Weinergate

Seems to me like Weiner did a fine job of putting his junk right where everyone could find it. The whole situation made me lose a great deal of respect for the guy, not because he did a dumb thing - Sarah Palin and her supporters are currently trying to rewrite the history of the American Revolution - but because he thought we were too dumb to see through the obfuscation and outright lies.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
476
But do I really care to see through it? I'll bet there's lots of similar junk on other congressmen. It's his personal life.

What bugs me, is that it shows poor judgement and immaturity.
 
Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
15,679
Location
Studio City, CA
But do I really care to see through it? I'll bet there's lots of similar junk on other congressmen. It's his personal life.

What bugs me, is that it shows poor judgement and immaturity.

Oh, absolutely...part of me wants to say, "It's his personal life, leave him alone!" However, when one puts part of their personal life on the internet (which is what happens on Twitter) it is no longer personal.

Additionally, if we turn a blind eye to it, or classify it as "Personal: Do Not Investigate," I think that makes it easier for underhanded shit of the kind that John Edwards pulled.

It just shows the level of narcissism that exists among members of our political scene.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
476
Putting it on the internet is what demonstrates poor judgement. I'd rather we weren't so hung up on the sex lives of our political officials...
 
Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
15,679
Location
Studio City, CA
Putting it on the internet is what demonstrates poor judgement. I'd rather we weren't so hung up on the sex lives of our political officials…

I agree - to a point. While I am not personally interested in the particulars of a politician's sex life, it says a great deal about his character if he's creeping on girls, lying to his wife, or utilizing campaign funds in order to hide an illegitimate child - and then lying about it if/when he gets caught. If his little tryst never reaches the public's eye, then that's something that's between him and his wife, or whatever, but with the intense paparazzi-like attention that all public figures get from the media, one would imagine that a politician would go to greater lengths to make sure that his indiscretions weren't so easily uncovered. It really shows the psychology of people in power, as well as what they're really made of when they're called to the carpet for it.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
476
So true. Lying seems to comes part and parcel with being a politician. They seem to think they we know that and expect it from them.
 
Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
15,679
Location
Studio City, CA
And all this for a photo? i send photos of my crotch to women every day.
You have to lie to your wife because she will never accept and understand that lover looks better, is more interesting and makes fantastic sex .
Campaign funds are from private sources , yes? so what's the problem with using them as he wished? it is not that it stole tax payers money,
Lieing to people who finance you is so unamerican that i think i like it,
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2009
Messages
1,439
Location
Athens (the original one)
Putting it on the internet is what demonstrates poor judgement. I'd rather we weren't so hung up on the sex lives of our political officials…

We actually agree on something! The French have this correct, IMO. Private lives are private.

I don't care that Kennedy used the White House like his own personal escort service, I care how he handled the Cuban missile crisis and how he set off our involvement in Vietnam. I don't give a crap that Clinton got a BJ in the oval office. I care what he did on spending and financial regulation.

Our focus on this personal crap is a huge detriment to our society.
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
4,353
Location
Austin, TX
The involvement of Breitbart makes it looks like a determined dive into the cesspool for junk on Weiner, one of the most boisterous critics of Republican policies in Congress. Dirty, dirty politics…

Weiner -> could be a mistake with the word "Wiener", which means "a person from Wien" like you say an "Australian" is "a person from Australia".
Wien is the name of Vienna.
And a "Wiener" is also the name of a "Wiener sausage", pehaps a speciality of Wien.

Breitbart -> can be translated as "Broadbeard".

Strange case, anyway.

Especially strange that the higher the position of a man, so more inappropriate some men seem to want to behave towards women ... (See IWF case ...)
 
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
21,908
Location
Old Europe
We actually agree on something! The French have this correct, IMO. Private lives are private.

I don't care that Kennedy used the White House like his own personal escort service, I care how he handled the Cuban missile crisis and how he set off our involvement in Vietnam. I don't give a crap that Clinton got a BJ in the oval office. I care what he did on spending and financial regulation.

Our focus on this personal crap is a huge detriment to our society.

Like I said before; I agree with this sentiment, and if Rep. Weiner had just copped to it and then blown it off, so would I. Our society is so voyeuristic that we're always going to be interested in the personal lives of public figures, and I could care less if he likes to get it on with goats, but to go on national TV and spin just the most ridiculously pathetic excuses and lies about it just gets under my skin.

Then there's the whole "John Edwards" issue, wherein crimes are actually committed in the effort to cover up such indiscretions. Would that the American public wasn't so self-righteous, judgmental, and parochial - then some middle-aged lawmaker's mid-life-crisis wouldn't be something he felt he had to cover up and lie about.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
476
Ohh yeah, can't excuse his lying about it at all.
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
4,353
Location
Austin, TX
Politicians lying is de facto / rigueur , standard, not good but it's in their blood. It's how they get to where they are. Sad, but true.

Either accept lying politicians, and try to minimize the bad effects, or ignore politics altogether. Otherwise, you will go crazy.

Not trying to make excuses, just recommending how best to deal with the realities.

We actually agree on something!

There may be hope for you yet ;)
 
Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
15,679
Location
Studio City, CA
And why is this news exactly? This should be between him and his wife, unless he promised some of the girls a promotion or a career in television or maybe even a post somewhere.

Silvio Berlusconi in Italy has done this to (young) girls, saying that either you sleep with me or your friends (or letting it be assumed) or you won't be eligible to be a veline on tv or be appointed to something else. This is misuse oof power and should be exposed.

What Congressman Weiner does in his private time and with whom should not.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
2,147
Location
Denmark, Europe
Politicians lying is de facto / rigueur , standard, not good but it's in their blood. It's how they get to where they are. Sad, but true.

Either accept lying politicians, and try to minimize the bad effects, or ignore politics altogether. Otherwise, you will go crazy.

Not trying to make excuses, just recommending how best to deal with the realities.

I agree when it comes to campaign promises and such, because that's politics. However, someone that thinks they can lie their way out of something like this? That person is too stupid to breath, much less be in office.



There may be hope for you yet ;)

Don't get your hopes up.
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
4,353
Location
Austin, TX
I agree when it comes to campaign promises and such, because that's politics. However, someone that thinks they can lie their way out of something like this? That person is too stupid to breath, much less be in office.

But it is an humane reaction. Politicians are just as flawed as the rest of us. I don't understand why people get so upset when something like this happens. Its the basic human nature in play. If you were being accused of sending naked pictures of yourself over internet, would you admit it openly? Its embarrassing and the first reaction is always to deny everything.

Besides i don't think it's our business. As far as I've understood the guy didn't misuse his power or anything like that.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
2,468
Most reports are that minors were also on the receiving end of those pics. Nice to see so much support for that sort of thing.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
13,535
Location
Illinois, USA
Oh I haven't followed this scandal that closely. I thought only adults were involved but if he sent his pictures to minors, well then I understand why people are upset.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
2,468
But it is an humane reaction. Politicians are just as flawed as the rest of us. I don't understand why people get so upset when something like this happens. Its the basic human nature in play. If you were being accused of sending naked pictures of yourself over internet, would you admit it openly? Its embarrassing and the first reaction is always to deny everything.

Besides i don't think it's our business. As far as I've understood the guy didn't misuse his power or anything like that.

I don't care if he cheats on his wife, engages in orgies, dabbles in S&M, takes naked pictures of himself or whatever, but I DO care if he is plastering it on the internet. What is done in private is private, the internet is NOT private.

And yes, I expect him to own up to it. If he wasn't going to do it right away, he should have just said no comment or something else. But vehemently denying it? Putting himself out as a victim? I expect more from our politicians (or anyone for that matter).
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
4,353
Location
Austin, TX
Back
Top Bottom