(I was going to post in this thread, but it seems to have outlived its usefulness and degenerated into a DtC-centric mess).
In that thread, I said I wasn’t among those predicting that Anthony Weiner would end up resigning. I’m now less sure. One reason is this article: Anthony Weiner’s Ex: He Lied to Me in which a seemingly knowledgeable long-time friend of Weiners has some decidedly unflattering things to say.
She is understandably upset that Weiner lied to her in the knowledge that she’d then back him up on TV and elsewhere. She also accepts that he coached others to lie for him. And she repeats the point that if he didn’t know the women with whom he was engaging in cybersex, how could he know none was underage?
This now looks like more than just a guy who got caught in some tacky and embarrassing behavior. Many former supporters seem to be calling for him to resign. I think he’ll have trouble hanging on.
He’s done. He’s too much of a laughing stock at this point. The sexting was horrendously stupid and the way he tried to deny it was moronic. He seemed to think the press was going to just forget about it and take his word for it: a political or fiscal scandals that take a long time to explain, maybe, but sex scandal? That’s free money.
He may not resign, I wouldn’t be surprised either way, but I seriously doubt he’ll get elected again. Even if he gets the nomination (and that’s a big if) his only hope of getting re-elected is to something incredibly outstanding in the coming year (i.e. a new $12 billion housing complex and free megamart for his constituency, saving a pregnant cat from a fire started by terrorists) or the Republicans nominating Squeaky Fromme.
How many political types, caught in an embarrasing sex scandal, have simply said “yup, I did it, but that’s my business and that of my family”?
I wonder if that response would more or less kill a scandal dead (assuming of course the very same politco hadn’t made a big deal about someone elses’ sex scandal, of course).
Not really. I just wanted to say that. IMO he will survive like most of these other twits will. It might harm him enough that he won’t ever get much past where he is today…but then again the chances of that happening for someone in his sociopolitical position (even if a saint) werent that great to start with.
I too wonder how one of these scandals would play out if the twit in question would just fracking admit it in short order. Though in this case I think his error was a bit worse. Not only did he deny it, he made up a story of how he was a victim that became a story of its own so it was kinda sorta a double/triple lie that gave even more life and misleading than would have initially been the case.
He’ll survive if the issue doesn’t get any worse. Like an underage recipient. Or he spent significant government resources in this activity.
People are responding to this like children. Expecting politicians not to react in a CYA fashion is like thinking that the cat is silly trying to cover up on tile. It’s a reflex action.
He got caught doing the same old thing with new media and all the kinks haven’t been worked out of that. (NPI)
If the last batch of GOPers pulling this kind of shenanigan can get away with a tearful apology for lying and continue in their positions, so can Weiner.
Keep in mind that New York loses two seats in the House in 2014 due to demographic shifting. State leaders may just decide that if they have to sacrifice someone’s House seat, Wiener’s might be the one to go.
As mentioned barring any new revelations (underage girl got photos or something) then he’ll probably survive this.
To get him out they can:
Vote him out on ethics charges which is unlikely (you need to have a dead woman on your hands practically). Not to mention I think it is a lengthy process.
His constituents recall him (assuming New York can do a recall which I do not know). Also unlikely since the process will probably take nearly as long to complete as just voting him out in the next election cycle.
Redistrict him out. I am unsure about this because I am unsure how the redistricting process works. New York is a Blue State. No way Dems would re-district a blue seat out if they can help it. They’ll redistrict something like New York-26 which is heavily Red (although they just elected a Dem to replace a Rep who resigned over a sex scandal…the irony burns). If republicans control the redistricting then hell yeah…they’ll kill Weiner’s district (they especially do not like him). Of course Weiner could presumably run in the newly created district. Too many variables to decide on this one right now.
Vote him out in the next election cycle. Maybe on this. Americans have a notoriously short memory. What is a Big Deal today will barely be remembered in 18 months. Currently, polls show him with just over 50% of his constituents still supporting him and that is right now when it is big news. Give it a year and I doubt they’ll care especially since he has been effective for his district so far.
More importantly to #4 is what someone posted in one of these threads somewhere around here is the answer when asked, “Would you vote for Anthony Weiner again?” is, “What are my other choices?”
Weiner was eying a race for mayor in New York. He can kiss that goodbye for now.
Weiner’s “punishment” for being a dumb shit will probably be, at worst, remaining a Congressman. At the least his political ambitions have been delayed for several years. Mayor of New York or Senator are now gone for the foreseeable future…probably.
As an aside what is with the chick in the linked article in the OP?
What a bitch!
Seriously, she describes him as a doting boyfriend and someone who helped her when she needed help and then she goes on to call him a misogynist? WTF? Does she know what that word means?
He is a dumbshit to be sure but misogynist?
She sounds to me like someone who is throwing him under the bus for her 15 minutes of fame.
I don’t really know much about Weiner, as a Republican me and him probably don’t see eye to eye on a range of issues. However I think the primary interest of constituents should be that their interests are being represented competently and in a manner that represents something roughly aligned with their personal political ideology, if that isn’t the case then you vote for someone else come election time.
Unfortunately personal issues like this are extremely important in this country. The fact that sex scandals often end political careers does suggest politicians are stupid for continually engaging in them.
I think he’ll survive, assuming of course, they don’t decide to just redistrict him out. He’s thrown away any future political life…we won’t see Mayor Weiner or Senator Weiner, but he’s been in congress for 12 years, and has enough friends and political capital that if he puts up a fight, he’ll survive.
Actually, I have read at numerous locations that he has no friends. He has been the bull dog of the House Dems and has been a number one jerk. I think he will eventually leave as the pressure builds.