Weiner’s woes: No skillz to pay the billz
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Weiner’s woes: No skillz to pay the billz
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2011
“There is life after Congress for Anthony Weiner,” New York Democrat Rep. Nita Lowey grimly assured reporters on Thursday before his resignation announcement. But Weiner’s life has been nothing but Congress. Nothing but government. Nothing but taxpayer-subsidized self-perpetuation. In other words: The life of a pathetic public leech.
Amid vulgar heckling brought on by his own reckless behavior and smug jokes, Weiner told reporters at his three-ring press conference that there is “no higher honor in a democracy” than to be an elected representative. But like legions of entrenched swamp creatures, he’s lost sight of the simple proposition that serving in Congress should remain a temporary calling, not a lifelong career.
Last year, the now-jobless Weiner joked on former roommate Jon Stewart’s cable comedy show that he didn’t “have a lot of marketable skills.” It’s one of Weiner’s rare truthful utterances over the past year. A protégé of fossilized New York Sen. Charles Schumer, Weiner has spent the last 20 years in politics – straight out of college to the present. Through seven consecutive congressional terms, he has stridently advocated job-killing policies in the name of the working class. About which this ruling-class elitist knows nothing.
Potomac Fever is a bipartisan disease, of course. And the Founding Fathers were rightly concerned about its corrupting consequences. At Virginia’s ratifying convention in 1788, George Mason made the case for a citizen legislature grounded in reality: “Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.”
But make no mistake: Weiner has no plans on toiling among the masses. This week’s resignation speech sounded like a future campaign kick-off: “I’ll be looking for other ways to contribute my talents,” he signaled, “so that we live up to that most New York and American of ideals. The ideal that a family, a community, and ultimately a country is the one thing that unites us. The one thing that we’re all focused on. With God’s help and with hard work we will all be successful.”
How, exactly, is a serial liar who antagonized his own liberal media allies by calling them “jackasses,” who countenanced libelous attacks on conservative bloggers, and who threw his own family under the bus to save his political hide in a position to “unite” us all? And what, pray tell, are these “talents” of which he speaks?
A lucky beneficiary of the New York Democratic political machinery, Weiner has no law degree. He has no business background. No private-sector proficiencies to pay the bills. And no hands-on experience — other than the R-rated kind, that is.
When not anchored to Twitter scoping out fawning young groupies or snapping Blackberry photos of himself at the House gym, Weiner served faithfully as one of liberalism’s loudest mouths opposing entitlement and debt reform. Meanwhile, he locked in his public pension and racked up hefty private credit card bills. (Financial disclosure forms show
he owes some $15,000 on an annual salary of less than $200,000.) He married another career political servant, Clinton intimate Huma Abedin, who has worked in government since taking on a White House internship in 1996.
Now, they are expecting a child – and he is counting on the Beltway/Big Apple revolving door to put food on the table. History, alas, is on his side. The incumbency racket eternally rewards big spenders and big re-distributors of collective wealth. Among all the other sordid lessons Weiner-gate has taught us, it has reminded us that the progressive notion of “public service” is really private job protectionism on the public’s dime.
***
Update: I mentioned Weiner’s pension in my column this morning. Roll Call has more on his $1 million nest egg courtesy of the taxpayers.
And more from The Hill:
“Anthony Weiner’s resignation from Congress may have put an end to the ‘distractions’ and ‘embarrassments’ that prevented him from getting back to work, but for American taxpayers, the scandal may have only just begun,” NTU Executive Vice President Pete Sepp said Friday in a statement.
Reeling from a virtual-sex scandal and pressured by fellow Democrats to resign, Weiner announced Thursday that he’ll do just that. The New York Democrat is in his seventh term representing Brooklyn and Queens, but also worked as a staffer to then-Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) between 1985 and 1991.
Under federal pension rules, Weiner could begin drawing down reduced benefits 10 years from now, when he turns 56. Under that scenario, he could collect up to $32,357 annually, totaling $1.12 million over his lifetime, NTU estimates.
If he opts to take the full pension — which kicks in at age 62 — he could receive $46,224 each year, totaling $1.28 million over his lifetime, NTU found.
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I have been taking lessons from Lame Cherry
Flyoverman said:
Yep. All the time and resources in the world to track -our- communications and online activities but can’t be bothered w/ ‘hacked’ congressman’s accounts without an engraved invitation!
Because this administration knows who its “real” enemies are.
Now who might these skirts be as I constantly meet Republican, Democrat and Independent Ladies who would die at the Alamo with Sarah Palin, they have such Patriotic Passion for the Governor……….odd isn’t it that I meet happy American Ladies and Limbaugh only meets hateful shrews.
Hmmmmm…..
Just got back to my computer after being gone to lunch. My first reaction was uh-oh kentroyals5 #71 agrees with me 100%, I probably need to rethink this-ha. Anyway, I think term limits are only part of the answer, and yes since the foxes are in charge of the hen house I don’t see it happening any time soon at least. Only if the Tea Party manages to get majorities in Congress might something like this even be proposed ( I know – pigs will fly about the same time that this happens ). I do also think that lobbyists and special interest groups influence needs to be drastically reduced, and this will be helped by term limits. I’m not sure that the founders envisioned a time when such a large percentage of the population were dependent on Gov., thus leading to the cycle of elect a corruptocrat who gives out boatloads of “freebies” to the people to buy their votes and is rewarded with those votes so that he/she can continue to line and fill their own pockets also. Just the rambling thoughts of a knucklehead. In this economy they aren’t worth anywhere near 2 cents.
If you want to discuss term limits as a way to avoid electing more Weiners please provide a link or two. According to a Heritage Foundation study in 2010, term limits at the national level will not work. We have term limits in Michigan and the legislature is filled with dunderheads.
Look back on the Weiner threads, about 10 days ago, I pointed the dirty finger an Huma Al Abedin. She has been with Hillary since she was twenty years old. There is a good article over at Free Republic.
Why Is Weiner’s Muslim Brotherhood Wife Not Resigning?
The MSM never seems to be able to dig up little things like “Tax Cheat Timmy’s dad was Stanley Anne Dunham’s boss for years”.
“Obama cabinet pick Timothy Geithner is “uniquely qualified” to be secretary of the Treasury”. Go figure?
What’s a constitution?
Regrettably, but true. There is an overabundance of dunderheads ready and willing to run for public office, fully backed by those who profit from such dunderheads.
I’m going to have to jump on board and agree with Roland and Flyover to a large extent. I’d be willing to bet Huma knew of Weiner’s ‘strange’ personality before she married him. However, it didn’t matter and she went ahead with it none the less. Does anyone disagree that Hillary knew that Billy had an eye for the ladies before she married him?
I’ve watched Weiner on CSPAN and various news channels over the years and thought he was nuts from the beginning. Do you honestly believe he turned that off when he went home and turned into a ‘Ward Clever’ type?
I’m not going to dish dirt on Huma, but on the other hand I’m not ready to place her into the “victim” status as yet.
I spent 28 years as a cop and handled thousands of domestic calls in which often times one of the ‘victims’ would be telling me her (or his) story and I’d say, “You knew he was like this before you married”. Their response was usually “but I thought he’d/she would change….”. Then we’d be back at the house the following week with the same problem again.
When Billy got caught with Monica, so many wanted to elevate Hillary to “victim-hood” status, when most knew that he was a skirt chaser back in his Arkansas days.
I knew several Troopers who knew that Hillary understood what was going on, but decided to hang on to him, because she knew it would help her politically/financially.
Liberalism is a disease in my book. It not only feeds off the government, but one another as well; it’s rooted into the culture. Liberals today offer nothing to improve the conditions of the family, the government or the culture. Absolutely nothing.
And no, I don’t have any liberal “friends” or “family members”. But then again I don’t have any “friends” or “family members” who belong to the Klan, the Communist Party or any leftist social groups as well. Birds of a feather….
Dave Turson said:
Of that we have no doubt Dave. But at least they’d be fresh ( unentrenched ) dunderheads! When I first got transferred over to Supply at my guard base, I didn’t understand why Supply -constantly- moves people around?
Sometimes just a matter of months at a position. After awhile the message was clear; Don’t go gettin’ too comfortable and yes, someone else will be looking at your logs! It works.
On June 17th, 2011 at 1:27 pm, Ray said:
On June 17th, 2011 at 12:17 pm, right_on said:
I still want to know why someone who was born in Iran to Iranian parents has access to classified information as an aide to the Secretary of State of the United States…
Valerie Jarret was born in Iran, as well. Her dad was a communist. Look at the access available to her!
Come on now, let’s get it right. I don’t know of any tangible proof Val-erie’s dad was a commie. Her dad was and expat living in Iran at the time of her berth. I know that chaps her arse, as she can never be president.
Or can she?
However, her father-in-law was an known commie and pal of BHO’s “Old Man”, the dirty red “Frank Marshall Davis”.
there is something rotten, and it aint the state of denmark… these names really need to be connected and made visible so the world can see the web of nepotism, islamism and communism this BHO admin has woven for us all to become ensnared in…
This man makes me sick! The fact that he can receive a pension after such behavior is appalling!
Did any of you catch this snippet in this article?
Why on earth would they get matching contributions from taxpayers on top of what they already get from taxpayers?!
This is absurd!
Green Eyed Semi-Handsome Man at your service.
neither one of them (since they each have their own last names–Weiner & Abedin) seemed too upset by anything whilst shopping for arugula in the Hamptons.
Because they can!! After all they make their own rules. Win-win for them.
Actually, this isn’t nearly as generous as I thought it would be. After all, PensionTsunami.com featered a CalPers recipient that will get $750k a year in retirement.
You may recall he was the “Mr. Haney” type that served as Mayor, Streets Commissioner.., Police Chief and dog catcher I believe?
Most employers offer retirement benefits and the government is no different. I don’t know why everyone is so shocked that federal employees receive retirement benefits!
Don’t most people who work in private industry receive a retirement benefits package?
Why is this so astounding?
That is VERY good Michelle. What a hoot! You should take a bow.
I seriously wonder about that. The media over the past day or two that he was taking a leave of absence from Congress to get treatment for an undisclosed issue at an undisclosed location.
Yet today, he’s busy shopping and singing in the Hamptons.
I guess they didn’t specify the type of treatment. Do they offer that in grocery stores out east?
If they would of bought condiments a few months ago, she wouldn’t be in that condition
True that. Given she interned in the WH, I suspect she was looking for the opportunity ala Hillary to hitch her wagon to someone to become the next power couple.
She chose….poorly.
…and I hope your boyfriend finds someone a little more manly.
Grow up twerp. This is how the left rolls.
Try reading again egghead. He didn’t say that at all.
Does she deserve it? I don’t know, but history has shown leftists to be pretty slimy and depraved.
How many times did she look the other way with Hillary?
Better.
Are you $hitt!n me? You are talking about the State Department.
Care to revise?
Absolutely. If she didn’t know what she was getting into, then she’s incompetent and shouldn’t be where she is.
She knew. And she chose. Both Hillary and the Peter Tweeter.
Is it possible Hillary was suggesting something to Humina for a power structure in NY given their shack in Chappaqua?
I know Kentroyalpain might have his panties in a bunch over this, but it’s clear she made a choice.
I notice Kentroyalmouthbreather hasn’t commented on her connections to the Muslim Bro’hood.
No. The sole reason was the X-rated shot and the peter tweet to the 17yo.
Prior to that, no leftist took a stand for his resignation other than a no-name rep in Pennsylvania.
They often talk about the rules of the House, etc., and run on about collegiality….what you propose would more than anything clean them up.
Nothing will ever affect their conduct unless they hurt from their conduct.
Looks to me that all Weiner has done is weinerism.