"The Politician" by Andrew Young,

[PRETZEL]

This is the book about the rise and fall of John Edwards written by one of his closest aides. At first, I wasn't going to read it but my wife wanted it and so for her birthday I got it for her.

I'll admit I was surprised it was as good as it was. Mr. Young must have some very good evidence to support alot of the claims he's made and there are some pretty serious personal charges made against the Edwards'.

It is at it's core however a story of how ambition, wealth and power can blind people. Andrew Young is not an innocent in this saga. He was very much a part of the rise and fall of John Edwards just as much as he is. But this book is just as much retribution against the Edwards' as much as a name clearing on Young's part.

Good read. I'd recommend it highly.

[lurknomore]

1. disappointment

Maybe I can read the book after the heartache of the John Edwards' disappointment.

It really hurts when you believe in someone so much... then reality hits.

Ouch.

[PRETZEL]

2. I felt the same way,

I've been a big supporter of Edwards since the beginning.

That was one of the main reasons I didn't want to read it.

[blueworld]

3. I won't buy it new, if I ever bother to read it at all

Young actively participated & enabled Edwards to get away with a lot. He isn't responsible, Edwards is. But I have a problem with those who suck up & when they find out they picked the wrong "idol" they try & make their fortunes by trashing the former center of their world. He isn't getting any royalties from me.

[WinterParkDonkey]

4. Mixed emotions....

John Edwards was a great VP candidate in 2004. I think if Kerry had done what Edwards suggested (fought for a recount in Ohio) things might have been different. I admire his work with people such as the hotel workers in Las Vegas -- which he did on his own dime -- and also his wife is a saint. That said, power can be very intoxicating. It was probably his Achilles heel. I am still proud of the fact that I voted for him in 2004 and would have been proud to have him as our nominee in 2008 if he could have beat the Obama momentum. I feel terrible for his family -- even the baby that he had with his girl friend.

[blm]

7. Ohio WAS recounted - by Ohio's rules - blame Ohio Dem party for not contesting those rules after

2000 shined a light on the recount issue. Not that Dems had any juice in Ohio, since DNC chairs had allowed Ohio's party infrastructure to remain in a weak and collapsed state since 1997.

BTW, it was an internet myth that Edwards fought for a recount. Kerry AGREED with Edwards that they should not concede until all the votes were cast. Voters were still in line late into the night at some polls that had been deliberately underserved by the REPUBLICAN THUGS who controlled much of the election process in Ohio.

Bottom line....Ohio was recounted....by OHIO'S rules....which just happened to favor GOP and their strategy.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Just finished it. it was a surprisingly good real life drama - for an

amateur author. What struck me most was his attention to detail - almost like he had kept a diary from the beginning. the thought crossed my mind that Young planned to write a book from the beginning. And, i wonder as everything started going south - if at some point he decided to keep up the scam just because of the book. He kept saying he was in it because he believed in the cause - but he really never wrote much about how much he cared about the cause - he just, to me, came off as an over-diligent, subservient lackey.

Another surprise that didn't come out in the book was how bossy his wife, Cheri was. Saw them on Oprah and she didn't let Andrew get a word in edgewise. Bet she was the one who in reality knew the book was their ticket - not the WH. She even slipped a couple times about 'us' writing the book.

It is amazing how they all thought they'd get away with this. makes you truly wonder about their intelligence.

[PRETZEL]

6. Never thought about it in those terms,

but it does make sense as you put it.

Didn't see the Oprah interview. I had considered Cheri Young as the one sympathetic figure in this whole ordeal but now that you mention it, anyone who would have put up with what her husband was doing which was essentially putting the Edwards' first as opposed to his own marriage and family would have to have some sense of complicity on her part to allow it to continue.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. You are right !

Wow, you're right ! It kind of all makes sense now that you said that... especially the part about having Riell(sp) actually move in.
I would definitely be saying - no way - let her get her own house - so either you go along because the benefactors are paying for the whole thing - or you go along because you recognize there's a blockbuster book deal. But no way to you enter into the deal without realizing the whole thing just isn't right or ethical.


here's part of the oprah interview - about the sex tape they just happened to stumble upon....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/24/andrew-young-on-oprah-joh_n_475577.html
sure you could find the whole thing out there.


Have you read "Game Change" the detailed account of the primary? Being a political junkie - that book was like a bible to me - and I loved every line.

[PRETZEL]

9. I've been avoided Game Change,

not sure why exactly,

I just finished "Death of American Virtue"

I may reconsider Game Change.

[blm]

10. I think you hit the nail EXACTLY on its head.

Young even turned the mundane list of foods Kerry campaign had on its preference list from town to town into an oddly stressful matter for the Edwards. Young spun the most mundane food list used by every traveling campaign and dramatized its existence as if he needed it to push a story along.

'Details' were too often used by Young for spin, not clarification.

[PRETZEL]

11. 'Details' were too often used by Young for spin, not clarification.

That could very well be the best way to put it,

I remember the details of Kerry's visit to Edwards' house after he was named to the bottom half of the ticket.

The details Young gave painted a picture of the Kerry's that was less than flattering.

[blm]

12. That is where he spun the mundane and very SIMPLE list of foods into a high-tension drama

casting Kerry's as elitist though the foods and wine listed were very inexpensive. And they were very inexpensive and simple because that food was meant to be found in ANY town for ANY budget.

IMO, the Edwards AND the Youngs furnished the drama. Why on earth would anyone hire a chef for any of this?



>>>>>>
Just like many VIPs I had worked with, the Kerrys sent their preferences ahead. According to the list, Teresa would eat either grilled salmon with vegetables or one of two types of salad: Cobb or chicken Caesar. John Kerry wanted Boost energy drinks (strawberry or vanilla) and a dinner of roast chicken, meat loaf or pot roast. They both requested chocolate cake and only one kind of wine -- Kendall Jackson Sauvignon Blanc. ... Following Mrs. Edwards' orders, I also hired a chef to stand by and prepare whatever anyone wanted. ... When the candidate arrived, the Kerrys looked at the house with obvious disdain. Though the plan had been for them to spend the night, they made it clear they would not. ... Kerry found everything the cook had made inedible, and the Secret Service drove his body man to a Boston Market store for replacement food."
>>>>>

Wow - really elitist, Andrew. Hahah...Kendall-Jackson Sauvignon Blanc is elitist? Meat loaf or roast chicken is elitist? Grilled salmon? All of what was on that list was meant SPECIFICALLY to be SIMPLE, EASY, and AFFORDABLE for even a working class budget, fer chrissakes.

Young can spin like a faux-populist Republican, can't he?

[PRETZEL]

13. Boston Market,

Hell, even I won't eat there.

Applebee's on the other hand.

This thread is really put this book right side up.

[blm]

14. heh....I don't eat at Boston Market, either. Heh...now that makes me an elitist.

Aw hell, I won't drink Kendall-Jackson wine, either. ;)

[Thinking Men]

15. Andrew and Sherri Young are as culpable as Rielle and John

The moral people in the campaign quit when they learned of John's affair. Andrew not only stayed on with the campaign and the ruse, he effectively facilitated the affair and the attempted cover-up with the help of his wife. Awful, awful people. I would not be surprised if it eventually came out that Andrew and his wife helped this situation along for the sole purpose of a book/movie. Shameful. How dare they now work so hard to make money out of this family tragedy putting all the children through more and more pain. There is a special place reserved for these four "adults". They will get theirs.

[stray cat]

17. No - the person having the affair is guilty of infidelity - they are adults

no one forced them to destroy the marriage

[Name removed]

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