I think the point is just that what you allow is what you reinforce. If you allow Brutus to sit and then jump on you to receive praise, that behavior is reinforced. In this case, since you're having a hard time marking the right behavior, I would introduce a clicker. It's a nice way to build up confidence (which will hopefully facilitate in getting rid of the peeing), and it helps you send a clear message to Brutus.

Example: You petting him excites him. He sits, you reach down to reward him, he starts to wiggle his body and you sense he's about to pee. Stop. Walk away. Come back in. Command a "Sit", work on Stay while he's calm, and walk around him like you're inspecting him. Click and treat if he sits and stays. If he's getting too excited, walk away. Completely remove yourself from the situation. If he cannot focus because he so craves your attention, remove yourself. Brutus needs love, but he needs self control first and foremost. Since praise is too much of a reward, use food instead. Some dogs need a lower value reward to keep them in check. Sounds like praise is too much for Brutus, so just revert to plain food rewards. I, too, would implement NILIF. If nothing else, it teaches the dog that he has to work for life's necessities. Hopefully, that message will work with his craving for attention as well.

So, in short, you get what you reinforce. You reinforce what you allow. Prevent the excitement, prevent the urinating, and the behaviors will subside. The trick is how to control and prolong the good behavior. With NILIF and the clicker, your road is tough, but it's paved and waiting for you to tread on it