Well, Steve, are you telling us he should call you and tell you to stop trapping gophers?

You know what? If America cares whether or not Edwards is screwing around on the side while these crazy bastards in the White House are killin' Muslims at an exponential rate, then we are one seriously fucked up batch of people.

BTW, what do you think of Coulter's TRULY anti-semitic comments that she made on the Hannity show? Now that story oughta trump any speculation about where Edwards unzips, and for whom.

I'm so glad that the Washington Note has taken it upon itself to trumpet dirty rumors. Coming here is way more convenient than having to drive to the grocery store, stand in line and buy the National Enquirer.

Jan. 21 2007 Steve wrote:

"I will frame this as a "question" for Bill Richardson.

Have you behaved inappropriately or not in public settings with female members of your government administration, jokingly or not? Have you gestured to female public servants and political appointees -- who work as colleagues with you -- and made lewd gestures, specifically pointing to them and then pointing at your crotch with a room full of media and other politicos there in the room?

I ask this not to demean or undermine Richardson."

Another thought: Steve why don't you as Senator Hagle about this. I,for one, would be interested in hearing his response:

"Back when Hagel first ran there for the U.S. Senate in 1996, his company's computer-controlled voting machines showed he'd won stunning upsets in both the primaries and the general election.

The Washington Post (1/13/1997) said Hagel's "Senate victory against an incumbent Democratic governor was the major Republican upset in the November election." According to Bev Harris of www.blackboxvoting.org, Hagel won virtually every demographic group, including many largely Black communities that had never before voted Republican. Hagel was the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in Nebraska. "

Susan -- you distract from what needs to happen in a world class presidential campaign. American politics has a sleaze factor. Stuff gets dug up. If Giuiliani gets the nomination, I can't wait to see it all flow. But Edwards is a great guy -- very good on many of the issues I care about, particularly economic policy.

Sam Stein and Mickey Kaus surfaced information that deserves a serious response. Others, perhaps like the National Enquirer, took those dots and connected them to other faked (or real) material.

I don't care actually as I think it would be irrelevant whether Edwards had affairs or not -- but my view is not mainstream America.

And to deal with the "political" realities of the allegations -- Edwards can't sit back and depend on the decency of Americans to just ignore questions about the videographer, etc.

He issued a denial. It's not the kind of denial I would have liked to have seen him make -- particularly if he is completely innocent of these charges.

Politically, I would have liked to have seen him demand a retraction from the National Enquirer -- and to promise legal action if that retraction did not occur.

And thanks for surfacing the Richardson material. I stand by every single word in it. Richardson has called the post an "unkind" one -- but has not denied it. There is much about Richardson I like -- but I didn't like how he treated his female colleagues "in public." I make no mention at all of his private behavior -- just to be clear.

I'm also very happy to see his Lt. Governor, Diane Denish, running for the Domenici Senate Seat. She's world class -- and would make a stunningly good Senator, far better than Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez.

-- Steve Clemons

the link doesn't work.. either they have taken the story down, or???

I've been thinking about my questions from yesterday.

Denial, even as strong as Steve is hoping for, is not enough. Denial will simply repeat the story, and denial will be used by the Right-Wing Propaganda Machine (otherwise known as "The Media") as proof that the story is true. Thus is the sad state of politics and journalism today.

So what to do?

Take this one page from the RWPM play-book. Attack.

We have seen some action on this with the Frost family story, with Olbermann at least vilifying the RWPM for putting a perfectly innocent family, including a 12-year-old boy, in danger of their lives for stating their beliefs.

This needs to be the action on this. Something like what Steve is calling for; sue the paper; impugn the honesty and integrity of those making the charge (given who they are, not hard). Change the subject from the charge to the chargers.

Looks like this will not happen in this particular case, and that's too bad. Regardless of the veracity of this charge, or even the likelihood of his winning the nomination, Edwards' voice was a valuable one to have in this campaign.

Regardless of the truth of this charge, his campaign is over.

He will be missed.

...: Not sure why the LA Times link got pulled down...but you are right. I've replaced it with an AP story that said essentially the same as the LA Times.

best, Steve Clemons

First he's gay, according to coulter, and now he's a cheater-too funny how scared they are of Edwards.

Steve, I noticed the Enquirer story said something about the rumors being devastating "if proven true."

Can it be possible they said this to avoid a lawsuit because they were not actually confident about having proof.

D G -- That's an interesting angle. Possibly so. But it means even more strongly that John Edwards should compel an immediate, high profile retraction.

thanks for noticing that and bringing it to our attention.

Steve Clemons

"He really should shut down those promulgating this stuff." Steve Clemons

Well, maybe, he should shut YOU down.

Margaret -- maybe so, maybe so.

Thanks for the pithy comment.

Steve Clemons