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Washington Prowler
This Property Is Condemned
Democrat leaders want to seize Weiner’s hard drives. Plus: Those TARP-tainted GOP presidential hopefuls.
WEINER’S HARD DRIVES
Over the
weekend, House Democrat leaders were attempting to ascertain
whether the hard drives of the computers used by embattled serial
sexter Rep. Anthony Weiner had been seized and
secured by the House Sergeant at Arms as part of an effort to
determine whether government resources had been used for Weiner’s
online dalliances with women, including an underage female in
Delaware.
Early last week, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters that a House ethics investigation would be taking place to determine if Weiner used computers, handheld devices, or cell phones provided by the House of Representatives — or office space for that matter — in his frequent online chats with women across the country.
“We know that he took photos of himself semi-nude or almost completely nude in the House gym and at least one other House facility that the public does not have access to,” says a House Democrat leadership aide. “That alone might be enough to extend the ethics investigation, but it doesn’t quite rise to use of the computer equipment in his House or district offices.”
Most House members use at least two different Blackberrys — one for official business, the other for personal and sometimes campaign or outside political effort — and are often reminded by House security, leadership and the Sergeant at Arms office about using their communications devices for official use.
But some House Democrats fear that there is more to the Weiner story, and that the scandal may include more graphic material on computer hard drives. “Let’s face it, guys that do this kind of stuff online, especially with minors, don’t limit themselves to just photos of themselves and online chats,” says the House Democrat leadership aide. “Our greatest concern is that those hard drives have either been wiped — creating the impression of more serious coverups — or that there is some really dirty garbage that takes this story to a whole other area. None of us wants to think about it, but we have to worry.”
As of Sunday afternoon, the Minority Leader’s office had not received confirmation that the computer drives had been secured.
TARP TAINTED
On the same day that former Speaker of the House New
Gingrich was seeing more than half of his senior
Presidential campaign staff leave, Texas Gov. Rick
Perry was holding meetings in Austin reviewing political
and policy positions he’s made over the past four years that could
impact his entry into the GOP presidential primary
field.
According to sources familiar with the meetings, the most damaging position — according to polling — is Perry’s very vocal support for the Bush and Obama Administration’s TARP and stimulus bills that racked up more than a trillion dollars in government spending.
“It’s the kind of position that can’t be excused by the tea party movement, and it’s been a killer in polling,” says a Perry supporter who has in the past advised Perry. “But it’s not like Perry would be by himself.”
Indeed, of the Republican candidates either declared or publicly considering a run for the GOP nomination, only former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Ron Paul, and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter opposed the bank bailouts. McCotter at the time held the fourth-ranking leadership post in the House minority and led the fight against TARP, and Bachmann voted against TARP twice, despite the fact that the rest of House GOP leadership eventually supported the legislation.
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Louis Jenkins| 6.13.11 @ 8:46AM
Well, the list above has narrowed down the real conservatives. Only two are in the hunt, but Palin may very well declare. You are a conservative, or you are not.
Alan Brooks| 6.13.11 @ 9:13AM
He will resign very soon, after a decent interval to set up a book deal, lecture circuit itinerary, and TV inquiries.
BTW Julia in the other thread was correct, but it is a matter of degree. Just say every guy at AS has looked at porn, slept with a 17 year old, and so forth.
STILL, they do not let it become publicized. If someone exposed himself to Julia, she might contact the police to file a complaint, but if the same guy 'beats off' to a porno in his computer room, who is going to know about it?
Alan Brooks| 6.13.11 @ 9:20AM
...in other words, Julia lacks a sense of proportion, she does not fully comprehend the difference between public and private. Say Julia herself used a vibrator (sure, these examples are rather sordid) in private- such is no big deal. but if she pleasured herself in public, such is comparable to Weiner, a politician who is unquestionably a voyeur and exhibitionist. It doesn't bother me, but if the hard drives reveal he used government resources he is going to get a public spanking, just not the kind he wants!
LarryK| 6.13.11 @ 8:55AM
Culture of Corruption???
Alan Brooks| 6.13.11 @ 9:34AM
What I cannot get over is how the sekshuel revalooshun fizzled out. In the '60s my Southern grandmother told me sex would become too distracting-- "basely titillating" was the expression she used often.
But instead it is has become boring and vapid, inconsequential not evil or "base".
Look at Weiner; he is un-handsome, boring, and tasteless himself : Weiner is emblematic of the commercialization of eros into something not exciting and wickedly sinful, but rather, quite empty.
So Julia ironically got Woody Allen's truism backwards-- sex is NOT dirty anymore, it is cheap without the dirtiness.
JimH| 6.13.11 @ 9:57AM
Regarding TARP taint, I believe TARP was originally represented as a way the government would purchase the securitized mortgage paper of dubious value held by the banks thu freeing them of the uncertainty of its value and help restore liquidity. This plan had a certain plausibility, particularly as it was government policy which got the banks to give those shaky mortgages to begin with. This was not how TARP was implemented. Also while the government forced a number of solvent banks to take TARP money they did not want in order that those that needed it would not be stigmatized.
JP| 6.13.11 @ 11:52AM
Mortgage securities continued to lose value until Match 2009. The day Congress rescinded the Mark-to-Market accounting rules, the volatility of went away. TARP had nothing to do with it.
And it wasn't until the banks began processing foreclosure paperwork did we know the full damage to the Housing Marktet. Across the nation, properties continue to lose value. And now the Fed has some $750 billion of mortgages securities on its books that rest on assests that continue to lose value. No one in thier right mind will buy them and take them off the Fed's books.
JimH| 6.13.11 @ 12:52PM
You may be correct. What I was saying that it was my impression that the TARP money was at the start intended to buy up this paper rather then just used as a sort of forced (in some cases) loan.
insanity | 6.13.11 @ 10:44AM
nice news
Clint| 6.13.11 @ 12:19PM
"...TARP established an unfortunate precedent of heavy-handed government intervention in the operations of businesses. The government forced some financial institutions to take TARP funds, even those that said they did not want them, by threatening actions from regulators. The government used the TARP for purposes other than originally stated in Congressional hearings, including the bailing out of automobile companies.
"TARP is not popular with most Americans. Economic evaluations now rolling in support their view..."
Occam's Tool| 6.13.11 @ 1:09PM
Vote BTO!
Anthony| 6.13.11 @ 4:05PM
Madam Pelosi,the most ethical Speaker of the House, apparently, when she "drained the swamp" following the defeat of the Rs in 06, missed a few reptiles at the bottom of the swamp, namely, one Anthony's Weiner.
The Ds and the media allies are completely and totally corrupt.
Mike| 6.13.11 @ 6:17PM
I think Weiner should call a press conference and say he will resign from the House when Vitter resigns from the Senate.
megapotamus| 6.15.11 @ 9:37PM
Gee, Mike, that is a very original thought. Did you work on that all day? In other news, no one who reviles Democrats wants Weiner to go anywhere except maybe Hollywood. As a liar, a perv, a narcissist and a troll he well represents the modern Democratic party and the Left generally.
BackToBasics| 6.13.11 @ 6:17PM
Weinergate??? Years ago, if this had happened considering the name Weiner and the behavior associated with him, one would have more likely heard a phrase like, "The gods themselves mock us."
We are more and more as a nation, projecting the face of foolishness and nonsense to the rest of the world, including our enemies.
And in Proverbs for those who lack wisdom and actually revel in or love their lack (proverbs 1:22) it says, "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes. When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish comes upon you. Proverbs 1:26, 27
Dave Trap| 6.13.11 @ 7:01PM
Weiner is the wurst
Martin Owens| 6.13.11 @ 7:38PM
Forgive me for belaboring the obvious, but the good Congressman's " hard drive" so to speak, should have been placed under restraint long ago.
( Cue " Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops...)
dsefwf | 6.14.11 @ 1:42AM
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Cosmo| 6.14.11 @ 4:26AM
You can tell a Conservative by how they vote.
Michelle Bachmann voted against TARP and all the other garbage. She is the real deal, a true Conservative. That's why the House leadership hates her.
Ryan voted for prescription-drug entitlement, TARP, Keynesian “stimulus” spending, and the auto-company bailout. Not a Conservative.
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banshee| 6.15.11 @ 8:27PM
Weiner ought to take this as a sign! Even the weather is against him. Article today said "Weiner to meet his wife a day early due to volcanic activity in Africa."
First Andrew Breitbart, then his friend, Jon Stewart - now a volcano belches out its disgust.
I have a suggestion to cut expenses in Washington. Close the congressional gymnasium. Obviously no one ever goes there but Weiner. He seemed to be enjoying complete seclusion for his photo sessions.
banshee| 6.15.11 @ 8:47PM
Someone said to me recently, "Won't everyone feel bad if Weiner commited suicide?" I said, "He won't do that." She said , "Why do you think not?" I said, Because, suicide is the severest form of self criticism and a twisted ego like his does not criticize itself or assume blame." She continues in her relentless liberal pursuit, to blame me and Ann Coulter and . . the world. "But wouldn't you?" No. Whether Anthony Weiner lives or dies is a matter of complete indifference to me. Any problem I ever had with Anthony Weiner could be solved by a click of the remote as he was railing at Megan Kelly. That is how immaterial he is to my existence. Crabgrass on the lawn of life. A flyspeck on the ceiling. He is a loud mouth nothing. His irrelevance, should he be crazy enough to return to Congress would be immeasurable . No one will ever look upon him again without seeing the nude, pathetically preening pervert, standing in the congressional shower, alone with his Blackberry.
megapotamus| 6.15.11 @ 9:47PM
Those who dismiss Weiner as a non-entity could not be more wrong. Barney Frank is a mere Houseman, more or less obscure unless you seek him out, yet his crimes have had a profound effect on the nation which will prove lasting, I guarantee. Weiner was the point man for the so-called Progressives. He was the only Democrat arrogant enough to boldly propound and defend the noisome mess that is socialism in hostile venues like Hannity. Yes, others do those shows but they equivocate when they do not prevaricate. This is why Weiner was so popular with teenage coeds; he was an alleged adult championing the politics of the juvenile. But the politics have not changed nor will they if these Progressives have their way, and they will. So who will fill his, um, shoes? The heir apparent seems to be Debbie Wasserman-Shultz and stupider than this bimbo, bimbos do not come. If Weiner was a transparent hack and liar, DWS is that plus a bag of cow chips underneath her frizzy hairdo. Even if he retains his office, Weiner will do so oh so briefly, given redistricting, and in any event will not expose himself to the bright lights unnecessarily. Although this all comes from no great tactical maneuver, it is a positive development. Not champagne time perhaps but an occasion for your second best bourbon in a real glass.
megapotamus| 6.15.11 @ 9:51PM
In an unrelated vein, why is it that spammers hawking wedding dresses can get on here routinely and yet I cannot post the link to my own blog?