Correctly Impolitic

Once upon a time there were Olympic games in China and, as predicted, there was violence - but not terrorism. Two American tourists were stabbed by a disturbed Chinese citizen who traveled 700 miles to do damage and then kill himself.  It just proves that if someone wants to kill someone they will find a way to do it.  I doubt that this whacko planned to kill these particular tourists.  It was most likely random.  But he clearly wanted to kill someone and these people were wrong place wrong time.  The President says the US government will offer assistance-he clearly has never asked a Diplomat abroad to assist with anything-and that is also a tragedy-maybe not the same level but when you look at attitudes toward Americans today, it is a tragedy none the less.

On a happier note. Well, not really happier but different…

Once upon a time (you know I love that as a start because, as you can see,  it’s always more than once and you can usually identify a time, so that adds a touch of irony), there was a middle class young man who worked hard to become a success. Which he did… and along the way he got married, had children, suffered some devastating tragedy and became a very rich lawyer (very rich).  Then he went on to become a US Senator, a Vice Presidential candidate and he even ran for President.  This has all been in the news non stop because along with all his other achievements he became a liar and a cheat.  Quite simply, what he really was, was a dope.  My friend Sarah says that about a lot of politicians because she thinks it’s the best and easiest way to describe their mental capacity and behavior - and she’s right.

Ok, so it turns out that John Edwards is what so many people thought- a fast talking, too slick, ambulance chasing,  attorney at law.  He had an affair with a younger -but not too young-woman who he then hired to produce his web cast video’s. Whew, that’s unusual. A politician who has an affair with someone and then pays them for whatever.  But here’s something different.  He actually told his wife (who was then and now suffering from terminal cancer), that he had an affair.  I wonder why.  Did he get herpes?  Did she get pregnant?  Who knows.  But I always ask myself the same question.  Why would he jeopardize all his deep and important relationships (children, friends) to get laid.  Bill Clinton said he did it because he could.  Spitzer never said why, but he absolutely thought he could. Patterson did it because his wife did it. Who cares.  They did it because they wanted to get laid and there was some financial transaction involved.  Oh, maybe the video maker is not a prostitute but there’s this thing about screwing around with “the power”.  Young artists want to sleep with established artists because they think that the talent will rub off?  Youthful political staffers (interns) want to sleep with the candidate because they think it will give them access to the “power”.  Or, as is the case with the Senator, President, Painter, Journalist, Chef, these women (like the men), also do it because they can.  And there’s usually no thought about any other person.

The media discussion is non-stop and revolves around the fact that Edwards has ruined his political career. Hello, in case someone missed this.  John Edwards has no political career.  He was an afterthought from the time he dropped out of the primaries.  He is a “was been”.  He probably went back to some day job but who knows because he is, as my mother would say, part of the “what was, was” crowd.
He and his family have reached some kind of accommodation.  And I have to say, when he talked about it with Bob Woodruff, I was convinced that he was sorry and he will continue to work for the poor.  But I’m so easy.

I have such mixed feeling about the whole situation. This is in no way a defense of the man or his actions. But it is nobody’s business whose baby the video maker delivered.  That is between her and the little baby Jesus.  (He went through this trauma with his parentage).  Second, Elizabeth knew about the affair  and decided her marriage was worth saving.  It doesn’t matter whether or not her cancer was in remission. The woman has a terminal disease.  There’s nothing she can do about it, but if you recall, when they talked about whether or not he would stay in the race, she said she was going to live whatever life she had left and obviously, she decided to do it with the sleeze. (And I mean that in the nicest possible way.)  Third, he clearly thought no one would find out.  (In my book it says someone will always find out-but he didn’t read it.) It happened in 2006 and regardless of the National Enquire reports (the writer said he didn’t understand why Edwards wouldn’t answer questions at 2:30 am), there was some desperation in Edwards actions.  Maybe he was running away or looking for a distraction from the cancer and what will become his reality. (Lance Armstrong left a wife with cancer and people are still wearing his bracelets).  And Lastly, don’t we have anything better to do than yak about our disappointment with an ex elected official who really doesn’t owe anyone but his family any explanations about his apparent lack of a moral core.  Or maybe lastly should be, “And they lived happily ever after?”