Who remembers Anthony Weiner? Show of hands, please.
In case you've forgotten or live in another country where the Weiner story wasn't covered, Anthony Weiner was a seven-term Congressman from New York. Then all hell broke loose when he texted photos of a certain part of his body to quite a few women. Weiner resigned in 2011.
His wife, Huma Abedin, is a longtime close adviser to Hillary Clinton.
Weiner tried to make a comeback by running for mayor of New York City in 2013. Someone made the decision to allow documentary filmmakers to cover Weiner's return to politics. The result is Weiner (2016, Rated R, Recently Available on DVD).
As I recall Anthony Weiner before the scandal broke, he was a politician who showed great promise. But he couldn't keep the promise because he was too busy ruining his political life and his family life.
The saddest part of the documentary is watching Huma Abedin's face. She's humiliated, and even when she and Weiner are "alone" with the documentary cameras rolling, he belittles Abedin with nearly every word he speaks to her. She's by his side as he campaigns, and he treats her like shit.
Of course, catastrophe ensues. That's what makes it Weiner.
It's a well made documentary that will probably leave you shaking your head in bewilderment. Why do people with talent and power throw it all away? Why does his wife tolerate one minute of his insanity? *Note: She left him three days ago after more lewd photos surfaced, including one in which their four-year-old son is in bed with Weiner while he sexts.
Weiner earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Idiotic But Fascinating Approval.
Britney, will you sing us out please?
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Oops! I did it again.
I played with my dick.
I'm a narcissistic idiot.
Typical expressions on Huma Abedin's face during the documentary:
And the possibilities lost:
My mother told me one can never know what glue holds others' marriages. This is a case in point.
ReplyDeleteThe glue has now dissolved.
DeleteDocumentary seems to be good. Beautiful photos:)
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a good documentary.
DeleteI guess some people never learn. This documentary was supposed to launch some kind of political comeback for him? Ugh. What a scumbag. It's horrible how he's treated his wife - and tossed away a promising career in the process.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked Britney at all, but that song is perfect for this.
Oh, and I have to go back and read your last post when I'm awake and not at work (fiction from Janie Junebug? yes, please!)
Fiction from Janie Junebug? I'm not so sure. I have little experience with writing fiction although I used to be a newspaper reporter.
DeleteDespite being in another country, this story somehow ended up here. So I heard about it. I can't imagine how hard it's been for his wife. She reached her breaking point.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you heard about this ugly story. What a poor representative for the United States.
DeleteThe dude obviously has a "thing" for sending pictures of his namesake to strangers. Wait, are they strangers or people with whom he's developed an online relationship? I guess I'll have to watch the doc. Movies like this, though, make me happy there's no more video stores because asking where to find and then sliding a film with this title across the counter would really be a test of my embarrassment thresholds.
ReplyDeleteI think they were women he somehow knew, although he was having phone sex with a woman named Sydney Leathers, supposedly as often as five times a day. They hadn't met face-to-face, so I don't know how he began the so-called relationship with her. I think the people who worked in video stores became accustomed to all sorts of rentals. I remember most places having a separate area for porn.
DeleteMen, power, and wieners are never a good combination. I would be out the door so fast possibly with his cut off wiener in hand.
ReplyDeleteAh, you'd bobbit him.
DeleteHow can they simply ignore the fact that EVERYTHING becomes public in the information age??
ReplyDeleteIt's the grandiose delusion that the person can get away with anything because he's "special" or somehow above the rules for normal mortals. I suspect he's more than a narcissist. I think he probably has bipolar disorder, based on what I saw in the documentary and what I know about him from news stories.
DeleteIt's sad when women have to stand beside their husbands and support them in spite of despicable behavior.
ReplyDeleteShe's given up on him now, thank God.
DeleteAnd, as you noted, he's back in the news! Some people never learn.
ReplyDeleteI think it's mental illness, not that it's an excuse. He was asked many times about seeing a psychiatrist or getting treatment for a sexual disorder. When people who are so obviously nuts carry on and don't get help or don't take their medication, it's their own fault if they destroy themselves.
DeleteI don't know that I could stomach this one. You, also, know how I dislike politics in general. I might have to pass even with your rating--as you know we seem to watch a lot of the same stuff. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. If I thought you would find it interesting, you know I'd encourage you to watch it in spite of your reservations.
DeleteI think in the case of women who stay married to their politician husbands it possibly because they are hoping to ride the wave of their husbands and they either put up with the abuse to reap the benefits. I'm not saying that's what Huma was doing, but we've seen it before. Some people just think they can do anything and get away with it. They are real idiots is all I can say and I hope they get what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, but Huma Abedin is so successful in her own right that she had no need for him. She probably truly loved him at one point, and perhaps still does. She also probably would have wanted to have a family unit for their child.
DeleteWeiner is not an individual I respect or admire.
ReplyDeleteNeither do I, and it's sad because before the story broke, I admired him.
DeleteI was really glad to hear they separated. I mean, how much humiliation should one woman have to take? He's a class A schmuck.
ReplyDeleteI took more than my share. I'm grateful she has her own life and is a success. She has no need for him.
DeleteI would change my name.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I could watch it. He never deserved her and I'm glad she's left him.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she left, too.
DeleteThank God she finally drop kicks the SOB. He sounds like a real narcissist and his name suits him. I would like to see this film because of him being such an idiot. She seems to be a loyal person who invested her life to this a hole
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say she invested her life in him because she always kept her own life. She probably took their vows quite seriously, though.
DeleteAnd the Weiner is? Never heard of the dude. I reckon that may well be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteGary
You're better off not knowing, favorite dude.
DeleteI suspect she stayed because she made a commitment to him and didn't want to give up easily on a person who seemed to have so much potential.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the documentary yet but I plan on watching it. I find his story pretty interesting as well. How a person that has the capacity to have a great career, can continue to make such bad choices, is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures of Huma are pretty telling, aren't they. She looks as miserable as a person can look.
With a name like Weiner...it was his destiny.
ReplyDelete