John Edwards: Open To Vice President, Interested In Attorney General

Although John Edwards has suggested that his endorsement was purely a decision made on the merits of the candidate, the New York Times reports that privately he has an interest in being a part of an Obama administration:

Mr. Edwards has carefully played down his aspirations for an administration role. In an interview in January, he said he would not accept a vice-presidential spot or Cabinet position. "No, absolutely not," he said, shaking his head emphatically when asked.

But privately, he told aides that he would consider the role of vice president, and favored the position of attorney general, which would appeal to his experience of decades spent in courtrooms as a trial lawyer in North Carolina; and his desire to follow in the footsteps of Robert F. Kennedy, one of his heroes.

Read the full report on Edwards' endorsement.

Comments

[AnotherMcIntosh]

AG => Edwards

VP => RFK, Jr.

[DinOhio]

AG not VP. Actually, I'd like to see a totally separate cabinet positon to deal with poverty and have Edwards run it. He could do a lot as the AG though

[brooklyncitizen]

People apparently are lacking in short-term memory or are completely stupid.

Whatever the flaws with Edwards and the timing of his endorsement, he would be a marked improvement as VP or Attorney General...my vote is for attorney general.

After the embarassing and unprecedented Gonzalez (has he found a job yet?)/ DOJ scandals and the lawlessness and corruption that has ruled this country courtesy of this unethical and criminal Adminstration (I can go on,trust me) Edwards is a GODSEND....we replaced Gonzalez with that lying sycophant Mukasey.

Ands yes Edwards would also be an improvement on Darth-Cheney.

[Daisy1111]

John Edwards is a flip flopper -- just days ago he told every talking head he wuld NOT declare his support until the convention.

They he pulls this move to help Obama take the aurways the day fater Hillary wins WV by a huge margin.

This is old style politics, old style manipulation of the media by Obama.

I thought Obama was above all that.

Edwards and Obama -- just acting like the same-old politicians they really are.

[KSFARMBOY]

If he gets VP or AG, Ithink it is a payoff.

[newshawk14]

For an Attorney General, I think you want someone with prosecutorial experience, but there are
a number of other departments that require a strong advocacy position, that I think Edwards ,
would both enjoy, and be outstanding at.

[Mojane]

If Alberto Gonzalez had prosecutorial experience and was able to accomplish as much as he did to undermine and undo the Consitution, then I think Edwards could handle repairing that incompetent lap dog's mess.

[newshawk14]

If you check Wikipedia, you'll find that Gonzales was in private practice, till becoming
Bush's general counsel, Bush appointed him as Secretary of State for Texas, and
then to the Texas Supreme Court. The rest is history. He has never been involved
as a DA or with an attorney general.

[Chillinout]

" his experience of decades spent in courtrooms as a trial lawyer in North Carolina"

Don't you think this applies?

[newshawk14]

The Attorney General is often referred to as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer, I
don't think being a trial lawyer necessarily gives you that outlook. I think being a
state attorney general, or on a federal appellate court, is probably better experience.
Also, the job requires that you be a good manager, look what Bush's buddy
Gonzales did. There's a lot of work to do, to restore the office of Attorney General.

[MyThought]

Attorney General would be best - he's trusted/honest, etc. He could clean that office up.

[MilesTone]

HE CAN DO NO WORSE THAN THE CURRENT V.P.

[betabeta]

Everyone calm down, he is not interested in VP. Probably AG, but definitely not VP... I see it in my magic 8 ball, LOL. Seriously, I really believed him when he said he wasn't Monday night on Larry King.

[Tyrione]

He's neither qualified for AG nor VP, unless VP is about showing up the funerals and representing the Country.

He has no Constitutional Law background. We have 8 years of idiots who know nothing of Constitutional Law and now we get Edwards as an option?

There are dozens of highly acclaimed Constitutional Law Professors and former State Attorney Generals that can be utilized before this choice.

[Chillinout]

Obama is a constitutional lawyer so he could help Edwards on the finer points in that area. And why, exactly do you think the AG needs to be a constitutional lawyer?

[poles]

I think Edwards at AG is as good as what we have had in the past 16 years. Janet Reno was Hillary's pick when Bill was Pres. and I am positive Edwards would be better an imporvement. Why do you think a Constitutional Law Professor would want to be AG?

[dr4Will]

this hairpiece would sell out for anything--he can't win on his own so tries to attach to the leader--what a waste of energy and media on this dud--go back chasing ambulances and stay out of the race completely!!

[KarateKid]

The one negative for Edwards as VP is that he was the VP candidate in 2004 and didn't do a sterling job; it was like his heart was not in it. Maybe it was how Kerry used him. Maybe it was the times, but Kerry lost No. Carolina.

The other side of the coin is that he probably learned a lot in 2004, is now experienced in a national election against the Republican cretinous tactics, and can help Obama through the process.

He'd be a great Attorney General; compare him with Alberto Gonzales, Bush's landscaper turned AG.

Edwards' credibility in his fight against poverty gives him a lot of mojo with the downtrodden. Any way you cut it, he's going to have a seat at the Obama table, and what an asset he's going to be.

[kdublya]

Thought Process Flowchart: John Edwards

http://www.236.com/news/2008/05/15/thought_process_john_edwards_6555.php

[GabrielXL]

I think from a purely political standpoint, he might be better served as the Attorney General. It's a more public position and a position where he can make his case for any future office. Let's face it, being the VP is not always the best place to be when you're trying to get your name out there. The negative side of this is that if he gaffes, it's going to be out there for everyone to see, so he has to be confident that he's going to do a bang up job and not just play it safe. Of course, being the VP, he's more or less shielded and can pick and choose his spots which might not be a bad idea.

Having said this, after watching his speech, I was more or less convinced that he was making a case for himself as the VP. Not so much a mirror image as a compliment to a lot of what Obama has been saying and/or alluding to. I was duly impressed with him and I'm thinking that he may have just made Obama's job a little bit harder when deciding who to run with. Webb or Edwards seem like front-runners to me.

[TheyAllSuck]

I think John Edwards would do a superb job as AG, but there is only ONE reason why I would not appoint him to that job.

Edwards would be an even more compelling candidate as Supreme Court Justice. He's young, passionate, and cares about the common man and justice. The sad truth is that either Stevens or Ginsberg is ready to retire. The AG office right now is a basket case. GWB has devastated career prosecutors that used to be there, and replaced them with Republican operatives. The AG will really need to clean the Augean Stables. It would be a mistake to stick in an AG who will only leave within the 1st year.

[eladora]

I want him to be attorney general I want Hillary to be secy of defense. I want the toughest person in America to be running our armed forces-----and I want both of these folks to delve into every bit of into on the bush mess and expose everything that bunch has done.

[Peteyman]

I would rather take Hillary as Secretary of Health and Human services. I believe that her as SoD would not go over well with the Middle East. What Obama needs in his cabinet are people who are smart, honest, and above all, COMPETENT!!!!

While Hillary campaigns for Obama, which she should, she could also start drawing up plans for a new universal health care. If she learns from her mistakes in the past, she will get the health care bill passed.

Any suggestions for Secretary of Defense?

[ohmercy]

wow, I hadn't thought of that at all.
I like it sort of.
But I really think AG gives her the chance to take on the neocons --which she may be the only one in American politics with the testicular fortitude to do!
LOL

After all, she is not afraid of them and after 8 years say in that position she will be retiring so what can they do to her.
I've often thought the Congress hasn't really done anything about it of substance because they are afraid of them. Those bastards hold a grudge. Look at what they did to HRC after her Watergate work.
They have witnessed the depths and lengths that the Neocons will go to to get even with the Clinton's, Plame/Wilson and who knows who else that we don't know about.

Yeah.
I do think she's our girl on that one.

OOPS,
Gotta duck. Incoming fire, the snipers Hillary was talking about are actually not Bosnian at all.
LOL

[halyscomet]

Interesting perspective... Not bad.

[thenance]

He should head a new cabinet position dealing with ending poverty.

[engineer68]

Edwards started out to be President. He was asked by Kerry to be VP, and they lost. I do not think it kind to offer Edwards the second spot again. Asking him to be Attorney General would be much better. Health and Human Services could probably use someone with compassion, which I believe Edwards has a lot of.

[andyboy]

Has John ever actually done anytihng? He seems to aspire well. Great. Just what we need. An extremely ambitious man. How will he get things done what with all the hair combing and make-up checking and preening and primping?

I hope you all realize he held back his endorsement until he was fairly certain Barack was the winner. That's a bad sign for me. It's cold political calculation just like all the others do.

[iBgood]

Edwards for Attorney General. Yes!

[Maccabees]

Put Edwards in as AG and then get out of his way. Bush and his cronies are probably sweating big time at the possibility of prosecution. Since any case pursued by Edwards would be after GWB leaves office I would think GWB is powerless to issue a blanket immunity.

"International war crimes for 100, Alex." (yes, I know Bush can't grant immunity that has standing before the war crimes tribunal.)

I hope someone with legal and constitutional insight will comment on whether Bush can give preemptive immunity for cases not yet before the Justice Department.

Another plus about an Edwards appointment is that it would not create a vacuum for the Repubs to try and fill politically.

[sco8d]

Make John Conyers the AG, he already wants to "kick Rove's ass" and that's good enough for me.

[ohmercy]

"Put Edwards in as AG and then get out of his way. Bush and his cronies are probably sweating big time at the possibility of prosecution. Since any case pursued by Edwards would be after GWB leaves office I would think GWB is powerless to issue a blanket immunity."

I don't think Obama is in to that.
He was asked about investigations and he was tepid in his remarks about well, if there seemed to be some wrong doing then they would investigate.

If?

Don't forget he wants to put the partisanship and the fights of the past away and start fresh.
investigations of the crimiinals are not the way to go about that.

Now Clinton doesn't care what anyone thinks of her and she has lots of experience with these neocon bastards.

[Krikkit]

Oh the thought of it! I think you just made my day.

[sharonh]

Political opportunist. He jumped ship because he thinks it is sinking. I am very disappointed, as I am sure is his wife, a Clinton supporter.

[XME]

Perhaps he might end up offering Hillary a post as well. Not a big fan of hers, but it sure beats Vice Presidents Hillary & Bill in the White House.

[Fathoms]

Please give John Edwards the A.G. slot. I do believe that southern gent will act to bring accountability to the D.O.J., the neo-cons and the war criminals throughout the beltway and beyond. It's going to be a full time job. I think he has the chops for it. As for restoring the Constitution, that's going to be Barack's job. I think John Edwards would be a stellar resource to inform him in that pursuit.

[LeftLeanWing]

Obama has also promised to have a Chief Technology Officer as a Cabinet Level position; which would probably expand to Information and Technology.

Can not speculate who would be a good candidate for that position. The ones on my mind, like Bill Gates, would have conflict of interest issues.

[ohmercy]

That will be Axelrod no doubt.

[Fathoms]

Try Linus Torvald if he'll have the position. He might decide he's more effective where he is right now.

[WriterGuy]

Bill Gates in charge of technology? Do that, and the economy won't be the only thing that crashes...

[Yansher]

We can make the position of AG happen for John.