Dear readers, fuck you for not sending me the John Edwards sex tape like I asked! After all I've done for you over the past few months, I would have expected that at least one loyal reader with access to the tape could have leaked it to me. What good are you anyway? Well, I'm sorry to say that the crackerjack reporters at The Daily Beast obviously have better sources than I do. Although the tape still hasn't leaked, they've talked to people who have seen it, and are providing the following Nancy Friday version of events for interested ...

OK. I wasn’t going to say anything else about the John Edwards mess. It’s gotten sordid past the point of rubbernecking, even. I just want to look away. But after reading this piece about the “quiet dignity of Rielle Hunter,” I do have something to say. A small sampling of some of the things other people have said about Rielle Hunter in the two years since allegations first emerged that she was sleeping with married presidential candidate John Edwards. John Edwards, as described by former aide Andrew Young in Young’s book The Politician: “Since she was ‘a crazy slut’ ...

The latest from the unending sleaze saga of John Edwards, from the New York Post: "Disgraced former presidential candidate John Edwards has reportedly proposed to his baby mama -- and plans to buy a posh, $3.5 million beachfront home where they can live together. Edwards popped the question last month at the same time he told his ex-mistress Rielle Hunter that he had issued a statement confirming that he indeed fathered her 2-year-old daughter Frances Quinn, The National Enquirer reported today. Hunter said 'yes' when Edwards asked here (sic) to be his bride, the newspaper reported." ...

Here are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for February 1st through February 2nd:

• Joel Weinberger: John Edwards and the Dark Side of the Political Personalit –
• America’s Sorry History with Haiti –
• What Happened to Democracy? –
• Thoughts On Cost –
• In 2011 budget proposal, rate of change slows to a crawl –
• It’s a blue country | Michael Tomasky –
• What’s A Little Discrimination . . . We’re at War –
• Center-Right Nation? –

...

A ...

Sticking with boners[no pun intended] They're saying - John Edwards...Wait.Y'all do know they're sayinghe's got a sex tape, right?And that's not allthey're saying.It seems, those who claimto have seen it are sayin' - that John is "physically very striking in a certain area".Translation.He's got abig cock.*Wait - John Edwards has got asex tape and I don't.Seriously?WTF, man. ...

News of the John Edwards sex tape has everyone all hot and bothered about the former presidential candidate's reportedly impressive schlong. Well, I'm sorry to report that I still haven't gotten my hands on the tape. Someone?! Anyone?! ... Nope, still don't have it. Sorry guys! However, gentle reader Beau Kner was nice enough to send me what is almost totally definitely a fake picture of Sen. Edwards all nude and legs akimbo and everything, and in addition to being somewhat LOL, I think it gives us a good idea of what's in store. Yes, I can pretty much guarantee that ...

While everyone else is eagerly awaiting the Winter Olympics, I'm on pins and needles for the release of John Edwards's upcoming sex tape, shot with babymama/crazyperson Rielle Hunter! Johnny may be one of the most personally despicable politicians ever, but you have to admit that for a 50+-year-old man, he's reasonably attractive. Annnnd it turns out he has a giant penis! Gawker reports: Sources have told us that, in the throes of their affair, John Edwards and Rielle Hunter made a sex tape that contains "several sex acts." And that his aide, Andrew Young found it on an unmarked ...

Here are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for January 21st through January 22nd:

• Who’s Activist Now? The Roberts Court –
• Jim Wallis: Campaign Finance Outrage: Democracy for the Highest Bidder –
• Michael B. Laskoff: Five Popular Delusions Castrating America –
• Op-Ed Columnist: Do the Right Thing –
• A Supreme Victory for Special Interests –
• Robert Weissman: Shed a Tear for Democracy: Citizens United v. FEC –
• Democracy, it was fun while it lasted. –
• Why Can’t John Edwards Just Go

...

Here are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for January 21st through January 22nd:

• Who’s Activist Now? The Roberts Court –
• Jim Wallis: Campaign Finance Outrage: Democracy for the Highest Bidder –
• Michael B. Laskoff: Five Popular Delusions Castrating America –
• Op-Ed Columnist: Do the Right Thing –
• A Supreme Victory for Special Interests –
• Robert Weissman: Shed a Tear for Democracy: Citizens United v. FEC –
• Democracy, it was fun while it lasted. –
• Why Can’t John Edwards Just Go

...

"Captain Obvious Strikes Again! John Edwards Finally Admits That the Kid Is His": John Edwards, in a bold move called telling the truth, has finally admitted, two freaking years after his ex-lover Rielle Hunter had his love child, that Frances Quinn Hunter is, indeed, his baby. Everyone knew it, and his wife Elizabeth Edwards pretty much said that she was, but he held out on the truth... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you! ...

In a statement to the Today show, John Edwards has admitted paternity of Frances Quinn Hunter, the daughter of Rielle Hunter, his campaign videographer. Above, the National Enquirer spread that first broke the story. Said Edwards: “I am Quinn’s father. I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace. It was wrong for me ever to deny ...

I confess. John Edwards was, for me, very hard to resist. The man had qualities, personal and political, that I found hard to resist. That he was willing to talk openly about poverty and inject the subject into our political discourse was admirable in and of itself. It has been absent from the political scene for as long as Edwards has been. And, in the case of the former, we are poorer for it. The ranks of the poor have grown from 12.5% of the population in 2007 to 13.2% in 2008. Since April 2007, when Edwards declared “We’ve ...