Saturday Massacre: Pelosi, Israel, Wasserman Schultz call for Weiner to resign

[cinyc]

Dueling polls of all of NYC (not just NY-09) with totally different results on the question of whether Weiner should resign:

SurveyUSA/WABC-TV: Should resign 46%.  Should remain in office 41%.  Not Sure 13%.
Marist/NY-1: Should resign 30%.  Should remain in office 51%.  Not Sure 18%.

But both polls show significant opposition to a Weiner Mayoral Bid, asking different questions:

SUSA: If Anthony Weiner were to run for Mayor of New York City, would you ... vote for Anthony Weiner no matter who else is on the ballot? Vote against Anthony Weiner no matter who else is on the ballot? Or is it too soon to say?

Vote For: 11%
Vote Against: 43%
Too Soon To Say: 45%

Marist: Do you want Anthony Weiner to run for mayor of New York City in 2013, or not?

Yes: 25%
No: 56%
Unsure: 19%

SUSA's poll is of 500 NYC adults; Marists' is of 379 NYC RVs.

[cinyc]

Weiner's wife is pregnant, the New York Times claims.

[cinyc]

If his wife is pregnant, that's good reason for the media and others to stop harping on it. I don't care for certain politicians, but I really wouldn't want to see anyone personally destroyed from anything like this. Rather he leaves office or not, it really needs to be be dropped, the Medicare debate is far more important.

Of course.  We must stop discussing of Weinergate "for the children."  It's always "for the children" - the argument of that's the last refuge for a scoundrel like Weiner, I mean.

You know how Weiner can make Weinergate go away for good?  Resign and get out of the spotlight.

[cinyc]

Of course.  We must stop discussing of Weinergate "for the children."  It's always "for the children" - the argument of that's the last refuge for a scoundrel like Weiner, I mean.

You know how Weiner can make Weinergate go away for good?  Resign and get out of the spotlight.

Here it goes, without fail. I was mainly talking about the media, who keeps harping on it like it's such a big deal. It may be the center of your universe, but it isn't to everyone. Even if it was a Republican, I'd say the same thing.

"The media" doesn't have to stop talking about a story because someone is pregnant.  The tabloid media like TMZ that are now on the story will actually eat this up even more.  Pregnant celebs sell.

The media is supposedly harping on Weinergate as a big deal because, well, it is a big deal.  The guy brazenly lied about sending the original photo, tried to shame anyone who dared ask him the simplest of questions, and tried to spin the whole thing as a hacking done by his political opponents.  Oh, and it's about sex and infidelity - which the media laps up.  Weiner's sheer arrogance and chutzpah puts him in a category all his own when it comes to political scandals.

[cinyc]

I'm curious - do you think David Vitter should have resigned as well?

Yes.  And Bill Clinton and everyone else who gets embroiled in these types of scandals.  Especially when they flat-out lie about it and blame their political opponents for their indiscretions, like Weiner did. 

Weiner could have save himself all of this embarrassment by just coming clean up front.

[cinyc]

Nancy Pelosi too!

Will Weiner make it through the weekend?

I don't see Weiner resigning, short of indictment or expulsion from the House.  He's too arrogant.

It's nice of Nancy Pelosi to change her mind in 24 hours.  Yesterday, whether Weiner should resign was up to Weiner's constituents.  Today, it's not.  The threat of Weiner ending up on an episode of Dateline with Chris Hansen changes things, I suppose.

[cinyc]

BREAKING: Anthony Weiner headed to check himself into a treatment center, according to two senior Democratic officials.

Weiner should have done this immediately after his press conference.  He would have gotten more sympathy.  Now, it looks like he's trying to hide.

[cinyc]

Not sure if I would outright call him a great Congressperson but yeah I agree.  This is Child's F***ing Play compared to what a lot of other guys (and maybe a few gals) have got away with in the past.

I think you're missing the part where Weiner claimed he was hacked. attacked anyone in the media who dared ask him simple questions and blamed his political opponents for his own scandal, causing his allies to stick out their necks to defend him and get burned.  It's not just about the lewd photos - it's about the lies and coverup.

Now, Weiner claims his private messages to a minor were not explicit or lewd.  But, given his past history of lying about everything, why should anyone believe him?  That's Weiner's biggest problem - his credibility is totally shot.

If I were a Democrat, I'd think it's well past time for Weiner to go in order to get rid of the bad press and distractions.   As a Republican, I'd like to see him go, but don't really care if the circus continues for a while.

[cinyc]

The pics keep on coming, this time, lewd pics of Weiner using the House Gym: 

Rep. Weiner Used Congressional Gym As Backdrop

At least some of these pictures were sent online to an unnamed woman.

[cinyc]

"I think he's embarrassed himself. He's acknowledged that," Obama told Ann Curry in an interview for air Tuesday.  "He's embarrassed his wife and his family. Ultimately, there's gonna be a decision for him and is constituents. I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign.’’

“When you get to the point where, because of various personal distractions, you can't serve as effectively as you need to, at the time when people are worrying about jobs, and their mortgages, and paying the bills — then you should probably step back,’’ Obama said.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Weiner-Sexting-Scandal-Twitter-Congress-Rehab-123749919.html

For the first time, even I'm thinking Weiner might not be able to brazen this out and will resign some time this week.

[cinyc]

"I think he's embarrassed himself. He's acknowledged that," Obama told Ann Curry in an interview for air Tuesday.  "He's embarrassed his wife and his family. Ultimately, there's gonna be a decision for him and is constituents. I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign.’’

“When you get to the point where, because of various personal distractions, you can't serve as effectively as you need to, at the time when people are worrying about jobs, and their mortgages, and paying the bills — then you should probably step back,’’ Obama said.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Weiner-Sexting-Scandal-Twitter-Congress-Rehab-123749919.html

For the first time, even I'm thinking Weiner might not be able to brazen this out and will resign some time this week.

I think Weiner is trying to leverage some sort of blackmail against Pelosi/Obama for leaving congress.  Maybe he wants some future financial support or some ambassadorship or appointment.

Doubtful - though one theory why Weiner might be hanging on is to use his resignation as a bargaining chip should the Department of Justice try to bring criminal charges against him.  

One former prosecutor interviewed on the local news tonight claims Weiner could be charged with using government property for personal gain for taking the most recent set of released photos in the House Gym.  It seems like a huge stretch to me - no one would ever think of charging a Congressman or staffer who takes a more normal photo on House grounds to send to his wife or kids with such a crime.  It's such a minor use of Government property that it is meaningless.

[cinyc]

http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00497438

Yep, Ulrich will be in for the special here.

I guess he does have an out if he wins....the Democrats will have to protect him to protect Hochul as well.

In New York, one does not get to declare he will run in a special Congressional election.  The parties nominate their candidates.  There is no primary.  So Ulrich may be in for nothing - and that's if Weiner resigns, which isn't guaranteed.

[cinyc]

http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00497438

Yep, Ulrich will be in for the special here.

I guess he does have an out if he wins....the Democrats will have to protect him to protect Hochul as well.

In New York, one does not get to declare he will run in a special Congressional election.  The parties nominate their candidates.  There is no primary.  So Ulrich may be in for nothing - and that's if Weiner resigns, which isn't guaranteed.

Is there anything to suggest that the party won't be nominating Ulrich?

It's New York City.  It's a deep Democratic party bench - and the Republican bench isn't as bad as many might think.  Other names have been circulated, and, given that there are two strong county political machines involved, no one will be named to run in any hypothetical special election until he or she is named.

On the Republican side, the guy who ran against Weiner in 2010, Robert Turner, might be interested.  And I wouldn't rule out Assemblyman Hikind running on the Republican line, though I don't think he lives in the district.