I am leaning toward leaning toward Edwards.

[Renew Deal]

There is a lot to disagree with Edwards on. There is also a lot to dislike Kerry for. I am trying to sort through this and I am wondering which one is more evil and which will give Bush more fits.

I know about most of the real issues between the too. I hate that Edwards is friends with Shelton, but whatever. When it comes down to it, most people don't care that we went to war, but they do care about us being successful.

The argument for Edwards is that he can't be hit with a lot of the waffling charges that Kerry can be. He has southern appeal. He appears straight forward. He cares about all Americans. He will not be hit on the Vietnam protests. He is also very likable.

The problem is his lack of military experience. But Bush himself said that we are headed out of war and to peace. Edwards can use that comment to his advantage.

I am really conflicted. I should just support Kucinich and make my life easy. I agree with him on almost everything and he is a great guy. Anyway, any thoughts? Can anyone help me with this mess?

[Liberal Veteran]

1. I am leaning toward anybody but Bush with a D beside their name.

At this point, that's the bottom line for me. This country doesn't need 4 more years of Bush's bullshit.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Who would you rather listen to for the next 4 years, Kerry or Edwards?

I rather have Edwards than to be put to sleep by the boring John Forbes Kerry.

[Columbia]

4. Ditto

[MurikanDemocrat]

10. Now there's an astute way to determine who is more qualified

:eyes:

[Renew Deal]

12. Actually Indiana is really good.

I think he understand what I am saying. That I get the issues, but I am trying to work out details. He makes a good point.

[Paulie]

3. Vote your heart in the Primary

And The Ham Sandwich (D) in the general (but you're already there, aren't you?)

If we can get Dennis into the 20% range, then we may have a chance to "slow this juggernaut" down and give people real choice. Or atleast have our issues represented in the dem platform. Anything that holds the DLC people's feet to the fire is a good thing.

[MurikanDemocrat]

5. Do you mind my asking what state you are from?

[Renew Deal]

9. NY

This is for my volunteer time and possibly for my vote.

[MurikanDemocrat]

16. Here's why I asked

As of a couple days ago Kerry is polling 66% to Edwards 14%

http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/2004/NYPoll.htm

My suggestion was going to be to support Kucinich in the Primary since you seem to prefer him. But he's polling at 3% so not even near the 15% threshhold.

Personally I think Kerry has the better resume in all areas of experience. But I don't think Edwards is a bad candidate, per se.

[NC_Nurse]

6. I'm right there with you...

but NC primaries are so late, it probably doesn't matter. Someone will be chosen before then, I'm sure.

[spooky3]

7. Well, much as I'd love you to feel good enough about Edwards

to want to switch, no one can make you feel that way. I guess if I were in your position, I would ask myself whether I would feel worse about JRE vs. JFK getting the nod. If you would be happy with JFK, then you should stick with your support of Dennis (I'm sorry, but I don't honestly believe he has any chance of winning the nomination this year). Then, you would feel as though you did your best to support Dennis, but that the Kerry option is acceptable. On the other hand, if you would be uncomfortable if Kerry were chosen over Edwards, I would vote for Edwards in the primary and tell myself that Dennis would be ok with that because he would also prefer that Edwards be the nominee if he can't be.

[Renew Deal]

11. I am undecided.

No switching necessary. Good points though.

[spooky3]

13. thanks, what I meant was, switching from DK.

[LosinIt]

48. JFK , Oh please

that really makes me ill.

[jenk]

8. well, keep leaning : )

until you fall over into our camp!

[spooky3]

15. LOL!

[arewethereyet]

14. Just go for Kucinich ?

nothing personal but we all nkow Kucinich will not be the nominee.

Voting for him is tantamount to not voting at all and it totally leaves you out of the pool who will determine how this party moves forward.

If you're OK with that the don't vote but you forfeit your right to complain about it later.

[Paulie]

18. WOW

A vote in a primary for the canidate of your choice is a non-vote? To vote FOR someone instead of AGAINST is a waste?

[arewethereyet]

23. as of this date, yes. In Iowa, no.

like I said if you have no interest in having a say in the direction of the party, do whatever you want. Its a two candidate race to produce a nominee. Neither Kucinich nor Sharpton will gains any additional platform influence moving forward.

[many a good man]

17. Go with DK in the primary

If you don't feel strongly for or against one or the other go with the candidate who most represents you. That's what primaries are normally for. Gotta show the party people are behind Dennis' message.

I have to admit I'm bothered by Edwards lack of waffling on the IWR issue. Wish he'd say it was wrong and we were misled. There's not much difference between Kerry and Edwards except nuances on trade. After reading Paul O'Neill in Suskind's book "Price of Loyalty", I am placing a higher priority on experience and smarts so I prefer to see Kerry on the ballot in November.

[katieforeman]

19. I don't think military experience will make much of a difference and I

think Edwards is the best spokesperson for progressive causes.

1.) Bob Dole was a war hero. Max Cleland was a war hero. McCain was a war hero. Even Grey Davis went to Vietnam.

Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had no military experience and they won twice.

By the time the general election gets here, people will be really tired of rehashing Vietnem. When it comes to the role of commander-in-cheif, I think Americans are looking for integrity and judgement. My biggest worry about Kerry is that his long voting record will be used to paint him as a pandered instead of a leader.

2.) With his two Americas speech, John Edwards articulates a coherent philosophy of governing consistent with progressive values. The role of governement is to promote opportunity for everyone and make sure everyone has a shot at the American Dream. He also talks about poverty and race as moral issues. I think his ability to inspire and advocate on behalf of progressive ideals makes Edwards the best candidate to advance the causes Kucinich favors.

[disenfranchised]

25. There you go katieforeman.

I at least did one positive thing today. I got you to add McCain and Davis to your argument.

[katieforeman]

26. Thanks again.

[jrthin]

20. Lean as you wish, but

national security WILL be an issue and Edwards can't climb that tree. Not only that, next to Bush, he'll look inexperienced.

[dogman]

21. What are Edwards' qualifications?

There is no there there. but maybe you see something I don't, many seem to. I just don't get it. Would an infomercial be better than a Kerry snore-fest?

[spooky3]

24. go to his website

and READ his platform (much of which has, shall we say, predated and apparently inspired certain other candidates' positions).

www.johnedwards2004.com

If you think that the only relevant experience is government experience--in other words, 20 years of private sector success including building your own business just doesn't "count"--may I propose to you that Bush then is the best qualified candidate? He has 3 years of the most relevant experience of all--as pResident.

[dogman]

29. I'm not the one shopping.

I am aware of his voting record which is so close to the Bush agenda that you may be right that Bush is more qualified than him.

[spooky3]

31. then why did you ask the question?

[dogman]

34. For the man with the dilemma.

It is what he needs to ask himself to make his choice. I am voting for Clark in my primary unless there is a danger of Edwards winning, in which case I will be forced to vote for Kerry.

[spooky3]

47. and that's why I answered.

[Paradise]

22. You answered your own question.

Go with your preference, which seems to be Kucinich. Not pushing him, as I am voting for Clark.

[KittyWampus]

35. As Will I. Voting For Clark.

No remorse.

[newyawker99]

42. Hi Paradise!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DjTj]

27. I was doing calls to Buffalo yesterday...

...and an elderly black woman answered the phone. It was her husband who was on my list, but he didn't want to talk. She was a little reluctant to talk too, but I went right into my speil, "I am a volunteer with the Edwards campaign, yada, yada."

The call script I was using for upstate New York focused on the outsourcing of jobs and I told her that Edwards was making jobs the central issue in his campaign.

She told me, "Well, politicians say that all the time, but people like me an dmy husband, poor people, especially of my race, are the last people that are going to get their jobs back."

And I told her, "No, you are exactly the kind of people John Edwards wants to help. When he came to New York this weekend he came to Buffalo and he's going to Rochester. All around the country, he hasn't just gone to the big cities, he's gone right to where the factories are, and where people are losing their jobs."

"This is really personal to him you know, because he grew up in mill towns and his father worked in a mill. He had to move from town to town growing up. He saw factories close. He had to move from South Carolina to Georgia then to North Carolina."

She got a little more interested and told me that she and her husband had moved to Buffalo from Alabama and how her husband had lost his job a while ago and they were struggling to get by.

I told her that while other politicians talk about the poor and working Americans, John Edwards has actually lived that life and it's not all just talk for him. It's what he really cares about.

We chit-chatted a little more and she said she'd definitely consider Edwards in the primary - it was proabably the best call I've ever done and I felt really good about it afterwards.

I don't know if this has anything to do with anything, but reading your post made me think of that somehow.

[spooky3]

30. great work, DjTj!

[twilight]

28. Edwards/Kucinich 2004

Maybe this idea explains why Sen. John Edwards for President 2004 mail started arriving in my special DK email box! Too late ... I already voted for my candidate of choice! However ...

Edwards/Kucinich 2004! I like it!!! :D



:dem: :kick:

[RichM]

32. Vote your heart & convictions, which seem to be saying DK

If you can say, "I agree with him on almost everything and he is a great guy," you owe it to the integrity of the process to express this belief with your vote.

If there's a substantial number of people who actually feel just as you do about the rightness of Kucinich's positions, yet they all allow themselves to be swayed into voting for a mediocrity like Kerry, think what a tragedy it is. It means the best ideas didn't win, not because they weren't good, but because no one had the guts to stand up for them.

[Kahuna]

33. It's really tough choice between Edwards and Kerry....

Since I live in NJ and we won't have a say so, I've decided to be neutral. They both have pluses and minuses. It's hard to weigh which one has the least minuses.

[cally]

36. I chose Kerry for a few reasons

My first candidate was Edwards after I saw him on CSPAN about a year ago. I like much about him and I think he is the only natural politician running. He has tremendous speaking skills, smarts, charm and charisma.

I had a brief flirtation with Dean. Then Clark was the candidate of my dreams--smart, dedicated, passionate, great on the issues, and a man I could believe in.

I'm now a whole hearted Kerry supporter. Edwards is weak on environmental issues and just doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to counter the attacks the Repubs plan IMHO. Kerry has always fought for liberal causes and I trust him.

[Adelante]

37. The spread is very wide in NY, Bleachers

Clark will be on the ballot and you can still vote for him, or you can vote for Kucinich if that would make you happier. Then volunteer for either Edwards or Kerry once you've decided between the two.

[katieforeman]

39. Another reason to consider Edwards.

If Edwards does well super Tuesday, the primaries will continue and voters in other states will have a chance to vote.

The primaries are good for Democrats. They get people involved and focus attention on Democrats.

[KittyWampus]

40. The Primaries Are Sucking In Money That Can Be Used Against Bush

[katieforeman]

41. But the primaries are generating tons and tons of free media.

Furthermore, Kerry and Edwards are both getting out the Democratic message and attacking Bush, which is what we would be spending the money on anyway.

We're also putting together a grass roots network that will help us in November.

[GreenArrow]

44. I'll second this

If I recall, Bleachers, you were a Clark supporter. You can still vote for Clark, though personally, I'd like to see you vote for Kucinich. You said you like him the best, the guy needs all the votes he can get, and Kerry is so far ahead in NY, that voting for him or even Edwards doesn't make much sense. Vote for the candidate you like in this one, Clark or DK.

[Tinoire]

38. Do the right thing. Go with Kucinich and work to get him 15%

since he's the one you really like.

If you're pro-jobs for Americans/anti-NAFTA and apprehensive about seeing a pro-NAFTA candidate get in, then you have the luxury of Edwards & Kucinich and just need to determine how strategically you want to vote.

Be true to you Bleachers, go Kucinich. Don't let anyone steal your voice.

Additionally (I assume you're caucusing) you can go as either Edwards or Kucinich and help out whichever group may need help since you like both. Nothing wrong with having a back-up plan.

I wish more people put as much thought into this.

[mmonk]

43. leaning toward leaning toward

please straighten up!;)

[surfermaw]

45. Dean supportes turning to Edwards

Ex-Dean backers turn to Edwards

Senator's targeted supporters include onetime organizers

MARK JOHNSON

Staff Writer


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State University freshman Nick Benson, dressed in a navy suit and light blue tie, stood on stage behind U.S. Sen. John Edwards at a rally in a university ballroom Sunday.

He might have been just another one of the 30 human backdrops, except that until last week, Benson was president of the OSU students backing former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

The night before, Dean's Ohio coordinator, Steve Chaffin, announced at an Edwards rally in Cleveland that he was endorsing the N.C. senator for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Days after Dean departed the presidential race, Edwards is quickly and successfully courting the organizers in some key states who helped marshal Dean's Internet-fueled troops.

"Governor Dean told us we have the power" to change America, Chaffin said after his announcement. "We think Senator Edwards has that same kind of approach."

Although Dean has not endorsed anyone, Edwards has targeted Dean backers in Ohio and Minnesota, two of the more delegate-rich contests among 10 states holding primaries on March 2, Super Tuesday.

Edwards has welcomed the Dean faithfull

More
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/8018245.htm

[NC_Nurse]

46. DKos endorses

Edwards on his blog today.

I found his premise interesting, you might want to read it:

www.dailykos.com

Sorry I don't know how to post links...I'm a newbie.