I sent a strongly worded note off to former Presidential candidate John Edwards today via his website, which, while mostly abandoned, is still up and running. It’s the Internet version of a brownfield site here in Western PA; empty and sad, but with plenty of poison just below the surface.

Moments later, I got an “out of office” reply.

Probably for the best, as my missive to Mr. Edwards had various expletives which probably would have doomed it to his campaign’s spam in-box anyway.

I was a fan of Edwards. Actually thought he’d make a nifty President. And yet, I was always a little worried. Was he too much of a “haircut?” Too much of a pretty boy who had honed his act in front of juries? In particular, I was bothered by the John and Elizabeth Bare Their Souls Event on TV some months ago. Something about it smelled fishy.

And now, as we all know, it was.

Edward’s dalliance is indeed between he and his family, but, when one is running for President, it becomes something larger. I am no prude and I fully realize human frailty, but Edward’s has all “progressives” wondering, “what if.”

Had Obama or Hillary flamed out early on and John Edwards had become the presumptive nominee, it would now be game-over. One man, arrogant and smug, would have doomed our nation to another four years of McCain-Bush policies. Terrifying to imagine that, in a nation we assume to be “democratic,” that the actions of one man and his massive ego could drive history. But that is the truth…as any observer of the Bush-Cheney presidency can attest.

So what is the “Edward’s Effect?”

No much, in the end. I don’t think it will leave any residual marks on Obama. Though it may leave us with a new punchline;

“I know, but she was in remission….”

Piltdown Man