Keller At Large 8/13/2008

[0:00] ..." Just by chance Friday night as the news of the John Edwards scandal dominated the TV newscasts. I was out of state on vacation day having dinner with my wife at the bar and"...

[0:42] ..." No visible sign of shock disbelief. Anger nothing just a calm head shaker to and that not that signals oh yes this is bound to come out and that raises a question. If so many applauses I suspect this reaction repeal. Instinctively sense all along that Edwards was an oil slick. Why did so many intelligent people from the voters donors and volunteers who twice made him a serious presidential candidate. To the folks on the 2004 Kerry campaign who wanted him to be one heartbeat away from the White House. Why did they all failed to see the same thing. I'm afraid the answer is that we all want to truly believe"...

[0:00]" Just by chance Friday night as the news of the John Edwards scandal dominated the TV newscasts. I was out of state on vacation day having dinner with my wife at the bar and restaurant. Which gave me a chance to sample immediate public reaction in a way I don't normally get. Anonymously. In the casual public setting where people felt free to give their candid -- and here's what I saw. No one. Not to Thirtysomething bartender. -- young dad with a baby in his arms watching over my shoulder knocking older couple sitting next to us seemed in the least bit surprised. To learn that Edwards had violated his most sacred vow and lied like a band she about it for months. No visible sign of shock disbelief. Anger nothing just a calm head shaker to and that not that signals oh yes this is bound to come out and that raises a question. If so many applauses I suspect this reaction repeal. Instinctively sense all along that Edwards was an oil slick. Why did so many intelligent people from the voters donors and volunteers who twice made him a serious presidential candidate. To the folks on the 2004 Kerry campaign who wanted him to be one heartbeat away from the White House. Why did they all failed to see the same thing. I'm afraid the answer is that we all want to truly believe in something and many of us want to find something or someone to believe in in the political world and as a result. Were vulnerable to placing misplaced faith in public figures and holding high hopes for them that they might invite but just aren't realistic. This is a lose lose proposition for our democracy. The politicians face impossible expectations. Their failure to meet them even when not quite as spectacular as the -- debacle. Deepens our cynicism and despair and makes it harder for us to recognize a worthwhile leader would we get what. I can't tell you who those folks in that bar will vote for this fall. But I suspect if and win the next president stumbles. I know what their reaction will be."