POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

Patterico: Was Weiner Sexting Underaged Girls?

He's teasing the story, so I imagine he's got something. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me. Enoch had anticipated such a revolting development. I think Sextmistress #6 may turn out to be Dan Wolfe, but don't quote me on it.

I'll admit, I was surprised to find out that he'd called Bill Clinton to apologize, because the context is just so grotesque. And as I stated in comments, I can't imagine Clinton counseling Weiner without the risible image of Foghorn Leghorn and Henery Hawk invading my brain.

Ace reported reporting yesterday night that Huma wants Anthony to stay on in Congress, despite the "mounting pressure" to resign. That also doesn't surprise me. She hitched her wagon to his star, and Hillary's advising her how to handle this. Even Joan Walsh has dumped Weiner, in consideration of his wife's pregnancy . . . she says. But if Weiner actually sexted underaged girls, there's no hope for him, none at all.

That's partly because he sponsored the 'Keeping Online Predators Off the Internet' legislation back in 2007. If you're looking for a reason that Congressional Democrats haven't been lining up to defend him, you really don't have to look any further than that. As absurd as the story has been, the longer it stays on the front pages, the likelier it is that the MSM will begin to focus on the egregious HYPOCRISY!!!

Did I mention Joan Walsh? I think I did.

Even so, and I noted this in passing, yesterday, Da Techguy makes an excellent point:

So my question to Kristin Powers and every other democrat calling on him to resign is this:

How come a congressman who never even had physical contact with these woman MUST resign but a President of the United states with a longer history, and actual oral sex with a woman in the White House not only didn’t have to resign but was defended by many of the same democrats expressing outrage now?

I think the question should be asked of every democrat who releases a statement on this case.

It's an awesome question from an ethical point of view, but one that's fairly easily answered with regards to liberal tactics. Letting Clinton be removed from office would have left a Watergate-sized stain on the Democrat legacy; they weren't about to let that happen. In the present case, they are counting on the public's reacting to anything Clinton-related as ancient history, whereas the downside if people start talking about Weiner's legislation is much more immediate.

With ethics investigations of Rangel and Waters pending, it makes it easier for the Democrats to say, no, we don't protect members who misbehave seriously; just look at what happened to Weiner. This is especially important given Obama's vulnerability on a host of issues, but most importantly the economy, and because people are beginning to package up accounts of the legislative cronyism and crooked dealing which led to the financial collapse. I pointed and hooted about the MSM's unwillingness to point to Congress when assigning blame for the economy's collapse. Now that it's clear that Obamaist Keynesianism is an utter failure, the last thing the Democrats want people doing is reconsidering the narrative of what brought us here.

Undoubtedly, Hillary is advising Huma that they can survive this, politically. Forgive me for believing that she may have humane considerations regarding her right-hand woman in mind, but it's possible. It's inevitable that that's going to cause animus in the ranks of those who think that the issue here is to make sure that the Democrat brand isn't too badly damaged. It's very inconvenient for them, though, because they've been rehabbing Bill as a lovable elder statesman.

Then there are the Howard Kurtzes and other folks within the Democrat establishment and the media who will say that they can't afford to let the bloggers drive Weiner from power, because it will embolden them. With network and print news outlets failing left and right, though, they're going to have finally to opt for saving their own skin.

Taken in the aggregate, this whole episode is almost as lamentable as booking the Wombles.

UPDATE: George Neumayr at American Spectator on "Clinton's Precedent."

UPDATEx2: Nice Deb has her doubts. So, does Cripes Suzette, who brings the history. If you missed Ace's outstanding rant from yesterday, go read (stay with it).

UPDATEx3: Stacy's "Feminism and the Friendly Stranger" is another post you should check out. Joy McCann responds.

Related: British Dwarf-Goblin convicted of bowler wanking in public.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Flashmobster’s Mom: ‘Should have robbed black people’

Acting Police Supt. Garry McCarthy vowed Monday to hunt down every last thug responsible for so-called “flash mob” incidents over the weekend and throw the book at them to get a handle on a problem that’s damaging the reputation of downtown Chicago as a safe place to live, work, play and shop.

Speaking as five teens made their first appearances in court in connection with a string of five robberies — four within a ten-minute span — in Streeterville Saturday, McCarthy said police had made “in excess of 20 arrests” connected to flash mobs over the weekend.

*******

◆Derodte Wright, 18, of the 3500 block of South State Street, a student at Perspectives Charter School, accused of attacking nursing student Ryan Dacumos and robbing him on the Lake Michigan bikepath near Chicago Ave. around 8.30 p.m. Described in court by his attorney as a good student with prospects of a college baseball scholarship, Wright was ordered held on bail of $200,000 by Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil.

◆Trovulus Pickett, 17, a Youth Connections Leadership Academy student who lives in the 8400 block of South Dorchester. Also charged with the robbery of Dacumos, Pickett allegedly teamed up with other youths to attack a 68-year-old Seattle physician Jack Singer in the 300 block of East Chicago Avenue minutes earlier, stealing his iPad and phone, and is also accused of robbing a Japanese doctor of his iPod in the 700 block of North Lake Shore Drive a few minutes later. Pickett’s bail was set at $300,000.

◆Dvonte Sykes, 17, of the 7500 block of South Normal, a student at Carver Vocational Career Academy, accused of robbing a Thai man who was taking photographs in the 700 block of North Lake Shore Drive and with taking part in a “mob action” in which northwest suburban insurance agent Krzysztof Wilkowski fought off robbers who tried to take his scooter in the 300 block of East Chicago. Sykes’ bail was set at $250,000.

Speaking later Monday, Sykes’ mother Tonia Rush said she believed the bails would have been lower if the crimes were on the South or West sides. “If it’s black-on-black crime, nobody cares,” she said.

Yeah, there's a problem with trying to play that race card, though, given "hate crimes" enhancers and the Obama DOJ's approach to the New Black Panthers episode and other racial incidents. This is the mentality that's been fostered in Chicago by decades of Alinsky rhetoric. Just waiting for Jesse Jackson to get involved.

Via The Big Feed.

While I'm thinking about it, I'd like to give a shout out to the theme song from Flashdance, one of the most desperate piles of sheer musical stupidity ever to become a hit. You can hear the poor guy desperately sweating to inject some kind of passion and excitement into the deeply boring story. But for a hot chick workout video, I guess it wasn't bad.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Douchecanoe Diaries

Chronicling the stunning mendacity of Salon's Joan Walsh. Please let anyone who's written something good about Joanie Baloney who might care to post it know that I'd love to have them do so.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Zombie Retards Interrupt Special Olympics

To protest the Wisconsin Legislature's bill to require photo ID:

Lance Burri:

The “zombies” – or, as I like to call them, selfish jerks – were protesting the new photo I.D. law. Here’s a Facebook page on the protest. “Students are as good as dead to legislators.” Get it? Because they won’t be able to vote, because they’re too lazy and/or incompetent to get/update their identification.

You need a college education to be this effing dumb.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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New #Weinergate Conspiracy Announcement

There is going to be a zero tolerance policy at this blog for speculation that Huma Abedin is pregnant by Hillary Clinton.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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#Weinergate Fallout

Kirsten Powers, who dated Weiner some years ago:

But even if I could see past the lying and extreme narcissism that is noteworthy even by Washington standards, there is the issue of his attitude toward women. What has emerged is a picture of a predator trolling the Internet for women—some half his age—with which to engage in cybersex. We know only about the women who were responsive to his overtures. The odds are very high that he struck out with many, and other women were victim to his unsolicited sex talk. Women should be able to “friend” a married—or unmarried—congressman on Facebook or follow him on Twitter without fear of being the recipient of lewd talk or behavior. Just because a woman “likes” your video on Facebookt doesn’t mean you can send her a picture of your penis. This is textbook sexual harassment. It may not be illegal, but it’s definitely unethical. He is in a position of influence, and many women—especially a 21-year-old—would be afraid to report a congressman doing that to them because he holds so much power. Also, he claims none of the women he contacted were underage, but how could he possibly know that?

By far the most disturbing information that we have been privy to—there is, no doubt, more out there that we don’t know—is the transcript of a nine-month "sexting" relationship Weiner had with a Las Vegas blackjack dealer. Radar Online posted the transcript, and it is rife with misogyny and distorted views about women. In referring to oral sex, Wiener tells her, “You will gag on me before you c** with me in you” and “[I’m] thinking about gagging your hot mouth with my c***.” This is not about sex. It’s about dominating and inflicting physical pain on a woman, a fantasy the hard-corn porn industry makes billions of dollars on selling to men. You don’t want to gag a woman with your penis unless you have some serious issues with the way you see women.

Power Line:

In the voluminous commentary that I have seen on Weiner's case, I have been struck by the lack of an awareness or description of his problem. His problem is not that he is indiscreet, or rude, or monstrously egotistical, or obnoxious and untruthful, or all of the above. Based on everything we know, I think it is safe to say that Weiner represents a newfangled throwback to an old-fashioned syndrome. He is an exhibitionist using the social media to ply his wares. He gets his thrills from exposing himself to women.

Good Atlantic piece on political organizing via Twitter. They don't make the mistake that Slate does in stating that the NYT actually dug up the information on Dan Wolfe and his crew.

Meanwhile, the idiots at Anthony and Opie released the unsheathed pic at second hand, which is to say that they had a pic of the pic that Andrew Breitbart had on his iPhone, or whatever he uses. For some reason, they thought it would be cool to release it, though Breitbart had held it in reserve, in part because he felt Weiner had been humiliated enough. I hope they never get an interview again.

Meanwhile, Huma Abedin, Weiner's wife, is pregnant, according to the NYT.

Democratic Senator Mark Pryor has stated that Weiner should resign, as has Allyson Schwartz of the DCCC. At the WaPo, Aaron Blake is reporting that even if the House of Representatives doesn't boot him, the NY State Legislature might.

Most of this stuff through Memeorandum.

Da Techguy asks a very good question.

As of 6:38 EST, the Democrats who've publicly called for Weiner to resign.

The chorus of members and former members calling for Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., caught in an online sex imbroglio, to step down is growing quickly. Here's a partial list:

House Members (6)

Allyson Schwartz, Pennsylvania

Joe Donnelly, Indiana

Larry Kissell, North Carolina

Mike Michaud, Arkansas

Mike Ross, Arkansas

Nikki Tsongas, Massachusetts

Former House Members

Patrick Murphy, Pennsylvania

Senate Candidates

Tim Kaine, Virginia

Senators

Patrick Leahy, Vermont

Mark Pryor, Arkansas

Another Las Vegas chippie emerges.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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#Weinergate: Weiner Apologizes to . . . WTF?

Via Drudge on Twitter:

Rep. Anthony Weiner explained himself and apologized for his conduct to Bill Clinton, who officiated his wedding to wife Huma Abedin, sources familiar with the call said.

Weiner made the call within the past 48 hours. It took place following his emotional press conference Monday in New York City, where he admitted that he had posted a lewd photo of himself to Twitter 10 days earlier, the sources said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what was said on the call, but sources said that the Clintons - who are deeply loyal to Abedin - are distressed by the “sexting” scandal that Weiner immersed his wife in.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any weirder.

Forgive me, Godfather . . .

Wiening: Weiner's Violent Torpedo of Truth

JWF: Weiner Ushers in New Golden Age of Tabloid Headlines

Via Confederate Yankee:

Hitler Upset About Weinergate from FTR Radio on Vimeo.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Obligatory Perfunctory Rule 5 Top 20 Hottest Conservative Media Women 2011

Here.

Please use the comments to express your outrage, disdain or apathy.

Last year, the lovely and talented Liz Stephans was #11. Has she gotten less lovely? No: she got married.

Let that be a warning to you, conservative new media women.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Joan Walsh: Weiner Made Me Look Stupid

but . . .

Ed Schultz: "Andrew Breitbart has an x-rated photo of Weiner."

Bill Press: "We're playing right-wing politics here!"

Walsh: "If we let the other side take scalps, the right wing is choosing our leaders for us."

Hoo boy, when Ed Schultz makes the most sense of the folks on a panel . . . how do you get a panel like that?

Lachlan Markay:

The so-called Weinergate scandal provided a true spectacle of media bias and conspiracy theorizing. While there was certainly plenty of good reporting throughout, many opted to take Rep. Anthony Weiner's claims at face value and search for other culprits or scapegoats.

Others devised more malicious theories about why a lewd picture had appeared on the congressman's Twitter feed. It was Andrew Breitbart's attempt to gin up another bogus story, or a coordinated effort by conservatives to provide cover for Clarence Thomas. These wild theories actually gained quite a bit of traction among liberals online, and even a few mainstream personalities.

We know now, by Weiner's own admission, that they were all nonsense. So with the facts readily available, it's worth reviewing some of the dominant narratives that pervaded media coverage of the scandal.

RTWT.

As Insty would say . . . rubes.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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The Mouse That Whined

Stacy drubs Amanda Marcotte (metaphorically):

She is one of those writers who, despairing of achieving notoriety in the larger literary world, seeks a readership in some ghetto niche occupied almost entirely by third-rate talents, so that her occasional second-rate contributions appear conspicuously impressive by comparison. And in her feminist niche, the only standard by which anyone may be judged is according to their zealous devotion to The Sacred Cause:

Weiner has an outstanding record supporting sexual rights of others, with100% ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and has a strong record of support for gay rights.

See? He votes the right way. And isn’t that what really matters?

And isn't that tantamount to rape, when you really get down to it?

Although he's undoubtedly a very bad man for attacking poor Amanda that way, I'd like to thank Stacy for his post on our departed friend Patty Ann. Our friend Burrhog didn't blog, but he is missed, as is Mike in New Hampshire. Other kindly remembered bloggers include Cathy Seipp, Acidman, Jon Swift, Andrew Olmstead, Bane, Major Chris Galloway and many others.

Someone really ought to take the time to construct an online Elysium of the Bloggers, where we can remember and pay our respects from time to time.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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