Ohh, like he's a real catch! A Mayor, what's worse, a mayor from some rinky-dink town, the guy never even had a guest apearance on the Simpsons

For some reason I first read that sentance as I was skimming through as "A Republican gets a sex change", I was taken aback there for a second...
posted by tiaka at 10:31 AM on July 27, 2001

Oh, I don't know. Wouldn't it be kind of refreshing if the pols sex lives were considered none of our business? I mean, yeah, at least it's not another Dem. That's something. But still....
posted by mudbug at 10:40 AM on July 27, 2001

Mudbug, I would agree with you if it was a case of a politician simply having an affair or something of the sort, but when a politician is charged with committing sex crimes, then it's definitely our business.
posted by jnthnjng at 10:53 AM on July 27, 2001

I am surprised that you think that at long last a Republican was caught up in a sex scandal! Congress was/is riddled with this and on both sides of the aisle. After all, why did Newt suddently decide to call it quits?
posted by Postroad at 10:58 AM on July 27, 2001

True, jn'. Couldn't agree more. The problem is, for me that it's another political sex scandal, implying that there have been far too many.

There are important stories and unimportant stories. The problem is when we can't distinguish them. Sheer volume contributes to that kind of blindness. Or ignorance. Or whatever.
posted by mudbug at 10:58 AM on July 27, 2001

Sex scandal doesn't really do this justice, this is sex with a minor -- not a consenting adult.

He's not necessarily a rinky-dink figure. This guy was thier state-wide candidate, and could have been a Senator if Lieberman had gotten out of the Senate race.
posted by brucec at 11:00 AM on July 27, 2001

Sex scandal stories increase ratings, and, conveniently, keep attention focused away from issues and stories which could threaten the status quo. Expect to see lots more sex scandal stories.
posted by drunkkeith at 11:12 AM on July 27, 2001

That article seemed pretty vague as far as sex crimes/scandal went. There was that nice flourish added with the anecdote about the female staffer in the car with him, but it was pretty gossipy. Although it definitely seems like he's corrupt. As a side note, one of my housemates has a grandmother that lives in Waterbury and she says the whole place is real sketchy. Like Gary, Indiana but without the charm.
posted by Sellersburg/Speed at 12:13 PM on July 27, 2001

Rastafari, my little fingers and toes count this guy as being in the sex scandal party.
The only two exceptions I can come up with are Bills, and one of them is Democrat In Name Only.
Thanks for the good intentions anyway.
posted by nofundy at 12:20 PM on July 27, 2001

Does anyone think it's the profession? I mean, does it seem like politics, especially the elected office, attracts extremes from all ends: the holier-than-thous, the sex-a-holics, or simply the greedy. (Didn't Henry Kissinger tell Mao that power is an aphrodisiac, or was that Oliver Stone's imagination from the movie 'Nixon'?)

It occurs to me that people who are either very ambitious (W. Clinton) or on a major power trip (R. Nixon) are naturally attracted towards politics (and if not caught in a scandal, do very well !) Of course, some just stumble on to it!
posted by Rastafari at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2001

Of course, some just stumble on to it!

Man, I was so sure that was going to be a link to this guy. You had the word 'stumble' in there and everything.
posted by youhas at 12:58 PM on July 27, 2001

youhas, when you are right, you are right!

How about, some people just luck into it.
posted by Rastafari at 3:00 PM on July 27, 2001

I didn't think republicans had sex. Wow! That story really opened my eyes. So what makes them so mean then?
posted by themikeb at 3:49 PM on July 27, 2001