Should Anthony Wiener run for Mayor and should Democrats support him?

[Stinky The Clown]

I think he should and I think we should.

I can understand other opinions and won't argue with them. I am just curious.

Do you think he should run?

[LostOne4Ever]

1. Sure, why not?

I didn't get why he had to leave congress over that in the first place.

[Stinky The Clown]

62. I agree. Vitter just stood tall and survived it. I think Wiener should have, too.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. yes he should run again. If they can forgive Sanford why can't people forgive Weiner.

After all he didn't have sex with anyone. He was stupid to send pictures. But goodness people need to move on. He is good for the middle class and I think he would be a good mayor.

[a kennedy]

11. Sanford and that doofus diaper man Vitter...... eom

[treestar]

16. This ^^^^^^^^

Any Republican who runs against Weiner and makes an issue of it can be pounded with Sanford and the many other examples. IOKIYAR sucks.

[southernyankeebelle]

56. your right.

[former9thward]

70. Democrats are running against him, not Republicans.

[question everything]

58. And when his opponents are part of a soap opera

Last week, one of Mr. Weiner's main rivals, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, spoke publicly about her struggles with bulimia and alcoholism. And the wife of another Democratic hopeful, Bill de Blasio, the city's public advocate, has talked about her past as a lesbian.

and..

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said New York's election had become reflective of "an age of Dr. Phil politics."

"We've moved from an era when you did everything you could to cover up your scandals to an era when you can't stop candidates from talking about them," Mr. Sabato said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323336104578499571013445786.html

[sabrina 1]

3. Yes!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Yes and yes.

Remember AW in action?

[brooklynite]

9. Explain how giving a fiery speech is a qualifier for Mayor...

Support Weiner if you think he'll be a good Executive, not because he's entertaining on C-SPAN.

[sabrina 1]

12. Have you ever looked at his voting record in Congress? And why would you think that

DUers are so shallow that they would vote for someone simply because they give 'fiery speeches on C-Span?

I would and will work to help him get back into politics because of his Progressive Voting Record in Congress. I think enough of DUers to assume that they too are familiar with that record.

I did not agree with him on everything, especially his support for AIPAC, but he has one of the most progressive records in Congress.

Also, a big factor for me and again I assume other DUers was his pursuit of Clarence Thomas, the real reason why he was driven out of Congress.

A better question, why would any Democrat not support someone who has his voting record? Is it because Andrew Breitbart and his gang of thugs stalked and pursued him, with some evidence that Issa was involved in that pursuit, to stop he from going after Thomas? And if so, why would any Democrat want to help those Right Wingers drive a good, progressive Democrat out of politics?

[brooklynite]

18. Because I'm not voting for a Legislator

I'm voting for someone to manage a Bureaucracy, and turn LOCAL (rather than national) political positions into implementable policy.

And, to be blunt, I have seen people here talk up Kucinich or Grayson or other opinionated Congresspersons with no apparent thought given to whether their oratorical skills or progressive orthodoxyyranslate into Executive skill

[NCTraveler]

33. Overall he would normally be a great pick.

But he easily put himself in a position to be blackmailed. That cannot be understated. Mayors can be blackmailed. I do understand those who support him and why they do. I imagine he has moved on and will make a great Mayor. But couldn't that area pick someone a little more principled? There have to be other choices.

[loli phabay]

42. good points, an executive and legislator are not always the same thing.

And yes he can run i just wouldnt vote for him.

[no_hypocrisy]

22. He's not afraid to be outspoken.

That's a definite plus in New York City.

[brooklynite]

26. Neither is Chris Christie...

There's a fine line between brassy and obnoxious.

[no_hypocrisy]

27. I'm waiting for CC to be outspoken against the rigid members of his party.

He's condemned the Tea Party and that's a good start.

[KittyWampus]

37. Big fucking deal. Got any links to legislation he got passed or investigations he headed up?

[MNBrewer]

55. Most of the time he was in Congress, Republicans were in charge.

And what does that have to do with his running for Mayor of NYC? Nothing!

[choie]

52. Ah memories! Thank you for that video, no_hypocrisy...

if only other Dems had his kind of passion and fight in them. I'm fucking sick to death of Harry Reid, Carl Levin, etc. types who kowtow to the republicans. Weiner called it like it is...

[samsingh]

5. yes and yes

[demwing]

7. I'd rather he run for congress

but ANYONE can run. It's up to him and the good people of New York to determine whether he wins. That being said, the guy rocks. Redemption is a great story, and Weiner has an awesome message. I hope he kicks ass, and eventually goes on to Governor.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Mayor? Yes.

Anything higher? No.

[Stinky The Clown]

63. NYC mayor is a bigger job than most governors or Congressmen.

[TheCowsCameHome]

66. True enough,

but it's still local.

If NYC wants him, I wish him well.

[NCTraveler]

10. No, I would not support him.

I don't live in that area so my vote wouldn't matter anyway. I truly hope he never holds political office again. He is a good progressive voice, with severely flawed principals. His flawed principals put the best interests of his constituents at risk.

[sabrina 1]

14. His constituents didn't agree with you. In polls after the publicity generated mainly by Breitbart

et al, over 60% of his constituents wanted him to remain in office. That was because of his excellent record working for the people who elected him. They didn't care what he did in his personal life, after all he didn't win so many times based on promises of being the family of 'family values', he won because of his political record and the voters of NY are mature enough to have their priorities in order.

[NCTraveler]

19. I do understand that.

As I clearly stated, I will not have the opportunity to work against him, as I do not live in that area. Some people have no concern when their elected officials put themselves in a position to be blackmailed. I mean really, look at Sanford. Some only care about the letter behind the name.

[BlueCaliDem]

28. Weiner was very good to his community. He did a lot for them and they were enraged that the

Democratic Party abandoned him . . . so they abandoned them when they held the special election, and didn't support the Democratic Party's chosen candidate to replace him. That's why a Republican won that seat, be it for only a few months.

It's clear that New Yorkers like Anthony Weiner. Were I a New Yorker, I'd vote for him, too.

[KittyWampus]

39. Wrong. Please cite your poll where 60% wanted him to remain. It was closer to 40%. And 50% in some.

[Orangepeel]

13. Is he the best New York's got? Nobody less stupid and reckless?

I don't live in NY so it is none of my business, but if he were running for mayor of my city, he wouldn't be my choice.

I wouldn't care if he'd had a consensual affair, but sending unsolicited, suggestive pictures to people you don't know? Too creepy for me.

[sabrina 1]

20. Bloomberg? Giuliani? And he did NOT send unsolicited email to people 'he didn't know'. Breitbart's

campaign to run him out of office for going after Clarence Thomas seems to have worked even among Democrats. That is sad. He accidentally sent ONE tweet to the wrong person and immediately tried to erase it. Unfortunately since he was being stalked by Breitbart, on behalf of Clarence Thomas for months, one of Breitbart's thugs was glued to his Twitter acct and saw it in the few seconds it took for him to erase it. Yes, it was a stupid mistake. Unlike Clinton though, or any number of illustrious leaders, he was engage in Cyber sex, not RL sex something had been doing before his marriage which, according to reports nearly half the population engages in.

If we stalked all US Congressmembers the way he was stalked, I am certain we would find far more serious 'mistakes' they make on a regular basis.

He and his wife have resolved the issue. That is good enough for me since someone else's marital issues are none of my business. Breitbart wasn't at all concerned apparently, by the extra-marital 'mistakes' of the army of Family Values Republicans though. But Weiner was exposing Breitbart's friend, Clarence Thomas's many conflicts of interest on the SC and something had to be done to stop that. Breitbart succeeded in saving Thomas, mainly due to Democrats' sudden embrace of 'family values'.

[Orangepeel]

57. Eh. In a city the size of New York, those are the only three choices?

Maybe if was railroaded. If he'd come clean in the beginning I'd be more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He has every right to run and people have every right to vote for him. But I think he's a creep and if he were running for mayor of my city I'd be working for a different democratic candidate.

[cbdo2007]

15. No common sense....so of course he makes a great politician.

[1-Old-Man]

17. Yes and yes.

[cynatnite]

21. Absolutely!

Mark Sanford in S.C. ran and won.

[gordianot]

23. The only thing worse than politicians making a come back from sexual indescretion is clergy.

When they apologize, moralize, ask forgiveness it totaly gets on my nerves. William Clinton is the exception for me he retired, when asked why states the truth, he did it because he could.

[onehandle]

24. The primary will sort it out. If he wins, yes support him.

I do want him to run. NYC voters are more critical than South Carolina voters. They'll sort it out.

[timdog44]

25. I'd have to say I am conflicted.

He certainly has a good voting record and that is one thing we need to have.

On the other hand I think good values go along with this. Sending pictures of himself was stupid. A lapse in judgement that gives me the slightest doubt of further stupidness. I guess that I hope he has learned his lesson.

Not as if he was on the Appalachian trail!!! on the public dole. Or wearing diapers while having a sexual encounter with someone.

So if pressed I would have to answer - yes and yes.

[cali]

29. he is running and as I'm not a NYer, what I think is irrelevant

[Marrah_G]

30. If I lived there I wouldn't support him

He would only get my vote if the alternative was alot worse.

[cali]

31. I'm with you Marrah.

His judgement is terribly flawed. And he clearly has impulse control problems.

[Puzzledtraveller]

49. Me too

[BlueCaliDem]

32. Absolutely. Were I a New Yorker, I'd vote for him because he isn't afraid to challenge powerful

people . . . like Clarence Thomas and his wife, which is why he was targeted by Brainfart before he kicked the bucket who was Corporate America's go-to boy for scandals to take down their political enemies.

For all his preening via Twitter, Anthony Weiner has never touched any of those women, and he is still a strong leader for Progressives. He would make a great Mayor because he cares about working New Yorkers.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. Historically, his politics are not like mine, he was an Iraq war yes voter so I'd be looking at the

alternatives if he was running and I was, due to some curse or bad luck, living in NYC. I did not care for his lying about the tweets, although the tweets were just pitiful, denying them and claiming he was framed is something I find to be really harmful to society.
So it depends. He's far from my favorite. I see a couple of really right wing NY Democrats posting here who do not like him, and that makes me like Anthony much more, he's not a bigot like so many of them are there. That is a big plus, he's not a simmering hidden agenda anti gay crusader like other NYC centrists.

[TM99]

35. Yes and Yes!

He definitely should.

Show me anyone who hasn't struggled, made mistakes, or needed forgiven, I will show you a hypocrite.

He faithfully supported Democrats in his district and lost his job because of a personal failing that harmed no one and the resultant witch hunt.

He would make an excellent mayor. I would vote for him in a New York minute if I could.

[panader0]

36. I'm betting he won't make any more stupid mistakes.

So yes.

[Paladin]

38. Yes to both questions. (nt)

[mfcorey1]

40. Yes and yes. eom

[no_hypocrisy]

41. Wiener on air now

Last edited Thu May 23, 2013, 04:35 PM - Edit history (1)

http:www.wnyc.org

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2013/may/23/anthony-weiner-candidate-mayor/

[obnoxiousdrunk]

43. Yes, why not ? ... n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

44. Yes and yes.

[madokie]

45. He lost my respect a long time ago

I expect better of our elected officials. Maybe I'm old fashioned or what ever but thats how the worm turns in my neck of the woods.

[JustAnotherGen]

46. I think he can

Expand commerce and leave the door open for additional restoration of historic buildings/architecture. My husband's restoration and iron art/metal work businesses . . . he crosses into NYC from NJ a great deal. A lot of old buildings with 300+ year old metal work sit in NYC.

I also think - as much as I invade NYC on my weekends . . . He will take a look at the Civil Rights issues NYC faces. I'm a little afraid to take my 17 and 20 year old nephew into the city with their sister to see Book of Mormon. Two young black males? Eh? I think that can be addressed. Add in a very good friend from University who just happens to be gay . . . and is keeping me abreast of the serious hate crimes against the GLBT community in NYC as of late.

So I don't live there - but I'm watching. In terms of Social Justice at the local level where he can really impact the day to day lives of people? I think he could be a good bet.

And he stands in sharp, sharp contrast to Bloomie and the Ghoul.

[kentuck]

47. No.

Alex Wagner was on Chris Hayes show last night (and she was very good) and made the point that his showing himself over the Internet and Sanford falling in love with another woman were not the same and voters would differentiate. One of them was just "creepy".

I think that is the way the voters in NY will look at it also?

Liberals are not as quick to forgive and forget as are southern evangelicals.

[sammytko]

48. I agree. Two different things completely.

The picture thing was creepy and gross.

[geek tragedy]

50. No and not unless he wins the primary.

Virtually any other Democrat would be better.

[tularetom]

51. Hey, he pisses off republicans, so why not?

He probably pisses off a few Democrats too, but nobody's perfect.

He couldn't be any worse than Bloomberg or Giuliani. Or Rahm Emanuel for that matter.

[Laelth]

53. Yes, he should run, and yes, we should support him.

For one thing, he's a liberal. For another, we have to stop stabbing our own people in the back. It they're Republicans in disguise, stab away, but a real, liberal Democrat? No. Those we should defend to the end. The dire situation in which we find ourselves demands it.

-Laelth

[Demo_Chris]

54. Yes, and yes.

[emulatorloo]

59. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat

if I could.

[Xyzse]

60. He could run...

It is his right and prerogative to do so.
Now do I think he should win? Probably not.

[Zoeisright]

61. Doesn't seem like he has very good judgment.

Which is too bad, because I liked him before he messed up.

On the other hand, Diaper Dave Vitter is still a Senator after breaking the law with prostitutes. Well, OIKIYAR.

[AngryAmish]

64. Is the reason people support him because he used to yell a lot on TV?

The guy is a class A weirdo.

[rl6214]

65. Should he run...sure, why not.

Should Democrats support him? Depends on what other candidates emerge.

[aikoaiko]

67. I support him entering the primary and being vetted.

Beyond that I won't commit to him at this point.

[LittleBlue]

68. No and no. This is putting one person's ambitions above the good of the party.

Somehow I doubt that the average, unconnected person would survive a scandal like this.

This race is ours if only we don't put it in jeopardy for no good reason.

[hrmjustin]

69. I live in NYC and I am voting for him.