Albany LTTE: Let Edwards Voice and Vision Carry On

From HOWARD PICKER:

I was profoundly saddened upon listening to former Sen. John Edwards' withdrawal speech -- saddened for our country for having lost a prophet who could have restored America's greatness. Despite Sen. Edwards' withdrawal from the primaries, it is my prayer that his voice and vision will continue to energize the political scene and that his shining light will not be extinguished.

From the Times-Union

Thank You, Hillary Clinton

For your statement on the NIU tragedy, which is prominently placed on your website, compared to your competitor who doesn't have it on his campaign site at all:

I am deeply saddened by the senseless crime which took place yesterday at Northern Illinois University. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak and sadness wracking these families. They are in my prayers.

--Hillary Clinton

John Edwards: Mum's the Word

Sounds like JRE is taking his time in whether or not to endorse either of the remaining candidates and that's good. He may be like Al Gore and wait until the convention.





photo courtesy of the NC Arboretum

Prayer Request (updated)

For the students at both at NIU and UIUC. It was discovered this morning the gunman was a current student at UIUC. His family must be devastated.

From the AP:

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis J. Miller released the identities of the four victims who died in his county: Daniel Parmenter, 20, of Westchester; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; and Julianna Gehant, 32, of Meridan.

Two other victims died after being transferred to hospitals in other counties, Miller said. Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said a female victim died in her jurisdiction but has not been identified pending notification of family.

Witnesses said the gunman, dressed in black and wearing a stocking cap, emerged from behind a screen on the stage of 200-seat Cole Hall and opened fire just as the class was about to end around 3 p.m. Officials said 162 students were registered for the class but it was unknown how many were there Thursday

Sad.

Still no words from Obama camp. Strange.

Update: Obama issued a statement through his Senate web site. Here it is:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the shooting at Northern Illinois University:

"Yesterday, twenty-two men and women were shot, and six were killed, when a madman walked into a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and opened fire.

"We hear about heartbreaking, mindless acts of violence like this day after day, week after week. They come in and out of the headlines, and after awhile, most of the world goes on. But for all the loved ones who are left behind, the pain and the sorrow remain for a very, very long time. Today we offer them our prayers, but we must also offer them our determination to do whatever it takes to eradicate this violence from our streets and our schools; from our neighborhoods and our cities. That is our duty as Americans, and that is our solemn obligation as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends.

"Michelle and I offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims. They will be in our prayers."

And here is Dick Durbin's (buried within the website):

Thursday, February 14, 2008

[Washington, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the news of today's shooting at Northern Illinois University.

"The shooting at Northern Illinois University today is a heartbreaking tragedy. I have spoken with President Peters of NIU and Mayor Van Buer of DeKalb and pledged my full support as we face the days ahead. For now, our thoughts and prayers are with the students, faculty, staff and families of the NIU community."

I hope both of them take some action steps...now.

Aldon Hynes from Orient Lodge has uploaded this really cool picture of something he created in Second Life.

Shootings at Northern Illinois University

CNN is reporting 15 injured at least. Classes cancelled, naturally.

And what did Obama say about it?

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Crickets.

I'll check in later at his site to see what he does.

I met a few JRE supporters last year from NIU. I hope they are safe. My prayers are with the NIU community.

Update on Feb 15: Still nothing on Obama's site. Yeah, the audacity of hope. I also got after Markos, an alum, for not saying anything either.

Here's an eyewitness account.

Daily Illini has a gracious editorial and comments by student leaders and administrators at University of Illinois.

Mrs. Benny Endorses Hillary Clinton for President

My momma, Mrs. Benny, announced that she endorsed Hillary Clinton for president since Edwards is not running any more. Since I don't have a dog in the fight anymore, I support my mother in whomever she chooses.

To help facilitate getting my mother to vote and since she's unable to get out on Election Day in Texas, which is March 4th, I found a wonderful site that allows one to fill out a name, address, and city. The state of Texas, it seems, understands the needs of rural and older voters. She will receive a ballot, check it off, and mail it back in. Great service.

Mrs. Clinton, congratulations in earning my momma's vote. Oh, and Mr. President, as in Bill Clinton, Mrs. Benny still thinks you're a great guy and very handsome.








Oh, in case BW readers are wondering. No I am not voting for Mrs. Clinton or for Mr. Obama either this year. I already voted for my candidate, John R. Edwards.

Thought of the Day: On Love

(graphic courtesy of DK2)

On Love

Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them.

And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.


~Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

Happy Hearts Day

Today I am reposting a song by Gershwin that was relatively unknown until I heard Nancy LaMott do it on a recording Jonathan Schwartz had stashed away. Luckily, it is now on CD!

To my spouse, and to the good friends I've made through the Edwards campaign, and to the Edwardses especially, this song is for you.

Ask Me Again
Who's the One I've Begun to Adore
Ask Me Again
Who's the partner my clamors for

Who is the one who has me tied in a bow tie know
So that I know not
Just where I'm at

Who is it makes my friends find
that I've a one track heart and mind?



Ask me again
Let me tell how I fell from the start
One Look and then
Couldn't govern the love in my heart

Who is it
I looked high and low
for whom I will care for my whole life through

Please ask me again, let me shout to the world--It's you--you!

John Edwards Copy Cats

By RosyB ..she is right. Watch and see...

Thought of the Day

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. ~ Albert Einstein

I suspect John Edwards will be the man who will work to eradicate poverty. Watch this wonderful video by thewinch, to the music of Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man (h/t scooterpi at JREG):

Message to Ralph Nader

Great snark video.

Thought of the Day: IF

Offered by a JRE supporter JCNCNY on the last hours of the JRE blog, the poem IF by Rudyard Kipling:

"IF"

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

John Edwards Blog to go Dark Tomorrow

From the site:

Elizabeth has called blogs "the new town squares" and bloggers the "modern day pamphleteers." With that thought in mind, we hope that you will continue to blog, chat, debate and discuss the issues that are important to you, and to our country, even if it is in a different square.

To read a reaction to this from a strong supporter, Karita:

Thank you for this community.

Karita Hummer in Diaries
2/11/2008 at 7:19 PM CDT

The campaign for economic justice goes on!

I want to thank all of you have made this such a welcome and supportive place. I am so sad that our blog here is ending, but I know that we will keep the inspiration with us for a long time, and will put the mission and vision of John Edwards as standards for all politicians in the future and for our own action agendas.

I, myself, will work myself toward the ends of economic justice, campaign finance reform, media reform, election reform, Democratic Party Reform, and citizen education. I will work to make sure that John Edwards' message and messages like his will be heard in this land.

I will be happy to join Edwards oriented blogs, and I have already. But, I will sorely miss this one, my direct link to the JRE campaign and John Edwards, himself.

Karita Hummer
Edwards Democrat
Co-Captain
SCV4Edwards One Corps Chapter

My comment on the announcement on the Blog Home Page is just below:

Like losing a home! (none / 0)

I am so saddened to lose this home. It was the direct link to the Campaign and most importantly to John Edwards.

I visited it so many times a day, just to check in, to share, to support, to sing John Edwards praises and to become informed of all he stood for.

I will miss this home terribly.

God bless you, John and Elizabeth. We love you and will always be inspired by your mission and vision.

Karita and Paul Hummer
San Jose, CA

And to add a song from the UU songbook that was played at my wedding 7 years ago: For the Earth, Forever Turning.

Thought for the Day

I offer a thought here that I read out of the UUA Handbook/ (reading 658)

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk exposing our true self
To place our ideas-our dreams-before the crowd is to risk loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
To live is to risk dying

Seems to fit my life and John and Elizabeth Edwards too.

Speaking of, Barack Obama is going to meet JRE in Chapel Hill today. Should be interesting what portends out of that conversation.

Have a good day, BW readers.

UPDATE: another long thoughtful piece--read David Mizner's post at the Daily Kos on what went wrong on Edwards' campaign strategy. It's very good.

Technorati is Whacked

I was looking at the blogs that link to my posts here and there are two sites that are essentially spam. One of them is http://democrats.independent2008.net, which if you put it in the browser, it doesn't show up on Firefox, and the other is http://johnedwards.learndba.net/. Both have bot mines the net for John Edwards tags, but give wrong attributions as to which blogs made the posts.

The reason why Technorati is whacked is because this http://democrats.independent2008.net is ranked as a higher authority than my blog, yet, it doesn't really exist per se.

I will write Technorati soon about it. Meanwhile, don't trust it as authority on which blogs have authority...or not.