Elizabeth Edwards’ “Devastating Act of Ultimate Revenge”

Posted: June 10, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Crime, U.S. Politics | Tags: , , , , | 46 Comments

Elizabeth Edwards

According to the National Enquirer, which originally broke the story of John Edwards’ affair with Rielle Hunter and that he was the father of her child now claims that Elizabeth Edwards secretly recorded a video that she believed would incriminate him.

“Elizabeth wanted to exact revenge against John for destroy­ing their 33-year marriage and family by cheating with Rielle,” source close to the scandal told ENQUIRER.

“It was Elizabeth’s idea to secret­ly record a video and tell what knew of the affair and John’s horrific betrayal.”

Before her death in December 2010 at age 61, Elizabeth got newly engaged daughter Cate, 29, to agree that if anything happened to John, she would take care of the youngsters with the help of relatives and friends.

“It was then – without Cate’s knowledge – that Elizabeth turned the video camera on herself. She passed the video to a close friend and asked that it be sent to prosecutors,” said the source.

If the Enquirer hadn’t already proved itself to be accurate about this story several times in the past, I wouldn’t believe it. If this is true, it says a lot about Elizabeth’s strength of will and determination. Talk about a “steel magnolia!”

A ray of hope against Hatred and Hype (updated after the fold)

Posted: January 9, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Human Rights, Main Stream Media, Middle East | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Stained glass by Sarah Zirkel, zirkelmosaics.com (Click thumbnail to go to the site)

I often blog about hoping against Hope, but after yesterday’s haunting display of violence, I want to briefly turn to (and then pivot from) the undercurrents that drove that display: Hatred and Hype.

Too much of both has been polluting the dialogue in America for far too long.

That pollution has Consequences. We saw that yesterday.

But on the flip side of Hatred and Hype is authentic hope. From my hoping against Hope essay:

Authentic hope is grounded by healthy skepticism and action, not by a glossy Shepard Fairey poster.

Positive reframing of thought is rethinking things in a way that is constructive rather than destructive. It must be met with a positive reframing of actions — a plan.

Public policy that gestated at the Heritage Foundation before being passed by Democrats is not a plan.

We can’t just close our eyes, imagine a better world, open our eyes to watch as more wealth is transferred to Wall Street, and then expect that better world to somehow spontaneously manifest itself. At the same time, if we close our eyes and see nothing, nothing will ever progress. We need vision to have a plan, and that’s where hope comes in. It has driven humanity against the odds time and time again. Real hope is a call to action.

Real hope is this — “Egypt’s Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as ‘human shields’” (from ahram.org, with Yasmine El-Rashidi reporting):

Muslims turned up in droves for the Coptic Christmas mass Thursday night, offering their bodies, and lives, as “shields” to Egypt’s threatened Christian community

Read the rest of this entry »

Elizabeth Edwards: Mother, Lawyer, Advocate

Posted: December 7, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breaking News | Tags: , | 38 Comments

Elizabeth Edwards has died after her long struggle with breast cancer.

Elizabeth Edwards, the political wife whose public battle with breast cancer, coping with marital infidelity and continued advocacy for the downtrodden raised her profile above that of her husband, died Tuesday, WRAL News has learned.

Edwards, 61, died at her Chapel Hill home, where family and friends had gathered in recent days after doctors informed her that her cancer had spread and recommended that she not undergo further treatment.

Edwards was first diagnosed with cancer in the waning days of the 2004 presidential campaign, when her husband, then-U.S. Sen. John Edwards, was the Democratic nominee for vice president. The couple didn’t disclose her illness until after the election.

The cancer went into remission after surgery and months of treatment, but it resurfaced in early 2007, as John Edwards was mounting a second run at the White House. The Edwardses agreed at the time that they wouldn’t allow the cancer to derail his candidacy.

Because the cancer had moved into her bones, her doctors said at that time that it was no longer curable but could be treated.

Notable Tweets:

marcambinder Marc Ambinder

Edwards family asking for donations to be made to Wade Edwards Learning Lab http://www.wade.org/

nytimes The New York Times

We just published the full obituary of Elizabeth Edwards. http://nyti.ms/gCmsBq

TheFix The Fix

Elizabeth Edwards’ obits (all worth the read): Times http://ht.ly/3lxQz, Raleigh N&O http://ht.ly/3lxRL, Politico http://ht.ly/3lxSj

thedailybeast The Daily Beast

Elizabeth Edwards Dies at 61: Jonathan Alter remembers her quiet nobility. http://thebea.st/fbbRJ0

Slate Slate

Elizabeth Edwards should have been the politician — a true missed opportunity. RIP http://slate.me/gKMETY

ThinkProgress has a thread up on ‘The Legacy of Elizabeth Edwards’ and her tireless advocacy of health care access for the poor.

ThinkProgress is devastated and heartbroken to hear that the health of our dear friend and colleague Elizabeth Edwards has deteriorated, as she wages her courageous battle against breast cancer. A long-time advocate of universal health care, Elizabeth transformed a personal medical tragedy into an instrument for social and political change after her initial diagnosis in November 2004. In the process, she gave voice to the millions of Americans who were left behind by our health system.

With her trademark courage, activism, and strong sense of justice, Elizabeth directly confronted the inequalities of the American health care system and the politicians who perpetuated them. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Elizabeth — a regular contributor to the Wonk Room throughout the health care reform debate and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress — took to our blog and challenged conservatives for releasing a health care plan that would have excluded millions of Americans who suffered from pre-existing or chronic conditions. “Why are people like me left out of your health care proposal,” Elizabeth asked Republicans, pointing out that market-based proposals would leave millions of Americans “outside the clinic doors” and allow insurance companies free reign to continue excluding sicker beneficiaries.

Update: We now have more statements and reactions to Elizabeth Edwards’ Death including ones from the President former President Bill Clinton, and SOS Hillary Clinton.

Statement from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. America has lost a passionate advocate for building a more humane and just society, for reforming our health care system, and for finding a cure for cancer once and for all. But the Edwards family and her legion of friends have lost so much more — a loving mother, constant guardian, and wise counselor. Our thoughts are with the Edwards family at this time, and with all those people across the country who met Elizabeth over the years and found an instant friend–someone who shared their experiences and offered empathy, understanding and hope. She made her mark on America, and she will not be forgotten.”