Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The John Edwards ride, RIP

This reporter is not in the habit of reading the Enquirer, let alone relying on its articles. However, the mag seems to have nailed John Edwards, so to speak.

Senior NATIONAL ENQUIRER Reporter Alexander Hitchen asked Edwards why he was visiting Rielle and whether he was ready to confirm that he was the father of her baby.

Shocked to see a reporter, and without saying anything, Edwards ran up the stairs leading from the hotel basement to the lobby. But, spotting a photographer, he doubled back into the basement. As he emerged from the stairwell, reporter Butterfield questioned him about his hookup with Rielle.

Edwards did not answer and then ran into a nearby restroom. He stayed inside for about 15 minutes, refusing to answer questions from the NATIONAL ENQUIRER about what he was doing in the hotel. A group of hotel security men eventually escorted him from the men's room, while preventing the NATIONAL ENQUIRER reporters from following him out of the hotel.


On the other hand, one would think if you were going to stake out Edwards, you’d have a camera in tow. Yet, no pictures to support this story. Notwithstanding that nagging doubt, it appears that Edwards has reached the end of the line. A mistress and a Love Child? Even if the whole story is not true, something is not right if Edwards was anywhere that hotel, Rielle and the stairwell. Perhaps Mr. Bill could survive that. John Edwards? I don’t think so.

He would have made, some close to Obama and some in the MSM thought, a solid VP choice for Obama. Edwards is your prototypical attack dog and a great debater. He has roots in the south, although distrusted by many in his home states of North and South Carolina. And, he is much more of a populist than Obama.

Yes, he is short of military experience and national gravitas. But, Obama-Edwards would have oozed youth, energy, charm, smarts and confidence in the future. In a new age election, this ticket wasn’t balanced; it didn’t even try. Instead, it was all about electrifying the country. It was less like JFK and LBJ than it was JFK running with JFK.

And, if Edward’s military and foreign policy shortfall was a problem, Obama might like Edwards as his Attorney General. Edwards was like that. He was a trial lawyer who didn’t know from losing. In 2004, he came this close to surging at the end to take Iowa. And, if he had won there, who knows. Coming up short, he was still the VP nominee.

In the 2008 Presidential Dem Primay finals competition, Edwards rounded out the Obama-Clinton-Edwards Mod Squad. Of the three, John Edwards was widely thought to be the best natural politician. Yet, Obama would summarize it well from the podium when he would look around and say, “we got a woman, we got an African-American and we got John Edwards.” As Obama implied, Team Edwards was overwhelmed by two organizations whose time had come. As they say-- In politics, timing is everything.

Perhaps Edwards sensed all along this would be his last "picture show," and timing just wasn’t with him. And now, even his trial lawyer skills can’t work their magic. A love-child would seem to be the ultimate nanny problem. Good-bye John Edwards. It was an interesting ride, while it lasted.
********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, this past week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*************************************************************
Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include this past Monday night's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols