Eric Alterman has an interesting column in The Daily Beast, in which he postulates that Rep. Anthony Weiner can survive this scandal by taking his leave of absence. Personally, I think he can survive merely by sticking around, leave or absence or no. This just sucks some of the air out of the balloon. Having not broken the law, the media will move on to other things eventually.
Weiner's effectiveness as a national spokesperson for the Democrats has been neutered (pardon the pun) for a while, but as Alterman points out, Barney Frank came back from far worse.
But Alterman also writes this:
Weiner may have solved everybody’s problem with his “treatment” gambit. It makes those who continue to milk the story look like heartless vultures for harassing a sick man (with a pregnant wife).
I'm not a psychiatrist or psychologist. Heck, I don't even watch Psych or The Bob Newhart Show. But this comment doesn't ring true to me. I can't imagine that anyone will view him sympathetically. Maybe for being hounded by the press, but not for being "sick." I just don't see people being upset at the media for going after a sick man. That rings false to me. People probably will not view him as suffering from an illness, even if it somehow comes out that he has a genuine affliction.
Does anyone here feel sorry for him on the grounds that he's ill? If any online community would feel that way, it would be here, but I've not sensed that at all 'round these parts.
1:30 PM PT: Stupid not being able to edit a poll! The fourth option should read "Get off your high-horse, option 4. The American public will never "focus" on Syria."