I just voted for John Edwards, and it felt good

[RestoreGore]

Not since I voted for Al Gore have I had the opportunity to vote FOR someone instead of against someone else. And if he can get even a few more delegates today to keep his platform heard, then my voice has been heard, and THAT is what Democracy is all about...Having a REAL choice.

[waiting for hope]

1. Good for you!

I'm going to do the same in May - (NC). I going to vote my conscience.

[RestoreGore]

5. Good for you!

I bet if more people really did that instead of being led by what they see in the media we would have a much better country.

[Yael]

2. Lets hope there is enough like you to make the statement!

[RestoreGore]

3. Yes, now they have to count it.

The fact I even have to wonder if they will is sad for America.

[azmouse]

4. According to Thom Hartmann

Edwards would need 15% of the vote to get any delegates. It's unlikely to happen.
Your vote will go to the person who gets the majority of votes in your state.
I hope that person was second choice otherwise you may have cast a vote for someone you didn't want.

[RestoreGore]

8. No, *I* cast the vote for someone I want

Unfortunately, this crappy system we have doesn't recognize my voice. And it was unlikely that the Giants would win the Super Bowl as well. So I am still happy I voted my heart and my conscience.

[azmouse]

11. It has nothing to do with the system.

Edwards is the one who dropped out.

Sorry. You just wasted your vote.

[RestoreGore]

13. Well, sorry, you don't get to judge that

His name was on the ballot and he didn't withdraw. So sorry, you and others who don't like that will simply have to deal with it.

[azmouse]

16. oh brother.

Yes. You did waste your vote.

Didn't you get the news that Edwards dropped out of the race?
Dodd, Biden and many others who have dropped out were listed on the ballot I used this morning too.
A vote cast today for them won't count either.

I was an Edwards supporter too. I was very disappointed when he decided to leave the race. But it was clear he couldn't get the nomination.
Maybe you need to learn to deal with that.

[RestoreGore]

18. Why does it bother you so much?

Then if you voted for one of the DLC endorsed robots it does "count for" bully for you. Allow others to think for themselves. I am satisfied with my vote and can deal with it just fine. And as far as I can tell, early voting in some states before he "suspended" his campaign may well help him a bit in this. Not to get the nomination, but at least to continue to be heard. And if not, well, then again I voted my conscience and people who saw that vote know that there are still some out here who cannot be swayed by the same BS we see every election cycle.

[azmouse]

20. If you didn't want comments why did you start a thread about your vote?

Are the only comments you want the ones that approve?

[RestoreGore]

22. Again why does it bother you so much?

Can't answer that?

[azmouse]

24. Why does it bother you that someone disagrees with you?

I really didn't care if threw away your vote. I'd just hate to see too many others do it too.

[RestoreGore]

31. I'm not the one jumping on you here.

Nor do you see me jumping on anyone else for their choices. And if you didn't care you wouldn't have responded here in the first place. So good day to you.

[uppityperson]

32. I'd rather see someone vote Edwards than not vote at all.

Casting a vote like this can be a "none of the above" message. Sorry you believe voting for whom you want rather than for one of the top runners is wasting your vote. But then I became of voting age during "vote for Pat Paulson" and "Vote for Snoopy" days.

[flyarm]

35. or was pushed out by someone with more power than he or you or i..eom

[Yael]

10. He can send a message with much less than 15%

A loose repost of a jgraz post.

Candidate A gets 45%
Candidate B gets 43%
Edwards gets 9%

If only 3% peel off from Edwards to Candidate B -- the winner is flipped.

If Edwards' votes are within the margin of victory (2% in this case) -- the candidates will leave skid marks to appeal to the left as opposed to the right through the upcoming contests.

It isn't about personality -- it is about who will take on the progressive values.

Of course, the opposite could happen as well and we could see them all pandering even further right.

I am willing to take the gamble.

[azmouse]

12. Personally, I don't think it will have any effect on the remaining 2 candidates.

When they get in office, they will do whatever they want to do. They'll have no memory of the election results and they won't care.

[RestoreGore]

14. Right, so I should vote for someone like that?

Voting for one of the other two then would have really been a wasted vote. For me, it goes beyond just pushing the button next to a name that is known, or a rock star, or for who got the most endorsements, or just because I want to vote for the "winner" so I can brag about it. My vote today was also a vote against poverty. And to me that is hardly a waste.

[azmouse]

17. So you'll be staying home in Nov?

AND helping a Rep win?

[RestoreGore]

19. Wow, you are in a badgering mood in this thread aren't you?

Since I voted today FOR A DEMOCRAT it would then follow that I would do my duty in November as well. Done with the inquisition now?

[flyarm]

27. gee it seems to me Obama's wife just about said the same thing yesterday ..

will she stay home or vote repig..??

why don't you tell us what she said yesterday...

fly

[RevolutionStartsNow]

23. I'm going to vote for John today, too, but...

Even if his margin is enough to get the other candidates begging for our support, I won't believe them -- it will just be pandering.

The only way that Edwards' message will move forward is if enough of us put pressure on our legislators to start dealing with poverty issues --- and if we can get them to push real health care reform.

I'm not terribly optimistic about that, so I will accept either of the Dem candidates as a HUGE improvement over the criminals in power now, and work with independent anti-poverty groups on the issue that drew me to John Edwards in the first place.

[Beaverhausen]

15. Here in California, as much as 34% of voters voted early

so there is a very good chance Edwards will get some delegates here.

I just voted for him, too.

I am trying to like Hillary and Obama but they keep doing and saying stupid stuff that I can't support.

[RestoreGore]

21. That would be great

And it would sure send a message to those who think we have to just fall in line.

[Yael]

29. Did it cross your mind that in Camp Edwards

many of us don't really care which one wins? It is Coke vs Pepsi, McDonalds vs Burger King, a toss of a coin, 6 of one, half-dozen of the other....

This has nothing to do with November after all.

[azmouse]

38. I was an Edwards supporter til he dropped out of the race.

Obama was my second choice all along. He got my vote today.

But I am wondering how many will vote in Nov if they feel that strongly about not voting for the remaining two candidates today. Don't you think that is a valid question?

[Yael]

39. Actually, I have the opposite concern

I see the Edwards people as backing whoever the party chooses.

My concern is with all of the vitriol -- will the Obama people back Clinton and vice versa?

We don't have animosity against either. We are neutrals for the most part (from what I have seen anyway).

[GalleryGod]

6. Good deal. Vote your heart.

[MissDeeds]

7. That's what it's all about

Voting for a candidate you believe in! I'll be doing the same thing later on today. :patriot:

[RestoreGore]

9. Good for you

[femmedem]

25. Me too.

I thought I had talked myself into voting for Obama. But once I got into that booth, I realized I wanted to send a message about what I really wanted more than I wanted to help determine the nominee.

[Yael]

30. You are like the 5th person here today that has said the same thing

Interesting.

[flyarm]

26. wonderful!!..my heart aches today..for what could have and should have been,..

instead a liar, crook and a mocker is gaining votes..what a disgrace!

TIME- video of Obama Sun. mocking Edwards

http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/03/obama-forgets-edward... /
Uses old gibe about debate answer Sunday to mock former rival whose supporters he is supposed to be courting.
What a nice touch- mocking Edwards for his debate admission that his compassion for the poor is also his weakness.


fly

[klook]

28. Here's another.

I plan to vote for a Dem in November, and I voted for one today. I didn't wait to find out if 14.99% of other voters are voting for Edwards. I voted for him because of the available choices, he best represents my values.

[flyarm]

33. vote your HEART! Edwards owns my Heart!! eom

[radfringe]

34. I just got back from

a colonoscopy and I'm loopy

[balantz]

36. Right smack dab in the middle of my ballot

There was the name of John Edwards, the only liberal progressive democratic candidate there.

And that's where I put my "X"!

:kick:

[flyarm]

37. woo hoo!! eom

[farmboy]

40. I will do exactly the same in my state's primary this spring! And it feels damn good!

As to those trying to bully and belittle us Edwards voters into supporting your candidate, tough luck. I'm in the camp that doesn't care much which of the other two get the nomination. Clinton certainly has her share of supporters who have tried to make us think she was inevitable, and so many Obama supporters have turned come around with attitutdes and words much worse than anything directed at me from Clinton people. The worse thing Obama has going for him, besides his decision to use McClurkin (an "ex-gay", rabid homophobe who says gays want to kill America's children and that homosexuality is something to be "delivered" from) as a representative of his campaign in S.C. is the reprehensible comments and attitudes of many of his supporters. Makes it all the easier to stick with the authentic and best candidate, EDWARDS!

[Kurovski]

41. Good going, RG.

I'm voting that way too on the 19th.