http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080808/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_affair_1;_ylt=Ak.TISxSEIX3cW66VvhHpwFh24cA

The following excerpt from the ABC report stands out for me.

"Edwards said his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family became aware of the affair in 2006."

If that is true, then he has now also seriously damaged his wife's reputation, if she was still pushing to get him the nomination after she had learned that he was the new Gary Hart.

What is it with wife's of politicians. Are they just as driven for fame as their cheating husbands? How else can one explain why they continue to enable the cheating creeps that they are married too.

Elizabeth campaigned hard to get John the nomination, after she, according to her husband, already knew that he had this giant skeleton in his closet.

The first thought that came to my mind, when I read this news was that it killed any slim chance Hillary may have had to be picked as VP. There is no way that Senator Obama can pick her now, because the news about John Edwards cheating, is going to resurrect all of Bill's sordid history.

Even though the Senate Republicans welcomed back David Vitter, I doubt they'll be supportive of Edwards. I expect they'll work him into McCain's next attack ad.

I am so tired of hearing about what these politicians are doing with their pants off (although any scandal involving McCain would be a thrill - and a hoot!). I feel sorry for Edward's wife though. Thank God he didn't get the nomination.

I still like him.

After all, he did single-handedly make universal health care the first issue of the 2008 primary, and Obama and (former candidate) Hillary's proposals were more-or-less lifted directly from Edwards'.

Additionally, he bullied the Democratic party into ostracizing FOX News, who deserved it more than any other network.

Would that the remaining Democratic candidates in the primary had been as issue-focused as Edwards, we would have all been spared the nasty personal shit pre- and post-PA.

I still like him.

I sure hope Hillary doesn't seize the moment to play her scorned woman card, in an attempt to make herself relevant again. Yea, I know it's cynical of me, but the strongest message that has come out of this entire election cycle for me, is never underestimate the power of the Clintons to self-promote!

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

John Edwards was stupid for going there. Elizabeth Edwards was stupid for supporting him so strongly, knowing what he had done. The Americans in general are stupid for being so pathetically hyper-puritanical about sex.

For (insert diety of choice here)'s sake, the sex drive is the second strongest drive we have after the drive to survive.

I'm not saying we should all go out and have affairs, but I am really sick and tired of our inability to separate a person's sex life from his/her work life.

Was Edwards' political career going some place before the scandal news broke? It seemed to me he had gone as far as he could go as a politician with the demise of his run for the presidency.

Offshore Drilling is very risky for politicians. Storms can erupt and create the need for massive cleanups.

I would be more forgiving if he had run to be president of France. Everyone would have shrugged their shoulders over the revelation and wondered why it was on the news. In this country, to hide such baggage from his Democratic supporters, however, was selfish in the extreme, although he will not have been the first to do so. In fact, two of the last four Democratic presidents had major zipper issues.

Being guilty of a moral lapse in judgement is one thing. However, IMHO being a hypocrite is quite another:

In 1999, when Edwards was a senator, he said of President Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky:

"I think this president has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080808/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_affair

>>>Honestly, that he cheated says nothing - nothing, nothing, nothing - about how good he would be as president.

But the fact that he was willing to take enormous risks with his party and (if successful) his country DOES say something about how good he would be as president.

Same goes for Clinton. Because he was so addicted to high-risk behavior and then dealt with it by lying, etc., our country was paralyzed for many long months, partisan divide was magnified, and one can argue we got Shrub because people were so turned off by 'Democratic leadership.' That DOES matter.

And if the Vanity Fair article has credibility, we might have been in as untenable a position if Hillary had been nominated as we would if Edwards had been (not, I should add, because of her own behavior however).

I guess the Professional Christians, for whom no good sex goes unpunished, won't be voting for Edwards now. Oh wait, they never would have anyway. Oh wait, he already lost. Still, an opportunity to feel smug and righteous is a terrible thing to waste.

Eh. Sex happens. If I'm not involved, I'm not really all that interested. He prolly shouldn't have lied about it when he was asked about it though. People get uptight about politicians lying, even though we know that is something they do. I definitely think it's interesting that this story overshadowed a war between Russia and Georgia.

Oh, and if I had my choice, I would still pick Edwards for VP.

(Note: The following is a practical discussion, not idealistic.)

My guess is that John Edwards' political career is effectively over. Elizabeth Edwards, however, may very well be able to move into elected office, should she desire to do so.

Clinton's affair came out because of legal investigations inducing pre-trial discovery testimony. It was dug out, he hadn't engaged in public behavior, and he was under various unnecessary civil jeopardy that would have made acknowledging lead to only more absured discovery process. ("Tell us every female you've seen since you were 13? Name babysitters.")

I don't think Edwards is much better, but certainly his affair was less discreet.

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

This Edwards scandal puts a dark cloud once again over the Clintons and will certainly be the referendum on why the Obama campaign will need to take action to avoid any of these dubious connections that seem to have a scandal behind every door. It was just a few months ago we were focusing on that Gov. Spitzer and now this. Now look at the stories that were being reported before the Edwards admissions, it was Clintons, Clintons, Clintons now tell yourself why the Clintons are so special again, they are just guilty and the Edwards.

I feel this scandal effectively frees Obama on his decision to selecting a VP, he will ultimately choose a VP that is free of scandals like this which indirectly nails the coffin in the idea of a Obama-Clinton ticket. (Sighs relief)

I also think it would be wise for Obama to pick his VP before the convention, as half of the mainstream media will be flustered with the Edwards affair story, and NBC will be busy with the Olympics (no Morning Joe and Pat Buchanan to spread their anti-Obama talking points), perfect time to catch everyone off guard.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, now's your chance.

Very well stated... could not agree more.

One thing more that I would like to suggest is to consider the concepts of forgiveness and redemption.

Forgiveness is possible within a marriage when there is real love - the kind that is deeper than the surface. Betrayal is painful, but so is cancer. Sometimes we can overcome both of them and come out strong on the other side. Forgiveness is a very Christian value, but it is also a part of any transcendent view of the world. I know. I've been there, and love that is real can endure. That's why they call it "for better or for worse."

Redemption isn't about collecting McCain points and getting a ride on the Not-So-Straight Talk Express. It's about learning from mistakes and becoming stronger, clearer and more aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. Some people are serial abusers. Like other addicts, they don't learn from their repeated mistakes, but continually make excuses and repeat the same behaviors.

But for some people, mistakes are the greatest learning opportunities and the real chance to grow deeper and more self-aware. Through redemption can come strength, and if anything is needed when the sexual beast rears its head, it's strength of character.

I'm not talking here about John and Elizabeth Edwards. How they choose to handle this situation, and what the have learned from it are none of my business. I'm just speaking from experience and from my own viewpoint that all the moralizing that people do over other people's failures is often missing the fact that forgiveness, redemption and real abiding love are all possible in this world, cynical as it often seems.

As posted elsewhere, I reiterate:

As much as I deplore the media's feasting at the table of the Edward's table of misery, I do not agree that this is 'just about sex'.

Ah no, 'my friends' - this isn't a simple case (not to make light of adultery, as it is never simple or admirable) of infidelity. Much more.

Stop and consider for one moment please - Edwards was cognizant of his 'sordid affair' (I so love the '40's genre language from bad novels) when he threw his hat in the ring for POTUS. IF he had prevailed (which many thought was a distinct possibility at the onset) as the DNC nominee and this came out - well, most likely the Repubs wouldn't even need to try and rig the election.

And what if he took the VP spot (which he said he would if offered) - that would be just as bad. Or waited until Obama named him (of all things!) AG?
The fallout would be horrid.

Then there is the question of 'were campaign funds, contributions by unwitting supporters, diverted to accounts of this woman and Young?' If so, wrong on so many levels. (He didn't know? Perhaps - but no excuse, because it was his actions that created the mess.)

There are many other issues too.

But, this only proves that whatever we do creates a domino effect and will either benefit or harm others.

Nevertheless, his family should be left alone and the noxious gases being spat out by the media should be condemned and ceased immediately.

And another side note - it's seldom really about 'just sex'. And no, it isn't the sex that is any of our business - but his lack of concern for the potential damage (if lies revealed) to Obama, HRC, and DNC, et al. in this election is our business.

And Jade, to answer your question about his political future - my reply is, 'I certainly hope it is over. As it is said, fool me once, shame on you - if I come back for more, I deserve what I get.'