Johnny E. Goode

I started the year as a John Edwards supporter and moved to Barack Obama when I watched his victory speech in Iowa, because he moved me. And also because I don't want a Clinton Dynasty on the heels of a Bush Dynasty, and I realized Obama was right from the start of his campaign -- he's the only one short of a de-politicized Al Gore who can save the Democratic Party from defeat at her hands in November.

It's not just the lack of a stirring speachifying style, the embarrassment of a husband or her lack of clarity on where she stands. It's the fact that Democrats always lose when they run as "Best Manager." We don't want managers for President (Stevenson, Humphrey, Mondale, Dukakis, Mondale, Kerry), we want leaders, i.e. with a vision of our country. All of it.

But Edwards had my heart at first, because he was the one who moved the debate where it needed to go: U.S. poverty, Presidential abuse of power, and honest regret that he, like so many honorable Americans, allowed themselves to be bamboozled into a ruinous war.

Although his campaign never caught fire in the actual voting, it was still a bit of a surprise when he announced his decision to leave the race today, what after having sworn in more than one concession speech to go all the way to the Democratic Convention, perhaps just as a kingmaker with his cache of delegates. Maybe he did the math (15% viability rule that would have made the kingmaker plan futile) or maybe he ran out of money.

My bigger fear is that his awesome wife, Elizabeth, may not be doing so well in her battle against cancer. Winning might have buoyed her, but a protracted losing battle would simply be wearing, maybe life-threateningly so.

In any case, he picked a great time to go out -- blunting Hillary's phantom Florida play, and stepping on Rudy's McCain endorsement. In fact, Edwards did not endorse a candidate on the way out, smart for a number of reasons.

While Rudy looks small for fighting so wussily and falling into John McCain's strong white-furred arms the very first day out, in essence negating himself, Edwards ran a real campaign of social justice, a tough love message, but one firmly siding with the working middle class of America and our poorest. The so-called Liberal Mainstream Media slaughtered him, the only big name threat of any real menace to the corporate uberlords, the guy with the hair no matter that he's telling the truth. He's angry, they emphasized, but Edwards is a happy warrior, who loves and doesn't shy away from people. And who hasn't been angry for extended periods these past seven years at this Cheney/Bush/GOP hegemonic disaster.

Johnny went out in class, exiting from New Orleans just as he had when announcing he was running, the only candidate amongst either party to put that striken American city and people front and center, so it might get help.

I began my presidential campaign here to remind the country that we, as citizens and as a government, have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters. We must do better, if we want to live up to the great promise of this country that we all love so much.

It is appropriate that I come here today. It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong, we will be unified, and with our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November and we'll create hope and opportunity for this country.

If he chooses to make an endorsement, and I'd be disappointed if it is for Hillary over Barack, I hope it's in a timely enough manner should it be necessary to take Obama over the top.

Down to only 3 points in California.

Thanks in large part to you, Sen. Edwards, I'm fired up.