John Edwards getting the snub?

As Obama finds room in his cabinet for many of his formal rivals, Drudge asks why Edwards gets the cold shoulder. As much as I once liked Edwards, there are two good reasons for his political career to be over.

The most obvious reason is the affair. It's not just that he had one, but that he had one while running for president. Imagine if he had won the nomination and botched this historic opportunity for progressives? His lack of self control amounted to an enormous gamble with efforts and money of his supporters and Democratic party as a whole. The dude is an ass.

The second reason is that its not altogether clear what his views are. He had the most progressive, pro labor rhetoric of the leading candidates - and i supported him for it. But don't forget the centrist that emerged when he joined the Kerry ticket. Its safe to say that the reason Edwards took the hard left line was because he was behind in the polls - it was just as feasible that it was a gambit as it was the "real" Edwards. It certainly wasn't the Edwards we would see post nomination or in the White House.

I liked him best before he dropped out of the primaries anyway. I knew that alot of his positions were rhetoric, but I also felt there was a grain of truth in it all. But as much as Obama moved to the center, he never made the regressive transformation Edwards did when he went from primary candidate to running mate in 2004. Even today, Obama's cabinet picks and public statements indicate he's moving the country in a progressive direction on health care and public infrastructure investment - even if I take strong issue with his position on the economy. I don't see any reason for him to elevate an unproven lightning rod for controversy.