411 Politics Fact or Fiction: Week 99

Posted by Brandon Crow on 08.12.2008

Does John Edwards still have a chance at a position in the Obama administration? Will the Edwards' sex scandal hurt Obama's chances at winning in November? Is it a huge mistake to let Dick Cheney speak at the Republican convention? Was China's decision to detail the White House Press Corp for hours a direct slap to Bush?

Good day to you all. This is Week 99 of Politics Fact or Fiction. Week 99 folks! Just one more week till the landmark Week 100. Tune in next week!

This week, we have zone columnist Robert Zimmer going toe to toe with oft-participant Jeff Modzelewski. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this may be the fourth or fifth time Jeff's been with us. So, to those readers who have participated before and would like to again, just shoot me an email and I'll schedule you right in.

Let's get to Week 99.

Ding, Ding!

1. John Edwards' admission to infidelity pretty much guarantees his aspirations for being Attorney General under Barack Obama are done.

Robert Zimmer: FACT. I have two words for Edwards -- "See ya!" During the 2006 elections and continuing to the present, the Democrats have been able to gloat as each passing month brings more news of Republicans embroiled in hypocritical scandals. Edwards, whom many observers perceived as phony even as his wife Elizabeth redefined political authenticity, needs to go home and stay out of the spotlight for awhile. His nomination to any Cabinet post would immediately go down in a hail of Republican fire. Better to do penance in private and then re-emerge a philanthropist-statesman like President Clinton.

Jeff Modzelewski: FACT. I couldn't have said it better myself. First off, if Edwards told his wife about this in 2006, he was insane to run for President in the first place. Really, he had to have known that this would get out. What would the Democrats be doing right now if your Presidential candidate was in the middle of a sex scandal? Luckily, Edwards is no longer a candidate, and he is absolutely off of any list for any political appointment by an Obama administration.

On the second point, I also say Fact. I'm not one of those guys who's made a big deal about the Republican scandals, except when they involve a Florida Congressman trying to get with underage pages. OK, and the Larry Craig thing is kind of funny, but that's mainly because he (and so many other Republicans) are so anti-gay. However, I could care less who a politician sleeps with, Republican or Democrat. Also, don't forget that Edwards' wife is dying from freakin' cancer, and there's really no reason that this needs to be a news story right now.

1 for 1. Both seem to believe Edwards' chances of being in the Obama administration are done.

2. The Edwards sex scandal will indirectly hurt Barack Obama's campaign.

Robert Zimmer: FICTION. The Obama campaign has, conspicuously, refused to touch the Edwards matter with a ten-foot pole. As long as they pretend Edwards doesn't exist, there will be minimal fallout for the Obama campaign. Despite the flagrancy of Edwards' fall, there are ten Republicans with ethics problems for every Democrat. It's a losing issue for Republicans and I suspect they won't even try to bring it up, lest the backlash decapitate McCain.

Jeff Modzelewski: FICTION. Edwards won't be at the convention, he won't have any position in an Obama administration, and there's plenty of other stories to watch over the next couple of months. Edwards hasn't been active in Obama's campaign, so it would be very difficult for the Republicans to make this into a huge deal and pin this on Obama. If Edwards had been a major Obama surrogate, this could potentially hurt Obama, but, since that's not the case, I don't think the Obama campaign has anything to worry about.

2 for 2. Edwards' indiscretion will not have an effect on Obama's pursuit of the White House. And frankly, it shouldn't.

Switch!

3. Letting Dick Cheney speak at the Republican National Convention is a horrible idea and John McCain's campaign will take a hit for being associated with Cheney.

Jeff Modzelewski: FACT. The only way this helps McCain is if Cheney gets on stage and endorses his long lost nephew, Barack Obama. Cheney is one of the least popular elected officials of all time. Usually the country is relatively apathetic about the VP, especially if the VP isn't running for President. That's not the case for Cheney. He offers nothing positive for McCain, and I'm honestly very surprised that he's going to speak. I'd bet that Cheney won't have a very visible speaking role, but this is the type of thing that the media will run with and make a story out of.

Robert Zimmer: FACT. Cheney is probably the only person on earth with lower approval ratings than President Bush -- 18%. Those 18% are right-wing die-hards and unfortunately, they are the same constituency that continues to maintain a death grip on the Republican Party. There is no other logical explanation as to why such a deeply unpopular and deeply creepy person would be allowed to speak at the Republican Convention. Cheney's appearance will further the perception that McCain is a doddering old man who is joined at the hip to the Bush administration, and every minute Cheney's sinister sneer appears on TV is a minute during which McCain's poll numbers will sink.

3 for 3. We are in agreement: Dick is a dick!

4. China detaining the White House Press Corp's airplane for over five hours can only be interpreted as a direct dig at President Bush for his harsh remarks about China during a speech delivered in Thailand.

Jeff Modzelewski: FICTION. China doesn't need a reason to exert it's power over the U.S. when they get a chance to. They want to show the U.S. who's boss with these Olympics. I doubt that Bush's comments (which I was glad he made) led to China giving a hard time to press. They've been doing that for years.

Robert Zimmer: FICTION. Thanks to Bush's reckless fiscal policies, we owe China hundreds of billions of dollars in debt. The Chinese most likely detained the White House Press plane just to irritate the president and provide—before a global audience—a stinging reminder of how seriously they hold the U.S. by the proverbial nut sack. While Bush's remarks about the Chinese were appropriate, nobody really cares about or pays much attention to anything the lame-duck—and lame—outgoing president has to say. It reminds me a bit of the Iranians delaying the release of American hostages in 1980 until literally minutes after Carter was no longer president on January 21, 1980. Reportedly, Carter wept at the final humiliation. Bush might not shed many tears at the destruction he has caused our nation and the world, but make no mistake, the Chinese humiliated him just the same.

4 for 4. Second week in a roll with total agreement! This is historic. Hmm…maybe I need ot make the questions a little more controversial…

That's it for Week 99. Come celebrate Week 100 with us next week when the old Crow has a really BIG F or F planned!