THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

In the hours before Congressman Anthony Weiner resigned, I interviewed one of his former staffers. This person is not a partisan gunslinger and does not seem to have a personal grudge against the Congressman.

My interview with the staffer can be found at the Washington Times Communities.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2011/jun/17/my-interview-anthony-weiner-staffer/

Barring any further actual news concerning this topic, it is time for this blog to get back to hard news and real politics. That will take place Wednesday. Tuesday will be my annual list of the hottest 30 women in politics, or what I call the Top 120 Political Yummy Bouncies. Send your recommendations as quickly as possible since the list is still being finalized at this moment.

eric

Anthony Weiner has finally thrown in the towel and resigned from Congress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDGErjvwLig

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/16/weiner.future/index.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/16/house-dems-may-boot-weiner-from-committee/

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/graceless_to_the_end_swoDw2zQm9xNlpRK2X5FuM

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/06/17/no_escaping_the_obvious_110247.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/16/anthony-weiner-quits-congress-over-sexting-scandal/

People do not remember how a person enters. They remember how the person leaves.

For the first time since the scandal broke, Mr. Weiner got it right. His exit was classy and dignified.

Very few people have hammered Mr. Weiner as much as I have, but his exit speech struck the appropriate tone.

Holding a farewell press conference was the right thing to do. The easy way out would have been to have faxed or emailed a statement. That would have been gutless. Had he just posted something on Twitter, that would have subjected him to more jokes. He faced the people, and said what he had to say.

As for the hecklers disrupting his speech shouting things such as “pervert,” that was disgusting. The man has been humiliated enough, and even he deserved much better than that. The hecklers deserve condemnation for their behavior and remarks. This was not a Town Hall, and even if it was that behavior would be unacceptable.

For those on the left looking to gain political points by saying “That is how conservatives act,” knock it off. We have no idea who the heckler is, and whether he is a political activist or just some dumb kid having fun in a dreadfully inappropriate way.

As for Mr. Weiner, my biggest complaint with him has been his lack of class. Yet at his farewell (for now) conference he was gracious. Therefore, he deserves graciousness in return.

What I really wanted him to say is something that he will never say, which is why I dislike the guy so much. He cannot bring himself to apologize to the many political opponents he has abused. He apologized to his family and constituents, but he never apologized to others he has hurt just because they disagreed with him.

Yet he did come close, and close will have to do. He stated that Democrats and Republicans in this country were all patriots, and that we are all trying to make this a better country. For him, that is a significant statement. Perhaps other liberals will pay attention to those words and stop demonizing conservatives, but that is too much to ask.

For those who want to pile on, let it go. He has resigned. It’s over. As long as he stays out of the public eye, leave him be. For those who want to continue to pour it on, just think how you would feel if the very worst possible scenarios took place. It is nightmarish to even contemplate, but I am throwing it out because it is better that people think about things that never happen than tragedies that do occur.

What if, God forbid, Anthony Weiner were to take his own life?

This is not crazy. So many men have their entire self worth wrapped up in their careers. Mr. Weiner is obsessed with his career. He is still a relatively young man with decades of life ahead of him. Yet if for even a brief moment he has contemplated quitting the fight, he must not give in to those thoughts. Human life has value, and that includes his. Out of the ashes can come a better life, and nobody wants to feel guilty over having pushed a man over the edge.

I hope the man saves his marriage and ends up a good husband and father. Yet what the child is never born?

I have no idea what is going on in Huma Abedin’s head. Yet what if she decides to have an abortion either to punish him or out of genuine despair? Whatever one’s views on abortion (mine remain undisclosed so stop guessing), it would be sad if this child were not born solely due to heartbreak or anger. This child could be the miracle child that brings Mr. Weiner closer to his wife and makes him a better person.

I have no idea what level of religiosity Mr. Weiner possesses, but that is his private business. If he decides to seek solace in religion, that could be something positive. Some people use religion as a cover, but others truly do become better people when surrendering themselves to a higher power. A pair of recent American presidents credited their faith with helping them overcome addictions to sex and alcohol, respectively.

Mr. Weiner does have a temper, and perhaps time in seclusion will help him confront his inner demons and become a calmer person. All the money and power in the world will not bring a man inner peace.

As for why I care about what happens to Mr. Weiner as a person, it is because he and I share a bond. We are both Jewish. I he were non-Jewish I would still wish him well at this point, but his faith does matter. Jewish people learn a song at Summer Camp that gives clear instruction.

“To love your fellow Jew…just the same as you…that’s the basis of our holy Torah.”

I may not like Anthony. For the most part I can’t stand the guy. Yet he is still my brother, and I absolutely am my brother’s keeper. We all have relatives we do not like. They are still part of the family unless they engage in deliberate malice.

Anthony Weiner is a flawed person. So what? We all are.

He had a human failing. Humans fail. It is what makes us human. The key test is how we respond to our failures. Anybody can enjoy life when everything is going well.

Mr. Weiner was my political opponent. He was not my enemy. My frustration with him was inability to distinguish these categories. Perhaps now he will. I know the difference, which is why I am morally required to do what everybody should do at a time like this.

We may internally say “good riddance,” but we should show the same class he did at his press conference and just wish him well.

Good luck Mr. Weiner.

Shalom. Be well.

eric

So when Congressman Weiner was asked what he thought about the War Powers Act…

Just kidding. Ok, now that the gratuitous reference to drive blog traffic is done, a couple of quick housekeeping notes.

This is a big weekend for me. Today I have an early morning flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Utah and then on to Butte, Montana. Thurday evening I am speaking at the Montana GOP State Convention. This is their kickoff event. Then on Friday I fly back to Salt Lake to speak at the Utah GOP State Convention at their kickoff event.

I have never been to either state for business, and I have never been to Montana ever. So the excitement is palpable. New friends and adventure awaits.

Now on to business. I have been meaning to write about Barack Obama and his violation of the War Powers Act for some time now. However, if I wrote a blog post every time Mr. Obama violated the Constitution, I would not have time for anything else.

This is a tough one for me to wrap my warm, fuzzy tygrrrr paws around. Like everything else, intellectual honesty has to come first.

Should I care that he is violating the WPA? Absolutely. Do I? Not really.

It’s a terrible law and should be repealed.

Now this does not mean I condone violating the law. I am the last person to say that we should ignore laws we dislike. Yet that does not mean I am required to get worked up over every violation.

If George W. Bush were pulling this, would I lose sleep? No. I would still wish he was obeying the law, but I would just ignore the story and hope it went away.

This would not happen because the left would be howling with indignation.

That is the story with this. once again, leftist hypocrites have proven that they stand for absolutely nothing.

Of course Obama is pushing the envelope. All executives do this, although perhaps not to the degree he does. It is the responsibility of this with the power to check and balance to do their jobs.

Mr. Boehner is pushing back. Yet where is the media? Where are the anti-war slobs with their badly spelled signs? At least the Ron Paul supporters are consistent. I disagree with them but at least they stand for something on this issue.

Going into Libya was the right thing to do. I supported Mr. Obama doing so. He should have just taken a predator drone, shoved it up Khadafi’s hide until he went to the toilet red, white, and blue, and been done with it.

Instead Mr. Obama decided to “lead from behind,” as if NATO and the French have accomplished anything worth discussing. They may be useful compared to the UN, but that does not say much.

So Mr. Khadafi is still in power and Bashar Assad in Syria has realized he can kill hundreds of his own people with no repercussions. The entire world knows that “sanctions” is code for doing nothing.

So while the Obama foreign policy has been a complete failure, some good can come out of this.

Mr. Boehner can put Mr. Obama into a box by forcing him to choose between two options that both help Republicans. He can threaten to keep hammering Mr. Obama on the issue day after day until the president caves. The president will cave because he always does. Unless the issue is healthcare, education, or the environment/energy, he does not care. He will cave. His goal is to get reelected, and he does not need distractions. Everything except his three pet issues are a distraction.

The second option is sneaky, devious, and somehow legal. In short, it is perfect for a member of Congress. Mr. Boehner should very quietly in some arcane bill dealing with boll weevils or 18th century Russian literature sneak a rider in repealing the War Powers Act. Mr. Obama can quietly sign it. After all, he can feign ignorance. We have to find out what is in the bills, and the only way to do that is to pass them. The Pelosiraptor taught us that.

The president has no interest in respecting the rule of law. He claims he is obeying the law, but then again he claims everything he does is noble and virtuous.

Republicans have to think long-term. We can be hypocritical and try to enforce a law that most Republicans hate anyway. Or we can kill it with help from a liberal president. Then when Republicans are back in the White House, they can actually bring back an adult foreign policy that involves less @ss kissing and more @ss kicking.

Mr. Obama, I am thoroughly disappointed in you to the point that I am almost fazed. As for civil libertarians and other anti-war activists, the entire world knows you are full of garbage. It is like you almost wish the Republicans were in the White House so that your carping and complaining would be legal again. Having Obama make you look like imbeciles is the equivalent of the NFL Lockout. You just can’t stand lacking a meaningful message that anybody cares about.

eric

At the Washington Times today, I explain why the Anthony Weiner saga actually matters, and why he may be going down while more those committing more serious acts survived.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2011/jun/15/anthony-weiner-hateful-hated-difference-matters/

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

My column today at the Washington Times Communities is a confirmation that based on the debate last night, CNN still despises Republicans.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2011/jun/14/gop-debate-obviousness-cnn-still-despises-republic/

http://nation.foxnews.com/republican-debate/2011/06/14/opinion-debate-showed-cnn-still-despises-republicans#

“This…is CNN.”

eric

When a Jewish person dies, we sit “Shiva” (mourn) for seven days. Yet Jewish celebrations such as Hanukkah and Passover last eight. So while the Anthony Weiner story is manna from Heaven for conservative bloggers everywhere, at some point it is time to move on (not dot org).

There are plenty of news stories to cover. However, when  liberal says “let’s just move on,” that is just a way of silencing conservatives. Luckily they do not get to decide the topics of this blog. I am the decider.

With a CNN presidential debate coming up, Newt Gingrich and Antonio Villagairosa speaking to different Jewish groups across the political spectrum, and the world still on fire with the economy cratering, all good things must come to an end. That end is coming very near.

For today, here is the cast of the Anthony Wiener movie, eventually to be “released.”

WEINER: THE MOVIE

Anthony Weiner: Jon Stewart.

Only one man is truly smarmy enough to play Anthony Weiner, and that is his good friend Jon Stewart. Stewart fits the profile perfectly. They are about the same age, both have decent enough dark hair, and both make their living spreading ideological bigotry. They are both elitist leftist snobs from New York. When somebody yells the word “Jew,” Stewart runs and ducks for cover lest he be associated with or seen as one. Stewart fits into this role like a comfortable pair of used gym trunks. I can even picture him and Andy playing racquetball together and exchanging sweaty gym shorts together so they can take in each other’s power.

Huma Abedin: Queen Noor from Jordan (King Hussein’s widow): There is very little to say about Ms. Abedin. She is an innocent victim, and undeserving of any jokes at her expense. A smart, beautiful woman should be played by one and that is that.

Anthony’s Wiener: Despite the congressman’s braggadocio, a prosthetic should be used. They should get the one previously used in “Boogie Nights” by Dirk Diggler, aka Mark Wahlberg. That movie did have a Best Supporting Actor nomination, but it went to Burt Reynolds, not the prosthetic.

Bill Clinton: John Travolta…again. Travolta did a good job in “Primary Colors” after Tom Hanks turned down the role due to discomfort over the nature of the character.

Hillary Clinton: Joy Behar. One angry, repulsive, nasty left turn deserves another. These women who hate conservative women while wearing the mantle of feminism are sisters in (hopefully covered) arms. They both talk tough, whether it is Hillary dealing with Iran or Behar with Palin. In both cases, the tough liberal rhetoric is an empty oxymoron. They speak loudly and say nothing. Unite them.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz: An upside down floor mop with ping pong eyeballs attached. Forget that she should use her overly generous congressional salary to buy and use a comb. I have bad hair days as well. This woman is hideous on the inside. Given that this is a movie about a left-wing bully who also has a tad of self-loathing Jew in him, DWS fits in perfectly with the script. Maybe she can do a J-Street soliloquy since that organization, like Anthony Weiner, has been caught with its pants down and exposed raw. Neither was a pretty picture.

Chris Matthews: Lassie. He speaks in a tone that is inaudible to those who do not possess the ability to her shrillness. He barks at people in his own style that maybe only Timmy can understand.

Rachel Maddow: Janet Napolitano (obviously). Janet Reno could fill in as well. For those who need further elaboration, please do your own research.

John Kerry: Either Lurch or the Kentucky Derby Winner. To reduce expenses for this movie, Kerry and Wasserman-Schultz can share a feedbag.

Al Gore: An oak tree or James Woods. Actually, give the charisma of the Goracle, let’s stick with the tree theme and go with Tiger Woods. Both Al Gore and Tiger Woods were accused of out of control sexual behavior, causing people to express shock that either of these men had ever had sex with anybody. When a man is a billionaire, women force themselves to stay awake no matter how bored they are.

Eliot Spitzer: Tom Everett Scott. He was fantastic on Law and Order as Spitzer clone Governor Donald Shalvoy. Maybe Sam Waterston can show up and give one of his pompous, self-righteous speeches. Mr. Everett Scott also appeared in “That thing you do,” which could be the subtitle of the Anthony Weiner movie.

The 40 year old blackjack dealer: Amy Fisher. The Long Island Lolita now does pornography for a living. Joey Buttafuoco could appear as himself, since somebody will need to make this a politically liberal movie by making the Weiner dog look sympathetic. Joey and Amy sure do that. Weiner has not gotten anybody shot yet.

The 26 year old single mom: Courtney Cox. Her last name makes her necessary for this movie. After all, the real woman thought that she and the Congressman were just “Friends.”

Given that her character Monica Geller eventually married Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry could play the lead role if Jon Stewart decides to bow out. Perry is a liberal who has done stints in rehab for his own demons. This could make him similar to Weiner, but then again it also could make him like every other actor in Hollywood.

Andrew Breitbart: Himself, although the liberal media would probably pick somebody like Donald Sutherland.

James O’Keefe: Himself, although the liberal media would probably pick either Mark Zuckerberg or the Stephen Colbert imitation Jesse Eisenberg.

Donald Trump: Either himself or Darrell Hammond.

Barack Obama: God as voiced by Chris Matthews. He will be a whiny, effeminate God.

Ed Schultz: Bob Beckel

Bob Beckel: Ed Schultz

After all, aren’t all angry white men the same? We heard that in 1994 when the GOP took over. Let’s see if every fat white guy is interchangeable when the left is being discussed.

Charles Rangel: Video clips of the late Redd Foxx. Ol’ Charlie is a criminal to some, but many liberals just see him as a lovable rascal. Besides, any excuse to show Redd Foxx is fine by me.

There you have it folks. The Anthony Weiner movie will be coming to a theatre near you. The preview consists of a fake stint in rehab to hide out and hope the media gets bored of a sexual deviant who refuses to leave.

Turn off all cellphones, and enjoy the concession stands. Slurpees and nuts are half price.

eric