My vote belongs to John Edwards. I'm so fucking depressed since I seen an e-mail alert in my inbox titled "Edwards drops".
This primary season, without John Edwards, has turned from being exciting to being uninteresting. If John Edwards' name wasn't on the ballot, I probably wouldn't bother vote in the primary and just vote for the "D" in November; the choices on the ballot would not excite me at all.
This is the first time in a long time that I am actually voting for somebody rather than voting against another. The only other time was in 2006 when I gave my vote to Ned Lamont. As horrendous as LIARman was/is, Ned Lamont transcended the bitterness that LIARman put forth and spoke passionately about the issues. I didn't vote against the other candidates, I voted for Ned Lamont and proudly did so. John Edwards did the same thing. Not only has he outperformed in the debates, but he did bring up the very important issues. Issues that make me a liberal.
I hope that Edwards starts up a poverty action center or something, in the same way that Dean started Democracy for America. At least he'll still be able to get his message out. I really don't want to see him part of any administration, he has too much to offer, nor would that candidate who wishes to give Edwards a position get my vote.
This primary season is now over for me, and I have no reason to jump into any other camp. With that said, I probably won't be checking in here as often. I tolerated the back and forth to catch up with the Edwards campaign and to get re-energized from the good Edwards supporters here, but now it seems pointless to drop myself in shark-infested waters. My time here with my fellow DU Edwards supporters has been a great gift. I've mentioned before that this was my first primary season that I'm participating in. Spending it with the Edwards supporters here has always motivated me to continue to fight, and it will be a time I will always fondly remember. I made a lot of friends while I was volunteering my time for the Edwards campaign up in New Hampshire. The same holds true for the Edwards supporters here. We fought side by side and, for the most part, Edwards supporters have conducted themselves in a positive manner.
I call you my friends too.
A dream of mine is to one day shake his hand. I hope that someday I will have the privilege and the honor of doing so.