Who Gets the Blame for Weiner's Downfall?

Y'know, cyber sex is about as consensual as consensual gets. Don't like what you see? Turn it off! But there's still an element of suspicion that Rep. Weiner is a heel for sending pictures of himself.



Here's a hint as to the upshot. Just sayin' . . .

article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/outside-weiners-office-in-queens-voters-predict-lewd-photos-wont-kill-his-political-career/2011/06/07/AGLg0sKH_story.html

"Weiner’s confession to lying about posting a photo of his crotch on Twitter had been blown “way out of proportion,” said Ralph Sepulveda, a 58-year-old film editor.

Weiner’s record of fighting for his district balances his poor personal judgment, Sepulveda said."

Breitbart, and the ABC reporter who had an ax to grind with Rep. Weiner (and according to O'Donnell, paid money for the ongoing story) should be investigated, and I'm sure that will happen. The Progressive blogosphere are going to be out for blood.

I'm still asking, but not getting an answer, how and where did Breitbart get those images? Who gave them to him?

He may never reach his goal of Mayor of NYC but, he can do his penance or mitzvah in the congress or maybe the Senate - someday.

At this moment, the opposition may not be strong enough to force his resignation, but Weiner is already a national laughing stock. I don't think he can be elected Mayor, and he certainly won't be elected to anything beyond that.

It may depend on how Pelosi's mail runs for or against him whether she'll be forced to dump him. And we don't know if there are any other photographs out there.

We never hear about Boehner's drinking, but I know someone from his District who used to vote for Boehner before he showed his obnoxious side at a fundraiser.

Someone needs to take some video of Boehner in a tipsy state and put it on national TV. Alcoholism is far more serious in that it impairs judgment, than a sex texting obsession.

Everyone does seem to coddle John Boehner.

"a 58-year-old film editor" named Ralph, isn't the demographic he has to worry about...

and stand with him.

When you even have detractors saying you can't count Rep. Weiner out for the Mayoral race, that says enough.

From the same article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/outside-weiners-office-in-queens-voters-predict-lewd-photos-wont-kill-his-political-career/2011/06/07/AGLg0sKH_story.html

"He didn’t make a believer of Dan Tomback, 33, an investigator for a city agency, who had never been a fan of the congressman. But he couldn’t think of any viable candidate to challenge him in the heavily Democratic district.

Like several voters in the district, he doesn’t even count Weiner out for the 2013 mayoral race — once the media moves onto a different story.

And the media will. Now it's up to the Democrats to support him just like the Republicans supported Ensign, Coburn, and Paul Ryan.

We should NOT cut our nose to spite our face. We are in the middle of a political war that will decide if the country goes plutocratic and batshit rightwing, or progresses into keeping our country a democracy while strengthening our MUCH better platform for all.

and stand with him.

When you even have detractors saying you can't count Rep. Weiner out for the Mayoral race, that says enough.

From the same article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/outside-weiners-office-in-queens-voters-predict-lewd-photos-wont-kill-his-political-career/2011/06/07/AGLg0sKH_story.html

"He didn’t make a believer of Dan Tomback, 33, an investigator for a city agency, who had never been a fan of the congressman. But he couldn’t think of any viable candidate to challenge him in the heavily Democratic district.

Like several voters in the district, he doesn’t even count Weiner out for the 2013 mayoral race — once the media moves onto a different story.

And the media will. Now it's up to the Democrats to support him just like the Republicans supported Ensign, Coburn, and Paul Ryan.

We should NOT cut our nose to spite our face. We are in the middle of a political war that will decide if the country goes plutocratic and batshit rightwing, or progresses into keeping our country a democracy while strengthening our MUCH better platform for all.

My point is that it is the 50 year old Susans and the 30 year old Brittneys who may be more likely to have issues with a married man conducting himself in this way. There are many other demographics which would be more germane to his re-election viability than 58 year old men.

We should NOT cut our nose to spite our face. We are in the middle of a political war that will decide if the country goes plutocratic and batshit rightwing, or progresses into keeping our country a democracy while strengthening our MUCH better platform for all.

So this is what we should expect from our elected officials? What type of behavior is unacceptable by an elected official? When is it OK to say, 'this is over the top nutty, I believe I'll pass'? Further, really, what is the chances of a rethug taking this seat in this district? Are there not better thinkers available within our party in a district this size?

My issue isn't with the acts or even the lies, it is the disregard of predictability of a bad outcome from the acts.

>>> So this is what we should expect from our elected officials? What type of behavior is unacceptable by an elected official? >>>

He's a POLITICIAN. Not a clergyman. Try and keep things in perspective.

>>> When is it OK to say, 'this is over the top nutty, I believe I'll pass'? >>>

That's for his constituents to decide, and they stand behind him. It is NOT the job of the Democratic Party to crucify their own - unless they're not Democrats, and really do want more Republicans back in power.

Why give the Republicans the chance to slap a Democrat around for things they would never judge their own members on, even when they've done worse? Where's the loyalty? No wonder people perceive the Democrats as weak and wishy washy.

>>> Further, really, what is the chances of a rethug taking this seat in this district? Are there not better thinkers available within our party in a district this size? >>>

Perception is KING, and the perception is, Democrats have the loyalty for their members of a two-bit hooker while acting more puritan and outraged than the Republicans have ever done for their own. What do you think? Were you a constituent of Rep. Weiner and you see how easily your party throws you under the bus without the minutest defense, do you think you should reward the Democratic Party with another warm body in the House to defeat the Republicans? I sure as hell wouldn't.

No wonder we never get anything progressive done. That holier-than-thou attitude Democrats are espousing these days makes my stomach turn. I'm becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Democratic Party. I don't like a weak and wishy-washy Party, either.

Maybe he can handle it just fine.

I could give a flying fuck less about the man's sexual peccadilloes and carryings-on...it truly affects me less than anything else he could do. Here is where I cannot bring myself to forgive and forget just yet...his actions give cover and a super thin veneer of legitimacy to Breitbart and his entire fucking sleaze machine.

Now before people fire off the predictable responses, think about Breitbart's intended target audience for 1/1oth of a second. Many (if not ALL) of them STILL believe Obama's birth certificate is something other than what it actually is...and that's with ZERO concrete evidence to the contrary. Now Weiner has provided that smug assfaced piece of shit Breitbart with all the credibility he will EVER need to stay profitable in right-wing circles and he will gleefully do so with an even more smug expression because he will be thinking he pulled on over on Progressives because he panicked a man doing stupid shit on the internet to deny it.

Anthony Weiner is in this regard not much different than Eliot Spitzer - neither one seems to have been able to keep their dick in their pants, once they let it out they appeared to do things with it that would not be winning any spousal approval anytime soon and both got caught. What Weiner did that was WORSE than Spitzer is provide ammo to a truly disgusting piece of shit in the process. For that offense, I need much more than mere grovelling from Anthony Weiner...

It's probably not your call what happens to Anthony Weiner, so your statement that you don't give a flying fuck about him is irrelevant.

What he's done has impacted the state of the relationship between men and women. Women may not be all that forgiving of cybersex, although we've heard from a number of DU women that they aren't all that bothered by it. However, women's participation in high-level national politics is already declining, and it may be that men will respond by circling the wagons even more than they have. My point in including the Situation Room pic was to show a typical "jury" that will decide whether it's worth it to have women in the room at all. If the Weiner outcome is to further restrict women's opportunities, it will be the acceleration of a trend that's already underway.

Again, there's nothing more consensual than cybersex. Don't like what you see? Hit the button.

I have to agree with your excellent post -- I too, could give a a rat's tuckus (sp?) about Weiner's private predilections...I don't know, I don't care...

OMG....fellow DU progressives...I have to say the lack of seriousness Weiner has shown given his connections/marriage w. the Clinton machine and his prominent "seat" in media/Washington:

I. Am. Amazed.

Where is his sense of self? Sense of career? Sense of self-preservation? Or, most importantly,his sense of caring for the CAUSE and US ????

I mean, WTF....seriously... WTF!!! Didn't he have thoughts of being mayor of NYC @ some point? Again, I "type" WTF?!!

Anyway you slice this mess: as a Dem and a Progressive he has shown himself to be a selfish person and politician to EVERYONE (regardless of party)!!!!

You had best believe that this "Weiner" has made himself a talking point for the next media cycle (minimum!) ...when we could have been talking "Ryancare/no-care" and Mitten's tepid (@ best) announcement.

Those are WINNING policy points...AND this is just annoying & filthy, especially if you have been looking for work for the past couple years and have a family to feed. Didn't a Nobel prize winning Economist withdraw from contention in the Administration due to Repug repugnance...can't talk about that though..it's all about Weiner's weiner for the next foreseeable future (argh!!!)

WTF!!! Way to snatch defeat from the jaws of Victory, Weiner! (Thanks, for nothing!)

I'll say this, although it pains me terribly, Palin...non-sensical and idiotic as she is, would not (and has not?!) been caught dead in something so trivial/meaningless/less-job-related etc...... SHE is an Ass-hat...but Weiner (Eliot and their ilk) make it so so easy for the Right to pretend to have common sense...we all know they DO NOT NOT. With "ish" like this, it makes it hard for us to have a leg to stand on....No....I'm sorry...yes, yes, it does!!!

Seriously...Weiner (from the get go of this crap-o-la) has peeved me off to no end! If he were in front of my monitor, I'd smack him upside the head really hard! (true story)

If he can't find it within him to hold the line for his people/constituents...what the hell is he doing with his time? Sending out pee-pee pics from his personal Twitter?

Alias much?! Seriously?! Make friends with your (male) college-age interns and let them show you the way, sir! For Gawd's sake, stop the Insanity!
Americans are in a Freaking RECESSION and this Yahoo Congressman is sending his "weiner" out on his personal Twitter like party favors....either this "ish" we are in as a country is serious or important to him, or not!

If I feel this way, imagine the rest of the (right-leaning) country....yep, Weiner, think about it! (and I'm known for being a "soft-touch!)

I'm not happy with his "crazy". I'm not happy @ all.

Alternative Scenario:

"Oh, whoops, meant to send that to my wife/buddies/ college alums...but it made it public instead. so sorry, won't happen again. Let us go back to business."


How hard is that? It isn't.

Just Sayin'. (GAWD)

it's so true! Omg, after all, freakin' Austen Goolsbee (sp?) is resigning today with his "weiner" intact (as it were) having done NOTHING except try and try again for we the people.

Palin, meanwhile, is making up US History as she sees fit with her micro-pea-brain (if even that!)

Meanwhile, Weiner...well... he's showing us his pee-pee in his boxers - grrrrrr....what is up?!!!...Did your constituents elect YOU or your weiner to rep them? Have some freakin' sense of decorum and respect for your congressional office! Holy Ish..You and I have to, or we get fired!!!

argh...it's maddening...Things FINALLY swinging the right way for us progressives and then...freakin' uninvited Kamakze antics from this dude!

Care to know how I feel about this??? P-eed of & Royally Weiner-ed out!!!

Between him and John Edwards..where to begin with the crazy? The timing? The sheer "me, me, me" of it all???

It's sad. Very very sad. Tragic, even. And...for what?! Did he save a life with latest escapade vs. the big fight ahead??? (jobs, healthcare, national debt, etc..)

Don't these political Cats know about VPNs, aliases, and basic internet politesse ???? Dude...seriously.

OMG, y'all!!! I'm gonna have a coffee because this (and Morning Joe/MSNBC smugness about this crap right now ) is Crazy-Making!

his party (want to kill another Liberal voice in our Party? Really?), and country (that needs more Liberals like him, not less).

The LAST thing we need to do is support Breitbart by throwing Rep. Weiner under the bus. Good thing his own constituents don't agree with you.

using your logic? :shrug:

Someone will find out and paste it all over the Internet. Who doesn't know this?

One of the most intensely disappointing things about this whole saga is that Breitbart, who was dying of disrespect and apathy, has now been given a huuuuuge jolt of oxygen. From now on, whenever someone points out that Breitbart is still a lying SOS, the response is going to be, "Oh yeah? What about Weinergate, huh?"

Thanks loads, Anthony.

Take note of the Situation Room pic. There wouldn't be any women at all there except for Hillary, who is exceptional because she has clout of her own.

How do men really feel about Anthony Weiner? If he thought that cybersex was harmless fun, he's a schlemiel. Some things never change.

She leads one anti-terror organization in the NSA.

The unforgivable thing is that Weiner -by intimating Weiner's online accounts were hacked- made Breitbart look wronged. *ICK*

At first I was willing to believe that maybe he'd been framed but when he was unable/unwilling to say whether or not the picture was or was not him, I pretty much realized that he was lying.

If you're a person in public life you gotta realize that there are people out there who are going to try and drag you down. Sending out naughty pictures of yourself to people you've met online is just idiotic. Perhaps we need "Safe Internet" classes for Congresscritters similar to those for schoolchildren.

In short what Wiener did was STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

of the time it doesn't do well at all.

You wrote in an earlier post that he was "at it again" with respect to putting out these various pictures and whatnot to the media.

Do you hold him at all responsible for the way that this has all unfolded?

if Weiner hadn't done the stupid shit and lied about it, Breibart couldn't have exploited it.

Makes me think of a cop.

Pretty much everyone driving around could be pulled over for something. Lots of people go over the speed limit or are violating one code or another.

The cop doesn't pull over all of them, just whoever happens to cross his path.

With Breitbart, he's like a cop that follows around one particular driver of choice, watching his every move.

for a sitting congressman to be soooo stupid is really unforgivable. If it isn't stupidity, it is some sort of psychological problem. Either way, he's toast. The only way he maybe could have saved himself would have been to show immediate contrition and not lied about it.

Rather than call him a "heel", I would suggest stupid. My two cents, he feels inadequate and was sending the photos and engaging in sexual banter to make himself feel better.

please, the last thing we need is another Hitler rant parody

I'm sure FOX Noise will find a way to work that out.

Honestly I understand the concept of soldier/servant. Male/female, although it has nothing to do with gender.

I do actually get the use of a phallic symbol to distort that debate, but that is a ton of distraction, since it has absolutely nothing to do with sex, nor gender, but I know what you are saying. But most of those people in that room are servants in my view.

But I understand the battle field.

I am also due beer and travel money, and know many soldiering skills, but do not think humiliation and torture are proper ways for a society to act.

Although the error is usually that people don't know they like the gossip to fulfill the same sexual titillation, with dissociative blame on someone else, and obsessing about sex on the news is the same as someone talking about sex on the computer would do.



It is irony raised to the nth power.


And I am due beer and travel money, and many experiences, so what is the point again?