Anthony('s) Weiner

Weiner admits he sent lewd photo; won't quit

Yeah, the puns pretty much write themselves.... also, I think it might have been a better headline if it read "won't resign". :laugh4:

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After days of denials, a choked-up Rep. Anthony Weiner confessed Monday that he tweeted a photo of his bulging underpants to a young woman, and he also admitted to "inappropriate" exchanges with six women before and after he got married. He apologized for lying but said he would not resign.

"This was me doing a dumb thing and doing it repeatedly and lying about it," the 46-year-old New York Democrat said after a week of double-entendre headlines and late-night wisecracks full of Weiner jokes.

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Ok, my thoughts....
Had he just manned up when he accidentally posted the photo publicly, he could have stopped this from becoming the scandal it has grown into. It speaks to his arrogance that he thought he could lie his way out of it and get away to it. Finally, after a steady trickle of additional photos came in- he was finally forced to admit that he had been blatantly lying to the public that elected him.

Of course, once caught lying, it further speaks to his arrogance that he doesn't have the decency to resign. Maybe next he can point out that being a good liar is actually an asset to members of congress. :shrug:

I hope Representative Dicks can get to the bottom of this Wiener business. That and the unresolved question of the dong. (Man oh man do we need some DevDave right now.)

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

Of course, once caught lying, it further speaks to his arrogance that he doesn't have the decency to resign.

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LOL Of course, because once you lie you should resign, and that has been everyone's policy towards all politicians no matter what side they are on right?

He should've came out with it to begin with, he's lost his credibility, and that needs to be reviewed by the Ethics Committee. Now that doesn't mean he's a bad person, or that he should resign; it's not as bad as lying about weapons of mass destruction in order to go to war... it's a bulge... half the people in the world have one. It's up to him to regain his constituency's trust... don't know if it will be possible.

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

LOL Of course, because once you lie you should resign, and that has been everyone's policy towards all politicians no matter what side they are on right?

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When it's blatant, incontrovertible, and repeated lying- yes, that's pretty much my standard.

Just as a reminder, here was his response to the scandal before he was completely outed. We're not talking about differing interpretations, or political spinning- this was bald faced lying to the public. If that's acceptable to you, great. But I'll always support their resignations in cases like this.

In this case, I think Weiner is finished regardless of whether he's man enough to resign with some semblance of dignity. Breitbart claims to have an X-rated photo of Weiner Jr, and Weiner has said that he can't say for sure all the girls he has cybered were of age. Ugh.

I have insider information that Rep Weiner will resign in the coming weeks and accept an ambassador's position to Vietnam. President Obama was so impressed winner Weiner that he simply could not find a better expert on the Asian country's currency. It is believed that Rep Weiner (soon to be Ambassador Wiener will be able to penetrate the inner workings of the Vietnamese people and satisfy their longing for a better more satisfying relationship the United States. Many in that country have felt for years they were just getting the shaft.
All for you Lemur, my love...

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

When it's blatant, incontrovertible, and repeated lying- yes, that's pretty much my standard.

Just as a reminder, here was his response to the scandal before he was completely outed. We're not talking about differing interpretations, or political spinning- this was bald faced lying to the public. If that's acceptable to you, great. But I'll always support their resignations in cases like this.

In this case, I think Weiner is finished regardless of whether he's man enough to resign with some semblance of dignity. Breitbart claims to have an X-rated photo of Weiner Jr, and Weiner has said that he can't say for sure all the girls he has cybered were of age. Ugh.

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Well I trust you when you say that. But I personally think it is not very realistic to expect Congressmen to not do silly things with their sexual life and have it accidentally come out into the public and be too embarrassed to admit it. They are human just like you or me, and lie about enjoying things, whether it is sending pictures of your Congressional privates to women, or the expressions of those purple haired, big eyed girls in hentai.

Just to clarify, you feel as if every single one of these people should have resigned?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._United_States

That is a lot of people. I don't think a sex scandal shows a betrayal of trust imo more than it does that a lot of people are perverted and don't have strong morals.

I turned on the news just in time to hear the absolutely hilarious end to his press conference this afternoon. Apparently someone from the Stern show infiltrated the proceedings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkQXtUeRcc

Best part is how everyone just loves to jump on this and completely forget about the big stir up that he was establishing over the future of medicare.

Issues? Nah, forget those....

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

Best part is how everyone just loves to jump on this and completely forget about the big stir up that he was establishing over the future of medicare.

Issues? Nah, forget those....

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You mean the cynical campaign to scare seniors into believing that Republicans want to take away their medicare money? Yeah... at least this story ended up having some truth to it. ~;)

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

You mean the cynical campaign to scare seniors into believing that Republicans want to take away their medicare money? Yeah... at least this story ended up having some truth to it. ~;)

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LOL Paul Ryan's Plan is what it is. Can't deny that.

ill give the guy this from the pictures i saw he was in excellent shape.

The guy should resign for lying, and the amican electorate should resign for caring.

Edit: also, according to ACIN's list, republicans lead the scandal list by 34 vs 24... Remind me again, which party is the "good christian" one, and which one is the "hippie liberal" party?

If he wasn't married and didn't lie would there have been an issue?

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Originally Posted by HoreTore

The guy should resign for lying, and the amican electorate should resign for caring.

Edit: also, according to ACIN's list, republicans lead the scandal list by 34 vs 24... Remind me again, which party is the "good christian" one, and which one is the "hippie liberal" party?

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looking past the sheer number difference there is also the entire gay vibe of a lot of the GOP scandals.

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Originally Posted by Papewaio

If he wasn't married and didn't lie would there have been an issue?

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come on....no matter what it is the guys on the other side of the isle will make it an issue.

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Originally Posted by Papewaio

If he wasn't married and didn't lie would there have been an issue?

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No, I don't think there would have been... Well, other than the accompanying embarrassment of have those photos leaked to the public. It could have been an ethics issue if he used congressional resources to cyber with women- but it was his denials and lies that made this the big scandal that it is.

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

ill give the guy this from the pictures i saw he was in excellent shape.

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:stare:

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

Well I trust you when you say that. But I personally think it is not very realistic to expect Congressmen to not do silly things with their sexual life and have it accidentally come out into the public and be too embarrassed to admit it. They are human just like you or me, and lie about enjoying things, whether it is sending pictures of your Congressional privates to women, or the expressions of those purple haired, big eyed girls in hentai.

Just to clarify, you feel as if every single one of these people should have resigned?

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Probably not every single one, no. Politicians breaking their marriage vows is bad- if they are willing to break those for a roll in the hay, how can we trust them to take their oath of office seriously? But, like I said earlier, those indiscretions aren't always fatal to their career. When I really want to see the politician out of office is when they go on the media and lie to our faces about it making repeated, adamant denials.

Break your oath to your wife and want to still stay on? Maybe. Compound it by lying to the public that elected you? Leave now please.

I'm with Xiahou. The act itself is not great, but is a personal thing. That he's repeatedly lies about it is something for the public ot be concerned about.

~:smoking:

He should have taken out a super-injunction!

I'm generally against politicians lying, but I'm a little bit conflicted about sexual lying. As soon as you are engaged in infidelity, you are, by definition, lying. And an awful lot of people are unfaithful at some point in their lives. So ... hmmm. But as Xiahou rightly points out, blatantly lying to constituents is bad bad bad.

I just dunno. Would it have been better if, say, Larry Craig came right out and said, "Yes, I masturbate with men in public bathrooms, and it's hot. Super-hot. Like, the kind of sexy you can't even understand. I'm getting wood just thinking about it."

Hmmm.

On the one hand, it's right and just for us to expect our politicians to tell the truth, and to hold them to it when possible. On the other, lying about sex seems like a different category, a different impulse with different motivations from lying about money or policy. Does the politico's sex life affect governance? Maybe. Especially if the politico is reckless, as Clinton was.

Help me flesh out these thoughts, please.

Yeah, I agree Lemur. I fully expect a politician to lie to the general public about a sexual peccadillo. Indeed, I expect anyone to do so - even (perhaps especially) a supposed guardian of morality like a religious leader. I would not take it as a sign of bad character, just humanity. Of course, it may be a sign of stupidity, in this day of free information.

I think the argument "it's not the sex, it's the lying I can't stand" is spurious. Just admit it - it's the sex. If they were lying about their favorite fruit or music band, who cares?

I also suspect politicians - being powerful, often attractive, people are more likely to get into sexual escapades and so more likely to get into this kind of trouble. Heavens, even boring old Prime Minister John Major was at it.

If we said only politicians with impeccable private lives could be politicians, I think we would terribly deplete the political gene pool. Clinton is a case in point. Lemur says he was reckless. Privately, yes. But diplomatically, if anything he might seem overly conservative (Somalia, Rwanda, OBL etc.) Economically and domestically too, imo.

Counter point - look at those two fine moral family men, George W and Tony Blair, getting us into Iraq and setting us up for some economic falls.

Ironically, I think I would rather trust Clinton to honestly, perceptively and with nuance present intelligence on weapons of mass destruction to me than Bush or Blair.

Weiner should resign. Not for lying, and not for "cheating" (does this even really qualify?). He should resign for being so :daisy: stupid.

His recklessness and incredibly poor judgement, not to mention the apparent lying and moral/ethical bankruptcy should earn him an expulsion from Congress. He wants to get paid for lying & cheating, he can get a job on WallStreet. They're always looking for a few good weasles.

How naive & arrogant can one be to post that stuff on a social network and expect it not be made public?

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Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

How naive & arrogant can one be to post that stuff on a social network and expect it not be made public?

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From what I remember, there are private and public methods of "chatting" on twitter, and he accidentally sent it to the public category rather than the private one.

It would be the same as trying to send a PM on faceook to someone but accidentally posting it as a status update.

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Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

His recklessness [...] should earn him an expulsion from Congress.

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Does that ever happen? Is there a process for it? Didn't the dude who was busted by the FBI with ninety grand in his freezer continue serving his term? Orgah historians, help me out here. Is there a process for expulsion from the House of Representatives, and if so, how often has it been invoked?

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Does that ever happen? Is there a process for it? Didn't the dude who was busted by the FBI with ninety grand in his freezer continue serving his term? Orgah historians, help me out here. Is there a process for expulsion from the House of Representatives, and if so, how often has it been invoked?

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All executive and judicial positions can be cleansed with impeachment, Congress make their own rules on how they can kick their own members.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsi...tates_Congress

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

From what I remember, there are private and public methods of "chatting" on twitter, and he accidentally sent it to the public category rather than the private one.

It would be the same as trying to send a PM on faceook to someone but accidentally posting it as a status update.

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Then lie about it for several days, every excuse from "I was hacked" to "that might be me, but..." Sending your pic or any personal info over the interweb; there is no such thing as "private". I warn my children on it all the time. The first place most employers search to investigate potential new employees are the social network sites. Put something on there that you wouldn't be comfortable sharing with your Grandmother's Bridge Club is a bad idea and could come back to haunt you, big time. Wiener is an arrogant fool, and for all his ilks professions of knowing what's best for everyone, and being a smart guy...he's a dumb:daisy:. Show some class and a bit of humility and resign.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Does that ever happen? Is there a process for it? Didn't the dude who was busted by the FBI with ninety grand in his freezer continue serving his term? Orgah historians, help me out here. Is there a process for expulsion from the House of Representatives, and if so, how often has it been invoked?

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The Legislature decides it's own rules for expulsion. Kinda like empowering the convicts in my jail to determine if they broke the law or not. Can you say Conflict of Interest, I knew you could. All we can do is demand that they hold themselves to a higher standard, but I'm not exactly hopeful they care enough about our opinions to actually do that. I mean they are the ruling class, have the power, enact the laws, and don't agree that it is necessary.

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

From what I remember, there are private and public methods of "chatting" on twitter, and he accidentally sent it to the public category rather than the private one.

It would be the same as trying to send a PM on faceook to someone but accidentally posting it as a status update.

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With power, comes responsibility. Different jobs have different things that one can not do. For example drawing the Medical profession into disrepute can get me struck off. Yes, they can choose post facto whether something fits or not.

If he had a career as a pornstar no one would care about this. He became a Senator, and different rules apply.

~:smoking:

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Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

The Legislature decides it's own rules for expulsion. Kinda like empowering the convicts in my jail to determine if they broke the law or not. Can you say Conflict of Interest, I knew you could. All we can do is demand that they hold themselves to a higher standard, but I'm not exactly hopeful they care enough about our opinions to actually do that. I mean they are the ruling class, have the power, enact the laws, and don't agree that it is necessary.

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Well I'm sure the congressmen would shank each other as well if they could get away with it...

Have to remember that in the end of the day they can at the polls get fired for their conduct. It would be interesting to see someone with moral spine lodging a bill to have another section of government have the ability to adjudicate over wayward members...

Both require that the citizens pay attention and vote for the more upstanding members... and there's the rub. We get what we pay for. Pay no attention, get no attention.

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Originally Posted by Papewaio

If he wasn't married and didn't lie would there have been an issue?

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For a lot of people, I don't think so. It's the adultery and lying that made a lot of people angry. Like w/ Bill Clinton, I wouldn't have cared at all what he did if he were single and didn't blatantly deny it. But, others think that sex is evil outside of their very specific rules about it, and would probably just be angry that Weiner sent the pics. Even he was single and the woman was totally okay with it.

I just don't understand how a politician can't refrain from taking pictures of his junk during his term of service! How dumb is he?

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Originally Posted by Scienter

I just don't understand how a politician can't refrain from taking pictures of his junk during his term of service! How dumb is he?

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If only I'd get a dollar for every time I have explained the following to a woman, I'd now have one dollar:


Women always act surprised when a man, seemingly on top of the world, or at least in a position he has worked towards for decades, is willing to destroy it all for five minutes of sexual fun. How little they understand men!
The very point of it all, all of those decades of hard work to get there, has precisely been to get into a position of social dominance and attract the females to your nest. It is not that one would risk a presidency / monetary fund over an intern or chamber maid, rather, rather, one has become president in the first place because of a drive to act like an alpha male. It is no different from the reason why you play sports in High School, and a guitar at university.



* PM's pictures of Louis' baguette *

Apparently Anthony might not have come completely clean. X-Rated photos too.

Here's something I don't get: Why should Weiner resign when David Vitter is still serving? Soliciting a prostitute is a crime; twitting your wiener is not. Demanding that prostitutes put you in diapers is kinky enough that most people can't relate; sexting is so common as to be almost beneath comment.

Is it because Vitter apologized right away? Is it because his party generally stood by him? Other factors?

Help me understand. Clearly there is a big difference between the two scandals, but I'm not quite getting it.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Help me understand. Clearly there is a big difference between the two scandals, but I'm not quite getting it.

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First off, let me say it would have been perfectly fine with me had he resigned. However, there are some substantial differences.

The criminal aspect is largely moot for he was never even charged, let alone convicted of any illegal behavior. Additionally, Vitter was in elected office, but not in the Senate when the acts occurred. Along those lines, his dalliances were last known to have happened in 2001- they weren't revealed until 2007, I think that lessened the shock factor for many. (ie: He called a hooker 6 years ago? Meh)

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Is it because Vitter apologized right away? Is it because his party generally stood by him? Other factors?

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Now we're onto the big reasons. Vitter did not issue repeated, outraged denials, lying about what he had done- which would have been a big deal to me. And he got support from his party for purely political reasons- they didn't want the Democrat governor naming his replacement if he resigned.

Google news throwing this story in my face. Apparently a poll was done whether or not his constituents want him to resign. Most people said no.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56681.html

Headline winner of the day (even if it's only on the internets): Wiener strokes Dems, comes under pressure: no plans to pull out.

Police interviewed a 17 year old over direct communications with Weiner. This could get much worse for him before it gets better.

The only thing that would be worse than this would be if he fathered multiple children out of wedlock with his slave mistress

I would never look to that man for giudance

I have like 10 more of these so if someone wants to spell this out for our slower members I'd appreciate it

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

* PM's pictures of Louis' baguette *

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*Saves them for publication once Louis holds public office* :laugh4:

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Headline winner of the day (even if it's only on the internets): Wiener strokes Dems, comes under pressure: no plans to pull out.

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This made me snarf my water! My office mates thought I was having some kind of medical emergency.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

The only thing that would be worse than this would be if he fathered multiple children out of wedlock with his slave mistress

I would never look to that man for giudance

I have like 10 more of these so if someone wants to spell this out for our slower members I'd appreciate it

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Whatever happened to the good old days when a mistress was honorable and kept her mouth shut? Dang feminism is upsetting the natural order of things.

To be fair, it wasn't a mistess who exposed a wiener this time......

It is Summer in the USA, season of high-budget hollywood schlock and political sex scandals.

Weiner has a mild perv streak...so what? Between him and his constituents and he and his spouse.

Weiner took some of the pictures in the House gym...so what? He wasn't exposing the wedding tackle in front of the state seal of NY and texting "for a good time call Congress." He did not spend tax money on the photos. Again, between him and his voters.

Near as I can tell, he's not broken any laws and, arguably, hasn't even broken his wedding vows (officiated by Bill "don't leave a mess on the dress" Clinton).

Ultimately, I really don't care if he's got a thing for doing patio furniture. If he hasn't misappropriated funds or the like, it doesn't signify.


Now, bad judgement regarding coverups and lying to the press? Failure to apply common sense to his behavior? Many etc.? THESE are valid questions for his constituents. I'm in VA. I say let's get back to excoriating Obamacare, balancing the federal budget, and trying to see if there is any reasonable way to make the blood we have spent in Iraq and Afghanistan pay off.

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Originally Posted by HoreTore

To be fair, it wasn't a mistess who exposed a wiener this time......

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Well that would be a ladyboy then not a mistress... :dizzy2:

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Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh

It is Summer in the USA, season of high-budget hollywood schlock and political sex scandals.

Weiner has a mild perv streak...so what? Between him and his constituents and he and his spouse.

Weiner took some of the pictures in the House gym...so what? He wasn't exposing the wedding tackle in front of the state seal of NY and texting "for a good time call Congress." He did not spend tax money on the photos. Again, between him and his voters.

Near as I can tell, he's not broken any laws and, arguably, hasn't even broken his wedding vows (officiated by Bill "don't leave a mess on the dress" Clinton).

Ultimately, I really don't care if he's got a thing for doing patio furniture. If he hasn't misappropriated funds or the like, it doesn't signify.


Now, bad judgement regarding coverups and lying to the press? Failure to apply common sense to his behavior? Many etc.? THESE are valid questions for his constituents. I'm in VA. I say let's get back to excoriating Obamacare, balancing the federal budget, and trying to see if there is any reasonable way to make the blood we have spent in Iraq and Afghanistan pay off.

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Nah, let's pick all the low hanging fruit first. If we remove every pervert, liar, and tax cheat from office they won't have a quorum to vote in any more of this terrible legislation.

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Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

Nah, let's pick all the low hanging fruit first. If we remove every pervert, liar, and tax cheat from office they won't have a quorum to vote in any more of this terrible legislation.

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let's do the same for the voters....but it might become kinda lonely around there.

Extend the same restrictions to parenting and we can take care of this problem for generations...or permanently.

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Originally Posted by Scienter

*Saves them for publication once Louis holds public office* :laugh4:

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Sorry, no such luck! My career prospects have just gone down the drain, no running for office for Louis. I fail all three of those new standards. :embarassed:

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Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

remove every pervert, liar, and tax cheat from office

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Get your order in fast before they run out. Anthony Weiner Action Figure.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...einer-doll.png

Weiner to resign. Stand-up comics everywhere cry tears of sadness.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Weiner to resign. Stand-up comics everywhere cry tears of sadness.

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weak move.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Weiner to resign. Stand-up comics everywhere cry tears of sadness.

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MUST'VE BEEN A HARD DECISION. HE MUST BE SWELLING WITH ANGUISH, EVEN STILL HE SHOULD REMAIN ERECT WITH DIGNITY

Ultimately this seems to be about power. Clinton did worse and lied, but he was the prez, so he stayed on. (Even profited when the Senate overreached with that impeachment.) Vitter did kinkier but he was an important part of a Senate caucus, so he stayed on.

Or something like that. Why did Larry Craig have to go? Because of the gay thing? Head hurting. I do not understand why some survive sex scandals and some do not. There must be a logic behind it, but I don't get it. Probably just a question of who is in a powerful enough position to weather the media storm.

Still, I guess this is some sort of landmark, the first major US politician to resign over sexting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwJ3HHNJN0Q&feature=player_embedded

"Are you more than 7 inches!?" :laugh4:

The more I think about this the less I understand. Why did Chris Lee resign? All he did was send a shirtless pic to a woman who had a post on the Women Seeking Men page of CraigsList.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

The more I think about this the less I understand. Why did Chris Lee resign? All he did was send a shirtless pic to a woman who had a post on the Women Seeking Men page of CraigsList.

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We think of all politicians as being shameless, but people are different. Lee may have been less prepared to go through the ongoing public humiliation than Weiner apparently was. It takes a special kind of sociopath to ride that wave and come out on top. Personally, I would never show my face in public again after such a revelation.

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

We think of all politicians as being shameless, but people are different. Lee may have been less prepared to go through the ongoing public humiliation than Weiner apparently was. It takes a special kind of sociopath to ride that wave and come out on top. Personally, I would never show my face in public again after such a revelation.

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:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

:rolleyes:

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I don't understand. :(

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Originally Posted by Lemur

The more I think about this the less I understand. Why did Chris Lee resign? All he did was send a shirtless pic to a woman who had a post on the Women Seeking Men page of CraigsList.

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Ever know a sexual pervert/predator to get caught on his very first attempt? There was more in Lee's past that he didn't want to go public. It's a shame that tax cheating law breakers such as Charlie Wrangel get to play the race card and get away with nothing more than a stinkin' censure from Congress. The bum should be doing time and forfeit his pension. Unfortunately there are too many of his colleagues with similar skeletons in the closet to ever expect Congress to agree to voluntarily impose meaningful effective deterrents to such corrupt behavior.

I strongly support Anthony Wiener and most of his policy positions. He made a very stupid personal choice and that makes him human, and possibly not worthy of continuing to hold public office in the eyes of many.

People are too hung up on sex-related things. Business as usual in Washington is one moral atrocity after another, corruption rampant, waste unimaginable. How many billions of dollars did we send to Afghanistan, literally airlifted in, that no one can find traces of? Who is resigning over that?

But whatever. Moral outrage trumps logical outrage.

Sure, he should resign, but because he lied repeatedly about it. That's the only part that concerns me. I want folks I can trust to tell me the truth. But honestly, most of those scumbags in D.C should resign for far more egregious and sinister lies.

Hypocrisy and lying are worse than legal sexual behavior, in my view. He's only got to answer to his wife and family for that. But hypocrisy and lying aren't acceptable.

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

We think of all politicians as being shameless, but people are different are the same but they are publicly prudes and hypocrites .

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there....fixed it for you.

I think he resigned now, is it not?

Interesting interview with Bill Maher where he comments on the whole Wiener hoopla and duality around it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obEQE4CtI1Q

the relevant part starts around 5:10.