Weiner Is A Weenie

The urge to “pile on” is almost irresistible in the aftermath of the so-called “Weinergate” scandal.

In case you missed it all, here’s a report from ABC News:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOF8IieL-QQ

In a scenario that couldn’t have been scripted better by comedy writers for Letterman, Leno or Jon Stewart (right down to the last name of the offending politician), the cable news networks, tabloids and late-night talk show hosts have hit the mother lode. As such, everything worthy of being said or written has already been uttered or printed.

I can’t add to it, but would rather leave the yucks to the comedians and focus instead on the sheer stupidity of someone New Yorkers have elected to LEAD them.

Is there not enough evidence to suggest that “tweeting” one’s privates is NOT a good idea? First of all, the very urge to do so mystifies me, but that’s beside the point. I can’t imagine the good congressman not making a remark about how stupid it was for Brett Favre to transmit his little “sexting” masterpieces. No, it was dumb for an NFL QB to forever tarnish his rock-solid reputation, but hey, that could never happen to ME!

There was also Tiger Woods, who sliced his good-guy reputation into the heavy rough with his now well-known text messages to women who were collectively NOT HIS WIFE.

It matters little to me that what Weiner did was not illegal.

It was stupid.

Were I a New Yorker, the last person I would want representing my interests is an idiot who takes pictures of his equipment and then shares them with people he has never met before.

To do it in the first place is idiotic. When caught, to deny it all is the height of hubris. For a man who had his sights set on being mayor of New York, this little lapse in judgment is something of a setback, no?

I’m beginning to believe that the more you portray yourself as pure and virtuous, the more likely you are actually the opposite. Step aside, John Edwards, Arnold Schwarzenegger, all of you posers!

The new model for a politician will be more along the lines of Jesse Ventura. Blatant and unapologetic.

Face it. If Weiner, upon being discovered had immediately said “Yeah, that’s my weiner! So what? Mind your own business!”, New Yorkers (themselves a class of brazen individualists) might have rallied around him. He might have sent a fresh photo of his package to all the media outlets along with the message, “put THIS in your 24 hour news cycle!”

For the steady stream of indiscretions that seem to never end, it would appear that:

1) Political office seems to attract a personality type that is simply not capable of restraint when it comes to their personal appetites.

2) This combination of ego, arrogance and selfishness will manifest itself in many ways, most of them either self-destructive or contrary to the interests of their constituents (i.e. crooks “on the take”)

3) The electorate is becoming so jaded with the gulf between the image façade and the real person behind it when exposed through such misconduct, that I believe there is a solid place for an openly flawed character to emerge.

The imperfect man or woman as a viable candidate merits consideration. Instead of expending enormous amounts of energy in fabricating a false image to appeal to voters, the new model candidate lets it all hang out. Unabashed flaws and indiscretions. No excuses and no apologies.

It could work.

I believe that part of the appeal of Ronald Reagan was that he seemed like a real guy. As the first divorced President to be elected, he represented a life and career trajectory that encompassed many ups and downs----in short, he mirrored us, the electorate. Yes, I know he was a movie star (not your typical average Joe), but he was a B-level star, a guy who appeared with chimps and donkeys and sold Borax soap flakes on TV wearing a cowboy hat. In short, he at least APPEARED to be genuine.

Part of the appeal of Donald Trump (I think) is his “go to hell if you don’t like me or my opinion” stance.

Maybe we need more of that in our leaders---REALITY.
The political consultants and king-makers don’t think the American people can handle it.

I think they can. I for one, just don’t want to see them in their underwear.

If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com