Posted on 08/17/2009 4:40:06 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
The National Enquirer is reporting what everyone already knew—that John Edwards is in fact the father of Rielle Hunter's child—and a North Carolina TV station says he may admit paternity. This news has been met largely with shrugs. Edwards is not only a failed candidate, he is a failed politician, with next to no influence among Democrats.
Still, the news raises two tantalizing hypothetical questions: What if Edwards had won the Democratic nomination? What if he had won the presidency?
First question first. It's easy to forget how close John Edwards came to being the Democratic nominee. When Edwards entered the presidential race in December 2006, many people saw him as the Democrats' best hope. Unlike Obama, he had legislative experience. Unlike Hillary, he'd spent two years touring Iowa and beefing up his populist credentials. And no one blamed him for Kerry's loss in 2004. He was smart, good-looking, and Southern—just like every Democratic president since Johnson.
So what would the primary have looked like? Let's pretend, since we're making all this up anyway, that Obama had decided not to enter the race—he had heeded the "wait your turn" argument many Democrats were making. Edwards would likely have sucked up all the energy and talent that instead ended up joining Obama. David Axelrod had worked for Edwards in 2004, and David Plouffe had worked for Axelrod. (Axelrod had also worked with Hillary on epilepsy advocacy but never as a candidate.) Edwards' themes might even have been "Hope" and "Change." Meanwhile, the big endorsements for Obama—Ted Kennedy, Bill Richardson, not to mention major unions like the SEIU and Teamsters—would likely have gone to the relatively progressive Edwards.
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
good-looking - In a prissy, femmy, faggy way, maybe. I'm a hetero guy, so I'm not qualified to judge.
and Southern - Aw, HELL no!! Not a real Southerner, not as I know them.
Very interesting thought.
It represents total failure of the mighty investigative machine. Deaf, dumb and blind they are
He is an Ambulance Chaser for GOD Sakes!
His record in the Senate was not worth running for reelection on which is why he chose to be Kerry's Running Mate.
Good points. Hard to expand on them. Were it not for a compliant press, this nightmare would not be president (little p).
However the VP debate between candidates, Palin and Edwards, would have been interesting, no??
So we have the Joker
Dig the first line in the Rolling Stoned story:
>>If he weren't rich, handsome and so well married, you might feel a little sorry for John Edwards.
Well married? Faithful to his cancer-stricken wife? Not quite as it turned out
Dick Morris is quoted as saying his being male and white were not so much as advantage this time: ""The party is anxious to nominate a black or a woman," And it describes him as 'progressive' but still with the ability to draw in moderates: "the Real John Edwards, a shoot-from-the-hip progressive who won't scare away moderates. "
Translation = We found someone we think is worse than Obama.
He could not have beaten McCain.
Also, I disagree that Edwards had a good shot at the Dem nomination—his chance was zero. The party was hell bent on nominating a woman or a minority—white males (even silky haired ones) need not apply.
"Ma! Ma! Where's my pa?"
"Gone to the White House, ha, ha ha"
It was in the July 21st edition that the Buffalo Evening Telegraph dropped a bombshell into the presidential campaign of 1884. Under the banner of "A Terrible Tale," the Telegraph announced to the world "The Pitiful Story of Maria Halpin and Governor Cleveland's Son." The story was that Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland, a bachelor, had had an affair resulting in the birth of a son.
Cleveland's primary supporters and campaign staff asked if it was true, and he said that it was indeed so. When asked how to handle it in the campaign, he said, "Tell the truth." (snip)
The Republicans used the campaign slogan, "Ma Ma, Where's my Pa?" The controversy about public service and private morality raged across the nation.
His mistress “Rielle” was also a major piece of work. She was the basis for a fictional character “Allison Poole” in several books, including “The Story of My Life” and “Glamorama”. [I’m not making this up] Basically, she was a party girl who preyed on the rich and famous. In short, she was the polar opposite of Elizabeth Edwards.
As a woman who likes “manly men”—Edwards’ looks never impressed me either. I always thought that if you gave him a sequined jacket, he’d look like Liberace. Not exactly a manly-man.
Send the two of them out into the wild. He would come back harvested, field dressed, skinned and ready for the butcher.
She would come back with dinner!
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