National Enquirer is ticking me off with their failure to release alleged photos and story about John Edwards--Enquiring minds want to know already.

The John Edwards - Rielle Hunter thing is showing the difference between real news and tabloid news.

Tabloids, like the National Enquirer, hold the photos and the story until they can get the biggest bang for the buck...or until they can manufacture some evidence.

Mainstream Press puts it out there quickly, then cleans up the mess later.

I"m growing suspicious of the Enquirer's approach. The longer they delay, the less credibility they have...if they had any to begin with.

I want to see the proof. Get it out there and let me puzzle it out. Don't sit on it to build buzz and then drop it. That points to some backroom shenanigans or at least the suggestion of it.

National Enquirer's focus on Edwards may have its roots in Hillary Clinton's camp

John Edwards has been a favorite of mine for years.

That being said, the National Enquirer's piece about him and Rielle Hunter provides some circumstantial evidence of a love child.

Appearance of impropriety--yes. Nothing else though. A smear works by innuendo and implication--a mainstay of tabloid journalism.

Then, I recall that Roger Altman owns a big chunk of the National Enquirer and remember the candidate he supported in the primaries: Hillary Clinton.

This leads me to suspect that Hillary's people are doing everything in their power to torpedo a potential rival for the VP slot.

It deserves investigation, both Edwards AND the Altman-Clinton connection.

This doesn't give Edwards a pass for his seemingly suspect behavior, but it does provide some perspective on the possible reasons for the Enquirer's focus.

This is politics baby, and the Clintons are masters at personalizing the game. They don't like losing and if Hillary's not on the ticket, it's their last real shot to remain in power.