I heard some cries of despair last night when Eric Schneiderman went down. From what I hear of his behavior, you shouldn’t be distressed. His accusers have contemporaneous accounts, they have pictures, they went to doctors. He hit women out of the blue with no provocation. And let’s be clear about this, the only time you have provocation to hit someone is if they come at you first.
The reporting is impeccable. It’s Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer. I don’t get the impression that they take any joy in doing this. They’re certainly not singling out anyone in the Democratic Party for punishment while ignoring the other side. Are you kidding? Farrow used to work at the Clinton state department. He knows what’s at stake in the political climate. This is not a case of political ratf*cking ala Roger Stone.
If anything, these women were willing to keep quiet for much longer than they should have in order to not jeopardize the investigations against Trump. Otherwise, Eric would have and should have been exposed right after Harvey Weinstein. They prioritized the greater good over their own #metoo moments.
But we have to hold men to a certain standard of behavior or things will never improve. Some of Schneiderman’s accusers say they feared retribution from him and they were particularly mindful of what his energy means to the investigations Schneiderman is pursuing. But a guy like this should lose his job. He should face the same kind of consequences as the women who are too afraid to come forward.
Yes, I feel badly about Franken. I don’t put any of the stuff flung at him in the same category. I would have preferred an investigation. But there is no mechanism in Congress now to hold any representative or senator accountable or give him a fair hearing. That’s the way the Gingrich contingent set it up in the 90’s. The only thing we can do at this point is hold our own accountable.
When it comes to NY AG, the bench is deep. Twitter was all a-twitter last night about appointing Preet Barhara to that office in the interim. That’s probably not a bad idea. But there are other worthy candidates including at least one woman. As long as Andrew Cuomo is governor of New York, there will be a suitable replacement for Schneiderman. We can’t rest of our hopes on one man.
So, don’t shed any tears for Eric, who reportedly strangled a woman after he smacked her face, threw her on the bed and pinned her down with his weight. Strangulation is very serious and is a leading indicator in murder of domestic partners. We can’t excuse it. Ever. He could have killed her.
And maybe we should look at what it is about the AG position in NY that attracts guys who think they will never have to answer for what they do. Remember Eliot Spitzer? What makes them so cocky? What kind of culture is in that department? Cleaning up shouldn’t end with Eric’s resignation. There’s something deeply unsettling going on there.
Now, let’s get the anger and frustration out of our systems, put the blame squarely on Eric, and keep our eyes on the prize this November.
Find a campaign to work for and do something to change this country while you still can.
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This picture in this tweet is unintentionally hilarious:
“Stop in the name of JEEEESUS, I say unto you. Go back to the fiery depth of hades, oh Pele, demon of fire, I cast you out!!”. That having failed, Doug turned and ran like hell.
I don’t feel too sorry for anyone who lost their houses to Pele. They chose to locate them on an active volcano. No one who built didn’t know the risks. It comes with the territory. Maybe the state shouldn’t allow building there. It would save everyone a lot of trouble.
I’ve been to Kiluea twice, once as a child and once in 2009 where I walked one of the craters. Volcanos are awesome. They are also hot and dangerous. Don’t build on them because you can’t count on an exorcism to turn the lava away.
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I’m fancying a walking vacation in Scotland. Is anyone out there interested in coming along?
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It’s nice in Pittsburgh today. Sunny, warm, a beautiful morning. The light is glinting off the river. The water just over the other side of the road meanders and makes its way to the Mississippi and connects us to the rest of the Midwest and the south. Enjoy.
Filed under: General |
The Confluence 
RD agree with what you say but if I were one of those women I would have stayed silent a little bit more for the sake of the country, maybe waited for Mueller’s report. I think this will be a set back to trump’s investigation. Bharara is fine but anything he does will be tainted as vengeance for having got fired even when it is not. Hope they can find someone fearless and full of self righteousness to get this mfer.
PS: not impressed with what one of the women wrote about Hillary and makes clear she is a lightweight.
First, Barhara comes off as anything BUT vengeful. The guy rolled with it. If anything, he’s kept his head pretty well, followed it with Plan B and got on with his life. His podcast is refreshing in that he DOESN’T appear to take a cable news sportscaster attitude towards any of the investigations. He knows when to be serious and break a few partisan hearts to keep us all honest. But, as luck would have it, there are other suitable candidates as well and I do not doubt for a moment that they will pursue the investigations vigorously.
Second, if these things happened the way I think the did, it might have been those contemporaneous accounts that forced their hands. Anyone who heard those stories must have been sorely tested to keep that secret in the #metoo days. I’ll bet the rumors have been circulating for a while now and it was only a matter of time before Eric had his denouement. (I’ve gern waiting for years to use that word. 🤓
Third, we have to police our own side. We have to. Because otherwise we have nothing positive to offer. There will always be someone who watches Fox News who will say “They’re all the same” or “Neither party is any good”. And here we have an opportunity to take a stand and say, “We will not tolerate this. We respect everyone’s right to have a career in which they can advance without the threat of harassment or retribution. That has to be a powerful message because what else will we be willing to do for our constituents? We will protect you from the vengeance of the powerful.” That is a very good message. Don’t you think? This was a well documented set of accusations. This is not trivial or frivolous. We need to take this seriously even if the other side won’t. It’s the right thing to do.
Sorry if I was not clear. Bharara is not vengeful at all. But that will be trump’s political point to neutralize Bharara and it weakens our position.
Don’t you think?
We will take it seriously where it is warranted, case by case without blanket protection for one side or the other. I don’t want to get caught up in this #metoo maelstrom. The message I have for future #metoo women is to get out of the relationship at the first sign, at the first inkling. Starve the beast. Protect yourself. Be accountable for your own decisions and actions. Saying that the other partner was too powerful makes you more weak.
I seem to have unpopular opinions on this issue and maybe I should shut up. I want women to feel empowered and take responsibility for their own decisions and actions to the extent that is warranted.
No, you shouldn’t shut up. What gives you that idea? I love unpopular opinions. It’s how we sharpen our arguments.
For what it’s worth, I happen to agree with you. If someone is treating you poorly, don’t put up with it. You don’t have to be a victim. That being said, when it comes to your career, that’s easier said than done. #metoo is not a victim thing. It’s an accountability thing. It means that’s enough. We won’t let men ruin our careers anymore.
It’s going to be painful. We aren’t going to like it. Is it necessary? Absolutely. There will be a backlash. We have to stick together.
Third, we have to police our own side.
Completely agree with this that we have to do the right thing regardless of which side we are on. The danger however, is that these scandals have a life of their own and punishment for some and lesser crime maybe unreasonable and unjust, an adverse consequence of that is you will be left with thugs and criminals in powerful positions who won’t go away and who will corrupt the system further. It is a vicious circle.
trump era is exposing white males on all fronts like no other. Maybe it is a good thing.
“vicious cycle”
I see y’all took the blue pill again. Try the red one next time.
Hi Niles! Is your boy still cowering in fear of Robert Mueller and his scary subpoena?
I know what you’re thinking. There is no way he has the balls to withstand the kind of grilling Hillary was subjected to. He’s big and soft. So much easier to whine and hide. He’s so stupid and clueless that he can’t even hire a decent lawyer to defend him on TV.
Did I mention how soft he looks? Like some big squishy dough boy in an oversized suit. For a “billionaire”, he sure has a lousy tailor.
No stamina.
Or courage.
Oh, well. We didn’t vote for him. He’s your mascot.
Sorry, Niles, but I have too much concern for the welfare of my immortal soul ever to allow myself to join your horde of Orcs.
An abortion and a 1.6 mil settlement. Hope the #metoo movement gives her enough push and protection that she comes forward to save the country.
Nothing would surprise me at this point. It *might* make the evangelicals sit up and take notice though. This kind of thing might shear off a few of them.
Hey Ronan Farrow, Jane Meyer, act on this rumor, will you? or is it not a low enough hanging fruit for you guys?
In general, where is the due diligence when it comes to trump and investigative reporting?
IMHO the #metoo movement is more an expose’ than a movement. It exposes men for their vile and dangerous behavior while exposing women for being complicit and selfish. It muddies the difference between crime and just punishment, between accountability and responsibility, between consensual and non consensual. It does not change the underlying dynamics and it is at least one or two decades late.
To change the dynamics women should learn to operate from a position of strength. Speak up and stand up for yourself or others when it happens. Use the law or find a Ronan Farrow when and as it happens. You shouldn’t get a brownie when you speak out a decade later when the damage is already done. It may alert others but does little to change the underlying dynamics. Yeah, you may risk losing your career or other retribution at the time but this is war and think of yourself as making that sacrifice so your daughters will have a better day. If you didn’t, this is not much of a movement. In my own little universe I have always operated from a position of strength and I feel comfortable saying all this.
(If you cared about women’s place in a society and their advancement, you would have voted for Hillary instead you berated and minimized her and that is a strike on you for not changing the underlying dynamics.)
* berating and minimizing
As always, let’s blame women for the sexual assaults men inflict on them, and also for the social harm that follows, because women are Doin It Rong.
Heh, if that is all you got from my comment it is disappointing. I would have told him off and left the minute he called me his brown slave and not looked back. Maybe speaking back and standing up to these vile men when they do what they do, may have a chance of reforming them. Use the law, use the media and operate from a position of strength. It is one side dominating over another and I am looking to see how we can change the underlying dynamics and bring balance. It does not mean we let these mfers off the hook but to see how we can also stand up to them.
Let’s not compare Eliot Spitzer to Eric Schneiderman (granted, they have the same initials.) Spitzer had trysts (okay, appointments) with prostitutes. There was never an accusation that Spitzer slapped, struck or strangled anybody.
Madoka damn it, are all white males but me criminally, or at least ethically, corrupt?
Yes, I know the answer is “No”; I’m indulging in hyperbole.
But Ascended Madoka help us all, just how wide and deep is the rot?
I don’t know where or how Stormy D found Avenatti. I wish that other 1.6 mil playboy woman finds him too and tells her story.
OMG, he is now helping these media m*therfuckers.
I hope his dating record is clean for the country’s sake.
Was it Agatha Christie who said while solving for murder, look to who benefits from it. Who benefits from the withdrawal of Iran deal? Has any enterprising media person answered that question?