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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
The "story of a non-story" issue
Friday, June 10, 2011 7:29 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote: In the last two days we learned again what we learned two weeks ago - and before that two months ago - and before that a little over two years ago. We'll learn it again in another two months. People are sexual deviants. Damn near all people. Congressman Anthony Weiner has already admitted sending "check-me-out" pics through Twitter. Several women have claimed that he engaged in phone sex, "sexting" little "Haiku's" like, "ridiculous bulge in my shorts now. wanna see?" With all of this, he joins a long list of politicians caught in sex scandals. A list that includes: • Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who fathered a love child with the maid while married • Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards who fathered a love child with a videographer while married • Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who hired prostitutes • Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, who hired prostitutes • South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford ,who had an extramarital affair with an Argentinean girlfriend • Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who had an extramarital affair with an Israeli boyfriend • Former Nevada Sen. John Ensign, who had an extramarital affair with a staffer's wife • Former New York Rep. Chris Lee, who trolled for girls on Craigslist and sent shirtless muscle pics while married • Former Florida Rep. Mark Foley, who sent instant messages to teenage boys working as congressional pages You could add to that list names like Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland, Warren Harding, FDR, Dwight Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Bill Clinton and your neighbor Frank. I can't help but laugh at the collective indignation we indulge with each new story. Because here's the difference between these guys and your average cross-section of "normal" American men:]u] When these guys get caught, you hear about it. Let me be clear, this isn't to excuse Weiner or any of these men, I'm just saying don't be so surprised, don't be so naive, and tread a little carefully with your moralizing. You cannot imagine what the guy in the cubicle next to you is imagining. The point is that if you rip back the covers on many people's thoughts and actions, you're going to find some shocking things. Is what Weiner did creepy? Yes. Is it unique? Deviant? I'm not so sure. A new book entitled "A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the World's Largest Experiment Reveals about Human Desire" chronicles the work of two scientists who studied a massive trove of online sex-related search data to find out what people really want. The book reveals: • Straight men enjoy a wider variety of erotica than imagined, including sites devoted to elderly women and transsexuals • Straight men prefer heavy women to thin ones • Straight men have a fascination with other men's penises • Men fantasize about group sex far more than women and picture more men than women in the action Combine these kinky revelations with findings that anywhere from 20% to 50% of people cheat and 15% of men have online sex, it gets hard to define what is "deviant." (If it's not obvious, I'm just laying the groundwork of rationalizations for the day my laundry is aired.) All that said, I have the hardest time understanding Weiner. I mean, I think most guys -- even those committed to a faithful relationship with their wives -- can understand, without excusing, the fidelity issues of some of the men listed. But sending out pictures of your excited pants to women you've never met? I know Weiner's not the only one to do this; I just don't get it. The best explanation came from some of my favorite radio guys on KTCK The Ticket in Dallas who I heard asking why so many dudes adopt the "Jersey-Shore look" ('roided up, tight T-shirt, jeans with designs on the pocket, chain, etc. etc.). One of the hosts noted that these clowns are almost always with hot girls. Their conclusion: it must work. That's why guys dress that way; it works. I have to come to a similar conclusion on Weiner: it must have worked. In the end, what offends me more than Weiner's tweeting is that he's such a big fat liar. For a week this guy sat down in front of Wolf Blitzer, Luke Russert and others to spin an elaborately fabricated story about being hacked, painting himself as a victim. This alone should be enough for him to lose his job. By the way, if any of these girls are underage, which Weiner is not sure of right now, well, forget everything I've said. Until then, we shouldn't so willingly live in a world of naïveté. Because it won't be much more than another two weeks or another two months until we hear another story like this. Who knows? It may be yours.
Friday, June 10, 2011 8:20 AM
GEEZER
Keep the Shiny side up
Friday, June 10, 2011 8:38 AM
DREAMTROVE
Friday, June 10, 2011 8:46 AM
Quote: I'm shocked and outraged at how positively INEPT he was - both about the texting and the cover-up. I'm not sure I want someone this clueless involved in running the country.
Quote: she was going to use the incident to help teach her teenage son that anything you put out on the Web can end up everywhere.
Friday, June 10, 2011 9:06 AM
Quote: The left likes to scream "sexual harassment" at much less than sending pictures of your cock to someone.
Quote: He's holding an office that should expect a level of behavior.
Quote: How absolutely stone stupid do you have to be to harass people by posting lewd messages and pictures to a public forum?
Friday, June 10, 2011 9:07 AM
Friday, June 10, 2011 1:46 PM
Friday, June 10, 2011 5:57 PM
FREMDFIRMA
Quote:Originally posted by Geezer: I'm not particularly shocked or outraged that Rep. Weiner was having phone hanky-panky with women who were not his wife. I'm shocked and outraged at how positively INEPT he was - both about the texting and the cover-up. I'm not sure I want someone this clueless involved in running the country.
Friday, June 10, 2011 6:50 PM
BYTEMITE
Friday, June 10, 2011 7:04 PM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 1:59 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Niki2: Your cartoon totally fails, for me. The REASON right-wingers are called hypocrites is their CLAIM TO BETTER VALUES. Thus THEY set higher standards for themselves, nobody else does.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 2:01 AM
AURAPTOR
America loves a winner!
Quote:Originally posted by Niki2: That about makes my point. Scandals abound when it comes to people in the news, then the media makes a big deal out of it and covers it for days (weeks?) in great detail, with their audience drooling at each new development, it becoming the major topic at the water cooler, and pundits debating it like it was a serious piece of news. THAT’s what makes the media, and all who pay attention to such things, the real “wieners”, in my opinion.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 2:39 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 4:30 AM
SIGNYM
I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.
Quote:At least in the current Congress, the Republican leadership is taking a harder stance.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 4:45 AM
BNW
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: Kinda like when Sarah Palin accurately describes a bit of history, though not to the tune we're accustomed to hearing, the media jumps all over that 'non story' , and makes it out to be something completely different?
Saturday, June 11, 2011 7:32 AM
HKCAVALIER
Saturday, June 11, 2011 8:06 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 8:07 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 9:29 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:04 AM
1KIKI
Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:06 AM
Quote:Originally posted by HKCavalier: And, yes, the incompetence is very significant. One of the things men who act out like Weiner want IS TO GET CAUGHT! Is there anyone here not clear on that fact? It's self-sabotage, self-hatred that leads men to act out this way.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:28 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 11:51 AM
PIRATENEWS
John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011 1:04 PM
Saturday, June 11, 2011 6:47 PM
Quote:Originally posted by HKCavalier: It's not just weird, Dream, it's broken.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 7:36 PM
KWICKO
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)
Quote:Originally posted by Geezer: Quote:Originally posted by Niki2: Your cartoon totally fails, for me. The REASON right-wingers are called hypocrites is their CLAIM TO BETTER VALUES. Thus THEY set higher standards for themselves, nobody else does. At least in the current Congress, the Republican leadership is taking a harder stance. One of the panelists on the "Diane Rhem Show" (I believe) noted that when the Lee scandal surfaced, Speaker Boehmer immediately told him to resign, and he did. This could just be lessons learned from previous scandals when the Party tried to either cover up or rehabilitate the malefactor, and ended up losing votes. The Democratic leadership, on the other hand, has left both Weiner and Charlie Rangel in office after their transgressions. "Keep the Shiny side up"
Sunday, June 12, 2011 1:14 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: So when EXACTLY did this "harder stance" start coming into play for the Republicans?
Sunday, June 12, 2011 1:48 AM
Sunday, June 12, 2011 1:51 AM
Sunday, June 12, 2011 4:06 AM
Quote:Originally posted by dreamtrove: Is Hillary's being gay relevant or newsworthy? I sort of got this point in 1992 when she showed no interest in Bill's extramarital affairs. She wasn't interested in the fact that he was cheating on her: She didn't want him to come home, or to leave, and she didn't want in on it, she just had no interest. I thought "Oh, it's a cover marriage, she's gay, and this is about political power." At some point they spawned Chelsea.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 7:33 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: Is David Vitter a member of the "current" Congress?
Sunday, June 12, 2011 7:38 AM
Quote:Obama sitting in the corner, shoulders slouched, like a scolded child ? Seriously.. why isn't he in the big boy chair ?
Quote:he looks sullen and dejected... not attentive or engaged, even a little.
Quote:Obama's shoulders are slouched, he's sullen, and in the corner
Sunday, June 12, 2011 7:50 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Geezer: Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: Is David Vitter a member of the "current" Congress? His transgresions did not occur or come to light during the current congressional session. Neither did Ensign's. Rangel's transgressions, like Lee's and Weiner's, did come to light in the current session. BTW. Mike, are you (1)an asshole or (2)a flaming asshole? Answer 1 or 2 please. "Keep the Shiny side up"
Quote:Beginning in 2008, Rangel faced a series of allegations of ethics violations and failures to comply with tax laws. The House Ethics Committee focused on whether Rangel improperly rented multiple rent-stabilized New York apartments, improperly used his office in raising money for the Rangel Center at the City College of New York, and failed to disclose rental income from his villa in the Dominican Republic. In March 2010, Rangel stepped aside as Ways and Means Chair. In November 2010, the Ethics Committee found Rangel guilty of 11 counts of violating House ethics rules, and on December 2, the full House approved a sanction of censure against Rangel.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 8:05 AM
Quote:Originally posted by 1kiki: "I'll never forget the smirk and arrogance that Charles Rangel had, when asked about his ethics issues. Rangel basically laughed ..." Folks, remember Raps' epic FAIL describing a picture WE ALL COULD LOOK AT ... This one? Here is Rap's first FAIL ...Quote:Obama sitting in the corner, shoulders slouched, like a scolded child ? Seriously.. why isn't he in the big boy chair ?his second FAILQuote:he looks sullen and dejected... not attentive or engaged, even a little.and his doubling down on both FAILS.Quote:Obama's shoulders are slouched, he's sullen, and in the corner http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=18&t=48454 So when he says Rangel smirked, was arrogant and 'basically' laughed (which I think means NOT REALLY but I want to claim he did) does anyone here trust he got it right? I still find it astounding how Rap can literally not see what's in front of his face, and instead see what's not there. If I were him, I would be worried about my own sanity, at least a little.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 8:36 AM
THEHAPPYTRADER
Sunday, June 12, 2011 9:26 AM
Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:01 AM
Quote:Originally posted by TheHappyTrader: Kwicko you are a credit to your party
Sunday, June 12, 2011 4:28 PM
Monday, June 13, 2011 1:38 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: So all of Rangel's transgressions "came to light" during the previous sessions, just like you excused Vitter and Ensign for.
Monday, June 13, 2011 2:07 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Geezer: Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: So all of Rangel's transgressions "came to light" during the previous sessions, just like you excused Vitter and Ensign for.
Quote: ETA: Ooh. Censured one whole month before the current session. Nitpick mutch?
Monday, June 13, 2011 3:23 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: You "excused" them from being considered improper by dint of their having taken place during the previous session(s) of Congress.
Monday, June 13, 2011 9:19 AM
Monday, June 13, 2011 11:52 AM
Quote:Originally posted by 1kiki: So when he says Rangel smirked, was arrogant and 'basically' laughed (which I think means NOT REALLY but I want to claim he did) does anyone here trust he got it right? I still find it astounding how Rap can literally not see what's in front of his face, and instead see what's not there. If I were him, I would be worried about my own sanity, at least a little.
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:39 PM
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:45 PM
Monday, June 13, 2011 12:48 PM
Quote:Originally posted by 1kiki: Wow - just wow. Rap's idea of a comeback is - am not, so are you! No facts, no discussion, no nada, just that. Does anyone besides me find this infantile?
Monday, June 13, 2011 1:04 PM
Monday, June 13, 2011 1:10 PM
Quote:Originally posted by 1kiki: If anyone cares, Rap back-edits his posts to prove he was right. Yep, he's that kinda' guy.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 1:49 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Kwicko: And by the standards that you consistently hold others to, you're engaging in nothing more than pure sophistry.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 3:31 PM
Quote: But if we keep working on it, better candidates will come.
Quote: It will never be an all red or all blue world. But it can be a better than Harry Reid vs. Mitch McConnell.
Quote: compensating for his catastrophically low self-worth. Y'see, they WANT you to think they're big and tough and don't care about the weak because that is the narrative in which they are most powerful and intensely masculine. The narratives in their heads, however, that fuel their acting out, even their choice of profession sometimes, tell them that they are weak and ugly and must take what they want because no one--no woman, in Weiner's case--would willingly give them what they desire.
Quote: Rap's idea of a comeback is - am not, so are you! No facts, no discussion, no nada, just that. Does anyone besides me find this infantile?
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