I've thought about this for years. Remember back in 1999 when several GOP candidates dropped out of the running because they did poorly in a STRAW POLL in Iowa? I'm dead serious! A stupid STRAW POLL that was more than 1 year before the GOP convention weeded out several GOP presidential wannabes. Sick sick sick perversion of democracy, right? The only consolation to it is you can argue political parties have a right to use whatever method they please to choose their candidates. In earlier decades and centuries, smoke-filled rooms were the method of choice. So maybe you can argue these front loaded primaries are the 21st century version of smoke-filled rooms.
It has been a lot of rookie mistakes, but some are very serious errors on his part. a few examples: He made a call on behalf of Ameriquest to Citi Group (he was a board member of Ameriquest, and Ameriquest did get funding from Citi group). Upgraded his governor's car to a Cadillac Hired a personal assistant for his wife at 72,000 a year (basically a payoff for a campaign worker) ... That's just in the first two month. Not to mention his new budget which dips into state's rainy day fund and puts more tax burden on businesses. But most people here voted for him because of the charisma, fresh face, hey we got what we asked for. I just hope he turns it around, or we are going to be in a world of hurt.
I'm really troubled by this. By this news and by this story. First, the prognosis, since that has to go first. It sounds to me, from all I've read, like Elizabeth Edwards could die in the next several years, harsh as it sounds. It sounds like that's the prognosis. It seems to me like, if Edwards were to be elected, there's a good chance she could die before or during his first term. That sucks. I love Elizabeth Edwards. I mean, I love her as well as you can love a celebrity you don't know. But that sucks. I've been generally aligned with Obama, but I've considered Edwards to be a close second for my affections. And I still feel that way. But this really, really ****ing sucks. And I'm sorry, but I really am troubled by the idea that he seems to be placing the idea of the presidency (as important as it is) as such an urgent thing that he is not just dropping it to spend time with his wife. This feels very screwed to me, given the apparently urgent nature of the diagnosis. These may be her last years. And they may be few. I say again that of five or so Dems that I would love to win there are only two that I am passionate about and they are Obama and Edwards, but if E. Edwards is facing this kind of thing... I just think about my girlfriend. We're not even married. And I think, I just couldn't. I couldn't do any sort of job. I sure as hell couldn't campaign for one, knowing she was struggling for her life. I know it's not a popular position. Hell, I half want to endorse Edwards on the grounds of this info just to say, yes, keep going, as I'd like any cancer survivor or family member of same to, but I have to be honest - as the media seems to feel they can't be. I am freaked by what his wife's death would do to him if he was still running and if he was president. And I'm also freaked that he's still running, given the news. I say all that knowing that most polls show that his support would largely go to Hillary, whom I do not support. But I just think this is a time he should be bunkered down with his wife. If I'm him, that's what I'm ******* doing, regardless of the country. Anyway, I wish him the best. And her, even more. Politics is a screwed up thing, but Elizabeth Edwards has acquitted herself well of it. And I'm all for her, whatever happens next. God bless Elizabeth Edwards. For real. And God bless the USA. They're to do with each other here, odd as it is. I'm rooting for both.
I really think Edwards continuing with the campaign has more to do with her than him. My guess is she doesn't want the end of her life to be all about this horrible thing that has happened to her. She wants it to be about pushing the causes that are dear to her and her husband and maybe seeing him elected president. I could see it being much harder on her if he dropped out. Batman you should go check out firedoglake and see what Jane Hamsher has written about this. She just got done with a second surgery for breast cancer and immediately went to DC to cover the Libby trial, though she was still very weak. She also knows and has communicated with Elizabeth Edwards about this. I think Hamsher has a good perspective on this.
MB, very good post. Except for your early support of Obama, you see things exactly the way a smart Democrat would IMO.
I agree parties should be free to choose their candidates but the front loading goes beyond politics when the States themselves are vying to push their primaries earlier and most of the talk is dependent on who can get early money. In that case it isn't just the parties but state governments, big donors and interest groups that are deciding who gets in. This has a few other problems besides weeding out potentially good candidates who if given time could prove better than the early favorites. It also creates a situation where money is far more important than a compressed campaign. Also the longterm campaign distracts from the business of governing and you're stuck with a situation where the news cycle is dominated by the political horse race while you have politicians in office looking to position there votes and other actions based on where they are in the horse race. IMO this is one reason why we have runaway spending and so many other problems when politicians are afraid to make tough choices regarding cutting spending because they are too busy thinking of re-election or election.
You have a long campaign season either way, whether it's front-loaded or not. The front-loading of primaries merely pushes the nomination horse race earlier and you have the same distractions. Please understand I'm not defending the process, just discussing it.
I agree Giff. I can't think of anything worse... anything more that would ensure a quick death... then sitting around waiting for it to happen. Some people would do that, but many others, regardless of whether they are politicians, want to keep doing what they have been doing. I bet the busier she is, the less time she has to think about it. The more concerned he is, the more passion he can put into his campaign. Of course, they have to be realistic and consider what's best for their kids and she needs to go to medical appointments, but the more of her time spent doing something constructive the better for her. And I guarantee the decision is not his alone to make. If it were, she wouldn't be the woman she is and he wouldn't be the man he is. On another note, I find it a little disheartening that the political analysis began before the announcement was even made. Still, I can't help but make the observation that Edwards appeared more poised and exhibited more leadership while essentially announcing the impending death of his wife to a voracious media than W has ever done on his best day. I wish them the best.
Quote: Originally Posted by gifford1967 I really think Edwards continuing with the campaign has more to do with her than him. My guess is she doesn't want the end of her life to be all about this horrible thing that has happened to her. She wants it to be about pushing the causes that are dear to her and her husband and maybe seeing him elected president. I could see it being much harder on her if he dropped out. Batman you should go check out firedoglake and see what Jane Hamsher has written about this. She just got done with a second surgery for breast cancer and immediately went to DC to cover the Libby trial, though she was still very weak. She also knows and has communicated with Elizabeth Edwards about this. I think Hamsher has a good perspective on this. Rimrocker's reply to Giff: I agree Giff. I can't think of anything worse... anything more that would ensure a quick death... then sitting around waiting for it to happen. Some people would do that, but many others, regardless of whether they are politicians, want to keep doing what they have been doing. I bet the busier she is, the less time she has to think about it. The more concerned he is, the more passion he can put into his campaign. Of course, they have to be realistic and consider what's best for their kids and she needs to go to medical appointments, but the more of her time spent doing something constructive the better for her. And I guarantee the decision is not his alone to make. If it were, she wouldn't be the woman she is and he wouldn't be the man he is. On another note, I find it a little disheartening that the political analysis began before the announcement was even made. Still, I can't help but make the observation that Edwards appeared more poised and exhibited more leadership while essentially announcing the impending death of his wife to a voracious media than W has ever done on his best day. I wish them the best. I agree with the post and the reply. I have for a long time wanted Edwards over Hiliary, that warmongerer, and Obama. Go John Edwards,unless or until Obama can convince me that he has more of something.
I understand you are not and agree that there will be problems with a shorter campaign. That said I think the problem with front loading limits the ability of primary campaigns organically developing, such as JFK's 1960 campaign, by picking up steam during a primary season while focussing much more on the general campaign. With primaries so early we end up with a vaccuum between the April and the political conventions where the nominees are already determined and most of the public doesn't care yet the campaigns are still spending money to stay relevant and politicians are still distracted by the race.
this isn't just some regular joe schmo job to keep on doing while your wife has cancer. this is the presidency. what happens when he has to attend a major summit meeting and his wife is in her last days? he doesn't even have to stop being a politician but the presidency is a different animal. I know it seems almost like a joke, the way the current president has been criticized for his time on the ranch, this is definitely the one job you can't take off for personal reasons. I understand the sentiment of keep on living, but let's keep things in perspective.
I understand your post. However, Edwards, as a true tough trial lawyer, could do a better job than Bush whiile running the country from his secure cell phone in his wife's ICU room,hospice or wherever. Of course, Edwards would be more stable than Bush at all time, less prone to dealing with such issues as out toughing daddy or whatever Bush is about.
I agree with you completely and it's why I probably cannot consider voting for Edwards now. Now that he's out, it's more likely either Hillary or Obama will get the nod and during the general election campaign, the GOP will be dirtier than ever. It's way too soon but it appears I will thoughtfully not vote for either party's candidate unless someone currently out of the spotlight rises up.
Man...for all his smarts, money, looks, and priviledge....the man and his family have certainly had more than its share of tragedy. Sad, really.
Howard Stern mentioned she might have gotten cancer through fertility treatments. I don't know if that's possible. If true, I feel sorry for her and her kids but the Edwardes didn't need to start a new family when their son passed away.
Obviously Edwards can't continue and should drop out. He's done. Bye. Meanwhile the libs are left with two totally unelectable candidates -- Hildebeast and Hussein Obama. Ouch.
I see your point and we are all thankful Lincoln didn't have any personal issues that took away from his job or else we would now be living in two different countries. We might have lost WWII if someone in FDR's family had a debilitating illness like polio. And it's really fortunate Gerald Ford's wife didn't get cancer while he was in office. We elect humans, not robots. The line between other Presidents dealing with the personal and Bush choosing to not deal with Presidency is huge. Bush is an outlier (hopefully) and with any luck, another like him won't come by anytime soon.
