It's not the lying for me. It's the sheer stupidity.

[PeaceNikki]

This wasn't a relationship that was rooted in love. It wasn't even a private lustful affair between two (or hell, more) people. He was trolling the internet for cybersex. With anonymous people. While sitting as a very esteemed member of Congress loved by many liberals, hated by all Republicans.

He sent lewd pictures and communicated with not one, not two, not three, but SIX random women he didn't know at ALL on the internet. People he didn't know and couldn't even come close to trusting. Now it's an issue and it's the ONLY thing we're talking about. And we wouldn't be if he hadn't been such a fucking fool. His credibility is shot. He clearly has ZERO sense of judgement if he thought his actions would not get out. He might not have fucked them but he fucked those of us who supported him pretty good.

Fucking idiot. How did you think this would end, Weiner? I really thought you were a smart man.

[Inspired]

1. I agree with you. This was so stupid!

I just don't get it.

[Zenlitened]

2. K&R, sadly. - n/t

[tekisui]

3. I can't believe how many liberals are so quick to condemn him.

As far as we know, nothing suggests he paid for sex, had an affair, raped anyone, broke any laws or anything other than jerking off while at his computer or on the phone.

[PeaceNikki]

4. You didn't read the OP at all, huh? Try again.

[tekisui]

8. I read it.

It is sad that his masturbation habits are of interest to anyone other than himself.

[Kaleva]

15. If it was just masturbation, then no one would know about it or care.

Unfortunately, he engaged in cyber-sex with women he had no logical reason to trust. And if it was strictly masturbation, we wouldn't be having Nancy Pelosi calling for an ethics investigation.

[tekisui]

19. SO what if an anonymous woman is on the other end.

I guess I just don't get it.

[pnwmom]

28. Using a government phone for non-government business.

My husband has a corporate phone, and he has to have a personal phone, too, because he knows he's not supposed to use the corporate phone for personal business.

[tekisui]

30. Well, there is that. But I wonder how often that usually goes on?

[pnwmom]

32. I don't know . But this is the kind of thing that is going to be examined

in Pelosi's ethics investigation.

[TorchTheWitch]

58. they could have been anonymous girls

He's lucky that apparently none of them were under age because he took these total strangers at their word that they were 18 or over... he also took them at their word that they were female and weren't some Repub slimeball intent on engaging him in this activity in order to smear him and ruin his career. THAT'S why it's barking stupid.

How many women or girls did he approach with the cybersex idea that thought he was a creep and ran away from him? How did all this come about? Did he only engage in this activity when he was approached to do it? Or was he trolling around the internet in search of the ones who were interested? Many a time I've been by strange pervy men on the internet looking to engage in this activity, and it seems reasonable that Weiner was doing the same thing rather than just innocently sitting back and just happened to be approached by a number of women wanting to engage in this activity with him. It's much more often men that are the ones doing the approaching. It's wondering about how he got the ball rolling with each of these women that really bothers me because I'm far more inclined to believe that he was the one instigating this with women and in the process skeeved out a lot of other women and probably under age girls that wanted nothing to do with it.

ANY way you look at this it's just ridiculously stupid juvenile behavior and depending on how it came about with each of these women possibly creepy and even illegal as well. This is just the kind of person that parents need to warn their daughters about, and there's no excusing that.

[AtheistCrusader]

94. I don't particularly care either, but here's how stupid it COULD have been.

If any of the women turn out to be underage and across state lines, we lose a champion for our party, to jail over multiple felonies.

He has put himself in a very precarious position. 'I didn't know' or 'to the best of my knowledge' is not an affirmative defense. He has admitted he has no idea how old they are. Or who they are.

I sincerely hope that he didn't even accidentally and without any knowledge at all, send any pornographic material to an underage recipient. If he did, they will burn him. Bank on it.

Putting himself in that position where it is even a possibility is very, very stupid.

[DevonRex]

128. You hit the nail on the head. It still could be much, much worse

than what we know. Just the fact that he has no idea how old those girls are, and apparently didn't care that he had no way of knowing, is enough for me.

[whathehell]

108. She's not so anonymous anymore, is she?...Nor could you expect her to be when

you're exchanging sexy pictures to a married member of CONGRESS with people like Breitbart after you.

This was just stupid on his part.

[zentrum]

156. He was stupid to

....believe it was a *trustable* anonymous woman. Which it turns out, it was not.

He put his entire career and the progressive agenda (which is us) in the hands of a complete unknown.

In addition, for all he knows it will emerge that some of these women were minors at the time it started. As it is, he's old enough to be their father. Or what if, on the other end there had been a Republican operative, a person who wanted only to do him in?

It's stupid to be a rising politician and do things like this on networks that can be shared, with unknown people. Like Breitbart, for God's sakes.

In other words, don't masturbate on line with strangers if you are a famous person.

It's not the sex. It's the inevitability of getting caught in a forum like twitter.

*Now* do you get it?

[A wise Man]

81. Funny how Dem congressmen and women

call investigations on things like this but let BUSH GET AWAY WITH MURDER. Over 3,000 killed in 9/11 and exculating numbers in Afgan and Iraq. Bump Weiners weinnie..GO AFTER THE ONES THAT ARE KILLING THIS NATION. DAMN DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT?????????????

[liberation]

120. Funny how that works, eh?

... almost as if the Dem leadership is more interested in keeping the lefties in check than going after the GOP. Nah, that could not possibly be...

[avebury]

124. Agreed

[Maru Kitteh]

144. ""But.. but. . but. . . Ricky did it FIRST!"

One of us shouldn't get in trouble because one of them did something worse is the argument of a small child.

[liberation]

119. "cyber-sex?"

What the...

[pnwmom]

27. But it is common-sense to know

that anything you email or tweet can come back to bite you. Caution is prudent. We need thoughtful, prudent members of Congress with plenty of common sense.

[frylock]

39. so the whole questionable judgement thing is a non-issue to you then?

this is the kind of person that you're willing to trust to make the right decisions. someone in his position who is stupid enough to do something like this and lie about it. you can say with a straight face that this is someone that you'd trust?

[tekisui]

43. It is an issue that he lied.

Politicians' currency is their word. But, Many have made it through worse lies.

I can understand why he lied on this, but it was still stupid and ill-advised. My question is could he have survived by being honest? Or must our reps be wholesome?

[DevonRex]

129. You don't care that he has no way of knowing how old the recipients are?

He could have been having cyber sex with children for all he knew.

[GOTV]

77. Yes, because I've seen his professional judgment.

Just like with Bill Clinton. He lied about something that's not my business and about which I don't care.

Too me it's the same as if he said he didn't care for Milli Vanilli and then someone revealed he had an account on a Milli Vanilli fan site.

It doesn't matter.
I don't care.

[frylock]

83. because secretly liking milli vanilli is just like sexting..

okay then.

[PeaceNikki]

85. Girl.... you know it's true!

[GOTV]

105. They are both irrelevant to his job. Yes.

[frylock]

113. no. he FUCKING lied! being trustworthy IS part of the job..

i'm sorry that your criteria for trust is whatever bullshit label, dem or republican, that these assclowns append to their title. this gives the dems NO MORALE HIGH GROUND to stake claim to. it fucking amazes me that people can't get that through their fucking heads.

three fucking years this dumbshit has been doing this.

[GOTV]

134. I'm not so black and white. Some lies are not important. Simple as that.

[WinkyDink]

63. You make it sound so cool for a married man to do! NOT.

[VeryConfused]

70. He blatantly lied to us

enough said

sorry but ideology doesn't give anyone a free pass

[JoePhilly]

96. He lied to us about a topic we claim to not care about.

We claim to not care about the sex lives of public officials.

Then, when one lies about their sex life (which any married person is going to do), we go nuts.

I don;t see how we on the left can claim that we don't care about their sex lives, and that its none of our business, and then flip out when they lie about the thing that we said we didn't care about.

[Avant Guardian]

114. This is America, we are all puritanical Quakers

...apparently

[October]

126. We care because we know it's a story that won't go away and will diminish all the 'good' he has done

The other side will use it again and again -- i.e. Breitbart taking over the press conference and being vindicated even thought HE'S a liar, too!

It's just a mess that takes time to blow over IF it blows over.

And yes, IT WAS SO STUPID. It's not like we haven't seen this happen again and again... WTF? Even if you don't care about this context of his lying, or that he lied at all -- it's so stupid.

[JoePhilly]

130. No debate whatsoever on the STUPID part.

Or the MESS part.

I think what bugs me is this ...

Weiner does nothing illegal and has sex with no one ... RESIGN.

Vitter has actual sex with hookers, and the GOP gives him a standing ovation when he comes back to congress.

And the media is killed Weiner, and gave Vitter (comparatively) a pass.

[Maru Kitteh]

148. Life isn't fair.

And this isn't about Vitter.


You're absolutely correct that it isn't right. It isn't. But, were back to "life isn't fair."

[JoePhilly]

150. When lide isn't fair ...

you can roll over ... or fight.

I'd pick fight.

Just me.

[Maru Kitteh]

154. but again, this isn't about Vitter so. . .

The question before you is, is this the fight you want to make?

The fight for a member of high office with such poor impulse control and utter absence of judgment that he cannot stop himself from seeking out and engaging in sexual behavior with numerous women that he admittedly knows absolutely nothing about up unto and including whether or not they were of the age of consent?

[October]

170. I agree 100%

I don't want Weiner to resign.

It's annoying that Vitter can appear on any show and his indiscretions are not brought up -- but a Dem's mistakes will be brought up on FOX or a Maddow-type show. The imbalance is infuriating.

I'm just mad at Weiner because he was such a great voice for the LEFT. He was awesome! And now... well, let's see how he handles it. Not impressed so far with the press conference and apology to Breitbart. NEVER expected that from Weiner. Ick.

(p.s. Philly fan, here!)

[WatsonT]

80. I don't think anyone is claiming he broke the law

A politician could go to a Halloween party dressed in black face. That wouldn't be illegal but it would lead to many calling for his ouster.

You can technically not break the law and still lose the support of the voters.

[Canuckistanian]

5. It's a sad world

Where crap like this even matters.

[PeaceNikki]

6. If he had a sexy friend with benefits and someone leaked it, I would be right there with you.

But this idiot sent pictures of his junk. To strangers. On the internet. In 2011.

[snagglepuss]

31. And has been sexting for three years to strangers from his bloody FB acct.

His stupidity is numbing.

[Raine]

57. Sad that "crap matters" hmmmm "crap" like not being stupid...

well not being stupid does matter.

[WinkyDink]

64. Really? How about: " Where crap like this even HAPPENS." Weiner was pathetic in this entire gig.

[GOTV]

78. Absolutely. We're wasting time. Move on.

[whathehell]

110. Oh c'mon...stuff like this has always mattered, and always will, especially if you are

a public person in a position of power.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Aw, c'mon. It's not like there was cigar involved, or a blue dress. nt

[PeaceNikki]

12. That was a private situation between 2 people who knew each other.

[Xipe Totec]

13. In the Oval Office, no less...

[PeaceNikki]

17. Indeed. I can see how that would get the juices flowing!

But if Weiner PM'd me his junk here on DU, it'd be weird.

[WinkyDink]

65. Are you forgetting Clinton's public humiliation?

[Xipe Totec]

68. Forget? That was my point.

Reality check here; Weiner's peccadillo pales when compared to the Clenis. So lets cut him some slack.

[DevonRex]

51. Yes. And it took considerable

efffort, time and money to get at that secret. This dumbass wiener just put it all out there to strangers on twitter and FB.

[WillowTree]

9. Yeah, that too.

[footinmouth]

10. It just shows poor judgment on his part

I expect better of my Congresspeople. I'm in NY26 so we just had Chris Lee, now Weiner. Please, make it stop.

[Uzybone]

11. "How did you think this would end, Weiner?"

Exactly. Even without his DM slip up that posted his underwear this would have eventually come to light. He just should have told the truth from the jump.

[seabeyond]

14. How did you think this would end, Weiner? a real duh... i hear ya. nt

[wisteria]

16. Most human beings have weaknesses-this is his. We all sin or lie sometimes

at least most of us do, how about you? Don't you have any weaknesses,have you never sinned or lied? Why would anyone expect a Congressman to be anything but human?

[snagglepuss]

33. If it was a momentary indiscretion it'd be one thing but this has been going on for three years.

This for me isn't about sin, it's about a staggering lack of judgement.

[Cid_B]

91. You wanna talk about lack of judgement...

Supposedly he sent out more pictures after the initial story had broken but he was still in denial mode. It's insane... I wouldn't trust the guy with scissors.

[snagglepuss]

95. He has some serious issues if that is the case. What continues to stun me is that

he didn't use a pseudonym, that he made no effort at all to conceal his identity.

[Maru Kitteh]

155. It looks like that would have taken the thrill out of it for him

Think the "it's me" photo.

Looks like a good portion of his Jolly came from "whoopie..... I'm a big 'ol congressman and I have a hard on and you're looking at ME."

[PeaceNikki]

102. .

:banghead:

[Maru Kitteh]

151. Good lord. OK then. That really does it. He's gotta go. That is not a reasonable, stable person.

That's somebody headed over the cliff.

Where/when did that info come out?

[Cid_B]

160. Newscast headline..

... saw it yesterday but not sure which show/host. One of those TVs in a hallway...

Tried to google but it blew up with every story everywhere.

[undeterred]

18. Using the little head.

No, I cannot even begin to comprehend the stupidity of doing something like this. And if any candidate I ever worked for pulled something like this, I'd never do jack shit for him again.

[whathehell]

111. Yes....Ever notice this sort of thing is virtually NEVER perpetrated by females in office?

I'm starting to think Dee Dee Myers was on to something

in her book: Why Women Should Rule the World.:eyes:

[LiberalAndProud]

20. That's the way I feel about it too. Although, the lie was stupid on top of stupid.

On the internet! Like he thought he was carrying on a private conversation?

Maybe a good question for every politician to ask themselves before hitting the send key would be, "Will I want to talk about this during the next campaign?"

Weiner can stay in Congress, as far as I'm concerned. but this will leave a political scar. He won't be moving on up in the political spectrum, and if I consider only what he says, he had a good thing going.

[PeaceNikki]

22. Right, I am not saying he should resign... but way to fuck up a good thing, Anthony!

Exactly.

[FrenchieCat]

21. It was male ego taking priority over everything else....

lying for 10 days didn't help.

He has silenced his own voice and credibility on issues
that matter to many of us.......
that sucks the most.

He will now be the butt of jokes
and not much more.

[grasswire]

23. blackmailable

that's the scary part.

[PeaceNikki]

25. Hell, one of the "ladies" could have been Brietbart himself. Boner move, Weiner.

[snagglepuss]

34. His obliviousness to that real possibilty speaks volumes.

[PeaceNikki]

44. Naivete or brazen ego?

I'm torn.

[snagglepuss]

46. No one can be that naive. I'd think it's a toss up between brazen ego and

sexual obsession/addiction. Probably both. Its my experience that people with huge egos rarely acknowledge that they have 'issues'.

[WinkyDink]

66. Both. He was obviously proud of his physique.

[Nye Bevan]

24. Smart men can become really stupid when their penises become involved.

One of the oldest stories. Thomas Jefferson risked disgrace by fathering children with his slaves.

[Common Sense Party]

146. You have to be smarter than the penis.

Big head, little head. Prioritize accordingly.

[spooky3]

26. those things and the lying bother me - also the sexism, if he sent the photo

with the alleged comment about "pussies." That's really insulting to women--and as hypocritical for a progressive as a racist comment would be (and as hypocritical for a family values Republican to hire a prostitute or have an affair). We've heard so little about that specific allegation that I am not sure if he admitted to sending/saying that.

He was a good voice for progressives when he was on TV and it is hard for me to imagine he's going to be able to continue that role. Someone else will have to step in. However, I understand his decision to leave the judgment about his political future up to the voters in his district.

[LisaL]

29. And he is recently married with a gorgeous wife.

Go figure.

[PeaceNikki]

36. This kind of rationale always bothers me. I hear/see this type of comment all the time - mostly in r

regard to women. Like, would it be acceptable to shit all over an average looking woman? Are "beautiful people" always so fabulous in every other way that it would offset any awful personality trait they may have? I am not saying Weiner's wife is ugly inside... by any stretch, I have no idea. But a person's physical appearance does not make them any more or less worthy of respect and fidelity.

[LisaL]

50. No, it would be more acceptable for a single man to do something

like that. Not a recently married one.
Jeez.

[spooky3]

73. Good point

[La Lioness Priyanka]

35. i love weiner but my god, this was DUMB. so fucking dumb.

i cant get over HOW dumb

[LiberalAndProud]

37. I love him too.

That's why this is so hard to take. Why why why why why?

[PeaceNikki]

38. I KNOW, Pri!!

I was really excited to hear him speak at the WI Dem convention last Friday and he canceled. :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. I was worried about this last week when I decided to wait and see.

Even though many of us were derided and ridiculed, I am glad I chose to wait. I am not half as disgusted as I would be if I had gone whole-heartedly with the "hacked" story. I'm jaded after Edwards.

[PeaceNikki]

41. Yeah... Edwards set us up for this kind of disappointment.

x(

[tblue37]

42. It seems he mistook Twitter for a variation on one of those phone sex lines. nt

[ProfessionalLeftist]

45. 100% agreed.

"He might not have fucked them but he fucked those of us who supported him pretty good."

Well said.

[RiverStone]

47. For me it's the lying and sheer stupidity...

His sexual impulses are his biz, but willfully lying to his electorate...

Time to resign and just because people who have lied and gotten away with worse have NOT resigned, does not mean he should follow that backwards logic.

[krabigirl]

48. Who cares? Omg the hand wringing.

Wish people would get this worked up about the bombs we are dropping in 4 countries.

[PeaceNikki]

49. There is a correlation if the people we elect to be in charge of such things screw themselves out

of office and us out of decent representation.

[Broderick]

62. +1

[patrick t. cakes]

52. + 1

[gateley]

164. You should care because of how it will affect his ability to

fight the good fight for all of us.

Not saying it's valid, not saying it SHOULD, but that's what the reality of it is.

Not hand wringing, more a sense of incredulity that he could be so selfish and not think enough about how the ramifications would affect so many.

[Atypical Liberal]

53. I agree with you completely.

If nothing else, what this issue shows is that Weiner has extremely poor judgement. I cannot believe that a Congressman his age would be so naieve as to think that sending pictures over the internet would not result in those pictures living on forever and coming back to haunt him. He had to know this. So the only other option is that he just was so randy that he let it cloud his judgement and just figured everything would be OK.

It's a damn, damn shame. Like you said, he was trolling the internet for cybersex with anonymous people. Idiotic behavior that now casts doubt on his judgement forever.

[deacon]

54. It's the lying with me. He knew he was guilty last week then proceeded on a TV bullshit tour.

Accountability is one of the HUGE problems in this country and politicians need to know there are consequences for completely trashing the trust of those they represent and their respective parties.

[Raine]

55. I agree ... EVERYTHING about it is STUPID, even the lying

I can take a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them. Stupid people are dangerous, they drag too many others down with them.

[liberalla]

56. I completely agree with you, but this

is one area where so many men get stupid beyond belief.

:dunce:

[pecwae]

59. It's both for me.

I expect more from the elected members of my party. Being very incredibly stupid then lying to cover it up..... I simply don't see any defense for his actions.

[Never Stop Dancin]

60. so if Weiner pulls out

who takes his seat?

[Garbo 2004]

61. Yes, I'm not morally outraged, more it was fucking stupid & knowing the political environment, he

knew he was risking disclosure and the potential repercussions to him, his career, etc. Politically and PR wise, his denials made it worse. He bungled the PR/crisis mgt strategy and the more he talked the worse it got, perception wise. As a media savvy pol and usually a smart guy, a disaster.

And he said he didn't know the ages of the young women he had exchanges with? Oy. Maybe he could have at least carded them? Hopefully they were all at least street legal.

Yeah, there's tons of public hypocisy in political life, especially when someone gets publicly caught with their dick in a wringer. Nevertheless that's the game he chose. Joe Schmoe does it, no one notices or cares. Outspoken Dem congressman? Different story.

Frankly, I don't expect pols to be "saints" or even nice folks: after all they're politicians, lets be real. But for a seemingly smart, ambitious politician to be this fucking stupid, reckless and then stunningly incompetent in crisis mgt response, it's boggling.

He can probably survive politcally in his seat, if nothing else more compromising comes out. As to his political ambitions? Probably less likely than before all this.

[PeaceNikki]

72. In addition, he USED his position to troll for chicks. He didn't create an anonymous account to get

his rocks off. He didn't TRY to be careful and discreet. No, in fact, he sent pics with his face, his name, photos of his family in the background with this gross egotistical "LOOKIT ME, I'M ANTHONY WEINER, HERE'S MY WEINER!!" shit. To anonymous people. Coulda been Breitbart, Chris Hanson, a minor.

Ugh. Idiot. :puke:

[Garbo 2004]

137. Yes, anonymity wasn't for him, it must've been the ego rush of a known member of Congress

flashing his member, covered or not. And whatever else went on.

Besides the spectacular recklessness of this, one amazing fact is that these activities actually didn't become public earlier.

[Hubert Flottz]

67. There's the tale about congressman Weener,

Who went searching for pastures far greener,
And on TV he lied,
Then on TV he cried,
Cause we found our his weener was meaner.

I had to write a Limerick about this guy, to be fair, to poor little old Dave Vitter and Larry Craig!

[Ganja Ninja]

69. I don't know how people here didn't see this was coming.

I knew when he wouldn't/couldn't deny it was a photo of him. And yet his defenders at DU acted as if there was no reason to ever question his actions.

So there's more than one lesson to be learned from this.
1. Don't take lewd photos of yourself and post them on the internet.
2. Don't ever put 100% blind faith in anybody.

[trotsky]

71. This is the only Weiner thread I have or will comment on.

I agree one thousand percent. We can argue for years about the unfairness, about the double standards, about whatever else we want. None of that matters because none of this had to happen. Like you say, he's a fucking idiot.

[EstimatedProphet]

74. I don't give a flying fuck what he did. I am pissed off more that Breitbart reported it

THE WORST POSSIBLE THING FOR THE US MEDIA is for Breitbart to gain any kind of credibility. Every two-bit "news" source will be lining up to give Breitbart a blowjob and a reacharound until the end of time, because Breitbart Was The One That Broke The Story On Weiner, Praise Be! We will never, ever, be free of yellow journalism now.

[PeaceNikki]

82. Oh right, and there's this. And it's far from over. Breitbart has more pics. Worse pics.

Weinergate has just begun. I think that there will be a lot more ick to come. Some will be truthful, some false accusations, but it will get worse.

Way to go, Anthony.

[Common Sense Party]

147. Had a Republican gotten caught for doing the same thing, I'm sure

you'd have the SAME attitude. Correct?

[EstimatedProphet]

182. Are you really asking that?

Really? Are you asking me whether I would still be pissed off that Breitbart got vindication for all of his sleazy behavior going back YEARS because he stumbled onto a semi-legitimate scandal, even if a republican was implicated?

Yes.

He's still sleazy.

He's still unethical.

He's still getting rewarded for it.

He's still hogging too much media time, regardless of who his victim is.

Reread what I wrote. I'm pissed off that a known lying backstabbing slanderer is now going to suddenly become credible in the media because he tripped over a story. I'm mad that this is only going to encourage him to lie that much more. I'm damned pissed off that the media is going to make him out to be a Great Hero because of all this now, and everyone will hang on his every word, of which 99% are clear and obvious lies. What possible fucking difference does it make what party his victim belongs to?

Quit trying to force gotchas on people where they don't exist. Quit being so eager to attack posters here as hypocrites that you have to distort the meaning of their posts to do so.

[Common Sense Party]

183. OK, I reread what you wrote. I was responding to the first part of what you wrote:

"I don't give a flying fuck what he did."

You don't care what Weiner did. You don't care about him sexting suggestive and/or explicit pictures of himself to women he doesn't know. You don't care that he is married or that he was using government property to be a horndog.

Fine.

What I am asking is: Would you care if he were a Republican who got caught for doing the same thing?

I agree about Breitbart. I was not responding to that part of your post.

No gotchas. No distorting. No attacking. I'm just asking if you are that forgiving to all politicians.

[EstimatedProphet]

184. It isn't my business what he did

It never is my business what he did. I'm not in his district. I'm not voting for him in any case. I think it was stupid and shortsighted on his part, but not so much for him to be drummed out of Congress for, and that would apply to anyone who did the same. But frankly, I've given almost no thought to the subject of what he did specifically, because all my attention is focused on the idiotic shitstorm which is now coming from the media, which now is going to bend over backwards trying to vindicate Breitbart at every turn. That turns my stomach, right at this minute. I can only imagine what it will be like when Breitbart is given his own show on CNN, and every media outlet refers to him as an elder statesman of journalism. And every two-bit yellow journalist is going be crawling out of the woodwork now, and all of them are going to somehow be respectable in the eyes of the media. I thought it was bad before, but I'm going to have to take anti-nausea meds around the clock.

[Common Sense Party]

185. I'm glad I don't have cable, because I would want to puke hearing

Breitbart praised as well. The little I have seen or heard about him has been more than enough. It may be time to switch it off and go outside for a long walk.

I'm not in Weiner's district, but I still think what he did was low, dumb, foolish, and deserving of scorn. I would think just the same if it were a Republican. I think we elect these people to represent us, yes, but they pass laws that affect all of us, and we should be able to hold them to some reasonable standards of ethical and reputable behavior. In this case, I don't think he should be "drummed out," but as their bosses, "we the people" should make it clear to our representatives that we deserve better comportment.

[disillusioned73]

75. I agree, and I also kicked & rec'd the "I stand w/Wiener" post..

I know I'm somewhat contradicting myself - but at this point, if we don't protect the few strong liberals we have left... there will be none left to voice what the "far left" stands for... and THAT is what the right wants more than anything - to silence us.

I hope he learned a very valuable lesson..

[PeaceNikki]

76. I totally get that.

This is so disappointing.

[Township75]

79. For me it is the lying and the stupidity.

The lying angers me, but at least I can reason why he did it (that doesn't mean I excuse it).

The stupidity angers me and baffles me and I can't reason why he thought lying would get him out of it.

[Harriety]

84. I think we need to focus on what's important right now. I knew the press would exploit this.

He lied yes, but..... It's this just a distraction the media has pounced on, just like Palin's Paul Revere moment, or Bahamian's hearing God telling her run. The real issues are jobs and the economy.

[Ed Suspicious]

86. A lapse in judgement does not necessarily equal a

total lack of judgement.

[PeaceNikki]

99. Not always. In this case it does though.

[wowimthere]

87. I couldn't have said it better myself... Incredibly gifted, SUPER Incredibly STUPID!

He was on the right side politically but he was dumber than dumb to think no one would be watching him. Arrogant. I thought he was one of the smart ones; a public figure who knew what he was doing. Why didn't he just stick to his aspirations for higher office and more than anything take his wife into consideration. I know he deserves a personal life of his own but if he thought he deserved his own private life then why would he be so dumb as to take to TWITTER of all places?

[MrMickeysMom]

88. Please define what smart people do 24 hours a day

.... where it doesn't involve a stupid move such as was made public by Jackals.

I think I know "how this will end"... It will end by lots of meaningful dialog about matters relevant to our surviving as a nation, once we get through these head-banging threads.

[PeaceNikki]

100. In a nutshell: not this kind of shit.

[madmom]

89. ......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1246643&mesg_id=1246901

[PeaceNikki]

98. I disagree. Yesterday at this time I didn't have a clue how fucking stupid he really is.

[madmom]

104. Just because you didn't know something doesn't make it non existent. He is the same person..

he has been doing this for 3 years and lying about it. You didn't know it, but it was still going on and everyone thought he was a great politician then.

[PeaceNikki]

116. Yes, but now we know and my opinion of him has changed.

Because now I know he's fucking stupid.

[madmom]

121. So all the good stuff he did before is a moot , because of something

in his personal life you found uncomfortable. to each his own I guess.

[PeaceNikki]

123. Nope. That's called a "strawman" argument. Read my comments.

I am not calling for his resignation. I am pissed that someone who has been such a great voice has fucked himself into illegitimacy, made himself a laughing stock and exercised a total lack of judgment.

Our guys need to be better than them. If our guys screw themselves out of their elected positions they screw *us* out of decent representation. They need to take their jobs seriously and seriously address issues like war and poverty and working families. This is important shit and they can't be so brazenly stupid at such a critical time.

The fact that he did all of that good stuff makes it MORE painful. He's fucked up a very good thing.

[madmom]

125. That, I think, remains to be seen.

[ladywnch]

90. EXACTLY!

that is why I'm so pissed.....the Stupidity of it!!!....it is a republican kind of move. Also the fact that we were led to believe (and defend) that HE was the victim here. He just proved he is no better than any other congress critter......they all think THEY'LL be the one to get away with it......and, damnit, they're entitled to it.......I agree with rethugs--do away with the entitlements---and learn how to keep it in your damn pants you horn dog idiots!!!!

..'he may need counseling'.....yeah, you all do! Counseling to learn you are NOT demi gods among the unwashed masses of peons......you are nothing more than an REGULAR AVERAGE (DUMB) SCHMUCK.

[Left coast liberal]

92. I know, its almost like he wanted to get caught. Hmmmm....

[neoralme]

93. I agree. What do you think he'll do?

[BrklynLiberal]

97. 100% true...and 100% sad.

On the radio this AM there was a comment that this is what comes of middle aged folks fooling around with the internet. They just have no concept about the universality and permanence of what they do. Even if he had not mis-sent that pic, eventually it would have all come out....Just plain stupid and arrogant. What a shame. What a waste of potential....which puts him in the same category as Spitzer and Edwards, and even Clinton. They could have been contenders. They had such potential....and their egos, testosterone, arrogance or who knows what....got the best of them. I guess power corrupts...inevitably..and makes men stupid.

[bigwillq]

101. It's both for me.

The lying and stupidity, especially since other politicians have done basically the same thing and it never ends well. Don't they learn by other's mistakes? You think they would. To me, Weiner is just another scum bag.

[nonperson]

103. Maybe he did us a favor

It's better we found out now. But this was really little else than plain fucking stupidity. It's like those TV shows where the perverts think they're meeting some kid for sex then the guy steps in with a camera crew and the cops are waiting outside. It's INEVITABLE but they still can't control their urges. So, like I said, maybe he did us all a favor getting this out now rather than later. It was only going to get worse with time.

[obxhead]

106. Agreed. Without this it would be palin 24/7

The news networks and politicians still wouldn't be talking about anything important like jobs, the economy, health care, or the huge waste our 3 wars are.

[Rex]

107. He was being human, something that is a huge crime in politics.

When people around here start up a campaign to get rid of all the pervs in Congress, then I might actually believe the outrage...until then this is all posing and prancing around trying to look righteous.

[cottonseed]

118. Being an idiot is a crime in politics. As well as life.

The guy f'd up royally. It was pathetic watching him trying to cover up what he did (which was to send a picture of his junk to all of his followers). As a representative of people he should think about getting his shit together.

[whathehell]

109. +1000 n/t

[Vinca]

112. He definitely wasn't thinking with his brain. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[LatteLibertine]

115. I admit I'm disappointed

Certainly, no one is perfect and I did not expect something like this from AW.

What frustrates me, politically speaking, is that he risked and lost most all of his political capital. And for what?

He might recover from this and that's certainly not going to be immediate.

Yes, I'm not happy about the lying either and I'm guessing he was panicked and felt desperate.

[mzmolly]

117. It was very foolish. I can understand your feelings. I was where you are

at one time. Now, I see him as a person who needs help. IMHO, he needs to get that help, if he's to be redeemed personally and/or politically.

[TheeHazelnut]

122. The people grasping at straws to defend this stupidity...

...should imagine how they would be reacting if it was Scott Walker or Paul Ryan who was caught doing this.

[wxgeek7]

127. We've all done stupid things

We've all done stupid things, and have tried lying to cover them up. And for whatever reason, this is his stupid moment. He tried lying cuz he was embarassed, which is understandable. He finally did the right thing, came out, told the truth and furthermore, apologized. Though I think the only person that needed the apology was his wife.

Let's move on.

And Mr Weiner, keep doing the good work you've been doing!

[TheDebbieDee]

131. All this proves is that even a smart person can make a dumb decision!

Honestly smart people do dumb things just like stupid people do dumb things. The only difference is that smart people usually learn from their mistakes and don't repeat them.

[Enthusiast]

132. Yeah, it's disappointing.

But I'm more disappointed in some of our prominent Democrats that have never even engaged in any funny sexual stuff.

[mlevans]

133. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[PeaceNikki]

142. lol, ok, Jeebus.

[Richardo]

135. Well said, PeaceNikki

[Pacifist Patriot]

136. Very sadly agreed.

[liberation]

138. To me is actually the lying...

Not that I consider what he did that much of a deal, I still think that people's private lives are their own. However, I do have an issue with elected officials lying.

[Whisp]

139. he is a fucking idiot. I can't believe this shit.

the invincible masters of the universe really think they are special, like that Edwards fuckhead. (altho Weiners booboo isn't near as tragic as Edwards', just saying in case I get jumped on for that)

stupid fool fucking idiot. *spit

[Name removed]

140. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PeaceNikki]

149. Rilly?

"goof balls", "man up", "obsessive righteousness"?

Read the OP again. This is about blind egotostical stupidity. Not sex, not even the lying.... but the idea that someone so seemingly smart could be so fucking stupid. For years.

[Inuca]

141. I could not agree more n/t

[tallahasseedem]

143. I completely agree...

Man, this is tough one.

[Common Sense Party]

145. Major credibility shrinkage. n/t

[Jakes Progress]

152. It calls to question his judgement and commitment.

How are you at making decisions if you do this kind of risky and career ending crap.

How committed are you to doing good if you put at risk the things you should fight for with such silly behavior. He risked and lost. His risk for a petty little thrill give the right wing assholes of the media world a big gift. They get to say britey boy isn't a liar though he is. They get to take the public's eye off of the republican shenanigans about social security and medicare. You can be they aren't going to waste this press blockage time. He did the progressive cause a horrible service.

He needs to just shut up and quit. He is only in the way of the things he want to get done. Any staying now is just his ego over what need to be done. He only seeks to repair the damage to his image since the damage he has done to progressivism is already done. Quit and get out of the news cycle.

[zentrum]

153. He knows he has....

...vicious enemies. Why give them the ammunition to politically assassinate you? Why, why, why?

Even if he fights this, can he still be an effective spokesman for progressive issues?

[dugaresa]

157. the problem as I see it, is that is this the only the beginning of the lies

what other lies is he telling?

normally this kind of thing is representative of other issues.

[truebrit71]

158. It's either stupidity or arrogance...how can someone see what happened to Spitzer and then...

..carry on the way he did..?

Stupid, arrogant or both.

All I know is I am very disappointed.

[GeorgeGist]

159. I think it's best to assume that all politicians are idiots ...

and leave it to the few who aren't to prove otherwise.

[DeadEyeDyck]

161. what is so incredible stupid is that it never dawned on him

that someone would blow the whistle on him!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, he was using twitter and Facebook! That is really stealthy. If I were to cheat on my girldfriend, I am quite sure I would take some precautions to not be found out. But I am not a congressman. Every public figure is a target in the Information "Reality TV Age". He is plan dumb abd I have zero respect for him.

[Anakin Skywalker]

162. His "wiener" got the better of him!

Sorry. Pun jokes are way too easy.

[gateley]

163. Yep, it's beyond a personal matter when it reflects on all Democrats

and causes more crap for the Party. How very selfish. And it DOES affect me because I trusted him to fight for what was right. Not saying that he still wouldn't, but he's lost so much credibility. What a waste.

[WiffenPoof]

165. Couldn't Agree With You More...

I give him zero chance of any political life.

-P

[JDPriestly]

166. How do you feel about the lies that Goldman Sachs has lived and told?

Those are the lies we should be concerned about in my view. Weiner will have to work out his problems with his voters.

So far, I haven't heard that any of his messages were unreciprocated. Have you?

[PeaceNikki]

167. Our guys need to be better than them

They just do. It's not that difficult, ffs. If our guys screw themselves out of their elected positions they screw us out of decent representation. They need to take their jobs seriously and seriously address issues like Goldman Sachs, health care, war and poverty and working families. This is important shit and they can't be so brazenly stupid at such a critical time.

There's a direct correlation when the strongest voices advocating our positions are silenced by their own COMPLETE stupidity. Weiner made it clear to all of us that his penis is more important than those issues to him. He had to know he'd get caught and send himself straight into oblivion. Nobody pried to get this story. He sent a picture of his penis to the entire internet. And even if he hadn't made that fatal mistake, this was a powderkeg waiting to blow. He USED his position of leadership to troll for ladies. He didn't create an anonymous account to get his rocks off. He didn't TRY to be careful and discreet. No, in fact, he sent pics with his face, his name, photos of his family in the background with this gross egotistical "LOOKIT ME, I'M ANTHONY WEINER, HERE'S MY WEINER!!" shit. To anonymous people. Coulda been Breitbart, Chris Hanson, a minor.

idiot

[JDPriestly]

168. Weiner is a silly distraction.

He faces an ethics probe and will face the voters sooner or later.

Goldman Sachs is tweeting the world a much more offensive obscenity, and no one is paying any attention.

Let's focus on the priorities and let Weiner's wife and peers in Congress deal with Weiner.

I'm tired of the Weiner story. He never touched anyone or if we did, we haven't heard about it. All the women he texted appear to have been consenting adults. It was stupid, but not a crime. Enough already. Life is short.

[JJW]

169. WHo could ever imagine?

This would get more coverage than the four wars, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. That must be a heckuva WMD in his shorts.

Americans need to grow up.

[Whisp]

171. he is an idiot. respect dropped big time

how can someone be such a garantuan fool to think he could get away with it.

and his poor wife, my god how she must feel now. hope she dumps his brainless idiot ass.

[TheCowsCameHome]

172. He should quit immediately. Period.

[inna]

173. i wonder if sex addiction is a factor here.

[dogmoma56]

174. OCD behavior, when people get elected their testosterone levels skyrocket, they did a test on

freshmen congressmen by a california university, the results were astounding, like a bull moose striking territory and rounding up females. the research project was dis-funded, all materials were confiscated. end of story.:hide: :yoiks:

[inna]

177. fascinating. i believe it. nt

[etherealtruth]

175. Yep its the abject stupidity that get me, as well

One has to wonder how he could think this would end well ....?

[bluestate10]

176. Nikki. I am a man. Honestly, when the little head is put into position

to take control, a man can have the largest brain ever measured and still Fup. Weiner's best defense was to have totally avoided social networks to begin with. There is nothing but trouble lurking in social networks.

[MrMickeysMom]

181. Well, you're right about that.

I'll never have that problem, only the occasional swear words I can be accused of from DU!

[Common Sense Party]

186. You have to be smarter than the penis.

Think with the big head.

It's nonsense to say "He's a man. We all do that."

No. Not true. Most of us can control it.

It's starting to sound like Weiner can't control it. He may have some problems.

[bbinacan]

178. No argument here. n/t

[RoccoR5955]

179. As long as he doesn't pontificate about morality

I feel that what he does on his time is his own personal matter. Do you know the sexual escapades of the President of your health insurance company? Yes he lied. He lied about something that was stupid, but the pictures that I saw were NOT LEWD! I have seen bigger bulges in underwear ads in the newspaper.
As long as he does a good job for his constituency, he's okay by me.
I don't care if he sent out pics to six million women, as long as he does a good job, he should stay, and I would vote for him as long as he didn't pontificate about morality, and keep up the Liberal fight!
This sexual Puritanism has to stop. Imagine how it would have been if they were told the truth about FDR, when he was in office?

[Gman]

180. Reminded me of how royally pissed off I was at Clinton

my very first words upon hearing about Monica Lewinski were, "You stupid MF!"