Reason For John Edwards's Sudden Departure

I'll be curious to see how many delegates Edwards got tonight. With the virtual dead-heat between Obama & Hillary, Edwards might end up as the Decider here. Who do you want to see him throw his support to?

(and btw, "no one" is a BS cop-out answer. He's going to attempt to play kingmaker to someone, so don't pretend he's going to be noble and not go with one candidate or another. He'll go with whomever he feels has the best chance of getting him to the White House)

I was so frustrated for John as I watched him continually be removed from the political discussion. The media made it a two person democratic race a year ago.

http://benjaminlawrence.blogspot.com/2008/01/it-was-only-ever-going-to-be-2-pers...

So frustrating!

http://edwardshasmyvote.wordpress.com/2008/01/31/hello-world/#comment-438
Seems I'm not the only one still supporting the one candidate who set the tone for the others. I don't want a rockstar for a president. I want someone who is going to get things done.

It's kind of interesting to note that on this site, the topic 'Barack Obama' is edging out 'Hillary Clinton' for # of items, and 'John Edwards' trails both... right now the breakdown is roughly:

Obama - 43%
Clinton - 36%
Edwards - 21%

Okay ,well I suppose "duty" was too strong a word and I certainly was not trying to sell you on any one candidate. Hypothetically, how you would vote should Edwards endorse? Better still, if Gore would endorse? Would you follow their lead and vote for whom they endorsed? Or would you be able to choose between the two based upon your own knowledge of each even with taking into consideration those endorsements?

I have no duty to vote for any of the two left. That sure doesn't sound Democratic to me, especially if his name is still on the ballot and write-ins are allowed. My voice was silenced. And it is not a protest vote in as much as it is a vote in the hope that he will get a few more delegates to wield to have his platform heard. And if Clinton and Obama wanted to really reverse what Bush did they would have called for his impeachment already from the floor of the Congressional chamber they are already a part of that has that authority. So sorry, no sale. My vote Tuesday stays with John Edwards.

Wouldn't it be great if there were only one primary/caucus date instead of several spread out? Certainly would eliminate the media hype, would stop the states from fighting for the moneys spent by campaigns in their state, and would most importantly give the the candidates equal footing. One day, one vote...for the primary/caucus. And while I'm on the subject...let's do away with the electoral college and make the popular vote count...that way we have one vote and IT COUNTS.

Now regarding a primary vote for Edwards...while like you JanforGore...I would much rather be voting for Gore AGAIN, but then he wouldn't run. Either Kucinich or Edwards would have been my second choice. But alas, the media hoopla took that away. However, if you vote for Edwards in the primary thinking that your vote will be a protest, sadly I say, your vote will not count. A vote for Edwards is either taking away one vote from, or giving one vote to either Clinton or Obama. Even if we are disgusted with what has happened, it is still our duty to choose between the two whom are left. We must choose the one that we think will further the progressive and green agendas. It is a difficult choice as the two are very similar, but a choice between the two we must make. More importantly, we must stand behind that choice in November because the most important thing is putting a democrat in the white house to reverse, recind, and repair the damage done by Bush the Impeachable.

Good luck with your decision making.

With all due respect, what I choose to do in November will be my business. And based on 2000 and 2004 it doesn't seem like it counts anyway. It is all smoke and mirrors to make people "think" they pick the president, but they don't. Until the primary season regarding superdelegates who can be bought and a media that holds sway over voters' choices over reason is changed, when issues mean more than "endorsements", and we do away with the electoral college and the buying of campaigns, do our votes really mean anything? Well, I know I will make mine mean something on Tuesday, and to me that is what Democracy is all about.

@Jan - I fully understand the difference between the primary and the general election. What will you do in November assuming Edwards is not the Dem candidate? What if he is the running mate?

How about my CA mail in ballot cast for John Edwards? Talk about feeling like your vote doesn't count.

Even in the general election, every vote will be a throw-away vote....McCain, Romney, Obama, Clinton...they're all one and the same. I will vote who I actually believe in, no matter what the media tells me, and I won't let this embarrassingly stupid election process make me compromise my morals. This 2-party system has got us all down...it needs revision.

This is not a GENERAL ELECTION, this is a PRIMARY and I am well within my rights to vote my first choice in a PRIMARY if their name is still on the ballot. Edwards has not sent a withdrawal letter to my state to have his name removed, and according to reports he has asked that his name remain on the ballot in Rhode Island. I would then surmise that his name is on all of the ballots he entered it on for Tuesday. If he can get 15% in any of these states on PRIMARY day he may well have some delegates to bargain with to get his platform on poverty and healthcare heard. I am therefore going to vote for my first choice in the PRIMARY and I am not going to let anyone tell me who to vote for. The word is also that he was pushed out of this by a couple of Democratic heavy hitters in the party. The fact that he he has not endorsed thus far and only "suspended" his campaign speaks to me. And if that is indeed true it is even more incentive to vote in the PRIMARY which hurts no one to show them that they do not have the right to dictate to Americans who their candiate will be with NINE MONTHS LEFT. No one here is telling anyone what to do in the GENERAL ELECTION. I went through enough with the same BS directed at Al Gore, and I will be damned if I will allow them to do this again to another good man. You can continue to settle for the status quo and do what the media tells you. I however, have had it.

He only suspended his campaign, he didn't withdraw. I'm going to vote for him because he is the best. I encourage everyone to vote for him. It's a message to the media that they didn't sway my vote. It's a message to Clinton and Obama that they don't measure up. Last, it's a message to Edwards that we still want him.

Umm, do you all remember the last time there was a candidate that drew some "protest" votes? Does Ralph Nader in the 2000 election ring a bell?

Please, do not make the same mistake again. It's proven very costly over the past eight years. How will you feel if you - and many others - cast a protest vote for Edwards and McCain or Mitt win by a narrow margin?

What if Edwards is the running mate of choice for either Barack or Billary? Will that get you to use your vote productively?

I called my county clerk yesterday and was told that Mr. Edwards's campaign has not issued a withdrawal letter regarding taking his name off the ballot in my state. So as long as his name is on your ballot vote for him, and if not write him in if you choose and it is allowed. Send a message Super Tuesday that you are tired of being told who you are going to vote for.

mayalynn, Great.They can't blame us when Zero Brain McCain of the 100 year war takes office.

YES! i, too, will vote for Edwards....just to make a point.
(although, i might even go green party since i'm starting to hate the democrats as much as i hate the republicans.) let's be real here, he was the only one that could've beaten a Republican. those "progressives" really dropped the ball...thanks to people like Gunnar for another 4 years of neo-conservative hell!!

Poor Gunnar, he doesn't have Edwards money so he's become bitter and likes to kick people when they're down with his sarcasm. Can't respect your "come from" Mr. H.

Gunnar, That is more rational than signing on with the corporate media picks. Obama can't give a straight answer because he has none. Hillary screeches out her answers she cribbed from Edwards. You will get the candidate you deserve and the Republicans will win the election.

Poor sods. You bought the multimillionaire attorney's lines about poverty and justice and so on...

I'm so pouted up I wouldn't care if neiter of them won. I hate them all. Hillary has cankles and her husband is responsible for the media mess. In normal speech Obama is a grade above Bush. He says alot and nothing at the same time. I think Gunnar is Hillary in drag.

Yes, it's so very, very wrong. I'm joining in the protest and voting for Edwards on super Tuesday, but I won't in the elections. Can you imagine the depression that would set in if Hillary won by just 3 verified votes over Obama?!

And just who is this Gunnar person with no profile who seems to always jump in with the sarcasm? I'm thinking he's related to smorrisey and they're professional agitators . . .? ;-)

I feel so angry I could explode. the media pulled it off. and the population is so stupid they didn't notice. I bet the Germans aren't that stupid anymore.

Marilyn: I understand your feelings exactly.

No, the media covered that and his leaving, and little to none in between. But you knew that and couldn't resist getting in a swipe about his wife. How classy. I firmly believe the people in this country get the government they deserve. So have fun with the rest of this dog and pony show.

Yes. they carried that and almost nothing else. That's what I'm doing too Jan, except I plan to vote for him in November too.

I seem to recall when he used The ... Media to announce that he was going to campaign despite his wife's recurring cancer. Got picked up by every network. So selfless that John Edwards.