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.
So where oh where is our Squeeky, who has stated she would volunteer for Hillary’s campaign and most definitely vote for her? I would love to hear Squeeky’s take on this.
What games people play.
SWM, You’re not going to start trashing the Bubba women are you? They’ve been vilified enough. If my choices are Flowers or Bubba, I’ll believe Flowers. History has shown her to be more honest. Although that is damning w/ very faint praise.
What I have seen is a discussion about the possibility that Hillary is gay as an explanation for why she stays with Bill, who I consider to be a pig to women. There have been numerous assertions that there is no negative judgement if she is gay.
But people have persisted in declaring it’s a put down, regardless of what was actually said, because they “just know.”
Can we assume that any discussion about conservatives in the closet are also put downs, or can we move on from a ridiculous argument about nothing?
What’s wrong with weeding the garden after the flowers have bloomed…..
Annie, I think it started when Hillary said she did not bake cookies.
One does not besmirch someone by saying they are gay, or to be gay. The besmirching happens when one circulates a rumor that gets the negative attention by people who DO think there is something wrong with being gay. No one is being fooled here. There are many bigoted people, who DO think being gay is wrong, sinful, dirty, etc. and those who fling around such allegations know full well that they are feeding into the bigotry. Such hypocrisy is rank and anyone with any insight what so ever, knows exactly what is going on here.
From Paul C. Schulte: “Nice little ad hominem attack that you got in there. It is the hallmark of many of the progressive posters on here.”
Pot meet kettle.
Oh, boy – it is not ad hominem if it is the truth.
“I was quoting 42nd President of the US.” nick No, you were quoting Jennifer Flowers.
Well… Maybe that was the only guy Hillary was able to swallow…… Man a guy gets a job and you dis him….
Jenny McCarthy said Hillary is gay on The View. Now, she’s an idiot, but so is everyone on that inane show. But, this Hillary is gay has been out there for a long time and it ain’t going away until she comes out. And you will all then forgive her hypocrisy and applaud her bravery. That’s the way this is going to all play out.
Yeah, I remember a leave it to beaver episode where June stated to Ward that he was a little hard on the beaver last night…..
It’s probably been years since Hillary can claim Bill has done anything like that….
What’s wrong with Craig….
You can get anything you need there at craigslist. Something….
Annie – The Clintons hired him to get Bill elected and he did. Nice little ad hominem attack that you got in there. It is the hallmark of many of the progressive posters on here.
I was quoting 42nd President of the US. File your complaints w/ him. You all elected a sexual sociopath to office. That’s why character matters, and his wife has even less than him. And why is saying someone is gay besmirching them?? I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe it. I don’t have a problem about Hillary being gay. I have a problem w/ politicians who are hypocrites and liars. I imagine all the Dems here JUSTIFIABLY blasted Larry Craig for his hypocrisy. I made jokes and ridiculed him as you all did Why the hell do you think Hillary is SO sensitive about her being so late in approving gay marriage. Just like it’s not the crime it’s the cover up that kills you in politics. It’s not being gay, it’s being a hypocrite that is devastating in politics. Both my US Senator and US Congressman are gay. This thread continues to amaze me. And, the Captain Renault lines, “I’m shocked to hear Hillary is gay. I’ve NEVER heard that” is BS.
Paul, give me one reason to not believe that Dick Morris isn’t just someone who Iives up to his first name?
Yeah bettykath this story blows….
When Hillary speaks of the right wing conspiracy, she speaks the truth. There was and still is a right wing conspiracy of hatred and lies. Read David Brock’s “Blinded by the Right”. Brock was a participant. As to Flowers, she claimed a long standing affair. I attribute the disgusting quote to those trying to bring Clinton down. Those who repeat it and the other rumors are just willing or naive participants in the hate machine.
Elaine, lack of civility comes in many forms. this latest is just the crudest example.
What evidence is there to actually suspect either person, Hillary, or Huma is a lesbian? Name one reason to give this ‘idea’ a second thought. Name one thing that should dissuade anyone that this rumor is just a way to smear both women. There may be people who don’t think that there is anything wrong with being a lesbian, but let’s not be disingenuous here, here are plenty people who DO hold a person’s sexual identity against them. These rumors of a homosexual relationship between Huma and Hillary speaks to the lowest common denominator of society, the bigoted. Let’s not pretend that was not the purpose of the rumor mongering.
Annie – Dick Morris, who was the Clintons’ political advisor, floated the idea that the reason that Bill Clinton was such a horn-dog was that he was married to a lesbian. His theory was that Bill was highly sexed and that he was not getting any at home, therefore he was going outside his marriage to get his sexual needs fulfilled.
Journalists proved that it is impossible to discuss an election without using military jargon, which is universally accepted as political terms.
You would frankly have to be mentally ill to confuse the meaning of these terms as an actual call for violence.
But let’s just keep ignoring our mental health care system.
rafflaw – so you won’t answer my question and tell us if you’ve ever asked about the sexuality of a conservative, religious paster or Republican, when he’s rumored to be in the closet?
One way for thee, another for me?