Piling On Weiner

I am normally able to resist the temptation to pile on a popular target, but this Twitter thing with Rep Anthony Weiner of New York simply has too many possibilities to pass up. Having been around the newspaper industry for a few years, I can in fact imagine the headlines in the days ahead:

• Young girls are apparently a Twitter over Weiner's wiener
• Weiner says that he will not be distracted by his wiener
• Congressman claims that his wiener was 'hacked'! (Lorena Bobbit Questioned)
• Congressional Twit Tweets - Weiner's wiener exposed
• Member's member to be focus of Congressional investigation
• Weiner's wiener ... a scandal that stretches from coast to coast
• College student refuses to release Weiner wiener photo saying, "Objects appearing in the camera are further than they appear"
• Investigation over the Weiner Tweet hack moved to small claims court

And they just go on and on ... (Feel free in fact, to chime in with a few of your own) For those of you who may not remember, or have just finally managed to forget, this is the same Rep Weiner who blew a gasket last July when many Republicans voted against a $7.4 billion dollar fund to be used to aid 9/11 First Responders. This was not an objection to the 'Zadroga Act', which had 115 co-sponsors, including 15 Republicans. Nor did anyone particularly object to the size of the fund or believe that taking care of these people was not a national obligation. They were concerned however about the waste and fraud that always seem to occur when the government has lots of money to hand out and does so. With examples of such behavior before them from the previously established 9/11 fund, they might even be forgiven for such misgivings. Not by Rep Weiner however, he went off on a rant on the House floor that remains a YouTube favorite and was even considered over the top by many of the politicians and pundits to whom over the top is a way of life. He seemed to take great relish in taking center stage to castigate his fellow legislators with a verbal assault that left him shaking and all but foaming at the mouth in righteous indignation. His moral superiority and outrage were almost palpable to all as he called down fire and brimstone on those whose behavior he considered little more than repugnant and reprehensible. His tirade earned him 15 minutes of fame and a chance to go around to the talk shows to bask in the attention that such nonsensical notoriety often brings. (Just as an FYI, this act was eventually passed and signed into law.) It's a funny thing about grabbing the national spotlight in politics however. Just when you think that you've done you bit on stage and can safely retire behind the curtain for some well-deserved rest and relaxation, someone bumps that previously sought source of illumination in such a way that you find yourself back in its glare; often at the most inconvenient of times. And so yet another vainglorious politician, wooed by the siren song of power and fame, may now have succumbed to one foolish temptation too many. Another elected representative seems to have confused prerogative with potency and crossed a number of lines of good conduct and good sense in the process. There's no telling whether this incident (and the others which are bound now to find voice) will bring about the end of a potentially promising, if shrill career. It's interesting though that in spite (or maybe because) of the fact that so many politicians are in love with themselves, they believe that all others are in love with them as well. It's also rather amusing (in a sad way) to realize that those we place in positions to make good choices for all of us can make so many poor ones for themselves. Hey now that I think of it, maybe what Rep Weiner needs is a little time away from Washington DC to let all of this uproar die down. Maybe (like in "Animal House"), what he needs is a little road trip to return things to proper perspective. After all, Sarah Palin is making her way around the country these days using a neat bus and some motorcycles. Maybe Anthony Weiner could latch on to a cool ride and do a little traveling of his own.

I understand the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile might be available ...

The Moral Dilemma

Welcome to another of the seemingly endless (and perhaps pointless) attempts to find the qualities of a good political candidate. As we continue this forced march to the November election, the next quality that I would like to touch on is that a candidate should be of "good moral judgment". Continuing scandals at almost every level of government may lead us to believe that such a thing is a vain search. But before we go too far down that road, let's at least give it a try by turning to our ready reference at Merriam Webster.  

Perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect This can't be what we are looking for, as it seems mostly like gibberish. If it has any meaning at all, it would be to say that the candidate "feels" like the right one rather than saying one "thinks" that this is the right one. I'm not sure I want to go down that path, as this seems to lead us back to the cult of personality that we have discussed before. I think that I would rather use logic to pick a candidate than my gut. 

Probable though not proved 
This may even be worse. This implies a doubt in the suitability of a candidate, rather than an affirmation of suitability. I have a doubt about all politicians in general as it is. I would like something more proven if it's all the same to you. -  
Conforming to a standard of right behavior 
This one seems to be the one at first glance, but what is "right behavior"? It was right behavior for Crusaders to kill Muslims in the name of their God. It was right behavior for the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expected, by the way) to kill any kind of "unbelievers" in the name of theirs. It is considered right behavior today by some Muslims to do the same. No, I am far from ready to accept this as a standard.  

Capable of right and wrong action 
No I don't think this one helps. Of course one can be capable of right and wrong action. The only other alternative is no action at all, something we often hope for from politicians. For the most part, when they aren't doing anything, they aren't making things worse.  

Sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment 
I think that this is what we are looking for, but I am not sure that the two parts always go together. A conscience leaves some leeway that I'm not prepared to give. It will allow someone to do something awful, and simply feel bad about it. Ethical judgment, on the other hand, is something to be sought not only in politics, but in all aspects of life. It is certainly something that someone who seeks to lead should have.

Well, this search has been more successful than most, though it seems that what we are looking for is actually an 'ethical' candidate, more than a 'moral' one. Since ethics has always seemed to be more of an unchanging standard than morals are, that's OK with me. I won't quibble over the words as long as there is something here of substance that we can use as a guidepost. Maybe we are finally on the right track, and there is something to this search after all. Of course, this probably means that we need to look up ethical (but not now).