Let me get this correct: so far it hasn’t been proven that Congressman Anthony Weiner has committed adultery; or patronized prostitutes; or stolen money; or avoided paying taxes; or assaulted anyone; or corrupted the morals of a minor; or taken any bribes; or perjured himself in a legal matter; or abused his powers of office; or was censured by the House of Representatives; indicted or convicted; yet he is being pressured to resign; when others who have done some of what I just outlined are still in office. I will say this again: until it is shown that Weiner has broken some law(s), we need to let him face his constituents next election -if he so chooses- relative to the current imbroglio.

Only Weiner and his God could tell if his behavior amounts to law-breaking. They know if there is still an avalanche of “stuff” out there waiting to be unleashed, or continuing to trickle-in like a dripping faucet. If he knows that an investigation by the ethics committee will reveal sordid stuff that’s even worse than what we have already been exposed to, then I trust he will do the right thing by resigning.  read more »

Republican Senator David "diaper" Vitter actually BROKE the law and hired prostitutes. There are at least two documented cases where he called a Madame while Congressional votes were going on. He broke the law and failed to do his job. The fact that Vitter had a diaper fetish only adds a bit of "eww" factor to the whole incident.

Republican reaction to the CRIMINAL actions of David "diaper" Vitter? Full support and forgiveness. They didn't call for his resignation or in any way held him accountable for his crimes.

Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner flirts with some women online. That's all he did. There is no indication to date he broke any laws the way Republican Vitter did. There is no indication there was anything all that strange about it (no diapers, for example). No money exchanging hands. Just online flirting. Would you want your daughter to text him? Maybe not, but big deal. Hell, even Republican House Speaker John Boehner had extramarital affairs. He didn't resign. So how can Republicans attack Anthony Weiner for FLIRTING online when Republican John Boehner actually screwed around for real.  read more »

As I implied in my last “Vines” column: relative to the five boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn is usually where the political action's at. And sure enough, when the Daily News came with their expose on the many NYC council members (almost 20 -the last time I looked) whose ethics can be put to challenge, Brooklyn had more than just a few of their electeds represented on the “Council of Shame” list. This story broke last Sunday (3-20-2011); and that was fine; but I still have a big problem with the Daily News. And coming to think about it: likewise the New York Times, Newsday, the Post, and many other newspapers (local, regional and national) plying their trade in this state. I will get to that in a lil bit: so hang on like Sloopy.  read more »

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Seeing the attacks on Rock on Room 8 I want to emphasize that anyone is welcome to comment and disagree around here...but I will delete comments that are personal attacks. If you want to make a point, leave out a personal attack.--mole333]

Brooklyn's minority voters have a history of puzzling votes: no doubt. You can go back to the days of Shirley Chisholm, Vander Beatty and Waldaba Stewart, to find some strange results recorded: yes indeed.. There were times when you could only scratch your head and wonder what the motivations were, when voters elected certain folks (some repeatedly). And as time went by one hoped that minority voters in Brooklyn would evolve into rational-actor voter-models: demonstrating a higher level of critical-scrutiny for wannabee electeds. One hoped that the vetting process would be rigorous and extensive, and that the standards would be set real high for office-applicants. One hoped that qualified, educated, competent, capable, intelligent candidates would emerge to lead some of these districts sorely in need of dynamic leadership. Leaders who could articulate their way out of a phone booth; who could think creatively while they chew gum and walk straight. People of integrity. People with impeccable character traits and with very little or no “personal baggage”. People that can be examples for our hungry minority youth: too many of whom are grappling with the “missing-father syndrome”. People who could go to high places and make the case for better government-action more beneficial to the needy. People who could build coalitions and minimize isolation and alienation. People who could aspire, inspire and perspire, not disappoint and corruptly conspire. Alas, it seems as though one can only dream for the day when minority voters in Brooklyn would make better choices and be consistent in their reasoning: but we dream on; nonetheless.  read more »

Look at what Marty Markowitz, Bruce Ratner, Bill de Blasio, Michael Bloomberg and Bertha Lewis, to name a few, have brought to Brooklyn. Atlantic Yards seems to be bringing some real sleaze to our city, though not much in the way of real, long-term jobs or affordable housing.

Barclay's, the company that bought naming rights to Bruce Ratner's arena, has just been fined for more than a decade of illegally doing business with the likes of Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma. From BBC News:

Barclays Bank is to pay $298m (£190m) to settle criminal charges that it violated US sanctions in dealings with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma.

The bank was charged with breaching the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act in dealings between 1995 and 2006...

Barclays has agreed to pay $149m to the US government and a separate $149m in a deferred prosecution agreement with the district attorney in New York.  read more »