I'm with you, but we're in the extreme minority. Two words: Bill. Clinton.
Posted by Jeff Dinelli at August 8, 2008 12:57 PMBush 1 had a girlfriend the whole time he was in office; it was hilarious how Barr had to fly in the back o' the bus while George's girly rode up front with him.
And like I said earlier, at least Dems have affairs with normal people. Fookin' 'pukes are perverts, like Diaperboy Vitter, Methmouth Haggard, and whoever JeffyLube was fuckin' in the WH, prolly Rove.
Posted by iamcoyote at August 8, 2008 12:58 PMOh, and didn't Nixon have that Asian-American girl on the houseboat for trysts?
Posted by Jeff Dinelli at August 8, 2008 12:58 PMYou know, the cure for this is keep wrinkly white guys outta the White House, eh?
Posted by iamcoyote at August 8, 2008 01:00 PMI'm no fan of either of the Edwards'. That said, this is indeed nobody's business.
I think the real story here though is the extent to which the media, save Slate and the National Inquirer, colluded in covering this up and not reporting about this until now.
If it were the Clintons, it's fair to say that the media's behavior would be quite different.
Morality-wise, yeah it sucks but is hardly unique.
But, this is rather appalling judgment. When you're picking a nominee, character counts.
Posted by Geek, Esq. at August 8, 2008 01:15 PMHey, he was my first choice for President... his wife is sick... so yeah, it matters to me at least. Have to remember he's human, weak like all men... really a dog, like most men!
Posted by Seven of Six at August 8, 2008 01:28 PMI love how people rush to say "it's private", but religious conviction is a MUST-KNOW.
Fuck that guy. He ran around the country throwing god in everybody's face, his humble upbringings, his devotion to family, and meanwhile he's banging somebody else?
It's COMPLETELY relevant. As long as religion is a requirement (how many "What's your favorite passage from the Bible" questions were asked at the debates?), then infidelity is absolutely fair game.
Posted by MaskedVigilante at August 8, 2008 01:40 PMMeanwhile, Russia has apparently launched a major military invasion of the sovereign Republic of Georgia. Not that such issues are important in light of recent revelations about John Edwards' wandering penis, but just thought you'd all like to know.
Posted by Donald from Hawaii at August 8, 2008 01:52 PMDonald, I was just going to mention Russia's invasion! Great minds, and all that.
Posted by iamcoyote at August 8, 2008 02:00 PMThe Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! Duck and cover!
If Edwards had not run would Clinton have won the primary?
Posted by TIKI AL at August 8, 2008 02:54 PMWhere do you draw the line on what is important about a candidate's personal life? I don't care whether s/he goes to church or not, but I care if s/he does cocaine. Both are aspects of one's personal life.
Posted by ann at August 8, 2008 02:58 PMann,
doing coke impairs cognition. having an affair usually doesn't.
Posted by Turkana at August 8, 2008 03:04 PM"While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 -- just a month after dumping Carol and securing a divorce. The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii."
Well, hope the GOP will be as condemning of McCain if they're going after Edwards.
Posted by ann at August 8, 2008 03:10 PMI think BooMan has the right take on this. He - and Elizabeth, who has known about it for some time - put the election, and therefore the entire country, not to mention the world, in very serious jeopardy. What if he had been the nominee, and then this had come out? Is there any doubt we would have ended up with at least four more years, and possibly eight, of what we have had, and possibly even worse?
Posted by Shirin at August 8, 2008 03:11 PMI just saw this news and my mouth just dropped open and I seriously had trouble closing it. I just can't believe it. I don't give a crap about John Edwards, but I adore his wife and it always seemed to me that they were such an incredibly close couple and really in love in a way that you don't see very often. This makes me very sad.
Posted by CG at August 8, 2008 03:21 PMCG, my sentiments exactly. I am very sad, as I was an Edwards fan all the way, and had hoped he would be the Democratic nominee. It doesn't change my opinion of Edwards, but I did expect more of him.
Iamcoyote, wonder why the MSM failed to mention Bush I and his liason. And your right, at least Edwards was having straight sex, instead of kinky
Republican sex.
Well Peter, I owe you an apology. Never would I have ever thought Edwards would have an affair.
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2008 03:56 PMI don't care about (or want to know about) the private lives of politicians. However, like it or not, alot of people do. It was incredibly reckless for him to run for president, repeatedly denying an affair, when it's only a matter of time before stuff like this comes out. It's not just him, or
Democrats, but the country which would have suffered if he were the nominee when this came out.
"It's not just him, or
Democrats, but the country which would have suffered if he were the nominee when this came out."
Precisely! That is the real issue. The rest is between him and his family and his conscience.
And it is not only the country that would have suffered, but the whole world!
Posted by Shirin at August 8, 2008 04:04 PMI hope to hell Obama doesn't have something that will surface in Oct.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 8, 2008 05:25 PM...having an affair usually doesn't.
Depends on how cute they are, if they stuff their tongue in my ear, and how many drinks it takes before they try and lay me.
I could care less about Edwards. He didn't get the nomination, he won't be V. P., and they are both adults (unlike Missouri republi-cons, Florida republi-cons...hell, 50 states and a couple of foreign country sex tours worth of republi-cons).
Posted by phidipides at August 8, 2008 05:31 PMHillary should still select Johnnie for VP. In the Democratic Party this should be considerd a plus...badge of honor if you will. I am sorry, did I say Hillary?
Tiki
You have real reasons to be concerned.
Stay tuned
Posted by jj at August 8, 2008 05:35 PM"You have real reasons to be concerned."
Could you enlighten me with one, oh mighty Nostradumass?
Posted by TIKI AL at August 8, 2008 05:42 PMI'm having a hard time with this one. I can't really care a lot. Of course, I don't get the grand spector of monogamy, either. I have a double standard: it's okay for me to screw around on a guy because it doesn't mean anything; but my guy better not screw around on me. Still...unless you are in the relationship, you can't understand the dynamic. People are capable of forgiveness and the grace of apology. Is all that marriage is, sexual fidelity?
Posted by ann at August 8, 2008 06:01 PM
Enlighten?....nawww...not really possible.
Give you a tip?....yeaaaa,... maybe.
OK.
Don't concern yourself with October !!
Posted by jj at August 8, 2008 06:07 PMGod, please let John Edwards pontificate at the convention....right after Bill Clinton.
Posted by Bagley at August 8, 2008 06:16 PMBagley: "God, please let John Edwards pontificate at the convention....right after Bill Clinton."
Oh, please. It's just sex, of which you apparently are in desperate need.
In the meantime, grow up, will ya?
Posted by Donald from Hawaii at August 8, 2008 06:42 PM"God, please let John Edwards pontificate at the convention....right after Bill Clinton."
And, please let John McCain pontificate at the GOP convention, after all:
While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 -- just a month after dumping Carol and securing a divorce. The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii.
Posted by ann at August 8, 2008 07:08 PMEdwards private life is none of my business. However, let's just say he had won the nomination, and the Republicans had found out about the affair. Six weeks before the election, the bomb is dropped. This is the sort of thing the Republicas love. That's why I am disappointed in him. I think it was a very bad judgement call.
TIKI, the same thought occurred to several of us tonight while discussing the affair. Obama better be squeaky clean. Although we all know that the Republicans aren't beyond paying someone to say what they want, and truth doesn't enter the equation. But then again, I think Clinton was set-up, so I am an extremist on this sort of thing.
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2008 08:23 PMGod, please let John Edwards pontificate at the convention....right after Bill Clinton.
Oh, god! Please let Mark Foley pontificate at the republi-con con-vention. He can come on right after Larry Craig and before the idolators and child molestors! In the name of your gay son, Amen.
Posted by phidipides at August 8, 2008 09:02 PMRight on, Turkana.
In the case of sex, Repukes/MSM are the terrorists and we have dutifully become the frightened bedwetters. Their 8-year nuking of Clinton has us ALL dancing to their fucking tune. FUCK THAT. AND FUCK THEM.
Craig, Gingrich, Vitter, Rudy, McCain, ad infinitum .. all still thriving in public life .. vis-a-vis the gnashing and shaming and flogging and instant political execution of Spitzer, Edwards ..
Sorry, but anymore I don't think we Dems are going to have a winner until s/he says "Fuck You," literally, to the MSM. And a mighty cheer would probably arise in the land.
Well Judith, the worst has been admitted to. I'm so sorry for Elizabeth and their children. This is a tough one for them. Believe me when I say this, I had hoped the NE had this wrong. I had hoped that, as someone floated out there, he was covering up for an assistant. This is awful news. I'm very saddened by this news.
Marriage and commitment are hard to keep going.
My #3 son just got married, and my wife and I cross our 31st anniversary next Tuesday the 12th.
Yes, this is the kind of issue that sends millions of conservative, tight-assed Americans to the fainting couch. It is so tedious; it is such a bore.
Some American's sexual hysteria and finger-wagging over sexual infidelity makes the whole of Europe titter with amusement.
It would be hilarious, if it didn't tend to throw our elections to the Neanderthals.
Posted by Copeland at August 8, 2008 09:44 PMMy #3 son just got married, and my wife and I cross our 31st anniversary next Tuesday the 12th.
The wife isn't jealous of your goatblowing?
Posted by Seven of Six at August 8, 2008 09:59 PMMy #3 son just got married, and my wife and I cross our 31st anniversary next Tuesday the 12th.
Congrats to your son and family! I wish you many fat and happy grand babies. As far as you and your wife making 31 years, congrats again, peter. (Although I do wonder if we maybe shouldn't contact his Popeliness and ask about beatification or something for your wife. Jesus, I can't imagine putting up with you.)
Posted by phidipides at August 8, 2008 11:46 PM(Although I do wonder if we maybe shouldn't contact his Popeliness and ask about beatification or something for your wife. Jesus, I can't imagine putting up with you.)
No reason doing that Phid, cousins can put up with each other longer.
Posted by Seven of Six at August 9, 2008 12:11 AMI'm with the poor judgement call....just what the heck was he thinking that he could get away with it....and I'm disappointed. That said, I wish him and his family (especially Elizabeth) the best working through this.
Posted by emal at August 9, 2008 05:48 AMSeven, one of the Marx Brothers would answer, " I take it you know that from personal experience."
Phid, I take no credit, the wife's a saint, but for not being stupid enough to try to blow the marriage up. The wife's sister has 34 plus years and her parents are on the high side of 57 years of marriage.
Posted by peter at August 9, 2008 06:42 AMthe wife's a saint, but for not being stupid enough to try to blow the marriage up.
So, she's stupid, but not stupid enough to get the hell out, is that it? Wow, what a loving tribute, but accurate. I guess she likes goats, then eh?
Posted by iamcoyote at August 9, 2008 07:19 AMParsing again, forget the first part of the sentence. Typical Democrat, try the sentence without "the wife's a saint". Gee Coyote, at least Phid can get past things. Bitter huh?
Posted by peter at August 9, 2008 08:17 AMpants pissing peter: "Marriage and commitment are hard to keep going."
indeed, just ask John McCain
Posted by gay veteran at August 9, 2008 02:19 PMYes this could have been a tragedy if he was the nominee during this Seldon crisis!
Posted by pious peter at August 9, 2008 08:35 PMI start with the assumption that all of them are screwing around, so that way I don't have to disappointed in them. I think it's a pretty fair assumption, too.
Posted by DeniseB at August 11, 2008 09:33 PM