By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Disgraced Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner is giving back in a big way — or so he claims. Fresh off a recent loss in New York City’s municipal elections, Weiner held the lead among Democratic mayoral hopefuls until disturbing texts with a decidedly lewd overtone were released by a 22-year-old woman he met online. Other women came forward to sink the Weiner warship but Weiner vowed to remain in politics and be active in the community despite another public humiliation for him and his wife, Huma Abedin, a former Hillary Clinton aide.
And alas, now he’s got an idea to rehabilitate his reputation and Rockaway, Queens, a neighborhood that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Beset by rebuilding delays and high unemployment, Weiner proposes a new restaurant with a social conscience in the still reeling community. The Rockaway Restoration Kitchen is months away from it’s first fryer drop but Weiner plans to open the business and employ persons with substance abuse and criminal issues. He also wants to help the diet of the neighborhood, he claims. Rockaway, says Weiner, is a “food desert” dominated by fast food chains and pizzerias. “We want to do something sustainable for the community, while also providing healthy, local food options for the Rockaway population.”
Weiner plans a thirteen week training period that will provide life skills as well as restaurant skills. He’s hoping to make The Rockaway Restoration Kitchen a launch pad for at-risk folks who can obtain other similar jobs once they complete the training program. One mistake shouldn’t be cause for unmitigated disaster Weiner reasons, and he should know.
Pipe dream? Maybe. A PR tour de force with another run at political office being Objective No. 1? Almost surely. A recipe for success? A true quest for forgiveness from the women in his life?
Well, as any restaurant owner can tell you, the proof is in the pudding.
What do you think:
Source: CNN
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
By the way and for better or worse, the views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not necessarily those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays of art are solely the author’s decision and responsibility. No infringement of intellectual property rights is intended and will be remedied upon notice from the owner. Fair use is however asserted for such inclusions of quotes, excerpts, photos, art, and the like.
BK, “Inflammatory?” You folks are projecting your issues onto what I consider to be no big deal. This continues to amaze me. Do you all remember the huge overreaction by Hillary when she was challenged on her flip/flop on gay marriage. The back story is the gay community know she’s gay and they are biting their tongues about Hillary staying in the closet. It’s the hypocrisy. Again, this is so surreal to me. My US Senator is openly gay. My US Congressman is openly gay. I don’t agree w/ their politics but I respect their being honest. Our former US Senator, Herb Kohl, is a closeted gay. I had a real problem w/ that.
Nick,
You are wrong, once again. Have you been around this blog since 2009? It could be that you don’t find any humor in my light verse…because you don’t like me. You readily admitted that recently on another thread. If it’s hardly a matter of importance, why bother to say anything about it? Now…enough of you’re trying to engage me in a “tit for tat.” I’m done with this conversation about my “light hearted” poems.
What would make anyone think I EVER worry? This is an incredibly informative and fun thread for me. It is folks like you that want echo chambers. The evidence is here and elsewhere. The echo chamber was dismantled here, and a smaller one created elsewhere. Always be careful what you wish for!
Elaine, I simply don’t remember light hearted poems from you like Squeeky often posts. The poems I remember from you are serious ones in a post, not breezy ones in the comment section like this one this morning. So, I still think you channeled Squeeky in this instance, but it is hardly a matter of importance. At least to me.
Not to worry, Nick, the members of your echo chamber are probably just sleeping late today. I’m sure they’ll be here later to provide support.
bettykath,
My husband makes the best blueberry pancakes–and I make blueberry sauce/compote to serve with them. Double yum!
Nick,
I’m not channeling Squeeky. I’ve been posting my original poems/light verse on this blog since 2009. Maybe Squeeky has been channeling me?????
The blueberry patch is waiting. Fresh blueberry pancakes, yum.
nick, the problem is that you’re repeating rumors, not facts, rumors, in an inflammatory way.
Elaine, 🙂
You so miss the point Nick. Most of us don’t give a r’s ass if she’s gay or bisexual but rather, we loathe the smearing, hating types who spread stories like this one:
“Many people believe part of the pathology is his “wife” was Hillary’s girl toy.” Said by Nick.
Great poem, Elaine. Fitting.
Yep, swarthmoremom, it’s a lovely day. Signing off, too. Enjoy the farmers’ market.
We’ll let the boys carry on here.
Wonderful, Elaine.
Elaine is channeling Squeeky. Not bad.
Cultists here and cultists there.
Damn dem cultists everywhere.
Cultists high and cultists low.
Cultists everywhere I go.
Cultists hither; cultists yon.
Damn dem cultists, please begone!
Go away! You make me dizzy.
I’m in a crazy cultist tizzy!
This is surreal. Cultists are showing their zealotry and their problem w/ their cult leader being gay or bisexual. I have many problems w/ Hillary. Her sexuality is NOT ONE OF THEM. Point out ANYTHING I have said here that is homophobic or misogynistic. You cultists are showing your ugly side. My ONLY problem is the hypocrisy of portraying yourself as something other than what you are. The gay community has a problem w/ people like that, as do I. Apparently it’s fine w/ cultists.
anon, Yep, headed to the farmers market.
And it’s much too beautiful a Sunday to spend it with the likes of Nick.
Witch hunts are a fact of life in the US of A, Nick, but you’d never know it because you’re hanging out here all day….every day…. day in and day out.
swm, annie, some men see all male problems as being the fault of women. they think they do no wrong, so it must be her. you called it, misogyny and homophobia.
So rumors of Hillary and Huma are less stupid. Oy.
Rahm? I’ve never even really thought about his sexuality. He’s more than anything else, an a-hole.