Why I'm Still voting For John Edwards Tuesday

I know, I know, John Edwards has dropped from the race. My two choices on "Super Duper Tuesday" are Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

But when I enter the voting booth on Feb. 5, I am going to be filling in the circle for John Edwards. Why?

Why not?

You see, I've been pulling for Edwards for a long time now. I've contributed to his campaign, I've urged others to look at him as their choices as well - even changed some minds. My best friend was going to vote Edwards, and my brother and mom did also - via absentee ballot.

So what will voting for John prove? Won't I just be wasting my vote?

Well, I don't feel that way. Let's face it. In November, the Dem candidate is probably going to be Obama. Clinton has a chance, but I don't think Obama's momentum is going to change. And if he's the candidate, I'm good with that. Heck, I'll even vote for Hillary if she ends up with the nod. But voting for Edwards right now is a statement.

Voting Edwards is my way of saying to the two frontrunners - listen up, don't you dare forget the poor and the middle class; don't forget the homeless, don't forget the average American. We want you to work toward full universal health care - not demand that people buy it, demand a system that is free to all (yeah, I know, taxes, so what), improve on the systems that France and Great Britain have.

I want them to think about monopolies and corporate greed and power and how it has hurt this nation tremendously. Nothing wrong with companies and corporations making money, as long as the rules aren't tipped so far in their favor so that the average American loses. Just don't be obscene about it, then lay off thousands while giving your CEO a sweetheart golden parachute. The founding fathers warned us about corporate greed, but those in Washington are changing things to benefit them by trashing our laws, our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

So flame away all you want. This Tuesday I'm making a statement. This Tuesday I'm voting for John Edwards.

•  if I were to waste a vote like this,

  I would vote for Kucinich all the way

  by Bongloads4All on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:54:09 PM PDT

  •  The only way to justify this vote

    Is to say you really have no preference between the two -- not even ambivalence -- that you really don't want either of them, and they're equally bad for you. Because if, for you, there is a hair breadth between the two candidates, it's a wasted opportunity that should be used to vote for the better (or least bad, if you prefer).

    They don't care if you vote for Edwards -- that doesn't make them more likely to pay attention. That vote is the proverbial tree falling in an empty forest. It won't get heard, so no way to know if it really made a sound.

    by FischFry on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:00:57 PM PDT

    •  I don't agree

      but if you're right, and it's the "proverbial tree falling in an empty forest", then they deserve my vote even less.

      I'll vote for one or the other in the general, but that's it.

      I will be able to sleep at night.

      by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:03:57 PM PDT

    •  My Take

      I thought of voting for Edwards in the primary in NY on Tuesday, much like I did despite the fact that Kerry had wrapped up the nomination in 2008.  

      But I decided to do a little research, some reading, some thinking, and came to a conclusion.  

      I will just decide between the two candidates that I am left with.  Even though both of them are far down the list of my would-be candidates.  

      It was a test, sure.  

      But I decided that I would prefer Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama and so I vote, happily, I guess, for Senator Clinton on Tuesday.  

      by dwakeman on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:13:28 PM PDT

    •  No, being conned into wasting a vote ...

      ... that could be a vote for your convictions because there's a hair's breadth of difference between Tweedle Change and Tweedle Experience ... that's the wasted vote. It tells the professional politicians that they do not have to worry about you voting your convictions, as long as they can persuade you that the choice representing your convictions cannot win the nomination.

      It is a voting philosophy that neuters the ability of progressives to exercise political power within the party.

      by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:44:49 PM PDT

    •  I'm more concerned with

      registering my support for Edwards' agenda than I am with which candidate wins. I don't have any strong feelings favoring either Clinton or Obama. It's speculation how either of them would do, and I can't see the future.

      So I will vote for Edwards.

      by denise b on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:05:02 PM PDT

    •  I honestly see an equal number of

      pluses in the remaining candidates and a greater equal number of negatives, thus completely stymied at any attempt to find a preference.  Fork it.  I'm voting my heart.  (In fact, I did.)

      by planetclaire4 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:26:41 PM PDT

  •  Yes, but the Kucinich supporters

    pretty much decided early on, even before he dropped out, that they would probably vote for someone else and had made their 2nd choice decision already.

    Those of us with Edwards did not anticipate that he would bow out so soon, or so close to Super Tues.

    As for me, I'm voting for Edwards (even if I have to write him in) in May when our primary rolls around in Oregon.  At this stage in the game I don't care for either Clinton or Obama, and I'm hoping that when they "see" that there are still votes for Edwards, they may come to realize that they need to tailor their messages/policies somewhat closer to what we had with him.

    by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:00:59 PM PDT

    •  Not gonna happen...

      First of all, they will only care about their vote count, no one will stop to draw conclusions about the vote Edwards gets.  There just won't be enough people voting for him at this stage.

      The only way to translate Edwards message into policy is to vote for the candidate that sounds the most like Edwards at this point.  That candidate is Obama.  He is change, she is status quo.  

      Obama is the only way at this time.

      by landrew on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:05:41 PM PDT

      •  A wasted vote like that would be interpreted

        in the media as coming from those who didn't realize Edwards was out of the picture.

        No surplus at all for edwards.

        The best vote one can give to Edwards is by continuing to donate to his campaign and allow him to play kingmaker in this election.

        If you trust John Edwatds to do the right thing ... then support his decision with your wallet.

        by DrMicro on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:09:30 PM PDT

      •  "Sounds" the most like Edwards?

        LOL

        Nice try, but IMO it ain't Obama - nor is it Clinton.

        by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:28:49 PM PDT

      •  I completely disagree,,,

        with your conclusion.

        Healthcare is my number one issue, and Obama's doesn't cut it.

        by Miss Blue on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:43:27 PM PDT

    •  Edwards withdrawal blew big holes

      in plans I was making with others, plus it negated my activities prior on his behalf, didn't even see it coming.

      Initially I was going to follow your plan, but I've come to the decision to go for Obama. I'd really prefer that the nominee isn't Hillary, not that she's that bad, but she doesn't inspire me. Obama has a better chance of winning in Nov.

      Why does it seem we are always faced with the option of picking the "lesser of two evils"?

      by bleeding blue on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:19:05 PM PDT

      •  I can't decide which is which

        at this point, which is why I'll vote Edwards, even in late May.

        Maybe one of them will surprise me (who's to say which way) and I'll be able to vote for one or the other, instead of Edwards.  I don't think that will happen though.

        Right now, they're both content to swipe at each other, instead of incorporating Edwards policies.

        by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:25:54 PM PDT

      •  Lesser of two evils?

        Come on, that's a little harsh, at least with respect to Obama.  He's an outsider, growing the base, attracts independents and motivates people.  How can you call that evil.  You make me want to bad mouth or bash your candidate but I will not.

        by JTA on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:36:55 PM PDT

        •  Harsh?

          People are entitled to have differing opinions than yours.  I don't see much difference between Obama and Clinton.  Clinton's health care plan is a little better.  I find Hillary more likeable than Barack.  He's got a little less baggage.  You can't legislate taste.

          by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:15:05 PM PDT

          •  Yes They Are

            and in my opinion that was a harsh comment.

            by JTA on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:49:24 PM PDT

            •  Well that's OK then. LOL

              I guess I'm getting a little hypervigilant, what with the constant attacks around here.

              by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:51:13 PM PDT

        •  I regretted saying that, sorry

          Both were kind of down my list of favorites when this thing started last year.

          by bleeding blue on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:22:08 PM PDT

        •  Cause he dont have a candidate

          by Bongloads4All on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:24:16 PM PDT

        •  come on

          obama has moved a huge chuck of voters to the democratic party,give it up with the edwards bullshit, he lost the minute he tryed to tell obama to take the lead on issues in the senate while voting, and obama shot back saying john where was your leadership on the vote for iraq? edwards voted for the patriot act,iraq war,trade with china, you wanna talk about the lesser of two evils, his vote on iraq puts obama far in front as the better chioce....get with the movement, john would not want you to waste your vioce.... when he has been fighting for the so called vioceless......peace and vote barack

          by justpeace13 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:36:35 PM PDT

          •  His judgement was solid--once.

            I listened to Barack the Projection Screen, I thought his attitude re foreign policy was terrific, the recognition that not everyone in the world finds our way of life desirable.  But what happened?  He gets into the Senate and he gets stupid.  Instead of rejecting US hegemony, he writes and co=sponsors a wimpy version of Kyl-Lieberman, the only point of which I can imagine was to open channels to Stephen Hadley.  His "vaunted" judgment is hit and miss--not a campaign point I'm taking to the bank.

            by planetclaire4 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:36:55 PM PDT

        •  A more inspiring version of Hillary, in other ...

          ... words, who had the good fortune to sitting outside the beltway when the IWR vote, holding a seat where it was safe to say after the fact that it was a bad idea.

          by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:49:01 PM PDT

          •  Good fortune?

            He still came out against it at the time which is more than can be said for HRC and Edwards.  They stuck their fingers in the air, tested which way the political winds were blowing, then took the easy way out.  At least Edwards had the nads to admit he made a mistake.  

            The democrats need new blood front and center, like Obama, Webb, Mark Warner, etc.  It's time to close the chapter on the spineless democrats of the past.    

            by JTA on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:12:50 PM PDT

            •  They both say they took advice from the ...

              ... same advisers ... the former Clinton foreign policy "experts" ... and, yes, only Edwards had the orbs to concede that no matter what they thought they knew then about the threat posed by Iraq, they knew more than enough then about the threat posed by Bush to deny him the authority.

              Too bad your man didn't speak up when it could have done some good ... either two weeks earlier or when arriving in the Senate.

              by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:23:22 PM PDT

        •  Lesser of lesser of two evils?

          Clearly the Republican nominee McCain is the greater of the three evils, no matter which of the two corporate Democrats is judged to be in second place and which judged to be in third place.

          by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:50:39 PM PDT

        •  Yes, lesser of the two evils.

          I will need a lot more persuasion than you've offered to vote for someone who says there is no conservative America and no liberal America, only one America.  To persuade me, i'm afraid you'll have to offer me some of what he's imbibing.

          by planetclaire4 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:31:24 PM PDT

    •  Actually, if my first choice was Kucinich, and ..

      ... he was on the ballot, I'd vote for him.

      Unless one of Tweedle Change or Tweedle Experience offer a real, substantial reason to vote for them, I see no reason looking for some hair's breadth difference between pandering to right wing talking points on domestic policy and pandering to right wing talking points on foreign policy ... or co-sponsoring Lieberman-McCain in mid January or late January.

      by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:46:59 PM PDT

  •  If you could see...

    what I see among my students who advocate what your username advocates, you would be disgusted at using it. If you don't see the wasted potential, the stupor, the wasted time and energy, you are blind.  

    Thanks. I just decided again. I wont be voting Obama, I am voting Edwards.

    by OregonOak on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:11:22 PM PDT

  •  Yep, me too.

    If I were going to protest vote, I would at least vote for the person who has actually voted like a progressive while he was in Congress, unlike Edwards.  The "purity" test that some Edwards supporters have applied to all other candidates except their own has always puzzled me.

    by bhouston79 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:12:10 PM PDT

  •  It's not a waste of a vote

    Vote for JOHN EDWARDS on Super Tuesday!

    This is a primary, people should vote for who they truly support. Their first choice and in many cases, it's Edwards.

    I'd like to see Edwards accumulate more delegates for the convention. His message is so important and needs to be heard!

    by NCDem Amy on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:19:07 PM PDT

  •  Never liked Kucinich

    His mantra falls on deaf ears. It's all about Dennis and he proved it when he asked his people to vote Obama in Iowa.

    by LaEscapee on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:20:28 PM PDT

    •  Like I've said elsewhere, I'll count ...

      ... a threshold level of electability in the general election as a reasonable criterion ... and for people that use that criterion, Dennis' history as mayor of Cleveland would allow any Republican to blow him out of the water ... hell, even Thompson, sleepwalking through a campaign, could beat Dennis.

      Its when a progressive adopts "ability to be nominated" as a criterion that they agree to neuter themselves, handing over their orbs to the safe keeping of the Mess Media.

      by BruceMcF on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:54:12 PM PDT

  •  or at least willie nelson n/t

    by elephantitis on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:30:02 PM PDT

•  Hillary's lead in the national poll is now 7 pts

  before it was 3 pts. I think Obama's momentum has stalled for now, so any votes we get is very crucial. I understand your support for Edwards, and he was my second choice, but I ask you to rethink your vote and vote for Obama because we need all the votes we can get.

  by slinkerwink on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:55:58 PM PDT

  •  What about those that are ambivalent

    about both of them?  You people get to vote for your first choice, but because we haven't voted yet, we have to vote for your candidate because he's not polling very well?

    Sorry.

    by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:09:20 PM PDT

    •  Exactly...

      I am offically "agnostic" on Hil v Obama. Waiting for either of them to really show me a commitment to Edwards's agenda...if that don't happen by Tues I'll make up my mind in the voting booth, and it may still be for Edwards.

      by grannyhelen on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:27:03 PM PDT

      •  Same here

        I've gone back and forth and back and forth and...if I'm not committed (literally :) ) by Tuesday, I may stick with JRE. I am usually not so indecisive.

        by anotherCt Dem on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:36:00 PM PDT

        •  Indecisive

          Isn't THAT the truth!  It's NEVER happened to me before, EVER.

          Except for the fact that we'll get a Democrat in the WH, I've never been so utterly deflated about a presidential election before.

          by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:41:07 PM PDT

          •  And

            even though I know - technically - I only represent one vote, it is important for ME to clarify my thinking.

            by anotherCt Dem on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:47:10 PM PDT

          •  Well I've been this deflated before.

            Many times.  In fact in 2004 I was even more disappointed than this year.

            by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:19:21 PM PDT

            •  Wanna switch? ;o)

              by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:43:52 PM PDT

        •  I've never been this indecisive.

          I'm driving myself nuts!

          by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:18:07 PM PDT

          •  I know

            I'm officially obsessing at this point. I can see it now - parking my car at the local elem school Tuesday, walking up to the side door, ignoring the poll standers (usually I go up to my fellow supporters for a high five), seeing how ancient the check-in ladies are, digging out ID, having stress-induced memory glitch about my address, taking the form, walking to the "booth" and...and...

            by anotherCt Dem on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:26:55 PM PDT

            •  Whenever I'm driving I start obsessing

              about my vote.  A couple of days ago I was determined to vote for Edwards.  Then I decided I really should make a decision between the two remaining candidates.  

              I was driving into Boston and I decided to vote for Hillary.  I even told people I had made up my mind.  The next morning I changed my mind again.  I spent all day going back and forth.  Yesterday, I was driving into Boston again, and I convinced myself to vote for Obama.  That lasted until this afternoon.  

              After checking in here and seeing once again what the Obamabots have done to Daily Kos, I started having second thoughts.  Then I saw Obama on CNN and Hillary on C-Span.  Hillary was great and Obama was blah.  How will I feel tomorrow?  Who knows? Like you, I'll probably decide when I get to the booth.

              by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:33:59 PM PDT

              •  Two Kossacks - one brain

                If I changed the driving destinations, my story is the same, up to and INCLUDING the Kosbots. I think part of my problem is that I truly do not care that Obama gives rousing speeches. I'm a teacher, I'm capable of prsenting myself in a way to capture the kids' interests and motivate them (at least, I like to think I can). But no conclusions can be drawn beyond that I can communicate well. Communication is only a piece of a president's job description. And, additionally, it implies nothing about receptivity.

                Suerte to us both!

                by anotherCt Dem on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:51:56 PM PDT

              •  I'll vote for Edwards tuesday. Since neither

                candidate inspires me, voting for either in a primary is as wasted a vote as voting Edwards. The general would be a different scenario because that would be a party vote. There is no good reason to vote for any candidate you don't paticularly want in a primary unless you are determined to stop their opponent. I see this primary now as a choice between Steny Hoyer and Steny Hoyer. I'll vote Edwards just to say thanks!

                by java4every1 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:54:10 PM PDT

                •  Thanks for the input.

                  That is definitely one of my options too.

                  by Boston Boomer on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 04:51:05 AM PDT

      •  GrannyHelen

        I early voted in Ca for John Edwards, and I have no regrets.  He still embodies what I want in my nominee.  And if primaries are to vote for the person who does that, then why not do so?  What difference will it make?  Either Clinton or Obama will be the nominee, there is no difference IMHO, although you may have a difference of opinion.  In the general your choice  will make a difference as the fight then is against the republican nominee.

        Now is the time to vote your heart and head.  You and other JRE supporters fought so hard in the many JRE diaries to show that he was the right person. I would really hate to see that work go by the wayside because John is no longer actively in the race, his ideas and passion are still there and still calling out to be heard.  

        by zbctj52 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 05:40:11 PM PDT

    •  I had pretty much decided to vote for

      Obama earlier today, until I made the mistake of reading some diaries and comments by Obama supporters.  Now I'm having doubts again.  I could switch my planned vote a hundred times before Tuesday.

      by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:17:21 PM PDT

    •  At least Obama

      ....doesn't set average republican's hair on fire.

      Whoever gets it will be slimed immensely, but the preloaded animus for Clinton, with add-on baggage, might well motivate otherwise disgusted R's to show up to vote.

      by zzyzx on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:22:50 PM PDT

•  I am voting for Obama

  Since John Edwards quit, Obama's numbers have been on the rise. I think the reason is obvious. Obama is picking up the lion's share of Edwards' supporters.

  So why Obama over Clinton? That's my business.

  by TekBoss on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:56:21 PM PDT

  •  um,

    Last poll that I saw showed the opposite. Most going to  Clinton. Me, I just can't vote for Clinton. I probably should vote for Obama, but he does not differ from Clinton on the issues that matter to me.

    by resa on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:10:12 PM PDT

  •  Sorry someone stopped you.

    Your business, though, as you say.

    by planetclaire4 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:48:56 PM PDT

•  You left out of choices:

  Already caucused for Edwards. I'm an Edwards Democrat.

  by ZhenRen on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:56:26 PM PDT

  •  And also left out a poll choce for

    Already voted for Edwards absentee (the day before he suspended his campaign).  

    The hard part for an Edwards voter is having been uncommitted for months and responsibly gone through all the campaigns websites and .pdfs for their positions and programs, and having seen the much greater weight of the Edwards proposals and programs and positions, I'm now left with choices between fuzzy and fuzzy.

    by Rolfyboy6 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:08:11 PM PDT

    •  Actually

      You mean fuzzy and fuzzier, don't you?

      by dwakeman on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:15:48 PM PDT

  •  also diarist left out

    yes, I am voting for Edwards.

    I'm not decided, I just noticed that given the diary, that wasn't actually a choice.

    by DemocracyLover in NYC on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:44:56 PM PDT

•  Umm...

  Let's face it. In November, the Dem candidate is probably going to be Obama. Clinton has a chance, but I don't think Obama's momentum is going to change.

  ...this kind of thinking only helps the candidate currently in the lead. When you vote for a candidate who can't win, you help the candidate who's winning. If you're equally fine with Clinton or Obama winning the nomination, then vote for Edwards. But if you have the slightest preference for Obama over Clinton, I'd suggest voting for him, and not for Edwards, as Clinton will benefit more from your Edwards vote than Edwards will.

  As I said before Edwards left the race...

  If you want Obama to win the nomination, vote for Obama.

  If you want Clinton to win the nomination, vote for Clinton.

  If you want someone else to decide between Clinton and Obama, vote for Edwards.

  by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:57:52 PM PDT

•  Cop out...

  we have a choice to make and it's binary.

  Here's my diarythat looks at both candidates position on the Subprime crisis to help you decide.

  by arodb on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:58:08 PM PDT

  •  Another area in which

    Both remaining candidates are fuzzy.  The mortgage mess and the financing problem.

    by Rolfyboy6 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:10:36 PM PDT

•  I already voted for Edwards....

  so it's easy for me to talk, but I have to tell you, it's a statement no one will hear.  Once one of the two of them gets a majority, they won't care about your statement.

  At this point, if you want Edward's message to be heard, it's to vote for Obama.  Now is not the time for statements that won't make a difference, it's time for a statement that gives us a chance.

  As I have said before, I don't know if Obama is the real thing, but I do know Clinton isn't.  It's a chance we have to take.

  Please rethink your position.

  by landrew on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:58:18 PM PDT

  •  "They" don't care about my statement

    anyway--nothing could be clearer to me.  But I care about my statement.

    Once one of the two of them gets a majority, they won't care about your statement.

    True.  So it doesn't matter who I vote for, does it?

    by planetclaire4 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:54:18 PM PDT

•  I'm voting for Edwards

  by cosbo on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:58:21 PM PDT

  •  I'm with you

    I wish MA Liberal would give us the choice in his/her poll.
    At this time I am going to vote for Edwards unless I know that my vote will give Hillary the win.
    Obama has always been my second choice but he hasn't earned it yet nor has the bandwagon passed my house.

    by gabie on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:05:11 PM PDT

    •  Your vote will help give Hillary the win.

      When a candidate is leading, every vote for a candidate who has no chance of catching the leading candidate helps the leading candidate. It's just like staying home; the next two best things a person can do for the Clinton campaign in terms of votes are to:

      A.) Stay home.

      B.) Vote for a candidate who isn't in the race.

      If that's cool with you, vote for Edwards. But please do it with the knowledge that you will be helping Clinton more than anyone else.

      by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:09:04 PM PDT

      •  I don't like nuclear power plants!

        by gabie on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:11:29 PM PDT

        •  I don't like the military industrial complex!

          None of the candidates are perfect. I just had to comment on the logistics of your voting decision. The leading candidate will always benefit from the voters who choose to vote for anyone besides her closest competitor.

          by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:14:45 PM PDT

      •  Stop it!

        Let us vote for who WE want!  And stop telling me/us that a vote for Edwards is a vote for Clinton.

        By the time I get around to voting it may not be that way, or Clinton may have already wrapped up the delegates.

        by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:14:41 PM PDT

        •  You can vote for whoever you want...

          ...but the math will remain the same.

          When a candidate is winning, any vote that isn't directly for the candidate's closest opponent will aid the winning candidate.

          This has nothing to do with whether you're an Edwards fan, a Clinton fan, or an Obama fan. It's just the way elections work.

          by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:17:21 PM PDT

          •  Screw the math

            Your math has no more certainty then then next persons.  This is a crap shoot and you know it.

            by zbctj52 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 05:47:44 PM PDT

        •  This is still a free country

          and Terre - I absolutely support your choice to vote for who you want.

          as I said earlier - as long as it is for a Democrat I am fine with any choice

          by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:25:14 PM PDT

          •  Thanks sara

            I'm glad someone still recognizes that.

            I'm just so tired of being blamed for the eventual nomination of Clinton, just because I'm voting for Edwards, that I come completely unglued.

            by Terre on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:35:59 PM PDT

            •  I agree

              I have been on the receiving end several times -- and to be honest - I am amazed that some here at Kos do not understand that they are not helping their candidate --

              but actually, truly damaging their candidate - and for some of us it is going to be difficult separating the DailyKos-Bots from the candidate.

              I know it is not fair -- but the thought that a candidate can have people go that over the bend is not a positive for me

              by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 05:04:00 PM PDT

      •  I will vote for Edwards with that knowledge

        by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:15:14 PM PDT

        •  Hey, that's cool.

          As I said, vote for whoever you want, as long as you know which candidate benefits most from your vote.

          by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:20:17 PM PDT

          •  The country will benefit

            from those of us who stick to our principles and let our voices be heard that we think JRE is the best choice. More people should, and we would have a better country. I don't see it written that we must vote for someone we don't believe in.

            by gabie on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:34:40 PM PDT

            •  You're talking past me...

              ...I'm not asking you to vote for anyone. Not for Obama, not for Clinton, not for Edwards, not for McCain.

              I'm not asking you to vote for a candidate you believe in, or for a candidate you don't believe in.

              I'm asking you to look honestly at the math of who your vote will help the most. IE, to take a reality-based account of your vote. Once you've done that, go for it. I don't personally have an investment in who you vote for.

              by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:37:39 PM PDT

              •  Then why do you keep on trying to

                convert us?

                by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:00:06 PM PDT

                •  I'm not trying to convert you.

                  You keep insisting 2 and 2 make 5.

                  by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:05:46 PM PDT

                  •  No I don´t

                    15% is 15% and can give JRE delegates. Delegates = power. I want to empower JRE. Maybe he won´t get the delegates but I´ll give it a shot. Between Clinton and Obama I don´t care who gets the nomination. Neither of them speak for me.

                    by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:14:46 PM PDT

                    •  See above...

                      ...to where I said that if you wanted someone else to decide between Obama and Clinton to vote for Edwards.

                      by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:15:56 PM PDT

                      •  I´ll try one more time

                        IF Edwards gets enough delegates to influence who becomes the nominee, he will be avle to make policy demands in order to get his support. Get it? It´s a long shot, I know, but in that neither Obama nor Clinton represent my positions, and in that I am neutral to them, I´ll go with JRE.

                        by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:28:26 PM PDT

                        •  How many states is Edwards still on the ballot?

                          by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:31:46 PM PDT

                          •  All of them to my knowledge

                            by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:39:53 PM PDT

                      •  You have some links to back up your talk? n/t

                        by zbctj52 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 05:50:50 PM PDT

            •  Well said!

              by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:59:38 PM PDT

      •  Well, since Hil is again my second choice...

        ...would you rather have me vote for her or just vote Edwards?

        by grannyhelen on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:29:02 PM PDT

        •  As I've always said...

          ...if you're for Clinton, vote for her. This isn't the devil's arithmetic; I'm simply asking people to make sure they know which candidates their votes are helping.

          By the way, voting for Edwards if you're for Clinton is about as silly as voting for Edwards if you're for Obama. In both cases, you're voting for a candidate with no chance of winning over a candidate who could actually use your vote.

          So no, my answer would never change. This isn't about getting people to vote for me; it's about keeping people from deluding themselves over the effects of their votes.

          by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:33:12 PM PDT

          •  Well we certainly won´t be voting for YOU!

            by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:00:52 PM PDT

            •  That's fine too.

              by haruki on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:06:17 PM PDT

    •  Damn! wouldn't you know it?

      I was so busy putting up the other choices, I forgot Edwards!
      (haging head in shame)

      by MA Liberal on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:15:14 PM PDT

      •  Then fix it!

        by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:16:19 PM PDT

        •  I believe you can't

          fix poll once published.

          by DemocracyLover in NYC on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:46:35 PM PDT

    •  Dear Gabie

      I hope you will reconsider and cast a vote for Obama.  I am for Obama because I believe that Hillary failed me when she voted for the War.  As I read of so many killed just yesterday in a market in Baghdad, I think of how many lives could have been spared if more people had thought as Obama did when that fateful vote was cast to give Bush the authorization to go to war.  While The Clintons did many things when they were in office, I think they had a chance to do so much on Global Warming and alternative fuels, and they did not.  Anyway, a person's vote is so individual, but the Obama bandwagon has a seat waiting for you.

      by GingerG on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:19:42 PM PDT

      •  and Obama

        has continued to fund the war.

        First he was against the war - and now he is funding it -- might make sense to you but not to me.

        that is spinning - not truth.

        by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:27:03 PM PDT

        •  funding the war

          you're right.  But there is a difference on supporting the troops once we're there --which Obama and Hillary did -- and have the judgment not to go in the first place.  We would never have had to address funding a war if we had never gone to war in the first place.

          by GingerG on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:29:30 PM PDT

          •  Then Obama should not be saying

            how against the war he is--

            I truly wanted them to start voting against funding - and if Obama had -- I would have been for Obama now.

            But he chose the easy way out.

            Hillary has not flip-flopped on the war like Obama -- that is one big difference to me.

            by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:32:38 PM PDT

          •  Oh can it, we´ve heard that so many times

            by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:36:09 PM PDT

            •  I'm sure you have

              But if you do not want to listen and accept reality - that is another story.

              There are difference between Obama and Hillary -- and Obama's flip-flop is one of them

              by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:59:13 PM PDT

          •  Well, I see you fell hook, line and sinker for

            those republican talking points.

            by zbctj52 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 05:54:47 PM PDT

            •  Received courtesy of the Obama campaign - -

              if you admit to calling them Republican talking points - -

              fine with me. ;)

              by sara seattle on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 06:09:16 PM PDT

              •  ;-)

                by zbctj52 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 07:10:04 PM PDT

  •  I´m voting for Edwards too!

    by lpeacock on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:06:31 PM PDT

  •  Dear Cosbo:

    Please read my post to MA Liberal.  I am a dedicated Obama supporter who has just gone to a heck of lot of trouble and money to get a new absentee ballot after mine was lost.  It was worth it to have the chance to cast a vote for someone who could make a real change for this country.  I hope if you reconsider, you will join us Obamamaniacs.  

    by GingerG on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:15:31 PM PDT

    •  I'm sorry. I watched both Obama and Clinton...

      exploited Edwards ideas and undermined  him over and over again during this election cycle for their own because they had nothing to offer America except her womaness and his blackness and oh yeah.....tons and tons of cash in both their empty campaigns. I have absolutely no respect for either. Edwards gets my vote in the primary. Whoever  wins the nom gets it in the GE.

      by cosbo on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:48:57 PM PDT

      •  I'm with you Cosbo

        and I can't understand why so many Kossacks don't see it exactly the same as we do.

        by laurenc on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 04:10:34 PM PDT

      •  And I am SO with you, Cosbo

        for