In his combination of unctuousness, mendacity, mock-reasonableness, petulance, bullying, hypocrisy, overweening arrogance, brazen aggression, self-pity, victimhood, and bogus moral preening, it’s hard to beat Congressman Anthony Weiner. He’s the perfect face of the modern American Left in all its glorious pathology; why anyone takes these people seriously is utterly beyond me, so transparent are they. And yet for some, their sweet nothings continue to resonate.
Here he is with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, doing what lefties do best: lie, equivocate, lecture, browbeat, and implicitly threaten, even when they’re caught red-handed:
I mean, how hard was it to see through Tony Weiner? Or an even worse mountebank, John Edwards, who positively oozed phoniness from every pore — and yet somehow wound up on the Democratic ticket as the sidekick to another pretentious poseur, John Kerry? Not to mention Maerose Prizzi as Speaker of the House for four infelicitous years. In a bad sign for the Big Tone, Maerose has fired a warning shot across his bow with her call for an ethics investigation; Weiner ought to take the hint and pack it in.
By comparison, a genial snake-oil salesman like Bill Clinton comes off as a somewhat lovable rogue, if you don’t count the cost to the nation of his perjury and its continuing repercussions. The country is paying a heavy price for the media’s childish celebration of what a good liar Clinton was — the problem is that much less good liars have proliferated in his wake.
Indeed, it’s as if the party of Jefferson has been taken over by the Duke and the Dauphin from Huckleberry Finn, always on the lookout for suckers and easy marks: Sad to say, such willing suspenders of disbelief seem to comprise about half of the electorate these days.
As I said back on Election Night 2008: ”This is an unlovely party filled with unlovely people, as America’s about to find out once the Obama pixie dust wears off.”
"This is an unlovely party filled with unlovely people."
It should be fatuous to note, but apparently is not, that even the loveliest of parties is filled with unlovely people. The trick is to value something other than loveliness.
Remember Bruce Bawyer's piece on equally obvious fraud Greg Mortensen? External Link
"The fallout from the takedown made it clear that zillions of Mortenson’s fans around the world were shocked by the allegations.
I wasn’t. When I first heard Mortenson speak at a conference two years ago, I was unaware what a big deal he was. Indeed, as far as I can remember it was the first time I’d ever heard of him. I was immediately appalled. He was swaggering, slick, self-satisfied."
There's something wrong with contemporary human beings, especially on the left, that allows people like Mortensen and Weiner to fool 50% of the people 90% of the time despite all the warning signs.
"This is an unlovely party filled with unlovely people."
It should be fatuous to note, but apparently is not, that even the loveliest of parties is filled with unlovely people. And even the unloveliest of parties -- even the American Democratic Party -- includes honest, competent people, lovely and unlovely.
A good rule for assessing any group of humans is to look to something other than loveliness. What the group's principal attributes of membership and leadership are may be good. The ADP's performance on that score is soon to be on display.
Wasn't Newt's excuse for cheating on his wife that he loved his country so much and was working so hard on its behalf that it essentially wore down his defenses?
Anthony Weiner is evil. So is Chuck, Nancy, Barney, and the rest of them. They simply are evil people who would follow the bloody, tyrannical tradition of communism if given a chance. Anyone who thinks these people don't envy the power and control of the former Soviet Union, East Germany, or Cuba are naive.
How does David Vitter fit into your thesis? I don't think this is a Democratic/Republican issue. Seems like it's a trait shared by many powerful politicians.
Michael-- Brilliant prose. You give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for your election night 2008 call about the Obamaniac Dems. I particularly liked the Nancy P as Maerose Prizzi reference. Maerose Pelosi's ethics complaint is all about protecting Hillary. If this Weiner nonsense hangs around for another week, his whole sham marriage of political convenience stuff comes tumbling out, and Hillary's relationship with the "wife" hits the headlines. Maerose Pelosi needs to head that off-- PRONTO.
Totally agree with Aragorn. This is a political class problem, not simply a Modern Left issue. I hadn't seen this interview previously but he is clearly giving it IN HIS OFFICE and therefore using Congressional quarters to continue his lies. How is it he doesn't see the need to resign? I for one hopes he continues on because it becomes the story of the campaign. Who knows, maybe Queens will have an R as its rep for a change.
At one point yesterday, I had actually begun feeling sorry for him.
Then I caught part of his confession.
Wotta jerk.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"This is an unlovely party filled with unlovely people."
It should be fatuous to note, but apparently is not, that even the loveliest of parties is filled with unlovely people. The trick is to value something other than loveliness.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRemember Bruce Bawyer's piece on equally obvious fraud Greg Mortensen? External Link
"The fallout from the takedown made it clear that zillions of Mortenson’s fans around the world were shocked by the allegations.
I wasn’t. When I first heard Mortenson speak at a conference two years ago, I was unaware what a big deal he was. Indeed, as far as I can remember it was the first time I’d ever heard of him. I was immediately appalled. He was swaggering, slick, self-satisfied."
There's something wrong with contemporary human beings, especially on the left, that allows people like Mortensen and Weiner to fool 50% of the people 90% of the time despite all the warning signs.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"This is an unlovely party filled with unlovely people."
It should be fatuous to note, but apparently is not, that even the loveliest of parties is filled with unlovely people. And even the unloveliest of parties -- even the American Democratic Party -- includes honest, competent people, lovely and unlovely.
A good rule for assessing any group of humans is to look to something other than loveliness. What the group's principal attributes of membership and leadership are may be good. The ADP's performance on that score is soon to be on display.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMichael- you are referring to Republican Tom Delay? So dont quite get the title of your blog post...
"unctuousness, mendacity, mock-reasonableness, petulance, bullying, hypocrisy, overweening arrogance, brazen aggression, self-pity, victimhood, and bogus moral preening"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou could throw Newt in there, though I don't think he's the self-pity/victim type.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWasn't Newt's excuse for cheating on his wife that he loved his country so much and was working so hard on its behalf that it essentially wore down his defenses?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePoor Newt...
Dagummit! He got me!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnthony Weiner is evil. So is Chuck, Nancy, Barney, and the rest of them. They simply are evil people who would follow the bloody, tyrannical tradition of communism if given a chance. Anyone who thinks these people don't envy the power and control of the former Soviet Union, East Germany, or Cuba are naive.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow does David Vitter fit into your thesis? I don't think this is a Democratic/Republican issue. Seems like it's a trait shared by many powerful politicians.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDavid Vitter comes to mind.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDid somebody at the CIA give Weiner lessons in counter espionage? Admit nothing, deny everyting, make counter accusations. Perfect.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlenty of scumbags on our side, too. The generalization doesn't work.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree. It's not the political party, it's the attitude of entitlement that comes from a position of power. Power corrupts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgreed. I look for more thoughtful analysis from people who post at NRO.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDid I miss Mr Walsh's "Behold the face of the Modern Right" article about...
Larry Craig???
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMichael-- Brilliant prose. You give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for your election night 2008 call about the Obamaniac Dems. I particularly liked the Nancy P as Maerose Prizzi reference. Maerose Pelosi's ethics complaint is all about protecting Hillary. If this Weiner nonsense hangs around for another week, his whole sham marriage of political convenience stuff comes tumbling out, and Hillary's relationship with the "wife" hits the headlines. Maerose Pelosi needs to head that off-- PRONTO.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOn this morning's news, CBS was congrajulating itself for having broken this story.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMichael
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI had planned to add to this but it's not necessary, you pretty much hit the nail on the head.
Pete
Totally agree with Aragorn. This is a political class problem, not simply a Modern Left issue. I hadn't seen this interview previously but he is clearly giving it IN HIS OFFICE and therefore using Congressional quarters to continue his lies. How is it he doesn't see the need to resign? I for one hopes he continues on because it becomes the story of the campaign. Who knows, maybe Queens will have an R as its rep for a change.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse