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, 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.

Some people here are rightfully criticizing Edwards for running for President with that skeleton in his closet, risking the party’s chances if he had won the nomination. She knew about the affair, and she campaigned for him. She was risking the party’s chances too. But nobody mentions that.

PS – Why don’t I have the right to be judgemental if I want to be? The choices and decisions of public figures are open to scrutiny and judgement once they become public. And it is one thing to not leave a cheating spouse and another to make excuses for them and support them. I do think that is pathetic, especially from someone in a position of so much privilege.

As a person who really doesn’t personally give much of a rat’s ass about sexual infidelity — I really can’t quite comprehend sexual jealousy, it’s just like being upset because your spouse went and played Rock Band with someone else when you really like playing Rock Band with him, what’s up with that? — I am sure that if I was ever in a position where my husband was a politician who got his dick caught in the cookie jar, people would be lambasting *me* for “what a wimp! why doesn’t she leave him?”

Whereas I would be kicking him around the house, not for sexing someone else, but for GETTING CAUGHT in this day and age of no privacy, and ruining his career thereby. But tragic stupidity is not a reason to leave your spouse, or I’d have already left him for washing the inside of my car with a hose.

A woman whose high-profile husband got caught cheating is, at least, an innocent party, and possibly an injured one. Why does *anyone* feel the need to opine about what she should or shouldn’t do about the situation, let alone *judge* her for what she does? Me, if I were dying of breast cancer, it would take actual physical abuse, or the abuse of my kids, or total narcissism and neglect of my condition, to make me leave a guy who’d been emotionally supportive otherwise. What dying woman has the time or emotional energy to find *another* person to love her and give her emotional support when she needs it, just because the guy who was doing it literally fucked up?

Let’s keep the focus of the discussion on John Edwards: Asshat, or asshat with possible justifiable excuse? and Media: Total empty suits, or is there a good reason for them to pursue a sex scandal about a guy who isn’t a politician anymore? Elizabeth Edwards: Why doesn’t she leave him? is not a discussion we should be having, because she’s not the one who did anything wrong and it’s none of our business.

Elizabeth Edwards put it at risk too. She knew about the affair, but continued to campaign for him in his bid for the Democratic nomination. Why does she get a pass?

How is Elizabeth Edwards a bad-ass? I’m pretty contemptuous of her. I would admire her if she’d kicked him to the curb for his crappy behaviour. Putting up with it and apologising for him is pathetic.

I imagine she’s got a lot of other things to think about first.

How is Elizabeth Edwards a bad-ass? I’m pretty contemptuous of her. I would admire her if she’d kicked him to the curb for his crappy behaviour. Putting up with it and apologising for him is pathetic.

Wow, what a judgmental ass you are. How dare you assume you understand Elizabeth Edwards and her marriage better than she does? You’re “contemptuous of her” simply because she made a personal decision about her personal relationship that contradicts what you think you might have done in the same situation? Of course, you have no idea what their situation was or is, now do you? – seeing as how it’s not something you’re involved in. Nor do you have any idea how you would react if placed in her situation.

I get very tired of all of the judging of the injured spouse that goes on when something like this comes out. If she stays with him, she’s weak and doesn’t deserve respect. If she leaves him, she’s weak and doesn’t deserve respect. Just depends who you ask.

No one has any right to judge Elizabeth Edwards or any other spouse in her position. She did what was best for her and that’s really all you need to concern yourself with. Her decisions about her personal relationships are none of your business nor should you judge her based on those relationships that you know absolutely nothing about. Let’s let Mr. and Mrs. Edwards worry about the health of their marriage and it’s longevity, since it is their marriage and all.