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Howie Klein follows local House races closer than anybody -- some would say closer than the DCCC. He's been on the story of Mark Foley for months now (having written 79 count 'em posts on the subject), and today Foley (who is chair of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus) resigned as the result of a scandal created when he tried to pick up an underaged congressional page.
This is exactly why a 50 State Strategy is so important -- you never know when this stuff is going to happen, especially when you're dealing with Republicans. It's a vindication of Howard Dean's work, and even Rahm Emmanuel should be happy (he managed to drive out our Blue America candidate, Dave Lutrin, in favor of apostate Republican Tim Mahoney back in March).
Chalk up another in the long list of GOP sex scandals. Then go pat Howie Klein on the back, he was on this one long before anybody else.
It's sure to re-ignite the saga of the Sick Bastards of the GOP, but that's always one of my favorite topics anyway so I'm not complaining.
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FITZ!
*!
EPU’d, but here’s an encore. From the rock opera ‘Tommy’, it’s Uncle Foley.
Parental discretion advised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQo-kFCJDYw
Reading ABC, it seems the most solid dirt is in IM’s:
A Republican in a solid seat doesn’t resign this fast without some serious shit coming down the pipe.
Seems he knows it too:
Now the question is, how far did he get in his solicitations?
my 16 yr old son was a page in the state legislature last spring. this sends chills up my spine. you can bet i’m going to show this story to him.
We must ask ourselves: Are children safe around GOP congressmen?
Should we not just lock up all Republican congressmen now, just to be safe, and ask questions later?
I believe the Bush Administration’s extra-judicial activities in the GWOT have provided us with a suitable model for how to deal with this crisis.
Can we expect Nancy Grace, Greta Van Sustren, and the rest of the Missing White Woman Brigade to cover this story 24/7 in all it’s lurid detail?
two beers @ 6
Spotlight storm ON!
I’m not certain what it says about our country that so many of these sickos happen to be politicians. And yeah, most of them do appear to also be Christianist Republicans.
How do you spin this one Rush?
As my husband likes to say, “Scratch a moralist, get a hypocrite.”
Here’s a riddle.
Why don’t GOP congressmen use bookmarks?
TRex @ 9
A. Because they always have their fingers on a page?
Retracted by poster due to issues of taste.
They just bend over the pages!!
Reminds me of all the closeted homosexuality that went on in the Third Reicht. This is just topping to go on the ‘we torture at will’ party.
Enjoy.
The more they hate homosexuality, the more likely that it’s because they are scared of what is in their own mind.
TRex @ 13
You can bet there bending a few pages in Woodwards new book!
Dr. Sinker asks:
DrSinker @
8
It’s a lot harder to get up every morning and act like a Christianist Republican rather than a normal human being. Sometimes you need a break. Sometimes you need more than one break. Sometimes you need to break something. And sometimes something inside you just breaks.
Ask the Preznit: It’s hard, hard work.
Values? Those are just pieces on the checkerboard. Adapting to win is hard, too.
And young people are so resilient.
Legalize Torture? Have a Nice Uday!
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.....llery.html
If it was a Dem getting caught doing this, I’d immediately be suspicious over the timing of the busting.
You don’t suppose this was timed to deflate the ‘brilliant victory’ the Rethugs had yesterday, do you? Howie?
Nahhh.
“The Republican Leadership in Congress put a pedophile in charge of the committee to protect our most vulnerable children.”
I’m tired of playing nice. Tie Foley to the leadership’s inability to exercise good judgment on any topic whatsoever.
Also, some interesting questions: did Congressman Foley have a security clearance? Did making advances towards underage boys make him vulnerable in any way to blackmail? (Admittedly, this question kind of answers itself.) Did anyone in the leadership have the slightest hint of that? If so, did they report it? If not, why not?
Did I mention I’m tired of playing nice?
TRex @
13
Republican Congressmen: God’s gift to comedy writing, God’s curse to humanity
Professor Foland @
20
Talk about your talking points! Excellent.
Hey, from the ‘Long Lost Twins Separated at Birth’ staff:
The picture above looks just like the picture of MalKKKin that we all love so much. The one with her cheeks puffed out like a Rabid Autumn Squirrel?
Who can do a side-by-side?
“Score” another one for the pederast party. Lunatics and creeps, with bad hair.
I think another validation of the 50-state strategy was provided by the GOP in Connecticut. You pointed out to the one right-wing commenter who showed up to post an opinion yesterday on the Schlessinger matter that if the GOP had taken the race seriously, they might be leading right now. Instead, they just came up with a placeholder, and now here they are in a distant third. Now the best they can hope for is that an unreliable once-Democratic ally will win.
From Josh Marshall’s TPMmuckraker: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001642.php
“Heckuva job Foley, heh heh heh.”
The GOP: they say they can protect us from the terrorists, but who protects us from the GOP?
The party of sadists, perverts, and thieves.
The McGreevey comparisons should start any minute now. Frankly, the speed of the resignation is a bit surprising to me. Even if the IMs are especially salacious, he’s still got plausible deniability. (”I should never have given Senator Clinton my password.”) I think he’s either about to get indicted, or his co-conspirators (Kenny? Karlita? Is that you?) want to get rid of him as quickly as possible before anyone starts looking at this any more closely.
We are getting quite a collection by now: Cunningham(R), Ney(R) and now Foley(R) and that is only the tip of the iceberg(R).
Did the Congressman ever use government-owned computers to make his advances? If so, do any records kept by the House IT show these contacts?
If we really want to have some fun: does the NSA have any relevant records that could be subpoened?
TRex @
10
Why TRex, you little Sphinx you?
Anne @ 1:41 pm (#28)
It’s ironic that they try to paint the Democrats with that label, to say the least.
Who’s arm do we have to twist off to get rid of Rahm? So much damage coming from this guy. So much anti-democracy.
Foley;
Providing us another “I never met the man” moment.
If we really want to have some fun: does the NSA have any relevant records that could be subpoened?
Ooh, I’m glad you’re on our side, Professor! (Good question!)
Here’s hoping that someone with skill is Googling for pictures of Foley with other favorites.
Junya? Jeb? Abramoff?
A campaigner against child molestation, no less. Here’s hoping for the ultimate in political irony: He gets prosecuted under his own law.
It really is mind-blowing how the strict father constructionists have the least control over their impulses. Now you know why they all favor giving their power away to God’s Chosen President. Save us (from ourselves). Protect us (from ourselves).
The fact that the Christian Right falls all over themselves to worship at the GOP alter really shows how prone these people are to simply follow and not think a wit for themselves. WWJD indeed!
To steal a line from the Rethugs,
What will we tell the children?
The FireDogLake Martini lounge is now open. Our special today, in honor of that brush clearin’ waterboardin’ desperado:
Who wants one?
Is this just the GOP MO? Saw this over at ABlog…
Wonder how he voted on torture?
Twisted Martini @ 41
Leave out the butter, the schnapps, and the Bailey’s, and yes, I’ll have a Scotch.
And one Bourbon, and one Beer.
OT: like the snark in this one: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0929-24.htm
Meanwhile, this one cuts to the bone: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0929-30.htm
That’s one serious list of people and I love all the quotes at the end from ex-(GOP) Presidents.
I accompanied my Congresslady when she was rushed back to Washington DC for that strange midnight vote on Terry Schiavo. I saw other Congresscritters hustling into the Capitol - as a political junkie it was fun trying to identify them. One guy slowed down as he walked by me, stared intently and cruised me up and down (elevator eyes). I blinked and he continued on by. Then I realized: that was Mark Foley - evil Republican of the Impeachment Panel!
emptywheel has posted this: http://thenexthurrah.typepad.c......html#more
From Mr. Foley’s web site:
GOP’s Mark Foley website
Anne @ 28
“Or: If they won’t protect our children, how can they protect us?”
Twisted Martini @ 41
I’m never one to turn down a Cowboy.
Frank Probst @
29
Most likely to me, as one who has worked with child abuse and child abuse prevention agencies, is that more than one page is involved in this mess and Foley’s lawyer is trying to stop the bleeding. “If you want to minimize - not avoid, but minimize - any jail time, we’ve got to get this off the front page now, and that means resigning. Period. If you don’t, you can look for another lawyer who will give you different advice - and good luck in finding one.”
Titanyum @ 30
Here is a nice list - Grand Old Docket
If blowjobs are involved, I demand a multimillion dollar investigation.
Is Ken Starr available?
God, I wish Feeney was next.
You know Olbermann’s going to be all over this, as Florida’s his favorite Oddball state.
You know, it’s like Randi always says - Rove’s got to have photos of all these CongressCritters to keep them in line. Seems like Foley’s been an easy target for blackmail. Who knows what the Bush guys have on him.
Peterr @ 50
I agree that there are probably MANY pages involved, but I doubt his lawyer is involved yet. If Foley was stupid enough to get in this kind of mess to begin with, he’s probably too stupid to call his lawyer before the cops show up. Unless, of course, his lawyer saw the news and called him. If that’s the case, he’s got a damn good lawyer. Doubt it, though. There’s far more to this story, methinks.
P J Evans @ 36
The more I think about it the more it might generate public support for the wiretapping even as it puts the Republican Congressional leadership in an ugly place (similar to where they ended up with the search of Jefferson’s office.) Not sure what I think about it now.
But right now I’m just trying to brainstorm ways that this highlights generic problems with GOP rule. Not all the ideas can be gems…
*ilson46201 @ 45
Cruised by someone with a thing for young teenage boys? When was the last time you got carded, *ilson? You must look a *lot* younger than you are.
Balrog @ 43
How very Muddy Waters of you.
Or was that Leadbelly?
TRex @ 57
John Lee Hooker wrote it, George Therogood covered it.
Peterr @ 57
Warning: Possible catfight in near future.
Yahoo News Photo of Hastert, Frist and Boehner trying to explain this to the press. There should be a transcript?
‘Splaining to do!
“Trust Republicans to keep Americans safe.” — Dennis Hastert
Breaking News: CURFEW IMPOSED in Iraq.
Just announced by Ed Shultz on his show.
There’s got to be some diagnosis like Republican Personality Disorder. This stuff keeps coming, and I think it’s because they are a) twisted into some strange inhuman postures in the GOP, and b)assume the Family Values stuff will allow them the cover they want for despicable behavior.
I know that’s true in churches, too. It’s the wacky wingnuts who have the most scandals. The most conservative Christians have the highest divorce rates, too.
Who knew that the reddest states have the highest divorce rates?
There’s something to this.
Foley seems like the kind of guy who goes for quick blowjobs in a Capitol Mens Room (not that there is necessarily wrong with that if both are over 18yo!)
*ilson46201 @ 45
As I recall, you put this on the record previously, long before any of today’s mess became known–sometime in the early summer, I think? But I couldn’t find the thread. You should find it, *ilson–don’t pass up your big chance to say “I told you so!” :)
Frank Probst @ 55
John Aravosis at AmericaBlog says that someone sent him the emails months ago, but because he couldn’t verify them, he didn’t run with it. This mess has probably been percolating for a while, and something behind the scenes pushed Foley into resigning today.
That could be any (or several) of a long list of things: impending charges being filed, additional victims coming forward, media outlets getting a hold of the emails and calling for a comment, . . .
But the timing still is interesting. He sticks around long enough to get the detainee stuff through, then resigns when Congress goes into recess . . .
Let’s also watch to see who helps to pay Foley’s legal bills - it’s not going to be cheap.
I won’t be surprised if the PRO-TORTURE party hasn’t already started proceedings in Congress to retroactively legalize pedophilia, just to be on the safe side.
and to add to this evening’s entertainment of graft, corruption and sex scandals… NBC news will be asking the the question:
seems they can’t stop the in-fighting long enough to appoint someone… you’d think they’d want to clear that up before the elections…
edit: linky
Mark Warner on Lamont, from MyDD
I pushed his staff really hard on this last week at the Warner-Webb fundraiser, saying a large number of party activists and progressives viewed stronger support for Lamont as a “litmus test.” That phrase from you guys directly to the campaign people.
Warner:
“Ned Lamont and I come from the business world - where results matter and no one considers it a good day’s work to have just poked the other side in the eye and gotten nothing done. That’s now how it is right now in Washington . Ned Lamont gets it. Washington needs an entrepreneurial approach, Washington needs Ned Lamont….
I agree that we need a plan to get out of Iraq —and real action to make us safer. Most alarmingly this week, the latest National Intelligence Estimate concludes “that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks.” Think about it.
…It’s time for congressional leadership that will stand up to the current administration and move America forward. It’s time to put Ned Lamont in the U.S. Senate.”
i agree there must be some really salacious details to this story for him to flush his political carreer that fast. i just read about the first questionable emails yesterday. while they were a touch odd, there was nothing overtly sexual in them. the new im’s must just be full on smut. and in this day and age what sort of idiot politician are you to send dirty electronic messages to an underage boy.
Some enterprising blogger needs to put up a website where we can get a comprehensive overview and information on all the scandalous stuff that the GOP has been caught at in recent years. And just to be fair, let’s include the Democrats as well. I think they would profit from the comparison.
Found it!
Name: *ilson46201 |
full disclosure: I was in the cloakroom (not restroom!) of Congress the night of the Schiavo vote — I was given a hard cruise by GOP Representative Mark Foley of Florida. I was startled by the obviousness of it.
Posted Jul 27, 8:29 PM
OldSchool @ 68
Can you say “Bunnatine Greenhouse”?
Andrea Mitchell (tool) talking about Boobie’s book on Hardballs.
This story will carry the weekend news cycle.
Works for me
Alison @ 63: I think it may be partly the rigid views. No flexibility, no change allowed, so anything can produce enough stress to break the whole structure.
Randi Rhodes just had Justin Franks who wrote “Bush on the Couch” and was a psychoanalysts for the CIA for 10 yrs…… This new law follows with Bush’s bullying personality. Very interesting interview
Bush - “History doesn’t matter because we will all be dead”
But…. But…..What about my grandchildren?
*ilson46201 @ 72
Is that a hard cruise in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
*ilson46201 @ 72
Bravo for outing RoughTrade Foley!
Alison @ 63
According to a few textbooks haunting my shelves, one name for the something is “projection”.
Apologies for O/T.
I guess I just hold on to my anger a bit too long. Everyone else seems to be having fun..
But I was following through on the promises I made to Sherrod Brown yesterday.
I informed him that as a protest against his vote in favor of the Military Commissions aka “Torture” bill:
1) I will not make any more contributions to Democratic candidates for 06;
2) I will explain to each of the campaigns I have supported in the past why I am taking this action. Specifically, it is a protest against Brown’s self-serving, unprincipled and plain stupid decision to vote for this bill. The ludicrous and insulting “excuse” for his behavior that Brown posted on his website did not help matters either.
3) To hammer home the point, I sent a $50 contribution to DeWine, his opponent, and copied the receipt to Brown. DeWine’s politics are odious and he’s a major Bush enabler; in fact I object to almost everything he stands for. But this was not just a gratuitous display of emotion; rather it was the only action I could think of that might persuade Brown not to take our support for granted.
Actually #3 was contingent: I would not contribute to DeWine if the Brown campaign provided a satisfactory explanation. Either that, or an apology for the misjudgment would have been acceptable.
Some people may think I took this protest too far. But it is the only way I could think of to serve notice on these arrogant bastards that they must abide by a least a minimal standard of decency if they want our money and support to continue.
I’m not going to suggest that anybody else do something similar, because if I did it might get me into trouble. And it would be unfortunate if it really pissed off the other candidates and provoked a bunch of negative publicity. Brown might be seen as an unlucky scapegoat, set up as an example of what could happen to a Democrat who abandons his/her principles. Don’t you think?
(Yes, I am still a ticked off little terrapin)
cajun @ 71
Try this
katymine @ 51
RevDeb @ 74
It gets funner when Woodward does his official interview on 60Minutes Sunday night and Larry King Monday night and the book goes on sale officially Tuesday … quite a few news cycles !
Squirm, White House Worms, squirm !
scarecrow @ 61
“It’s part of our Republican youth reacharound-…Er, reachout initiative”
;>)
That drink is also called a buttery nipple.
Frank Probst @ 60
Warning: Possible catfight in near future.
Frank - 707
Tortoise @ 80
go terrapin - slow but steady wins the race!
and i’ll be visualizing a nice flame-proof shell for you. :)
e.c. @ 70
If you belong to a party that gets away with election fraud, trashing the Magna Charta and the Geneva Conventions, ignoring the 4th Amendment then you must get the idea that you can get away with murder (or pedophilia, as the case may be).
cajun @ 71
katymine pointed one out already. It’s the TPM Muckraker’s Grand Old Docket.
Waxman’s up on CNN right now re Abramoff . . .
kirk murphy @
79
Bingo! Seen it all my life in the church. The loudest and most judgemental are almost always the ones with the nastiest skeletons.
Tortoise at 80 -
Um, you aren’t financially supporting any Dem candidate even if they had nothing to do with the vote yesterday - and you sent money to DeWine?
And that accomplishes exactly what?
Cujo359 @
88
Here’s a list, not comprehensive but long: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/61307
Titanyum @ 87
considering the number of Iraqi children murdered in Bush’s war, the conclusion seems valid…
Pachacutec @ 84
A related, but different, drink is the duck fart (definition #2). It’s great if you don’t have to drive home for a while.
Republican Family Values?!
Torture, disappearing people, molesting kids, stealing elections, being bought off by Abramoff, and littering too! So much to do, so little time!
Their time is running out.
Zergle @ 90
Let’s see, how does that christian expression go?
“Let he who is without sin …”
This is exactly why a 50 State Strategy is so important — you never know when this stuff is going to happen, especially when you’re dealing with Republicans. It’s a vindication of Howard Dean’s work, and even Rahm Emmanuel should be happy (he managed to drive out our Blue America candidate, Dave Lutrin, in favor of apostate Republican Tim Mahoney back in March).
so very, very true. And, as Jane says, Howie Klein deserves a big pat on the back.
But I am disappointed that Jane and Christy continue to ignore Diane Benson, who Howie and Matt Stoller are both excited about. Diane is one FBI phone call or one Abramoff e-mail away from being Don Young’s replacement in Congress.
Don Young is the only candidate who ties Abramoff, DeLay, British Petroleum and Veco (the Alaskan oilfield support company being investigated by the FBI for corrupt practices) into one very untidy package.
She has the most compelling story of any US House candidate who has not yet been covered by firedoglake.
Here’s her web page, Jane, in case you’ve missed it before:
http://bensonforcongress.com/
Foley’s sole committee assignment is Ways and Means. He may have a security clearance in some fashion as a member of congress, but it’s not like he was sitting on the Intelligence Committee.
On the other hand, lots of unsavory people would love to have something with which to blackmail a member of the committee that writes the tax laws. You know, people like Jack Abramoff. . . .
Hey Rayne, as you’ve been going through all those emails, has Mark Foley’s name ever come up?
Cujo359 @ 94
Very close to one of my faves - The B-52
Tortoise @80, I for one will never vote for or lift a finger to help anyone who supported the Bush/McCain Detainee Interrogation Bill. But that would have to go for the Republican DeWine too.
Cujo359 @ 94
Thanks for the specificity. Definition #1 is a little jarring…
Tortoise @ 80
Wow. I’m so impressed. I thought I was the only one whose head was exploding over his vote. I was at his LA fundraiser with hisnewbestfriendAlFranken and when I saw he voted for the torture bill I called his office IMMEDIATELY. His Deputy Chief of Staff, Ellie, promised to call me back but had someone from his Ohio office call me back instead and at the end of the conversation she actually said to me, “Maybe he didn’t make the right decision.”
I was dumbfounded.
“MAYBE he didn’t make the right decision?”
Who ARE thes