For the Blowhards Who Insist It's a Two-Way Race...
For those of you who think the Democratic presidential nomination fight is just a two-way race between Obama and Clinton, check out this brand new poll from the Reno Gazette-Journal. Yup, that's right - it shows the Nevada caucus race a three-way, dead heat with John Edwards right in the mix.
Interestingly, this poll comes right on the heels of the Establishment viciously ratcheting up its angry attacks on the Edwards candidacy. Late last week, we saw a Reuters story headlined "Corporate Elite Fear Candidate Edwards" detailing how Wall Street moneymen and K Street lobbyists are frightened about Edwards populist, power-challenging message against greed and corruption. We also saw self-anointed Democratic "expert" Lawrence O'Donnell pen a fulminating screed demanding Edwards get out of the race - not surprising coming from a man who made his name running the U.S. Senate Finance Committee - long the most corrupt, lobbyist-ravaged panel in all of Washington (somehow, running the U.S. Congress's version of a pay-to-play casino now makes people credible "experts" in campaign strategy and political morality).
According to the nonpartisan Project for Excellence in Journalism, Edwards has long faced a media blackout - one that at least some honest media brokers like Keith Olbermann have noted. As I said a long time ago, that Edwards has even been able to compete in such a hostile environment is a testament to the power of his message.
The question we should ask is what the hostility and media blackout is really all about? I'd say the media's behavior is motivated by the same impulses that moves lobbyists to whine and cry to Reuters and self-important bloviators like O'Donnell to publicly burst a blood vessel on the Huffington Post - the people who have gotten used to the status quo are truly terrified by any candidates who they really believe will change things and threaten their power and status. Edwards is just such a candidate - one who threatens to muck up what the media and political elite want to be a race between two "nonthreatening," Wall Street-approved candidates. Obviously, it's a three-way race at this very moment - whether the Establishment likes that or not.
Let me conclude by saying I have no idea if the Gazette-Journal poll is accurate and/or whether Edwards will win Nevada (or any other state). Unlike most reporters, I don't spend my time covering the horse race, nor judging the candidates' viability only on the grounds of how much corporate cash they've been able to vacuum in. I spend my time trying to figure out which of these candidates represent the most fundamental form of change. One of the ways to judge that is to see who these candidates make uncomfortable. And by that measure, here's what I know: Edwards is generating hostility from precisely the kinds of people who are likely to be most averse to real, systemic change. And that speaks very well for the former senator from North Carolina.
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Boy, if you think Edwards has a media blackout, check out how little coverage Kucinich can get. Alan Keyes can get into the Republican debate, but the lame stream press won't let the only man in the race who has literally nothing to apologize for into the hall for the Democrats' debate.
Kucinich not only voted against the war, he's consistently voted against funding it, against the patriot act (Obama voted for), against the credit-car
Even if Kucinich won a few delegates and just became a power broker, it'd be a huge improvement over the crooked power structure in place, even in the Democratic party.
Of course we can vote for the candidate who has the best smile, or cleavage, or "feels good"... just as we can buy cars with the biggest tailfins and spinning wheel covers.
Any understanding of the issues, however, means we buy the Prius, I mean Kucinich..
The sad, sorry fact is that Americans DO choose their candidates and elected officials based on high school prom & class president standards. Good looks and "comfort" factor have alot to do with it. Some times this can serve the public well - Eisenhower was so beloved for his "comfort" factor, that Madison Ave. consumer testing used his face as the template for the Mr. Clean man! - but other times you can get charlatans with good looks but limited abilities and oversized egos
Not only do Americans base their choices on looks and comfort factor, but Madison Ave, the TV execs, and 'news' publishers have a tremendous influence on who Americans do and do not like.
As if the inherent corporate media disadvantage isn't enough, both Edwards and Kucinich have that slighty "Goober" (one of the simple characters from Mayberry, Sheriff Andy Griffiths's fictional TV small NC town) look to them, especially when they are smiling. I prefer Edwards or Kucinich by a factor of 100 over Ralph Nader (thanks for Scalia and Alito, World Bank monster slaughterhouses in the Amazon, and the Iraq War, Ralph), but no one would ever accuse Nader of having the "Goober" look!
It may not be true for the rest of the world, but here in America, we get the government we deserve. Since we Americans are, so many of us, the descendents of the "poor, the tired, the huddled masses, the wretched refuse" fleeing Old World Europe, we have no one to blame for ourselves for allowing our nation to be turned into a Banana Republic, complete with banana plantation wage scales, job security, and health care.
Unfortunately, until the bottom drops out, American voters will prefer candidates who LOOK GOOD and make them feel comfortable, instead of fightin' candidates willing to take on Wall St., the media empire Murdochs, and the inside-beltway "Democrats" as well.
I doubt that any meaningful democracy can still be saved in this country. Maybe an Edwards' Presidentcy could Do it. I taught H.S. government for 33 years. I don't think I could do it anymore without feeling like a fraud.
It is very late folks.
David Sirota, you worked on Ned Lamont's campaign in CT. How do you explain his endorsement of Obama? As a CT resident, I'm reeling from it. Lamont will never receive support from me again.
David, thanks for another great post. The following is my opinion. If you think it is of value, I hope you will expand upon it.
The 'politics of hope' is a play-book that was written quite some time ago. As we all know, Obama was not the first to go heavy on the word, 'hope.' The "politics of hope" is nothing more than a emotional brand in marketing.
The sheep need to wake up, take off their rose colored glasses, and place hope in 'themselves', ... not in a politician. To vicariously live your life through a politician, is a fools errand.
True hope for our country can be implemented by supporting and voting for a, 'true progressive Democrat.' In all of the polls I have seen on progressive blog sites, it is John Edwards that wins -- by a landslide -- on all of the important progressive issues. True change will only happen when we elect a real progressive candidate. Sure, Obama talks a good talk, but when push comes to shove, it's John Edwards that is the real progressive candidate for true progressive change. It's John Edwards that is the only candidate that clearly 'walks the walk' on all of the right progressive issues. I will never vote for Obama or Hillary. If John Edwards doesn't win, drops out, and throws his support to Obama, I STILL WILL NOT vote for Obama. If this is the case, I will vote for Al Gore as a write in candidate!
Edwards/Dodd '08!
Thank you so much!! Finally someone acknowledges Edwards ablilty to be president. He has been in a MSM blackout. I hope he gets a chance to speak at the next debate. You've made my day.
Senator Edwards is the only one for change and not the pay as you go as usual and After reading in yesterdays chicago tribunes story of Obama lets me no that man is no progressive when you challenge those in your party running against you in a primary and you challenge all Signatures gathered by there campaings and eventually have all other candidates tossed from the Ballots and your the only one to vote for says alot about who and what you stand for and this was Senator Obamas first run for office.
At this point I would just as soon see Edwards campaigning quietly in the background while the media piles on Obama and Clinton. It's a crime the way the media will not cover a man who clearly has substantial support from a large segment of voters. I think it's not only because of Edwards's stance, I think it's also because of Edwards's finances. He has accepted public funding, so he's not going to have the big bucks to spend on advertising. I can't wait for Nevada.
On my way to work yesterday I was thinking about what psychological dirty pool it is to have a black man and white woman running - and hawking the philosophy that the government has been run by white guys for too long...thi
Edwards' campaign is living at the grassroots level. He has gotten no national media coverage whatsoever. The other two candidates have cornered all of it. They've sucked all the news-ertainment oxygen out of the room. Yet Edwards is still very much in the mix. There is no other explanation for his survival than that he has a compelling message, much of which is being co-opted by Clinton and Obama. You want a celebrity for President? Vote Hillary or Barack. You want an actual leader for President? Vote Edwards.
Edwards is a very dangerous man right now. You want a change candidate? He's your man. Tired of business as usual? He's your man. Clinton and Obama are in now BOTH the establishment candidates.
John Edwards is the people's candidate. Not the money candidate. And who is going to beat big money this November? The two big money candidates? Or the one who finally took a stand to say that the only the way that the people's voice will not be drowned out is if big money stops having a say.
You are either with the people or the money. You can't serve two masters.
John Edwards 08
By the way... if you don't add John Edwards to most of the national polls... when you average them out, yeah, it doesn't look like he's doing as well. But when you talk to real people they are choosing John as much as Obama and Clinton. For the record, in the nationals that are doing all 3, John is going up and the other 2 are going down.
Even the people that Edwards says he supports don't back him, in every exit poll, the "working people" supported Clinton and Obama. Even the unions Support the other candidates. Edwards is over and was noever areal candidate. He has been virtually running for 6 years and living in Iowa. If he couldn't win there.....
Here is REAL reason for hope. Yes we can.
Edwards 2008
As long as the insurance industry is allowed to write our health care legislation, as long as the oil industry is allowed to steer our energy policy, as long as the banking industry is allowed to write bankruptcy and other financial legislation, as long as the media and telecom industries are allowed to steer and sabotage legislation that governs the way they do business at the expense of ordinary Americans ... as long as the mega corporations continue to hold government in thrall with their money, there will be no fundamental change in this country.
The first step, and the simplest, most direct approach to realizing the dream of the Founders and returning government to the people, is direct and total public funding of all election campaigns. No more corporate dollars, no more PAC money of any kind, and no contributions of even a few dollars by individuals with their own axes to grind. And, of course, no self-financing of campaigns by wealthy candidates.
I'm not suggesting this is as the only answer by any means, and it won't necessarily stop misleading, negative attack messages. But it is the simplest and most logical place to start that anyone I've heard has mentioned. If anyone has a better way to take the corruption out of our political process while keeping what's left of our democracy alive, feel free to suggest it.
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