Thursday, February 10, 2011
Three-Hour Scandal
Perhaps in the era of Twitter's 140 characters, it was bound to come to this: The days of the Clinton impeachment drama -- which stretched out over a year from revelation to Senate acquittal -- are long gone. The quick evaporation of one Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) happened in all of three hours on Wednesday, February 9, 2011.
Gawker ran the story around 2:30 PM -- with a shirtless picture of the married Buffalo congressman; it was on Twitter moments later. By 5:30, Lee told Fox News that he had to "work this out with my wife." Minutes later, he was gone: The recently-elected two-term Congressman had resigned his seat.
That a congressman would quit because of a sex scandal isn't such a shock. But that it turned out to be a sex scandal, where there is little evidence of any actual sex having taken place. Especially when there are members in the House and Senate who have survived real sex scandals.
Of course, it may well turn out that this wasn't the first time Lee was on Craigslist looking for some action. Indeed, the resignation probably stops cold any further questioning on that line. He's now a private citizen. Of course, as a few people noted, the real surprise is that the first congressman to quit because of scandal wasn't this guy.
In one sense, it's a sad tale that a foolish act would end someone's career so quickly. However, there is the judgment question of -- why would Lee use his real name in an e-mail communication with a woman who wasn't his wife!?!?
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Gawker ran the story around 2:30 PM -- with a shirtless picture of the married Buffalo congressman; it was on Twitter moments later. By 5:30, Lee told Fox News that he had to "work this out with my wife." Minutes later, he was gone: The recently-elected two-term Congressman had resigned his seat.
That a congressman would quit because of a sex scandal isn't such a shock. But that it turned out to be a sex scandal, where there is little evidence of any actual sex having taken place. Especially when there are members in the House and Senate who have survived real sex scandals.
Of course, it may well turn out that this wasn't the first time Lee was on Craigslist looking for some action. Indeed, the resignation probably stops cold any further questioning on that line. He's now a private citizen. Of course, as a few people noted, the real surprise is that the first congressman to quit because of scandal wasn't this guy.
In one sense, it's a sad tale that a foolish act would end someone's career so quickly. However, there is the judgment question of -- why would Lee use his real name in an e-mail communication with a woman who wasn't his wife!?!?
Labels: Chris Lee, Gawker, sex scandal
Sunday, February 06, 2011
The Game
No real dog in this fight: The New York football teams were a combined 1-3 against the Packers and the Steelers in the past season (Jets, 1-1 against Pittsburgh, 0-1 vs. Green Bay and the Giants were 0-1 against the Pack). So, I'm going with a gut feeling that Green Bay is slightly better -- in particular, faster -- than Pittsburgh (aside from hoping that Ben Roethlisberger gets his ass handed to him).
So, let's call it GB 31, Pitt 28.
UPDATE: So, I got the Green Bay number, but missed the Steelers by one field goal (the 52-yarder they missed). Great game, however. As well as Aaron Rodgers played (and he did: If the Pack's receivers didn't have multiple cases of the dropsies, A-Rodg would have probably had close to 400 years), the decisive factor in Super Bowl XLV was Green Bay's defense. Considering what they did to the Jets earlier in the season (9-0, at home), I can't say that was such a surprise. However, that the Packers still managed to hold off Pittsburgh, despite losing both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields midway through the second quarter was quite impressive. And, in the battle of the defensive "hair-iors," Clay Matthews of the Pack clearly outplayed Troy Polamalu.
Oh well, congrats to MVP Rodgers who managed to help everyone forget about Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and all the other soap operatic mini-narratives that fueled the past season. How great that a great arm and a good work ethic can push all the other BS to the side.
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So, let's call it GB 31, Pitt 28.
UPDATE: So, I got the Green Bay number, but missed the Steelers by one field goal (the 52-yarder they missed). Great game, however. As well as Aaron Rodgers played (and he did: If the Pack's receivers didn't have multiple cases of the dropsies, A-Rodg would have probably had close to 400 years), the decisive factor in Super Bowl XLV was Green Bay's defense. Considering what they did to the Jets earlier in the season (9-0, at home), I can't say that was such a surprise. However, that the Packers still managed to hold off Pittsburgh, despite losing both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields midway through the second quarter was quite impressive. And, in the battle of the defensive "hair-iors," Clay Matthews of the Pack clearly outplayed Troy Polamalu.
Oh well, congrats to MVP Rodgers who managed to help everyone forget about Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and all the other soap operatic mini-narratives that fueled the past season. How great that a great arm and a good work ethic can push all the other BS to the side.
Labels: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl
