On political hypocrisy, John Edwards, and John Ensign...

Granted that having thick skin and hypocritical being prerequisites of politicians, it still never ceases to amaze me, every time I see that in full display. In short order, we're seeing the two Johns - John Ensign and John Edwards - coming out doing their swings.

John Edwards, the two-time presidential hopeful (and loser), must have thought he's done enough apologizing. Afterall, what aftershocks are left, now that the scandal has been dug over in blow-by-blow details? Hell, the evidence is even on YouTube. Just the mouthful of it gets me tired already.

Americans in general have very short memory. Edwards must have thought that, after the initial denial, then partial admission (it's ended, but really not quite), then full apology, what more can anyone ask of him? He's come out looking remorseful, and speaking remorsefully. Afterall, isn't that supposed to be another prerequisite of politicians - to look and talk like something when you're not?!? For that, Edwards did quite well indeed.

But perhaps Edwards has not realized that, while Americans might look stupid and act stupidly, sometimes they're not as easily fooled. After his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, came out elaborating this some, writing about it, and talking some more in promoting god-knows herself or her book or both, Edwards must have sensed that the public is getting tired of showering more sympathy on this otherwise cancer-fighting-surviving wife of a presidential hopeful (or rather, a loser of presidential scale). Edwards must have gotten tired of his hang-dog look, and not having the chance to show off his $500 haircut some more in front of a camera. Now, he's coming out of the woodwork, to remind people that we the voters should not have forgotten that, thanks and due to him and him alone, he carries the issue of poverty on his lone shoulder. He must have thought that, for those great work of his, he should long be forgiven. He's telling us that he's moving on, and so should we.

I won't be so sure about the forgive-and-forget if I were you, Johnny. Apparently, I'm not alone - most who expressed opinion online would give him the variation of shove it, or go away.

I never have a very high opinion on Edwards. Now that I have a second look at his self-promotional webisode during the presidential campaign trail when the affair was going on, these videos are a powerful reminder of how fake he has always been, soaking himself so fully in self-aggrandizement. Honestly, he makes me sick in the stomach.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then, there is the other Johnny, one John Ensign. That's the self-important, self-righteous GOP rising star, who condemned Bill Clinton when Clinton was caught red-handed with Monica Lewinsky, and who has (surprise!) aspiration to run in 2012. The only thing that Ensign looks to be doing a little differently is that, he rushed out to admit the affair with one of his staffer while her husband remains his golfing buddy. Imagine that! The kind of double-life, double-face, double-talk, that Ensign is so perfect in would have made any normal person's head spin. But he did it so well, that most everyone was surprised at his admission, seemingly without anyone prompting him. But I never buy that kind of confession as admitting it, so he can be closer to God. It's more likely that someone might be blackmailing him, and he'd need to come clean. Afterall, there are still 3.5 years from 2012. The thinking goes, that if he admits early, maybe voters will forget his sins, forgive-and-forget perhaps? You know, the same fancy that Edwards must surely harbor now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These Johnnys make me want to spit at them in their face, or kick them in their groin, or something. Such sicko two-face.