John Edwards just hit a two run home run.

[jsamuel]

First, he just went from being way back in 3rd place with money to being on Clinton and Obama's heals. By committing to public financing he gets 20 Million dollars added on top of what he already has.

Second, we finally have an anti-corporate Democrat with progressive plans running for President in great position to win the nomination AND WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x58251

[still_one]

1. He didn't win sqwat unless people wake up and realize that Hillary is the worst thing for the party

and the country

[Roland99]

7. Exactly. But open-primary states will see Repukes voting for Hillary, boosting her chances.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Roland99]

14. Ayup...they are positive they can defeat. I know one here at work that would vote for her....

in the primary. But Kentucky has closed primaries. Can only vote for the party for which you are registered.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Them GOOPERS Sure Are Smart...They Know A Loser When They See One

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm

[BlooInBloo]

16. It's a pre-emptive strike against anyone voting for Clinton...

... DUers will call them all republicans.

[Roland99]

27. It's a very common tactic. Vote for who you deem the most beatable opponent in the primary

[vssmith]

10. You mean the worst thing the Dems have to offer--right?

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. I liked Edwards back in 2003 when he was first tossing his hat in the ring

I still like him.

Go Edwards!

[struggle4progress]

34. I like Edwards back in the mid 90s when he took on Lauch Faircloth --

and I still like him.

He was one of the most accessible Senators I ever met

[Trisket-Bisket]

3. A link might help.

n/t

[jsamuel]

4. added a link

[KharmaTrain]

5. And He'll Hit The Kerry Wall If He Makes It To The General...

He'll need all 20 million and then some if he stands a chance to win the nomination...he'll have to load up on TV spots in New York, California and Illinois all on the same day. Getting stuck with public financing may ease his financial woes now (the reason he's doing it) but it'll come back to hurt him later.

John Kerry went with public financing and it was a major mistake. The money for the general election isn't given out until after the Convention...thus that 20 million will have to stretch beyond just the primaries. The Repugnicans surely will exploit it like they did with Kerry. They launched their slimeboat attacks during that time and Kerry couldn't respond in kind since he had to wait 6 weeks for his matching funds to come through.

To think Edwards or any other candidate doesn't have strings attached is naive. Be assured that a big money donor gets far better treatment by candidates than the $10 donor.

We're stuck with a screwed up election system where the next campaign starts the day after the previous one. Corporate media rakes in millions on all the TV advertising and have no restrictions on what they can charge...and without television consider your campaign on the Mike Gravel level. Now if we had a shorter campaign season and required broadcasters to offer free time or discounted rates to politicians, then public financing could work.

Right now the game favors those with the most money and best organization. If you're looking for an anti-corporate Democrat, I suggsest you look on the local level...help build a stable of successful Progressive and Liberal candidates who will emerge as the leaders in the future.

[PATRICK]

35. Your concern is real

based on past experience when other Dems had to pause and regroup their money, marshall extra campaign help different than primary help. The GOP's big moment of opportunity is deflating the Dem Convention bounce then the last three days when they can scam and boost anyhting by their peculiar lack of rules. Time and money. The GOP moreover is NOT dependent on this process. They are ready to seamlessly game the Dem process while the Dems soldier on according to pattern. They could nominate my broken toaster and cook the Dems. The Dems could simply overwhelm this, but you have to be overwhelming. Being sanelty better than the GOP in moral character is not enough.

THAT can change if the Dems want it to. The first is not marching grimly and like their forebears into the valley of attrition and scam. They must also seamlessly cope with the two critical times, post Convention and the last few days. Granted the machinery of the DNC is not a lockstep goon for the campaign, but knowing and acting on the knowing rtather than never learning from history gives the real thinking man and unleashed superior forces the advantage over con men and money glossed impunity. or might. It HAS to be done to save wrongfully stolen votes and hammer MSM crapfests. It might be necessary to beat back another theft by fraud.

In any event, the poster is right about the lack of money. Hillary might have a breezy advantage their, but it is also very possible she will squander it the same way she got it, by softpedalling to the corporate foes of democracy. Whoever the candidate, I hope Dean considers radical action on a new party plan, flexible, seamless, dynamic and not in lockstep with past patterns. Dean could be more important than any of the candidates' campaigns- and has been by making Florida toe the line and many other things.

[sandnsea]

6. Dean broke the public financing in 2003

Democrats had agreed to public financing for years. Dean is the one who broke with that back in 2003, with Kerry necessarily following. So let's not forget how we ended up with this situation in the first place.

[Yukari Yakumo]

8. That two-run home run is about to go foul...

You'll understand why when I post my trends analysis tomorrow. But something very big and very bad could be heading John's way.

[Catchawave]

12. Looking forward to your analysis....

:scared:

[Roxy66]

18. Details please.....

[Yukari Yakumo]

29. Iowa and NC has fallen to HRC {nt}

uguu

[Nutmegger]

9. R&K for Edwards...

:thumbsup::kick:

[benny05]

19. Love those graphics!

They won't buy my vote either! They have to earn it...

[EFerrari]

13. It would be so easy to work and vote for Edwards.

:(

[benny05]

15. K and R

and the grand slam to come November 2008!

:dem:

[Cameron27]

17. Time will tell

[Fading Captain]

20. According to what I heard on NPR, stick a fork in him

By going the public finance route, he's severely limited his options and is going to run out of money very quickly.

I wonder if he knows he's out and is sticking it out as a VP candidate.

I hope not, but that's what it sounds like to me.

[jsamuel]

22. NPR also said Hybrids aren't worth it.

[Catchawave]

23. What's up with NPR anyhow.....?

They used to be so neutral and non-partisan.

[jsamuel]

24. There was a scandal there since Bush people took over.

Where political hacks were appointing Republicans. Just like the DOJ.

[Orsino]

38. Goes back quite a way.

Funding cuts meant that PBS had to cozy up to Big Oil. * is a symptom, not the disease.

[LSK]

25. John Edwards continues to do the right things, damn the consequences

In case you havnt noticed, his entire campaign has been about setting an example and doing the right things, from announcing in New Orleans, to saying the Congress should send back the Timetable bills to the President, to calling the Iran vote a big mistake, to saying we have to raise taxes to pay for health insurance, to saying no to lobbyists and now to trying to use public financing of elections.

His campaign is all about activism and doing the right thing. One of the reasons why I support him.

[Orsino]

26. Unless you're gay and want to get married.

I like Edwards a lot on other issues, but his stupid posturing on this point sticks in my craw.

[Snotcicles]

30. He said it was only a personal view of his. I don't think he is the type

to let his personal views make him discriminate against others.

[Orsino]

36. Unfortunately, I don't even believe it's *really* his view.

He seems so enlightened in every other way that I must suspect he'd at least tacitly support gay marriage in another political climate. I think that his considerable courage has failed him on this point, and that this stated view is mere pandering.

[Snotcicles]

40. Well we'll just have to agree to disagree. nt

[sellitman]

31. Don't be a one issue voter

I consider myself a Zionist yet I support Dennis Kucinich 100% right now. Dennis's views on the Mid-East are far from mine yet he is right on almost every other issue. Get over it and look at the big picture.


I did.

[Orsino]

37. No. Not getting over bigotry anytime soon.

But everything I like about Edwards (which is, as I state, a lot) I can get in Kucinich, minus the gay hate speech and plus real opposition to war.

[mod mom]

28. ANTI CORPORATION IS A PLATFORM TO RUN ON! REC'D

[tears4terra]

32. I second that! nt

[mdmc]

33. very good move by Edwards

:kick:

[Perry Logan]

39. I promise you I will VOMIT if Edwards gets nominated. I will leave the Democratic Party forever.

Not really. Just imitating the anti-Hillarites.