This is such a sad story. She was a young rising star in democratic politics with decades of service in front of her. She never really violated any ethics rules with her relationship, something RuPaul biographer and 2009 Hot Air Balloon champion, George Santos can’t claim. (Well, he can, but you know). She’s a victim of political railroading, revenge porn and sex shaming, invasion of privacy, and now she not only lost a lawsuit she should have won, the court ruled her suit was frivolous and put all the fees on her. Fuck all the men who played a role in this upside-down story of human tragedy. Sickening.
As I've mentioned in these non-comments before, I have a history of problems with substance abuse. By extension, I also have a complicated relationship with sex, as many people with such problems do. I therefore have a lot of feels about this subject.
First and foremost, I think it's entirely possible her relationship with her staffer was some combination of a coping mechanism, solace, and acting out. The type of ex who would vitriolically shame their former partner like this is probably abusive in other ways. Under these conditions, physical intimacy with someone with whom you spend a lot of time and are friendly with can evolve. It was ill-advised and inappropriate, yes. I do believe that it was consensual and not exploitative, given that Hill didn't throw her partner under the bus.
As others have pointed out, sex with a subordinate is never a good idea. One of the expectations is that as a superior you should be the one with better judgment, if push comes to shove.
At a more visceral level, however, I feel for her. I've felt the shame, humiliation, and other aspects of the aftermath after acting out in ill-advised ways due to a toxic situation. I don't believe this makes her a bad person, or even a bad politician. Hell, David Vitter, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, etc. still have careers and aren't bankrupt. I also can't help but feel my hackles go up when I read things like "I don't trust her judgment" or "we expect better" or "she was stupid" or other dismissive hand-waves that downplay the fact that she did not deserve this and is the victim of a revenge porn campaign. Again, I don't hear anyone saying "yeah, well, he boinked an intern so why do I have to listen to him" when Clinton opines on . . . well . . . anything. There's even a candy bar named after Cleveland's love child! Last I checked, people can be brilliant in one respect and utter jackasses in another.
I'm not saying Hill didn't (pun intended) fuck up. She did, and she is paying the price. It's still too damn steep. Vitter entered the senate to a standing ovation from his side of the aisle - note to Republicans: FUCK YOU - when he was reelected. She also had the right to resign and no obligation to be the face of an anti-prudery campaign. We could use one, but I think a lot of people would snap like a twig under that kind of pressure.
Anyway. That's all. I think I needed to vent a bit. If you've read this far in my inane ramblings, thanks for listening. Be well. Try the shiitake, and don't forget to tip your server.
Centrist Democrat. Appointed by Schwarzenegger, worked for Feinstein for a bit. Not even close to being a MAGAt. She has announced her resignation (assumed unrelated but who knows).
The Daily Mail really is the most abominable shit-rag in the history of publishing. Pick a topic, any topic, and they will be, are or were on the wrong side of it.
Democrats are the only ones who do and if they have not learned that lesson over the past 6 years, they never will. Don't even resign if they have the goods on you. Remain in congress from your jail cell if you must. Make congress vote you off the island because they won't do it most of the time.
This went way beyond reporting an alleged affair with a staffer. It was a gross violation of her privacy. And as noted on a newsworthy basis, publishing nude photos without her consent added nothing to the ethics violations they allege she was involved in. Just like the House had no need to flash nude photos of Hunter Biden. It was just more shaming. Too bad Stormy Daniels didn't take a few photos of Trump. Of course the GOP would have called for her execution.
But that's okay for Republicans. Ever notice that the large media hasn't, well...hung that around the Republicans' necks? That's quite curious innit?
It is till we all understand the biased media environment is because the owners want to win. And Democrats have to play on that biased field. Even if they are scandal-free, some will be made up.
What Republicans have learned is how to play the media--they know the media has a short attention span and if you don't feed a story over time, it dies and they move on to something else.
Had Hill just said "whoopsie!" that would have been that. Her "scandal" certainly wasn't; worth more than a short cycle, and voters don't care.
Yep, it was clear that the revenge porn would continue as long as she was in the House. The actual scandal itself would not have cost her her seat (as we've seen with Santos).
One can't help but wonder if Judge Orozco is a Republican and Mike Garcia/Trump supporter?
I live in this congressional district and those of us who voted for Katie Hill adored her. It's an interesting district: Santa Clarita is a relatively affluent LA suburb filled with conservative Republicans (lots of cops and Stepford wives). It's "the Irvine of LA County". Historically, Santa Clarita's politics have been heavily influenced by the local Mormon/LDS community.
Palmdale is more Democratic, blue collar and lots of Latinos, retirees, aerospace and health care workers. Lancaster is a commuter town and is very much divided between its upper-income westside and lower-income eastside. Most people in this region either commute to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, or work at Edwards Air Force Base / Plant 42. Katie Hill's hometown of Acton is nestled in the canyon between Palmdale and Santa Clarita and is relatively upper-income.
Overall, the area leans slightly blue, but there's a very small but vocal QAnon lite crowd that likes to show up to meetings and cause chaos.
We can't post pictures like before but here on the Wonkette pix of Melon from her modeling days are not permitted. In other words, we have higher content standards than The Daily Mail and Red State. #NotMuchToBragAbout
I'd like to Liz or one of the other lawsplainers explain the difference between this case and Peter Thiel's Money v Gawker because they seem pretty much the same to me other than Peter Thiel's Money had more money than God on it's side.
Ta, Stephen. This is too sad.
This is such a sad story. She was a young rising star in democratic politics with decades of service in front of her. She never really violated any ethics rules with her relationship, something RuPaul biographer and 2009 Hot Air Balloon champion, George Santos can’t claim. (Well, he can, but you know). She’s a victim of political railroading, revenge porn and sex shaming, invasion of privacy, and now she not only lost a lawsuit she should have won, the court ruled her suit was frivolous and put all the fees on her. Fuck all the men who played a role in this upside-down story of human tragedy. Sickening.
Where was her Peter Thiel? And Democrats wonder why they lose....
Does she have a go fund me or something?
Am I out of line to ask what her ex-husband's name is? Or whether he was required to pay alimony? Just trying to figure out something. Hmmmm
As I've mentioned in these non-comments before, I have a history of problems with substance abuse. By extension, I also have a complicated relationship with sex, as many people with such problems do. I therefore have a lot of feels about this subject.
First and foremost, I think it's entirely possible her relationship with her staffer was some combination of a coping mechanism, solace, and acting out. The type of ex who would vitriolically shame their former partner like this is probably abusive in other ways. Under these conditions, physical intimacy with someone with whom you spend a lot of time and are friendly with can evolve. It was ill-advised and inappropriate, yes. I do believe that it was consensual and not exploitative, given that Hill didn't throw her partner under the bus.
As others have pointed out, sex with a subordinate is never a good idea. One of the expectations is that as a superior you should be the one with better judgment, if push comes to shove.
At a more visceral level, however, I feel for her. I've felt the shame, humiliation, and other aspects of the aftermath after acting out in ill-advised ways due to a toxic situation. I don't believe this makes her a bad person, or even a bad politician. Hell, David Vitter, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, etc. still have careers and aren't bankrupt. I also can't help but feel my hackles go up when I read things like "I don't trust her judgment" or "we expect better" or "she was stupid" or other dismissive hand-waves that downplay the fact that she did not deserve this and is the victim of a revenge porn campaign. Again, I don't hear anyone saying "yeah, well, he boinked an intern so why do I have to listen to him" when Clinton opines on . . . well . . . anything. There's even a candy bar named after Cleveland's love child! Last I checked, people can be brilliant in one respect and utter jackasses in another.
I'm not saying Hill didn't (pun intended) fuck up. She did, and she is paying the price. It's still too damn steep. Vitter entered the senate to a standing ovation from his side of the aisle - note to Republicans: FUCK YOU - when he was reelected. She also had the right to resign and no obligation to be the face of an anti-prudery campaign. We could use one, but I think a lot of people would snap like a twig under that kind of pressure.
Anyway. That's all. I think I needed to vent a bit. If you've read this far in my inane ramblings, thanks for listening. Be well. Try the shiitake, and don't forget to tip your server.
WHAT even is this so-called 'judge'? (Notice choice of pronoun.) This is shite one would expect from a dRUMPfazoid puppet like Cannon!
Centrist Democrat. Appointed by Schwarzenegger, worked for Feinstein for a bit. Not even close to being a MAGAt. She has announced her resignation (assumed unrelated but who knows).
https://trellis.law/judge/yolanda.orozco
That is insupportable. There is nothing 'centrist' or Democratic about her abuse and judicial irresponsibility in abusing the victim here.
Sorry, was that a ruling on whether the photos were in the public interest or the pubic interest? Pure prurience, anyway.
The Daily Mail really is the most abominable shit-rag in the history of publishing. Pick a topic, any topic, and they will be, are or were on the wrong side of it.
I am proud of the fact that I never showed anyone the naughty sampler my wife needle pointed for me when we were courting.
I think the lesson here is NEVER RESIGN.
Not unless you know for a fact that you are a criminal and the state has the goods on you.
Otherwise, NEVER RESIGN.
Democrats are the only ones who do and if they have not learned that lesson over the past 6 years, they never will. Don't even resign if they have the goods on you. Remain in congress from your jail cell if you must. Make congress vote you off the island because they won't do it most of the time.
Yeah. At least Senator Menendez is hanging in there.
For the national party, there just simply is no political upside to resigning.
That's what I believe.
This went way beyond reporting an alleged affair with a staffer. It was a gross violation of her privacy. And as noted on a newsworthy basis, publishing nude photos without her consent added nothing to the ethics violations they allege she was involved in. Just like the House had no need to flash nude photos of Hunter Biden. It was just more shaming. Too bad Stormy Daniels didn't take a few photos of Trump. Of course the GOP would have called for her execution.
But that's okay for Republicans. Ever notice that the large media hasn't, well...hung that around the Republicans' necks? That's quite curious innit?
It is till we all understand the biased media environment is because the owners want to win. And Democrats have to play on that biased field. Even if they are scandal-free, some will be made up.
What Republicans have learned is how to play the media--they know the media has a short attention span and if you don't feed a story over time, it dies and they move on to something else.
Had Hill just said "whoopsie!" that would have been that. Her "scandal" certainly wasn't; worth more than a short cycle, and voters don't care.
The problem is that she was being harassed on such a horribly vial level that she just could not take it anymore and resign to get away from it.
Of course it didn't actually get her away from any of it, but that was the thought.
Yep, it was clear that the revenge porn would continue as long as she was in the House. The actual scandal itself would not have cost her her seat (as we've seen with Santos).
I don't think the latter half of your comment follows to be honest. And I'm not entirely sure the revenge porn stopped when she resigned.
One can't help but wonder if Judge Orozco is a Republican and Mike Garcia/Trump supporter?
I live in this congressional district and those of us who voted for Katie Hill adored her. It's an interesting district: Santa Clarita is a relatively affluent LA suburb filled with conservative Republicans (lots of cops and Stepford wives). It's "the Irvine of LA County". Historically, Santa Clarita's politics have been heavily influenced by the local Mormon/LDS community.
Palmdale is more Democratic, blue collar and lots of Latinos, retirees, aerospace and health care workers. Lancaster is a commuter town and is very much divided between its upper-income westside and lower-income eastside. Most people in this region either commute to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, or work at Edwards Air Force Base / Plant 42. Katie Hill's hometown of Acton is nestled in the canyon between Palmdale and Santa Clarita and is relatively upper-income.
Overall, the area leans slightly blue, but there's a very small but vocal QAnon lite crowd that likes to show up to meetings and cause chaos.
I cannot imagine she is anything but a bought and paid for MAGAturd.
We can't post pictures like before but here on the Wonkette pix of Melon from her modeling days are not permitted. In other words, we have higher content standards than The Daily Mail and Red State. #NotMuchToBragAbout
I'm pretty sure that rule is in place to stop one particular commenter or from spamming one particular picture nearly five times a day
If ever there was an event that would radicalize someone, surely this would be it.
"...Orozco agreed were “a matter of public issue or public interest.”
Now do outtakes from The Apprentice.
I'd like to Liz or one of the other lawsplainers explain the difference between this case and Peter Thiel's Money v Gawker because they seem pretty much the same to me other than Peter Thiel's Money had more money than God on it's side.
Indeed, let's see that NDA be challenged and shot down.