with more states, like mine, mandating paper trails for votes. A primary vote for anyone other than HRC can stop her ascendancy to ultimate power.
Recent events have, for me, eliminated Barack Obama as a choice. His pandering to the religious Right was bad enough and completely unacceptable, but his McClurkinGate was the topper. His “missteps” have been so egregious that I have begun to suspect he may be part of a Neo plan to elect HRC, that is for him to be given enough corporate-sponsored power to make him an almost equal rival and then for him to stumble so badly that his supporters, perhaps some out of her demographics, will switch to her with appropriate rewards awaiting for his service. Whatever might be true, just like with Hillary I cannot and will not vote for Obama.
Senator Dodd has said some good things, but I think he has been too long at the public teat, too long in the enabling and thoroughly corrupt system, to be a worthy choice for president. It isn’t more of the same that I want after 11/08, even if it has a liberal tinge. Kucinich best expresses my socio-political views; I don’t think he is electable nationwide. I’m not completely ruling out either of these fine men, but after the general election no matter how it goes, we need good men in Congress and I’m hoping that’s where they both stay.
I dimmed on John Edwards following his and Elizabeth’s announcement that her cancer has returned. While I have huge admiration for her and feel sadness about her health, in this time of dire need for a focused leader I worried that her husband’s attention might be diverted by an ailing spouse. Even though that worry remains, I have again focused on John Edwards. I see that he is saying what I want a candidate to say and I now hope he will be our choice in ‘08.
However, I think it is vital that we make an agreed upon choice and then use our blogs to urge solidarity in our primary vote. If this means that Edwards is not the agreed upon choice, that he does not represent our philosophies and our best hope for change, that he is not the most viable candidate to oppose the HRC/Obama machines, then I will defer to the majority. With the primaries beginning in two months, it is unity that we should seek.
To that end, here are some reasons why I think John Edwards is our best choice:
Senator John Edwards released the following statement today on New Hampshire’s recognition of civil unions.
“Today, Gov. Lynch and the state of New Hampshire showed us that the idea of America — fairness, justice and equal opportunity — can become a reality when we have the courage to stand up for what is right. New Hampshire’s decision to recognize civil unions and grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights granted to heterosexual married couples is an important step in the fight for justice. This is an issue of fundamental fairness, and by passing this law, New Hampshire’s leaders chose fairness over discrimination.” Source
Important Differences
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLKpNExb3Pg]
Just Say No
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9GYelgz18]
Read more thoughtful and well researched posts by Mirth
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:34 am
OK i finally made the call to the county clerk to get a form to change back from Green to Dem for the primaries. Soon i will send Edwards some money ..don’t forget he does not take big corporate money . Its time to give him the traction he needs….Now here is a cautionary tale : Even advid blog readers did NOT KNOW about the OCT 27 th Untied for Peace and Justice Mobilizations in 11 cities on Oct 27th …what this tells me (us) is that we need bumper stickers , letters to the editor , yard signs , and our MOUTHS ..we need leaflets and literature…and to take this campaign to the streets.. Get to know for ourselves the populist message of Edwards and start translating to others..
We may be watching a train wreck of a runaway train of empire…but we DO NOT want hillary at the helm PERIOD. Deep in my heart i can believe Edwards will do his level best for the common man . He is far more reasonable then most - This race is not over. We will not have Clinton shoved down our throats…It would be bad for our country which already has a Constitution on life support. As for the lgbt issues…he is head and shoulders above the rest in his honesty ! and in his desire NOT stop progress, in civil rights..Do not forget clinton was an enemy ! that doma could have been vetoed.
And dear ones please realize GORE is NOT going to run ..he does not like politics does not want to go head the head with shillery and is doing more good as man on world stage ..vs. being president. Please let it go - and further more get real - Gore developed the DLC , no wonder he wants no part of politics..He is not a savior - no one is - its our group effort that may IF WE are lucky slow this runaway train of empire. Now would a vote for Edwards save the world ? Change everything ? NO but it would be a step in a good direction. We have a lot of damnage to repair…Edwards distains big lobbies !! thats a damn good start eh ?
October 29th, 2007 at 10:38 am
ProudP:
Well said. The energy focused on Gore needs to be redirected to Edwards. It’s time to get real. I just don’t know how many way Al Gore can say “NO” before everyone understands.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:39 am
The american public is not near hurtin enough for revolution , petrified and unconvinced about values such as Kucinich ’s which many of us love. Change will come with this election if we can elect anybody but Hillary. We can be as cynical as we want - but the youth deserve more. We have to try. Thats the way i look at it..i cannot go off in a huff saying its is all so fucked up and yet do nothing about it..does voting emporwer this empire.. to some degree yes, but this empire is where we live. WE the people must try to use the ballot box to send a message. What is the alturnative…nobody is taking it to the streets..There is no viable route for a thrid party in the current electoral process AND the good news is its still early - We can be unified. WE need to be unified as possible… for EDWARDS - he has a great shot at it - if we get behind him. I want to feel hope. Not quite as they say five minutes before the miricle.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:02 am
OK just back from EDWARDS 08 website..and my misely 50 bucks on my credit card which i use for heat and such ..is now matched by public funds…..isn’t this closer to what we want people ? Thanks to his way of running his campaign my 50 just become 100. Imagine if you can if you can afford more. Now is the time. To give. When i did this i though about all the people who cannot afford to give. I live alone i can bundle up and be cold…families in poverty small children , their parents barely making ends meet..do not have this option. My cats do not ask me mommy why are we having mac and cheese again ….Now onto the Bumper stickers. But one thing for sure. IF do not dig deep , whatever that means for each of us..no candidate has a chance against the Shillery machine..and no ANY dem (hillary i am talking about you , you cackling neo lib) is not better then any republican ..Now picture this….and Earnest Edwards going up against any of the BAT SHIT crazy rethugs….i smell a wiinner. Hilllary is too easy a target - sheer hatred of her legacy will bring out the fundies - she is the worst possible dem. candidate to have in the general election….BUT some say oh she knows how to fight em I call BS she is one of em. ! Look how freakin chummy billy boy is with bush one, Do you need to see anymore ? She would galvanize every “lberal dem hater” ditto head out there. Gosh i feel good - thats to public matiching funds I just gave Edwards 100 - i challenge all the readers today to go and give a little bit. TODAY - visit the website ..tell us what you learned that you liked. Lets make some history today …trick or treat shillery !!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
First, nyt, thank you for posting this call for unity and solidarity for Edwards. My support for him is enthusiastic and if we can get it together to stop the HRC bulldozer in the primaries, using every tool we have including our blogs, we can elect this worthy man as our president.
Targa has a very encouraging comment at LM. This is part of it:
“My thought is that he [Edwards] is deliberately laying low allowing HRC and BO to wear themselves out… he’s waiting in the wings for an ‘08 burst of energy and almost perfect campaigning year….
I think Edwards will surpass expectations and shoot to the top of the field. The DNC will get behind him and he will be the de facto democratic candidate… He will also, I believe, appoint Al Gore to his cabinet.”
I think he is right.
I also think the corporate-controlled media have marginalized Edwards.
Remember the energy Dean created on the Internet? We can do that again. All we need is the will to do it again.
pp: your words are, like every one you ever write, are encouraging and inspiring. I have also donated at Edward’s site and today I go back to purchase his campaign products.
You are a beacon. Your heart and soul leads us to new possibilites and HOPE just as we thought those were lost.
You two are my soul sisters!
October 29th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Mirth:
You are very welcome.
It is of paramount importance that everyone get behind Edwards to put a stop to HRC and the Clinton machine.
I have long been a supporter of Edwards but I have not advertised it on my blog but today the tide has turned. Bluebloggin is endorsing John Edwards and will promote every blog doing the same.
BTY:I am sooooo happy that you have hope and enthusiasm once again.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I am a retired 50 yr old social worker with a medical condition. From my hermitude and my constant gathering of news and misc politics and back stories on the web my politics are indeed more radical , due to catching up on stuff, i could make the time for when working. However being a mature adult and not well enough to follow Cindy Sheehan around. My reality is that i see the Constitution destroyed. Corruption of the law, hegemony and secret government. I see it all NOW …ok as life long lesbian. gay person and activist for our civil rights who is happily child free. I have a crone’s attitude. and according to Erik Ericson a good ajustment to the life stage called “generativity” meaning i care about the youth of our species. We need to work to restore the aspects of our system that should work…our vote. as screwed as the electoral process is - there are potential statesmen out there that could correct these travesty. Edwards is one of them . And what he did was decline corporate financing ….in favor of public funding or public financed elections..
And what does the main stream tweety heads do ? story line Edwards campaign in trouble. THAT IS SUCH BLANTENT bs - the story should have been Edwards puts his money where his mouth is and brings us the values in living color - an even playing field. and end of corporate owning of our candidates..he who has the most money wins…..Talk about a skewed story..as you say NOT ONLY MEDIA Maginalized BUT what he DID was MISREPRESENTED to the public !!!
that galls me. that is a lot of education we have to do to amplify the meaning of his actions and how the very change we want to see. NOW. and yeah i love those rainbow bumper stickers and plan to give one away to nine people and in the process , having educated my own self on EDWARDS expalin to them why - they want the bumper sticker on their car. that will be my one crone with a mouth campaign…….
.Mirth, you are the beacon..your wisdom and kindness and call to Unity. Thank you. It has gotten me out my huff yep yep THANKS. and the notion that voting only encourages them. There ARE differences between the candidates..and Edwards has many terrific ones. Hope that sprint at the end is well financed by us people ! cause this ain’t over yet and Even Hillary too can self destruct and her shortcomings be exposed to dissaffected democrats who remain uncommitted. Love Kucinich want him all the debates till the bitter end..His is the message for the 7th generation and these seeds must be planted ( sent him money too, because of that) and he being all grassroots financed.
**** but I CAN get behind Edwards out of practically ,and actually come to this candidate with a consciousness of the glass being at least half full. Edwards is no kerry i held my nose to vote for kerry (gaak) - Edwards will not fold like a lawn chair , he will get the votes counted. Our public financing will insist on it…..(maybe even constitutonally and by legal mandate…HA ! )
And he can deal with Coulter calling him a faggot - he will be so ready , let em try to swift boat him…he will be so ready - with the truth. yep - between the now and the end of the campiagn we could have the most energetic , honest charismatic candidate..and America will love him. I want to and think i am feeling a slight tingle of this future reality in my bones.
Imagine……..