Anthony('s) Weiner

[Xiahou]

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".

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.

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.

[Lemur]

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.)

[a completely inoffensive name]

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

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?

[Samurai Waki]

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.

[Xiahou]

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?

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.

[Devastatin Dave]

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...

[a completely inoffensive name]

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.

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.

[PanzerJaeger]

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.

[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....

[PanzerJaeger]

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....

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.

[a completely inoffensive name]

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.

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

[Centurion1]

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

[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?

[Papewaio]

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

[Ronin]

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?

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

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

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

[Xiahou]

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

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.

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

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?

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.

[rory_20_uk]

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.

[Slyspy]

He should have taken out a super-injunction!

[Lemur]

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.

[econ21]

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.

[drone]

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

[Hosakawa Tito]

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?

[a completely inoffensive name]

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

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.

[Lemur]

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

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?

[a completely inoffensive name]

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?

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

[Hosakawa Tito]

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.

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. Show some class and a bit of humility and resign.

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?

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.

[rory_20_uk]

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.

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.

[Papewaio]

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.

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.

[Scienter]

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

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?

[Louis VI the Fat]

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?

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 *