Once Again, Weiner Proves, Size Matters
Constitutional Conservatives should sit down this day and write a “thank you” letter to Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-9th) for proving, once again, that size matters.
Rep. Weiner, through his scandalous, adulterous, perverted, deceptive, and slanderous behavior, dramatized the wisdom of the Constitutional doctrines of enumerated powers and checks and balances more effectively than any think-tank white paper, talk show rant, or polemical essay could do.
Like the prophet Isaiah, walking about naked to foreshadow the coming exile of the Egyptians and the folly of Israel’s trust in her opportunistic ally, Rep. Weiner’s self-disclosure has graphically illustrated the need for smaller, limited government.
However, while Rep. Weiner should become a poster-child for the battle against large, centralized, unaccountable, bureaucratic government, he must not become an isolated exception. He’s not a freak. He’s the norm.
You see, the great risk to the Right in the midst of this sumptuous feast of Schadenfreude is that we would see it merely as Weiner’s problem, or as simply indicative of the moral vacuity of the Democrats or of the Left. It’s much more important than that. Weiner has a handicap that is shared by every lawmaker, and every voter.
Weiner is not an aberration. He typifies Congress, because he is human. And for that reason, we must move rapidly to restrain his ilk from the dangers posed by their restless, reckless, covert humanity … and by ours.
There’s nothing like a Constitutional Convention to convince men of the need to check the power of government, and to strictly limit its scope. When 55 men from 12 states migrated to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, they came face-to-face with the major problem of governance — how to protect the governed from their governors, and from themselves. How can one craft an energetic national government without trampling the sovereignty of the states or the rights of the people? How does one create an elected legislature that would resist the wild sweep of popular passions — the prime danger of democracy?
The debates (and dinner-table discussions at nearby City Tavern) were vigorous, and reflected not only timeless principles, but also interest-group agendas and personal needs. No angels floated just above the wooden floor of the Assembly Room that summer. These were men — extraordinary, brilliant men in many cases — yet, they were men.
To speak of what “the founders believed,” you have to speak broadly, ideologically, not monolithically. But one thing they knew, to a man, was that they were sinful men. And even those who trusted in their own rectitude, attributed depravity to others. So with each codicil of the Constitution they labored to answer the question: What would weasels do? And then they built a barrier against that tendency.
Today, as we ask “What did Weiner do?”, keep in mind that he, too, is merely a man, susceptible to the temptations to which all flesh may fall prey.
Today, as we ask “What did Weiner do?”, keep in mind that he, too, is merely a man, susceptible to the temptations to which all flesh may fall prey.
And we can also ask, WWAWD, or What would Anthony Weiner do? And the answer that invariably comes back is, “Well, whatever it is, you should do the opposite.”
ohoHoHoH…..wait ’til Megyn Kelly gets back
…perhpas Wiener would like to go back on her program.. for the joy of entertaining me
Oh yeah, lets let him stay in Washington because he can’t do any thing else. he tells us what to do, but he can’t do anything else but tell us what to do…????
The little ass needs to go!!!
Scott Ott has taken the position that we are all sinners, and hence limited government is indicated. There are other, more secular, arguments to be made in favor of limited government. I wrote about the hypocrisy of some on the radical Right here: http://clarespark.com/2011/06/11/bad-history-and-hypocrisy-on-the-radical-right/. I do not put Scott Ott in that category, as I believe he would condemn hypocrisy as I do.
The best of all secular cases has been made by the Public Choice economists, most notably James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock. In brief: Persons who go into public service bring their private interests and motivations with them. And their subsequent behavior never fails to confirm it.
I also recommend Buchanan and Tullock’s The Calculus of Consent. For anyone who hasn’t pondered the operation of personal interests in the formation of public policy, it’s an eye-opener.
A worse charge against Weiner, in my view, is that he has never held any kind of job outside of politics. He hasn’t got the first clue as to how the real world works, which is the biggest reason why he and others like him should not be in a position to make laws affecting the rest of us.
“Career Politician” should be a contradiction in terms.
Term Limit all of them.
I do not understand the idea of term limits. Are we not in charge of those limits at the voting booth?
People get complacent and will vote for what they know, good or bad, unless something truly angers them. That’s how people like Rangel get re-elected after breaking laws. Plus the fact that the voting public has become disintersted in politics, which is another reason why this country is in a downfall, for too long, too many people stopped paying attention, and government grew.
“… too many people stopped paying attention, and government grew”
Actually, too many people stopped paying TAXES & they’ll vote for ANYONE who keeps their “free” stuff flowing.
heck we can’t get the man to resign after the BS he’s been up to…his constituents are standing with him!!! STANDING WITH HIM…CRAP…\
And no Democrat women are calling for his ouster.
HOWEVER!!..Republican women will tear Palin to pieces, jealousy, but this man shows his penis and writes pornographic crap to women, and they are defending him…eg BARBARA WALTERS, THE senile old fart.
the voting booth means nothing.
I wonder if the people in his district feel that Weiner is the best they can do? Rangle is a case in point.
The voters limit terms. We don’t need to artificially restrict politicians’ political lives.
What happens when a good politician is term-limited? That’s throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Look at the people who vote for scum like Weiner (and Obama, for that matter). They are the fools who put the Weiners in power. That fact simply tells me that way too many people are ignorant fools who can’t see past the next joint or beer. If Obama promised them free drugs and booze, most Americans would make him president for life.
Are you saying that there isn’t a good one to replace him?
Yes PJ. theoreticly we are in charge of those term limits but. if you will look at the election of 08 you will realise there were far TOO many IDIOTS voting and look what we have now. the most CORRUPT IDIOTICALY STUPID BUNCH OF IDIOTS TO ever hit washington at one time,
Excellent observation
I agree. I think where this whole idea whent wrong is when we allowed our citizen representatives to become career politicians.
1. I think Congress should meet less, say every other year like in Texas (except in cases where emergency session is required for national security).
2. I think we should not allow our representatives to have a staff beyond a personal secretary and 2 aides. Bloated staffs are how we get the 2000 page bills that they didn’t pen and have never read themselves.
3. I think Congressional members should recieve living stipends when Congress is in session and an allowance for family separations greater than 30 days (like our military), but they should not recieve a salary because they volunteered to serve in Congress. The stipend would offset income that they cannot make due to their service. It would be based on their tax return filed for the complete earning year between sessions and adjusted for inflation. They should have a livelihood outside of Washington.
4. I don’t have a problem with the Electoral College, but I think we should eliminate the “winner take all” system in order to make every vote count and eliminate the “red state/blue state” campaign issue. Without the winnder take all system, an elector for Helena, Montana is as important as every other one in New York.
It’s amazing that elected officials become millionaires in public service. If we demand that elected officials and federal bureaucrats be held accountable, scam artists like Rangle would be cleaning out bathrooms in a federal prison and Geithner would be clerking at a convenience store in Tuscaloosa.
And sure enough, they say he’s pleading to stay on because he knows there’s no other way he can make a living. I think we need to update that old bromide:
Those who can’t do, legislate.
Oh pooh…Hill and Bill will find somehting for him to do. He’s following Bill’s play book.
The man lied, period. Weiner the liar..weiner weiner liar on fire..oh well…
Looks like a true racist to me. Refuses to smear Jewish women with his smut and wipes it only on non-Jewish women. Working his way into destroying a non-Jewish teen until he got caught. Just makin’ memories for these non-Jewish women. Ask him why, since he is a Jew, that he isn’t rubbing against Jewish women, and why did he marry an Arab blood, was it to demean Arabs through demeaning her? Was she Hillary’s sacrificial offering to the Weiner? Take it babe. This guy has an agenda. Wake up, America, Wake up.
Excellent point !
Thank you for your reflections.
Thank you, Sherab.
@ Scott: Thank you, Scott. Brilliantly stated, and well worth internalizing! BTW: Since you are a man of prayer, if you are not already doing so, will you please be praying hard for Northern AZ regarding the horrific fire in that region? Thanks so much.
Weinergate tells a cautionary tale. Men are weak, wily, wicked. Don’t give them any more power over you than absolutely necessary
My life savings to the GOP presidential candidate who dares say this. (That’s why I feel confident in offering my life savings.)
Well, sadly, I’m running for county commissioner.
I hope you’re going to the dark side on a mission of subversion.
All wrong. Wouldn’t want to follow this theory into battle! Fact is they have strong strategies and plans of destruction and can depend on their controllers/placers for cover if they abuse any female outside of the controllers/placers’ ethnicity unless the event makes probs for the controllers/placers. Destroy morality, move females on down the road to their destruction. Destroy standards, homes, lives of all except the inner clan of Elites. Silently destroy and have fun doing it. That’s what this “representative” is in the swim for and surely will be protected by the Elite controllers/placers through lies that majority give him the green light… UNLESS American Men find THEIR apparatus which reveals Weiner’s to be donefur.
Another issue is the one party political machine nature of downstate New York politics. Checks and balances becomes less able to function when there is an all encompassing political party that doles out political favors and punishments with no credible opposition. Weiner’s unhealthy behaviors also seem more consistent with someone who is a sycophant that has gained his own idea of success than someone who had to fight to show he could be trusted representing the interests of his constituency.
If Weiner was from a more contested district he certainly would resign. He would most likely lose the seat altogther for his party as the margin of his supporters put off by his behaviors joined the opposition party or candidates. It would be an interesting study to see how his Queens district functions politically in comparison to other districts throughout the country and to judge how healthy democracy is overall and in terms of different regions.
Seems the district may disappear due to NY’s population loss in the last census. Wiener could be out of a job through “natural attrition”! Don’t think the Dems will try too hard to protect him…..
And he should not have 19 staffers!
Sparky, the number of staffers per congressman is not the problem here. As long as the size of the House of Representatives has been capped at 435 by US law – which is NOT in the Constitution and could be raised. There are so many constituents for each congressman that, without those staffers, it would be completely impossible for his constituents to have any contact or communications at all with the congressman. The real problem is that we need to increase the total number of congressional districts to roughly 2000, so that each congressman will need fewer staffers to read mail, answer the phone, make appointments, handle constituent issues, and so forth. This would allow individual constituents a much better chance to actually talk with their congressman.
The real story here – which NOBODY in the MSM is asking any questions about – is about Weiner’s wife Huma Abedin, her background, and her excessively close relationship with the Clintons.
Huma Abedin is not who she seems to be, and yes, there are national security issues here!
Scott, thank you for introducing philosophy and principle into the discussion of our nation’s future. More than any time since our founding it is the foundation of our government and the principles by which we live–individual liberty, constitutionally limited government, and the rule of law–that are most important in any discussion of who to elect and what to do with the Shelob-government we’ve created.
Your article points us toward the idea that Constitutional conservatives cannot allow the culture to rub the rough edges off our principles. We cannot say we are for the rule of law and then ignore a candidate who favors taxpayer tuition for illegal aliens. We cannot ignore a candidate who claims to be for individual liberty and limited government who promotes a law in his state to force the citizens to buy health insurance (I do not care that it is legal, the idea is the principle of forcing others to do that which they can best do themselves.)
All people are inherently sinful and prone to behave like Rep. Weiner. The Constitution is designed to minimize our ability to indulge ourselves in similar corruption. We must return to it, as your article states.
We’ve got to continue to bring liberty, the Constitution, and our principles into the discussion, rather than focusing on specifics about what so and so is going to do to “get jobs.” Governments don’t “get jobs.”
Keep them coming, Scott.
Kathy L……”Constitutional Conservatives?
The wisdom of the folks who drafted the constitution was enormous! Their vision for balance of power was not only genius but it also is a framework in which populations by establishing districts could have equal but [separate] powers to not only elect their officials but be represented by their social and political standards and needs. Further, their wisdom allowed for CONGRESS to establish [common] procedural rules and policing within each body of congress. Note, in each instance, the framers did NOT give to the nation at large the voting power for all congressional members and did NOT give to the nation at large, the powers to establish the procedural rules and the policing rules for congress.
So, the ‘political machines’ in alliances with media folks, are simply overstepping the constitution. The responsibility for congressmen/women are between congress, their congressional rules and procedures and the districts of the many members of congress. If folks can’t live with that then they are better to advocate constitutional amendments.
Looks like “Lil Anthony” is going to stick it out (sorry!) and try to hold on to his seat. (As opposed to other bodily parts – OK this is way too easy.) The hard-core lefties in NY political and media circles are urging him to ride it out and become “the new Clinton.” (Pause for reflection.) The more “centrist” elements of the Democractic Party are still quietly urging him to step down.
Wiener appears to be gambling that the New York glitterati he has so assiduously courted are more important than mainstream opinion both in the country and in his own party. He may be right. If the state Democratic Party is really serious in believing that he is a liability it looks like they will have to eliminate the 9th District when New York loses two congessional seats next year.
If Wiener insists on his limpet-like hold on the 9th District then Republicans should develope a poster featuring the famous gray briefs with the caption….”The Real Face of the Democratic Party!”
And ”The Real Face of the Republican Party”? Well, the GOP hasn’t had a sex scandal this week, so my vote goes to Sarah Palin, rewriting history before our eyes — and sticking to her story!
Actually, Sarah Palin had it right about Paul Revere, according to the Boston Globe. After warning the countryside, Paul was captured by the British and ‘warned’ them, boasting of the militia that would harass them if they insisted on trying to seize the ammunition depot.
The point is, Revere did NOT make the ride in order to warn the Brits. Dummita thought he did. She won’t make the same mistake again, because now she has a note about it scrawled on the palm of her left hand.
The point is, Palin did not say that the purpose of Revere’s ride was to warn the British. You and the other theftists thought — using the word loosely — she did.
Guess it must ruin your street cred to be seen to be dumber than a snowbilly, eh?
joseph would you mind elaborating on just how Sarah is changing history?? and if you are refferring to the Paul Reveer thing then you NEED to study history and not rely on longfellos poem which left out a lot of information you need to know. along with a hell of a lot of other liberals,
Is that the best that you can do? I live in a heavily Democrat town with a really liberal newspaper. Ever since the Wiener thing came up (boy is this easy!) they have been trying to use Ms. Palin’s alleged gaffe about Paul Revere as some sort of counterbalance to excuse the situation involving Mr. Wiener. The tone (as you are using here)is “Well he may be a narcissistic skeez but she’s dumb.” Believe me there is no equivalance between the two.
Im down here in Brazil and Weiner made the national news here. Thanks Weiner for that conversation topic about my country Id rather not have.
About the article itself: What does it say when someone takes a break from taking a break on a tropical beach to read your article? =) keep it up!
Remember when they use to call Nixon: “Tricky Dick?”
I just hope that the massive number of the presently unemployed (like moi) that voted these clowns in office stops for a second and think of what they are doing with the power trusted to them by the citizens.
Just think. It won’t hurt. Obama won’t find out. Just think. Do better next time.
Blast from the past by Nick Lowe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6hzkBihaew
It’s good intentioned, but name ONE, 1 politician who is wanting & willing for government attrition. In essence THAT politician will be put under scrutiny and then he/she will have to cut much of their own cabinet.
It’s a nice thought. Truly. But it ain’t gonna happen. It ‘sounds’ good, but the implementing of this NEEDED action is too difficult for ‘em.
The responsibility is not so much theirs as ours.
Palin reduced her own staff as Governor. Boehner refused certain perquisites due him as Speaker, like the plane.
I’d like to see a comparison of the sizes of the staffs of Congresscritters. Compare Blue/Red. Maybe link it to ACU ratings? Will it really turn out to be, the more Conservative, the smaller the staff? There could be some real revelations there.
The Utopian dreams of the Left perpetually die on the altar of human frailty.
Very succinct, thank you! There is a bit of ancient advice the elite ignore or reject: Know thyself.
I understand Andthony Weiner and his wife Huma are expecting a child. Let’s hope the good representative has the good sense not to name his child Richard – if he has a son. That would be doubly cruel.
I’m sorry but this piece is just a bit too clever for me. Look, Weiner is the poster-boy of the fraudulent Democrat party. He lies and lies AND lies. Just like our very own President Obama, he lies to our face, without flinching. And then there is the MSM, which lies to defend the lies of their golden-Honolulu boy and his amateur regime of czars and flunkies and aging-hippie college professors.
Smaller government – let’s start by closing the Congressional and Senate gyms – it seems that most of these stories seem to start with these guys being too enamored with their buff bods. Remember the stories of Rahm in the men’s locker room. Maybe less exercising would lead to better government!
Future job for Weiner – sure to be hired by Podesta’s group, Center for American Progress – that’s where all the lefties go when they are forced out like Van Jones
NOW I’VE SEEN IT ALL!! Leave it to a bunch of brain dead consevatives to use the Anthony Weiner debacle as a ….get this…”case for smaller government”! What a bunch of maroons!! I encourage all of you to keep pounding the Weiner drum. It all just shows what a bunch of idiots you are and will give serious people an understanding just how bad another republican presidency will be. What? Need to drown out two failed Bush wars, a broken Bush economy, Bush inspired unemployment, all by pounding the Weiner drum? Keep it up, I encourage all of you. It will guarantee another four years of a great President and positive policies geared toward saving the Earth, such as a reduction in coal consumption and a drive toward renewable resources, like trout oil.
lovelyerth. STUPID ASS would be a far better moniker,
The word would be morons, not maroons. Trout oil? Now that’s funny…
Funny? No, rather it’s frightening evidence of LovelyEarth‘s inherent sadism. He knows how olive oil and corn oil are produced, and grows moist and tingly thinking that fish oil could be produced in the same way.
When he starts ranting about baby oil, it’ll be too late; he’ll have become the object of Godwin’s Second Law.
wait a minute !!!! stop blaming this calamity of corruption on human nature. the true problems come from MONEY, GREED, STATUS SEEKING, CELEBRATY OBSESSION ,AVERSION TO HONEST WORK,FUNDING INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL ORIENTED ELECTIONS, TV VIDEOS, UGLY POLITICIANS AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN,POWER AND VIRTUAL SEX.
A few suggestions:
1. take ALL the big money out of voting…the radio and TV Networks, one year before the national elections must make FREE time available to 6 candidates from each of 3 political parties and arrange for open debate about plans and policies (to be printed in expensive form and mailed to every elligable voter one month before the election. Each winner must report to the voters publically every month if they have followed through with their promises.
2.Every elected official will be paid salary commenserate with the going rate of the average intelligent American….no special perks, no free travel, no more than 2 persons for personal staff. All lobbiest will be banned from any contact with elected officials. No earmarks in allowed in congressional bills.
Any violation of these rule will be punished by a minumum of 3 months in jail and a fine of $5000.
Dress code for all elected officials and public employees: for men, white “T” shirts and biege trousers plain brown leather shoes…for women..fashionable Pink coveralls and flat heeled shoes. violations to be punished by dismissal from service.
All traditional currency should be banned. special identity cards which will record all receipts and expenditures will be issued, coded to each person.
Any behavior that encourages status attainment will be culturally downplayed.
All beauty cosmetic products will be banned..All beautiful woman will be banned..wait a minute..that sounds a little bit like Islamic rules…I take that back. but l hope you get the idea of my proposals..they should cover mostly Democrats and left=wingers and some Republicans. I know it sounds a bit to servere, but it can’t be more insane than what we have now.
Selwyn you make a hell of a lot more sense than most of these posts and 95% of the politicians,
I’d take it further than that. If they’re really “public servants,” let’s treat their tenure in office the same way we treat other national service. They should live in Congressional barracks, take their meals at the Congressional mess hall, have mandatory daily roll call, receive and be required to wear Congressional uniforms, be paid a nominal stipend only (since their room and board is covered), and be forbidden to hold any position in government or that influences government for three years after their date of separation from the Congress.
Clown suits, perhaps? To remind them (and us) not to take them too seriously?
elligable voter ?
Hey! That means voter ID is necessary.
MONEY, GREED, STATUS SEEKING, CELEBRATY OBSESSION ,AVERSION TO HONEST WORK,FUNDING INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL ORIENTED ELECTIONS, TV VIDEOS, UGLY POLITICIANS AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN,POWER AND VIRTUAL SEX?? Sorry, but this IS human nature. Proves the point of the article, no?
Thank you Mr. Ott. This is great advice from one of America’s greatest and humorous minds.
As concerning Isaiah walking naked, when the Bible mentions the word naked it doesn’t always mean literal nakedness.. For example,” if the even a Priest would show his ankle or part of his Leg he was considered naked.. With King David it is said that he danced before the LORD naked. He wasn’t literally naked. His wife Michal felt he openly exposed him self to the people and she said he uncovered him self.. Which means left his guard down and she felt he acted foolishly in front of the people…The story of David is mentioned twice in the Bible,,, one leaves you with the assumption that he literally did dance naked before the LORD, and the other passage of Scripture said he was clothed in a fine linen the other a linen ephod , as he danced before the LORD,, all because of the word naked, or the word uncovered being used in the Bible
2sa 6:14__6:20
With Weiner he exposed him self both ways, by acting very foolisly, and literally exposing him self
1chr 15:27
Well stated, Scott.
Maybe this will be one of the important turning points in our turning this Country around.
Thank you for your insight.
I always like your clarity on issues. As noted by some of the comments, he also makes an argument for term limits. Those who are in have crafted a system that insulates the incumbents (look at how districts are drawn. Here in Kentucky we hold our governors election this year (2011). why in a year when there are no national elections? Good question, but the answer is fairly obvious, it favors the incumbents. You only turn out your base in off year elections. In the just held primary, only 10% of the voters showed up.
P.J. O’Rourke comes to mind: “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”
Weiner says he will be joining all the other Democrats in Pelosi’s swamp.
What used to make the Constitution important was the knowledge of corruption, it’s potential as well as it’s existence. I believe it was Adams who said,”let us hear no more about the goodness of Man, but bind him from evil with the chains of the Constitution”. I think that’s it.
Weiner comes close to defining what our politics and law making have come to. To his party & with some Republicans as well, it is government by contempt, and it is the citizenry that is the target.
Dear Tony,
Thanks, little buddy. You gave us two weeks of cover at a critical time when the bureaucrats were sending out all this bad economic data. Of course, now that we are past all that, you will have to resign for the good of the party. Tell Bill I said thanks for supplying a protege. He’ll know what I mean. By the way, your wife is due home today.
Best Wishes,
Barack
“Once Again, Weiner Proves, Size Matters -
Conservatives should thank him for making the case for smaller government.”
Single funniest two-liner of this spectacle.
Scott – you make some EXCELLENT points. When it comes to power-grab, Barney Frank is also an excellent example. Prior to the last election, he was saying the best way to get things done would be to give them MORE power. Excuse me – they’ve usurpted WAY too much already. Yes, despite Owevomit’s disdain for the Founding Fathers and the hatred he seems to possess for the country they sacrificed to birth – he is living proof why they wanted the gov’t small and controlled. How much better our country has been over the years before so much authority was grabbed by the powers-that-be.
Huma and the Tweeter
It’s very much a rarity when a Jew takes a Muslim to wife. When the Jew is a well-connected congressman, Anthony David Weiner, and the Muslim is a well-connected Hillary-staffer, Huma Mahmood Abedin (هما محمود عابدين in Urdu), it’s an even greater rarity. When the Jew is self-exposed as a pervert less than a year after their nuptials while the Muslim is traveling the world, well, things could get sticky.
As new Weinergate reports keep pouring in, Huma returned home to D.C. The question now is whether she will stand by her man as her boss stood by Bubba in the face of sexual scandals before and during Clinton’s presidency or dump the disgraced congressman as his fellow Democrats are in process of doing.
It’s a tough call for the pregnant Mrs. Weiner. The latest revelations about Mr. Weiner won’t make that call any easier.
It seems the Master Tweeter has been one busy, little congressman sending texts and sexts and photos to all sorts of women and girls, including a former porn star. Ginger Lee alleged in a news conference that she and the Weinerman exchanged some hundred emails over the course of three months mostly discussing politics in which he often went off topic.
Represented by none other than the peripatetic leech and sleaze merchant Gloria Allred–which proves that poor Anthony is really in trouble now–Ms. Lee’s attorney read an emailed line from the proud Weiner: “I have wardrobe demands too. I need to highlight my package.” One assumes he wasn’t referring to a Fed-Ex delivery.
The context of the communication was not revealed but Ms. Lee insists she never reciprocated any sexual talk with Weiner . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=4817)
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