A post on Politico reminded me of why I find John Edwards one of the most shallow politicians of our era. And not just because of the hair. Or even the 28,000 square foot house when he yammers on about the two Americas.
My problem is that it’s “all about him.” Sure, politicians are narcissistic by nature, but Edwards takes it to a special level. Edwards’ assertion on the Politico video that “They want to shut me up” is a particular illustration of that.
This stuff’s not an accident. Nobody in this room should think this is an accident. You know, I’m out there speaking up for universal healthcare, ending this war in Iraq, speaking up for the poor. They want to shut me up. That’s what this is about. “Let’s distract from people who don’t have health care coverage. Let’s distract from people who can’t feed their children…. Let’s talk about this silly frivolous nothing stuff so that America won’t pay attention.”
They will never silence me. Never.
If we don’t stand up to these people, if we don’t fight em, if we don’t beat them, they’re going to continue to control this country. Thye’re going to control the media. They’re going to control what’s being said. They do not want to hear us talking about health care for everybody.
Well, scratch that. I want to shut him up too - but not because of his ideas (I’m actually sympathetic to national health care), but because he’s so boring and pompous and self-involved. The idea that they - whoever they are - would want to “shut him up” is ludicrous when much of what he says is parroted to one degree or another by all the Democratic candidates.
Of course, in special Edwards’ case there’s some kind of “conspiracy” to prevent this getting out. Someone is taking over the media or some such twaddle.
If Edwards believes this stuff, he’s delusional. More likely he’s just a huckster.
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14 Comments
1. Carl Spackler:Maybe Edwards is an Eliot Gantry?
Jul 28, 2007 - 8:53 am 2. Lem:Edwards does a poor imitation of Jerry Brown.
Unlike Moonbeam Jerry, Edwards has nothing interesting things to say; lest we forget he is saying it for the second time.
He’s initial chosen profession consumes a great deal of brain power imagining victims.
Jul 28, 2007 - 9:08 am 3. Roger:We shouldn’t be surprise if he dilutes himself into the idea that he is one.
True enough, LEM.
But I wouldn’t compare Edwards to Jerry Brown, even remotely. Brown - whatever you may think of him - is an interesting man with original ideas occasionally, rare for a politician. Edwards is an absolute bore and totally conventional in everything he says.
Jul 28, 2007 - 10:54 am 4. Barry Dauphin:John thinks “they” want to shut him up! Actually no one is listening to him, so he can talk all he wants.
Jul 28, 2007 - 12:22 pm 5. patrick neid:I’m not sure who is more insufferable, him or his wife?
Jul 28, 2007 - 2:53 pm 6. Captain Hate:“I’m not sure who is more insufferable, him or his wife?”
Not a very pc statement, so I totally approve. I don’t have an answer because just when I think it’s one of them, something extremely irritating by the other comes to mind.
Jul 28, 2007 - 3:23 pm 7. PeterUK.:You have to understand,Edwards picked his conversational skills up from his hair dresser.
Jul 28, 2007 - 5:13 pm 8. ic:“They” are those who threatened Perot so much in his daughter’s wedding that he shut down his campaign.
Jul 28, 2007 - 5:38 pm 9. Jeffersonian:Edwards is what raw, unadulterated ambition looks like in a $3,000 suit and a $400 haircut.
Jul 28, 2007 - 6:56 pm 10. David Thomson:“…but not because of his ideas (I’m actually sympathetic to national health care)”
We all might want to be “sympathetic to national health care.” Unfortunately, we are obligated to be rational about this matter—and not rely on pure emotion. National health care is doomed to fail. The concept conveniently ignores the principle of moral hazard. Human beings are innately selfish and will abuse anything perceived as “free.”
Jul 28, 2007 - 7:15 pm 11. TomTom:Thank you, David T. I am very scared that National Health Care is coming…it’s creeping under the tent. With the CHIP eligibility escalations… Politically we just can’t say no to kids, even if their parents sneak in with them.
Just like we can’t say “whoa” to the absurdly rising costs of college educations; we just throw more federal dollars into loan programs, instead of making colleges and universities compete on cost-effectiveness.
Jul 28, 2007 - 7:45 pm 12. photoncourier.blogspot.com:Have you heard about Elizabeth Edwards and the tangerines?
Jul 29, 2007 - 8:07 am 13. zefal:There was a Gary Larson cartoon where he shows us who the they in “they” are. Tried to find it using Google but haven’t been able to find it.
Jul 29, 2007 - 4:03 pm 14. The Friendly Grizzly:I just wish Mrs. Edwards would realize that there are two Americas. I mean, some folks can’t afford tangerines!
Jul 30, 2007 - 4:06 am