prove my assertion???

the national journal vote ratings are broken down into three categories: economic policy, foreign policy, and social policy. in 2005 and 2006 (the only two years that obama and clinton can be compared to one another since NJ's 2007 vote ratings are not out yet) obama was more conservative than clinton in the social policy category.

Posted at January 30, 2008 7:14 PM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

all churlish snark aside though, point taken.

it does sound stupidly presumptuous to say 'you would have seen him change' instead of 'you can bet he would have changed'.

Posted at January 30, 2008 7:07 PM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

i suppose it's possible edward's could have just said, now there are still two candidates for change but... uh... i'm better looking. except i don't think that strategy would have really worked for him.

when i say his strategy would have been 'one candidate for change' i think it doesn't take much effort to understand that my point is edwards would have sought to distinguish himself as the 'real' candidate for change.

but you're right i could be completely wrong and misunderstood his strategy. maybe edwards really was endorsing obama during the NH debates. that would explain why so many obama supporters couldn't understand why he was still in the race after his second place finish in iowa. it's all becoming so much clearer....

Posted at January 30, 2008 6:59 PM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

oh i'm well aware of that. i was merely explaining my post that you responded to.

Posted at January 30, 2008 6:37 PM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

no one is trying to take away your right to vote however you choose.

i'm just pointing out where your claims about that vote are demonstrably false.

Posted at January 30, 2008 6:28 PM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

yeah jan. save your valid arguments for someone who actually cares about who wins the election. there's no point in arguing with people who only pretend to.

Posted at January 30, 2008 10:15 AM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

no, you won't. voting for a candidate who stands no chance of winning is not a vote against a candidate who does. it's basic math really.

pretending duverger's law doesn't exist, doesn't make it so.

Posted at January 30, 2008 10:12 AM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

you might have noticed that edwards mostly used that tack when his (overly ambitious) strategy was to knock clinton out and make it a two way race between him and obama. he eased up on that after NH and started going harder after obama to play catch-up.

the worst part of that whole two candidates for change strategy was that it emboldened obama supporters (suckers for flattery that they are) and made it harder for edwards to push his way back into a three way race.

if edwards had knocked clinton out (not that he actually could have) you would have seen him change the 'two candidates for change' strategy into 'ONE candidate for change'.

let's not confuse strategic positioning for virtual endorsement.

Posted at January 30, 2008 9:30 AM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

jan,

i certainly wasn't suggesting that you should vote for clinton. i just don't think anyone should be hanging their hat on voting for obama on kyl-lieberman.

and i certainly don't think that obama supporters should use 'mealy-mouth' and 'kyl-lieberman' in the same breath - it doesn't really help their case.

Posted at January 30, 2008 9:21 AM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion

as an edwards supporter i do NOT want him to take a VP slot to either clinton or obama.

seeing as how you're an obama supporter i can understand why you would want him on your ticket.

but since i actually believe in edwards' message i'd prefer he hold out for a position that could actually mean something rather than whore himself and his message out to either of these second rate candidates.

Posted at January 30, 2008 9:13 AM in response to Edwards Dropping Out Discussion