So, the jury has come to a verdict on Count 3, but we don’t know how they’ve decided, and there’s more counts to go.
As we follow the misadventures of the main stream media, we learned that they jumped the gun.
Now, I’m hearing all kinds of presumptions from the msm smartypants.
They’re saying, what the F is going on? Is this going to be a point for a mistrial?
My husband recently sat on a jury, that was a really ugly child abuse case. He never talked to me about the case, while it was ongoing. But, he did clue me in after the verdict. He said that the judge asked the jury, during deliberation, to give her information as to how things looked during the discussion. So I don’t know what to think of the current reporting.
Probably sucks. Not to be cynical, but there you have it.
It think it is interesting that many feel John, with his Two Americas, was a threat to the dominant authority.
Poor media. They have nothing, yet they are still yapping about Nothing.



48 Comments

I’m reluctant to admit it, but I was a fan of his for a while.
Isn’t it interesting how the way we perceive someone’s morals, their personality, affects our emotion response.
I use to think he was handsome. But, I don’t anymore.
But, it’s also sad to see someone going done because they threatened the PTB.
We all follow different news. The tv’s turned off now.
I have flowers to plant.
Thanks for the space here, Jane. Love your equal opportunity ranting.
Okay, to be honest, I put the water on and came back in.
Now, they are saying the jury is deadlocked on the other counts. But, they’re also saying the jurors are still deliberating.
I am not an attorney. Nor do I insinuate that I am one.
Nevermind, it’s pretty much over.
Not Guilty on Count 3. Mistrial for the other counts.
Yawn.
I guess, no surprise.
He just doesn’t look like a scapegoat.
Well, maybe a $400 haircut kind of goat.
(Oh….John….Lord have mercy.)
400 Dollar haircut? They probably spend 10 times that much getting Obama ready every time he makes a t.v. appearance. It was a republican talking point. This trial was a hit job from the beginning. John Edwards is a good man who got his ass handed to him for fighting for the 99%, just like Clinton and Spitzer. And as far as his marital problems, usually there is enough blame to go around for both partners. Elizabeths illness and death were tragic, but not cause for endorsing a lynching initiated by an ambitious republican prosecutor.
Yeah, that’s why I said
But, it’s also sad to see someone going down because they threatened the PTB.
I agree. I’m glad it turned out like it has, and I just watched his press conference.
What you said.
I didn’t approve of what Edwards did – but it wasn’t any of my business, was it? At a time of maximum emotional distress, he got involved with a woman he wasn’t married to. I haven’t walked a mile in his shoes; I can’t claim to understand.
But these political prosecutions by “loyal Bushies” should have been stopped the day Obama entered the White House. ALL of the Bush appointed prosecutors are corrupt by definition. They are the ones who didn’t resign when ordered to trump up cases against Democrats, or get fired for refusing to do so.
If Edwards is convicted, he should immediately be pardoned ” in the interest of justice.”
That is about as likely to happen as a mass roundup of criminal bankers and a blanket pardon of imprisoned potheads.
demi – interestingly, it turns out the jury’s single verdict, on the third count of Bunny Mellon’s $750k donation, is “not guilty.”
Deadlocked on the rest.
So, he’s not going to jail.
I certainly hope they don’t try to retry this. I’m not suprised they deadlocked; especially after Citizens United, what he did looks pretty mild. I wouldn’t forgive Edwards for what he did, but he sure as heck isn’t the first or last. Just like with the “clenis”, it isn’t criminal, and I hope the taxpayers object if the prosecutors try to bring this can of worms to trial again. Waste of time.
I loved the Two Americas, and it may have been a threat to the PTBs, but John E. did this to himself. No, it should not have been prosecuted, I’m glad he was not convicted. Holder should have bagged it, and he used his regularly flawed judgment to go to the bar on it.
I guess if you have a Super PAC you can do pretty much whatever the hell you want with the money, like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich do, live off it, buy yachts, whatever. It seems like most of the money in question was spent by the assistant to JE, on his house and such. I am sure I would have come to the same conclusion if I was on the jury. Throw it out. What’s the diff between super PAC dough and campaign dough? Splitting hairs.
Yeah, I agree with ya.
Let’s be honest. Everyone I know has either had a “digression or is close to someone who has.” It’s clear that the public doesn’t want their money spent on these kinds of trials.
I try not to judge people, but being a mere human, John’s mistakes are not as creepy to me as wide stances and diapers. Just my naive beliefs.
I would be surprised if they re-tried this.
Me too.
Fair is fair.
And, so what did this trial prove, and at what cost?
You’re very close to the mark. Since it’s obvious that Obama’s DOJ will prosecute anyone who leaks information considered to be embarrassing to the US, yet fails to indict any of the crooks on Wall Street, or the folks who polluted the Gulf of Mexico when BP lost their well – doesn’t that show beyond any doubt this prosecution of Edwards was politically motivated? The question now becomes was it the Bushie holdovers in the DOJ who wanted Edwards’s fall from grace to become permanent, or was it Obama who pushed this to ensure that Edwards would never pose a political threat to him again?
Well, it’s a mistrial. The prosecutor got burned, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll attempt to retry Edwards. It’s all over except for a brief glimmer of M$M blather.
Still, I think they went after Edwards because he actually had the nerve to say that there were poor people in America, and talked about them instead of just the sacred cow of the “middle class,” whatever that means. This wasn’t a criminal trial, it was an Inquisition against political heresy. I certainly don’t see, say, Newt Gingrich, on trial. And his personal behavior was every bit as disgusting as that of Edwards.
Ah, demi, good it is to see you in the column to right …
One wonders if the prosecutors will seek to retry on the charges where this jury “hung”?
One hopes that Ohio Barbarian, @13, has called it aright.
Recommended to the attention and consideration of everyone at FDL.
DW
Why do they always have to bring “God” into it?
The trolls on HP are really po’d. I really think there’s something wrong with their brains. They also seem to still think Fukushima was not big deal and the radiation found in their tuna is A-OK.
Have a little radiation with your mercury in that sandwich, sir? Man up, righties, nothing can hurt you…except your fellow Americans who don’t agree with you.
I’m VERY glad Edwards got a mistrial. With all the hanky panky people like Diaper Dave, Larry Craig and John Ensign to name a few have gotten away with scot-free, it’s a bit of poetic justice
Just remember, Bilderberg is in town
I agree with OB as well.
That’s what I took a while to say, but he did it better. :)
Good to see you, Mister. D DUB.
Heartbreaking, really, isn’t it?
I have no doubt the man will go on to further the interests of children.
And, DW, I forgot to say thanks.
So, “Thanks”.
When you ask why “they” have to bring God into it, do you mean the defendant, or the media?
Just want to know what you mean.
PS – DW, and anyone else who wants to know…
This Saturday’s PUAC will be about Vacation Memories, and you know that icon I have of me and my mom? I have one that I’ll feature there of my mom and me at Yosemite, 59 years ago! Ha.
I thought it would be fun. (And, she’s so pretty in the shot. )
Recced btw, Demi. :)
Firebagger has more to say at this diary: http://my.firedoglake.com/firebagger/2012/05/31/john-edwards-still-standing/
Edwards was stupid but the GOP went for over kill just like they did with Bill Clinton who was really harmed by this the campaign donors I presume were aware of what went on? Edwards wife well yes but divorce was her avenue of action.
Edward’s political campaign was harmed and his volunteers wasted their time I don’t see how jailing Edwards would help let alone jailing him that long.
At best I think Edward’s campaign volunteers should get paid for wasting their time.
The Jury I think so far has made the right choice.
I am reminded of the Clinton impeachment and Bill Bennett complaining about where’s the outrage?
Bill Bennett wrote the “book of Virtues” never mind he lost a million dollars gambling I think many a wife might prefer an affair and love child than that. He also bragged he could match Christopher Hitchens drink for drink I never saw Chris sober on tv after 9/11.
Between the gambling and the drinking when does he spend time with his wife?
Is that what any women really wants from a husband?
Why bring this up because it was the Edwards wife’s choice to go or not go to divorce court on this.
Tons of pols get campaign finance violations, get caught giving their mistresses cash Sen Kirk in Illinois just got nailed on this but is facing no jail time. Sen Ensign’s parents paid how much black mail, never mind the illegal lobbying job Sen Ensign set up for the husband again no jail time. To many GOPers to count routinely spend money to deny dark people the vote in illegal ways again no jail time but voting is a constitutional right. Again no jail time. Adultery is for divorce court. Campaign finance violations thats a fine until now?
I really don’t understand what makes this case any different tell Edwards to pay a fine thats it.
Things. You see things the way I do.
Let him spend his money trying to help kids. That’s what I say.
I don’t think they’ll re-try, do you?
2004, what a field! Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, John Edwards, & Kerry. In the early weeks during the runsup (haha) to Iowa and NH, C-SPAN gave the wives hours and hours of showtime. Gertrude Clark, Elizabeth Edwards, Teresa Heinz — Dr. Dean’s wife, also Dr. Dean the surgeon, wouldn’t take time off. Why couldn’t one of those women be the candidate, I wondered and wished. Brilliant and well-informed, answering unplanted questions with an elegance I’d seen nowhere else during the campaigning.
2004 concluded with Ohio’s extreme irregularities. It required only one US Senator to challenge the results for a recount or investigation to take place. Kerry and Edwards were not standup guys like the other 98 who sat on their hands. And why is that?
I don’t think it was the ‘two Americas’ that made for vengeance, I think it was when Edwards started to name names, when his campaign was faltering, when he needed to win his home state of SC and then be able to win NC later. He started to name the big corporations and how much lobbying they did in DC, how they controlled Congress by controlling the members with money. He needed to do well in SC to continue to win financial support or he was done for. He finished third, which is like finishing last. Favorite son, tsk. The Obama campaign made sure Edwards would be marginalized when they accused the Clintons (Bill lost to Jesse in 92) of playing the RaceCard 2.0, so all the focus would be on Obama and Clinton, and it didn’t matter what Edwards said about lobbyists or whether he wore stonewashed jeans or purple neckties like KeithO.
The case really boiled down to whether John Edwards used Campaign funds to support his mistress or not. If he had given her money from his own personal bank account, this would not be an issue. The Jurors had no precedent and did not find cause to set one. By his own admission, he did many wrong things but they were not illegal.
Sir, thank you for that sublime wrap-up.
Oh, P!
yep. Recc’d.
John Edwards claimed to be pro-worker yet he was part of the most corrupt and crooked investment group, Fortress Investment Group.
Fortress Investment Group is now a major contributor to Barack Obama’s campaign.
The Fortress Investment Group is where the most crooked and conniving mobsters, Wall Street vulture capitalists and union leaders come together to steal huge sums of money from the pension funds of working people while enriching themselves by investing in the most anti-labor businesses like the Indian Gaming Industry.
John Edwards got what he deserved; Obama should be defeated if for no other reason than his relationship with the Fortress Investment Group who has legal counsel from Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck the lawfirm of top mobsters and many U.S multi-national corporations not to mention the very lucrative lobbying business.
Just a bunch of shysters out to fleece the American people.
Thankfully, sometimes it’s easy to see.
Yep, yep, but, but Edwards ran in 2004 with his Two Americas stump speech, got the VP slot. Doesn’t sound like vindictive destruction for that.
Maybe he wasn’t as dangerous running for VP.
Maybe as the VP candidate he sealed his fate when he hit Cheney with the cheap shot about his lesbian daughter. You better win after that junk.
But (being tedious, I know) he ran for president in 2004, and his stump speech was about the Two Americas.
Maybe as a VP and the obvious heir apparent he would be more dangerous than he was in 2008 as a third-rate loser, which he was in 2008 in fact. Except in 2004 he stumped with a simplistic and old-fashioned populist script. He began 2008 with it but quickly altered it into his outing of the lobbyists and their stranglehold. Maybe it’s easy to forget that about his failed campaign, or maybe the MSM wouldn’t cover his speeches or discuss them since he wasn’t the front runner or viable yet.
So (I still maintain that) he had to be destroyed forever when he started naming names and unmasking the K-Street ownership of Congress. He would know about the lobbyists, and a gentleman doesn’t betray his club. I think he also understood that Kerry got the nod because of the money dealing more than the electability.
Sorry Demi I think they will try and retry him but I’m no lawyer they want to make an example of him.
Agreed:)
Thank you for the blurb, Demi. :-)
Chris Matthews wasted no time going after Edwards last night. Schultz and Maddow were more truthful.
WTF? Tweety is flogging a dead horse Edwards must scare the shit out of the PTB.
If his wife didn’t want to divorce him thats her business Prison time for campaign finance violations, adultery please Tweety.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk was a leading sponsor of congressional legislation that has meant $5.3 million for two clients of his onetime girlfriend, and he is backing another bill that could bring millions of dollars to a third group she represented.
Kirk supported bills directing the Treasury Department to mint and sell collectible coins, with a surcharge for three nonprofit groups — all of which had hired Arcadian Partners, a public relations firm led by Dodie McCracken, Kirk’s ex-girlfriend and former congressional staffer.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/…
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/01/1096467/-Sen-Kirk-mints-coins-for-his-ex-paramour
I’m waiting for the Outrage Tweety :)
If a politician screws all of the people all of the time he gets reelected and buried in corporate cash.
If a politician screws a few of the people some of the time he gets censured for his conduct.*
*There is a Catch 22 lurking here: If you get caught and ask the ‘gods’ for forgiveness and promise never to get caught again, all is forgiven.**
**If however, you are gay, all of the mea culpas in the world ain’t going to save your ass no matter what!
Can someone explain the rules of the game to me?
Something here is not quite right.
I think if a pol is honest about trying to help poor people but has a flaw lets say sex then the rich will crucify him.
A bit off diary but I think most germane.
Sinclair Lewis won the 1934 Democratic nomination in a landslide to run for the office of Governor of California.
Lewis was a socialist.
Both the wealthy FDR Democrats along with the wealthy Republicans launched a smear campaign to defeat him.
And he was defeated.
And his crime?
He was a socialist trying to help California’s poor during the first Great Depression.
And hold on to your shorts for this one: He was arrested during a public speech when the police deemed the political meeting unlawful.
And what was he reading when he was arrested?
The First Amendment to the Constitution!
The nerve of the guy to read the 1st amendment out loud to the people of the United States.
The Clinton of NAFTA fame? The guy who pioneered extraordinary rendition for torture? The guy who signed Gramm–Leach–Bliley?
If you think that guy gives a fuck about anything but his own pocketbook, you are CRAZY. He and Hillary never held a job outside of public office before 2000 and they are now mega-millionaires. Getting paid is the name of the game.
Actually, both Craig and Ensign lost their careers.
Ensign resigned and Craig agreed not to seek reelection (hell, Craig didn’t even get sex out of the deal).
A big oops! Make that Upton Sinclair! I know: tab A goes in slot B.
OK. I’m totally off base on Hillary’s career. But still – doesn’t add up to the post-presidential cash gusher.
I used to hate Edwards, until he got railroaded like this. I hate our current system so much.