It's Still Edwards

One of my readers asked who I'd vote for, now that Edwards has left the race.

If I were going to cast a ballot Tuesday, I'd still be voting for John Edwards. Why?

Because I don't trust either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to carry the banner of progressive causes. The only power we have is in our votes, and if one of them walks off with enough delegates to pin down the nomination Tuesday, they have no incentive whatsoever to keep their word to Edwards. They will immediately start moving to the right and currying the conservative vote.

We're supposed to take it on faith that both of these candidates are a lot more liberal than they appear. Well, it's going to take more than a few speeches to convince me.

What would convince me? A candidate who takes a strong, uncompromising position on something that would benefit us instead of industry. Neither of their health care plans does it for me, although I'd give Hillary's the edge. Obama lost points with his various comments about how universal health care isn't possible. (Or practical, or whatever.)

Hillary is a triangulator and a corporatist; I think we're all familiar with her liabilities. Obama is someone who came up in Illinois statehouse politics - a place that's hardly a bastion of ethics. He showed exceedingly poor judgment in allowing his friend - someone who was then already under a cloud - to cut him a deal on the land next to his house. (Didn't I just hear him say today that it was just as important to be right on the first day as it was to be ready?)

And finally, I'd like to note that I do have exceedingly sound instincts. (Go back and read my posts from the past six years.) Although I was a big Dean supporter and someone who didn't think John Kerry had what it took to win (or govern effectively), it didn't make me sick to my stomach to vote for him.

I feel sick now. I don't believe Hillary will back down from the unitary executive trend if elected, and I don't believe she's strong enough to prevent another war. If anything, I think she's raring to prove herself "strong enough" to be commander-in-chief.

And I don't believe Obama is either strong or ruthless enough to root out the right-wing extremists with whom Bush has populated the government.

I hope I'm wrong. I pray I'm wrong. But I fear for our country. I don't think either of them will do what needs to be done. Yes, there will be some improvements. But as to the future direction of our country, I don't know where they want to lead.

Comments

[Alessan]

"It's still Edwards", ditto.

[RISEUPAMERICA]

I too will be voting for john edwards in this primary and i will be writing him in in the GE as well......­.why? because he stands alone on all the issues, no one else comes even close to what this country needs.

my vote will not be wasted in voting for john edwards its all those obama and clinton votes that will be wasted....­..you will not be getting the item you purchase..­....it's a bait and switch

shop smart people! we ALL depend on you

[H8FascistCons]

My exact thoughts, more of the same except 50% fewer calories. Translation: The're both republican lite!!

[HST]

I've already voted for John Edwards by absentee ballot in California (long before he dropped out)and I don't regret it one bit!

[teamsterwife]

The reason the media can't figure out where the Edwards supporters are going is that we are not going anywhere! We intend to vote Edwards tommorow and all the other primaries. Our votes, our voices, our choices. I can't wait to cast my vote for Edwards tommorow. He is the true progressive!

[Freedomfinder]

Susan:
I believe your'e channeling Molly Ivens!

[JoseyJ]

The Corporate Owned Media rules! - and the media is pushing Obama as they did Bush.
President Obama will OWE the media - just like Bush did.
Say hello to more media consolidation!
Say goodbye to net neutrality!

[jandress]

I couldn't agree more. I will be voting for Edwards in L.A. tomorrow. Hoping he can get lots of delegates and continue to have his message felt in this campaign.

[fvscvte]

it's funny how people let their personal prejudices get in the way of issues. There will be plenty of time to make history but right now we need a leader who is for the people not corporations. Thanks to the corporate run media they have tried to push Edwards and other populists candidates off the map but there are quite a few determined voters out there who refused to be told who to vote for just because they might make history.
wake up people!

[Republicnotademocracy]

So, you all want to just throw your votes away?
Don't expect thanks from McCain.

[LittleBrother]

Me three.

[jmpurser]

Well said. Neither of the Democratic front runners can run on their credentials as liberals because they aren't liberals and haven't wanted to be one in their entire public lives.

The democratic race is down to a squeaker between "Steady as she goes" and "Full speed ahead". Hope you like what we got because we're going to do what we did.

[itmaybetoolate]

Count me in. The dems are shooting themselves in the foot by eliminating the one true progressive in the running. I'll have to vote democratic for my son's sake (hoping they are more likely to fight global warming) but I won't like it. Frankly, the first obstacle is beating McCain.

[pmorlan]

I'm with you Susan. The media and political insiders set up a false choice for voters in this election. There was a very concerted effort to keep voters from picking Edwards and only the most partisan of Democrats still refuse to acknowledge that this deliberate sabotage happened.

We had a wonderful opportunity in this election to rid our country of entrenched interests who have corrupted the process but in our folly to back a "historical" candidate we ignored common sense and jumped on the bandwagon of either Hillary or Obama.

The only historical change these two candidates offer is their race or their gender. The one candidate who truly offered real "historical" change was Edwards and that's why he had to be silenced.

In our house we are still voting for Edwards in our primary because the other two candidates are bought and paid for by corporate interests and they will go along to get along. The only change we will see from either of them will be along the margins. Oh sure they will do a lot of things different from Bush but it will only be to take us back to pre-Bush days not to move us forward. That kind of change is just not good enough.

[jeanruss]

I agree completely with you. We are having these two candidates shoved down our throat and it is sickening.