Can I ask a question about Bob Filner?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

(as a disclaimer, i only know as much about his scandal as Rachel Maddow and The Daily Show have covered)

Are we sure this isn't some form of dementia? All these allegations seem recent (I could be wrong) and seem to show poor impulse control. Could he have some prefrontal cortex damage or something clinically wrong with him?

It just weird that some guy decided to start sexually harassing people at the age of 70. Are there older accounts of this kind of behavior

[GiaGiovanni]

1. I don't know.

Apparently he's been doing this for years.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. Maybe. But he only started criticizing the BofA recently before the accusations were brought out.

[GiaGiovanni]

5. You think B of A is behind this?

?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. More can be found here, and elsewhere:

"Mayor Bob Filner again expressed his disappointment with the case and the decision by the City Attorney to prosecute Olson.

“It looks like we were prosecuting someone at the insistence of Bank of America for writing political issues. I mean, it’s chalk. It’s washable chalk. It’s political slogans. We are not even responding to public complaints. They were complaints from Bank of America. I think it’s a stupid case and is costing us money. If these are the types of cases the City Attorney is prosecuting then I am not sure he needs as much money in his budget as he says he does.”

http://fija.org/2013/07/01/mayor-filner-on-jury-nullification-plea-for-sidewalk-chalker-no-one-has-asked-me/

In San Diego, criticizing the Bank of American by writing adverse statements on a sidewalk with chalk can get you prosecuted, with a risk of being sent to jail for up to 13 years.

Critizing the Bank of America, as a politician, can produce a swarm of attacks.

This is not a defense of sexual harrassment - or even a refusal to acknowledge that a one-time pat on the butt of an assistant campaign manager about 8 years ago should be treated as attempted rape - but it does seem that there was an absence of interest in this until Filner's criticism of the BofA became public.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Once again

The complaint with fair housing and employment was filed now seven months ago. BoA is not behind this...fully self inflicted.

[GiaGiovanni]

16. Interesting. Thank you.

I had not known about this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. While it might seem it's related it is not

The original complaint with fair housing and employment was filed by McCormack Jackson months before this case even came out.

I told you this already.

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. Doesn't matter if he's being controlled by an alien - he needs to go. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. that was clearly not my question and i am not disagreeing with you about his need to step down. nt

[GiaGiovanni]

7. There would be a difference in how it was handled

If it's a long term character flaw, he needs to be recalled.

If it's a disability or illness of some sort, he needs to go out on disability.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

14. Agreed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I think I am qualified to answer this

Not just my beat.

Let me preface this by...he was a prof at SDSU when I was a student at SDSU. I was scheduled to take his history of science course the next semester from when he got elected to the House. There were rumors of a prof, not by name, chasing skirts.

He is twice divorced, over irreconcilable differences.

Lori Saldaña warned Jeff Durfee before the election that she was approached by women on this behavior while in Congress. Durfee, now former Dem Party Chairman said have them contact me, he claims they never did.

A former staffer of his was warmed not to say a thing or he would destroy her.

The Accountability Act of 1994, he voted aye, gives complainants 180 days to file.

Chasing some of this by the way right now.

You can read some of what Laura Fink told us, press...the other day here

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13674

By the way, that angle was explored...

[GiaGiovanni]

8. Thanks, Nadin!

By the way, do we know where he is yet?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Gone completely radio silence as far as we can tell

[GiaGiovanni]

11. Someone upthread suggested that B of A might be behind this.

From what you're saying, the party knew about this before Filner ran and backed him anyway.

Any chance on saying his behavior is a real sickness/addiction, have him go out on disability, and having the second in command run the show?

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. More inside baseball

Jeff Durfee also supported Scott Peters over Lori Saldaña. Some of what went on in background, including the language used, is ugly. The local dems are still somewhat divided, and this whole embrogglio will do some real damage.

Peters is not precisely a real progressive, and while Filner is, he is a man if you get my drift.

[GiaGiovanni]

17. So petty personal politics led to this

You don't think B of A is involved?

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. No, BoA is not involved

The timeline is way off for that. McCormack Jackson filed her letter with Fair Housing and Employment now seven months ago. This case was filed with the courts by Jan Goldsmith's office three months ago...speedy trial and all that. The comments were done two months ago.

The timeline is waaaayyyy off. The many theories of what s behind this mostly do not match and are a disservice to the women.

[GiaGiovanni]

20. Ok, thanks.

Are you covering this story today?

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Chasing an aspect of it yes

[GiaGiovanni]

24. Guess you can"t give a scoop

Good luck

[sad-cafe]

37. is there not anything you are not an expert on

gosh I am amazed.

[Cleita]

19. I think he's drinking. Yes, people do drink in the morning and can appear to be

sober and functioning, yet they will cross that boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behavior because drinking lowers that shield. In his case it also could be prescription drugs he's taking that have the same effect. I'm an ex-bartender and have witnessed how alcohol and drugs can result in inappropriate behavior once a buzz is achieved.

I was also the victim of sexual harassment in my twenties, when the three martini lunch was an institution. It was always in the afternoon and it was always from the old coots, most of them married. I think going to AA meetings after his two week rehab should also be required.

[Warpy]

22. Apparently it's been going on and escalating for some years

While it could be organic brain disease, it could also be related to medication or an alcohol problem. Or he could just be a typical douchenozzle who felt women owed him the full use of their bodies once he got into the big chair at the top.

Whatever the reason, he's not going to stop until we stop him.

[FreeState]

23. Local speculation of a stroke

I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the media, but most of the local politicians on both sides here have been speculating a stroke. Also, he has long been known to hit on women inappropriately - just not on the level he has been now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. That is because none that I know in the media

Have heard that yet.



And trust me...I will try that lead.

What I heard...was an MRI was recommended though.

Just a thought, but would not that mean not able to carry duties any more? I think Saldaña is right, Durfee was wrong...and now we are on complete cya mode.

[GiaGiovanni]

27. An MRI?

Maybe they can force him out through illness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I don't know.

But this city is in some serious cya mode

[FreeState]

29. Hmm you haven't heard that?

I can count almost 30 people who have mentioned it to me as if it were common knowledge, including a city council member. They may not be saying it to the press, but believe me they are saying it.

[GiaGiovanni]

30. No I haven't heard that. Nor have most San Diegans

You must travel in the inner circles.

[FreeState]

31. Nope - just involved in local politics

Live in the center of the City and cross paths with local politicos weekly... but by no means connected on any level (unless you count City Council members knowing me by name - which is because I call and email and attend meetings when needs be).

[GiaGiovanni]

33. Ah, that's why

Glad to have the info. Thanks!

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. No, they are not saying that to the press

Rumors are flying of an MRI recommendation though

But that came through non usual paths.

See ya in city hall...I cover it regularly

[FreeState]

34. It will be interesting to see what happen

My prediction is he will be forced out or resign by the end of the year. Election will come down to Gloria and Fletcher with Gloria winning. I could be wrong

I hope that the Mayor gets the help he needs and leaves with grace - but knowing him thats doubtful

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. We have a betting pool

I say he's gone before the recall is done.

As to help, he needs it, but it's been a long problem from the whole history.

The dems are split and I wish they listened to Saldaña...but what can I say? I would say some of this is truly cya.

[frylock]

36. hope you're right about todd gloria

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. The President of the Council takes over

After a mayoral resignation. I m not sure he can run as interim mayor.

Right now reading the fun stuff (shoot me now) over the County Fire Authority strategic plan. At least it's easier than the accountability Act of 1994

[JI7]

25. i think there are some previous allegations, plus i think it intesified once he became Mayor

probably the power that came with being mayor made him feel like he could get a way with it.

people are more respectful towards certain offices such as mayor and other executive positions than a congress member. and he probably took advantage of this.