Weiner Resigns - UPDATED

Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned from office Thursday, saying, "Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created" has made it "impossible" to continue his work in Congress.

Weiner apologized "for the personal mistakes I have made and for the embarrassment I have caused" to his neighbors, his constituents, and his wife.

It's a shame it had to end this way. But when I happened to catch the local news at 5pm yesterday and witnessed them leading with yet another Weiner picture, I knew the distraction was just too much for anyone to bear and that eventually he'd have to resign.

And he did just that today. In Anthony Weiner's resignation, he knew that he had no one to blame but himself and that there was just too much of a feeding frenzy for him to be effective at his job.

On a side note, the decorum of the heckler at the conference was atrocious. I hope he gets what he deserves, namely being run over by a truck on the way out of the conference.


UPDATE (8:20pm): Via Bob Cesca: "Sounds like Benji from the Stern show was back — shouting 'pervert' and 'are you seven inches' at Weiner during his statement."

Really? A Howard Stern lackey was heckling Weiner? Is this the same shock jock who has porn stars take off their clothes in his studio to ride orgasm inducing machines on the air? (Link is NSFW) And he's sending fuckwads to belittle Anthony Weiner? Gimme a break.

Serve Your Full Term, Please

POSTED BY JHW22

Unless you are an elected official running for another elected post, or unless you are appointed to another position by someone in an elected post, I think it's pure crap to QUIT a job you were elected to do. And no, I am not talking about the Half-the-Term/Double-the-Standards Governor.

For Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) to leave Congress to work for a think tank is unacceptable to me. I don't care what party she is in, how she leans or whether I agree with her on issues or not. I do not like that people donate to campaigns only to see the money wasted on a partial term. I do not like that a state has to now fund and coordinate a special election -- especially when the state is broke. The least she could do is wait until another election is taking place. Or hell, she could afford to pay for the special election SHE is causing. If I could write laws, I would say that anyone who chooses to leave an elected office to get a better paying job must pay for the special election and refund a prorated amount to all the donors who helped get them elected.

Just sayin'.

EDIT: I meant to add:

"Hell, Gabby Giffords is still serving and she got shot in the head! THAT is loyalty and dedication and service."

McChrystal Relieved of Command

President Obama to call upon General David Petraeus to replace him.

UPDATE: Video.

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Olbermann Advice to Obama: Don't Accept McChrystal's Resignation

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While I understand Olbermann's logic, unfortunately logic is most likely the last thing that will be used in the political and media spin of this situation.

My take:

Either A) President Obama will accept the resignation and the "Obama doesn't listen to his commanders" meme will ring for days, or B) the President will shelve McChrystal's resignation and the "weak leadership" meme will echo throughout Wingnuttia. "Obama can't even control his generals!" A no-win situation. Thanks, Stanley.

A Firing Offense

"I say this as someone who admired and respects Stan McChrystal enormously. The country doesn't know how much good he's done. But this is a firing offense," said Eliot A. Cohen, who served as a counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the latter days of the Bush administration.

Cohen was referring to McChrystal's criticism of President Obama and the administration in the latest Rolling Stone Magazine.

The Bush administration never worried about such things as getting another commander up to speed when it would regularly fire generals in disagreement with their "vision" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nor were they ever criticized as being against the troops when said commanders were relieved of their duties and forced into early retirement. I have a funny feeling, however, that this time it's going to be viewed differently. Call me crazy.

ADDING... McChrystal has offered his resignation in the wake of his comments.

ALSO ADDING... I was stunned when I read this from the previously linked article quoting Cohen:

The first victim in the controversy was the Pentagon's PR official who set up the interview with McChrystal. NBC reported that Duncan Boothby, a civilian member of the general's public relations team, was "asked to resign."

Why in the hell does the McChrystal have a public relations team? There is absolutely no reason for anyone in military of the United States, nor the military itself to need public relations for anything. (Recruitment is a separate issue.)

And as far as Rush Limbaugh leading the righties on how "honorable" McChrystal is, let's not forget that he was a key figure in the Pat Tillman coverup.

Hitler's Reaction to Palin's Resignation

Another awesome video from Funny or Die!

Hitler Finds Out Sarah Palin Resigns - watch more funny videos

Palin Resigning

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive."

Former GOP vice presidential candidate, former Ms. Wasilla Pageant winner and current (at least for now) Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has called a press conference today to announce her resignation from said office in a few weeks.

"I'm not seeking re-election," Palin told a news conference at which she said she would transfer authority to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell.

...Palin said her decision came after much "prayer and consideration." She did not want to waste time on "political blood sport" and cited public criticism of her actions and her family since the 2008 campaign.

And she should know about political blood sport.

So here's my layman's analysis:

Sarah Palin is obviously preparing for a 2012 run at the GOP nomination. If you gave Palin the benefit of the doubt, it would make sense for her not to leave the state of Alaska in the lurch replacing a re-elected Governor with the Lieutenant Governor just a few months into her term to run for President.

But if you're a cynic, to run for a second term in a state where your approval ratings have dropped approximately 25-30 points in the last 8 months and the very possible chance that you can lose that election just before seeking the presidential nomination would be politically suicidal.

I'm guessing it's the latter. Although I don't know who gave her the advice that she would be "out of sight - out of mind" should she truly believe that criticism will escape her if she's not holding office. All she has to do is open her mouth for that to continue.

Sarah 2012? You betcha!

UPDATE (9:45pm): Freak. Show.

And the crowd of tens politely applauds while trying to decipher what the fuck she just said.

An A.I.G. Resignation Letter

The following is a letter sent on Tuesday by Jake DeSantis, an executive vice president of the American International Group’s financial products unit, to Edward M. Liddy, the chief executive of A.I.G.

DEAR Mr. Liddy,

It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:

Read the whole letter here.

Mark Penn Out?

Statement from Maggie Williams

After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign. Geoff Garin and Howard Wolfson will coordinate the campaign's strategic message team going forward.

What's the difference between what he was doing before and now? If it's a resignation, then any continuing contact just smells of a smokescreen. They want him to continue kitchen sink tactics while no longer appearing to be part of the campaign. Just more bullshit.

Eliot Spitz the Bit

NY Governor Eliot Spitzer Resigns... (Updated With a Clinton Twist)

...and the ridicuousness of the whole day was the "news" coverage complete with a chopper following the Spitzer motorcade for a half hour through midtown Manhattan traffic.... at 3 miles per hour.

...Riveting. A white Bronco it was not.

Update: What is up with Hillary Clinton and her non-comment comment on Spitzer? Isn't this something she should be addressing considering the fact that they are, or at least used to be, political allies?

"I don't have any comment on that. Obviously I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to the governor and to his family."

You meant "soon to be former Governor," didn't you, Hillary? Whoops! There goes another superdelegate. First Spitzer fucks Hillary on the drivers license for illegal immigrants thing, then he fucks her by fucking around...not that she's unaccustomed to that situation.

Fidel Castro Steps Down

NY Times: HAVANA — Fidel Castro stepped down Tuesday morning as the president of Cuba after a long illness. The announcement was made in a letter to the nation under Mr. Castro’s name, which was read on radio and television programs that many Cubans heard as they headed to work.

All I Want For Christmas...

...is the New Senator Larry Craig Action Figure!

The perfect stocking stuffer!

It's bad enough Craig reneged on his resignation, but to make matters worse for poor ol' "Wide Stance"...

Four gay men, willing to put their names in print and whose allegations can't be disproved, have come forward since news of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's guilty plea. They say they had sex with Craig or that he made a sexual advance or that he paid them unusual attention.

They are telling their stories now because they are offended by Craig's denials, including his famous statement, "I am not gay, I never have been gay." Those words, spoken on live national TV on Aug. 28, are now memorialized on a just-released-for-Christmas Talking Senator Larry Craig Action Figure.

Lott To Resign

JACKSON, Miss. — Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, plans to resign his seat before the end of the year, congressional and Bush administration officials said Monday.

Lott, 66, scheduled two news conferences in Pascagoula and Jackson later in the day to reveal his plans. According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, Lott intends to resign effective at the end of the year.

...Lott's colleagues elected him as the Senate's Republican whip last year, a redemption for the Mississippian after his ouster five years ago as the party's Senate leader over remarks he made at retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party in 2002. Lott had saluted the South Carolina senator with comments later interpreted as support for southern segregationist policies.

Well, birds of a feather...

But seriously, something major is happening here. The amount of resignations over the last few months is not something I remember as a normal thing towards the end of an administration. Are the rats truly deserting the sinking ship?

What do they know that we don't, that is causing an exodus from Washington? Something of epic proportions is going to break soon. One would have thought it was the McClellan book quote story - or non-story as the "liberal" media would have you believe. A cackling laugh or a $400 haircut is major news, but the possibility that the highest officials in our government committed treason is something to be buried in the back pages.

Speculation is that Lott is trying to beat the new rule for former Senators joining lobbying groups. By resigning before the end of the year, Mr. Lott would beat the effective date for new ethics rules that double to two years the amount of time former Senators must wait before they can join a firm to lobby former colleagues. The new rule applies to those who leave office “on or after” Dec. 31.

Be Prepared To Vomit

Does everyone have their barf bags or waste paper baskets handy? Or perhaps you'd like to take a copy of this to the bathroom and prepare yourself.

Dear Mr. President,

As you know, it is with a profound sense of gratitude but a heavy heart that I have decided to take a respite from public service.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve at the White House. My time here and every day of my nearly 23 years of of public service have ben both a blessing and a privilege.

In 1937, the playwright Maxwell Anderson wrote of President George Washington: There are some men who lift the age they inhabit, till all men walk on higher ground in their lifetime.

Mr. President, you are such a man. And so, it has been an honor to serve by your side in this extraordinary moment in our Nation's history.

May God bless you and all those who serve and may He continue to bless out great Nation.

Regards,
Fran Townsend

You may now heave. Did she just compare Bush to George Washington? What the fuck?! The only people walking on higher ground during Bush's administration are the flood victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Craig Resigns

Senator Larry Craig's (R-ID) last day will be September 30th. Claiming that the constituants of Idaho deserve a Senator who can concentrate on his job 100% of the time, Craig said that his upcoming legal battle will prevent him from doing so and therefore be unfair to Idahoans.

And to top it off, Craig hired Billy Martin as his attorney. Who is Billy Martin you might ask? He's the 21st century Johnnie Cochran. Martin's latest defense case involved a certain football player named MICHAEL VICK!!!

Senator Craig had better hope that martin will do a better job on his case than he did on Vick's.

Tony Snowjob Resigns

The latest rat to desert a sinking lame duck ship,Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary will resign as of September 14th. Snow has been looking more and more feeble in his ongoing battle with cancer.

He will be replaced by "Legally Bland", Dana "Too Much Cappuccino" Perino. If you don't understand the cappuccino moniker, you will as soon as you hear her speak.

She's a hottie - unfortunately she becomes less and less attractive with each Republican talking point uttered from her mouth.

Reaction to Gonzo's Resignation

Here's some video I put together of the reaction and speculation that arose from the Alberto Gonzales resignation, including Hillary Clinton at the Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin and CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.