Ace Scares Me

Ace at the Ace of Spades blog is one of the smartest, funniest and most humane commentators on the Internet.   Having gone after Anthony Weiner more than nearly anyone on the Internet (Patterico being perhaps the only exception), Ace here adds a little modest does of sympathy.   

Think about where Anthony Weiner was 15 days ago. Puffed-up bantam of a partisan venom-spitter -- a liberal cockatrice -- and a big fightin' hero on MSNBC and Daily Kos and partisan hate-rallies (like the Wisconsin rally he was scheduled to attend). Generally considered to be the prime contender for the next mayor of New York City.

And after getting serious executive experience... who knows what next.

Think about where he is now.

Now think about what caused this.

No, don't say "immoral behavior" or "reckless sexual compulsiveness" or "hubris" or the "entitlement of the putative elite" or "the need of high-functioning, modern men to take the edge off."

Yes, those caused this, but they weren't the immediate cause of this. He was doing that stuff for years without any problems arising from it.

No, what caused all this was.... a typo.

The Typo From Hell. Possibly the worst typo in the history of politics.

Not saying he doesn't deserve it -- he does -- but consider that but for a single clumsy move by an errant left forefinger, none of this happens.

The smallest error of a fingertip, and a man is wholly undone.

Just a little mindblowing.

There but for the Grace of God?   Not quite, since most of us wouldn't be flirting with young girls on Twitter to begin with.   But the possiblity of being undone by our technology, by a "typo," is real, and scary.   And the possibility, nay, the likelihood of being undone by our hubris.... well, that's been scary for along time, hasn't it?