Can John Edwards ever come back to public life? His trust and reputation damaged again and again, with the whole of the political commentariat thoroughly disgusted by him, it would seem the answer is no.

But stranger things have happened, and both Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer saw comebacks, so it is a question worth posing.

Thankfully, The Atlantic's Nicole Allan and Niraj Chokshi did pose it, to the people whose opinions matter most: political and public relations operatives who know about image control, creation, and rebuilding, some whom have worked with Edwards on his previous campaigns.

Their conclusions vary, but some general camps are formed: those who say it can't happen, ever; and those who say Edwards can return to public life, most likely if he pours himself into good works.

Read the whole list of responses here.