The Weiner Thread

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

WeinerArisen!

Best one yet!!

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Judgemental much?

Sure, why not? He's in a position to be judged. I guess i could be indifferent, but then that is so passive.

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

He did not cheat.

He only lied to protect his privacy - a move that is ok, since he did NOTHING illegal.

He's far from being a loser. And might I remind you that Bill Clinton is considered a honest to goodness political legend - indeed a hero in some circles around the world - despite his actual lies and cheating with Monica Lewinski.

Good people make mistakes. I do, Surely you have as well. We are all worthy of forgiveness and the opportunity to make things right.

Yes people make mistakes. However in certain career sectors, I believe integrity is key. I just find lying first, then being honest later when a person can no longer back track or convince others of the first lie, to be a less than desirable attribute.

But then hey, I'm just one person who will not make any difference what so ever in the outcome of his career.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Sure, why not? He's in a position to be judged. I guess i could be indifferent, but then that is so passive.


Yes people make mistakes. However in certain career sectors, I believe integrity is key. I just find lying first, then being honest later when a person can no longer back track or convince others of the first lie, to be a less than desirable attribute.

But then hey, I'm just one person who will not make any difference what so ever in the outcome of his career.

I agree with all of this.

[mezzoforte]

New favorite video: Jane Lynch and Bill Maher give a dramatic reading of the dirty facebook messages. Love!

Originally Posted by Richard B

Sure, why not? He's in a position to be judged. I guess i could be indifferent, but then that is so passive.


Yes people make mistakes. However in certain career sectors, I believe integrity is key. I just find lying first, then being honest later when a person can no longer back track or convince others of the first lie, to be a less than desirable attribute.

But then hey, I'm just one person who will not make any difference what so ever in the outcome of his career.

I basically agree--integrity should matter. Opinions will vary on whether the messages were ethically wrong, but they were definitely sleazy and covering them up was a betrayal of his office. I'm also stunned by the idiocy: his e-mail was weiner.rep, at least some of these women knew exactly who they were contacting, and he really didn't think it would get out? Really? He may well bounce back eventually, but I hope the qualities he's displayed give New Yorkers serious doubts, at least.

I'n general, though, I'm honestly unsure of whether these sorts of scandals should change the way we vote. I'm willing to bet most politicians have some skeletons in the closet--politics just seems to attract these guys. And almost all show a lack of integrity at some point, whether it's in covering up an element of their personal lives or suddenly becoming pro-ethanol before the Iowa caucus. It would be nice to have the luxury of requiring integrity but we generally don't, and bad men can be effective leaders (see: Clinton, William J., Giuliani, Rudolph W.)

[Beachwood Mac]

WILMINGTON, Delaware — Top Democratic leaders urged U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign on Saturday, calling the disgraced Democrat's actions "indefensible" after admitting sending graphic photos to women online.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Steve Israel, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, released statements within minutes of each other Saturday.

"Congressman Weiner has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents, and the recognition that he needs help," Pelosi said in a statement. "I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a Member of Congress."

Weiner, and outspoken liberal, has acknowledged sending sexually explicit messages over the Internet to a half-dozen women over the past three years and then lying about it. Weiner is married to Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Abedin is pregnant with the couple's first child.

“It is with great disappointment that I call on Representative Anthony Weiner to resign,” Wasserman Schultz wrote in her statement. “The behavior he has exhibited is indefensible and Representative Weiner’s continued service in Congress is untenable.”

Amid increasing calls for Weiner to resign, Pelosi had said that the decision should be up to him and his constituents. In a recent poll of registered voters in Weiner's district, 56 percent said he should stay in office while 33 percent said he should leave.

Pelosi has asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether Weiner used any government resources. He has said he does not believe he did.

At least nine House members and three senators said Weiner should resign. He has repeatedly said he would not.

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Usually this type of behavior is about an inability to relate to others on any sort of deep level. Seeing people as objects is safer. We all need to turn our compassionometers up. Well, not me, mine is in overdrive and I need to turn that s--- down!

This is a complete sidenote to the discussion, but I'm really not sure if that's what we need to learn from this example.

If his wife really did know what was going on, it's quite possible that she and her husband discussed the fact that he could have online flings with these women if it were solely about attraction and not remotely about emotion. He may have known that he would struggle with monogamy, and perhaps they found a creative solution within their marriage to work with those limitations. As long as the women knew as well that they were purely sex objects (which, from the conversations that have surfaced, it certainly seems they must have), then this is actually a rather interesting attempt to prevent his wife from harm. Attempting to minimize hurt from the life of someone you care for seems to be well within the definition of compassion to me.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

This is a complete sidenote to the discussion, but I'm really not sure if that's what we need to learn from this example.

If his wife really did know what was going on, it's quite possible that she and her husband discussed the fact that he could have online flings with these women if it were solely about attraction and not remotely about emotion. He may have known that he would struggle with monogamy, and perhaps they found a creative solution within their marriage to work with those limitations. As long as the women knew as well that they were purely sex objects (which, from the conversations that have surfaced, it certainly seems they must have), then this is actually a rather interesting attempt to prevent his wife from harm. Attempting to minimize hurt from the life of someone you care for seems to be well within the definition of compassion to me.

That is an interesting position. Has it been reported that his wife knew about this behavior? I would bet money that she did not.

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

That is an interesting position. Has it been reported that his wife knew about this behavior? I would bet money that she did not.

It actually is being reported that way.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

It actually is being reported that way.

Interesting. Good thing I didn't actually bet any $$$! I stand corrected.

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Interesting. Good thing I didn't actually bet any $$$! I stand corrected.

Yup. The whole thing is so ridiculous. I can't even handle it. I know I'm probably in the minority when I say that I prefer my politicians to be good liars, but god, this shouldn't even upset normal people's moral compasses.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

Yup. The whole thing is so ridiculous. I can't even handle it. I know I'm probably in the minority when I say that I prefer my politicians to be good liars, but god, this shouldn't even upset normal people's moral compasses.

Yeah for me the story is over. Let him and his wife sort it out, it's none of our business. I really don't care about the details and I certainly don't want to see that picture of him shirtless ever again.

[LikeAWillow]

Why Did I Image Search That?

Burned On My Retinas Forever.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

Why Did I Image Search That?

Burned On My Retinas Forever.

Right? Dr. Drew had it on his show zoomed in and being panned up and down. Really? I'm traumatized! Weiner is taking a leave of absence to seek treatment. http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/...html?hpt=hp_t1