John Edwards Affair: Rielle Hunter in N. Jersey, Out of Cash

John Edwards Affair/Scandal:
Rielle Hunter Back in New Jersey

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It's the East Coast for Frances Quinn

The National Enquirer's reporting that Rielle Hunter has left her fancy digs in Santa Barbara for something a little more plebian: New Jersey

The Enquirer had previously broke the story about how Hunter, John Edwards' mistress, and love child/daughter, Frances Quinn, were receiving hush money payments of $15,000 a month from Fred Baron--who was Edwards' campaign finance chairman.

When Baron suddenly passed away from a lethal cancer on October 30, the $15K payments to the Hunters stopped.

After her $15,000 monthly payments stopped with the death of money man Fred Baron, John Edward's mistress blonde divorcee Rielle Hunter abandoned the lavish $3 million home that was being rented for her in ritzy Santa Barbara, California, sources tell The ENQUIRER.

Now she and her 10-month-old daughter Frances, who she privately says is Edwards' love child, are living with her longtime friend Mimi Hockman in South Orange, about 20 miles west of New York City, according to insiders.

The Enquirer, was called "tabloid trash" by the former North Carolina senator when the tabloid ran the story about Edwards' affair with a pregnant Rielle Hunter last December.

But after Edwards was cornered by Enquirer reporters leaving Hunter's Beverly Hilton hotel room after visiting her and Frances Quinn in late July, Edwards finally confessed on ABC's Nightline on August 8. Edwards admitted that he had lied, though he didn't admit being the father of Frances Quinn.

But Hunter has privately confided that Edwards is the father of the bouncing bundle of joy that was Frances Quinn Hunter.

With no money coming in from money man Baron, will Hunter publish her tell-all book that she's been rumored working on for "insurance"?

Will Hunter move back in with her former Midline Groove partner, Mimi Hockman--a resident of the Garden State?

Readers will likely get some of those answers over the next several months: if Rielle doesn't get any dough soon, it's likely that some publisher will be getting a manuscript chock-full of all the details that John Edwards has been able to keep hidden thus far.

And, can a DNA test for little Frances Quinn be far behind?


by Mondo Frazier
image: National Enquirer

John Edwards Affair: Edwards Attempts Political Resurrection

John Edwards Affair/Scandal/Coverup:
Democrat Party Pariah Attempts to Resurrect
A Political Career in Shambles



Former VP candidate Speaks for First Time in Months

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John Edwards is hoping that a third media blackout is the charm to resurrecting what remains of his battered political career.

• The first media blackout was by a protective Mainstream Media which protected both Edwards and MSM news customers of all news about Edwards' affair with mistress Rielle Hunter. It ran from November 2007 through August 8 2008, when Edwards 'confessed' on ABC's Nightline.
  
  
• The second media blackout as imposed by the Democrat Party. After Edwards' Nightline appearance, he was still under the illusion that his services were needed at the Democrat Convention in Denver. He was mistaken and prominent Democrats told him--both publicly and in private--"Thanks, but no thanks. Stay away."
  
  When Edwards attempted to resume speaking engagements after the Dem convention to keep himself in the public eye, he was again counseled to cool it. Edwards then issued a statement that he didn't want to be a "distraction" to an Obama campaign which had considered him as a top-tier VP candidate--before his ABC mea culpa. He canceled his remaining speaking engagements until after the election.
  
  
• The third media blackout has been imposed by Edwards himself. Edwards spoke at a closed-door appearance at Indiana University November 11. Recording devices and cameras were banned from the speaking room. Spontaneous questions were off-limits as well.
  
  Mary Catherine Ham says that Edwards, "only took written questions submitted beforehand, and the affair didn't come up. We shall have to wait."

Ham's assessment of an Edwards' comeback:

Can he make a comeback? Democrats were angry at him, not because he cheated (as they made sure to stipulate, so as to avoid being pegged as insufficiently non-judgmental), but because he endangered their electoral prospects. Surely, he'll stick around as a middling speaker, but in the Age of Obama, how does a sullied Southerner the Dems don't even need to gain the Bubba vote forge a path back to prominence?

Sounds like a good call to us.

DBKP: The John Edwards Scandal Library Over 120 DBKP stories on the affair/scandal/coverup from December 2007.

CNN's Andrew Mooney wonders about an Edwards' comeback as well--and also uses the 'P' word: pariah.

The man who had been considered a major contender for the Democratic nomination instantly became a pariah in his own party and didn't merit so much as a mention at the Democratic National Convention a month later.
...
But with the 2008 presidential election officially in the history books, Edwards may be looking to accomplish what a handful of other national political figures have been able to do: successfully re-emerge from an embarrassing public scandal that by all appearances has left his political career in ruins.

But Edwards' future just may hinge on how he goes about re-entering the public sphere. While it remains a long shot that Edwards will ever run for office again, he could re-emerge as a powerful voice for a set of issues he championed during the Democratic presidential primary: poverty and healthcare.

One wonders how effectively Edwards can talk about poverty when the multi-millionaire trial lawyer's experiences for decades have been more of the penthouse variety.

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SANCTUARY AMONG THE RESTROOM STALLS

The Mainstream Media blacked out all mention of Edwards' affair with Hunter for almost nine months. Even after reporters from the National Enquirer--an Edwards' nemesis throughout the affair--caught the former Democrat presidential candidate leaving Hunter's Beverly Hilton hotel room, the MSM refused to report on the spectacle of Edwards barricading himself in a public rest room at 3 am to escape the Enquirer's inquiring minds.

Edwards, who campaigned on the morality issue--he included his family and cancer-striken wife, Elizabeth prominently at campaign trail appearances--denied the allegation the Enquirer reports of his infidelity in October 2007.

Then, after a November 2007 interview in which Edwards boasted of "staring down the National Enquirer", the former NC senator didn't have to answer any unpleasant questions from a decidedly un-curious MSM for nine months.

All of that ended with the Enquirer's reporters attempting to question Edwards in the early AM on July 21 in the Beverly Hilton. Though Fox News confirmed the confrontation a few days later, the MSM--except for a few newspapers--banned mention of the incident to their readers/viewers.

Edwards kept a high profile for several days, until MSM reporters from NC newspapers attempted to question Edwards after he spoke at an AARP symposium in Washington DC in late July.

Edwards ducked out on the reporters--escaping through a side entrance--and immediately ducked out of public life, retiring to his palatial spread outside Chapel Hill, NC. When he re-emerged from hiding on August 8, public statements appeared within minutes of each other from Edwards, wife Elizabeth and Edwards' campaign money-man, Fred Baron.

Parts of all three statements were later found to be disingenuously-parsed at best; falsehoods at worst.

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RIELLE BABY DRAMA
HUNTER KNOWS ALL, WRITES ALL?



Edwards denied being the father of Rielle Hunter's infant daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter--he still denies it--even after the Enquirer published pictures of Edwards holding Frances Quinn in a room at the Beverly Hilton. Skeptics, however, will point to Edwards' previous denials of the affair itself as proof that what Edwards alleges is not always reliable.

According to the National Enquirer, Rielle Hunter is writing an explosive tell-all book about her affair with Edwards--as a sort of insurance policy, in case her money payments stop.

Rielle Hunter aka Lisa Druck the 44 year-old divorcee, former videographer and mother of Edwards' love child plans to publish the bombshell tell-all only if the "hush money" she's been receiving ends, sources reveal.

Fred Baron, the wealthy Dallas ex-trial lawyer and former fiancé chairman for Sen. Edwards failed presidential bid died Halloween Eve, Oct. 30, from complications of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Baron had admitted paying Hunter's bills and also those of Andrew Young, another Edwards' crony who claims the baby is his.

Now that Baron is dead, Rielle, who has no job not source of income, realizes her serial payments could end unless Edwards makes them directly -- which so far he has refused.

Before he died, Baron maintained that the money he was doling out to both Hunter and long-time Edwards' operative, Andrew Young--who initially claimed Hunter's baby was his--was from his personal money stash and that Baron was making the payments without Edwards' knowledge.

ENQUIRER: "Now Rielle is writing an explosive tell-all memoir that blow the lid off the whole steamy affair and cover-up - a book that could keep her and her love child rolling in greenbacks for years to come.

"Rielle views the book as her personal insurance policy," an insider divulged.

"She's been keeping a journal since she began her affair with John."

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DIRTY DIAPER DNA

Rumors abound over the possession by the Enquirer of one of Frances Quinn's dirty diapers. From Did John Edwards father child of Rielle Hunter? The latest poop:

Even though he admitted cheating with campaign staffer Rielle Hunter (top), The National Enquirer wants to prove he's the father of Hunter's baby. How? We hear that, on the night they caught Edwards visiting Hunter and child at a Beverly Hills hotel, Enquirer reporters grabbed one of the baby's poopy diapers.

Now, say sources, intrepid Enquirer editor David Perel hopes to compare the infant's stinky DNA with that of Edwards, who has denied paternity. "All they need is a cup he drank from," an insider tells us.

"I will neither confirm nor deny possession of a dirty diaper," Perel said dryly. "But I would like to do a DNA test."

David Perel told DBKP: "There's a lot of ways to go on DNA testing."

"I'm not saying we have material for DNA testing. But if we did, at some point we'd be interested in having a test done."

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Edwards appeared in San Francisco on Wednesday at a private debate with former Bush honcho, Karl Rove, in front of a group of bankers. Two nights, two speaking engagements, one question: Does John Edwards really think he has a political future?

Some former staff members are doubtful.

But even as Edwards is appearing to take the first steps toward a comeback, former supporters -- many of whom where blindsided by his admission of infidelity -- may be unwilling to give him a second chance this soon.

"I wish he would keep himself locked in a cave for a year," a former senior staffer to Edwards' campaign said. "The best strategy he could adopt right now is to stay below the radar and just be quiet and let people move on."

One wonders what John Edwards would do with himself without politics. He speaks on political subjects and clearly was comfortable in the limelight. Sources tell DBKP that Edwards "isn't much interested in returning to the courtroom any time soon."

Edwards is not the only one hoping for a comeback. Others also wait for an Edwards' resurrection. Edwards' return to the spotlight might touch off a cottage industry of tell-all books by others involved in the Edwards' affair: Andrew Young, Bob McGovern, Pigeon O'Brien, perhaps even Andrew Baron.

Interested or not, John Edwards may not be the one who makes the call between a return to politicis or the courtroom: a political career seems likely to be wishful thinking.

Especially, if Rielle Hunter cashes in her "personal insurance policy" and publishes her tell-all book.


by Mondo Frazier
images:
* national enquirer
* dbkp file
* aycu26
* Doug Ross@journal

John Edwards Scandal: Edwards, Hunter, Young, Baron and Karma

KARMA COALITION
John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Andrew Young, Rielle Hunter, Fred Baron




The saying goes that good karma is like a boomerang; the more good karma one spreads, the more you get back in return. However, to those associated/affiliated with John Edwards and Rielle Hunter, the opposite seems to be in play.

Take, for example, Elizabeth Edwards, the wounded spouse in this tawdry affair. Denied a run for the White House by primary voters, the Democratic Convention was supposed to be the Edwards’ centerpiece for health care reform.

Instead, due to the fallout from John Edward’s tawdry escapades, a prime-time speech slot was hastily rescinded. Worse, while Elizabeth Edwards received an initial burst of goodwill and enthusiasm from disappointed Democrats, that goodwill disappeared in the night like will o’ wisp through inopportune interviews where it was revealed that Elizabeth had been complicit in her husband’s perfidy.

As for John Edwards, he’s certainly kept a low profile these past months, at one point even being banished from the family home, and he canceled a slew of lucrative speaking engagements. Rumors persist that after the election, Edwards intends to mount a “comeback.” How he intends to do this remains unclear at this time; a round of Oprah, Leno and Letterman, perhaps?

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Over 120 stories about the John Edwards Affair/Scandal/Coverup:
Library of DBKP John Edwards Stories

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Rielle Hunter seems to have drifted off the reservation, the frenzy around her seemingly abated. Tabloid press and gossip sites which ran Rielle Hunter 24/7 have, by all appearances, called off the dogs. Even the National Enquirer seems off the hunt. If there are any more bombshells in the Edwards-Hunter arsenal, perhaps the NE is holding it until after the election.

Andrew Young, the ex-John Edwards staffer and alleged “father” of Baby Frances Quinn, is supposedly back in North Carolina, along with his wife and other children, awaiting the completion of his million-dollar mansion, the one he built with no visible means of support.

Unfortunately for Fred Baron, the Texas lawyer and Democrat big wig who financed Hunter and Young’s cross country trips and manse rentals out of the goodness of his heart, he’s in the battle of his life.

According to his son Andrew, the elder Baron was recently diagnosed with final stage Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, and given days to live.

After initially being denied access to Tysabri, a last chance experimental drug undergoing clinical trials, despite entreaties by President Bill Clinton, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, Senator John Harkin, Lance Armstrong and Dr. Andrew Von Eschenbach (head of the FDA), Baron is now receiving the drug under the auspices of The Mayo Clinic.

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NOTES:
* Does John Edwards plan on trying to resurrect his political career? Apparently so. The ex-VP candidate and NC Senator has speaking engagements planned for after the election, starting with an appearance at Indiana University on November 11.
* Elizabeth Edwards says that her condition has not worsened, according to reports. She continues to speak in favor of socialized health care.
* Rielle Hunter is rumored to be co-producer of a movie, a move some are saying is one of the quiet payoffs for remaining quiet over the paternity of her daughter.
* The New York Post is rumored to have new photos coming out in the near future of Rielle Hunter and daughter, Frances Quinn.
* Andrew Young, according to some sources, has moved into his new multi-million dollar home. He is still reported to be without visible means of support.

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by CB
images: file

CB writes at PJ MacIlvaine. "Confessions Of A Very Sweet Screenwriter/Journalist/Mommy/Proud Bleeding Heart Liberal"

John Edwards Affair: Light, Action, Swingers, Camera, Movies!

John Edwards Affair
Love Child Scandal and/or Cover-up News:
* Swingers in the Edwards' Cover-up?
* That Might Explain Rielle Hunter, Andrew and Cheri Young Living Arrangements
* John Edwards as Rock Star
* Rielle Hunter to Produce Hollywood Movie?
* Movie Used as Money Conduit or Gag?
* John Edwards Has the Best of Both Worlds




We're on the road checking out rumors of a different nature for a story Sunday, so we've gathered bits and pieces from the John Edwards Affair/Scandal/Cover-up and mixed them all together in no particular order.

What's rumor and what's the cold-hard truth?

As always, what is known is presented, as is what is being guessed or whispered about.

The readers, as always, can then make up their own minds.


* SWINGERS CLUB Close to Edwards' Campaign HQ?


According to Mo, at Morons in Chapel Hill, "Is There A Swinger's Club Based At Southern Village?

Fresh from the rumor mill: A swingers group or club in or around Southern Village is having trouble with a member or couple who have decided to expose the groups activities. This group (if it exists at all) has flown under the radar for several years and has had participants travel from as far away as California to join in "events" sponsored by this group. Even more interesting is that there is a possibility that someone with genuine political connections is involved with the group.

The story adds that there's no confirmation, but that, "There is or was a polyamory group in Durham that often advertised in the Independent. There are separate bondage groups based in Raleigh and Winston Salem, so a swingers group in Chapel Hill would not be a big surprise."

Of course, this may or may not have anything to do with the John Edwards scandal.


* SWINGING EXPLAINS YOUNG-HUNTER-YOUNG LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

It might explain--if true--why the unusual living arrangements of Rielle Hunter and Andrew Young and his wife, Cheri, didn't seem so unusual to those involved in the madcap coverup.

As LBG noted back in December--when Rielle Hunter, Edwards' mistress and supposedly pregnant with Andrew Young's baby, moved right down the street from Andrew and Cheri Young--in "Rielle Hunter: Kept Woman":

Former Edwards campaign Director of Operations, Andrew Young, gives Open Marriage advocates something to cheer about.

The 41-year-old former “North Carolina Finance Director” of the Edwards campaign has stepped forward and not only claimed the “alleged” love child of John Edwards as his but has also moved his six months pregnant mistress, Reille Hunter, into the same multi-million dollar gated community as his own wife and children.

No word from Young’s wife on how well she’s adjusted to the new neighbor, the ‘other’ woman and the impending “bundle of joy.”

According to the National Enquirer, the bald headed stepchild of the MSM, an unnamed source claims Young, and his ‘first’ family, his legally married wife and legitimate children, had dinner with his pregnant paramour in her newly acquired abode.

This was all before surrogate sugar daddy, Fred Baron, standing in for John Edwards, moved Rielle Hunter, sugar baby Frances Quinn Hunter, and Andrew Young, wife Cheri, and family to Santa Barbara--all into the same house as one big family family.

Who wrote the script for Edwards' and Baron's cover-up material: the Marx Brothers?

The only two groups of people in America that have believed the screwball cover-up antics of the Edwards' gang have been 1-foaming-at-the-mouth Edwards' supporters; and, 2-the Mainstream Media.


* JOHN EDWARDS, ROCK STAR
RIELLE HUNTER, MOVIE STAR




[ABOVE: Barack Obama isn't the only Democrat who rode the "rock star" meme during the 2008 campaign. John Edwards, from the photo above, also seemed to know his way around a mosh pit.]


Hunter in Malibu, says one gossip site:

...insist my beachy real estate moles who swear on their leased Mercedes guzzlers that Reille has landed in simply the most perf place for persecuted, peroxided types: Malibu.

A DBKP's comment by Love Lips on "John Edwards Affair: Rielle Hunter, the Bird in A Gilded Cage" remarked:

There are rumors in Hollywood that Rielle Hunter has told friends that she is writing for and will be a silent partner on a movie production done by the team that did FIghting Words to be financed solely by asbestos lawyers including Fred Baron.

"Fighting Words" was produced by another trial attorney, Robert Zaytoun of NC. Fortunate Son, at Deceiver, on the same story, "Elizabeth Edwards Feeds the Monster Whether She Likes It or Not" notes that, "Wake County lawyer Robert E. Zaytoun was John Edwards’ co-counsel in malpractice case(s)".

When Raleigh lawyer Robert Zaytoun was approached by one of his best friends to produce a movie, his first thought was, "That's a good way to lose money."

Might Hunter's film also be a good way to channel (lose) money?

We recall a conversation with Drew Carey in the 1990s when Carey related that "if you want to make a lot of money, shoot a movie pilot". Carey created, wrote, was executive producer for a time and directed, as well as starred in "The Drew Carey Show".

Might Hunter be involved in ways that could channel money for her performing, writing, producing and/or directing in a film project--regardless of whether the movie ever sees the light of day?

Might this also be a way of keeping Hunter--the one person who could surely blow the lid off of the Edwards' story--happy and quiet? Snoop-diggety-dang-dog thinks so.

"Perhaps that’s what Fred Baron’s ’slow-pitch’ movie deal for Rielle is all about? Keep her yap shut for 46 more days so this doesn’t become ‘an October surprise’."

Rielle Hunter will keep her yap shut until she realizes that she's been had by John Edwards and Fred Baron.

LBG nailed it: for now, she's a bird in a gilded cage.

Hunter doesn’t seem to realize that for Edwards to ever have a relationship with her he would have to admit he lied during his “confession” on ABC’s Nightline when he was supposed to be telling the country the truth.

Hunter doesn’t realize that Edwards will never forgive her for being the cause of his fall from public grace, no matter the degree of his own cupability.

Hunter doesn’t realize that having a baby with John Edwards doesn’t count, as he had four babies with his wife Elizabeth and he still cheated on her in the end.

Hunter doesn’t realize that, to the country, she will always be seen as a wanton woman, in it for the money, power, or fame, take your pick, courtesy of John Edwards and Fred Baron’s scheme to hide the relationship. In an attempt to salvage his own reputation, Edwards had Hunter’s viciously savaged as an opportunist willing to sleep with married men, an “extortionist” willing to use her baby for her own “ends”.

* JOHN EDWARDS: BEST of BOTH WORLDS

It's been reported that John Edwards has been kicked out of his palatial digs and lives apart from wife, Elizabeth at Figure Eight Island, NC.

If that is the case, then John Edwards has the best of all cover-up worlds. When on the phone to wife, Elizabeth, he could paint the best of times about their marriage. When on the phone to mistress, Rielle Hunter, he could paint the worst of times about his marriage.

It would be the supreme way to keep Rielle Hunter "on the hook" and quiet.

One source told us that Rielle doesn't think people "understand" the situation he and Edwards are in. At some point, Hunter will understand the situation--not she and John Edwards are in, but the situation that she's put Fred Baron in--and his trial lawyers investors and their millions upon millions of dollars investment in Edwards White House chances.

Meanwhile, the Edwards's strategy seems to be: evade the media--who was never inquisitive at all prior to August-- and let the public's short memory fade and he'll resurrect his political career.

* ODDS & ENDS

* Among the phone conversations, emails, stories and comments we received this past week concerning John Edwards and Rielle Hunter:

--Hunter thought that Edwards had a big Schwanzstucker, according to one conversation.
--In another conversation, it was related that "she [Rielle Hunter] thought that he [John Edwards] was a great lover". Which prompted the question, "Why did she think that?" Which prompted the another reference to the Schwanzstucker.
--Elizabeth Edwards Feeds the Monster Whether She Likes It or Not
--Hunter was living off the kindness of friends and strangers until she struck trial lawyer paydirt in John Edwards. Before she was moved to the Governor's Club in Chapel Hill, Mimi Hockman was Hunter's source of lodging.

Quite a long step up from Mimi Hockman's NJ pad and Fred Baron's Malibu beachside accomodations, huh?


by Mondo

John Edwards Affair: Andrew Young, Deadbeat Dad

John Edwards' News:
John Edwards - Rielle Hunter
Fred Baron - Andrew Young - Frances Quinn Hunter





Andrew Young, Deadbeat Dad?


Where is Gloria Allred?

Where are all the child advocates?

Who speaks for 26-week-old Frances Quinn Hunter?

The National Enquirer has reported that Andrew Young--the loyal campaign foot soldier who took a bullet for the team and claimed he was the father of Rielle Hunter's daughter, Frances--"has never given her [Hunter and daughter] a dime.

"Andrew Young hasn't paid a red cent to Rielle or her baby Frances because he's never had a relationship with Rielle and he's not the father," revealed a close source.

"He hasn't even spoken to Rielle in almost two months since she lived with him and his wife Cheri and their three kids in Santa Barbara, Calif., as part of the cover-up.

If that is all true--and the Enquirer has batted 1.000 in the story thus far--that would make Andrew Young a deadbeat dad.




[Background information: access over 100 DBKP stories on the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair, scandal and cover-up: John Edwards Love Child Scandal Library.]


It's been reported that Andrew Young, Cheri Young and their children have tired of Southern California and made their way back to North Carolina. For a time, reports were that they moved back into the Governor's Club house of ex-NBA player, Eric Montross.

Andrew Young is awaiting the finishing of construction on a new home--which will be valued at well over $1 million--which is said to be the payoff for his claiming paternity for Hunter's baby.




Actually, that is going too far: Young has never claimed to be the father of Frances Quinn Hunter. There was no name on the birth certificate. Young has never, according to the Enquirer, "paid a dime" in child support.

In fact, the only time that Andrew Young claimed to be the father was back in December.

Once.

Through a Fred Baron-arranged attorney.

In response to the National Enquirer's December edition of the scandal.

Young's attorney provided a statement at that time--no other statements have been provided--and no other announcements were forthcoming or needed. But the lone statement accomplished its intention: it quelled any curiosity in the MSM over the strange events of Edwards, Hunter, Young and the campaign's handling of the the escapade.

It allowed CBS News' Bob Shieffer to roll over and go back to sleep.

There's no report of Andrew Young ever being asked about his relationship with Hunter by any MSM reporter. The Enquirer reports that "now Andrew Young has simply clammed up".

Our observation: not much clamming up was needed.

The MSM? They're too busy looking into McCain VP pick, Sarah Palin, and the "bloody, dead caribou the mom just shot."

Which leads to this story of Andrew Young, the tight-lipped deadbeat dad--and the equally-tight-lipped child advocates of the left.

The Enquirer's source continued, "The Youngs no longer have contact with Rielle. Now if Andrew was indeed the father, don't you think Rielle would be asking for child support?

"But Andrew never has supported Rielle financially."

Who has been supporting Rielle Hunter and daughter, Frances Q.?

SHE AIN'T HEAVY, SHE'S EDWARDS' BABY




Fred Baron hasn't been making many statements, other than the occasional lawyerly deflection to the Dallas Morning News. Oh, and his dodging an ABC News team that was shadowing him at the Democrat National Convention.

For their investigative trouble, ABC producer, Asa Eslocker, got bum-rushed by the cops, pushed into traffic and choked, before being arrested.

However, that was only a blip to the brave members of the MSM Fourth Estate.

Former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox seems to sum up the Fred Baron attitude toward any unwanted publicity over Baron's payments to Rielle Hunter.

"You know they indicted me, but we survived it," said Mr. Mattox, who was acquitted of a felony bribery charge in 1985."

Mr. Baron, who attended the brunch with his wife, Lisa Blue, didn't appear to see the connection. "Hey, I've done nothing wrong," he said.

Mr. Baron is absolutely confirmed in his above opinion by the intrepid reporters of the MSM--ABC excepted.

EDWARDS EXPANDS, THEN CONTRACTS, HIS SPEAKING SCHEDULE

John Edwards first sought last week to "fill out" his speaking schedule. He ran from that pronouncement almost as as quickly as he did when pursued by National Enquirer reporters in the Beverly Hilton.

Perhaps, with a little help from his friends at the DNC and the Obama-Biden campaign.

Only last week, a spokesman said that John Edwards was looking to fill out speaking schedule. So, he followed in the footsteps of his wife and canceled his speaking appearance at Hofstra University. Strange way to expand your appearances.

“Nothing is more important than electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden,” Edwards said in a statement released Thursday by the Harry Walker Agency in Manhattan. “I don’t want my appearance at these events to be a distraction from the important issues of the election, or from the important purpose of these meetings.”

Which prompted Simon at Deceiver to raise the question: Is Edwards admitting that he's a political liability?

Hey, wait a sec… I thought Edwards was a private citizen? I thought this scandal had absolutely nothing to do with Obama? But there it is in black and white gray and slightly lighter gray: Edwards just went out of his way to link himself to Obama. Otherwise, why would appearing in public be a distraction from Obama’s campaign?

All good questions.

All good questions that won't be appearing on CNN or in the New York Times.

If those two stellar members of Big Media had handled the Edwards and Palin stories in the same manner, Palin would have had to bought time and space to get her name mentioned.


CONVENTIONS A BLESSING FOR EDWARDS, MSM




The two-week convention season was heaven-sent for both John Edwards and the Mainstream Media: Edwards didn't see the odd newspaper story with his name in it; and, the Mainstream Media had a toy: John McCain VP pick, Gov. Sarah Palin, of Alaska.

Edwards and Rielle Hunter's personal lives were not news when he was running for president.

The elaborate and bizarre cover-up that Edwards undertook was not news, either.

First, loyal Edwards' operative, Andrew Young--who initially claimed he was the father Hunter's baby--moved a pregnant Hunter a few blocks away from his wife and their small children in Chapel Hill, NC. When the Enquirer tracked Hunter down to NC, Edwards' money-man, Fred Baron, got involved.

Baron flew Hunter, Young and Young's wife and children to Santa Barbara, where, in a sort of modern-day Beverly Hillbillies twist, they all lived in the same multi-million dollar house as one happy family.

That not news to the MSM.

July 21, John Edwards got caught by the National Enquirer's reporters leaving Rielle Hunter's hotel room in the Beverly Hilton at 2:40 in the morning. When confronted, Edwards ran into a men's room, barricaded the door and had to be rescued by hotel security guards.

Again, to the MSM, this was not news, even though Edwards had been identified as being on the Obama VP shortlist that same week by Time. The fact that the possible Dem VP was hiding in a hotel mens room didn't enter into the "vetting process" of Time's Joe Klein.

The teen-aged father of Bristol Palin's baby caught the keen journalistic eye of Klein and his comrades; the father of Rielle Hunter's baby, didn't.

Nothing interested Big Media: until ABC got involved and confronted Edwards on August 8. Edwards then gave his blessing to the MSM to inform their readers/viewers about the unpleasant situation.

Here's a tip for the Mainstream Media: tell your remaining news customers that you're trying to make up for your lack of investigation in the John Edwards' scandal by doubling your investigative efforts on Sarah Palin's 16-year-old pregnant daughter.

It's not believable.

But, it doesn't have to be believable to be a hit at the next cocktail party that Joe Klein attends.


by Mondoreb
images: National Enquirer; jack boulware
Source: JOHN EDWARDS SCANDAL NEWS: NO CHILD $UPPORT FROM 'DAD'

Rocketboom and Peggy Noonan Two-fer

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't make two different items fit in the same post.

Unless you offer a Two-fer.

PEGGY NOONAN BASHES MSNBC

From AllahPundit, Hot Air, "Video: Peggy Noonan salutes MSNBC’s “fatuous suck-upping” … on MSNBC":

After you’re done here, go watch the clip at Olby Watch of our straight-down-the-middle modern-day Murrow urging an AP writer on air last night to “find new work” after he committed the grievous sin of not soiling his pants over Barack Obama’s speech. Remember, Olby’s always at pains to stress how his role as opinionated nutroots vlogger on “Countdown” is very different from his role as unbiased anchorthing when covering election events. See how different he sounds to you.

Peggy Noonan two-fer below: she rips Olbermann and has her fellows in stitches--all with the same comments.

Hilarious!


Deceiver Gets FAN MAIL from ANDREW BARON

Deceiver ran a post called "How Much Does it Take to make a Rocketboom?". It chronicled the madcap adventures of John Edwards' moneyman, Fred Baron's son, Andrew and his vblog, Rocketboom.

Simon, at Deceiver, then received the following from Andrew Baron:

I appreciate that we live in a world with checks and balances but it seems like the author of this blog is either on crack or working for Republican extremists.


Simon replied, "As if they’re mutually exclusive!"

The plot thickens daily.


by Mondoreb
image: posters

ABC News Producer Arrested Following Money Trail

"You're lucky I didn't knock the f..k out of you."
--Police officer overheard saying to ABC's Asa Eslocker in Denver

Fred Baron Being Shadowed in Denver by ABC?



UPDATES and additions to this story at DBKP.com: ABC News Producer Roughed Up, Arrested by Cops Following Money Trail.

ABC News is trying hard to escape the MSM's sleepwalking mode on the John Edwards' Scandal.

Police in Denver arrested an ABC News producer, Asa Eslocker, as he and cameramen were attempting to videotape lobbyists and big donors--including from one report, Fred Baron--leaving a get-together at the Brown Palace Hotel today in Denver.

A cigar-smoking Denver police sergeant, accompanied by a team of five other officers, first put his hands on Eslocker's neck, then twisted the producers arm behind him to put on handcuffs.

...

Eslocker and his ABC News colleagues are spending the week investigating the role of corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the convention for a series of Money Trail reports on ABC World News with Charles Gibson.

[Background information: access over 100 DBKP stories on the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair, scandal and cover-up: John Edwards Love Child Scandal Library.]





ABC has apparently been shadowing Baron, among others, this week in Denver at the Democrat National Convention.

Baron brushed them off Tuesday.

Fred Baron, a wealthy Texas trial lawyer and former finance chairman for Edwards' presidential campaign, was seen Tuesday at a private luncheon for top party donors and key senators.

Baron, a longtime major contributor to Democratic candidates, would not answer questions from ABC News and walked away when he saw cameras.

The exclusive lunch was organized by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for its highest level donor group known at the Legacy Circle. It was one a series of VIP events Baron and other top donors have received throughout the convention from party officials, and which allow donors close access to members of Congress.

Today, it would seem ABC got too far down the trial lawyer money trail that is winding its way through Denver and Eslocker was arrested.

Trial lawyers are the Democrat Party's biggest group of contributors; collectively, the ATLA (American Trial Lawyers Association) flex their monetary muscle whenever there's a Congressman or Senator favoring tort reform, by pouring money in opponents' campaign coffers--most usually that opponent comes from the Democrat Party.

"Police on the scene refused to tell ABC lawyers the charges against the producer, Asa Eslocker, who works with the ABC News investigative unit."

ABC News began running down the John Edwards money trail weeks ago; when ABC Producer, Brian Ross, confronted Edwards with what they had learned about the money trail to mistress, Rielle Hunter, that Edwards agreed to go on Nightline on August 8.

Whether its a trial lawyer TV ad begging viewers to remember if someone has ever wronged them or ABC News after trial lawyers and who their donations might benefit, the old saying still applies:

Follow the money.


by Mondoreb
images: dbkp file; abc news

John Edwards Campaign Refunds: More Questions

Highly-Selective Nature of Edwards' Refunds is Questioned
NOT Their Legality

"I donated what I consider to be a significant sum of money to John Edwards, but I am not an lawyer. Is there a website address where I can apply for a refund?

Is there a deadline for applying for refunds? I would appreciate any help anyone can give me."
--Iowa Pensioner, in a comment to our earlier story, Edwards’ Campaign Quietly Refunds Contributions to Bundlers, Big Backers




Who in the John Edwards' campaign speaks for Iowa Pensioner and her America?

Is Iowa Pensioner a lone voice crying in a wilderness full of Edwards' apologists and would-be FEC lawyers?

UPDATES, if any at DBKP: John Edwards Campaign Refunds: More Questions than Answers


Our stories earlier today [Edwards’ Campaign Quietly Refunds Contributions to Bundlers, Big Backers & John Edwards Scandal: Many Big Edwards Donors Got Refunds in March] caused a bit of a stir.

PJ Gladnick at Newsbusters, immediately got our point and put it in his headline,[Web Scoops MSM: Edwards Refunds Contributions to One of His Americas]. So did Moonbattery's Van Helsing:

The disgraced John Edwards has proven himself right about there being two Americas: one is rich enough to get their campaign donations quietly refunded; the other is poor enough to ignore. Following Warren Buffet's warning that donors could give the ambulance-chasing Breck Girl a dose of his own medicine with a class action lawsuit, DBKP reports:

As well as Tom McGuire, at Just One Minute: "Wouldn't that buttress a class-action lawsuit? Why is Edwards taking care of his fat-cat bundlers but not reimbursing Joe Lunchbucket's $100? Troubling."

Paleo Pat puts it thus: "It seems that John Edwards is giving much of his money back to the “Big Bundlers” some of whom are convicted felons." Snoop, at Political Party Poop, saw the irony: "LOL!"

Everyone else, including Edwards' apologists and campaign ho-hummers: let's be clear and drop the word games. We're not (and weren't in our earlier stories) questioning the legality of the refunds, but the highly-selective nature of who received their money back.

One reader wrote: "This would have been a real scoop if big contributors were getting refunds but little contributors weren’t after Edwards confessed to his affair. The true explanation appears to be pretty mundane."

If there is truly "mundane", then why did only ONE CLASS of contributors receive their money back? We have our doubts about how "mundane" the explanation is to small Edwards' contributors.

Of the 2247 contributions returned as of July 31, 2008: only 125 of these were for UNDER $100 dollars (discounting multiple donations that may have included a donation for under $100). Most of these smaller donations went to lawyers, doctors and others with substantial incomes.

Why did only contributors from One of Edwards' Two Americas get their money back?

We will wait for an answer.

We spoke with the FEC and the Center for Responsive Politics this afternoon. Again, nothing illegal (we're sorry if we left that impression, but upon re-checking our stories, the word "illegal" does not appear in either.) was implied. What was not implied, but asked quite directly: WHY did the multi-millionaires--mostly trial lawyers--get their money back in such a timely manner?

We appeal to former Edwards' supporters: did you know that you could apply to the campaign for a refund? Did you know that if you designated your contribution for the general election, you would get a refund? Were you, as an Edwards' contributor, informed by the campaign at any time--especially after Edwards' August 8 Nightline appearance--that you could ask for your money back?

At the Edwards' campaign website, there are no instructions whatsoever to help the little guys in obtaining a refund.

The person at the FEC that we spoke to was somewhat helpful:

"If the candidate drops out after the primaries, then all contributions designated for the general election--not the primary election--then the contributions, by law, have to be refunded to the contributors. If the individual contributor wants a refund of his/her donation made for the primary election, it's up to the discretion of the campaign whether to make the refund."

We were directed to this FEC document for further questions. Although it's labeled for "Congressional campaigns", we were told the "same rules apply to presidential campaigns." The only item concerning "refunds" was found on page 182 of the pdf document:

Refunded Contribution—A contribution is refunded when the recipient committee first deposits the contribution and later sends the contributor a check for the entire amount (or a portion) of the contribution. 103.3(b). Compare with definition of returned contribution.

Returned Contribution—A contribution is returned when the recipient committee sends the original check (or other negotiable instrument) back to the contributor, without depositing it. 103.3(a). Compare with definition of refunded contribution.

It seems we're back to our original question: if it's largely up to the discretion of the campaign, then why did the Edwards' campaign's discretion favor the large contributors?

Again, why did some of the biggest contributors receive money back for both the primary and general election?

Massie Ritsch, of the Center for Responsive Politics, was very helpful both in a phone conversation and in emails he sent from Denver, where he's attending the Democrat convention. CRP is looking into the refund process also, as there seems to be not much written on it (as we discovered while writing our original stories).

But Massie was very clear on a possible remedy for disaffected Edwards' donors:

"There might be plenty of trial lawyers that supported John Edwards willing to take that [class action] case."

"It's like a corporation," Massie continued, "that takes money from investors and doesn't inform them of all they know."

1 How many non-lawyers were aware that they had to designate their contributions for use in the general election to get them back by law?

2 Why were the overwhelming majority of people who received refunds big donors? Some of these donors apparently received back their contributions from both the primary and general elections: if this was at the discretion of the campaign, why were only large contributors from One of the Two Americas considered?

There is some redundancy in the above paragraphs, but it's there for a reason: it's not the illegality of the refunds that interest us; it's the highly-selective nature of who received them.

Why did Fred Baron receive his money back and not Iowa Pensioner? Why did Michael Eisner get a refund and not "emma" who wrote: "“…and i gave $500 to his campaign which went to pay for his whore’s meals! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”?

Why did Dean Hanley, of Berkeley CA, get his $6900 back in two separate refunds, while GA Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield ($750) didn't?


Our earlier stories also piqued the interest of Walter Olsen, Overlawyered:

Ted must be feeling prescient regarding his speculations about an Edwards-contributor refund class action now that Warren Buffett has weighed in on the idea [Kaus]. And in fact the Edwards campaign does seem to be refunding some contributions in interesting ways, if one account pans out (bundlers! Thomas Girardi! John O’Quinn!) [DBKP, more, yet more]

John Edwards spoke on the campaign trail of the Two Americas, poverty and helping the poor vs. the rich.

When it came time for his campaign to put its money where his mouth was, it was clear which of his Two America got their money back.

Who speaks for those people now?

by Mondoreb
image: dbkp file

John Edwards Affair: Many Big Campaign Donors Got Refunds in March

John Edwards' Two Americas:
The Fat Cats and Bundlers Who Got their Money Refunded;
The Working Stiffs Who Stayed in the Dark



* The John Edwards' campaign has already refunded $3,831,398 to contributors--many who contributed the maximum of $2300.
* 2,247 donors have already received money back from the John Edwards--many who are trial attorneys and political "bundlers"--and most received it back on March 24.
* Refunds to small donors under $100 have accounted for only 1/5th of one percent, so far, according to Open Secrets.com.
* The Edwards campaign still has $4,791,200 cash on hand, according to its July 31, 2008 filing.
* There are no instructions on the Edwards' campaign website for applying for a refund, though the campaign is still taking donations on the same site. It may be that refunds will be issued on a "first come, first serve" basis, but that is speculation. More on the refund process in a DBKP story to be published later Monday.

For any readers who gave money to the John Edwards' campaign and are now upset that perhaps that hard-earned $50 or $100 (or more) went to pay for Rielle Hunter's stay in the tony Governor's Club or Andrew Young's BWM that Hunter drove for awhile, there's hope yet to recover that money.

While searching for info on another John Edwards' story, DBKP's LBG uncovered something previously unreported in the media: the Edwards' campaign made a number of refunds to campaign contributors on March 24. Most were large contributors--trial attorneys and political contribution bundlers--and many received $2300, or more, back from the Edwards' campaign. Many not only received refunds themselves, but members of their families who had contributed also received checks from the campaign in March.

For a candidate that ran on a "Two Americas" theme, when it came time for refunds, only One America got campaign refund checks, while the other America was kept in the dark.

Until now.




Warren Buffet told CNBC last week: "I've seen a lot of class-action suits with less to it than this particular case. The facts are clear. I mean, he [John Edwards] solicited money and he wasn't telling the truth to the people he was soliciting it from."

Buffet was talking class action, but DBKP has learned that the Edwards' campaign has refunded $3,831,398--the bulk of it back on March 24, when the campaign quietly issued refunds to the vast majority of the 2,247 who've received their money back.

Many of those receiving refunds were big trial attorneys and bundlers--those political money men/women who round up boatloads of cash for a candidate's campaign.

One such bundler was Atlanta attorney, Stephen Leeds. He received $2300 back on March 24. Apparently, at least one of the contributors, who gave Leeds $750 of her money for Edwards, has not.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in a story Sunday of one such former Edwards' backer who wants her money back.

“That’s money I could have put in my children’s college fund,” state Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) said of her contributions to Edwards.

Stuckey said she donated a total of $750 to Edwards and has contacted former Edwards backer Stephen Leeds trying to find out how to get a refund.

Leeds, an Atlanta attorney, has been an Edwards supporter since 2002 and was considered Edwards’ point man in metro Atlanta. Leeds said he now backs presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama and has no idea if there is any money in Edwards’ campaign coffers to return to disgruntled former supporters. He said he has not talked with Edwards since the scandal broke.

“John ended up dishonoring an awful lot of people in this process, from his family to a lot of his supporters,” said Leeds, who gave Edwards $2,300 for his primary run and $2,300 for the general election.

The Journal-Constitution reported that Leeds stated, "Any general fund campaign contributions will be returned to donors because he [Edwards] is not running in November".

Leeds should be able to help Benfield get her money back: Leeds received $2300 back from the campaign in March, according to Open Secrets.com.

Lee Stranahan predicted last week, in a Huffington Post article, that Democrats might want their money back from Edwards:

Some Democrats Will Want Their Money Back : It's already becoming something people are talking about informally but it's just a matter of time before lawsuits start because it's becoming clear that Edwards used campaign money to take his girlfriend on the road with him. Times are hard and this could become a new and innovative economic stimulus plan for Democrats.

Again, for the first lucky applicants, no lawsuits are necessary: just be at the front of the line and be the first on your block to get your John Edwards' stimulus check!

At least that's the speculation until later today, when a few experts in the field will give their views in a yet-to-be-published DBKP article.




More from Warren Buffett on the class-action matter:

CNBC: Did you ever give money to John Edwards along the way?

BUFFETT: No, I didn't--I didn't give money to John Edwards. And, in fact, I think if I'd given money to him, I'd probably be asking for it back now. It's an interesting situation because John Edwards essentially was soliciting money from people to further his ambitions for the presidency, and, you know, people sent him 50, $100, $200, and I would say that they sent it in while they were being misled by the person who was soliciting the money from them. And, you know, I think if I were Edwards, I might give up a haircut or two and refund at least, you know, the people that gave the 50 or $100, $200 items, because they-- if they had known the facts, they wouldn't have sent him the money, and he is the guy that didn't give them the facts. I mean, he knew that, in effect, he wouldn't be elected president. I mean, the story was out there during the campaign. He denied it, but it was out there. And, in fact, I've never heard of it, but it might be kind of interesting if somebody, some contributor, would bring a class-action suit on behalf of all these people who essentially were led to send money to a man under totally false circumstances, false pretenses, and where he knew it and didn't tell them the truth.

Mickey Kaus commented on the Buffett class-action idea:

Heh! ... I would think this would be a difficult precedent to contain--can donors sue McCain because he didn't, in fact, get "the message" from the defeat of his immigration semi-amnesty bill--and he knew it? Maybe businesses have to live with this sort of uncertain class-action threat when they dissemble. Politicians will never stand for it.

But again, why go the legal route--that seems more make-work for the bundler-types, many who've already received their refund checks--when you can apply to the Edwards campaign directly for your money back?

Time may be of the essence here: the campaign reported $4,791,200 cash on hand in its July 31 filing. Because there is no information on the Edwards' campaign website about a refund process--but one whole page dedicated to collecting donations is still active--contacting the campaign would seem to be a must.

And, "first come, first served" might be something for disgruntled Edwards' contributors to keep in mind. DBKP is still probing the matter and will have more on the process, as well as a story on who received their cash back in March, only seven weeks after the former NC senator called it quits.

One such contributor left a comment on one of our Edwards' stories just last week. Identified only as "emma", the comment may ring a bell with some former Edwards' contributors:

"...and i gave $500 to his campaign which went to pay for his whore’s meals! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

But, there may be hope yet for emma.

She may not be a big campaign cash bundler--42% of all Edwards' bundlers received refunds so far, most on March 24--but 125 contributors who gave under $100 have gotten refunds back from the Edwards' campaign thus far.

In a story to be published later today, more facts about the March refunds:

* Who got their money back early?

Fred Baron was one, ex-NBA player Eric Montross--who rented his Governor's Club house to Andrew Young for awhile--was another. Many trial lawyers, such as John O'Quinn, William Lerach and Thomas Girardi, were in on the Edwards' early refund program.

* Who in Hollywood got back money already from the campaign?

* What small contributors--who earned big bucks--have already gotten their money back?

Also, later today: How to apply for refunds.

As J.G. Wentworth says in his TV commercials, "It's your money."


by Mondoreb
notes: LBG
images:
New sox
Confessions of a Wannabe Adman
Hiphop Republican

John Edwards Affair: The August 14 Flight of N179AX

Another in a String of "Curious Coincidences"?



Click images to enlarge.

[BIG Hat Tip: DP]

The above image is a reproduction of the flight log of a private plane, N178AX, registered to Baron & Budd PC from Dallas' Love Field to Providenciales International Airport in the Caribbean on August 14.

More on this in a few paragraphs.

The National Enquirer reported that Rielle Hunter and baby daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, flew out of the U.S. on August 7 to the St. Croix in the Virgin Islands to stay at the home of John Edwards' acquaintance, Lee Rohn.

Rohn is "controversial" in the words of the Enquirer. The Enquirer also reported that the Hunters later moved out of Rohn's house and into other accommodations. Rielle and Frances Hunter, stayed in St. Croix from August 7 until August 17, when they returned to Santa Barbara, CA.

During their stay in the sunny Caribbean, the above-mentioned Raytheon Hawker 800 twin jet, registered to Baron & Budd PC landed a short distance away at Providenciales International Airport on August 14. We have no word--as yet--how many passengers this plane carried, who they were or whether the passenger(s) found their way to other points in the Caribbean.

[Background information: access over 100 DBKP stories on the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair and cover-up: John Edwards Love Child Scandal Library.]




The information turned up at DBKP in an email titled "Interesting Flight". We thought so, too.

It may turn out that nothing about this flight is out of the ordinary. The rich who own such jets regularly visit the Caribbean for both the fun and the sun it provides. At least, so we've heard.

We only mentioned it in passing for a couple of reasons.

1 - By publishing the information of the flight, we may receive an email with additional information about the flight's passenger(s) and purpose(s)--either by the parties involved or another reader as curious as we are.

2 - By publishing the information, we receive no additional info.

In the event of (2), the August 14 flight of N178AX to Providenciales International Airport will join the stack of curious coincidences that have surrounded the affair of John Edwards and his mistress, Rielle Hunter.

Lately, those curious coincidences have included Frances Quinn, purported to be the daughter of Edwards and Rielle Hunter; as well as Fred Baron, the finance chair of Edwards' run for president earlier this year.

How about it?

Are there any out there that can shed further light on the particulars of N178AX? Is the flight's timing/destination just a coincidence?

We're just asking.

In a later post today, DBKP will ask additional questions concerning the flights and travel arrangements between the John Edwards campaign and its finance chair, Fred Baron. We also have some additional questions for Julian Chambers, the campaign treasurer, concerning certain--some might say "curious"--campaign travel arrangements.

And in yet another post later today, we hope to provide a few answers to some of those questions.

As was previously stated, this flight--taken during the Hunters' stay in the nearby Virgin Islands--may be nothing about which to ask any questions.

On the other hand, curious coincidences--and the questions concerning them--have a habit of following the main actors in this story.

It makes no difference to DBKP either way.

But, we'll continue to keep asking questions.


by Mondoreb
[hat tip: DP]

John Edwards Affair: Blogs Cover Edwards, Hunter, Baron

Stirring the John Edwards Cover-up Pot

"Hi, John! Hi, Fred!"


DBKP is not the only one stirring the John Edwards affair and cover-up pot. Others are adding in tasty bits which have all the makings of a rich, filling scandal stew.

Deceiver has not only a complete coverage of who's saying what, it also is adding to the impressive collection its own "Rielle Hunter Film Library".

You’ve seen her star turn opposite Denzel Washington in Ricochet. You’ve thrilled to her bikini-clad dancin’ in Overboard. Now TMZ has unearthed what may be Rielle’s finest moment onscreen: Her 2002 appearance on the Game Show Network’s Lingo! (If only To Tell the Truth hadn’t gone off the air…) Introducing herself to host Chuck Woolery, Rielle claimed to be “a writer” and added, “I also do a lot of yoga and chant. Mostly about how Elizabeth Edwards is a total bitch.” Okay, I might have thrown in that last part. No word yet on how much she won, but it couldn’t be nearly as much as she’s getting from this latest game.

Rush Limbaugh gave DBKP a shout out Wednesday on his show!

LBG's "John Edwards Affair: Dr. Strangelove, the “Favorite” Film Edwards Never Saw" caught the attention of El Rushbo and he used it as a modern-day parable. From Rush Limbaugh.com: Story #2: A Shining Example of the Breck Girl's Phoniness

RUSH: A fascinating story today on a blog called Death by 1,000 Paper Cuts. This story, I think, is a microcosm by the Democrat Party and their willing accomplices in the Drive-By Media. Let me just share the details with you. In August of 2004, John Edwards, the Breck Girl, participated on a program the Turner Classics Movie channel, and they are doing a series, Party Political and the Movies. This aired in 2004. And what these political personalities, people, were asked to do by Turner Classic Movies was to pick their all-time favorite movie and explain why. So Edwards picked Dr. Strangelove. "I believe that one of the messages Stanley Kubrick was trying to send was putting this kind of power and this potential Holocaust in the hands of human beings no matter who they are is an extraordinarily dangerous thing."

Well, here's the thing. Edwards had never seen the movie. Edwards had never seen Dr. Strangelove when he picked it, and the next element of the story is that he didn't even pick it, is his wife Elizabeth did.

Rush then quotes from LBG's story and emails started coming into the mailbox from well-wishers alerting us to the EIB notice. [Note: Thanksx100 to IC at KG3 and Snoop at PPP for the audio clips of the broadcast. We were busy on a story and missed it live!]

PJ Gladnick, of NewsBusters, lauded our coverage of the John Edwards-Fred Baron travel records in Edwards Scandal: Blogosphere Leads Investigation That MSM Neglects.

As NewsBusters editor Matthew Sheffield recently wrote, the John Edwards scandal demonstrates why the public is moving to the Web for news. A big reason for the public relying more and more on the Web for news is that the blogosphere is willing to do the investigative footwork that the mainstream media often neglects. A perfect illustration of this are the revelations made today by the DBKP blog about the suspicious aircraft leasing arrangements made by John Edwards' moneyman, Fred Baron:

The entire article is worth the price of admission, but some of the comments that follow the article could have very well been written by sheepish MSM reporters trying out spin at NewsBusters what they practiced around the water cooler--when they should have been out investigating the myriad threads of what's turning into the madcap cover-up of Edwards, et.al. (Yeah, I know it's a long sentence--but it's late, or early.)

A thousand thanks to Gladnick and NewsBusters: sometimes you feel like you write in a vacuum. Pieces, such as PJ Gladnick's, (as well as the response of readers) assure you that that vacuum only has power around the MSM.


Frank Nedelkoff, The New Nixon, notices another of the ever-growing collection of coincidences that have popped up in the John Edwards scandal(which Nedelkoff labels "Riellegate") at almost every turn.

I’ll point out once again that, when it comes to coincidences, I’m still intrigued by the fact that the Center For Promise And Opportunity, the well-funded nonprofit foundation set up by Edwards ostensibly to fund a mammoth scholarship program for poor students across the nation, abruptly went out of business (along with the scholarships it sponsored at the single high school where it manifested concrete results) a week or so before Rielle Hunter fled to St. Croix (a place with easy air access to various discreet financial institutions) and the former vice-presidential nominee went on ABC to confess his “liason.” Whither went its assets?

While Fred Baron may not exactly be an idiot savant in the memory department (if readers remember Baron responding to the questions of the NY Times), Nedelkoff reports that Baron will likely remember where he's to be next week: the Democrat Convention in Denver.

Update: the blog of the Dallas Morning News reports that although John Edwards seems to be skipping the Democratic convention next week, Fred Baron will continue his 20-year tradition of attending it. The post also quotes an Obama campaign source as denying that Baron is involved with planning events for the campaign in Colorado, as had been previously reported.

Need a quick non-Edwards break? The Morning Scramble goes around the Net in five minutes--or less.

AND

Political Party Poop has the scoop on Obama: Obama the same today as yesterday (1995, that is) and The Incredible Disappearing Candidate.

Back to the Edwards scandal.

Doug Ross has an "Exclusive Photo: Denver offers haircuts for the homeless" that proves guess that "There's a John Edwards joke lurking somewhere in that story."


Radar reports that the "NYT Hot On Story Of John Edwards And The Mysterious Duke Graduate".

New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski is on a story. Serge, you'll remember, is the reporter who brought us the tale of Ashley Alexandra Dupré, the young working lady who consorted with former New York governor Eliot Spitzer. What's Serge up to?

Since December, DBKP heard plenty of whispers, buzz and other talk on this subject. When it came time to "name names", however, the only thing we (mostly) heard was [crickets].

Apparently, the NY Times is trying to out-hustle the National Enquirer--for once.

From Williamson Republic (TX), comes the story of "Maldonado Refuses to Give Up Money Associated With John Edwards Scandal's "Hush Money Man".

After a request by Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Bill Fairborther that HD 52 candidate democrat Diana Maldonado return money associated with John Edward’s “hush money man” Frederick Baron her campaign said that they will not be returning the money.
Baron has been at the center of controversy for paying what has been characterized as “hush money” to Edwards’ mistress and he has admitted to moving her into hiding.

There's more to this story at WR.

There's a LOT more, but two big developments await before 0600 EDT.

Stay tuned for more curious circumstances.

by Mondoreb
image: DBKP