I just got an email from a reader who said he was told Hastert will resign Friday.
Because the session is out, I'm having trouble confirming it.
Anyone else heard this?
Posted by Christopher at October 4, 2006 01:54 PMnever underestimate voters' ability to keep the Republicans in power as long as the pols support prayer in schools, anti-abortion, anti-darwinism, and the christian way, whatever that is.
Posted by degustibus at October 4, 2006 01:56 PMConfirm? No. But I'd bet the odds on that. Hastert's a dead man walking.
And a scandal like this - does mean you sit out on the bloodbath and stake burnings. Preferrably with popcorn, soft drinks, & warm cookies. If you're out for a little reckless joi de vivre, you bring sticks, the makings for smores, and hot dogs.
Posted by idiosynchronic at October 4, 2006 02:02 PMAP (and Josh Marshall) are reporting Fordham is going to spill the beans to the FBI. He doesn't like being the fall guy. KOS is pushing the "Dems be Cool" line and wait to see how many Republicans get killed by their own hands. FOx, AP and Google all ran references saying Foley was Democrat rather than a Republican. Only Fox has failed to make a correction. The Echo Chamber is pushing the idea this whole deal was set-up by Democrats to foil the election plans of mighty Republicans. And The FBI among others had the emails that broke the story months ago, so it isn't just the Congressional Leadership that did nothing for the protection of the pages. And nobody is buying Foley's "alcohol made me do it" story though a unattributed/unsubstantiated story about him showing up at the pages' dorm drunk is now surfacing.
Shit rolls down (Captiol) Hill.
Posted by suds at October 4, 2006 02:09 PMFOx, AP and Google all ran references saying Foley was Democrat rather than a Republican.
They can push that shit all day long. It's not gonna work! Break out the pictures with all those repukes!
What I find more appalling is that they stopped mentioning that he was chair of the House caucus on Missing and Exploited Children!!
There's a link sloshing around the 'sphere today of Cliff Schechter making the terrific argument "it's clear who the GOP wants to protect, and it's not us."
I hope more politicians hire that guy. He f---ing rules.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 4, 2006 02:28 PMThe most ridiculous line, not surprisingly, has come from the blowhard Pat Buchanan who was on CNN trying to sell the " in D.C. the age of consent is 16, so the Dems are just gay-bashing" as no law was broken with Foley dating the boys.
These guys have no idea how preposterous their frantic yelps are. And how hypocritical.
If you're out for a little reckless joi de vivre, you bring sticks, the makings for smores, and hot dogs.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 4, 2006 02:37 PMI think the Dems have to be careful here, because if there's one democrat in the midst who was involved in this, they'll be eating their words. I think it's enough to talk about bad/criminal behavior of Foley and how the repub leadership didn't do anything, but more general talk of republicans not protecting kids, etc, could backfire.
If Hastert steps down, what happens to his seat?
Posted by CG at October 4, 2006 02:42 PMIf Hastert steps down, what happens to his seat?
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)?
Posted by Christopher at October 4, 2006 02:44 PMGrrr. Let's try this again:
If you're out for a little reckless joi de vivre, you bring sticks, the makings for smores, and hot dogs.
But then you get that horrible stench of Republican all over your BBQed goodies...
Posted by dj moonbat at October 4, 2006 02:51 PMI've never smelled a BBQ'd Republican but, I would imagine the stench is far worse than an a roasting goat.
Posted by Christopher at October 4, 2006 02:55 PMso now all the level headed Dems are starting to talk the "lets be nice and not make a big deal of this" line. Sure, like the GOP did with Monica. Take a minute and ask yourself what you'd do if you were Karl Rove and Foley was a Democrat? Think old Karl would be soft peddling? No, he'd be going for the kill.
Posted by T2 at October 4, 2006 02:56 PMTHE DEMOCRATS CANNOT SIT BACK AND WATCH AND HOPE THINGS LIKE THE LAW ARE FOLLOWED. THE NEOCONS WILL ULTIMATLY SPIN THIS AS A DEMOCRATIC PROBLEM OR A GAY LIFESTYLE ISSUE.
Posted by mparker at October 4, 2006 02:58 PMSomeone please pass the popcorn.
Posted by Alex at October 4, 2006 03:05 PMPoint of etiquette. Does one serve white or red wine with Roast Elephant?
For Fox and/or AP, perhaps they'd better recognize that their blind faithers might question the messengers whilst they are questioning the ethics of the Great White Rep leadership.
Just saw Hastert's Dem opponent. Think I'll send him some coin. What an amazing position he finds himself in this week.
The public does not keep the GOP in power, milk-toast and whack-job Dems do. More Dems need to be like Hillary Clinton or Evan Byah, tough and smart on National Defense. People are settling for tough and dumb in the Republican for fear of getting weak and dumb from the Dems. Pay more attention to the Iron Lady and tough guys in the Democratic Party and less to the nutcases or plan on two-more years of being lied to and poorly served by the Republicans.
Posted by NorCalRINO at October 4, 2006 03:16 PMSteve,
Has paradox cheered up about this story's Legs?"
No Legs to Foley Story, He’s a Republican
mainsailset: Point of etiquette. Does one serve white or red wine with Roast Elephant?
Yes. Barley wine, too.
Mickey: Has paradox cheered up about this story's Legs?
No. This is all "horseshit." Everything will be fine for Hastert, because he's a Republican. Carry on; nothing to see here.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 4, 2006 03:30 PMIf Foley was exposed before bush was re-stolected would Kerry be president? Did the FBI examine Foley's hard drive? It is small, but may contain volumes.
Conservative Disney has already offered Tasturd a job playing the lead character at "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride".
Posted by TIKI AL at October 4, 2006 03:40 PMTake a minute and ask yourself what you'd do if you were Karl Rove and Foley was a Democrat? Think old Karl would be soft peddling? No, he'd be going for the kill.
He'd have the boot to the neck and the next thing you'd hear would be...snap!!
SOS Rove won't let this go unchallenged, I'm sure the Master of Slime is digging through his wizard's bag of potions as we speak. Whereas before he had DeLay to hammer his messages, Abramoff to do the dirty work, Ohio contingency to recount the votes, his army seems to be dwindling so perhaps Karl himself will have to get out there and do the dirty work. Under the stress of the moment, who knows maybe he'll reveal his pact with the devil.
Posted by mainsailset at October 4, 2006 04:39 PMMainsailset, Rove may prefer to be quiet about this scandal, less something 'pops up' about his sordid ass life.
Posted by Judith at October 4, 2006 04:51 PMI know this isn't an open thread, but this is too important to not mention. From MoveOn:
In many states, this Sunday will be your last chance to register to vote. In some, you have to get your registration in the mail as soon as Thursday.
You already know how important voting is, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're properly registered. Thousands of names are mistakenly purged from the voting rolls every year.
So, our friends at Working Assets have created a website to make registering (and re-registering) very, very simple. The whole process takes under 5 minutes. Just click here to get started:
https://www.govote.org
Even if you think you might be registered, there's no harm in re-registering. Better to re-register than be denied your right to vote on Election Day. (And there are no legal problems with doing so, as long as you only vote in one place.)
Judith, one can always hope that Rove's addiction to power will, like the sex drive of a pedophile, entice him to forget to use a WalMart phone when he directs Diebold to fix the election and instead uses his own WH line...ever hopeful.
Posted by mainsailset at October 4, 2006 05:00 PMIf Fordham's account of this is accurate that then means that leadership did not inform the Page Committee for over 2 years and therefore stopgapped any ability of the Page Committee to protect the existing and incoming pages. So I guess once again the Rep demonstrate that it doesn't do any good to have RULES and PROTOCOL to protect the people if you're dealing with Republican leadership.
Posted by mainsailset at October 4, 2006 05:07 PMMoyers on America. Tonight at 9:00 PBS.
"Capitol Crimes"
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleads guilty to three felony counts in January 2006.
Maybe Moyers can also do a story on "Capitol Hill's Child Predators."
good catch, thanks.
Posted by mainsailset at October 4, 2006 05:35 PMDid the FBI examine Foley's hard drive? It is small, but may contain volumes.
true, in fact, when these illicit emails were first brought to the attention of puffy old Denny, he should have immediately seized Foley's computer to find out if there was more to the whole story. Denny could have been a hero for exposing a child predator, but instead he chose to cover it up in hopes of preserving power. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Posted by ann at October 4, 2006 06:30 PMI've never smelled a BBQ'd Republican but, I would imagine the stench is far worse than an a roasting goat.
Smoke it on a cedar plank for 6 hours, basting every 30 mins with a lovely vinegar-based sauce. I like one sweet Pilsner beer, or even a can of Sprite in my vinegar sauces. After six hours toss the republi-con in the trash and eat the cedar plank.
Point of etiquette. Does one serve white or red wine with Roast Elephant?
Damn-it! No more trick questions. Besides, you need to ask a Page. They seem to be the only ones forced to eat elephant.
Thanks for that link, Judith!
Posted by phidipides at October 4, 2006 08:39 PMIf the Washington Times newsmoonie condemns Hasturd, you know it's on!
Posted by Mal Feasance at October 4, 2006 08:41 PMFamily Research Council President Tony Perkins, he the leader of the über-right, Onward Christian soldier" league, used the occasion to (what else?) bash gays and promote the "link between homosexuality and child sexual abuse."
"Foley's now public E-mail perversions would not have besmirched the Republican Party had Washington not fallen prey to "pro-homosexual activists."
From there they will begin to build the case that it is the liberals (Democrats) fault for supporting gay rights. This whole episode has not been on the plus side for gay rights.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/erbeblog/archive/061004/the_religious_rights_foley_con.htm
Posted by Judith at October 5, 2006 05:00 AMWhile you partisan dems are taking such glee in this, please remember a few things: 1, This is either one of two things - a consentual homosexual relationship between 2 people older than the age of concent in washington dc, or there were victims, and its pretty sick that you're enjoying it. So you're either gay-bashing or taking pleasure in statutory rape. Either way, its hypocritical. 2, there is a long-serving democrat in office who had gay sex with an underage male page, and was re-elected 5 terms since.
Posted by bones at October 5, 2006 06:09 AMI guess all the trolls support child predators. You bet I am enjoying this, really enjoying this! Glad to finally see the GOP exposed for what they are, supporters of Child predators and phonies.
May your child or grandchild be enticed by an dirty old man also, since you see nothing wrong with it.
Posted by Judith at October 5, 2006 06:17 AMI think its horrible! I'm glad he resigned and I think he's a disgrace. Its also disgraceful that you take such glee in somone being a victim of statutory rape.
Posted by bones at October 5, 2006 06:33 AMbones,
Did Foley rape someone?
And if you'd like to chastise people for capitalizing on tragic events for partisan gain you have no farther to look than the Republican party under the leadership of George W. Bush. His administration has done nothing but brow beat the Democrats for 6 years for no other reason than to perptuate the Republican strangle hold on the government.
So save your breath. Appealing to good taste no longer works in American governence. That's a fact. Deal with it. This country is in a serious mess. Look at the polls asking people if they could forgive a person who killed their child. Upwards of 80% said no! Is that what you'd expect from a Christian nation? This country has been sold out to a cabal-of-convenience between the Christian right and the corporatists. Christian values are window dressing that matter only until such a point as they interfere with the bottom line of corporate profits.
I might submit, in light of this, that your moral outrage is somewhat misplaced being directed at the likes of Judith and everyone else here.
Posted by snark at October 5, 2006 06:55 AMWhile you partisan dems are taking such glee in this, please remember a few things: 1, This is either one of two things - a consentual homosexual relationship between 2 people older than the age of concent in washington dc, or there were victims, and its pretty sick that you're enjoying it. So you're either gay-bashing or taking pleasure in statutory rape. Either way, its hypocritical. 2, there is a long-serving democrat in office who had gay sex with an underage male page, and was re-elected 5 terms since.
Posted by bones at October 5, 2006 06:09 AM
While you partisan Republican'ts are engaging in their standard smear and deflect tactics, please remember a few things:
1. This is one or both of two things - a coverup of a Republican't congresscritter engaging in high crimes and misdemeanors (written by his own hand, I might add) while other Republican'ts are bringing false claims up about all homosexuals being pedophiles, and its pretty sick that you're enabling it. So you're gay-bashing and trying to coverup the facts and blaming your opponents for your own criminal behavior. Any way you look at it, its hypocritical. Even more so because you feel entitled to lecture others aboout their morality while ignoring the flaws in your own.
2, there are many long-serving Repubican'ts in office who had gay sex with an underage male page, and have been re-elected many terms since.
3. The Republican't pResident, along with the Republican't administration, have let a gay male hooker sleep over in the White House over 200 times, without bothering to be concerned with where he was staying overnight, and what he was doing to whom during his sleepovers. Funny how All Monica All The Time was examining every last second of her time at the Capitol, but no one can seem to remember anything at all about JDJeff GuckertGannon's nocturnal visitations.
Do you think that this scandal is horrible enough to stop supporting Republican'ts? It seems to me to be a bit disingenuous on your part to lecture others about their behavior, yet ignore the many other perfidies from the Republican't side of the aisle. Perhaps you can save your indignation for the Republican'ts - where it truly belongs.
Posted by (: Tom :) at October 5, 2006 08:58 AMI guess great minds think alike, snark.
Isn't it interesting to note how, once confronted with the truth and actual arguments, Republican'ts fold up like the mewling chickenhawks that they are. Too bad bones doesn't have any spine...
Posted by (: Tom :) at October 6, 2006 09:46 AM