My take on Anthony Weiner…

Yes, Anthony Weiner is in a big, self inflicted mess. And yes, he has done nothing illegal, unlike Senator David Vitter who was backed by Republicans for reelection…and won reelection.

Hence, I care not what the cynical, greedy amoral bastards Republican political leadership says.

So what about Mr. Weiner? Certainly, he was (and still is, to a lesser degree) popular with many internet liberals. Here is why: he openly calls out the Republicans:

When we’ve had years and years and years of liberals who cower at the thought of the conservatives not liking us…well, that makes us want to cheer!!!

This scene from the hit show West Wing captures how many of us feel:

BUT
While Mr. Weiner’s outbursts made me smile inside….the fact was that he really wasn’t that effective of an advocate in Congress (at least at a NATIONAL level..he may have been at his own Congressional District level):

But it was the hushed silence of most Democrats on Monday — apart from those who were stampeding away from him — that served as a poignant reminder of Mr. Weiner’s relative solitude within the political spheres of Washington and New York.

Widely seen as enjoying Mr. Schumer’s press instincts but not his political skills, Mr. Weiner has never been particularly popular with his colleagues, who describe him as a lone wolf with a snide streak that can verge on nasty — as when he screamed at a New York colleague, Representative Peter T. King, a Republican, on the House floor during a debate on the 9/11 health bill.

Mr. Weiner has also been a frequent thorn in the side of Democratic leaders — saying President Obama, for example, had failed to show leadership in the fight with Republicans over health reform.

Those resentments were only magnified in the past week, as Democrats in New York and Washington complained bitterly that the momentum they had won — with an upset victory in a special House election in Buffalo, and renewed confidence about pressing the attack against Republicans over Medicare — had been squandered in the media frenzy over Mr. Weiner and his Twitter account.

So while it make me feel good for me to hear him blast the Republicans at the podium and I might get frustrated by President Obama bending over backwards to try to….as it appears to me…appease the Republicans rather than fight them…Mr. Weiner really didn’t get that much…done.

Progress is often not loud and noisy and the heavy lifting it takes to make things happen doesn’t always gather attention.

Heck, I can rant against the Republicans all day long. But that really isn’t the role of those in Congress.

Venting one’s spleen feels good…but it isn’t governing.

Worth a Thousand Words…

I never used to view Mr. Pawlenty as a buffoon…I certainly do now.

12 June 2011 post walk

Workout notes I had visions of walking 20 miles given last week’s performance, but I settled for 14 with a focus on keeping an upright posture (or at least not being so stooped over). Given the 615 feet on climb on this Boredom course, it was a challenge:

My time was 3:24 (14:24 mpm) with my stopping the watch for one bathroom break. This is faster than recent efforts but still about 25 minutes (2 mpm) slower than I’d like to be; when I can cruise this in under 3 hours I am ready for a marathon race.

The only “bad” part of the course is the short “broken sidewalk” section on McClure. The best part was the rich Republican neighborhood on Grandview drive; it is scenic and the people there can afford to have others do their lawns for them; hence Sunday mornings are peaceful. The part through the working class neighborhoods was ear splitting (saws, trimmers, mowers) and it was quiet again though the “broken sidewalk” sections (where the lawns are mostly overgrown).

I was a bit distressed on Grandview as a couple of spandex VPL ladies came running by at about an 11 mpm pace and I lacked the firepower to pick up the pace to see them for as long as I wanted to (this was 6-7 miles into my workout).

On the upside, I saw lots of small animals (baby bunnies, chipmunks, etc.) It makes me a bit sad when I see a baby bunny that doesn’t run from me right away; those are going to get eaten (eventually).

Political humor

12 June 2011 early am

I am ready to go walking (in just a bit; not sure as to how long I’ll last). I’ll focus on technique and keeping good (or at least better) posture.

Governors: Rick Perry wants a day of fasting and prayer. So far, only Gov. Brownback (woo, er, R-Kansas) has agreed, though at least half of the activities might do Gov. Christie some good.

We are so busted

They are onto us!