Anthony Weiner once tweeted during an election campaign that “it takes a great man to build a barn. Any jackass can kick it down.” How ironic (and prophetic) that a brilliant political career painstakingly built over the course of fifteen years has been kicked down by the same jackass who built it – and all for the sake of a momentary titillating sensation in sending his crotch shot to women over the internet.

Weiner was somewhat of a hero for many progressives who saw in this politician what they wished they could see in all Democrats – a tough, in your face, no BS, speak-your-mind, take-no-prisoners sort of attitude so lacking in the majority of politicians of a liberal persuasion. Weiner was a rare breed – a Dem with a spine willing to stand toe to toe with Republicans and speak from the heart in an intelligent and articulate manner. Now, after a week of lies and denial, much of that spark and magic has been lost.

It’s hard to say at this point whether Weiner can rebound from his folly and carry through with his dream of becoming New York’s next mayor and a strong proponent of liberal causes. Probably so but it will take some time for him to regain the respect and trust of those who helped elect him to office seven consecutive times. For all his many talents, in the end Weiner showed himself to be but yet another man of power and influence succumbing to the same weaknesses found in mere mortals.

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