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

[CitizenX]

It's time for him to resign like every other New York politician with any ounce of decency has in the aftermath of a sex scandal. If redistricting keeps the district heavily White and Jewish to accommodate minority groups in Brooklyn, then he seriously risks the Democrats losing this seat when they shouldn't.

What?!  Are we living in the age of the Scarlet Letter?  How do arrive at the conclusion that a sex scandal has taken place?  Who had sex with who?  Who was trying to have sex with who?  Do you know what sex is?

[CitizenX]

Seriously, why is this even an issue? Nothing illegal was done

If he were under 18, he would be charged with child porn and be registered a sex offender. Funny how being older and having a cushy congressional job is like a get out of jail free card.

Uh, having a cushy congressional job has absolutely nothing to do with it. He's not under 18.

Mmhmm, anyone else with a normal job that was caught with photos like that online would totally still get to keep their job as well.

There are thousands if not millions of people out there who have pictures like that on the Internet and still have jobs.

And it's not illegal either.

If your company IT folk find images of your junk on company property (blackberry, laptop) and turn you in- you would not be employed. 

There still is the possibility that he did break very serious laws by sending indecent material to underage girls. Even if he did not break any laws, I would expect a bit more from our leaders.

Give me a break.  I heard a couple people in the press mention this underage possibility.  I know it would be great for reporters and a wet dream for Republicans if one of the women was 17, but this country is really turning into a police state.  If someone is on a political twitter feed and presents themselves as an adult you mean to say every citizen has to ask for a credit card and biometric data to verify their age?  Do you realize how much online dating goes on?  Anyway if a child is sophisticated enough to dupe a congressman on a twitter feed do you really think they have to go to such lengths to see a picture of a man in underwear?  Why not just look at a JCPenny catalog?

Its so pathetic when people are shocked, SHOCKED that an underaged person could possibly see a picture of a man in boxer briefs.  What is this, the 17th century?

[CitizenX]

lol

I mean... lol

This story has everything. Ev-ery little detail. It's like a work of post-modernist performance art. Only not sh!te.

What is this, the 17th century?

Actually they were pretty... um... forward... in the 17th century. Most Restoration Drama would bring out the inner Mary Whitehouse in anyone.

I meant the 17th century in the United States.  You know... Scarlett Letter, The Crucible.  That type of thing.  Things are different on this side of the pond.

And really, as someone living in Europe you think this has EVERYTHING?  You do realize that no actual sex occurred... right?

You do realize the head of the IMF and possible future president of France ejaculated into a black chick's mouth while totally naked in an episode of forced sex.  You heard about that... right?

Now THAT had everything.  I bet you're the kind of person who's palms get moist while thumbing through your wife's Victoria Secret catalog.  I personally need something a bit more high octane  If you stop posting to geeky forums and check out the rest of the internet it'll blow your mind.

[CitizenX]

I think it's pretty clear that Weiner made this mess all by himself.  Had Weiner just admitted that he sent the original picture up front instead of falsely claiming a hacking and calling a CNN reporter a "jackass" for daring to ask questions, the story probably would have remained largely ignored in the conservative blogosphere.  NYC residents don't really care much about sex scandals.  But Weiner upped the ante, tried to get the media to pin the blame on evil BREITBART or other nefarious hackers and lost big time.

Yeah right. Is this the same Republican blogosphere that still chatters about how Obama is secretly a Muslim Kenyan?  Give me a break.

[CitizenX]

What a strange thing to write. How old are you?

Old enough that I would not consider a picture of a bulge in a man's boxer briefs a mind blowing sex scandal.

[CitizenX]

The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, The Crucible in 1953.

Yes, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides came out in 2011, but I assure you I was on a Royal Caribbean cruise a couple of months ago and it was very different from Pirates of the Caribbean.  I think the work is what we call a period piece over here... not a live broadcast of the evening news.

[CitizenX]

Any chance of a response to the rest of that rather long response, or was I just wasting my time?

My point is this episode is exceedingly mild compared to the events of the past MONTH.  Given that this is a modern classic as you put it, on a seismic scale where would rank this event when compared to DSK and Arnold?

[CitizenX]

You may be surprised to know that it is Rep. Weiner and his colleagues that make these transmission of indecent images statutes and not me.  Weiner could only say that "to the best of is knowledge"  these girls/women were of legal age- that speaks to a troubling lack of responsibility.  His denials, arrogance and lies after he got caught being a fool only added fuel to this charade. 

I am not aware of any specific transmission of indecent images statute that Weiner championed.  This is news to me and many other people.  Please post a link.

I do not see how failing to get a credit card and biometric data from people on your twitter feed is "a troubling lack of responsibility" as you put it.  We keep moving further and further towards a police state.  There are numerous children in this country that are suffering from true sexual abuse.  Do we really have to concoct some fantasy scenario and feign outrage?

There needs to be personal responsibility in this country.  If you are 15 and pose as an adult and sign onto a political twitter feed that's your problem.

[CitizenX]

Who said he championed this?  You were trying to deflect and minimize Weiner's indiscretions by boldly attacking our laws on this matter. That is in Rep. Weiner's purview and really a debate for another thread.

I do think it is a troubling lack of responsibility to send photos of your erect and unsheathed member- particularly when you can't confirm who is on the receiving end. I generally think it a wise policy to not go around waving your tallywhacker at strangers no matter what the venue or medium.   It looks like Breitbart is clean on this, but Weiner showed himself to be a perfect victim of a set up through his own recklessness.

As to your last sentence, I think signing up for a political feed and lying about your age is not grounds to open yourself up to receiving pictures of 46 yo old junk--Important to note that I am not accusing Weiner of doing so. It is just reckless that he could have even put himself in that position in the first place.

I think anyone with half a brain would say sending lewd photographs to someone on the internet is a risky thing to do.

What I have a problem with is people that think the its incumbent upon every person on the internet to get two forms of ID and a SSN from everyone they come in contact with.  I'm not sure what kind of sheltered lives you people live.  I've had women that I've met online send me pictures of themselves in lingerie.  They didn't ask for ID.  This type of thing happens all the time.

[CitizenX]

He obviously hasn't heard of the concept of Bold Inflation

Friends of Anthony Weiner have certainly heard of bold inflation.

I am no friend of Anthony Weiner.  I AM a friend of the American people.  If we are ever to get this country back on the right track we need to focus on the real issues like the economy, two wars, healthcare, and our ever expanding wealth disparity.  What politicians do in their private lives is inconsequential as long as there is no hypocrisy involved.  And this desire amongst some in the media and some on this message board to try and do what ifs about underaged girls just illustrates their general ignorance about the internet.

For some people that spend their entirety of their time on the internet arguing with other geeks on a politics forum it is hard to believe people do anything else on the web.  Trust me folks if you are somewhat attractive and can speak to members of the opposite sex sometimes you get racy photos in your inbox.  I'm not giving you this information to brag.  I don't care what a bunch of geeks on a politics forum think of my private life.  I'm just trying to get you up to speed with the 21st century.

[CitizenX]

It isnt necessary to have laws that prevent adults from sending explicit images to children or adolescents?

Nice strawman.  To Catch A Predator has done hundreds of stings.  Let me ask you... How many of those stings involved an underage girl posing as an adult on a political feed of all things?  How many of them have an underage girl posing as an adult EVER?  You ever wonder why?  Because no court with common sense would convict a man for having a racy dialog in that situation.  And if they did and NBC broadcast it on TV there would be a public outcry.

This is where I sometimes agree strongly with Ron Paul.  This country is turning into a nanny state.

I know a couple of people with young children and they keep their computer in the living room and limit the hours it is used.  They also have software on their computer to block certain activities and websites.  If you as an individual don't raise your children correctly and use common sense easily available controls it is not incumbent upon me to take my tax dollars and prosecute everyone on the internet you don't like.  Control your kids!

[CitizenX]

What are the chances that Weiner frequents ChatRoulette?

Just busted out laughing at the thought.  I forgot about that site.  The internet is a sick sick place!

[CitizenX]

It isnt necessary to have laws that prevent adults from sending explicit images to children or adolescents?

Nice strawman.  To Catch A Predator has done hundreds of stings.  Let me ask you... How many of those stings involved an underage girl posing as an adult on a political feed of all things?  How many of them have an underage girl posing as an adult EVER?  You ever wonder why?  Because no court with common sense would convict a man for having a racy dialog in that situation.  And if they did and NBC broadcast it on TV there would be a public outcry.

This is where I sometimes agree strongly with Ron Paul.  This country is turning into a nanny state.

I know a couple of people with young children and they keep their computer in the living room and limit the hours it is used.  They also have software on their computer to block certain activities and websites.  If you as an individual don't raise your children correctly and use common sense easily available controls it is not incumbent upon me to take my tax dollars and prosecute everyone on the internet you don't like.  Control your kids!

1. I wasn't talking to you  2. No such strongman. I was asking Lewis whether he felt these laws were necessary and for clarification to his statement.  There are laws against flashing a schoolyard. Imo, the same rules are needed for this type behavior in this media.  3. If you think that parents can control their kids/teens activities, then you are naive.  You are also naive if you do not think there are not predators out there who will lie to ensnare/groom their victims.  Sending explicit images is one such way this is done.
4. I am not suggesting Weiner did any of this. However, if someone does send explicit images to minors then they have some questions to answer.    The terms of service on Twitter is 13 ,and if someone isnt doing even the bare minimum of due diligence before they start sending pictures of their junk then frankly they deserve what they get.   5. Try to be less meandering and stay on topic.  I have idea what you are trying to address half the time.

I agree with you.  If pictures are sent to a minor there should be some questions asked.  But if the answer is yes I posed as an adult and logged into a a political feed overwhelmingly populated by adults. Then end of investigation.  Pretty straight forward.

I don't know why you're going on about grooming and predators pretending.  No one, not even Breitbart, has alleged anything like that went on here.  Please stay on topic.

I have idea what you are trying to address half the time.

I know the feeling

[CitizenX]

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.

Bill Clinton cheated and lied.  The US of A then proceeded to have the best 8 years of my lifetime.  W Bush was elected to "restore honor" to the White House.  We then had the the worst eight years of my lifetime.

I don't condone what Clinton did but resignation?  Do you think Bush should have resigned after totally botching the call on the Iraq War?

Clinton lies... an intern gets f-cked.
Bush lies... we all get f-cked.

Its time to get out of our politicians personal lives unless they are in ours.

I also reiterate... Weiner is an irritating loud mouth.  There is no way he could have simply admitted what he did on day one and had this whole thing simply "go away."  His fall would have been a bit more graceful but it would have still happened.  Look at his buddy from upstate.  They're still flashing pictures of him on TV and cracking jokes.

[CitizenX]

I don't know why you're going on about grooming and predators pretending.  No one, not even Breitbart, has alleged anything like that went on here.  Please stay on topic.

I have idea what you are trying to address half the time.

I know the feeling

Hey numbnuts, I was bringing up predators because you decided to make several off topic rants and make this about thread about internet privacy or some such...
____________________________
Anyway, I doesnt really bother me at all that Weiner was engaging in this nonsense.  I mean he is an idiot for sending stuff to a woman more than half his age, but he is hardly along in that.  My real gripe is his recklessness in how he went about it, his inability to control himself and his desperate attempts to hide the truth at all costs.      

All fine complaints about Weiner.  I don't think anyone here disagrees with your critique of him.

What I said was the tangent the media started exploring about a possible scenario where one of the girls he was sexting could be underage was ridiculous

If my 13 yr old child came and told me that they logged onto a political feed, pretended to be an adult, engaged in a racy chat with a Congressmen and the Congressman ended up sending my kid an inappropriate photo I would say... What did you expect numbnuts?  What I would not do is call the police and say the guy is a predator.

[CitizenX]

Hahaha, Weiner might be trying to stick his ****** in a 17 year old.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/10/exclusive-weiners-messages-to-teenage-girl-in-delaware-draw-police-attention/

NEW CASTLE, Del. -- Police on Friday afternoon came to the home of a 17-year-old high school junior to ask her about direct online communications she has had with Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Sources close the student said the girl followed Weiner on Twitter after seeing him speak during a school trip to Washington on April 1. Weiner, after signing on to follow the girl's Twitter feed, direct-messaged the girl on April 13, the sources said, though it is not clear what other communication the two may have had between or after those dates.



That's a felony in Delaware.

Interesting.  The age of consent in Texas is 17.  There may be an age gap issue though if either party is over 18.

Weird that sexting would be a felony in another state if you don't even have physical contact.  That's America for you.

[CitizenX]

Hahaha, Weiner might be trying to stick his ****** in a 17 year old.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/10/exclusive-weiners-messages-to-teenage-girl-in-delaware-draw-police-attention/

NEW CASTLE, Del. -- Police on Friday afternoon came to the home of a 17-year-old high school junior to ask her about direct online communications she has had with Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Sources close the student said the girl followed Weiner on Twitter after seeing him speak during a school trip to Washington on April 1. Weiner, after signing on to follow the girl's Twitter feed, direct-messaged the girl on April 13, the sources said, though it is not clear what other communication the two may have had between or after those dates.



That's a felony in Delaware.

Interesting.  The age of consent in Texas is 17.  There may be an age gap issue though if either party is over 18.

Weird that sexting would be a felony in another state if you don't even have physical contact.  That's America for you.

Huh?  A minor is someone under 18, and you can't send naked photos to minors, even if you are physically dating them, which he was not.  He was just some Myspace Catch a Predator guy trying to seduce minors with naked photos and sext talk.

That's what I mean.  Its weird that someone over eighteen can have actually sex with a 17 yr old in Texas but apparently showing them a picture of a penis is illegal.  Weird.

[CitizenX]

That doesn't change the fact he has done nothing that would warrant a resignation. Unless you're a prude.

So, to his tens of thousands of supporters who believed in him and defended in him during the onset of this scandal, only to discover that he lied to them again and again, are prudes?

Where were these tens of thousands of supports?  I watch MSNBC and the Daily Show when I can and everyone was pretty skeptical of his whole story from the beginning.  Jon Stewart was dumping on him from day one.

What channel were you watching?  You should watch something with less liberal bias.

[CitizenX]

Dailykos and the entire echo chamber went to bat for him claiming a Breitbart forgery.  The media completely held back. I could find hundreds of examples and many of them on this very forum.

Hhhmmm... okay.  I guess thats the problem I get my news from more traditional outlets.  Like I said most people on MSNBC were saying how odd his explanation was on day one.  And his friend in real life and one time vacation housemate Jon Stewart was making fun of him.  You can go watch his show.  Its posted on the internet.

You know I tend to avoid all this internet and blog stuff as primary sources.  I like stuff with a little more journalistic integrity and vetting.  Traditional news outlets were skeptical from day one and ran the story constantly.  I've watched them for days and did not see thousands or hundreds or even tens of people supporting him.  Everyone from Morning Joe to Hardball to the Daily Show were saying something was fishy and making fun of him.

[CitizenX]

That doesn't change the fact he has done nothing that would warrant a resignation. Unless you're a prude.

So, to his tens of thousands of supporters who believed in him and defended in him during the onset of this scandal, only to discover that he lied to them again and again, are prudes?

Where were these tens of thousands of supports?  I watch MSNBC and the Daily Show when I can and everyone was pretty skeptical of his whole story from the beginning.  Jon Stewart was dumping on him from day one.

What channel were you watching?  You should watch something with less liberal bias.

I would disagree. I seem to remember Jon Stewart criticizing the allegations against Weiner on three different angles on Day 1 of the story -- saying that there's evidence that the image could have been photoshopped, saying that only one person is alleged to have seen this tweet, etcetcetc.

I talked to a fair bit of people during the ongoing coverage of the scandal, and a lot of NYC progressives rushed to defend him on the hacking story and felt betrayed afterwards, IMO. But from my own conversations, I haven't discussed it with tens and thousands of people.  

But read stuff like this and imagine how the people who write this stuff and the hundreds of commenters must feel?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/29/980400/-Breitbarts-

I read a lot of blog posts like that.

This is what drives me nuts about politics in the United States.  Even if there is video tape evidence completely to the contrary there are those in the Republican party (ie Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump) that will just stick to their fantasy no matter what.  Death panels anyone?

Please, anyone that doubts my observations regarding the coverage of this matter please watch the Daily Show episode here... http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/tue-may-31-2011-jimmy-fallon.  The clip in question starts about 8 mins in.

The passage you speak of was Stewart presenting the pros and cons.  You just presented the pros and twisted the one con Stewart listed into a pro statement for Weiner.  Stewart clearly states that one of the things that casts doubt on the Congressman's story is that the picture did NOT appear to be photoshoped.  He starts into these pros and cons about 12 min 50 secs into the clip.  And by the way the "fact" that Stewart dwelled on as supporting Weiner's story was that when they shared a beach house in Deleware he had no recollection of Weiner having a "package" that big in his swim trunks.  As you laugh at the jokes at Weiners expense and hear the concern in Stewart's voice remember this is his friend who has a vested interest in hoping for the best and he still gives the story a pretty rigorous going over.  Is this liberal bias???

Its like Lewis Black said, "When are Democrats and Republicans going to agree about what they are both looking at."  I paraphrased but you get the point.

[CitizenX]

What exactly is the argument here?

I saw the episode a few times, but I was only paraphrasing above. As soon as Stewart says "Liberal and conservative blogs" at about the 5:00 minute mark in the video below, he seems to make those arguments to me:
http://www.capitaltonight.com/2011/06/jon-stewart-not-the-weiner-i-remember/

But even if he didn't, who cares? Jon Stewart isn't relevant to the point I was originally making about Weiner's supporters feeling duped and resentful. You were the one who brought Stewart up, I don't really care.

Yes, of course once I post video tape evidence that what you said was factually incorrect... You say, "Who Cares!"

Interesting how you went from "he said it was photoshoped" to "he seems to make those arguments."  Pretty slick.  Unfortunately he quite clearly states the picture does NOT appear to be photoshoped.

If you are just going to hear and see what you want no one can have a constructive discussion with you.  I can't argue with the voices in your head.

Everyone else watch the clip and decide for yourself.

[CitizenX]

I did see a liberal bias especially attacking Breitbart for being the "hacker" and putting up fake photos.  Of course, Breitbart could get into worse trouble if he posts "naked photos" on the website, which could alert NSFW censors on google, and I think there are some other legal issues of posting unspecified/defamatory naked photos by newspapers. 

Like most technologically and culturally savvy people, knew deep down that Weiner sent the photo and had at the very least a few online girlfriends.  But the evidence was very minimal because it was just one photo that only 1 person saw, and sent to Breitbart.  If it was just that 1 photo, and no other women came forward, then Weiner would have survived and could have blamed it on a mysterious technical malfunction.  But the 1 photo was certainly serious enough for the RW to smell blood in the water and take Weiner down. 

But the liberal media, was confused because there was only 1 photo evidence, and you couldn't identify the person in the grey boxer briefs.  So there was no evidence that it was Weiner in the photo or that he specifically sent the link.  Also, if I was Cordova, I would have my lawyer contact Weiner for some "pain and suffering money."  Jon Stewart wasn't sure if it was definitely Weiner in the photo and "Weiner claimed he did not send the photo" so you have to believe him because he was not yet caught in a lie.

But everyone was just waiting for more evidence and the other shoe to drop.  And just as expected, more women came out with more Weiner photos, and Weiner finally confessed.

Lessons learned:  Don't open any e-mails from a guy named Weiner!!!

You right wingers can watch the weather channel and see liberal bias.  Unfortunately reality is liberally biased.

Where do you prefer to get your information from?  Sarah Palin?  Rick Santorum?  Tells us again the story of Paul Revere's midnight ride?  What were the men on Omaha Beach fighting for again?

Breitbart is a known liar.  Even liars tell the truth sometimes but you would be a fool to trust them without a substantial amount of verification.  Its called journalism!

[CitizenX]

Nancy Pelosi too!

Will Weiner make it through the weekend?

Two words... Larry Craig.  Just about anyone can make it through their Congressional term if they have the will power.  There is no mechanism in Congress to expel a member for consensual sexting in less than a year and a half.