Weiner to go

Taking lewd pictures of oneself and sexting or tweeting them to anyone, friend or Internet pal, is one of the top 10 dumbest things a politician can do.

And in the case of New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, it gets worse. Lying about such sophomoric activity, blaming a fictitious hacker - reveal him as a pol who lacks judgment and character.

The newly married Weiner was carrying on six online sexual relationships - virtual, yes, but still not the kind of behavior voters admire, elect or re-elect.

Weiner broke down and admitted he took the famous man-in-gray-underpants picture of himself, tweeted it to a college student in Washington state, then pretended someone else had done something to set him up.

Politicians of all stripes can be narcissistic. Not news. And part of the hubris involves a sense that they will not get caught for any weird or kinky behavior, because they are so amazing.

Weiner's career is over, or almost over, not because he violated the law, although an investigation is expected to begin and may show otherwise, but because he is a dishonest fool. He could be redistricted out of office or he could resign to spare his party a lengthy, destructive investigation. Both good ideas.

- The Seattle Times