Creators Columnist Poses the Question, 'Where's John Edwards?'

By: E&P Staff In her column this week, syndicated columnist Susan Estrich asks a question that's been on the minds of many since President-elect Barack Obama started naming former rivals to his cabinet: Where is John Edwards these days?

Estrich, who is distributed by Creators Syndicate and also serves as a professor of law at the University of Southern California, points out that the president-elect has surrounded himself of late with such figures as Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton and, most recently, Secretary of Commerce-designate Bill Richardson.

?The missing man in all of this is, of course, John Edwards, who was far more formidable a candidate than either Biden or Richardson, and whose endorsement of Obama last May was at least as significant for the president-elect as Richardson?s,? Estrich writes. ?Edwards had long been mentioned as a logical choice for attorney general, a spot that has already been filled. His commitment to deal with poverty would make him a logical choice for Health and Human Services. But his problem isn?t competence or experience.

?Should Edwards? personal stupidity ? his involvement with a wacky videographer, who may (if you believe the tabloids) or may not (according to her, and him, but what do you think they?d say) be the mother of his illegitimate child ? cost him a seat at the table? If he has something to add ? and I think he does ? should he be disqualified from doing so because he is a lying lout??

Check out the full column, here.