WeinerGate RIP

[Daverz]

a congressman who lied to the American public from a press conference in the halls of Congress?

First time that ever happened.

Here's a blogpost that gives voice to something that's been bothering me for a while: the American public seems to be getting more and more prudish.

http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/against_prudery

And then there's Glenzilla's take:

This isn't a case of illegal sex activity or gross hypocrisy (i.e., David Vitter, Larry Craig, Mark Foley (who built their careers on Family Values) or Eliot Spitzer (who viciously prosecuted trivial prostitution cases)).  There's no lying under oath (Clinton) or allegedly illegal payments (Ensign, Edwards).  From what is known, none of the women claim harassment and Weiner didn't even have actual sex with any of them.  This is just pure mucking around in the private, consensual, unquestionably legal private sexual affairs of someone for partisan gain, voyeuristic fun and the soothing fulfillment of judgmental condemnation.  And in that regard, it sets a new standard: the private sexual activities of public figures -- down to the most intimate details -- are now inherently newsworthy, without the need for any pretense of other relevance.

[Gurn Blanston]

Who would want to have someone as a congressman who lied to the American public from a press conference in the halls of Congress?  Is that all it takes to be a congressman?  Does not "lying" disqualify a person to be an upstanding public citizen?

How about when someone feels forced to lie because it is even worse for a public figure to stand up and say "my private life is none of your f**king business". Which it isn't.

Anyway it is a terrible distraction from our debt crisis, but Congress apparently doesn't care enough about that to stay in session and work on resolving the issues.  So sad.

And that is the fault of those seeking political gain, far more than it is Weiner's fault. I'm sure he didn't throw himself on the pyre of public outrage (over something that is none of their f**king business, need I repeat?) just so that we couldn't carry on with things that need resolution. More likely, it is a political ploy to insure that the problems aren't addressed before the next election, so that they can maintain their political edge. Wouldn't do to resolve issues, would it?   




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Now playing:
Filippo Ravizza - Alberti Op 1 #3 Sonata in C for Keyboard 1st mvmt - Allegro ma non tanto

[Sandra]

I heard the loudmouth radio show host Michael Savage's last name was "Weiner" too, but he changed it. D:

[snyprrr]

I heard the loudmouth radio show host Michael Savage's last name was "Weiner" too, but he changed it. D:

He's from your area, no? He goes on and on like a mossad agent,... there's a thread around here (the conspiracy?) where 'they' go on about him being such an antisem

no,... it's too early... ... back to bed...

[Scarpia]

How about when someone feels forced to lie because it is even worse for a public figure to stand up and say "my private life is none of your f**king business". Which it isn't.

I almost agree with you.  But he apparently sent explicit photos of himself to young women who had visited a web site tied to his role as Congressman.  If the behavior was really "personal" I'd agree with you without question.  But it seems to me he made the hole in the wall that separates his personal and public life.

[Gurn Blanston]

I almost agree with you.  But he apparently sent explicit photos of himself to young women who had visited a web site tied to his role as Congressman.  If the behavior was really "personal" I'd agree with you without question.  But it seems to me he made the hole in the wall that separates his personal and public life.

Yes, you're right there; if he did use his position in government and his government supplied equipment to disperse pictures of his own... equipment, then he breached any defense he may have had. Guess we'll have to wait and see what the investigation shows. 



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Rasoumovsky Quartet - Arriaga Quartet #2 in A for Strings 1st mvmt - Allegro con brio

[snyprrr]

Yes, you're right there; if he did use his position in government and his government supplied equipment to disperse pictures of his own... equipment, then he breached any defense he may have had. Guess we'll have to wait and see what the investigation shows. 



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Now playing:
Rasoumovsky Quartet - Arriaga Quartet #2 in A for Strings 1st mvmt - Allegro con brio

Can we all really appreciate the ABSOLUTE MOMENT OF TERROR that must have washed over Weinie at the instant his mind grasped the reality of the fact that he was a Confressman who had just sent a pic of his bulge to... THE WORLD?? I shudder,... brrrr.

Talk about your mom catchin' you...

"MOOOOOOOOOM!!"

Doesn't anyone ever knock anymore?

[snyprrr]

Ah, the inevitable...

Weiner to Resign Today

[Lethevich]

...awaiting future "Will Wiener Rise Again?" headlines.

[Scarpia]

Ah, the inevitable...

Weiner to Resign Today

A shame, we need more energetic progressives in Washington to push back against the tide of conservatism.  To loose one to such absurdity is quite vexing.

[snyprrr]

A shame, we need more energetic progressives in Washington to push back against the tide of conservatism.  To loose one to such absurdity is quite vexing.

But... but... don't they both work for the same Master?

Neither cares about...MEEEEE!!

But, I mean, c'mon, 'to lose one to such absurdity'??,... he's the ONLY government employee who thinks he's above lying?? Do you seriously want ... ah, nevermind.

It's the people who say these things have NOTHING to do with how the individual serves their constituants,... I don't get it,... OF COURSE this would effect how the person would function in their capacity.

Unless of course, by 'absurdity', you mean Weiner's absurdist move to arrogantly lie,... I'm sure everyone would have been more sympathetic if he'd just manned-up from the beginning. I just KNEW he was lying, so, that's where he got me,... with the 'above it all' attitude. That's what sunk him, the...mmm....chutzpah. The nerve?

[Scarpia]

LOL

If a middle aged man who is married, and while his wife is pregnant, spends his time having sexy conversations with women other than his wife, bragging about his "package" and trying to coerce at least one to lie about the conversations is your idea of the kind of individual the Democrats need more of - it is a sad state of affairs for "progressives". 

I think most Dems are relieved that he finally did this, since they can now get this story, and I agree with you it is an absurdity, but I doubt we agree about why it is absurd - out of the headlines of most news outlets.

His lack of judgment, his reckless and immature behavior, and his questionable integrity, and the use of official equipment, his House office and gym for this behavior, would be cause for firing for just about anyone who had a job, especially a job that involved some measure of trust.   Why some people think it is not cause to terminate his elective office is a mystery.

I have never bought into the compartmental theory of what matters and what doesn't matter when judging a person's termperament and suitability for writing legislation and what might end up becoming actual law.

You are attributing a statement to me that I did not make.  I never said or implied the Rep. Wiener was good for the Democrats or that that they need more like him.  From a political point of view he is a "progressive" and represents the views of the constituents that voted for him.  That is separate from his rather pathetic personal weaknesses.   I find it unfortunate that the personal issues have, for the moment, nullified the representation of those constituents in the government.