http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_new...rtitude-that-lewd-photo-isnt-of-him?GT1=43001 I just can't believe this bozo doesn't recall, if this is him, or if he's ever had a picture of himself like this taken. Really? Regardless of the outcome, I guess this assures that he'll be a favorite for a possible run for president. Kennedy, Clinton, Weiner... I saw where "Morning Joe" had a headline of "Battle of the Bulge." Someone should be ashamed of themsleves.
Pretty hilarious watching Rachel Maddow pull out all the stops to cast doubt on the validity of the photo. She then has Weiner on and lets him get away with giving the bs answer that he's not sure if it's him in the pic, and it might have been manipulated yadda yadda. A republican would have been torn to shreads (with good reason).
I'm wondering if there's something to this story. I put precisely zero credence in it when it was just Breitbart...for obvious reasons. But Weiner's inability to give us a categorical denial is pretty strange. I'm wondering if the picture is more or less genuine. Still, if someone hacked his photo account somehow and retrieved the picture (which at this point seems the likeliest story), and if the photo was just for his wife (which, IMO, is the big question right now) we should all move on. If, OTOH, some woman comes forward in the next few days and says she's his mistress and the pic was for her, well, then he's an adulterer and he should get the same treatment as David Vitter. D Do you see what I did there?)
Stop it Superdave. You know if a (R) was after Weiner's name, guys like you and the MSM would be calling for his head (figuratively, not literally especially since he likes to show it).
Perhaps. I can only speak for myself. Given Weiner's responses to questions on this, he can and should be subjected to copious amounts of ridicule. Jesus tap-dancing Christ, a guy named "Weiner" who can't say with "certitude" whether that IS his Weiner? While comedians may love this story, the jokes are almost too obvious that it will take some real work to stand out. This is like pizza comedy. It will all be good even if it is bad, but to be REALLY good will take some work. Still, if there were an (R) after his name, I certainly wouldn't be calling for his head at this point. Why you ask? Great question sarge. The "why" should be obvious. Look at the supposed "victim" here. She says that she has never had any contact with Weiner. (What did I tell you about the jokes writing themselves). So, this is where we are at. It appears that may very well be a "Portrait of the Artist as a Hung Man" since he cannot say "with certitude" that it is not. I can tell you that any POV picture like that is not me because I've never pointed a camera at my own crotch. Still, even if that is Weiner's Weiner, there is no "there" there as it might be a little creepy but there is nothing inherently wrong of snapping pictures of yourself for your own personal use. If it eventually comes out (pun intended) that he DID send these unsolicited to a third party, then we are in the same territory as that congressman from Buffalo with his shirt off or some of the other scandals that involve others. You see, that is the key. It's not the private actions of the individual that chap my ass. I honestly couldn't care less if Larry Craig were in a long and loving relationship with some guy even if he has a beard. That's his own business. When he starts making unwanted advances towards a guy who is doing nothing more than taking a shit, well then, that is something you kind of have to deal with. You can look at every single politician sex scandal, and I will give you my opinion based primarily on the other people involved and not the politician. For example, there was that democratic congressman whose name I can't remember now that made all kinds of inappropriate advances towards male interns at weddings and other public places. See ya. He couldn't leave Washington fast enough. Then there are cases like Spitzer and Vitter. On their face, those weren't too bad in my mind. The problem for both was that they were violating laws pretty brazenly and they are law makers. In addition, both men were caught in huge hypocracies as they gained their offices with public positions contrary to what they did. Spitzer did the honorable thing and stepped down. I have no problem if he now runs again because the cards are on the table and he will have to answer questions before people vote for him. Vitter is just a worthless piece of shit. Not for cheating on his wife. Not for hiring multiple prostitutes. He is a worthless piece of shit because he got elected by trumpeting his devotion to family and family values and then didn't step aside when the very basis of his election was a fraud on the voters. I'm sure you are going to ask, "what about Clinton?" Fair enough. I've been through my position before. She was old enough to make her own decisions as evidenced by her "presidential knee pads" comments. However, that doesn't lessen the problems with a president using his position of power over someone who is an intern. There is a pattern there as well. As governor, he tried to seduce a $6.80 an hour state employee in Paula Jones. I don't condone his personal life, but he never ran on being a great family guy. Nothing he did warranted the impeachment hearings. He did, however, do real damage to his own ability to lead when he wagged his finger at us and said "I did not have sexual realtions with that girl . . ." To me that was his biggest sin in the whole deal. I don't care that he wasn't under oath at the time. He looked us all in the eye and lied his ass off. So, circling back, Weiner so far appears to have done nothing like any of the above. If evidence comes out that he did, in fact, do something improper with his twitter account, then I'm happy to revisit and call for his head (pun once again, intended).
And here all the libs on this forum were starting to complain that GOP sex scandals are so much more interesting than the dem sex scandals.
Once we know what the 'scandal' is (if any) we will judge. Unlike (R) we acknowledge nuance. (R) live in a binary world. We dont.
No doubt this dummy took the picture of himself. Does seem to fit his arrogant, sarcastic personality. As Dave said, it was a matter of what it was intended for (still doesn't change the fact that he is dumb for this). For his wife or to send to a friend as a joke, or even if it was hacked, who cares. For a mistress, or Craigslist posting, all you insecure Republicans can rip at the remains of the carcass once Fox News is finished and resting in the shade.
But if there were an (R) after his name, chances are not bad that he would have a past history of telling other people how to live their lives and raise their families. As long as he didn't send the picture to anyone unsolicited I don't see the big deal.
Right. I think it's really, really, really dumb on many levels, but I don't remember Weiner crusading for values and shit. Or as long as it's not to a staffer or a lobbyist or anyone professionally relevant, I'm going to call it stupid and benign (FWIW, I don't think the Craigslist Congressman should've resigned).
This story was broken by Breitbart. We should assume Weiner is 100% innocent and that Breitbart is 100% behind this until proven otherwise. End. Of.
Huh-huh, huh-ha-huh, you said "staffer." I agree with all of this. I got the sense with the swiftness of the resignation of the Craig's list guy that this was only the "tip" of the iceberg with him.
I saw Brietbart yesterday on CNN talking about this. The only thing relevant to say at that point is "what in the ******** is CNN thinking? Giving this guy air time like his opinions have some sort of credibility or legitimacy?" Seriously, I have no skin in the game with Weiner so wherever this falls it falls. But I'm off CNN for a very long time just for giving this jack ass the chance to be on air creating nothing out of nothing. He spent his time talking about how Weiner has some followers and he follows some people on Twitter who are young and attractive. WTF indeed.
Whether it's an (R) or a (D) the chances are not bad they have a past history of telling other people how to live their lives and raise their families. I'm not sure how some people don't see that.
This would be an even funnier scandal if we can find clips of him preaching "family values" as part of his political speeches. As long as Weiner follows the Yglesias Rule of political scandals, he'll be fine (as were others like Ensign until they stopped following it). BTW, if only some thoughtful right-winger had pulled this on Obama back in 07.
I know you are but what am I? Given that the story was broken by Breitbart, I don't see where they hell you're coming from.
I've watched dozens of interviews with Anthony Weiner, and I don't recall any incident like that. He stays on message like a laser, and his message always revolves around health care, taxes, etc. EDIT: And furthermore I am now convinced it is either his Johnson or that of someone he knows, judging by the contortions he went to on Rachel Maddow to evade the question.
I'm not familiar with the Yglesias Rule, but does this involve finding Jesus? I ask because I imagine it's a little more complicated for a New Yorker named "Weiner" to find Jesus than for C Street boys like Ensign.
Disagree... cheating on your significant other isn't illegal, whereas frequenting a prostitute is. And he used campaign money to defray his legal expenses in connection with the legal issues stemming from his activities as a John. And Vitter apparently also called on Clinton to resign due to his infidelity. It's the hyprocrisy that's the issue here (or in Weiner's case, the lack thereof).