Saturday, August 09, 2008

Yet Another Narrative

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?” We're Just sayin...

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh please enough about John Edwards, can't you focus on what's really happening in world. I just spent two hours flipping through the stations to see what is happening in Georgia and all I get is John Edwards’ face. Thank god we live in a world of the internet to keep us informed. Perhaps you should try it. Sorry Iris, it’s just that I’m so sick of the media’s B.S. not covering what is really happening in the world, that reading one more person’s comment about John Edwards was a pisser.

Seanoryan

Anonymous said...

John Who?

The way the US media is playing this up, you'd think they got ancient movie film of John K. doing a Hollywood movie star.

Meanwhile Putin ordered what when the Red Army goose stepped?

News at the 11

W

David Hobby said...

A little media distraction goes a long way, IMO.

Am I the only one who thinks Russia is invading Georgia (will they burn Atlanta, too?) during a week in which the news will always begin with the line, "Today Michael Phelps continued in his quest to win a bajillion gold medals..."

Either way, I am expecting Burnett will be covering the swimming finals with an 8x10 pinhole camera.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that John Edwards is universally deemed to have been destroyed by this revelation, when a long line of politicians--including Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Gingrich, Livingston, Vitter and Clinton--were little more than temporarily wounded by the same misbehavior? Is it that we get angry for about five minutes and then forgive? Or forget? And why is is that with all this talk about how the Dems would really be screwed if Edwards were the nominee no one--and I mean no one--mentions the well-known fact that one John McCain began the physical portion of his current marriage before his prior marriage was dissolved? Isn't that an affair? I can't figure out when American prudishness rules the day, and when our "boys-will-be-boys" attitude takes over.

Iris&David said...

seanoryan,
no need to be sorry, I'm not the media and I feel the same way. I think that was my point but you're right there are really important issues that the media clearly doesn't think will interest the public-- what does that say about the political narrative

Anonymous said...

ahh yes Iris.....the political narrative...always adapted to a particular audience.

seanoryan

Anonymous said...

I (for one,anyway)thought it important an issue to raise. I mean, I may have only been married for nearly 15 years,yet I 'clearly' recall the part of "..through sickness and health."
in the ceremony.

The trouble in Georgia is an important matter in that part of the world--and this is a tragedy--
But soon, Edwards will be a faded part of an invisible crowd, and an unpleasant footnote of history somewhere..and in his wife's world lies another type tragedy compounded by his deeds.

This was a good issue to raise,Iris, regardless of what others think.

Anonymous said...

Aaah, forgot to sign my entry!

wb

Iris&David said...

The good news for any audience is that if they aren't happy about the perfromance they can always leave (hopefully during intermission so as not to be rude). The better news for a blobber audience is that they can be entertained (hopefully) for free or if they chose not to participate they don't have to read on and on and on

Unknown said...

"(Lance Armstrong left a wife with cancer and people are still wearing his bracelets)"

Lance Armstrong's wife (mother of his three in vitro children) left him to "discover herself". She says marriage made her lose her identity. You must be confusing her with Cheryl Crow who was one of many post divorce celeb flings. She was diagnosed with breast cancer some time after their much publicized split.

Unknown said...

"(Lance Armstrong left a wife with cancer and people are still wearing his bracelets)"

Lance Armstrong's wife (mother of his three in vitro children) left him to "discover herself". She says marriage made her lose her identity. You must be confusing her with Cheryl Crow who was one of many post divorce celeb flings. She was diagnosed with breast cancer some time after their much publicized split.