The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    The disgustingness seems to never end...

    By nothere on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 11:40pm |

    Disgraced pol Weiner eyes mayor or public advocate run.

    Really.

    One might, if so inclined, go here to "Write Weiner" ( Yes, really: "Write Weiner".  He has no clue: why not "Contact Anthony"? because life is, apparently, one dick joke after another) and offer him an opinion.

    Not even for dog catcher.

    Comments

     

    Acting, prizefighting and politics are occupations where an ability to delude oneself is not only helpful, but mandatory.  People in those fields, often have to employ delusion just to continue to pursue their chosen career.  Would a boxer ever be able to get into a ring with someone who was about to beat them into unconsciousness if they didn't have the ability to immerse themselves in the delusion that they were somehow going to win?  

    Would an actor ever get back onstage after a slew of bad reviews told him he was lousy in the part he still had to play eight times a week?  A politician running in an election where the polls show he's losing by 20 points ... well, how do they continue to campaign without making some kind of delusional rationalization that down is actually up and he or she's going to triumph in the end?  

    These professions require the ability to delude oneself just to survive  the normal course of events.  Is it any wonder then that even after doing something monumentally stupid, Anthony Weiner can still delude himself that he can somehow make a political comeback?

    There's many a former champion that's been knocked out in their last five fights that will still somehow find a rationalization to continue fighting.  It's sad ... and more than a little pathetic, but not really all that surprising.   The have embraced delusion as a normal way of being and now can not let go of it.

    Weiner needs an intervention; friends need to talk to him and force him to get on with his life.  The public will forgive a lot of things ... but stupidity and sexual foolishness are forever.  

     

     


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 5:35am

    Uh, so a guy whose big sin was some silly sexting in boxers on Twitter should stay humiliated in a cave somewhere, while our government is populated with adulterers, brazen thieves, pay-to-play artists, war mongers, destroy-the-government-at-all-costs knuckle-dragging Middle Ages values types?

    Trillions of dollars stolen, war in Afghanistan, drones in Yemen/Somalia/Pakistan, Gitmo & black sites not closed, 8%+ unemployment, millions losing houses to banks illegally... but an erect penis covered up by boxers is a terminal shaming event?

    And "Write Weiner" is not a dick joke - it's his effing last name. Some people are even named "Dick" in English-speaking culture - should they be banished too?

    Can we be any more petty and grade-school? Presumably this country has big enough problems not to lose good politicians to stupid stuff.

    (BTW, I think O'Reilly settled his harrassment suit for far worse and is still on the air - but Democrats have the ability to do seppuku on command. Not a survival skill)


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 8:33am

    Is an erect penis covered up by underwear a terminal shaming event?  Unfortunately, in this day and age, yes it is.  You may not like it and think it's petty, grade school behavior, but unfortunately, that reckless moment will still stick to him forever.   You and I might be willing to forgive him and move on, but the majority of the public will not be so willing to give him a pass just because they might like his political views.  This isn't seppuku, it's called accepting a bitter reality.

     


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:43am

    You're the one dismissing Weiner, not most voters. Clinton could have gotten elected to a 3rd term in 2000 on a "free blowjobs" platform. The public in general doesnt care. Most conventional wisdom is wrong. And liberals seem to often pick up conservative puritanical values as a defensive posture. Guess beaten too many times, had a dog like that...

    by Anonymous pp (not verified) on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:17am

    "Clinton could have gotten elected to a 3rd term in 2000 on a "free blowjobs" platform."

    Okay, point taken.  I don't know if anyone would say that Weiner's lapse of judgment was worse than Clinton's, but you think Weiner would have learned from the whole Clinton drama.  Instead, Weiner compounded his lapse of judgment by originally pretending it wasn't him and making false claims that someone from the Right wing had hacked his account. For me, that instinct is the real deal-breaker.

     


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 12:10pm

    Name someone who's acted openly and responsibly from the 1st second on a sex exposé.

    I think that leaves us with Dominique Strauss-Kahn - probably not who you want.

    *Everybody* pretends they're innocent in a sex scandal until the noose is firmly wrapped around their neck.

    On the other hand, I don't care - people should have sex. They should flirt. They should act like monkeys. They should act like teenagers at 45 or 60. All that's good.

    They shouldn't divert $2 trillion of taxpayer money into banks illegally. They shouldn't foreclose on millions of homes illegally. They shouldn't be off waging wars illegally and killing people outside of court judgments.

    I'm quite happy to have our little monkeys spanking the monkey and being embarrassed and coy about it, rather than being obnoxiously self-assured so they can effectively lie and cover up their way through any horrible serious scandal of their own making.

    Of course in an ideal universe they would just focus on doing their job effectively, which means taking obscene amounts of money from the Koch Brothers, AIPAC, MEK, Goldman Sachs, Comcast and British Petroleum to water down regulations, give out incentives and make sure the status quo isn't upended.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 1:49pm

    And liberals seem to often pick up conservative puritanical values as a defensive posture.

    Maaaybe. But it seems to me liberals were criticized heavily for continuing to support Clinton through all them blow jobs. NOW, in particular, was called onto the mat for giving him a pass for Monica and all those other women. Liberals were the base of his electoral support, not "the public in general."


    by Peter Schwartz on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 3:19pm

    Don't know what your problem with Weiner is, but I suspect it goes far beyond bulging boxers.  As a pol he was terrific.  As a homely man-child looking for lust in all the wrong places, he stunk.

    I would love to see him back in the spotlight as a champion of the masses.  That's where he should be, and what he did was not so terrible that he should be shunned and ostracized for the rest of his life.

    The outrage against him doesn't hold up, given all that politicians do out there that actually hurt huge numbers of our population.

    So what's the real reason for this?


    by Ramona on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:50am

    Not sure if you are addressing that to me, Ramona, but I'll try to answer it.  I don't have a problem with Weiner. I just don't think he should run again for elective office. 

    The rationale that other politicians do even worse, so therefore let's elect a man who's judgment has been shown to be questionable, doesn't do it for me. 

    Don't get me wrong, I liked Anthony Weiner a lot.  His feistiness in calling out Republicans was always enjoyed by me.  He was very good at delivering solid Democratic talking points. He'd probably make a good political talking head.  TV Pundits don't have to worry about their sexual peccadillos being exposed to the twitter-verse. 

    But in the end, politics is about perception, isn't it?  And sad and unfair as it is, that perception of Anthony Weiner as a "homely man-child looking for lust" is not going to go away for a certain segment of the non-Democratic part of the population, no matter how fine a politician he may have been to us.

    So, maybe my problem with him is that I feel betrayed; let down by someone I thought was fighting for me.  A man who should have known better, who should have known that you don't hand your enemies an opportunity to destroy you on a platter.  How do I trust such a man with my vote a second time?


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 1:03pm

    I hear Weiner defecates as well - a shame, I expected more out of my corrupt and compromised politicians.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 1:21pm

    Democrats want, what cant ever be achieved; Perfection.   

    The Republicans don't care about the rafter in their eyes, they only see the splinter (imperfections) in democrats eyes.

    Republicans are hypocrites and democrats are idiots. 


    by Resistance on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 2:06pm

    No, I wasn't addressing you, Mr. Smith, I was addressing the OP, Chthonic, who appears to be among the missing.

    Thanks for answering, though I have to disagree about his ever being fit for office again.  Every fool who gets caught in such an embarrassing situation is going to lie through his teeth about it at first.  If they're fools enough to do stupid things in the first place, they're fools enough to try to get out of it by lying.

    But let's remember how much good he did before he got caught.  Libs/Progs all across the country were cheering him on, repeating his quotes, making his floor speeches go viral.  He was the Energizer Bunny for a while there, which is why we all were furious at him for his incredible stupidity.

    I'm not from NY so I don't get a vote, but if I were I would be voting for him in whatever role he chose.  We have so few Energizers, it would be a shame to discourage one when he wants to get going again.


    by Ramona on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:37pm

    I agree with you.

    Seems he didn't play well with his colleagues, however.

    Not sure of the particulars, but it didn't seem to be around policy.


    by Peter Schwartz on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 3:21pm

    It was his nasally voice and aggressive demeanor. Plus he married up. People hate that.

    In any case, very peculiar for a politician not to get along perfectly with his colleagues.


    by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 4:03pm

    When yez start in da gutta, derz only one way to marry.

    Yup.


    by Qnonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 6:34pm

    Have to take everything personally, does ya?


    by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 7:35pm

    Actually getting along with colleagues is key to getting something done.

    Nice job with the "perfectly" weasel word, though. Noted and ignored.


    by Peter Schwartz on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 8:43pm

    I don't recall Stalin getting along with others, but he got stuff done.

    Not that Weiner's Stalin. Just "plays well with others" is overrated. 

    And surprise, surprise - politicians having overloaded egos?

    Anyway, think Weiner was doing a pretty effective job, whatever the complaints.


    by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 11:55pm

    Bring Weiner on, but I'm going with the Rent Is Too Damn High party next time!


    by Bruce Levine on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 12:15pm

    Yeah, you just want the opportunity to marry a shoe, you fetishist you....

    I like the idea of putting an X over upstate New York - I was amazed to find out people actually live there, rather than just being  a weekend and holiday retreat. Amazing what people will put up with.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 1:24pm

    I think the first question when one hears Weiner's name is whether there is anyone equally or more qualified for the position. If not, then you proceed knowing the baggage he brings. He will be comic fodder for them"Daily Show" and the "Colbert Report" at a minimum. 

    Talk show host Jerry Springer considered running for Congress. As I recall Democratic Party members talked Springer out of the attempt. I also remember Geraldo mouthing off about running for mayor of NYC. I'm not sure if Rivera ever stated a party affiliation, but I do remember the campaign died an early death. TV shock jocks may be among the unworthy for political office.

    Given the sexing issue, some people won't vote for Wiener, it may be that most of these are the same people who wouldn't vote for Weiner because of his political position.

    Newt Gingrich divorced a wife with cancer and still gets contributions to his campaigns. I doubt that John Edwards will ever receive the same forgiveness.


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 2:48pm

    Gingrich fucked around on a wife with cancer who he then divorced for a trophy wife who he later divorced. Edwards knocked up a girl after his wife's cancer had returned. Yes, Gingrich's didn't stop him from becoming House leader in revolution some 13 years later.

    But oddly enough, I have a feeling many people are more likely to punish sexting and a blowjob than full-blown affairs. I'm sometimes curious whether they understand what sex is, and they're more upset at public embarrassment than any moral issue. I think people are more upset with Hillary for Bill's activities than they are with Bill. It's all convoluted. Elliot Spitzer's paying for sex is sinful but millions go to Vegas each year to watch naked girls and get lap dances as just part of American fun. (actually not sure Spitzer really had to resign, but was very dumb of him to set himself up for blackmail when he was prosecuting such high profile cases)

    And in News of the Weird, 48-year-old man says he's open to dating 25-year-olds.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 3:55pm

    It may be that the Republicans who view themselves as the party of the moral people value strength in political numbers over any core moral value. Mormonism is considered a cult by many Christian Evangelicals, but Romney will still get their votes. This same set of Romney voters view Any mention of Black Liberation theology as a spawn of the devil.

    the escapades of Vitter obviously did not disqualify him from office. the C Streeters who believe that their version of Christianity makes it impossible for them to commit a sin face no real push back from so-called Christian Evangelists.

    Democrats viewed as the party of the immoral actually seem to express some bit of a moral code in the case of Weiner and Edwards. 


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 4:16pm

    Not so weird. However inappropriate, a lot of middle aged men are still attracted to younger women


    by Aaron Carine on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 9:18am

    Really? Are you sure?


    by PeraclesPlease on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 12:10pm

    Oh I wish to hell my last name wasn't Weiner,
    That has been the undoing of me-ee-ee,
    Cause if my name was Craig or maybe Vitter,
    Conservatives would be protecting me.
     


    by Donal on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 3:08pm

    Very funny 


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 3:14pm

    If he ran for mayor, I'd vote against him in the primary.  He's not worth the risk and we should be able to get a Democrat elected after Bloomberg finally abdicates to take up his career as a guest star in Thomas Friedman columns.  If he runs for public advocate though, I'd support that as a good comeback role for him, where he might be able to do some real good.


    by Michael Maiello on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:16pm

    Should should should... lots of potholes in that road. I'll take the slumdog millionaire i know over the one i don't.

    by Anonymous pp (not verified) on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 6:51pm

    Now you see, I could live with that, Destor.  The Public Advocate job would indeed be a good way for him to do some good and ease back into public service.  It's my fear, however, that instead he'll try to run for mayor and, in effect, hand the mayoralty over to another Republican.  


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 9:52pm

    And you think Weiner's negatives are so strong, vs. an unknown Democrat's unknown positives?

    I think the Republicans love to run against Democrats' B-Team. Hey, maybe we can get Caroline Kennedy to run <snark>


    by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 2:14am

    Fortunately, there is no GOP A-team in NYC.  Bloomberg never allowed any other Republican to share the spotlight with him.  (Nice snark, but remember, out of that Caroline Kennedy fiasco, we eventually got Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillabrand.)


    by MrSmith1 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 7:59am

    We already had Gillibrand, who'd beaten Sweeney the incumbent fairly handily, then won re-election by a bigger margin - which made the anointing of Kennedy pretty insulting.

    I'm actually not for anointing Weiner as candidate - I'm for allowing a slugout at primary level to see who has the testosterone/estrogen to compete in the generals.

    That didn't seem to hurt Obama, despite all the panic in May 2008. And some of our theoretically stronger candidates have either turned out pretty poorly (Blanche Lincoln, Martha Coakley) or tight (Sestak who the Democrats forgot to support, Elizabeth Warren who's taken some time to get her footing).


    by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:02am

    " ...which made the anointing of Kennedy pretty insulting."

    No argument on that from me.  Totally agree.

     


    by MrSmith1 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 9:59am