Hey, it’s not up to me anymore. This stuff is out there, so either grin and bear it or hit that scrollbar:
- First things first: According to no less an authority than Pigeon O’Brien, Rielle is pronounced “Ree-elle.” Not “Riley” or “Real” or “Cosmic Babymaker McGee” or anything else. So that’s one unanswered question down, a zillion to go…
- When you’re campaigning for president and you think your hometown newspaper is about to run with a story about your infidelity — and, inevitably, the intricate and expensive coverup of that infidelity — you know what’s a good weapon to have in your arsenal? Your wife’s cancer.
- McSweeney’s presents: Edwards! The Musical.
- A commenter on Toby Harnden’s blog at the Daily Telegraph says:
Nobody in the general public actually cares about John Edwards or his unsavory behavior. Edwards became ancient history the first five minutes after this thing broke.
But according to Deceiver supercommenter Fortunate Son, that opinion is ill-informed:
The NYT might be a bunch of miserable research-bandits, but they’ve got quite a few readers. At least for now… - Despite the National Enquirer’s ownership of this story and the grudging respect they’re getting from the “real” press, their parent company, American Media Inc., is in deep financial doo-doo.
- David Usborne at The Independent asks: “Just days before the start of the Democratic convention in Denver, which will culminate in the crowning of Barack Obama, are we, in fact, seeing the early outlines of a first-rate political cover-up?” Could be!
- Another interesting tidbit from that Independent story: The night before Edwards “confessed,” his good friend and benefactor Fred Baron held a fundraiser for… I probably shouldn’t say. (Some of my best friends are from Illinois, honest!)
- Retired North Carolina journalist Bob Wilson has some advice for his younger colleagues: “An Edwards Story Lesson: Use the Elephant.”
- Howard Kurtz reflects on the unerring journalistic instincts that have made him the name he is today:
I had a strong feeling last weekend when John Edwards finally acknowledged having an extramarital affair that we hadn’t heard the end of this thing.
Really? It’s always helpful when they put stuff like that in the first sentence, so I don’t have to waste time reading the rest.
- DBKP does a very close reading of the press releases put out by various members of the Edwards camp. The more DBKP connects the dots on this story, the clearer the picture becomes: a noose.
- HotAir.com has questions about the timeline. At this point we can all agree that the Edwards version is not to be considered canon, yes?
- If you’ve been thinking Rielle Hunter’s life would make a great episode of Law & Order, Dick Wolf is wayyyy ahead of you.
- Stranahan: “As we head into the the Democratic convention, the Edwards scandal isn’t over. It’s really just beginning.” And the commenters howl for blood…
- “…because they’re trying to prove, um… uh, uh, uh, uh, someone is the father of my baby who’s not…”
- As always, you can find Deceiver’s complete coverage of the whole mess here. Note that we were looking into the NYT’s most-searched story two weeks before they even deigned to write about it.
Some interesting reactions from John Edwards regarding his campaign’s firing of their “Official Blogger” for her online crucification of the Duke Lacrosse Players.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/04/06/edwards_transcript/index2.html
Okay, now get jiggy with it!
Cheater’s Rap
John Edwards talked about Dad’s mill,
While sleeping with a chick off the pill,
He lied and fibbed to the MS press,
And, awoke early to preen and dress.
His wife, Elizabeth, ate his lies in ‘06,
But supported John in Iowa while sick,
They stole Hillary’s honest votes daily,
And laughed on cue, and hiding Rielle.
Why did John lie like a cheatin’ rat ?
No “New Deal” for the average Democrat,
While Obama and Hillary fought on the stump,
John Edwards watched Rielle grow a bump.
Now John’s love child is common news,
And Fred Baron has money to lose,
Rielle, now nursing, has jetted away,
Even Geraldo has joined the fray!
John’s affair has hurt his poor kids,
More than Clinton’s cigars ever did,
A sordid tale that some call a crock,
The only winner, a loser named Barack!
Like dogs in heat, Edwards did pant,
Defined forever, just like Hugh Grant,
Tabloids paid to get the sleaze,
Is it John’s baby, mister please?
Vote for John Edwards, give me chills,
Meet you for sex in Beverly Hills,
John, don’t need to prove you ain’t a gay,
Just pony up to compare your DNA.
See Barack in Hawaii like Bobby Vinton,
Unaware the DNC plans to elect a Clinton,
Edwards may face time from the tax man,
But not if a pardon is part of Obama’s plan.
While Elizabeth cried over her brood,
Baby mama with John was not a prude,
Gone the innocent days of Tom Sawyer,
John gettin’ love like a real trial lawyer.
“Deceiver supercommenter Fortunate Son”
… has done an incredible job. Thanks to both FS for posting, as well as others who have given big contribs, and Deceiver for carrying this story along. While the lack of attention to the story by the MSM is appalling, I have really enjoyed watching it unfold on this page. I first came here for entertainment, but am incredibly impressed with the way you’ve followed this story and followed up on tips.
Hats off.
Forgive me, but I was reading another blog (sorry) and they spoke of Rielle Hunter’s real name and her father being involved in criminal activity — I didn’t know all that. So not only is her future questionable, but her past may be, also??
Howar Kurtz thinks JE’s story is full of holes? YOU THINK, DIMWIT? There are enough holes that even Stevie Wonder could drive a truck through it!!
I love the smell of crow in the morning….
When the heck was that 911 call taken?
And if AY is REALLY the father of her baby, how come he hasn’t come forward since the Hilton incident to defend his child?
The best defense is a good offense, and if JE truly isn’t the father of RH’s baby, then there would be no reason in the world why RH wouldn’t agree to a test to clear JE. This is so much hogwash!
Not just when, PJ, but where?
Kaye, that stuff is just starting to come out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=munson_lester&id=3533725
The New York Times/CBS polls show John Edwards probably WAS still a legitimate VP Candidate, as even polls ending August 17, 2008, a full 9 days after the his ‘confession’, placed him in third place under popular frontrunner Hillary Clinton and only 2 percentage points behind Joseph Lieberman.
http://i38.tinypic.com/1syz9f.jpg
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Demdel-VP.pdf
(and Thanks Hi Heels!)
I’ve often heard various folks comment on how wonderfully varied, complex and diverse the English language is, effortlessly welcoming foreign words and phrases ‘into the fold’. The depth of our language is sometimes described as a ‘bottomless reservoir’ of nuance.
I agreed with that sentiment, but no longer, thanks to John Edwards. I’ve been struggling the last two weeks for words to describe exactly how much of a douchebag he really is. And sadly, for the first time I find my native tongue wanting. The adjectives simply aren’t ‘there’ to accurately describe how much of a manipulative, calculating, reprehensible, scumbag, liar, phony, narcissistic, empty-suit, jackass he really is.
See that? My best effort to ‘capture’ the fundamental essence of John Edwards rings completely hollow. It’s like calling the Grand Canyon a ‘really big ravine’. I would otherwise be embarrassed by my linguistic impotence, but I really don’t think it’s my fault. He has simply re-defined the boundaries of douche-baggery, shattering the power of words to define him. It is, in wierd sort of way, a mark of greatness. A legacy, if you will.
The Rielle Hunter 911 Call.
Where: Occurred on Los Angeles Freeway
When: A few days before Edwards admitted the affair
(Most likely afternoon of August 6, 2008)
Result: Rielle Hunter was directed by police to a local station
Charges: Photographer following her was cited for an illegal U-turn
Occupants: She stated she had her daughter in the car with her.
“John Edwards” is now the third (#3) most searched term on the NYT in the last thirty days, right behind “Obama” (#2) and “Cell phone” (#1).
Curiously “McCain” ranks 18th (#18).
http://www.nytimes.com/gst/mostsearched.html?period=30
Mickey Kaus gives a shout-out to Deceiver:
When it comes to rounding up John Edwards news and links, I can’t hope to compete with Deceiver.
http://www.slate.com/id/2197768/
Somebody’s getting a T-shirt ….
John Edwards chief strategist Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, apparently still in the Edwards inner circle as of four days ago*, says “Barack Obama’s elitist campaign alienates South”.
Let me guess… maybe the millionaire son of a poor millworker could help reach out?
Silly Saunders… Step 1 in redeeming public sinners is high profile rehab.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4553100.ece
* (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/081508dnpol-baron.4c2a45b6.html)
Rielle’s scene in Ricochet with Denzel has finally been uploaded/digitized:
http://gawker.com/5038466/rielle-hunter-movie-star
A Gawker commenter has the best quip:
“John Edwards must have had the same look as Denzel when those pesky National Enquirer reporters trapped him him the bathroom.”
Memo to Fortunate Son … You must be a helluva P.I. in your day job. Drop me an e-mail and let’s talk.
I have no doubt Dick Wolfe will massage this story into a L&O script, but it of course will become a Republican senator or pol, since their stories always end up that way. We’ve stopped watching L&O; the formula is just pathetically predictable and all the cast changes have become downright annoying.
Sweet, I love Law and Order!
John Edwards needs to come clean about the entire thing. He’s already lost whatever carreer he had left, so what does he have to lose?
She is hot..