As I feared, Corporate Media had their way, so I won’t even have the opportunity to vote for my candidate.
Over the past several months I watched with wonder as I witnessed the major networks’ systematic trivialization of John Edward’s campaign. Ridiculed as “vain” or “angry” or “rich” or “irrelevant” by foolish reporters who didn't know enough about history to even understand how fundamental American rights have been eroded, or how far we have traveled from basic protections our society used to afford us - even as recently as a decade ago.
John Edwards was the only candidate who had done battle with corporate giants and won. Of course Corporate America didn't want to see Edwards become the Democratic candidate.
Well, John, thank you for running.
Thank you for championing the causes of the middle class, and the working poor. Thank you for pushing for a universal health plan.
This election may represent the last opportunity for all of us to reclaim the promise made by the framers of our United States Constitution. The real issue of this election is not the economy or the war or immigration or even the environment. While these are all vital issues and will determine how we will live out our lives, what is actually at stake is the survival of our democracy as an entity owned by “We the People.”
It is up to us to take back our country and demand a return to the “rule of law” where all citizens are bound by a set of clearly defined and accepted laws.
This rule of law is manifested in an independent judiciary, a free press, and a system of checks and balances on leaders through free elections, and separation of powers among the branches of government.
The continued erosion of these basic principles threatens our social order and our civil rights far more than whether a Mexican national climbs over that ridiculous corrugated wall down at “Friendship Park”; or whether we are allowed to continue destroying an entire country that did not attack us first; or whether corporations systematically continue to outsource our labor force and sell our country to the highest bidder; or whether we pay more attention to celebrity sightings than we do to the catastrophic evidence of global warming.
“We the People” means all of us - you and me.
Somehow we have to navigate the political waters of sound bytes, intimidation, blatant misinformation, and election fraud to decipher which candidate truly possesses the combination of ability, instinct, and integrity.
- Candace Suerstedt is a filmmaker and a mother of three who lives in Coronado.
Chuck
from Escondido, CA
February 01, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Sounds like you're assuming at least one of the remaining candidates possesses a satisfactory combination of ability, instinct and integrity. Not so sure here.
Alma from San Diego
February 01, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Wow Candace, you've articulated so many ideas that resonate with me. Your writing is an eloquent sounding of the alarm; our democracy is at risk.
(By the way, you might be interested in reading an editorial echo of your "farewell" to John Edwards:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/opinion/01krugman.html?hp).
Candace Suerstedt
February 01, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Chuck, I fear you may be right about the remaining candidates but a girl's gotta have hope. Thanks for the Link, Alma.
Candace
Carol Lemei from Coronado, CA
February 02, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Candace –
I also lament John Edwards’ exit from the race, and like you, I am outraged that his candidacy has been dis-allowed by the media giants who silence all threats to their corporatacracy. I believe global warming to be the most vital of all issues, because if we do not act now, none of the other issues will matter. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (http://nsidc.org/news/press/2007_seaiceminimum/20071001_pressrelease.html), this year we had 39% less late summer ice in the arctic than the long term (1979-2000) average. This is slightly more than 1 million square miles less than the average. This is more than the area of the entire western United States AND TEXAS! This year we had 23% less late summer ice in the Arctic than the next lowest year (2005). This is like the canary in the coal mine; sea ice reflects 80% of the incident sunlight, but water absorbs 90% - this absorption is accelerating global warming at accelerated rates.
In the beginning of this campaign, John Edwards was the only candidate who responded to this threat to our planet (and to our national security) by proposing a bold and courageous plan to curb and reverse greenhouse gas emissions (see http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/energy/). He brought this issue into the election conversation, and I believe this is the major reason why he was silenced by the media – the media that is the voice of the corporatacracy, which of course is headed by the oil and coal industries.
Chris
February 02, 2008 at 04:29 AM
I feel your pain. Edwards was clearly a victim of the 24 hour corporate news cycle - hard for them to find anything sexy about a white guy running on issues. How many of our nation's greatest President's would have had a legitimate shot at the oval office in an election climate that takes its cues from reality television?
James Almeida
from Homeless with a Mortgage
February 02, 2008 at 04:52 AM
WE THE PEOPLE AND ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Yet Clinton, Obama, and Romney all do nothing but give excuses to help them not do their job. Is that the PRESIDENT we want?? NO we want true, someone who can help the ONE citizen, and still run a COUNTRY
I have been trying to get this corrected and have had
every door slammed. Every Goverment official kick me
out, advising this is a voting year and they will not
help, or care too????
I have tried to hire 11 attorney's and none want to
ruin their career, but gladly took my money. I am
broke and homeless for the last 2 years with a
MORTGAGE???
Please if you can post a link on your web page, talk
about this on your show, if you have an emailing, let
everyone know so they can have their friends and
family also help.
Thank You James Almeida
And my to you and your obvious ability to ignore a
voter/resident/civil rights victim.
Fl was listening,Yes I work hard being HOMELESS WITH A
MORTGAGE.
Beware of Mit Romney and his lies, Obama and his
hidden life, and inability to work for U.S.A. And
Senator Clinton and her unwilling to help us (citizens
of THE U.S.A).
True Story:
Real Property:
Please help, email your local Senator and Congress
Person, DON'T BECOME HOMELESS WITH A MORTGAGE LIKE ME:
absolutely secluded, deeded to lies by Fidelty
National Title. Only way to this beautiful newer cape
with 62 feet of beach is by helicopter or by boat. No
ability to drive to home, Town of Tiverton
(administrator and Chief of Police ensured this). With
the help of Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse and
Governor Carceiri,Than Governor Mit Romney, homeowner
kicked out, unable to go home (though town and
neighbors have come up with new cover story, different
than Fidelty's agent to get home sold).Homeowner
unable to now get any real estate attorney to help him
sue or sell to prospective homebuyers(avoid any lender
that uses Fidelty National Title, or you too can be
sleeping in your car for almost 2 years). Water views,
and no police can get there for anyone who wants
privacy. Hurry voting year this year and Senator Reed
wants to help you too.
Call Senator Reed for more info (lies of course for
your vote this year) 401-943-3100.124 Line Rd,
Tiverton R.I now changed to 130 St Mary St, Fall
River, Ma (again to cover it all up) magical property
moves all the time, you too can enjoy this call
now.(sorry bad audio)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1839503411637812975&hl=en
Jenn
from Solana Beach
February 04, 2008 at 08:32 PM
RE last comment... WTF?
Anyone moderating the comments here??
RE: Edwards. I am sad to see him go too. Unfortunately he had the Clinton / Obama / Oprah Juggernaut to contend with.
Not that that's a bad thing, but Edwards certainly would have been a great addition to the ticket.
--and Congrats on the Citizen Voices gig. I think I'm gonna enjoy reading you guys!
Dave
from Oceanside
February 05, 2008 at 03:04 AM
I don't know if he's really gone... bowing out now keeps him as a good VP for either Dem victor...
And on a side note... go to Del Mar on Wednesday the 6th to keep San Onofre State Beach from getting raped..
http://pangeanative.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/arnold-want-to-terminate-san-onofre-state-beach/
What ever you do this year.. don't throw your vote away to a third party.. not yet...
