I don't think his "life's work" of helping poor people will evaporate. Maybe like Jimmy Carter he can build organizations that do that without the political pressure. On a more selfish note, I hope he endorses Obama.

It's a shame. With what Lil George and Big Dick have done to the justice department, constitution and supreme court - this country could have used a good lawyer.

If he can swallow the number 2 spot again, he and Obama would be formidable. *Overhearing talk Elizabeth might not be well.

I'm just hoping he did this for the right reasons, like he saw the numbers on the wall and decided to let the top two duke it out and get out before anyone else "wasted" their Super Tuesday vote. That's my guess. I mainly hope his wife is OK.

deleted post on super tuesday because this changes the whole deal.

edwards wanted to be president..not a kingmaker or lead a cause

he was not going to be president so he got out

He'll be president yet. Mark my words.

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

Edwards was the one for me.

Every time I put a bumper sticker on one of our cars, the candidate tanks. My Edwards sticker went on about three weeks ago, when it became painfully evident the Draft Bill Moyers movement wasn't going anywhere.

in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina - What's that?

Don't they have the Superbowl in New Orleans sometimes? Anyway, I wonder if Brittney will perform?

Kidding aside, this country has a lot of growing up left to do. I've always wondered about historical periods like the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, the Renaissance, etc. I think we are either going to enter another of these time periods - or we're going 180 degrees the other way. Hope vs. 100 years in Iraq.

Let's hope for hope.

I thought he would at least go through Super Tuesday.

Alas.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Damn. Now I wish he were the nominee. At least I too feel better about not voting in the Dem primary.

I understand he won't take the VP job, but it would help him advance in 4 or 8 years, I would think. His wife's health would probably keep that off the table, though, whether there's been any change in her health now or not.

I think he helped advance the progressive agenda in the Democratic Party better than Clinton or Obama. He was instrumental in advancing the policies and values of the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. His populism was especially relevant now that the economy is starting to tank.

I'm an Obama supporter and I voted for him this week. But now's the time just to appreciate what Edwards has done for the party up to this point. The horserace stuff can wait a day or two.

In the last 40 yrs the following candidates,with no chance of winning,have taken the campaign to the convention floor.

McCarthy/Reagan'68;Wallace'72;Kennedy'80;Hart/Jackson'84;Jackson'88;
Brown/Buchanan'92

Remember '92 when Tsongas dropped out before NY primary?

Clinton won but him & Brown got in a nasty fight.

Tsongas beat Brown & ended up 2nd.

He'd be a good fit for Attorney General. Piss a lot of people off anyway and start undoing some damage. Anything Edwards does in the next few years will be done with an eye to another run for the White House and 'm not sure what that does for political prospects. Bobby Kennedy was making that move, but there was a lot more going on there. On the state level, Spitzer got to the governor's office on his AG record.

Not sure how much leeway a corporation-busting USAG would have. I suspect more under Obama than Clinton, but probably not nearly as much as he'd like.

Edwards saw the same numbers as Rudy. You can't sell third place to contributors and it takes money to campaign. He just couldn't hang on any longer.

Many Democrats were glad for the dollars Fred took out of Tenneseee. I guess Republicans should be glad for all the trial lawyer and union money Edwards took out of every state.

With Edwards and Rudy gone, the focus becomes much sharper on the frontrunners. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the increased pressure. McCain may be able to secure the nomination. I think the Democrats are headed for a fight in Denver.

It's impossible to compete against the money of the corporate world or the rich!

With the top 2% having 90% of the money, the poor and middle class have no chance of winning an election anymore. I think Edwards must have realized this and decided, what's the point.

Huh? Edwards has vast personal wealth. He has huge trial lawyer and union money (did he have any rally without union organization?). Edwards realized his top 2% wouldn't give to a candidate who wasn't winning. I'm sure just as many poor and middle class are giving to all the candidates, just not in the same amounts.

It is a challenge for someone of modest means to compete for national office. I suppose the contrary view is that those who are left to beg for money will be forever beholden to those well-to-do folks who enable them to be elected. In the end, it's a choice of the person. I know rich people I would trust with my last dollar. I know poor people who I wouldn't trust with a quarter. It's not rich v. poor, white v. black or male v. female. It's the person that should matter. Can they make the right choices if elected.

It's the person that should matter.

Good one. You are typical of those who threw all their weight for George W. Bush, presumably--if we are to believe you--because you were convinced he was the right person (despite coming from such wealth and power that made it virtually impossible for someone of modest means to run against him). You couldn't have been more wrong about him, and a lot of us won't let anyone forget how you and your party got him into office. Swiftboating, Katherine Harris, Jeb Bush, Enron, the "Brooks Brothers" riot, push polling, and too many other smears and dishonest tactics were your party's tools and these got funded largely by the most financially elite and the most powerful corporate lobbies.

The 2000 and 2004 campaigns weren't about Gore, Kerry, or Bush the individuals. They were no-holds barred power grabs for the guy the most powerful entities could best control.

As for Edwards, I think you would agree there's nothing wrong with him achieving wealth. But other similar wealthy people didn't share his values, so they didn't support him. The poor, even in numbers, can't compete with a few rich people with the loudest megaphones. And trial lawyer and union money together can't compete with corporate boardroom money, not even close.

i dont understand why edwards kept saying...sat,sun,mon & tues,that he was going to stay in.Should have said something Sat about his plans.

Because of that I know voters that voted for him mon & tues...they are not happy right now.

Nice rant "Factchecker".

Moving along...

i voted in my 10th democratic presidential primary this time
got a campaign button for all 10

72-McGovern
76-Carter
80-Kennedy
84-Hart
88-Gore
92-Brown
96-Clinton
00-Gore
04-Kerry
08-Obama

Thanks, "CBT." I feel better.

I always wear my lucky campaign button when I go to the polls. It belonged to my uncle and came from the 1936 election. It's about the size of a quarter.

Look for the union label:

Wearybottom Associates