Some random thoughts – serious and not-so – about “Weinergate,” the latest example of how skillful a politician can be in shooting his own foot. If only Rep. Anthony Weiner were so competent as a leader.
- The seductiveness of the internet to cause one to do stupid things cannot be overstated. It’s worse than alcohol or drugs in causing otherwise reasonable (and I’ll give Rep. Weiner the benefit of the doubt here) people to do things that in other settings they’d find sick and laughable. You know, like we who are looking at him now do. “It couldn’t happen to me,” you’re thinking right about now. Yeah, sure.
- But, I confess that I am sorely, sorely disappointed in the internet. What are things coming to when a grown man like Rep. Weiner strikes up an “illicit” conversation with a “26-year old female” and it turns out that he’s actually conversing with a 26-year old female, and not a 48 year old bald guy in boxer shorts? Is nothing sacred anymore?
- Oh, by the way, did you catch Matt Laurer’s interview with Andrew Breitbart on The Today Show? There was the faintest whiff of an inkling of the beginning of grudging MSM acknowledgment that, well, a blogger can actually be a legitimate source of news reporting.
- Morally, Rep. Weiner has some obvious shortcomings (we’re not going to pander to the lowest common denominator and address any physical characteristics), but politically, his biggest weakness is an utter failure to lie convincingly. Did anyone in America buy his “I’ve been hacked” story? Nope. Even John Edwards did a better job. So, Rep. Weiner, next time you’re in this position (and we’ll never say “never,” not as long as Andrew Breitbart is holding a few more cards), you’d do well to heed the advice of that great Texas sage, Delbert McClinton: