In a year fraught with sex scandals, sophomoric election jokes about "pulling it off" and "pulling it out", just write themselves...
That's why I will never be anyone serious in politics.
Showing posts with label sex scandals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sex scandals. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Friday, November 10, 2017
A Word or Two on Roy Moore And Reputational Politics
Regarding the Roy Moore controversy, the circumstances and motivations around the accuser's allegations should be impeachable no matter who the accused is, an d if the alleged crime or grievance is of sexual nature, it is no different than any other set of circumstances. The fact that these accusations popped up in the heat of an election season is relevant. The fact that WaPo appears to contradict itself by claiming that all 4 alleged victims knew nothing of each other and yet somehow managed to find them all through one of them is relevant.
The circumstances around one of the accused leads credence to the high likelihood that politics played at least a part in in this accusation at this time. I urge you to read up about this individual, the one who is a mother of a troubled son, and judge for yourself. The court of public opinion should be no different than the court of law in judging all relevant factors before making a determination as to the guilt or innocence of the individual. I find Roy Moore a highly dislikable character, and I deplore the fact that he has been drafted to run, much less the fact that he was chosen over the eminently more qualified Mo Brooks by the people of Alabama as their nominee. I think it is indicative of very poor judgment on many people's part. However, none of the issues I have with him are a crime. To the extent that he is being accused of a crime of sexual nature, his comments about homosexuals, his actions as a judge, and everything else you could very reasonably criticize is completely irrelevant.
However, precisely because this candidate is so troubled by so many OTHER real, proven character issues it is very easy to pile on to him and make people who are already prone to dislike him believe that he is guilty of every accusation simple because he is an unpleasant man of low character in other respects. And we have seen it done before by REpublicans and Democrats alike to each other, as well as to their own last year, and on previous occasions. For that reason, I tend to be MORE skeptical of such accusations with unlikable, icky, annoying people like Moore than with popular seemingly pleasant actors or less controversial politicians. And I think no politician should EVER be forced to step down on the basis of allegation by one or even several people with a 40-year old history with no other apparent evidence and no admission from the politician himself. IF Moore were to admit to such actions or if information emerges showing these allegations to be true, I'll be the first to agree that his place is likely in prison rather than in the Senate. (Let's not kid ourselves: this is not about impropriety, adultery, fornication, or other personal flaws in judgment. Moore is being accused of a sex crimes against minors. If proven to be true, he should have a criminal investigation launched against him, never mind the end of his campaign).
If we let every allegation sprung up against a controversial politician in the middle of the election be grounds for immediate withdrawal, soon enough we will have no one to run at all, because beyond any doubt, the tactic of smearing reputations, however damaged by other factors through sheer fabrications that play into other popular controversies of the day, will become universal.
The circumstances around one of the accused leads credence to the high likelihood that politics played at least a part in in this accusation at this time. I urge you to read up about this individual, the one who is a mother of a troubled son, and judge for yourself. The court of public opinion should be no different than the court of law in judging all relevant factors before making a determination as to the guilt or innocence of the individual. I find Roy Moore a highly dislikable character, and I deplore the fact that he has been drafted to run, much less the fact that he was chosen over the eminently more qualified Mo Brooks by the people of Alabama as their nominee. I think it is indicative of very poor judgment on many people's part. However, none of the issues I have with him are a crime. To the extent that he is being accused of a crime of sexual nature, his comments about homosexuals, his actions as a judge, and everything else you could very reasonably criticize is completely irrelevant.
However, precisely because this candidate is so troubled by so many OTHER real, proven character issues it is very easy to pile on to him and make people who are already prone to dislike him believe that he is guilty of every accusation simple because he is an unpleasant man of low character in other respects. And we have seen it done before by REpublicans and Democrats alike to each other, as well as to their own last year, and on previous occasions. For that reason, I tend to be MORE skeptical of such accusations with unlikable, icky, annoying people like Moore than with popular seemingly pleasant actors or less controversial politicians. And I think no politician should EVER be forced to step down on the basis of allegation by one or even several people with a 40-year old history with no other apparent evidence and no admission from the politician himself. IF Moore were to admit to such actions or if information emerges showing these allegations to be true, I'll be the first to agree that his place is likely in prison rather than in the Senate. (Let's not kid ourselves: this is not about impropriety, adultery, fornication, or other personal flaws in judgment. Moore is being accused of a sex crimes against minors. If proven to be true, he should have a criminal investigation launched against him, never mind the end of his campaign).
If we let every allegation sprung up against a controversial politician in the middle of the election be grounds for immediate withdrawal, soon enough we will have no one to run at all, because beyond any doubt, the tactic of smearing reputations, however damaged by other factors through sheer fabrications that play into other popular controversies of the day, will become universal.
Monday, October 30, 2017
More Shocking News from Hollywood Coming Soon
Next thing you know, they'll discover that Hollywood people drink alcohol excessively, do drugs, and abuse their spouses and partners... oh wait. Everyone knows, and no one actually cares.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
One Of These Two Is Not LIke The Other
On the Harvey Weinstein-Trump comparisons:
One has been accused of rape by multiple people and caught on police tape actually groping someone.
The other bragged about the women who let him grab them and acted crude and off-putting.
The first is deeply illegal. The second is in exceptionally poor taste and undignified, but NOT RAPE.
So no, not all uncouth behavior is created equal. If it turns out that Harvey rumors are unsubstantiated and he never harassed anyone and there is no truth to rumors of rape, maybe then you can say that the comparisons Trump have been appropriate.
But as of now, the allegations against one, that appear to have at least some merit, are significantly worse than the allegations against the other. You just can't compare the two.
Dislike Trump all you want. There are plenty of things you can say about him. You can say that HIS videotape was shocking, inappropriate, unpresidential, immoral, and awful. All of that is true.
But comparing someone who is possibly a rapist to someone who is definitely not is doing no favors for the victims of rape and sexual harassment.
One has been accused of rape by multiple people and caught on police tape actually groping someone.
The other bragged about the women who let him grab them and acted crude and off-putting.
The first is deeply illegal. The second is in exceptionally poor taste and undignified, but NOT RAPE.
So no, not all uncouth behavior is created equal. If it turns out that Harvey rumors are unsubstantiated and he never harassed anyone and there is no truth to rumors of rape, maybe then you can say that the comparisons Trump have been appropriate.
But as of now, the allegations against one, that appear to have at least some merit, are significantly worse than the allegations against the other. You just can't compare the two.
Dislike Trump all you want. There are plenty of things you can say about him. You can say that HIS videotape was shocking, inappropriate, unpresidential, immoral, and awful. All of that is true.
But comparing someone who is possibly a rapist to someone who is definitely not is doing no favors for the victims of rape and sexual harassment.
Just One Word About Harvey Weinstein
Honestly? My capacity to care about Harvey Weinstein, the horrible story that it truly is, is very limited. Hollywood's and leftists' hypocrisy is coming out, ok, what else is new?
Nothing will change.
After Harvey is done, it's going to be back to business as usual. Harvey is a scapegoat for hundreds or thousands more like him that will go unpunished, and the only reason he got caught is probably because someone seeking revenge, leaked the story.
I honestly can't understand how this can be all everyone can be talking about for a week, when there are far more important issues going unaddressed.
Nothing will change.
After Harvey is done, it's going to be back to business as usual. Harvey is a scapegoat for hundreds or thousands more like him that will go unpunished, and the only reason he got caught is probably because someone seeking revenge, leaked the story.
I honestly can't understand how this can be all everyone can be talking about for a week, when there are far more important issues going unaddressed.
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