He SUMMONED the press to his office. He claimed to be the victim of a FEDERAL CRIME.

[cherokeeprogressive]

He pointed fingers at American citizens and implied that they had broken federal laws.

At least one of his pictures, the shirtless one, was taken inside of his office which means it was taken ON MY DIME.

He is... The Most Interesting Man in the World. I jest.

Now it's come to light that he offered services at his command to a porn star for the reason of obfuscation if not outright lying about the whole thing.

Toss this one back into the pond folks; he's not a keeper.

I'm still laughing about the post I read here that an "Infowar Militia mostly based in Oklahoma" set him up.

His cock was more important than his office or his commitment to the cause OR his fucking marriage.

Toss him back. Practice catch and release with this little fish, and hope for a better one on the next cast.

[dkf]

1. Well when you put it that way...

I dunno though. I feel sorry for him. Dr Drew said something like this can make a person suicidal. :(

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Personally, I think he suffers from some kind of sexual addiction.

6 women. Facebook, twitter, email, and phone sex.

Does that sound normal to you?

Given that; if he came out and said he couldn't control himself, I might take a different tack when thinking about his predicament.

[dkf]

5. Depends what the time period is.

6 at once is definitely a problem.

One at a time especially when he was single...eh.

[joshcryer]

8. For every "sexual addiction" post like that out there...

...there are hundreds more young men watching porn and jerking off to it and showing their penises to other people. It's normal in every sense of the word. For a 16 year old.

That's the only thing about this that is disappointing.

[HipChick]

16. 6 is small..Doesn't sound like addiction..sounds like overexposure on social media

I wonder how many of those casting stones, can look in the mirror themselves? I think this is far wider 'hidden' behavior in men,married,single or otherwise relationship status...

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Yep, there are signs of compulsive behavior there.

Interestingly, there is a Cybersex Addiction Screening Test.

1. Do you spend increasing amounts of online time focused on sexual or romantic intrigue or involvement?

2. Are you involved in multiple romantic or sexual affairs in chat rooms, Internet or BBS?

3. Do you not consider online sexual or romantic "affairs" to be a possible violation of spousal/partnership commitments?

4. Have you failed in attempts to cut back on frequency of online or Internet sexual and romantic involvement or interaction?

5. Does online use interfere with work (tired or late due to previous night's use, online while at work etc.)?

6. Does online use interfere with primary relationships (e.g. minimizing or lying to partners about online activities, spending less time with family or partners)?

7. Are you intensely engaged in collecting Internet pornography?

8. Do you engage in fantasy online acts or experiences which would be illegal if carried out (e.g. rape, child molestation)?

9. Has your social or family interactive time decreased due to online fantasy involvement?

10. Are you secretive, or do you lie about the amount of time spent online or type of sexual/romantic fantasy activities carried out online?

11. Do you engage with sexual or romantic partners met online, while being involved in marital or other primary relationship?

12. Are there increasing numbers of complaints or concerns from family or friends about the amount of time spent online?

13. Do you frequently become angry or extremely irritable when asked to give up online involvement to engage with partners, family or friends?

14. Has the primary focus of sexual or romantic life becomes increasingly related to computer activity (including pornographic CD ROM use)?

Answer key at site:

http://www.sexualrecovery.com/resources/self-tests/csat.php

[Cid_B]

40. Sexual addiction is crap...

I might go for compulsion but in the end it was his choice to be a dumbass of legendary proportions.

[ingac70]

23. Dr. Drew also said Weiner is a narcissist... n/t

[MilesColtrane]

51. Isn't every politician?

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I can't say I disagree with a single bit of that. He made low-hanging fruit of himself.

Nobody did that for him. It doesn't matter where a story starts, it only matters where it ends - and the whole "but what about Bush/Vitter/Newtie/Whoever isn't an argument for grownups. That's the kind of thing second-graders say when they get busted for pinching somebody on the playground.

It's the kind of "argument" Freepers make that goes like "something, something, something BILL CLINTON STAYED IN OFFICE."

As more of this comes to the surface I'm just left mourning the loss (I'm sure it's just a matter of time) of a voice I once cheered for and hoped would do better.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Very well stated.

I'm sorry he got involved in all of this. I'm not sorry he got busted, I'm sorry he engaged in this behavior in the first place. Talk about being set up... He set himself up by being impressed with himself due to the office he held.

What I find strange here tonight is that; with all the fingers pointed at vitter, ensign, sanford, and their ilk is the lack of mention of chris lee, who resigned the very same day he got caught sending a picture of his naked chest to a woman on craigslist. I can understand that it doesn't dovetail with the narrative, but it's still an ommission.

[LiberalAndProud]

31. Chris Lee left because there were more revelations to come, not because of a shirtless photo.

http://www.slate.com/BLOGS/blogs/weigel/archive/2011/06/08/chris-lee-didn-t-just-resign-over-a-shirtless-photo.aspx

[KittyWampus]

30. Yeah, well the FACT is there are rightwing freaks stalking young girls on the internet

just because they follow Democrats on twitter. The OP thinks that's laughable. It's a proven fact. YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

[snooper2]

34. There are leftwing freaks stalking girls on the Internet

There are all kinds of freaks of all political stripes doing all kinds of stupid ignorant abusive shit.

You think all pedophiles are republican?

[KittyWampus]

36. Really? You know of an organized group of Leftists stalking young girls on the internet

just because they follow Republicans on twitter?

Oh, and I didn't mention pedophilia.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. I agree that no conspiracy on earth changes what AW did. He did it. Him. Nobody else.

[frylock]

4. have those infowar militia threads been moved to the 9/11 dungeon yet?

we can't have posts about ufo sightings and weiner's cock conspirators sullying the fine reputation of DU now can we?

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Hell they've probably been disappeared LOL.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. You know there is this OTHER poltiico

who did something similar... you might remember his name, and tittle... what is it? It escapes me... oh yes President Clinton. You might remember him.

It is between his wife, himself and his constituents, really.

Now if he broke the law (as in any of these women are under age) that will change it completely.

[RandySF]

11. Not entirely

One of John Conyn's staffers was fired after he posted "All fa-s must die" on a website using a Senate computer and network.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. That is why they are doing an ethics investigation

to see if any government computers were used.

If this was all done on HIS PERSONAL gear... I might not like it... but so be it.

(On a personal level I think he is in the crapper with the wife and should look at some treatment, possibly... but it does not rise to the level of bread and circus, far from it)

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Can you say... "Water under the bridge"?

How many times do we point to the past and say, ALA schoolyard bullies, "HE DID IT TOO!"?

There is a picture of him shirtless in his congressional office (fucking YUK).

If that picture is from his congressional office, it most certainly IS a matter of national import.

Argue this... does his personal life extend to his every waking moment, or does it end when he walks into the Capitol Building?

I'm thinking some laws were broken here, if not some Congressional Ethics rules.

Bill Clinton penetrated a young woman with a cigar tube in the Oval Office and no one cared. Good on him. That might be alright with you, but it's never been alright with me.

Personal life ends when a public employee sets foot on public property.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. What laws were broken? Please point them out

as to the ethics investigation that is what they already ARE DOING... or did you miss the letter from Pelosi?

As to water under the bridge, you are comparing bullying with infidelity... REALLY?

As much as we don't like to admit it, we are all animals, and the infidelity, regardless of what insert religion here, has to say on the subject... biology is probably at work here. Why it is so damn common. I think only bonobos are more promiscuous than humans... what we have in common with them? Only about 98% of the genetic code. Yes we are driven by ANIMAL instincts and needs.

Now if the Congressman break a law, the obvious one is sending any of this to a minor... then by all means... prosecute... at that point we have crossed into THAT category. So far the evidence is that NO LAWS were broken. For the record call the DOJ... since it did cross state borders it would be a FEDERAL offense. (From NY, I wonder if some of those data packets went through Canada... )

When a family values guy does it... we enter into the realm of hypocrisy... not laws broken (well unless you are talking Vitter, he was a John after all)

[Maru Kitteh]

45. Ethics violations do not requre broken laws.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. And Congress does not expel people for those

you also missed the letter from Pelosi, didn't you? That is ALREADY under way.

Tell me exactly what is the jail term for an ethics violation?

[Maru Kitteh]

53. When did you first form this certaintly that you know exactly what everyone has seen, knows about,

thinks, believes, etc.? I missed nothing. The OP wasn't about jail terms.

[pnwmom]

20. We couldn't afford to lose Clinton as President.

Weiner is much more replaceable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. That was the OTHER scandal

Jennifer Flowers, 1991 iirc... he was not yet President. He was CANDIDATE Clinton. But people used the same words back then... icky... well yes, and still it was between him and his wife... then there was the intern some years later.

[pnwmom]

22. He was the Democratic candidate for President; it was too late not to back him.

Besides, he lied -- so he wasn't caught for years. But it came up again during his impeachment proceedings.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Actually it was before he got the nom

he was one of the seven dwarfs still

[rufus dog]

10. Personally I like him a lot and agree with most of his views

and if he fessed up at the outset he would have been flawed but still likable.

He didn't do that he continued to lie and make up stories which shows a great weakness in charachter.

Very sad, but he has to go.

[aquart]

15. Bull shit.

The hypocrisy of pretending we elected plaster saints.

The insanity of pretending he wasn't targeted.

Go ahead, let Breitbart pick which Dem is allowed to stay in Congress.

You want him punished? If he stays that will be a thousand years of punishment. He's earned the jokes. But he is a joke if he lets the idiots of this nation confuse his work with his dick.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[closeupready]

28. Does seem that way some days.

nt

[ergot]

32. Is this an example of IOKIYAD?

just checking...

[Dreamer Tatum]

33. "This man is New York"

What a fucking joke. New York is bluer than blue. Are you saying there isn't ONE other person who could be a Dem rep from his district?

Jesus. Was he sending pics to YOU, too?

[dkf]

18. Is making a false accusation of hacking a legal problem?

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. No Breitbart is a public person

and makes his living in the public eye. If he accused you or me... then we could sue in CIVIL court.

It is a quirk, but one that works, Why actors, for example, have to take the shit they have to take.

[Maru Kitteh]

43. He didn't accuse any one person of hacking. If he had allowed authorities to go on goose chase

that would have been false reporting. So now you know why he didn't consent to authorities investigating - that and paying a lawyer to "investigate" ensures you will never have to worry about information you don't want disclosed getting out.

OOOOPS! Too late.

[malaise]

24. Hubby says he's way too naive and not grown up enough to

be trusted. Lack of seriousness appears to be a generational thing.
I'm just disgusted that he stole all the thunder from Dems as a result of the New York 26 victory and the Paul Ryan murder medicare bill.

His private life is not our business but when it undermines party achievements

[FLPanhandle]

27. +1 on the "not grown up enough" part

Also, too incredibly stupid.

Not someone I'll ever respect again.

There are better, more intelligent, true adults out there that can take his place.

[malaise]

39. A progressive damaging progressive ideas

because of stupidity - makes no sense

[Maru Kitteh]

44. And hurts :-(

[DevonRex]

And the key to that is "private." If a person doesn't keep things private

then those things are no longer "private." That goes for all of us. One of best things I drilled into my boys was that if you tell ONE other person your business, you've told EVERYONE your business. And all I meant was don't even tell your best friend something you don't want broadcasted.

Weiner sent pictures of his business to total strangers; therefore, his private life is no longer private, by his choice.

[malaise]

38. Excellent post

I just don't understand why anyone would believe that any form of social media could be private. He's really stupid.

[KittyWampus]

29. You are laughing at the rightwing freaks who stalk young women who follow Democrats on Twitter?

Laughing at that is sick.

[meow mix]

35. and wiener opened the door for them... with his behavior and witnesses thereof

which is exactly why he has to go, he helped them to make sucessful attacks which is just as bad as an enemy.

[lame54]

37. no

[hedgehog]

41. I offer an alternate point of view - I've worked in offices where there

was an undercurrent of lewd flirting including among people who knew each other's spouses. It was habitual, and a little silly when the good looking secretary continued wearing low cut blouses and short skirts when she was entering middle age. It was quite common for lewd cartoons to be passed around and posted on doors.

It was irritating and distracting and had no place in the office.

However - I see the lewd comments and the lewd photos on electronic media as an extension of this. It has no attraction for me but I won't call it childish or adolescent because there are adults who enjoy this kind of social interaction. It appeals to the same mindset that thinks of a wild weekend in Los Vegas as a sign of sophistication.

So - did Weiner panic when his communications entered the public sphere? Unfortunately, yes. Did he lie about anything important? No. did he lie under oath? No.

One question that's been lost in all the kerfluffle is this - how did Breitbart get hold of pictures and messages being exchanged among a small group of people? Maybe the photos weren't faked, but maybe whoever got hold of them bent or broke the law doing so.

[Maru Kitteh]

47. AW admitted he didn't know for sure if all the females he sent photos of his cock to were of age

He did not know if some of the females he solicited with pictures of his cock might be under-aged girls.

Zero impulse control. ASTOUNDINGLY bad judgement.

What AW was doing is absolutely NOTHING like your office scenario.

[hedgehog]

52. I think his behavior was an extension of something that has gone

on in many places for a long time - and that a lot of people are busy scrubbing their electronic correspondence today.

[backscatter712]

46. Christ, another Breitbart enabler!

GET OVER IT!

[Nye Bevan]

48. Do you still think Weiner should sue Breitbart for defamation?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1199264&mesg_id=1199456

[bluestate10]

54. What Weiner should say is

"When my little head is doing all the thinking, I'm lost. I resign effective immediately"