# Is Weiner finished? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 8, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783 "2011-06-08T21:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/301 "2011-06-16T21:53:07Z")
Well, you can hear it here. I was wrong. I really thought he was going to survive this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/302 "2011-06-16T22:13:39Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Well, you can hear it here. I was wrong. I really thought he was going to survive this. Wait out a term and this will be, well, not forgotten but ancient history. There’ll be 8 worse scandals by then and he’ll be on the back page with Velma Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/303 "2011-06-16T23:31:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Do you mean they proved they were ineffective in trying to get him to quit promptly, or that they couldn’t fight on his behalf? If it’s the first, they did everything they could to get rid of him and it eventually worked. If it’s the second, they weren’t trying to fight for him. They wanted him out, and they’re the ones who pushed him out, not the Republicans. It’s true that the Democrats wanted him out largely because they didn’t want the Republicans to use his scandal against him, but the GOP didn’t do very much here. They sent out a few messages saying that Democrats who took money from Weiner should give it back, but I don’t think that went anywhere. The old saying in politics is that when your opponent is screwing up, you should stand back and let him dangle. That’s pretty much what the Republicans did. > > I don’t think this is going to hurt the Democrats in the long-term because it’s not as bad as, say, Mark Foley and it didn’t occur nearly as close to an election, and because they were consistent in saying he needed to go. I’m sure Weiner would like to wait for this to die down and then start looking at the mayor’s office again, but he probably needs to go away for a year or two, and a lot of the groundwork for a campaign has to be done in that time. The RNC chairman was making noise about it , calling for his resignation and saying it demonstrates a lack of leadership by the Dems, all the while ignoring the Vitter questions put to him. Other republicans as well were using it politically. I agree the Dems pushed him out and I think that demonstrates a lack of willingness to fight politically on their part. They said it was a distraction from important issues. Yeah, by the press, and the GOP. There was nothing to prevent them from working on relevant issues. They didn’t have to form a special meeting to try and remove him from committees. In light of the Vitter issue I think they should have used it to point out the hypocrisy of the GOP, in calling for Weiner’s resignation while still supporting Vitter. They could have publicly denounced his actions while leaving it up to his district. Now it will cost New York a special election for a district that may shortly disappear. All in all, not very politically savvy, which is too often their trademark. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/304 "2011-06-17T00:01:07Z")
No one has mentioned the effect of this upon foreign relations. The Chinese are watching this with incredulity-their leadership is drawn from highly educated people, of high character. Can you imagine how they view this? “the Americans are degenerates-they elect leaders who are drunks, perverts, criminals, and are open to blackmail”… not a pretty picture. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/305 "2011-06-17T00:04:33Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No one has mentioned the effect of this upon foreign relations. > The Chinese are watching this with incredulity-their leadership is drawn from highly educated people, of high character. > Can you imagine how they view this? “the Americans are degenerates-they elect leaders who are drunks, perverts, criminals, and are open to blackmail”.. > not a pretty picture. Cite? China isn’t exactly immune from its own leadership scandals. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/306 "2011-06-17T00:04:50Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No one has mentioned the effect of this upon foreign relations. > The Chinese are watching this with incredulity-their leadership is drawn from highly educated people, of high character. > Can you imagine how they view this? “the Americans are degenerates-they elect leaders who are drunks, perverts, criminals, and are open to blackmail”.. > not a pretty picture. This post made me laugh. Yeah Anthony Wiener represents the very worst we and the world have when it comes to those things. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/307 "2011-06-17T00:05:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No one has mentioned the effect of this upon foreign relations. > The Chinese are watching this with incredulity-their leadership is drawn from highly educated people, of high character. Cite? > [@ralph124c](#): > > Can you imagine how they view this? “the Americans are degenerates-they elect leaders who are drunks, perverts, criminals, and are open to blackmail”.. > not a pretty picture. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/308 "2011-06-17T00:18:27Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No one has mentioned the effect of this upon foreign relations. > The Chinese are watching this with incredulity-their leadership is drawn from highly educated people, of high character. > Can you imagine how they view this? “the Americans are degenerates-they elect leaders who are drunks, perverts, criminals, and are open to blackmail”.. > not a pretty picture. Right, because [Chinese](http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Chinese+leaders+implicated+in+AIDS+scandal&NewsID=267775) [leaders](http://www.hrichina.org/content/2231) [are](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/31/AR2010123102553.html?hpid=topnews) [never](http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/namibian-cash-scandal-involves-chinese-leaders-son) [caught](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26808524/ns/health-food_safety/t/china-seeks-public-trust-amid-milk-scandal/)[up](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2010-02/09/content_9450974.htm) [in](http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/editorial/2011-04/648850.html) [scandal](http://chinaelectionsblog.net/?p=2924). ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/309 "2011-06-17T00:48:46Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Well, you can hear it here. I was wrong. I really thought he was going to survive this. The prudes win, such a proud day. This opinion piece from Salon highlights the absurdity of the US political system: [http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn\_greenwald/2011/06/16/weiner/index.html](http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/06/16/weiner/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/310 "2011-06-17T01:01:01Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Right, because [Chinese](http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Chinese+leaders+implicated+in+AIDS+scandal&NewsID=267775) [leaders](http://www.hrichina.org/content/2231) [are](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/31/AR2010123102553.html?hpid=topnews) [never](http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/namibian-cash-scandal-involves-chinese-leaders-son) [caught](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26808524/ns/health-food_safety/t/china-seeks-public-trust-amid-milk-scandal/)[up](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2010-02/09/content_9450974.htm) [in](http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/editorial/2011-04/648850.html) [scandal](http://chinaelectionsblog.net/?p=2924). Just in [today’s news](http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1af60a9c-9841-11e0-ae45-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1PUTAayOR), > [@Financial Times](#): > > Corrupt Chinese officials smuggled an estimated Rmb800bn ($123.6bn) of ill-gotten gains out of the country over a 15-year period, according to a report released by China’s central bank. I think of Chinese government as being among the world’s _most_ corrupt. If they have any prevailing opinion of the Weiner affair, it’s probably amusement at the softness of American officials who manage to lose their power over so little. (Not that I think he shouldn’t have gone down, for being a moron and a liar if nothing else.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/311 "2011-06-17T02:15:38Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > The RNC chairman was making noise about it , calling for his resignation and saying it demonstrates a lack of leadership by the Dems, all the while ignoring the Vitter questions put to him. Other republicans as well were using it politically. They tried to, yes. But Preibus didn’t say anything about this mess until it had been front page news for at least a week, maybe two. > [@](#): > > I agree the Dems pushed him out and I think that demonstrates a lack of willingness to fight politically on their part. They said it was a distraction from important issues. Yeah, by the press, and the GOP. There was nothing to prevent them from working on relevant issues. Other than Congress not being in session for most of this time, that is. I don’t think Weiner was obliged to quit, but he put himself in this position. The Democrats really had nothing to gain by fighting for him. His behavior was sleazy, and then he tried to bluff and lie his way out of it. Why would they have fought for him? It’s true that Vitter is still hanging around, but his prostitution scandal was years ago. It’s past its sell-by date. And getting into a prolonged argument about Weiner vs. Vitter would not have done the Democrats any good. > [@](#): > > Now it will cost New York a special election for a district that may shortly disappear. As the kids say, BFD. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/312 "2011-06-17T03:36:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why would I count it? How has it been harmed? You’re right, I’m sure none of this will ever be mentioned by classmates as this child is growing up… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/313 "2011-06-17T03:42:12Z")
You think that kid’s classmates ten years from now are going to have any idea about any of this? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/314 "2011-06-17T03:44:55Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > The prudes win, such a proud day. > > This opinion piece from Salon highlights the absurdity of the US political system: [http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn\_greenwald/2011/06/16/weiner/index.html](http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/06/16/weiner/index.html) Oh, so if you take pictures of your junk and email them to people who are not your wife you’re a prude. Gotcha. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/315 "2011-06-17T03:45:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You think that kid’s classmates ten years from now are going to have any idea about any of this? yes ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/316 "2011-06-17T03:46:35Z")
As I mentioned in other threads, there are reports that Weiner lied to his Congressional bosses, telling them that there was no problem and that it was all a hack. If true, some of this probably has something to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/317 "2011-06-17T03:48:50Z")
I have not followed this scandal closely, as it seemed pretty stupid. However, [this story](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2015343397_weiner17.html) got my attention when it stated: > [@The Seattle Times](#): > > Two days later, after **an X-rated photo of Weiner’s genitals** appeared online, Pelosi, New York Rep. Steve Israel, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, made the plea directly. “X-Rated” ? The only shots I’ve seen are his shorts with a pretty non-erect bulge, and a couple of shirtless shorts-on pix. Did I miss the full frontal, “bigger, longer and uncut” pix? Sorry if I’m not up to speed, but were any of the twitter photos “x-rated”? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/318 "2011-06-17T03:51:00Z")
Yeah, there are some full-frontal pictures. It started with the underwear one, but a bunch of them are more, um, revealing. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/319 "2011-06-17T03:51:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You think that kid’s classmates ten years from now are going to have any idea about any of this? Unless there is a name change…without a doubt It’s the kind of thing that once one kid is either told about it or stumbles across it via the internet, it’ll spread like wildfire ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783/320 "2011-06-17T04:17:10Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Oh, so if you take pictures of your junk and email them to people who are not your wife you’re a prude. Gotcha. :rolleyes: Care to try that sentence again? Obviously the prudes are the ones who flipped out and demanded his resignation because Weiner flirted and sent pictures of himself to women. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-weiner-finished/584783.md?page=17)