what Congressman Weiner did not do:

[kpete]

• Commit adultery
• Fornicate
• Hook up
• Patronize prostitutes
• Seduce an intern
• Seduce a congressional page
• Get divorced
• Get divorced serially
• Get divorced with children at vulnerable ages
• Hypocritically embrace prudish “family values”
• Advocate “abstinence”
• Lie about sex under oath
• Demonize his own sexual orientation
• Demand that some other politician resign because of some sexual misbehavior
• Break up somebody else’s marriage
• Make an assistant take the fall for getting a mistress pregnant
• Fly to South America to see a mistress on Father’s Day while leaving wifey home with the kids
• Pay off a mistress or a mistress’s husband
• Have a mistress
• Break a law

MORE: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2011/06/the-sins-of-anthony-weiner.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Keep his weiner off the internet

[BeFree]

5. So?

What harm did it cause to the internet?

Is the internet so weak that a penis made it appear bad?

Really, what harm did a mere pic of a covered penis cause anyone?

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. Ask the colleagues who wanted him out.

Ask his wife, who almost certainly had a hand in getting him out.

[BeFree]

9. His "colleagues" were fools.

And how do you know his wife had a hand? Are you privvy to her thoughts?

[Dreamer Tatum]

19. He quit right after she got home.

It is plausible that she agreed to stay as long as he got out of public life to work on his issues.

She didn't marry a Congressman, she married a man who happened to be a Congressman.

[BeFree]

25. Plausible?

Now you are dealing in plausibles?
Making shit up as you go along, eh?

Tell me, do you think justice was served fairly to Tony?

[seabeyond]

42. would you be making the same shit up saying it is the dems fault? if it was his wife? i love this

argument. so many hypocrisies to justify weiner...

[BeFree]

48. You saying?

I am, and others here are hypocrites for defending Tony?

Be the first to answer this:
Was justice served?

[MineralMan]

50. Weiner administered his own justice.

His resignation was an honorable act. I applaud him for it.

[BeFree]

55. So, no answer to a direct question?

Was justice served?

Justice was raped, in my view.

[seabeyond]

61. raped? weiner was violated? nt

[BeFree]

65. I'm done trying to discuss this with you.

You haven't even tried to answer my questions.

Was justice served?

Are you calling us hypocrites for defending Tony?

[seabeyond]

76. i layed out the hypocrisy. some of the arguments are being hypocrites.

and i specifically answered your question about justice being served. what justice? that argument makes no sense to me.

[sabrina 1]

108. Everyone knows that is nonsense. Breitbart, with the help

of the MSM and the Dem Leadership, unjustifiably forced him out of office because he was unwilling to ignore, like the rest of them, a tainted SC Justice making decisions for this and future generations. An issue slightly more important to the American people than a silly sexcapade I would think.

It is an insult to our intelligence to put forth such an argument. Powerful forces wanted him out, and they won. Mainly because it appears far too many on the 'left' have developed a sudden affinity with those on the right who believe they belong in other people's bedrooms, IF it serves a political purpose, and so long as we stay out of theirs.

I will answer the question 'was it just'. Of course not, any action taken to silence an American citizen in order to hide what may be high crimes committed by one of the country's most powerful justices is a crime in itself.

[seabeyond]

60. i am saying, when arguing all the things he didn't do.... how silly when addressing

what he did.

when arguing you dont know his wife made him, dems are at fault, ya, hypocrisy.

i am saying, the number of people that shout out on threads, stop with weiner threads, yet never seeing the voice on the many threads defending weiner. hypocrisy

i am saying, arguing... sex life is no ones business, then the ugly demeaning manner people judge (prude, puritan, asexual, not liking sex, fainting couch, ect...) anyone that disagrees sex life (without any knowledge) as hypocrites.

declaring it is private when he puts on net.... yup, hypocrite.

i let the whole weiner thing go a day or two after the explosion on du, but the arguments from the defenders has kept my interest.

justice served? i dont even see "justice" as relevant. the man knew the repercussions and made his choice and is now paying the price.

i was all for him staying in office.

[robinlynne]

124. The point is he didn't really do anything. what he did is really insignificant.

[seabeyond]

128. what he did... was make a choice that he knew if found out, there would be a mess.

really, that IS doing something. as adults, we are aware that choices we make will result in repercussions, ergo for the sake of maturity and adutlhood, we make appropriate choices to not.... lose our job, embarass our family ect.

called being a grown up

so really, he DID do something

[robinlynne]

118. The Dems went on national tv calling for his resignation. his wife did NOT.

[seabeyond]

123. ya. so? he said he wouldnt step down when dems went on tv and called for resig

his wife came in town and he resigned.

[aikoaiko]

31. I think you're right.

His supporters want to blame fellow Democrats, but the timing of Huma's return and the following announcement can't be ignored.

In the end, none of us really knows why he changed his mind and resigned.

[MineralMan]

46. It doesn't really matter why he resigned.

His resignation was an honorable act. It is what honorable people do when they have violated their ethics and damaged the trust people have in them.

I praise him for his resignation.

[BeFree]

53. It was he biggest mistake: resigning

They won. The pukes won. The media slayed another liberal, and the corrupt leaders remain free to steal even more.

The only losers are we liberals and Tony.

Justice was NOT served.

[seabeyond]

62. and this is why people are pissed off at weiner. nt

[MineralMan]

70. We clearly have different expectations of elected officials.

So it goes.

[BeFree]

83. No shit.

Since we keep expecting our people to be lily-white perfect people while the country goes down the tubes and the media and RW get everything they want as we demand our good people resign over minor infractions, shows that I can no longer have faith and trust that my party will act correctly.

We clearly have different expectations. So what? I sure as hell don't depend on your advice.

[MineralMan]

84. I'm not offering you any advice.

You seem perfectly capable of making up your own mind.

[JackRiddler]

98. Yeah, I expect them to vote the way they promised and don't care about their soft porn tastes.

[robinlynne]

120. Amen!

[Ninten12]

106. AGREED!

BeFree, you are so very correct on this!

[robinlynne]

119. nancy Pelosi and the had of the DNC went on NATIONAL TELEVISION calling for

his resignation. Are you kidding me? you don't know why? the Democratic Party threw him right in the meatgrinder. They were even worse than the republicans about it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. His "colleagues" weren't fools. They found their out to silence a Libreal voive.

[BeFree]

57. Sadly true

They looked for a way to throw the troublemaker under the bus, and they pounced at the first chance.

It embarrasses me to no end to think they were ever my friends. I wouldn't trust any of them again.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

67. It was the last straw on the camel's back for me. If Weiner was a conservadem, this never would

have been an issue with them.

[BeFree]

73. Last straw is right

Especially seeing all these who we are supposed to trust to stand and fight with are cutting to ribbons one of our best friends.

What's the use? Am I next to thrown under the bus? Hell, been thrown under but crawled back out.
Wouldn't I be the fool to let them get that close to me again?

This country is going down the tubes and what do our friends do? Massacre Tony.
WTF?

[robinlynne]

121. i'm with you. I wrote to Schulz and Pelosi. I am pissed. I told them I may not go vote because of th

this. I sure as hell won't work for them. (as I always used to.)

[frylock]

105. yes, his colleagues were the fools. weiner is the one with the excellent sense of judgement

[jwirr]

78. His wife was no doubt having problems with the sensation all his enemies

were making. She had been with Hillary the author of a book called "The Hunting of the President". Hillary knows exactly how painful it can be to be hunted.

[BeFree]

81. Did Hillary demand Bill resign?

HELL NO!

And now she is SoS!!

She is a shining example of how to deal with the VRWC. AND WIN!!

Tony made a big mistake by resigning.

[JackRiddler]

94. Did you know that your psychic assessments of what his wife thought are irrelevant?

[jwirr]

99. So?

[JackRiddler]

93. His "colleagues" can go screw themselves, they're not his constituents, they didn't vote him in.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Last I checked the internet was just fine

It's Weiner's career that was damaged. And our need for his voice.

[Lucian]

107. It was but one "weiner" among millions on the internet.

So what's one more?

[anAustralianobserver]

117. Everyone's wiener is on the akashic internet. I saw Pawlenty's the other day - it was

pretty average really.

[lunatica]

2. Yeah, but what he did do was

Be a Progressive Democrat. That's infinitely worse it seems.

[NYCGirl]

8. What he did do was be stupid and reckless. There are a number

of Progressive Democrats who are neither of those things.

[lunatica]

33. If stupid and reckless were an automatic reason to resign

Who the hell would be left?

[MineralMan]

34. Most of Congress would be left, quite frankly.

It's a huge overstatement to say that most Congress members are stupid and reckless. Some are, certainly, but most are not. Many have very wrong-headed political ideas, but...

Very poor excuse, really.

[lunatica]

39. All humans are stupid and reckless at some point in their lives

Except maybe a few DUers who have stated they never are.

[NYCGirl]

41. But all people are not congressmen, public servants, or in

the public trust.

[MineralMan]

49. Indeed. But when one becomes an adult and accepts a

position of trust, ethical behavior becomes mandatory, you see. It is that position of trust that makes the difference. Weiner resigned. That was the honorable thing to do in his position. Had he not lied about the whole business, he might have survived and continued to hold his office. The lie was the chief ethical lapse. Sorry.

[lunatica]

56. You miss my point

All adults should be held to a higher standard. Not just some of them. And many adults, I won't say most since the subject of sex is secretive and usually lied about for reasons of self-preservation, learn to hold themselves to that higher standard. My point is are you so free of sin that you can cast those moral stones?

Quite frankly I'm not free of sin. I think Weiner did the right thing to resign, but I also think he can redeem himself if he chooses too. You come across as saying he's forever un-redeemable.

[MineralMan]

72. I don't come across as anything, except to people who believe

they know what I think. I write very clearly what I mean to say. Weiner may be able to recover from this. We shall see. It's up to him, really. Resigning was a good first step. It is an honorable act.

[MineralMan]

87. Sex is a private thing for most people. It is not a secretive thing,

because it is simply a private thing. When it becomes a public thing, then different situations arise. You're not ever going to know anything about my sexual activities. They're private, are conducted in private, and always with someone who is my life partner. There's no "sin" involved in those activities at all.

So, your question about whether I'm "free of sin" is specious. "Sin" does not come into it at all. I don't even accept the concept of "sin," since I'm an atheist.

My sexual habits are perfectly ethical and very ordinary in nature. They are also private. I don't engage in online sexual activities. I can't see how anyone would ever know what my sexual habits were unless I revealed them or my partner did. That won't happen. They're nobody's business, because they are kept private.

I'm not exactly sure what you're after here, frankly.

[NYCGirl]

37. There is plenty of stupid. Fortunately, it's mostly on the other

side of the aisle.

Reckless is another story. When you're told you're being watched and continue to engage in behavior that can get you thrown out, that's fucking stupid and reckless.

[lunatica]

40. There is plenty of stupid and reckless everywhere at some point

Trying to say we are never stupid or reckless is naive.

[NYCGirl]

43. Are you a public servant? BTW, if you were caught doing the

very same thing on your work account, you'd most likely be fired.

[lunatica]

47. What if the person firing me did the same thing?

See, my point is that the sinner is too often being stoned by another sinner who hasn't been caught. It's just splitting hairs I know, but it's relevant when hypocrisy is considered another sin.

[MineralMan]

51. Johnny did it too?

I learned that trick did not work at age 5 - from my mother. What others do is never an excuse for poor behavior. Never.

Using that argument is just a cop-out, and a childish one, at that.

[lunatica]

64. I answered a question quite legitimately

I was asked if I were fired from my job for doing the exact same thing as Weiner did on the internet. Read the exchange if you care to.

My answer was what if the person doing the firing did exactly the same thing. That isn't an attempt to keep my job. My point is that there is too much firing going on by people who are just as sinful. Sin is sin. There was no attempt on my part to minimize my sin in the hypothetical example. Maybe I'm not making my point very well, but that is my point.

If your mother were doing all the bad things she taught you were bad, then what is the lesson you would have learned from that if you had found out?

[NYCGirl]

52. Hypocrisy of one does not excuse dumbass behavior of another. NT

[lunatica]

71. Who said it does?

I've either made my point or I haven't. I'm not defending Weiner at all. I'm also not letting the hypocrites off either. But if you think you have no sin then by all means you have the divine right to judge others as harshly as you want.

I don't believe that because one isn't a public servant that they should be held at a lower standard than if one were a public servant. I think all adults should be held to the highest standard possible. But I also believe that people fail sometimes and that they are redeemable if they choose to be. No matter how one slips and falls over something that is no more than stupid and reckless that shouldn't null and void all their good acts. Even our justice system, as slow as it is to evolve has the scales of balance and the blind justice.

[robinlynne]

125. and yet CLarence Thomas is still sitting. How do you explain that?

[Shagbark Hickory]

3. Very good points.

[MineralMan]

4. You are correct. He didn't do any of those things.

He didn't kill anyone, either. I didn't do any of those things, either.

Nor did I send photos of my penis on the internet, or lie about doing so.

Different issues, really. Nothing anyone else did has anything to do with what Weiner did. Each situation is different. If you asked if I thought, say Vitter, should resign. I would say, "Yes. Absolutely." My opinion of Vitter and my opinion of Weiner are two separate things.

[BeFree]

7. Are you glad he resigned?

Was justice done to Tony?

I say no. I say a great injustice was done. The punishment far outweighs any harm.
In fact, what harm was done? I see no harm done to anyone. Except to Tony.

[mzteris]

15. you don't think his wife was harmed

by his behaviour? Really?

You don't think what shred of trust people might have in politicians - especially one that was seemingly such a "good guy" as Weiner - was HARMED by his lying and other bs behaviour?

No harm done? BULLSHIT. He harmed ALL of us by his adolescent ego-dick fixation.

[BeFree]

26. Didn't harm me

But then I am tough, and fair, and reasonable.

Do you think justice was served?

[mzteris]

28. I think he shouldn't have done it in the first place.

Then he shouldn't have lied about it and tried to cover it up.

He doesn't deserve anyone's trust.

[BeFree]

36. I wonder

If I was to do a search of your name on DU, if there would be a case made to make everyone distrust you?

Of course any such thread would be locked and deleted. Because it would be an injustice to you.

Well, what was done to Tony was an injustice. He was tried and hung in the media. Justice would have been that his wife was told and it never made the news unless his wife decided to make it news.

So, the question is, which none have dared answer so far,
Do you think justice was done to Tony?

[MineralMan]

54. Tony? Weiner administered his own justice.

You know him well enough to call him Tony? That's OK. I like to call Barbara Bush "Babs."

[BeFree]

63. Yeah, I call him Tony

Are you sure it is OK? Because if you want I'll go back and edit, just to make you happy.

The media was what brought Tony down.

Do you really consider the punishment to fit the (non)crime?

[MineralMan]

74. It's not my decision. Truly. Weiner made the decision for

himself. Resignation was an honorable act. He no longer had any ability to sway anyone in the House. He destroyed that himself. Now, he has resigned. I hope he's able to restore people's trust in him. Resignation was a good first step.

[BeFree]

79. The media made the decision

They went on the attack and crucified him for a minor infraction.

Do you think justice was done in this case? Does the punishment fir the (non)crime?

[MineralMan]

82. Punishment? He resigned.

Does it fit the situation? Yes. Primarily because he lied about what was sure to be exposed. An ethical lapse, followed by a lie. Yes, resignation is appropriate.

See ya. We've bandied this about more than adequately now.

[BeFree]

85. Did Clinton resign?

Hell no. And he ended up winning.

Here, we ended up losing. Have we not learned anything in ten years?

Why are we such losers?

[MineralMan]

89. No, he did not resign.

He remained to face an impeachment and trial. He was not convicted of anything in the Senate. He ran and won a second term. He also lost my respect as a human being for his stupidity and cupidity. He remained President. Had he resigned, the history of the past 10 years would probably been different. Possibly better. I would have enjoyed seeing what Al Gore could have done as President. He didn't win by enough to avoid the election being stolen. A pity, that.

So, no, Clinton didn't resign. I would not have been sorry if he had, though. I thought his actions were reprehensible, and unsuitable for a man who would be President. Ask a question, and I will answer it for you. Perhaps not in a way you'd expect, but I will answer truthfully every time.

[BeFree]

91. Right

He stood tall against the personal attacks and he ended up winning.

I don't do the politics of personal destruction like those launched against Clinton and now Tony.
It was fueled by the RW media, and I'll be damned if I allow them the sweet smell of success that comes from their personal destruction tactics.

But that's just me. I'll not cooperate or ever condone such RW mass attacks. NEVER. Fuck them.

[mzteris]

68. nice attack job.

I'm not an elected official.

And search wtf you want I have nothing to be ashamed of.

Threatening a DU'er though, my friend, is against the rules, is it not?

Nothing was "done to Tony" - "TONY" done it to himself. He's a churl. A liar, and a jerk, and has more than a wee bit of a problem with his privates.

He deserved exactly what he got. . .

[DrDan]

17. so let me see if I understand

You see no harm in sending pictures of this sort to non-consenting females? And when confronted, lie about it.

This is harmless behavior for a U.S. congressman.

Do I understand your position?

[BeFree]

27. It was a mistake, duh

Not wise to make a federal case out of it and persecute the man endlessly.

As far as lying... it was none of our business. No laws were broken.

But go ahead, carry on with the persecution if that is your desire, and need.

[DrDan]

104. I did not initiate this thread. The incident ended appropriately.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

Deleted message

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

[MineralMan]

29. I did not call for his resignation. However, I welcome it.

I expect highly ethical behavior from elected officials. I'm often disappointed in those expectations, but I'm also often pleased to know politicians who have strong ethical standards. Anthony Weiner resigned. He provided his own punishment. I hope it makes him a better person. Poor judgment is not a quality I look for in elected officials. He wasn't my congressman. If he had been, and had not resigned, I would have strongly supported someone else in the 2012 primaries. It is that simple.

I expect much from those who seek my trust. It's so easy not to use poor judgment in matters such as these.

I admired his political positions very much. I wish he had not done what he did that caused him to have to resign. Now, it's time to find a good replacement for him.

Here's an OP I just posted, about a parallel situation from my personal experience: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1327262

It should explain my position, I think, pretty clearly.

[notadmblnd]

58. What, then, is ethics?

"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong."
"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs."
"Being ethical is doing what the law requires."
"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts."
"I don't know what the word means."



What, then, is ethics? Ethics is two things. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. And, ethical standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate standards of ethics because they are supported by consistent and well-founded reasons.

Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. So it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.


http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html

[MineralMan]

75. Some professions have clearly-defined codes of ethics.

Others do not. For most of us, our ethical standards are our own, but are based on a general understanding of the ethos of the society in which we live. Lying is not included in ethical behavior by any group of which I know. Weiner's violation of ethics had to do with lying about doing a stupid thing and doing that thing publicly. Lying is unethical for pretty much anyone who bothers to consider ethics. It's one of those ethical rules we learn as children, or should.

His online behavior was just stupid. Lying about it was unethical. He has resigned because of his lapse of ethics. Resignation was an behavior in keeping with a good ethical system. He was smart to do so. He could probably have avoided having to resign had he not lied in that first press conference. He did not do that, and so, he is now a former Congressman. I'm sure the voters in his district will choose a good replacement.

[DrDan]

11. certainly does not mean he is innocent of

immature, irresponsible behavior, inappropriate for a congressman

[baldguy]

22. And yet, all of the Republicans get to stay.

[DrDan]

24. so - that excuses him?

[baldguy]

30. A double standard is no standard at all.

If Weiner had been a Republican, or a spineless Democrat, there would've have been no story and he would not have been forced to resign.

[DrDan]

103. he is a good Democrat who did a ridiculous thing - and lied about it

and crossed a standard that should have been obvious to all in that position. Simply because others are still there does not excuse anyone for similar behavior.

Others lie and steal buy my children will be dealt with accordingly should they do so. I expect the same of my elected officials.

[robinlynne]

127. Thank-you! WHy is it that is difficult for some to see?

[ClarkUSA]

92. Wrong. Recently, Republican Rep. Chris Lee of NY-26 quickly "resigned" for doing far less.

[baldguy]

113. I live in Buffalo, right next to NY-26.

Your statement shows you know absolutely NOTHING about that incident. It has nothing in common with Weiner's other than photography & the internet.

[mzteris]

12. but MOM! He did it, too, defense

is ridiculously childish.

That the repubs who are assholes didn't get booted out has not one whit to do with it. I wish they had been, would still be, but NOTHING THEY DID, negates the total bs and idiotic behaviour, serious lack of mature judgement, that Weiner exhibited (along with his other "exhibitions".

He's a liar and cheat (yes, he was cheating on his wife albeit not in the traditional sense but he abused her trust and their relationship nonetheless.) And based on other information coming out about him, a colossal jerk screaming, insulting and throwing things at this subordinates.

I don't care if he's Jimmy Carter - if he did those things - he should be gone, too.

Stop trying to justify what HE did because others did the same or worse. Go after them. Weiner got what he deserved.

[seabeyond]

13. hey... he didnt murder anyone or steal a candy from a baby either. ??? nt

[polichick]

14. But he did do the WORST THING EVER...

He spoke truth to power - loudly and without flinching.

GONE!

[baldguy]

23. +1000

[Dreamer Tatum]

16. What a loser argument

I would ADORE to see a politician (actually, I'd love to see anyone) defend sketchy behavior by
claiming, "Hey, I never said I was one of those family values prudes."

Also, I don't see the relevance of abstinance at all, nor the need for scare quotes.

And he may well have broken up someone's marriage: his WIFE'S.

I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this list, but still...so the hell what?

[Maru Kitteh]

44. + a brazillion. n/t

[polichick]

18. Delete - dupe

[Overseas]

20. What the Democratic leadership didn't do--

Let his constituents decide.

Remember ACORN and resist the desire to jump on the Holier Than Thou bandwagon.

We need to "hold ourselves to a higher standard" --
-- by insisting on a rollback of tax cuts to the already very wealthy?
-- by insisting on stopping drone attacks?
-- by insisting on lowering the age for Medicare?
-- by insisting on no cuts to Social Security?

There are many other options for holding ourselves to a higher standard than jumping on the bandwagon for every new right wing outrage against legislators' private behavior, especially since it is so one-sided.

[baldguy]

32. +1000

[William769]

21. The reason I'm pissed is

He didn't send them to me!

:hide:

[leveymg]

35. Make multiple False Statements in violation of 5 USC App. 104, a la Clarence Thomas

Indict Clarence Thomas

[DCKit]

38. Poor judgement, but being oversexed/hyper-sexual is a personality trait of many...

in the public eye. It's part of the personality.

That said, I'm still disappointed. I know teenagers with a higher level of restraint and far less to lose.

[Skidmore]

59. He resigned.

That is the reality, regardless of what he did nor did not do. It would be more productive to look forward and get some good representation in that seat for the future rather than stay fixated on his behavior.

[BeFree]

77. He was hounded

The media went into full attack mode and crucified Tony.
That is the reality.

His resignation has damaged the party. Whatever happened to "circle the wagons"?
Is it now everyman for himself?

I'll answer that: Yes it is. When it comes to democrats, it is every man for himself.
The pubbies still circle their wagons and that's why they rule!

[Skidmore]

86. Oh for pity sake.

Where does this idea come from that the left can only function if the personality of the moment can speak? We do not have voices? We cannot raise them? Circling the wagons should occur for the right battles on policy. Weiner damaged himself and his message. He became the story, not the issues he championed. His continuation in his role would have been the nonstop focus of all kinds of screamers for months to come. What do you think he was going to be able to accomplish after this circus? Now if you want to spin you wheels in that little ditch of muck, then feel free. Perhaps someone will come along and be able to dig you out later. I prefer we move ahead in real time.

[BeFree]

88. Did Clinton resign?

The media attacked him and made the story about him, yet his wife stood by him and they WON.
That is the simple history, which carries weight, unlike this blathering about someone's penis.

We are losers. I hate being in the loser column. I like how the Clintons won. Haven't we learned anything in all these years?

[MineralMan]

90. You know who did resign, though? Gingrich.

Isn't that interesting? I've always sort of enjoyed that little piece of history connected to the whole Clinton scandal. Clinton didn't resign, but Newtie did.

Ironic, isn't it?

[BeFree]

95. Yeah

Clinton is a winner, and Gingrich is a loser.

Clinton stood tall, and Gingrich, because he was such a crook resigned.
Justice.

Amazing how you have segued Clinton and Gingrich into the same idea proposition.

[WinkyDink]

96. Clinton had: the Presidency, no small thing; an already-forgiven "Bad-Boy rep"; charisma; NO PIX.

The mind can ignore, overlook, or deny many things, but PHOTOS are not one of those.

[SoDesuKa]

112. Circle the Wagons

What's striking about this case is that the people who normally support a Congressman in trouble seem to have done just the opposite. Josh Marshall puzzled over this:

I get that it's icky and makes people cringe. But c'mon. I've been following congressional scandals for 15 years. And my God in the grand scheme of things this is pretty silly compared to the levels of wrongdoing, thievery and vicious behavior we've all seen. And that disconnect -- the most insistent and open demands for resignation ever compared to one of the silliest scandals ever -- just doesn't sit right with me. Especially when, last time we checked at least, his constituents did not want him to resign.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/weiner_gives_up_the_ghost_1.php

There was both a high-level and a low-level lack of support. Democratic leadership might have stalled for time, but they didn't. In fact they pressed him to resign right away as if there were some kind of emergency. And Weiner's constituents seem to have acquiesced in their rights as voters taken away. They should have fought this, and they didn't.

There's more going on here than we've been told.

[robinlynne]

126. Excuse me. The DEMS hounded him. If they had shut up, it would have faded away.

[DCBob]

66. Tell the truth to the world until forced to do so.

[WinkyDink]

69. Tell it to Huma (not AW; the OP!).

[JackRiddler]

97. You should stop using her as a prop. Do you have an inside line or are you psychic?

[WinkyDink]

100. Yeah, I'm a psychic. Or maybe you think it's mere coincidence the resignation occurred when Huma

got home?

You think Anthony the Fighter resigned with Huma's advising him NOT to?! This is his WIFE, not Nancy Pelosi or whoever. This is someone carrying his CHILD. Her input carried the day. You saw the day. It doesn't take a Jeanne Dixon to add it up.

BTW: "Stop using her as a prop"? I have no clue as to what you refer. I am not in the least absolving Anthony of Free Will. Many a man has ignored his wife.

[JackRiddler]

102. No. I don't care. You're the one who thinks you know what Huma thought.

Pure tabloid bullshit. Huma W. was used as a figure to add to the public pressure. SHe SAID NOTHING. NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT SHE THOUGHT. You were invited to project your emotions on to her, and you did, consuming a soap opera.

He resigned after the entire media and party establishment came down on him for more than a week, turning his dick into the only story in America. Then they plastered his wife all over the place. All that was not coincidental, no.

[JackRiddler]

101. Here are a couple of things he did do, along with most of his "colleagues"

- Voted to renew the unconstitutional USA PATRIOT Act.
- Voted to fund a series of illegal wars of aggression on an annual basis, with many thousands of people murdered as a result.

Apparently these are no problem, however!

Quick, his dick! His dick!!!

[emilyg]

109. He didn't use common sense.

[Zax2me]

110. So.

This is an excuse for his pathetic behavior, lies and decision making?!
Okay....
He's cleared!

[BoWanZi]

111. I don't get the point of the OP, he also didn't commit murder, blow up a building, torture a kitten

But they have no bearing on what happened.

These kind of non-posts don't contribute positively to Weiner's cause. Just because others are guilty of those issues, doesn't bear on Weiner's situation.

[snot]

114. K&R'd.

WHY are we giving conservagoons to power to decree that perfectly fine representatives must resign if they commit acts that are perfectly legal and harm no one? Just because it's predictable that said goons will try it?

Why is their uproar about Weiner's legal, harmless acts more powerful than our uproars about getting lied into wars and having our fundamental rights trampled and our economy looted?

I understand why it works that way in the corporate media; but I think it's a mistake to acquiesce in it.

[pintobean]

115. • Behave with any class during the hack story

[WCGreen]

116. My mother always told me not to measure myself by the actions of others...

But to search deep down inside to determine if what you did was right or wrong...

[robinlynne]

122. Why does fucking Lieberman get to do what he does, and the Party lets him stay????

head of committees, no less? THAT is hypocrisy.