Can the Democrats Keep Weiner's Seat?

[kentuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/06/07/will-the-democrats-lose-anthony-weiners-seat/let-us-give-thanks-to-anthony-weiner

<snip>
I grew up in Queens, and my 92-year-old mother still lives in Forest Hills, a key neighborhood in Anthony Weiner's district. The aging voters in Queens and Brooklyn are increasingly conservative, along with the new immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe. No one should assume that Representative Weiner is a sure bet for re-election, but most important, we should be grateful that New York City has been saved once again.

Mr. Weiner's self-destructive and deceptive behavior means that this seven-term congressman will never get elected mayor of New York City. New Yorkers are too smart and care about this city too much to elect Representative Weiner as mayor. He simply lacks the maturity for the job. Managing this city is not based on who shouts the loudest but who we trust to oversee a population of 8.3 million, a $65.7 billion budget, a public school system of 1.1 million students, a police force larger than the F.B.I. and an economy with a work force of 3.3 million people and 50 million tourists a year.

The mayor is the focal point of New York City. Almost all municipal power flows to and from the mayor. Unlike other jurisdictions, our city government affects every New Yorker: rich, poor and middle class, whether it’s the water we drink, the public schools our children attend, the sidewalks we rely on, or the parks and beaches that provide relief from the summer heat. New Yorkers want a mayor who is in control of his emotions, who tells the truth, and who can command respect, not ridicule, in Albany and Washington.

That's why we should be thankful that Anthony Weiner's dream to be mayor, like his online activity, can now be dismissed as a fantasy. We should thank the Congressman; he has saved us from the juvenile behavior that he would have brought to City Hall.

.......more

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "Saved . . . from (Weiner's) juvenile behavior"?

Before this story hit the wires, was anyone complaining about the service that Weiner provided to his constituents and to the country at large? Is the problem now that we know about his personal behavior? It was there while he was castigating Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) for phony numbers about Obama's healthcare plan and it didn't make a difference. It was there when Weiner defended Social Security. And it was there last week when he went after SC Justice Clarence Thomas.

Yeah, we wish he didn't do it and maybe more to the point, we wish we didn't know about it. But he did and we do.

I just don't see the compromise in public service by Weiner due to his personal lapse of judgment.

[iwishiwas]

2. This article sure paints a bleak future for Weiner.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. It will be hard.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. They have a firm grip on it.

[tekisui]

6. It is a long shot.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. Nope. It's a Democratic stronghold. I grew up there.

[TheKentuckian]

5. More framing to set up a machine candidate that won't make waves except against the people

I hate these fucks more with each passing moment.

[6000eliot]

7. Since he isn't going to lose it, there's no need to save it.

Stupid speculation.

[FBaggins]

8. Of course they can.

The only way they "lose" it is if they decide to draw it out of existence (very possible).

But that doesn't mean that the Democrat who holds it in two years will be named Weiner.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. What a load of self serving NYer crapola! Does the author not

recall Mayor Rudy, who moved his mistress into Gracie Mansion, told his wife and kids about it on TV, along with the city. They elected him once again after that. This is the man who appointed Bernie Kerik and then pushed that criminal to be head of Homeland Security. Rudy who is opposed to equal rights but has been photographed, very maturely, in flouncy drag more times than Nathan Lane, Rudy who is anti gay but had gay roommates for years.
What was the mistress's name, what was the name of Rudy's wife at the time, the mother of his children? Which of the two women spent the most time living in the Mayor's mansion?
So the standard for Mayor of NY is Rudy, his wife, his mistress, both in Gracie Mansion, Bernard Kerik and stiletto heels in size 12. Good, good stuff.
The author of the OP must have a memory syndrome, a loss of recall, amnesia o' the five boroughs.

[annabanana]

10. Phooey!. .I believe that WEINER can keep Weiner's seat.

NYT is sometimes just full of unadulterated bullshit. Pure bovine crap (no disrespect to the cows)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. They want him to stay. Poll

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1253390

[gkhouston]

13. Wow. The people who don't want Clarence Thomas threatened

are pushing back hard. Nice intimidation technique, and it's fun to watch who's doing the most helping.

Wonder what tomorrow's talking point will be?