John Edwards Withdrawal Speech

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:21:01 PM EST
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By Big Tent Democrat

John Edwards is dropping out at any moment and the cable networks will carry it. He is speaking from the 9th Ward in New Orleans.

The two remaining candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, are rightly lauding the manner in which John Edwards focused on the key issues of poverty, health care and voicelessness of many Americans -- the two Americas theme.

Kudos to John Edwards for the issues he raised and the style of his campaign. He did good.

"It is time for me to step aside to allow us to make history. We will be strong, united and if we show a little backbone we Democrats will make history."

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John Edwards Withdrawal Speech | 65 comments (65 topical)

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i may have to vote (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Turkana on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:24:52 PM EST

for gravel.

I think it would be funny if he said (5.00 / 3) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:26:42 PM EST

that he was faking dropping out to get some Media coverage.

BTD, he said he was suspending (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:02:32 PM EST

not dropping out ;)

Parent

that supposedly has to do with his staffers (none / 0) (#18)
by georgeg1011 on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:05:45 PM EST

I read somewhere it allows the campaign to continue for his staffers. Not sure how that works, but that is why it is "suspend"

Parent

: Doesn't it also ensure a convention speaking spot? (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Molly Bloom on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:26:14 PM EST

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Thompson style (none / 0) (#3)
by andgarden on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:27:45 PM EST

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my exact thought (none / 0) (#5)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:38:19 PM EST

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Primaries (5.00 / 0) (#6)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:40:33 PM EST

What is it they say, you fall in love ...he was my first love. He did bring up the caliber of the debate and focused the Democratic agenda. {tears} I don't see how he can compromise universal health care by going with Obama.

A plea for partisanship? (5.00 / 4) (#9)
by Molly Bloom on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:07:07 PM EST

If we show a little backbone we Democrats will make history.

(Hint to Obama)

Edwards (5.00 / 0) (#10)
by xjt on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:21:52 PM EST

Great speech, great candidate. I was for him before I switched to HRC. I'll miss John & Elizabeth, but I won't miss Trippi's face.

: he...he (none / 0) (#12)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:25:49 PM EST

agreed on Trippi...when I saw his emails I cringed.

Parent

No Obituary please (5.00 / 2) (#39)
by koshembos on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:51:19 PM EST

Instead of bemoaning Edwards exit and instead of writing his obituary, we should look at what we did wrong to get to where we are. For those of us that never quit Edwards, saw the lefties herd stampeding towards the Obama savior. All the lefties who turned cult worshipers under the guise of "Obama is progressive" and his JFK, FDR and DDT star qualities have damaged our chances to get an old style, obviously passé uncool and unchange and unhope, vanilla flavored, apple pie American candidate.

Thanks a million!

I personally hope (5.00 / 1) (#45)
by standingup on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:13:24 PM EST

that Edwards will continue the work he has been doing to push the populist message. He has a good grassroots base that he could keep engaged to promote policies that will probably be overlooked with him out of the election.

Parent

I totally agree with you as (none / 0) (#42)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:01:39 PM EST

I was an Edwards supporter too, and the Obama supporters have totally turned me off...which is why I am supporting Hillary and pray that she prevails...any time the president (Bush) walks up to someone like Obama and says, "hello buddy" it gives me pause...also anytime, The New York Post, which is a RUPERT MURDOCK owned news paper ends up endorsing Obama then I know that they consider Obama the weakest candidate and easy to beat...also any time all the rich white guys support the black dude and the black caucus (which Obama is a member of) their majority supports Hillary...HELLO THERE IS A MESSAGE HERE FOLKS....something isnt quite right and there is more to this than meets the eye.....

Parent

I agree, Obama is no real progressive (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by tnthorpe on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:12:16 PM EST

but I have been impressed by his demonstrated ability to bring new folk into politics. He may start something that becomes bigger than he has proven himself to be so far. People may begin to abandon the idea the gov't is the enemy and begin to see that gov't can be how we take care of each other as people. Right now, the gov't haters have run the country into the ground, so the moment for a revision is here and now. Yes, I fully acknowledge that I'm being speculative, hopeful even, but the historical moment may run deeper than just the primary's whitecaps would lead us to think.

Parent

Scared (none / 0) (#51)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:42:20 PM EST

I think Obama has proven that he has fans. But does he have allies? To build a unity government you have to have allies. This Hope Chest, the Obama campaign, will only be able to work if he gets a wolloping mandate in the GE, and what are the chances of that? At this point, I think no one knows. Everyone is working on old information and frankly I think this is the first time where the web has frankly been used by a campaign to build a "fanatic base". They kicked the old base for this new base, now what do they do with it?

Parent

: Or does the Internet even matter ... (none / 0) (#52)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:48:18 PM EST

.. for more than .00000000000001% of the GE. Obama's an unknown quantity in the GE. We'll know more next Tuesday. What's the real value of Oprah in a GE? Nobody knows. It would be interesting to find out, but the Democrats are not in such a desperate position that we need to take such a gamble. Hillary's a pretty safe bet vs McCain. Obama's a nice card to have in our hand for 4 or 8 years from now.

Parent

How are you going to spin the fact that the Post (none / 0) (#43)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:03:46 PM EST

endorsed Hillary in her last Senate election???

The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.

Parent

maybe he has a different agenda (none / 0) (#46)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:14:27 PM EST

for New York state as for a senator then he does for a president...powers are way different...but who knows....

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Obama is worse so Murdoch is endorsing now? :-) (none / 0) (#48)
by RalphB on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:36:56 PM EST

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Maybe ... maybe ... maybe ... (none / 0) (#49)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:39:43 PM EST

... doesn't quite support a conspiracy theory. Why not just accept at face value that Hillary was the easily the best candidate for NY senate but not necessarily their choice for president. The point is you can't let the NY Post choose your candidate or your opponent, even given the fact that their dumb as rocks.

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their = they're (none / 0) (#50)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:41:31 PM EST

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for your information (none / 0) (#53)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:48:42 PM EST

Rupert Murdock has a history of gradually melding in his philosophies into editorial viewpoints and he takes his time to do this...he is one slick guy. This occured because he hadnt fully melded it yet because remember the post used to be a liberal paper..it was famous for it plus during her reelection she was so popular she was predicted to win in a landslide so why not go with the flow...

Parent

And? (none / 0) (#54)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:50:17 PM EST

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and nothing (none / 0) (#55)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:55:36 PM EST

I don't wish to argue with you or anyone really just saying that the Post has become little more than a tabloid since Murdock took it over and I would be more concerned if they endorsed Hillary..

Parent

I support Hillary ... (none / 0) (#56)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:03:44 PM EST

... and don't read the Post if I don't have to but I would be thrilled if they also supported Hillary. The fact that Obama appeals to them is meaningless for my choice of candidate but it may just as well speak to his ability to inspire and impress people with his leadership potential. Why deny that?

Parent

because Murdock (none / 0) (#58)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:06:00 PM EST

never did anything without a secondary meaning plus they hate the New York Times which supported Hillary...

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That's why ... (none / 0) (#60)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:54:40 PM EST

... you deny Obama's ability to inspire and impress people with his leadership potential??? Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that. But I'm still glad you support Hillary. See what I mean?

Parent

maybe it is (none / 0) (#64)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 08:46:24 PM EST

because truthfully Obama doesnt inspire me...Sorry but he just doesn't as I want to hear real numbers and issues...

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: No reason to apologize ... (none / 0) (#65)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 09:09:18 PM EST

... that's a much better reason, finally.

Parent

forgot to provide the link sorry (none / 0) (#57)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:04:33 PM EST

New York Post endorsement.....clear states that Hillary is to the left of her husband in philosophy and is more stoic about getting it accomplished....that convinces me to vote for Hillary as that means they think Obama is more to the right...I am a dyed in the wool liberal and wish to return to the old liberal values.....

Parent

: Why not decide for your own reasons? (none / 0) (#61)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:56:30 PM EST

Parent

via TPM (none / 0) (#7)
by byteb on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:43:06 PM EST

and no surprise, but Trippi is telling one and all that Obama and Clinton are knocking down Edwards door for his support.

AG (none / 0) (#11)
by Kathy on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:25:41 PM EST

Can you imagine the sheer crap the new AG is going to have to deal with? We need a street cleaner, not Edwards. He can do so much more good by staying out of government and fighting against the machine.

why not? (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by Nasarius on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:59:23 PM EST

Edwards as a Spitzer-esque AG at the national level could do a whole lot of good.

Parent

Fitzgerald? (none / 0) (#13)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:26:24 PM EST

(hide for cover)

Parent

Fitz (5.00 / 0) (#15)
by Judith on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:32:33 PM EST

is a Republican, I think, tho I like him.

I think John could clean it up really well...he strikes me as a tough dude who had to nice it up for campaigning

Parent

Nothing wrong with the right (none / 0) (#23)
by oldpro on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:34:31 PM EST

Republican.

AG is a HUGE agency and we need someone with administrative savvy and endless squeeky-clean bonafides.

Parent

there are PLENTY (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by Judith on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:52:53 PM EST

of Democrats suitable for the task.

Parent

: Agree....but (none / 0) (#31)
by oldpro on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 03:58:33 PM EST

any Dem is going to have a token, moderate, sensible, competent R somewhere in the cabinet...just as Bill Clinton did. I trust Hillary to do that a lot more than I trust Obama who will take whoever Teddy tells him to...and though BTD would like that, I wouldn't.

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I thing he's an Independent (none / 0) (#38)
by robrecht on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:48:36 PM EST

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yup! exactly (none / 0) (#17)
by hellothere on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:57:51 PM EST

Parent

Having a woman or African American.... (none / 0) (#14)
by kdog on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:29:33 PM EST

as president would be cool and all, but that's not the type of history making we need from the next administration.

I had a cease-fire in the drug war in mind, or closing some (if not all) of the military installations overseas. That's the history making we need, not something as superficial as breaking the gender/race barrier to the presidency.

Ron Paul could make history, Kucinich could make history....Clinto or Obama? Not so much outside of the superficial.

"The 2 remaining Candidates????? (none / 0) (#16)
by Ben Masel on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:33:36 PM EST

BTD, you know better.

Gravel's staging another online "alternative debate" tomorrow night, with the network feed on a screen, and he'll jump in with his answers. http://gravel2008.us will provide a link to the live feed. Far more entertaining than the network farces.

Why not just turn on (none / 0) (#19)
by oldpro on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:15:22 PM EST

American Idol and be done with it?

Parent

Who's the better singer? (none / 0) (#25)
by Ben Masel on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:42:53 PM EST

Mike, Barack, or Hillary?

Parent

I am really torn tomorrow (none / 0) (#26)
by Kathy on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:51:05 PM EST

because of Lost. Didn't anyone THINK before they scheduled the debate?!

Parent

Tape (Tivo) one watch the other. n/t (none / 0) (#32)
by Maggie Mae on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 04:57:16 PM EST

Parent

: Maggie (none / 0) (#66)
by Kathy on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 09:42:31 PM EST

of course, but the question is, which one do I watch LIVE?

Parent

Hil should talk to Elizabeth... (none / 0) (#20)
by oldpro on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:19:07 PM EST

that's what I'd do...she's already talked with John many times.

They are the natural non-establishment insurgent Democrats in this campaign and he should tell her what he wants. No price too high to pay except veep. That won't work...

Let's make a deal...this is politics, people. Bill Clinton will be called in on the guy front on this one...behind the scenes, of course.

Any idea why he withdrew now? (none / 0) (#22)
by MarkL on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:26:59 PM EST

There was no prior hint of this.
From my perspective, Edwards dropping out without endorsing Obama should definitely favor Hillary.
Has JRE become disenchanted with Obama?

Reality. (none / 0) (#24)
by oldpro on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 02:37:56 PM EST

Low on money and no hope of winning. But his maximum effect could be an alliance with either candidate with a deal.

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: He was fine with money. (none / 0) (#33)
by Maggie Mae on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 04:59:52 PM EST

It was still coming in and he was excellent at knowing where and when to spend it. It was all about delegates. I think they did the math and realized he couldn't get enough delegates to be a strategic force at the convention.

Parent

Howard Fineman (none / 0) (#37)
by diplomatic on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:07:04 PM EST

had an article that said Edwards had been reaching out to Obama for weeks but was "rebuffed" by the Obama people.

Notice also the change in tone from Edwards toward Hillary. Much more cordial.

After SC results, he "joined with Bill and Hillary Clinton in congratulating" Obama.

He met with Hillary after Nevada...

there are tea leaves. It is not for certain that he'd endorse Obama it seems.

Parent

Theory on timing (none / 0) (#29)
by s5 on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 03:30:13 PM EST

Interesting how that he withdrew right after Florida, the "beauty contest" that supposedly didn't count, but was shaping up to have a pro-Clinton narrative. By dropping out, he instantly took the budding media focus off of her.

It's interesting. The news today is all Edwards and McCain, no Hillary and McCain. I can only think this helps Obama by preventing any post Florida "bump" for Clinton.

On the other (none / 0) (#30)
by standingup on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 03:54:57 PM EST

hand this sets up an interesting scenario for the Democratic debate that will be held tomorrow night. I am not sure that will favor Obama since, in my opinion, he does not come across as well in that format as compared to his speeches.

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one would think (none / 0) (#36)
by diplomatic on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:04:52 PM EST

that Obama should be practicing and trying to address his debate weaknesses.

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He (none / 0) (#40)
by standingup on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:55:15 PM EST

had better be preparing for a heated debate. Looks like he is going for the jugular on the campaign trail in Denver today.

TPM has the AP article - Obama Attacks Clinton As Calculating and Divisive Figure Who Votes With the GOP

Parent

i saw that also. gee, obama, you (none / 0) (#41)
by hellothere on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:58:57 PM EST

just can't keep your mouth shut. when someone believes their own press, then it is downhill.

Parent

: Interesting (none / 0) (#47)
by Stellaaa on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:36:49 PM EST

The GOP line has appeared all of a sudden today, on radio etc. Magic...this propaganda machine is scaring me.

Parent

think again (none / 0) (#35)
by diplomatic on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:02:08 PM EST

that "budding media focus" on Clinton was shaping up to be more negative sniping by the pundits telling everyone how meaningless her victory was. Now the pundits have to talk about something else while everyone who was watching TV on Tuesday remembers seeing a checkmark next to Clinton's name, her 800,000+ votes and her interviews.

Parent

hillarys town meeting (none / 0) (#34)
by cdo on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:01:16 PM EST

haven't see any mention of Hillary's live webcast coming up. Monday she is having a webcast townhall meeting at 9pm est.
http://hillaryclinton.com/action/townhall/
you can submit questions at the site.
I think it sounds pretty cool!

numbers from Florida very very interesting (none / 0) (#59)
by athyrio on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:27:44 PM EST

Since I consider Florida to be a good cross section of this country I think these numbers are fascinating..... what we learned from the Florida election is that Hillary Clinton can beat John McCain. Barak Obama didn't even beat Mitt Romney.

Clinton: 856,944
McCain: 693,425
Romney: 598,152
Obama: 568,930

: the shame of it is obama doesn't (none / 0) (#62)
by hellothere on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 08:21:10 PM EST

need any help in losing. he is doing that alone with his snide comments and lack of real policy objectives.

Parent

NOW you say so? (none / 0) (#63)
by Lora on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 08:30:02 PM EST

Kudos to John Edwards for the issues he raised and the style of his campaign. He did good.

It would have been nice if you'd said so when it could have mattered.

John Edwards Withdrawal Speech | 65 comments (65 topical)

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