Dirty Laundry

[cabinetman]

Watching or reading the news, a story pops up about some politician, or a higher up who did or said something in the past and it's uncovered and reported. I'm just taking a guess, but the pooper scooper was likely someone from the opposition's camp. We don't always find out, but I would like to hear who actually did the research or who was behind the expose'.
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[MilDoc]

Uh huh. And my usual response is: unless it's treason, or a felony, or outright fraud, most of the time I don't care. Their effectiveness, intelligence (is that an oxymoron with most politicians?), etc. count much more to me.

"Let he who is without sin ....."

[germdoc]

All I've got to say is politicians seem to have more interesting sex lives than your average Joe or Jane. Or at least more expensive...

[cwithboat]

What gets me are the wives of theses dastards. They stand up at a podium beside their sinning mates, looking like death warmed over and take it. They could have gotten off with justifiable homicide if they had taken the meat cleaver to them or shorn them of the man's most precious organ. As for when and how they got exposed, it's pretty tough to ignore or pass over when it's the FBI doing it.

[Ed62]

Like Paul, most of the time I don't care about it either. If it's something like infidelity, well.........that seems to be pretty common with the general public. Why wouldn't you expect it out of politicians? If it has to do with kiddie porn or child molestation, I would care a lot.

Ed

[jonmulzer]

As I have said, long before the movie "Man of the Year" came out, diapers and politicians should be changed frequently and for the same reason. Power corrupts.

But I, like most above, also do not care about their personal lives. I live 2 blocks from where Chelsea Clinton gave her speech yesterday at Butler University. I was happy when she told the asker of the question about Lewinsky that it was none of their business. Unless it effects their ability to do their job, it is none of our business.

With all of that said though, I am a very political person and when someone that I do not like is brought down by scandal, I smile.

[germdoc]

Seriously, I think we oversensationalize most scandals involving sex, when it's irrelevant to how we live our lives. During the last impeachment party it became clear that pretty much all legislators have dirty laundry.

That said, the reason some of these jokers deserve what they get is the hypocrisy. If you hold yourself up as a paragon of virtue and pass laws/prosecute the very crimes you're committing, you are a hypocrite and should pay. Whenever someone--politician, preacher, business mogul, whoever--gets all holier than thou, I wonder what they're hiding...

[Pappy]

Even JFK, argueably the best President of our times, was rumored to have an affair in the White House. It just wasn't publicized at the time. (At least his was with the hottest woman of the day!)

Sports is a lot in the same shape. Mickey Mantle for his womanizing. or Babe Ruth for his drinking, would have been drug through the mud by today's media.

[LinuxRandal]

Uh huh. And my usual response is: unless it's treason, or a felony, or outright fraud, most of the time I don't care. Their effectiveness, intelligence (is that an oxymoron with most politicians?), etc. count much more to me.

"Let he who is without sin ....."

Boy, aren't we on two subjects we are not supposed to talk about.

Jesus was asking for someone to hand him a rock, if you looked at it the way spin doctors would use it!

Others mention the spouses, the public spouse's affair gets publicized. The non public party gets unwanted publicity. The Spouse, may be off doing their own thing (I know of one very famous one where the spouse was also cheating, but it never got out). In some ways, the political machine itself loves this stuff. It keeps people distracted from issues, allows them to convienently miss votes and such and then gets used as the Character argument.

Let's skip the (censored) and get down to real questions, like "why aren't you doing the JOB you were voted in to do NOW! Resign that and run. ETC.....

[cabinetman]

What I'm asking about is not the actual dirt itself (even though it's juicy), but who initiated the search for it, and their real motives. So, another question is do you see Linda Tripp as a ratfink or a hero?
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[dlminehart]

If it's something like infidelity, well.........that seems to be pretty common with the general public. Why wouldn't you expect it out of politicians?

I was surprised to read (in "Lust in Translation") that the rate of marital infidelity in the US is actually relatively low by global standards. A few percent of spouses in any given year. Similar low rates in most developed countries, and among those with what we'd consider professional jobs even in many poorer countries. Of course, even just 2.5 percent a year means that after 10 years a quarter of us would stray!

Seems that certain groups within our society do much more than their share. Politicians, athletes, rock stars, movie stars, and celebrities in general seem to stand out (no pun intended). Not surprising that we'd hear about their peccadillos, and that infidelity would be a major theme of popular culture.

Now, if you really wanna see a culture of infidelity, try sub Saharan Africa, where the rate apparently reaches up to 30 percent per year. Can you spell AIDS epidemic?

[ironhat]

Re: Linda Tripp, rat fink. She betrayed a friend in order to bring down a president who she disliked. It's most appalling what she did to Monica and it's just petty what she did to the president. Now, if the president had been engaging in feloneous activities, well, that's a different story all together.

[germdoc]

I know through personal and professional experience how many people cheat on their spouses or SO's. I would not be surprised if ANYONE, from the President to the Dalai Lama, was doodling someone they shouldn't be.

One thing that hasn't evolved since old days is human nature...

[Bruce Cohen]

I strongly feel that ANY elected individual should be held to his or her promise to acomplish whatever they say they'll do in at least one year.

If they can't, automatic removal of that person should be mandatory.

Bottom line - "If you can't do what you said you'll do, then your out." Just like in any job .

Bruce

[JSUPreston]

Bruce, my boss and I agree with you (for the most part). Basically, 1 term limits: if they haven't stolen, lied, cheated and screwed around and screwed up enough in one term to get them and their cronies by for life, they were too dumb for the job anyway.