[AtLast]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

I agree. I don´t like all the pressure he got from his own party.

I see the Dems going at him as a means for him to come back, actually. And I think that as politicians that are trying to get back to what is really important these days in Congress, they had no choice in taking shots at him. But what may be going on here, might be very different and positive for Weiner in the long run...

I hate it that we have lost a very animated progressive in the House- yet, I am amazed that so many people think that it was sexting and nude photos that are really why he lost support of his Democratic colleagues.

That is not why- lying to them and the public for over a week and doing so on no less than 5 major media shows with dumb, dumb explanations is why the Dems turned on him. Also, he has never been a team player and that is a mortal sin with these folks. Weiner isn’t liked all that much by Congressional Dems or the GOP because he is very outspoken- he does stand up for his beliefs and won’t back down. Most politicians in office are mush as far as I’m concerned- no back bone like his. Not one house member would co-sponsor legislation with him in the future or allow him a seat on congressional committees. Thus, his effectiveness to represent his district went down the toilet. And Weiner has been one hell of an effective progressive House member. Right now, his constituents are behind him, however, if it became obvious that he was dead in the House as their rep- they would have to let him go and back another candidate that could represent their concerns. That's politics. An ineffective House rep- no matter the reason will not survive and should not.

Dumb (really dumb) of him to come up with the story of being hacked and expect the public to believe it was just plain arrogance, I believe. Perhaps magical thinking in an age in which the media will did and dig. It really did not make sense to me that he would first go to a law firm and not the police or FBI if he was really hacked. So, at the onset, I didn’t believe him. Yet, I kept hoping it would die down. I don't give a flying hooray about the content of the texting, emails, or the damn pics. Or phone sex- even though, I know if I were married to him, it would matter. But that isn’t my call.

I do think his judgment and frankly, his infantile erect dick focused ego says he needs to deal with some things psychologically. Arrested development lingers in my clinical mind. I hope he really does seek treatment because I still think he can be elected as NYC Mayor in the future and would be a good one. And that is something he wants to do. In fact, his resigning and doing rehab and getting this whole mess out of the public eye is a smart thing to do in terms of a run for NYC Mayor as I see it.

I want the Democratic Party to demonstrate a higher bar than the hypocritical GOP in the House and Senate and Congressional members are not everyday people that get to do this shit and not have repercussions. Those days are gone for politicians with the media as it is today and the internet. Just a fact they have to deal with realistically. I wish he had consulted with a smart and seasoned political damage control expert immediately. So much of this could have been avoided.

I really am tired of the focus on the sexual behavior aspect of this- that is not the reason he is in this mess at all in terms of resigning- his lies and arrogant use of media keeping the damn story going and the future loss of effectiveness as a House member is the reason he resigned. The personal possibility of sex addiction is and should be a personal matter- but when these kinds of things get in the way of a Congress person’s effectiveness, not matter how, it just isn’t. I think it is really naïve to think that it would be- or at best unrealistic.

I say good luck in your resurrection Anthony, hope to see you either re-elected to the House in future elections with different colleagues around you to work with or as the Mayor of NYC. Maybe Govenor of NY.

Something distinct from all the politics here is the fact that Weiner did display key elements of sex addiction. One occurrence of a photo without a history of well over a year of the behavior he displayed is not the same as getting drunk and calling someone and telling them they are hot. There is a pattern here. Along with all of the great things the cyber world brings (including cyber-sex between consenting adults and couples), his patterns indicate a problem. His resignation due to the prior risk-taking behaviors is proof that he was out of control. When behavior leads to job loss or other problems in our relations, etc., IT IS A PROBLEM!

Something that keeps going through my mind about his resignation and his having a bona fide sex addiction is not based solely on any clinical perspectives. Anthony Weiner really does not have other skills and credentials (including a law degree) to make a living outside of holding office. His leaving his House post is very different than most Congressional members that can easily make a living outside of public office. He is not the book writing, public speaker type either. He isn’t warm and fuzzy and has not made a name for himself for anything that most people would pay to attend a lecture about. Well, maybe cyber sex, now. I think he is recognizing he indeed has a compulsion that will he needs to deal with and it is better to do so now while he is still young enough to get back on the political saddle within a relatively short time and not have this compulsion get him shot out of the saddle once again. His resignation demonstrates strength and positive self-care to me.

To be honest, I think his marriage might just go down the tubes eventually. His wife is herself an up and coming political figure and I don’t think she will “stand by her man” and risk being ridiculed for this by the women in the Democratic Party that are becoming real political power brokers. I bet Hillary Clinton has told her- “this is only the start of this - you can get out now without his BS taking you down.” If Anthony continues to take potentially damaging risks to her political future, she won’t stay with him.

Marriage between powerful politicians (or those asiring to be) are not fairy tale romance driven pacts, folks. And the role of women in politics has changed and finally getting to the point where they are not going to put up with someone stuck in adolescence with his dick size. Huma is quite capable of raising a child without being married to Weiner and still having that child be involved with her/his father in a positive way. Women do not have to remain in the same old roles anymore- especially smart, internationally acclaimed women with good political savvy and ambitions of their own. A political husband that could be a continual disaster waiting to happen is expendable in many political couplings. I have no idea what their marriage is really like or about, but something tells me given Huma’s age and aspirations, they will divorce within a couple of years if she can’t trust his risk taking behavior is not in check. I could be very wrong, but the initial calls and conferences between Weiner and Huma with both Clintons at the outset of this mess say to me this is a political power marriage not based upon romantic love. And I don’t have any judgment of how other people marry. It is their union. Then, Huma was off with Hillary Clinton for her work and continued counsel.

I know, I’m rambling, but I just don’t see this as a simple political gaffe that could have gone away- although his coming clean right off and taking that heat might have stopped so much of what has tumbled out. Like I said, I hope he times-out, reorganizes (both personally and public ally) and resurfaces in shape to either be re-elected to his seat (if it still exists after redistricting) or as a candidate for NYC Mayor. Then maybe Governor. I don’t think his political career is dead. Who knows, this might end up being a good thing if he does have compulsive ridden behaviors that would probably get him and his political career one way or the other. Hell, if the likes of Vitter and Craig (Ginrich & McCain), too can survive politically (and they ARE hypocrites)- Weiner can too in the long run.

Nope, this just isn’t about sexting and package pics…. I honestly am thinking about his resignation in terms of it being a means for him to clean his crap up and come back and be the progressive fighter I do think he is. Then, again, I tend to over think a lot of things and try to tease out positives possibilities. We humans are resilient and it because Weiner is NOT a hypocrite that I see him back in office eventually. Just the kind of "knee-jerk" liberal I am.