I read an interesting article on CNN this morning about Anthony Weiner’s campaign communications director, Barbara Morgan. If you read my blog regularly, you may recall that I asked why Weiner still has people working on
his campaign staff, especially women. Time reveals the answers to all questions. Only a pervert like Weiner would hire a fowl mouth person lacking in leadership and oral communication skills as a communications director. He has an inability to make sound decisions. No one else would hire such a person. If you missed the article, Morgan apologized for using inappropriate language when she bashed a former intern, using several four-letter words. I was in the Army for 22 years, so I have a black belt in profanity, and I would not use those words. 
 
Morgan said she thought the conversation was “off the record.” Of course, that is why she apologized when it became public. She was not sorry for offending the intern, only for using profanity in public. It is safe to assume that she talks “off the record” around the office, to co-workers, to subordinates, and at home.

The New York Daily News quoted Morgan as saying, “Man, see if you ever get a job in this town again.” My guess is that she thinks Weiner will win the election for mayor and start a blacklist of people to bar from working in NYC. Fat chance! I would think that Morgan would have trouble finding a job in NYC after working for Weiner. She must think there is a huge demand for fowl
mouthed communication directors who can’t control their temper. Oh, wait! I stand corrected; this is New York City. She could go to work for Eliot Spitzer or Kristen Davis, whoever wins the election for comptroller. It would be a nice fit. Meanwhile, the search continues to find one female voter in NYC that will publicly admit that she will vote for Weiner. You can’t count Barbara Morgan.

I wrote about leadership and the use of profanity in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: Book Two. Obviously, Morgan did not read it. It is available at http://smashwords.com/b/300090. 
Here is what I wrote:
“Profanity is usually unacceptable in most professions and industries. Leader/managers
should avoid it.” Enough said. I think that politics is one of those professions where profanity is unacceptable. I could be wrong.

I also wrote about controlling one’s emotions. I wrote:
“Leading with confidence requires a heightened self-awareness and ability to master emotions.”

Barbara Morgan lacks confidence in her own abilities and has not mastered her emotions. She sets a bad example for others (http://clicktotweet.com/39bUF). I guess that is why Weiner hired her – he sets a poor example too.

Lots of news this morning. I see that CNN is keeping Anthony Weiner in the news, providing more publicity for his campaign. There was another cartoon about him in my local paper. If I were interested in sexting, I would run for office. Enough! Meanwhile, the search continues to find one
female voter in NYC who will publicly admit that she will vote for Weiner (http://clicktotweet.com/6A_ve). I see that Eliot Spitzer finally figured out how to get some of that free publicity. He made the comment that Weiner should not be mayor of New York City. Actually, he did not say that, he just agreed with the statement that the reporter made. He also said that he (Spitzer) would not vote for Weiner. Ops! Again, he did not say that, he just agreed with the reporter who made the statement. Politicians are as slippery as eels and harder to pin down. Now Spitzer can deny that he made those remarks. If Spitzer wants any female votes, he had better not vote for Weiner (http://clicktotweet.com/Da5pF). 

Pope Francis is returning from Brazil. When asked about homosexuals, he said, “...who am I to judge?” An unconfirmed rumor said that shortly after this his remark; an aide reminded him that he is the Pope. Of course, priests do not judge. They pass that decision to a higher authority. 
 
I see that the value of the jewels stolen from a Cannes hotel increased from $53 million to $136 million. No surprise there. Someone realized that the jewels are insured. I am sure that all the guards will put in claims for expensive Rolex watches too. Rumor has it that the single robber drove off in three expensive cars.

On a different subject, I have two adopted greyhounds. They need exercise and so do I, so I take them for walks. They like to stop and smell the roses. And the rocks. And the trees. And the flowers. I am a mission-oriented person, and I sometimes get annoyed at this behavior. I just want to finish the walk. I tell them, “It is just a rock, girls.” They are both females. 
 
At the same time, I envy them. They have that rare ability to find simply, everyday things fascinating and interesting. They are like children in that sense. We grownups have lost that fascination with the simple things of  life.

When my children were very young, rocks and trees fascinated them. One day, my youngest son found a rock that had a prominent feature that looked like a nose, like my nose. He declared it a “Daddy Rock,” and it joined our family. I was in the military so we moved frequently. We carted that rock everywhere until my son went to college. Somehow, when he went to college, it stopped being a Daddy Rock and became a simple rock again. It was as if an education makes people no longer fascinated by the simple things in life. That is sad, I think.

I want to be like my dogs and kids. I want to be able to take my pets for a walk and say, “Wow! Look girls! A rock! How fascinating!” I’m working on it.

I see that USA today has come to an agreement to provide free publicity to Anthony Weiner for his campaign for mayor of New York City. My best guess is that Weiner has some lewd photographs of some of the journalists. Why else would the major news networks want to run stories about someone who sexts? It is hard to  understand. 

Sal Albanese, Ceceilia Berkowitz, Randy Credico, Bill de Blasio, John Liu, Christine Quinn, Erick Salgado, and Bill
Thompson. Do you recognize these names? If you are from NYC, you should. They are also in the mayoral race for the Democratic nomination. Unfortunately, they do not sext, so the media will not pay them any attention.

The USA Today article says that Weiner’s campaign manager, Danny Kedem, resigned. No surprise there. My guess is that Weiner did not sign the lewd tweet that he sent to Danny OR that Weiner lied when he said he had reformed. The big question for me is - why is the rest of his staff still on
board. What damaging evidence does Weiner have on them? 
 
In other news, a lone gunman stole $53 million in jewels from a Cannes hotel. Apparently, the guards were unarmed. Duh! The prime suspect should be the person who suggested that they could save a few bucks by not arming the guards. When I was in the military, we tried arming the guards around the motor pools with baseball bats. It did not stop thieves from stealing a tank.
These scores just in: Guards armed with baseball bats – 0, thieves in stolen tanks – 1 tank. Unarmed guards of valuable jewels – 0, one armed robber - $53 million.
What the hell? Haven’t these people heard of lojack? 

I see that CNN has continued to provide free publicity for Anthony Weiner. If Weiner is elected as Mayor of New York City, we can blame CNN. (http://clicktotweet.com/496Ua) The sins he committed are not all that bad compared to many others. Now CNN has agreed to provide the same service to Bob Filner, Mayor of San Diego. You may recall he has admitted to sexual harassment and is going into “intense therapy" for two weeks. I think "intense therapy" consists of two weeks protection from the media, three buffet meals daily, golf in the afternoon, and a daily happy hour. Please, take me instead! When it is over, he hopes everyone has forgotten about him. 
 
Voters are confronting Anthony Weiner on the street about the poor example he sets for employees. (http://clicktotweet.com/gc52n) I think that if he is elected, city employees will be too embarrassed to admit that they work for the city. They will probably tell everyone that they drive a cab or some other noble profession. I can’t imagine how the female employees will feel if Kristen Davis, the ex-madam, is elected as comptroller of New York City. 

I wrote about setting the example in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: Book Two. It is available at http://smashwords.com/b/300090. Here is what I wrote:

“Leader/managers are role models for others. Associates view them as the example. Leaders must,
therefore, maintain standards and provide examples of effective behaviors. What associates see leaders do sets the stage for what they may do. Modeling these attributes of character defines the leader/managers to the people with whom they interact. A leader of sound character will exhibit
that character at all times. It is not a 'Do as I say, not as I do.' situation.”

I see that CNN is continuing its love affair with Anthony Weiner and providing him with publicity pro bono. (“Pro bono” means free, in case you have a dirty mind.) I don’t know about you, but I have heard enough. CNN should
have a contest to see if anyone outside of New York City can name one other person running for mayor. If that wasn’t bad enough, I opened my local newspaper to see a political cartoon about Weiner. Enough!

Now Mayor Bob Filner of San Diego is going into rehab for sensitivity counseling for two weeks. I hope the tax payers aren’t footing the bill. It will be a waste of money. There is no rehab that will improve poor judgment and stupidity (http://clicktotweet.com/n5da2). Filner could not have gotten to 70 years of age in politics without some form of
sensitivity training (http://clicktotweet.com/8dfs4). It did not work then and it will not work now. Get real!

Sex is a value, a powerful motivator. I wrote about sex and sexual harassment in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: Book Two. Here is what I wrote:

“You have only to follow the news to see how powerful the sex drive is as a core value. Leader/managers need to be aware of this not only for their associates but also for themselves. It would be naive to believe that associates do not have sex in the workplace if the opportunity presents itself. This seems especially true in male dominated professions and industries. It may take the form of sexual harassment, groping, verbal remarks, jokes, calendars or photographs, and even intercourse. The current state of TV and cinema seems to indicate that sexual misconduct in the workplace is acceptable, but it is not. In fact, it has ruined many careers and families and resulted in many law suits.”

The sexual misconduct of leader/managers is far more serious. Leaders should set the example with their professional conduct. To have an affair or to create a sex scandal is wrong on several levels. It violates the trust between a significant other and may involve deception and denial. The sound judgment of leaders involved in an affair is questionable. Affairs never end well. People always get
hurt.”

Keep in mind that I wrote published this in March of this year, before the current flock of scandals. My book is available at http://smashwords.com/b/300090.

Just when I thought the media finally stopped providing free publicity for Anthony Weiner, I turned on my computer and saw an interview with Weiner’s chat partner, Sydney Leathers. She said that Weiner used a fake name, promised to purchase a condominium for her, and offered to place her on a panel for political bloggers while publicly stating that he had reformed. Do you think he lied? Should we question Sydney’s judgment too? Weiner is not an honest person. Why would such a sleaze ball run for office in New York City? Never mind, I answered my own question.

I think it is only fair for the media to give Eliot Spitzer, the other sleaze running for office in NYC, equal time. The
same goes for Kristin Davis, the ex-madam running against Spitzer; maybe a threesome. 

The media has turned its attention on San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. According to NBC, more prominent women accused him of sexual harassment. They include a retired Navy rear admiral, a university dean, the head of an association and a
businesswoman. One stated that he rubbed her cheek with his fingers. If I had a dollar every time I tried that at the office, I could not buy a cup of coffee.
On second thought, make that a donut – coffee costs more than a dollar now days. This should remind everyone of ex-governor Schwarzenegger. If you will recall, the running joke was reporting the number of women who came forward and admitted the governor did not harass them. I think that may be the case with Filner in San Diego. I may soon hear that Schwarzenegger has offered advice to Filner and that Weiner has  sext him with a nice selfie suitable for framing (http://clicktotweet.com/_bcaY). 

Several things bother me about Spitzer, Weiner, and Filner and these sex scandals:
1. Is it just me or are these politicians not very handsome? Let me rephrase that – you know what I mean.
2. Why does politics attract sleazy men? Is it just the sex, drugs, and money or it also the power? (http://clicktotweet.com/Do0aA) Why don’t sleazy women run for office? Never mind - Kristin Davis is running for office in NYC.
3. How did these politicians get this far? I can’t believe for a second that this type of behavior started after they were elected. (http://clicktotweet.com/DlKGf am sure the media will discover that they all had a long history of sexual misconduct. Someone should have alerted the voters.

Anthony Weiner is in the news again today. Will someone please tell me why an ex-congressman who got caught sexting gets more free news coverage than an ex-governor who used expensive hookers? I just don’t get it. Yesterday, when I wrote my blog I used the words “sextext” and “sextexting.” That shows you how much I know about the subject of sexting. I am so out of date. Yesterday, someone asked me if I was getting any on the side and I did not even know they had moved it. 

Here is my theory; Anthony Weiner has not stopped sexting. He sends out naked pictures of himself every so many weeks so he can get free publicity. Poor Eliot Spitzer has to pay for his ads. I think that Weiner should just come clean and admit that he does not intend to reform, and he will continue to sext. He should tell voters that everyone who votes for him would get an autographed picture of Weiner suitable for framing. 
 
Eliot Spitzer is probably glad that the spotlight is on Weiner and not on him. I also do not hear much about Kristin Davis, who was a madam involved in Spitzer’s scandal. She is running against Spitzer for comptroller. I guess CNN and Fox News think that an ex-congressman who sexts is more   newsworthy that an ex-governor who hired expensive prostitutes or an ex-madam. Why doesn’t the media just tell Weiner that his sexting is old news and move onto more interesting subjects?

What Weiner did was stupid and silly. What Spitzer and Davis did was illegal.

Anthony Weiner has done it again. Yesterday, I wrote how Eliot Spitzer spent $450,000 for some one-minute ads in his campaign for NYC comptroller while Weiner gets free publicity. Yesterday, Spitzer had his first meet and greet with the press. I don’t know what that cost. Meanwhile, Weiner had a press conference and made the news on all major networks after it was disclosed that he continued to sextext up to a year after he resigned from congress for sextexting. When it comes to getting free publicity, Weiner is good at it. I think I would be more comfortable if Spitzer was running for mayor and Weiner for comptroller.

Did this disclosure surprise anyone? I wrote a few weeks ago that I didn’t think there was a rehab for stupid. Even if there is, Weiner did not attend. He did warn us that there may be more incidents revealed, but he did not say what or when. If elected mayor of New York, will there be other secrets? I think so. He said that behavior is all behind him now. I suppose we will see a picture of his behind next.

He wife spoke at the press conference to say that she will stand by her man. I am guessing that after the election, win or lose, she will change her mind. I wonder if he ever sextexted her.

I see that Eliot Spitzer, candidate for New York City comptroller, has spent $450,000 for one-minute ads. In past blogs, I questioned his judgment, especially when it comes to fiscal matters. You may recall that he spent $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years; first while attorney general and later as governor. I thought this rather excessive.
Now he is spending excessive amounts on one-minute ads. 

Recent polls have shown Spitzer leading his rival for the Democratic nomination. He, as well as Anthony Weiner, received a lot of free publicity in New York. Time magazine wrote an article about him. I don't see why Spitzer needs to spend that much on ads. Once again, I think he has over paid. Anthony Weiner is not above using You Tube and Twitter to campaign, and those social networks are free. I have not heard of Spitzer doing the same. I am not sure how many ads Spitzer bought, but he has at least two. If he does four, that would be more than $100,000 per minute. Seems excessive to me. I don’t think this is a man that New York City should trust with their money.

Protests continue over the Zimmerman trial verdict. While many, me included, may not agree with the act of protesting, they can’t argue with the fact that protests
often work (http://clicktotweet.com/VpCoN). No one can deny the impact that the protests, called Arab Spring, had on Arab governments. Protests can result in a change of government or a change in the laws. They also raise public awareness. 
 
I lived through the Civil Rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War. I was in the Army, so I did not participate. I think that those protests influenced the government to act. Nixon ended the war and Kennedy got involved in battling discrimination. I do believe that the riots over the Rodney King verdict in LA had an influence in changing the LAPD. Even if these protests over these events did not change the laws, public opinion changed. 
 
People may not agree with the protest over the Zimmerman trial, but they certainly know that many folks feel that Martin’s murderer did not receive justice. I think many people have formed opinions about the case. These protests can’t change the verdict. It is what it is. However, laws, such as  Stand Your Ground laws, can change. It takes time.

Protests are part of the democratic process. In the USA, they predate the American Revolution and include such things as the Boston Tea Party. Through protests, the people let their government know how they feel about an issue. However, democratic protests should be peaceful. Breaking the law in protest over another law makes no sense. 

Social networks make the forming and sensing of public opinion and organizing demonstrations easier. The Arab Spring is a good example of the use of social networks to organize demonstrations. Politicians are beginning to pay more attention to social networks to find out how voters feel about issues. We have reached a point in America where people don’t just talk about the news,
the news talks about what people are texting. Let’s hope that the texts and social networks are honest and do not attempt to influence public opinion. Yeah, right!