For the record, that’s my post (above). The one that says anonymous. I just messed up and said “submit” before I realized that I hadn’t filled in name…etc. Yeah, I do that shit all the time.

Edwards can still put a HUGE dent in this imperialist game that is attempting to be implemented. The question is, will he? Here’s my request to Edwards. Do it, my friend, do it! You know you can, I know you CAN, please…..do it.

BTW, your site is great, I like it.

I’ve heard and read so much nonsense from people about who Edwards is that it’s depressing.

Anyway, BorgWarner seems to have him pegged. He’s the guy the establishment ignored because he was a threat, and he was the one who was in it to make things better. He was also the one who took a stand first, with Clinton always playing catch-up when she realized there was lots of support for his policies out there. My feeling is that she’ll give them lip service just long enough to get into the White House. Out of Obama I expect even less.

But both Kucinich and Edwards deserve our support, and credit for standing up to the juggernaut of corporate power that is running amok. We need to organize, and break up the appalling monopolies that are growing ever bigger, greedier, and more arrogant.

Yes, he made some “regrettable” votes in the Senate – regrettable for a liberal Dem, but perfectly understandable for a purple state Senator. Yes, his positions have grown increasingly liberal over the last eight years. Isn’t that a good thing?? I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s “opportunist” – I think it’s intelligent.

Edwards was my Senator for six years. Whenever he made a vote I disagreed with, I registered a complaint. I always got a thoughtful response. Obviously, I realize that this may have been the work of his staff members, but my point is that I have not ever known another politician at his level who placed the same emphasis on listening to his constituents. Not to polls. To his constituents. And his constituents, unfortunately, were overwhelmingly in support of Bush’s war when he was in office.

The man has his faults, sure. He’s a friggin politician, not our blessed savior. There is no blessed savior – and anyone who looks for one in politics is a fool. But he’s the first pol I’ve seen in a long, long time who really focussed on class issues and the only Democrat in 20+ years who has maintained a high-profile campaign without selling out to corporate interests or sliding ever rightward in pursuit of a “centrist” label. John Edwards deserves some cred for that, at least.

I disagree that EVERYONE is a hypocrite. I’m, what I affectionatelly refer to myself as, a “nutshell” person. Which basically means that I like to bring everything down to the basics. Because I believe/feel/think/and have observed is where the crux of the matter lies. Obviously, one can expand from there, however what good will it do us/anyone if our basis is “off”. That said, here I go. (BTW, great link.)

I disagree that everyone is a hypocrite. Deluded, sure. (Been there myself, in fact) But being deluded is not the same as being hypocritical. Basically, because one has to look at intent. Easier said than done I’ll agree. Take the case of Mother Theresa. From all rational query one would gauge that her intent was to help/stop/alleviate suffering. Very outspoken critic of humanity. (I’m an atheist so I find her fascinating) Yet, she saw the hypocrisy. The one I believe you speak of. However, she herself was NOT of that mold. Explain Mother Theresa……

I can definitely entertain the concept of “punctuated equilberium” of self realization theory……sure. Do I think that’s what happened with Edwards? Hmmm….hmmmm……it’s a possibility I suppose. But then also I would have to say that the man was TOTALLY not being true to himself. Can that happen? Sure. But not “normally” at this stage of the game (agewise)… possible, yes. Likely…no. But I don’t rule it out by any means. For the record, I don’t flat out REJECT the idea that Edwards could have had an epiphany, but as you said, not in these exact words of course, this is politics……need I say more.

If Edwards did in fact have an epiphany, I wish him all the best. Smart man. You gotta love his wife though. She totally called Ann Coulter out, and to my way of thinking she put ol’ Ann the skank to shame. Good for her.

That’s a load of codswallop. Hillary was already a celebrity. Obama became a media darling. Edwards never managed to do that. Democrats didn’t rank-order these three — the media did it for us. (And remember, Edwards had an anti-globalist message — the elite media weren’t having any of that.)

Poll after poll has shown that Edwards would defeat John “I’m a war President, too” McCain in a general election.

Not the most recent ones.

I’m too well versed in the difficulty of personal change to think that Edwards “suddenly” had anything of the sort. As far as I can tell, most people change incrementally all the time, but have realizations that they have changed in fits and starts. Consider it the punctuated equilibrium theory of self-realization. Do I know that’s what happened? Of course not. But having seen many people have epiphanies, as you put it, in their middle age, I’m unwilling to flat out reject the possibility as you are.

I don’t think Edwards had to change all that much. I think he already knew and didn’t act on it because it was in HIS BEST INTERESTS not to. A hypocrite is someone who says one thing but believes something else. I think THERE WERE TIMES when Edwards was a hypocrite, however more often, at least in my mind, I think he knew better and didn’t ACT on what he knew. As I said, I don’t gauge Edwards as the deluded sort.
Sure…I could be wrong, just the same I don’t think I am (obviously) otherwise I wouldn’t have made the comments I did.

As per your comment: “I’ve seen nothing that suggests Edwards is any more of a hypocrite than anyone is, and you’ve provided no evidence to justify your assertion.”

I’m sorry but your logic suggests that in fact Edwards is a hypocrite and so is everyone else.. Although you’ve provided “no evidence to justify your assertion”
Edwards isn’t 25yrs old, 35yrs old or 45yrs old, he is almost 55 years old, a smart person, educated, had at least some experience being poor, is a lawyer and a politician. To say he “suddenly” had an epiphany concerning the current state of affairs is a stretch. That’s my qualification.

Dr Slammy:
I don’t see how you understood my comment to be that people don’t change. I said, or at least was attempting to say that people are in a perpetual state of change. My quote: “First, people are ALWAYS in a state of change. That’s where we get those sayings like “How did I end up here”. So to me that portion of your comment is a moot point.” Does that clarify my take on it?

What I’m suggesting is that Edwards didn’t necessarily notice until later and then changed his views as soon as he noticed, ie that he changed his mind.

I’ve seen nothing that suggests Edwards is any more of a hypocrite than anyone is, and you’ve provided no evidence to justify your assertion.

Either way, though, I’m pretty sure you missed Jim’s point and focused instead on a side issue.

Your comment suggests to me that you still don’t quite understand. First, people are ALWAYS in a state of change. That’s where we get those sayings like “How did I end up here”. So to me that portion of your comment is a moot point.

The comment above is the one I take issue with. To use this logic then I should do what is only in MY OWN INTERESTS. Then of course I would be a republican. Why not? I’d just do what is best for me. It is precisely this kind of logic that got us where we are today. In the end that type of logic ALWAYS works against you. If for no other reason than you are the force of one! (which translates as brown noser)

Now I know this sounds idealistic but I’m going to say it anyway. If you don’t demand that your candidates and representatives represent your (as a country) interests, they won’t. Do I think we’ll ever get this perfect person? No. But I do think most of our candidates and representatives will do a better job if we demand it? Yes. For the simple reason that there won’t be a next time if they don’t.

As far as Edwards changing his views, sure I think it’s P0SSIBLE, I just don’t think it’s LIKELY. I truly believe Edwards is a smart man. I think he has all the moxie in the world. “It’s what you do with what you have” which makes me question Edwards. Edwards had all this moxie a long time ago. He chose to “play it” another way.

So where was he when everything started to topple. I believe Edwards “noticed it” before most, he’s a smart guy. .Why didn’t he speak up THEN. Start to turn the tide THEN. I agree with many people who say he’d make a GREAT attorney general. I don’t hate Edwards at all. I like the guy. But he really pissed me off, and a lot of others too, for this very reason.

Its one thing to be a child of the “have nots” however it’s a completely different thing to be an adult “have not”. So possibly Edwards never truly understood “his roots”. Nothing a little soul searching wouldn’t solve I’m sure. Has he ever had to “decide” what to buy his children, winter boots or a winter coat? And then live with that “decision” AS AN ADULT, knowing HIS children are suffering……..

BTW, if candidates are ONLY in it for themselves, they shouldn’t be there. I do not think that is idealistic, I think it is realistic. This is exactly what we have now, the emperor Bush. Is there anyone who can’t see the damage that that brings.

The Left is rejecting Edwards because he reminds too many of us in the Left® of what WE came from – how we scrambled and worked and took advantage of opportunities made available by FDR, HST, JFK, and LBJ

I thought Edwards was rejected because he reminded us that we’re really just working-class. And that we weren’t ready for that hard truth.

We still cling to the notion that wer’re upper-middle-class — or will be when we sell our house. (It’s still got some value, hasn’t it? Right? Doesn’t it?)

But no, houses are just homes now, not investments. And we’re just workers. When was the last time you heard someone say he or she was a member of the working-class?

But maybe I’m wrong and it was not Americans who weren’t ready for his message, but the mainstream media.

I’ll miss him too. He gave some of the greatest speeches I ever read (didn’t get to hear them).

If you’re looking for a Presidential candidate who’s not in it for themselves, then you’ll die a very disappointed person – there are no candidates who aren’t in politics for themselves, in any party. If they say they are, they’re lying. The question you should be asking is whether or not their self-interest has any real alignment with your interests.

In plain English, too many of us are full of shit. Opportunity is only opportunity if it’s at work on the ground helping kids do better than their parents. Edwards has spoken to this issue in ways that no other Democratic candidate has – or seems int…

Wow, thankfully some are FINALLY fessing up to that fact. I don’t endorse Edwards for this very reason. Edwards, once he had “made it”, left everyone else for dead, then when there was money to be made defending the “have nots” there he was again. Simply because as of late Edwards is “defending” core democrat values doesn’t negate the fact that in the past he didn’t. It appears to most that Edwards is for Edwards. I for one think it and I believe many others do also.

So the point you make about having had opportunities and then comfortably settling into the status quo is exactly correct. I’m 40 something and I watched this happen within my age group especially. When I stood up (and I did, still do) you didn’t have my back. Now do you think I would support “progressive Edwards” no way. He sold those of us who hung in there down the river and now has a “supposed” change of heart? Yeah…right….

Sure Edwards talks a good game. He’s a lawyer. The problem is everyone saw what he DID, and that has made all the difference. Anyway, I thank you for looking in the mirror and calling a spade a spade……..maybe there’s hope for y’all after all. I’d be a welcome sight. Frankly, I put my money on the young who because of MY AGE GROUP’S FAILINGS are paying a hefty price.

But you and I know that while most of the power in America is white and male, that doesn’t mean that all white males have power. There are real and powerful class issues in the white majority, and I know I’ve fought to overcome them my whole damned life.

Maybe I was hopeful about Edwards because his message wasn’t about what particular stripe of disadvantaged you were – it was about overcoming class barriers PERIOD, by god. It was about ALL the have-nots vs all the keep-em-in-their-place elites.

Thanks for giving voice to your anger. And mine.