WHICH CITY SHOULD BE MOST EMBARRESSED: New York, San Diego or Toronto ?

Anthony Weiner makes a strong argument for New York after resigning from a New York congressional district in disgrace for exposing himself on the internet and then gathering enough support to make a run for mayor. His ability to ignore the obvious, made Miss Piggy sound absolutely truthful when she defended herself with the now famous phrase;  "Moi?"

San Diego has an excellent claim also. After electing Bob Filner as mayor, despite his history of harassing women, including a Navy Admiral, while  a congressman for the San Diego area.  Bob's denials were as realistic as a sheepish third grader blaming her dog for her undone homework. Of course his plea of guilty to a felony and two misdemeanors after resigning also supports San Diego's claim to the title.

Honestly, I don't know much about Toronto. The press tells us it's the forth largest city in North America.  I presume that's based on population numbers, but I'm not sure. It might be based on the gall of its mayor, Rob Ford. 

It's my understanding, Mr. Ford had a well know history of drinking and debauchery and was elected possibly because of this history rather than in spite of  it. Apparently, the fine folks of Toronto were sick and tired of the elitists conservatives and wanted  a man of the people. To be fair to Toronto, I don't believe they equated debauchery with smoking crack.  I suspect they just had a healthy respect for anyone that could drink Canadian beer and smile afterwards.

Still, Toronto earns consideration in our little analysis just for electing Rob.  But, Mr. Ford is not going down without a fight, he adamantly denied everything until his police department released evidence of his crack dalliance. Then it was, "Well yes, I tried it, but how many of you stinking journalist have smoked pot." He didn't actually say stinking journalist, as far as I know, but the look was on his face made it clear he was thinking it. Now he is threatening to sue his staff for discussing his clearly private activities with constituents that happen to be representatives of the repressed sex industry. 

I don't want to be unfair to Canada, or Toronto. I've always had a great respect for the country and the city, but when CBS news showed a film of Mayor Ford selling bobble-heads of himself and signing autographs at the same time, while in the lobby of the Toronto city hall, I have to believe that New York and San Diego are safe from being the most embarrassed city.

 As a long time un-aligned voter, this little dialog was not intended to be political in nature. But, as I wrote it, I realized that there were certain similarities between our star players.  Weiner and Filner were, unfortunately for the party, Democrats. While I can't say that Rob Ford was, or is, or ever will be, a member of the Democrat party, I can say Democrats often claim to be the anti-elitists, anti-conservative party, which was Ford's claim to fame.

So, it made me think, should my Republican, conservative, friends feel superior and self-righteous because none of their brethren were highlighted in my diatribe.  I don't think so!  Just think of Todd Akin, Republican from Missouri, that argued "legitimate rape" would not result in a  pregnancy, while he tried to back-peddle, the stupidity was out there. Or, some of the absolutely bazar things Michele Bachmann has said.  

Both sides have extreme people and extreme ideas. Extreme people have no real value, with the possible exception of raising money. Extreme ideas can lead to a better future, but only if reasonable people, from all sides, LISTEN to each other and make a good faith effort to find common ground and search for the common good.  

Why is it so hard?