Think Progress

BREAKING: Hastert’s Senior Staff Asked ‘To Intervene’ Three Years Ago

cnn2foley.jpg

Here’s the AP:

A senior congressional aide said Wednesday that he alerted House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s office two years ago about worrisome conduct by former Rep. Mark Foley with teenage pages.

Kirk Fordham told The Associated Press that when he was told about Foley’s inappropriate behavior toward pages, he had “more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene.”

The conversations took place long before the e-mail scandal broke, Fordham said, and at least a year earlier than members of the House GOP leadership have acknowledged.

UPDATE: Hastert’s spokesman says Fordham is lying:

Despite claims by senior congressional aide Kirk Fordham that he notified House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s office more than two years ago about possible inappropriate contact between former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., and underage congressional pages, the Speaker’s office is insisting it did nothing wrong in its handling of the situation.

“That never happened,” Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean told ABC News about the report.

UPDATE II: CNN has Fordham’s full statement. An excerpt:

Rather than trying to shift the blame on me, those who are employed by these House Leaders should acknowledge what they know about their action or inaction in response to the information they knew about Mr. Foley prior to 2005.

UPDATE III: Newest AP story says Fordham told Hastert’s top staffers three years ago.




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153 Responses to “BREAKING: Hastert’s Senior Staff Asked ‘To Intervene’ Three Years Ago”

  1. Roger_Roger Says:

    They need to get Hasert to quit. He obviously doesn't care about the children under his care. Anyone who knew about this and didn't do anything should resign ASAP.

    The repugs are supposed to be the party of morality. I understand when this crap happens to the Dems. They promote and make hero's out of those that have affairs and sleep with children. Just look at Clinton, Gerry Studs, and Barney Franks. Either way, the Repugs should not go to those low moral levels the Dems exist in.


  2. glamberson Says:

    Bye, Denny. I guess you'll be going back to your restaurants, huh?


  3. lw Says:

    Bye Dennis. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.


  4. Republicans are the fear and smear party Says:

    HA! HA! HA! They're all going down! It's about time!!


  5. Tim Says:

    clearly, he's ignored this and opted for politics over everything else... see ya Den


  6. Dave_Dave Says:

    This just shows how corrupt everyone in Washington is....they will push anything under a rug to SAVE THE PARTY!!! This goes on both sides of the isle....although the Repubs love to spin everything and make it the victims fault. THis is total and complete nonsense.


  7. po Says:

    I've seen some reports alleging that Foley's 'inappropriate' behavior may have been going on for 11 or more years. So what other House leaders have known but not shown the moral fiber to investigate for fear of losing their election?


  8. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    It's fun watching ReichWingNuts try to deal with their own.

    Still, is this the best we can do? Come on how. Habeas Corpus just died and nobody seems to care. The Emperor can declare any US citizen he dislikes an "enemy combatant". I know these are issues that can't be put into a sound bite. But come on now! This is serious s**t!!!

    America just died. Amerika is born.

    Yet we're happy being "entertained" instead by a bunch of ReichWingChristianWackoTerrorist politicians?


  9. Art Says:

    Interesting...
    I wonder what was going on in Washington two years ago that would have made them want to sweep this under the rug.
    Hmmm...


  10. Democrat Soldier Says:

    The Republican apologists (trolls) all have a pre-9/11 perspective, trying to bring up all the scandals from the 80's in an attempt to spin the news of sexual advances of a 52 year old man towards 16 year old boys.

    All you have to ask yourself is this: Why did a Republican leak this news and bring down a sitting Republican representative?

    Not all Republicans suffer from lack of ethics, and the fact that a republican leaked this news is proof of that. Heck, some of my best friends are Republicans!


  11. PJF Says:

    "At age 15 the Clerk put the page in a cage with the Representative trained to couple with youngsters so the children would be frigid and not fall in love with their patrons. They fed them through the bars and aroused the Congressman from Florida with a stick when it seemed to lose interest." - Excerpt from Scooter Libby's upcoming book.

    http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com


  12. cynic Says:

    It's really unfair how the media and the Democrats are pressuring the Republicans hourly to tell their story, forcing them to go public before they have a decent opportunity to coordinate their bullshit. Let's back off for a day or two, for the sake of fairness, and allow them enough time to blast fax the "truth" to each other, and find some more gay Democrats to fume about.


  13. Margaret Says:

    Some wacko on NPR - I think he was from something called Free Congress if I got that right - talking about this Foley thing said, to paraphrase, "and as everyone knows gays are fixated on sex". The interviewer questioned him about that statement and he responded, "Everyone knows that!".

    If being fixated on sex means that you're gay then this country is pretty gay! I mean, seriously!

    The bastards are trying to make it a gay thing.


  14. Republicans are the fear and smear party Says:

    #9....you are right. Foley and Hastert are a Republican sideshow compared to their complete destruction of our Constitution.


  15. hellinabucket Says:

    The Chicago Tribune had an article today about Pages being warned about Foley back in 1995. This had to be known for some time by the Majority leaders.

    #9. Garrison Keller has a great article on the death of Habeas Corpus. It's a good read. TP, could we see at least one thread on this?


  16. Above+the+Clouds Says:

    Democrat Soldier: Heck, some of my best friends are Republicans, too-- but I am pretty sure none of them send emails to teenager boys talking about their dicks.


  17. eCAHNomics Says:

    Here's the Buffalo News's report on Fordham:

    Fordham spoke to the AP after ABC News quoted unidentified GOP sources as insinuating that he had intervened on behalf of Foley, his former boss, to prevent an inquiry into Foley's conduct.

    "This is categorically false," Fordham said. "At no point ever did I ask anyone to block any inquiries into Foley's actions or behavior."

    The longtime Capitol Hill aide said he would fully disclose to the FBI and the House ethics committee "any and all meetings and phone calls" regarding Foley's behavior that he had with senior staffers in the House leadership.

    "The fact is even prior to the existence of the Foley e-mail exchanges I had more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene when I was informed of Mr. Foley's inappropriate behavior," Fordham said.

    Fordham said one staffer to whom he spoke remains employed by a senior House Republican leader. He would not identify the staffer.

    "Rather than trying to shift the blame on me, those who are employed by these House leaders should acknowledge what they know about their action or inaction in response to the information they knew about Mr. Foley prior to 2005," Fordham said.

    A Capitol Hill aide for more than a decade, Fordham said he resigned because he did not want his role in the Foley matter to harm his boss' re-election bid.

    "I have no reason to state anything other than the facts. I have no congressman and no office to protect," Fordham said.

    Before his resignation as Foley's chief of staff, Fordham had been serving in the same capacity for Reynolds, a member of the GOP leadership who has struggled to avoid political damage in the scandal's fallout.


  18. RealityCheck Says:

    C'mon guys!
    Besides this being a lot of fun, the purpose is to wrest control of the house to get back habeus corpus and impeach Bush and Cheney. Hopefully to send them off to the Hague to stand trial for breaking the Geneva Conventions.
    This is about slipping Republican poll numbers. Let's see how far they fall...
    The only distraction left is attacking Iran.
    Wanna make a bet?


  19. PJF Says:

    Hanging Loose, Bro..?

    You knew they ate their own, no?

    Meet One Mark Foley Instant Messenger

    I wonder if there is job security as a deputy campaign manager for a GOP Congressional campaign, especially now that you have been outed outing a GOP sexual predator? Sloppy work, ABC (for leaving his IM name in one doc) .

    UPDATE: PassionateAmerica has scrubbed the piece, photos and name of the young Fijian-American from their site.

    UPDATE: They're back - photos and all...

    http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com


  20. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Says:

    JesusChrist_GodOfWAR

    While I agree that the Foley scandal is not the most pressing/important issue, it is the "sexiest" and it, therefore, gets media time. The apparent (being kind and legalistic) mishandling of the scandal by the Republican leadership is perfectly symbolic and reflective of how they have governed with all the other more important issues. Our job, as progressives, is to connect the incompetence, lack of moral principles, and power-hungry values inherent in both the "sexy" topic of the day and the pattern of abuses across all issues. Some Americans will "get it" only through these "sexy" topics. We have to use what we have to win in November and turn back the policies and laws then.


  21. Margaret Says:

    I hope you're right Democrat Soldier!

    But, for example, would Boehner get Hastert's job if Hastert resigns? Would that explain Boehner's conflicting statements? Would that explain the leak?

    Not that Boehner would have the job for very long....I hope.


  22. peterh Says:

    Ok, ok….I’m getting that there were a lot of conversations regarding Foley’s behavior in the past, but the question I’d like to hear from someone….and I think it’s the $64,000 question…..how influential was the $100,000 donation from Foley while all these so-called conversations were going on? I think I know the answer, but I’d like to hear it from those involved….


  23. Will+OBGYN+for+Food Says:

    So many liars so few buses...


  24. eternal springs Says:

    LOL cynic! I love it.


  25. brsb78 Says:

    While I don't support what Clinton or any of the others did, I must take exception to comments I'm hearing about Clinton and the others. They didn't involve minors. There is no comparison here. Foley is dealing with minors.

    Too many of the Repugnicans are making an issue of the fact that this is politically motivated, with the mid term elections just around the corner. It can also be argued that the Repugnicans had a political agenda as well.........keep it hush hush until the mid terms had passed. No matter what the motivation, the morons that knew (and did nothing) should be gone. This isn't about the politics. It's about the kids. There were warning signs and nobody acted.........except for a small slap on the wrist and a stern, "Don't do it again!"

    My professional field is HR. Any HR professional would tell you that the intial e-mails were warning signs and deserved much more attention than just passing them off as "naughty". Every single person who knew, and did nothing, should be booted out on their collective asses.


  26. Margaret Says:

    Can someone please tell me what can be done about this Interrogation Bill once Bush signs it?

    I'm not sure that there's anything that can be done about it now.


  27. AnotherOneBitesTheDust Says:

    Roger-Roger

    Obviously by your alias we can tell you're a brown-nosing YES MAN!

    1> Dems/Progs never claimed superior morality. We're human, we understand people make mistakes, and some people are just F'ed up.

    2> It's your party that's all about God and guns, and yet it's your party we find out lies, cheats, and steals more than any party in a hundred years. Instead of doing the right thing, your party just lies and lies and lies to cover more lies.

    3> You can fool some of the people ALL of the time. Take religion, and repukliclowns.

    Nice try little boy.. come back when you have more to contribute than getting a hard one listing to rush limpdick spew more hatred.

    Accept this for what it is, and stop trying to be like a 9 year old, Well so and so did so and so 9 years go.. Big F'ing DEAL!


  28. pbg Says:

    My President, Bill Clinton, said,"There is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America."
    We can bring down the Bastille of Fascist Amerika even as they are building it. In November.
    Our chances just got a whole lot better, and we should make the most of it.

    Look, what's to discuss about them destroying Habeas Corpus and the Constitution? That we're not spending enough time typing about how bad it is?

    Let's not contemplate how justified we are in hitting them. Let's just pick up our folding chairs.


  29. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    #20 - ...Besides this being a lot of fun, the purpose is to wrest control of the house to get back habeus corpus and impeach Bush and Cheney. Hopefully to send them off to the Hague to stand trial for breaking the Geneva Conventions.
    This is about slipping Republican poll numbers. Let’s see how far they fall…

    As a means to an end?

    I completely agree about what _needs_ to happen. There is nothing thus far that leads me to believe that it _will_ happen. Hence my position.

    I want my country back!


  30. Roger_Roger Says:

    I wouldn't mind seeing the repugs lose anyways. They can't seem to do there job, so it is time to give them a good kick in the ass.

    They haven't nearly cut taxes enough. They not only failed to cut the budget, they increased it. They messed up the Iraq war. They haven't attacked Iran yet nor North Korea. They added the prescription drug benefit which was a horrible mistake. Lastly, they haven't cut Social Security or Mediaid, not one cent.

    If they can't do any of the above, they really have no business being in power in the first place. Currently, all they are doing is what the Dems will do. Raise the budget, not go to war with countries threatening us with Nuke weapons, and forgeting about Social Secuirty and Medi-aid while they both slowly kill this country. So, the Dems can have power as we will simply get more of the same (sadly).


  31. eternal springs Says:

    Just wondering... wasn't it reported awhile ago that Hastert may be neck-deep in some other potential scandal? Maybe all this is a way to get him to resign under less damaging circumstances before the dam breaks. Just wondering...


  32. Juizzee Says:

    #9. I may be wrong but I think that new anti-American legislation will be struck down as unconstitutional -- and the only reason it was approved by the congress was to let Bush off the hook and to bolster Republican chances in the upcoming election. With the Foley scandal coming out, it looks like those chances are slipping away... So I guess Congress gave away our freedom for nothing (except maybe keeping Bush out of prison).


  33. Roger_Roger Says:

    Um,

    Gerry Studs admitted to sleeping with a 17 year old. Foley has only admitted to sending nasty IM's and emails. I would say Studs is far worse.


  34. Will+OBGYN+for+Food Says:

    I believe every last one of these Neocons is a freakin' homosexual. Who'd a thunk it?


  35. Erroll Says:

    In the months leading up to the 2004 election, it seemed almost certain that Kerry would be elected president. In these five weeks leading to the 2006 election, will the Democrats find another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or will it be the people of this country who will be accused of being too naive and/or too stupid in allowing the Republicans to once again stay in power?


  36. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    #22 - ...Our job, as progressives, is to connect the incompetence, lack of moral principles, and power-hungry values inherent in both the “sexy” topic of the day and the pattern of abuses across all issues. Some Americans will “get it” only through these “sexy” topics. We have to use what we have to win in November and turn back the policies and laws then.

    I believe the "feeding frenzy" is helping to get the message out. This much I agree with.

    Behind the scenes, who on the Dem/Progressive side is organizing to turn back the abominations that have been purpetrated against We The People? I know, I know, it's perhaps too early for anyone to tip their hand.

    Still, when will the dots be connected for the people that show how many of their liberties have been stolen under the guise of "keeping us safe from terror?"

    I contrast this against a series of conversations that I've had recently in Europe. People there seem to have a much better grasp of US politics and the implications thereby than most people I talk to here. Europeans and Canadians don't seem to need a "sexy" topic to help them connect the dots. Are Amerikans that stupid or disinterested?


  37. dlet Says:

    Hey Roger Roger,

    Since you like comparing politicians past deeds take a looksee. If you want to keep a scorecard I think these would cancel eachother. So find another to compare Foley with will ya.

    Daniel Bever Crane (born January 10, 1936) is a American politician. He served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives and served from 1978 to 1984. After his 1982 re-election, he was implicated along with Rep. Gerry Studds in the 1983 Congressional page sex scandal. Crane was accused of having a consensual sexual relationship in 1980 with a 17-year-old female congressional page and was censured by the House in 1983. Crane admitted to the charge and issued profuse, tearful apologies. He was defeated for re-election in 1984.


  38. Mikey Says:

    I'm with you #34, the "anti-american legislation" hasn't been to the Supreme Court yet. If they don't shoot it down, then I'll worry.


  39. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    #34 - ... I guess Congress gave away our freedom for nothing (except maybe keeping Bush out of prison).

    Like Solime (but being of the wrong gender and being a bit hairier than she), I have a hankering for heads on silver platters for what BushCo has done to our Constitution!


  40. barfly Says:

    and forgeting about Social Secuirty and Medi-aid while they both slowly kill this country. So, the Dems can have power as we will simply get more of the same (sadly).

    Comment by Roger_Roger — October 4, 2006 @ 4:49 pm

    Eliminate the caps on income taxation, and there would be no Social Security "crisis," Roger. You've just been sucking up too much affluent-funded effluent.


  41. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    #36 - I believe every last one of these Neocons is a freakin’ homosexual. Who’d a thunk it?

    It's worse than that. NeoCons are all PEDOPHILES.

    The distinction is important.


  42. barfly Says:

    will the Democrats find another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or will it be the people of this country who will be accused of being too naive and/or too stupid in allowing the Republicans to once again stay in power?

    Comment by Erroll

    Either way, Erroll will be happy that the pervert party stayed in office!


  43. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR Says:

    I'm sorry to keep harping on this... but... while exposing Republicans for the greedy self serving pedophiles that they are... warrantless NSA wiretapping of US citizens will continue...

    [from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061004/ap_on_go_pr_wh/domestic_spying ]

    The Bush administration can continue its warrantless surveillance program while it appeals a judge's ruling that the program is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
    ADVERTISEMENT

    The president has said the program is needed in the war on terrorism; opponents argue it oversteps constitutional boundaries on free speech, privacy and executive powers.

    The unanimous ruling from a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave little explanation for the decision. In the three-paragraph ruling, judges said that they balanced the likelihood an appeal would succeed, the potential damage to both sides and the public interest...

    Hello! Is anyone listening?

    Or don't you care that you, yes you, are being spied on by Emperor George Wanker Bush???


  44. goose1 Says:

    roger, what about Storm Thurman fathering a child with an under age girl.?


  45. barfly Says:

    One question: if Foley is a homosexual, why not prove it by having an adult former "partner" come forward to corrobrate? Because there are none - he wanted kids, plain and simple.


  46. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    Bush; "Hastert get Gannon"

    Hadley; "Sir?"

    Bush; "We need to intervene Foley"


  47. katy Says:

    UPDATE II: CNN has Foley’s full statement. An excerpt:

    hey!!! this is FORDHAM'Sstatement!


  48. Art Says:

    #37 - In the months leading up to the 2004 election

    I thought there was something going on two years ago when Hastert first found out about Foley! I wonder if he kept it quiet because he thought it might have a negative impact for the republicans in the election.
    Hmmm...


  49. budpaul Says:

    Wow, this is getting uglier and uglier. It sure is fun when they turn on each other!
    America's Least Wanted


  50. Roger_Roger Says:

    Barfly,

    My point exactly. You want to save these entitlement programs by simply raising the folks taxes even more. In the long run, that idea will just push the problem out a bit. We really need to start by increasing the retirement age to at least 75. On top of that, we need to limit the Social Secuirty beneift to a maximum of whatever you put into it. Having people get way more then they actually paid is very wrong. These types of measures are very simply to enact and you wouldn't even need to steal more money from people.


  51. pbg Says:

    Roger_Roger:
    How old are you?
    Do you have a job?
    Who pays for your health insurance?
    Do you have any idea what most Americans, working at a job that might or might not go away, with kids they want to send to a good college, with a house they love and would like to grow old in, see in Social Security?
    They see something that will keep thim alive when they are too old to work.
    They see a benefit that will survive inflation, or the company deciding the pension plan's terms are getting revised.
    They see the ability to risk money ob a better school for their kids rather than save every single possible cent for their old age.
    They see not having to be a burden on their kids, living in an extra bedroom and turning love into resentment.
    They see a better life.

    "They haven't cut Social Security or Medicaid"--Why don't you insist that 'cutting Social Security' gets put into the Republican Party Platform for 2008?

    It's avery good way for the R's to be a permanent minority party.


  52. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    The use of the term "wackos" was Scanlon's ( p. 119 of this massive file):

    http://indian.senate.gov/2005hrgs/110205hrg/110205exhibits.pdf

    Abramoff-Scanlon School of Sleaze
    Senate hearings yielded more scandalous revelations about how the dynamic lobbying duo bilked American Christian Groups.
    We plan to use three forms of communications to mobilize and win these battles. … Our mission is to get specifically selected groups of individuals to the polls to speak out AGAINST something. To that end, your money is best spent finding them and communicating with them on using the modes that they are most likely to respond to. Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them. The wackos get their information form [sic] the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet, and telephone trees. [bold added]--Michael Scanlon calling his base dupes and Christian wackos

    Nice guys these cloaked christians -- debbils in disguise.


  53. eternal springs Says:

    Republicans are genetically incapable of simply doing the right thing. Instead of just cleaning up their mess, they rely on any comparisons of wrong doing from the dems they can dredge up. It's like a guy who beats his wife, and when called on it, goes on and on about the guy up the street beats his wife too. If they had any balls at all they would STFU, take the hit, stand back up and move on. You know, do something to improve their party instead of making excuses like a buncha screeching baboons.

    I'm sure the response to this post will be a list of times the dems made excuses instead of cleaning house, and the cycle will begin anew


  54. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Says:

    JesusChrist_GodOfWAR

    The average American hasn't had his liberties directly stolen, "only" threatened and the guise of “keeping us safe from terror” is pretty motivating (Maslow's hierarchy of need comes to mind). Americans also tend to be loyal to their president - which is not all bad unless the president abuses that trust. In this case, Bush has and that's the connection I see with the Foley incident. I would suspect that Europeans and Canadians have their own blind spots and need to be hit between the eyes several times on issues involving their own internal politics, just like
    Americans. I suspect it's more human nature than cultural. Of course, I might be giving too much credit to my "family" of fellow Americans! Still, I want to maintain faith that the pendulum will, as in the past, swing back to a better place.


  55. Concerned+Conservative Says:

    Now that I think about it, the last time I spent any significant time at TP was when you were all shreiking about how Fitzmas was coming and Rove and the boys were going down big time. Didn't happen.

    Now you're all excited because a repub congressman is found to be a pedophile and you think that is going to cause the GOP leadership to resign and the Dems will be swept into office a la the Repubs in 1994. Sorry kids, ain't gonna happen.

    The '94 repub takeover of congress was based on policy differences, not scandals. And when people get ready to cast their votes in November they're going to ask "which party is going to do more to defend the country" and the answer isn't going to be the Dems.


  56. blogenfreude Says:

    Pass the popcorn, and please pour everyone another round of schadenfreude!


  57. barfly Says:

    Roger, that horse hocky. How much money did the recently retired oil company president retire with? $400 MILLION dollars! How much did he contribute to the SSI fund that year? Please answer my question. Why are the rich entitled to a lower effective tax rate? Be specific. And include trust-fund babies in your answer.



  58. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    “Um, Gerry Studs admitted to sleeping with a 17 year old. Foley has only admitted to sending nasty IM’s and emails. I would say Studs is far worse.
    Comment by Roger_Roger”

    No Andrew Buhr was much worse: The Republican politician was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

    But you would rather wait till Foley achieves a higher level of perversity no doubt?


  59. Stating+the+Obvious Says:

    The issue here is not that Foley is a freak. Nor is this a gay issue. Nor is it a contest as to which "party" has had more freaks in it.

    The issue is that leading members of the House of Representatives put party above the people (you know, the PEOPLE that they are supposed to represent regardless of race, creed, color, gender or political affiliation) and that they deceived the people, in a lie of omission.

    Enough of the partisan politics! It is destroying this country and everyone is more concerned about whether their "team" wins than what is right and what is good for ALL THE PEOPLE. This IS NOT a game.

    People are dying needless and horrible deaths in an atrocity that is KNOWN to be wrong, but politics won't allow the leadership of this country to stop it. Yes, American soldiers and innocent Iraqi people are DYING just so egos won't be hurt. Pitiful and pathetic.

    And then there's the abandonment of our own Constitution and the rollback to the medieval days regarding human rights and jurisprudence with the asinine and demonic law that just passed that allows for torture, murder, and the elimination of the most basic legal rights of individuals, including AMERICANS.

    Anyone who speaks on partisan lines about these issues is both intellectually inept and/or morally and ethically reprehensible. If you are for torture and murder, then be honest enough to say so. If you are for the abuse of children, then say so. But quit hiding behind political labels and pretending that such labels grant undeserved credibility or stature.

    Honestly, in the end all that matters is what your personal beliefs and values are, not the bullet-pointed mission statement of some club that you decided to join. Otherwise, if such were the case, every "republican" is a lying (DeLay) cheating (Cunningham) child-molester (Foley) and every "democrat" is a philandering (Clinton), pathetic (Lieberman), thief (Reid).

    It's all quite silly when you really look at it but the stakes are far too high to continue being "silly".


  60. John+Gilpins Says:

    Our country is screwed up.

    The Speaker of the House may resign because of the botched coverup--protecting a PATHOLOGICAL HOMOCRIT. Yeah, Foley is a horndog and a PATHOLOGICAL HOMOCRIT who likes boys.

    Okay, Hassert's head rolls in a few hours or days.

    Rumsfeld's head hasn't rolled yet. Why? Why? Why? I sure think 3000 GI deaths and the numerous Bush administration coverups are more important than coverups about: inappropriate e-mails, towels, lotions, penis size, masturbation techniques, and grabbing the one-eyed snake.

    There's a big different between a horndog, enablers, and slime who couldn't care less if 100,000 U. S. soldiers die.

    When will Rumsfeld's head roll?

    John


  61. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    The ‘94 repub takeover of congress was based on policy differences, not scandals.

    LMAO, a policy of lying to you!

    Scanlon confessed the source code of recent Republican electoral victories: target religious conservatives, distract everyone else, and then railroad through complex initiatives.

    "The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees," Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them."

    and they are slipping all kinds of issues past you!

    Wake up scanlon wackos!


  62. barfly Says:

    The ‘94 repub takeover of congress was based on policy differences, not scandals.Concerned Conservative

    We all remember the "contract on America" and how much a fraud it (and those who pushed its enactment) turned out to be. It's another reason to throw them out; they've failed at all their stated "conservative" goals.

    Or hadn't you noticed?


  63. eternal springs Says:

    #57 Since a recent poll shows a third of the American people believe BushCo was likely complicit in 9/11, those folks certainly won't be voting republican on the question of keeping this country safe. The neoCons are enemy #1


  64. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) Says:

    When Democrats were faced with a page terrorist, they wanted him in jail but the Republicans just wanted him out of office and into an alcohol treatment facility so they could maintain their majority.


  65. Democrat Soldier Says:

    #57 - "The ‘94 repub takeover of congress was based on policy differences, not scandals. "

    I will agree with you. Republicans said "we know how to balance the budget!" and with Pres. Clinton controling the excesses of the Republicans, they did. Then came Pres. Bush, and fiscal responsibility went the way of personal responsibility in the Republican party, and we have deficits as far as the eye can see, and history makind debt. It just goes to show that one-party rule is a recipe for disaster.

    "And when people get ready to cast their votes in November they’re going to ask “which party is going to do more to defend the country” and the answer isn’t going to be the Dems."

    The answer isn't the Reps either. What have they done? Gotten distracted in the war on terror by getting mired in Iraq, and now they're talking about further distractions by considering attacking Iran. If any country decided to attack the US right now, we'd be screwed faster than a 16 year old page by a perverted Republican representative!

    What we NEED is the Presidency held by one party, and one of the houses held by the other. No other way will work. The proof is in the past. Go read your histroy, CD.


  66. SpudgeBoy Says:

    We really need to start by increasing the retirement age to at least 75.

    Yeah, because you know how good 75 year olds are at doing manual labor.

    "Get to work granny!"


  67. June Says:

    TP: Update II should say "Fordham", not "Foley". Thanks


  68. Briseadh+na+Faire Says:


    Can someone please tell me what can be done about this Interrogation Bill once Bush signs it?

    I’m not sure that there’s anything that can be done about it now.

    Comment by Margaret — October 4, 2006 @ 4:45 pm

    remember how the Warrantless Wiretapping got struck down? someone filed a lawsuit and asked for an injunction against the practice, and a judge issued the injunction. Same could happen here, I guess.


  69. SpudgeBoy Says:

    Hey look, some new hypocracy to talk about:

    Congressman apologizes for affair in TV ad
    Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Pa. also denies abusing mistress

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15132240/from/RS.3/

    SCRANTON, Pa. - Rep. Don Sherwood, a Republican fighting for re-election in northeastern Pennsylvania, says in a TV ad that he is “truly sorry” for cheating on his wife but denies ever abusing the woman he had the affair with.

    In the ad, he acknowledges that the affair nearly cost him the love of his wife and his daughters. He said his family has worked through it “because of my deep regret, our love and the fact that the allegation of abuse was never true.”

    “While I’m truly sorry for disappointing you, I never wavered from my commitment to reduce taxes, create jobs and bring home our fair share,” Sherwood said, addressing viewers. “Should you forgive me, you can count on me to keep on fighting hard for you and your family.”

    This guy wants voters to believe he will take care of their families after he has screwed over his own family.


  70. Above+the+Clouds Says:

    On "Harball" just now, they asked what Newt and Delay might have known about the "Foley problem" since it appears to have spanned not only Hastert's tenure as House Speaker, but also Delay's and Gingrich's time in the big chair on the Hill. Tough questions for the GOP.


  71. SpudgeBoy Says:

    #57 Since a recent poll shows a third of the American people believe BushCo was likely complicit in 9/11, those folks certainly won’t be voting republican on the question of keeping this country safe. The neoCons are enemy #1

    You need to quote correctly.

    58% of Americans said the Bush Deliberately misled us into the war in Iraq. 41% don't think he Deliberately misled us into war.

    58% is more than half and is close to two thirds.

    If the republicans win again, you will know 100% for sure that the election was rigged.


  72. dlet Says:

    Can someone please tell me what can be done about this Interrogation Bill once Bush signs it?

    I’m not sure that there’s anything that can be done about it now.
    Comment by Margaret

    I heard that there are some prisoners being held in Afghanistan? are going to be challenging this once it is signed by bushie. I can't find an article on it now but the lawyers have already prepared the defense against this and hope to be the first to challenge it.


  73. ForTruth Says:

    Awe jeez, Denny will quit when Rummy quits. The thought of holding my breath doesn't sound too good. TP has teased me in the past, but I shall protect myself from now on.


  74. Concerned+Conservative Says:

    Look everyone, I agree that this Repub congress has not been very good. I'm just telling you that the average American isn't going to pay much attention to this "scandal" -- unless there is clear evidence that GOP leadership knew about the IMs before the press published them.

    Hastert is saying that he found out about the emails (which were quite tame and not worthy of a story according the press and not worthy ofan investigation according to the FBI) 11 months ago. He then sent someone to contact the parents who said they didn't want it publicized but just wanted it to stop. Hastert then instructed Foley to knock it off.

    Next time he hears about it is in the press 9/29 and the disgusting IMs are revealed. Then he tells Foley to resign.

    Could he have done more? Should he have monitored the electronic communications? Maybe, but we can't even do that to suspected terrorists according to you guys.

    Unless this is a big cover-up by Hastert it is going to blow over and you guys will have to start getting warmed up for the post-election whining.


  75. ForTruth Says:

    And that good ol' interragation bill.

    I'm just looking around at the sky, hands in pocket, whistling, tapping the foot, any day now right?


  76. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    Scanlon [Republican GrOPe] confessed the source code of recent Republican electoral victories: target religious conservatives, distract everyone else, and then railroad through complex initiatives.
    “The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees,” Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something [fear, fundies, gun owners, wackos, end timers,gays,..etc etc] and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them.”

    I just love that guy scanlon for getting his ass dragged to court and telling the truth, so I can repeat his words.

    God Bless you Scanlon!


  77. barfly Says:

    My point exactly. You want to save these entitlement programs by simply raising the folks taxes even moreRoger

    "Folks?" Your pathetic attempt at shielding the rich from scrutiny by portraying them as"folksy" shows how dishonest you are. The majority of Americans (and here's a big shock for you elitists) DON'T make that much. The disparity of incomes in the US has created many millionaires and billionaires - whose children will never have to pay into the system, as their incomes are derived from investments, and not labor. Can you say free ride, Roger? The "folks" I'm worried about, won't have enough to make ends meet - but you're more worried about the rich's free ride?


  78. wisedup Says:

    Mic check...tap tap...again mr haster..a hum..."I don't recall"....that's a wrap.
    ...and for AP and Fox.."Fox News/AP Wire Service your 'DEMOCRATIC' news companys, with comments bye DEMOCRATS, Bill O'Rieley,Rush Limbaugh and the sweet Ann Coulter your DECOCRATIC news team"....oh....did I typo?...opps


  79. lestatdelc Says:

    roger_roger

    You have to be the biggest idiot on the planet. If you can't distinguish between the CONSENSUAL sex between ADULTS (Clinton, Studds, Frank) and someone being a sexual predator against MINORS, please, stay away from other human beings (children and adults).


  80. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    “Should you forgive me, you can count on me to keep on fighting hard for you and your family.”

    This guy wants voters to believe he will take care of their families after he has screwed over his own family. Spudge

    Amazing isn't it spudge?

    I just showed them they are being misled by these neo-cons [scanlon/abramoff/delay/Reed and they just keep sucking it up and can't see the fire for the smokescreen that they put up, that cloaked christian debbil that lurks beyond.


  81. wisedup Says:

    "I DON'T RECALL'.....thank you mr haster...AP/FOX YOUR DEMOCRATIC NEWS TEAM, WITH COMMENTS BY DEMOCRATS, BILL ORILEY,RUSH LIMBAUGH AND THE SWEET ANN COULTER....opps...did I typo?


  82. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    And that good ol’ interragation bill.
    I’m just looking around at the sky, hands in pocket, whistling, tapping the foot, any day now right?
    Comment by ForTruth

    shh scandal man may here you.


  83. barfly Says:

    Could he have done more? Should he have monitored the electronic communications? Maybe, but we can’t even do that to suspected terrorists according to you guys.
    Unless this is a big cover-up by Hastert it is going to blow over and you guys will have to start getting warmed up for the post-election whining.

    Comment by Concerned+Conservative

    Why must you lie so blatantly? At this late date, it would be near impossible to believe you don't know that it was a WARRANTLESS program that we objected to. Whatever it is you're "concerned" about, it certainly isn't the truth.


  84. SpudgeBoy Says:

    And don't forget this latest:

    Third lawmaker says Hastert knew of Foley scandal before it went public

    Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — A third figure in the page scandal threatening to envelop House Speaker Dennis Hastert suggested Wednesday the speaker knew of an inappropriate e-mail that Rep. Mark Foley sent to a Louisiana boy before the matter became public.

    Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., the congressman who sponsored the page at the heart of the furor, said Hastert ``knew about the e-mails that we knew about,'' including one in which Foley asked the page to send his picture.

    Being that I am here in California, I am wondering if somebody on the East Coast could tell me what the smell of BBQ Republican on a Spit smells like. I'll bet it smells delicious.


  85. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger — October 4, 2006 @ 4:50 pm

    In the Studds case, the former aide was 17, and was an adult who could consent to having sex. As repugnant as a n older person sleeping with a 17 might be, it was legal. Furthermore, that aide stood with Studds in public before the press and correctly said it was sex between consenting adults and it was NONE of the publics business.

    It is not the same thing at all. But you are too stupid and blinded by your GOP brainwashing to realize this. This is but a tip of the iceberg of how you are incapable of understanding even basic concepts let alone complex issues such as foreign policy, social security or national defense.

    Stick with watching Dancing with the Stars and other inconsequential mindless television faire and leave actual governance to those who can create booming economies, catch actual terrorists and shrink the size of the Federal Gov. (all of which was spearheaded and accomplished under Clinton).


  86. Concerned+Conservative Says:

    Whatever it is you’re “concerned” about, it certainly isn’t the truth.

    Comment by barfly

    You guys aren't interested in the truth. Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies. I suggest you guys focus a little more on the "Think" in TP instead of just constantly spouting bile. You might actually come up with something I would enjoy discussing with you.


  87. John+Gilpins Says:

    I disagree with, Obvious.

    Self-loathing about one's homosexuality is in the equation for many people in the Bush administration. PATHOLOGICAL HOMOCRITS can't own up to their homosexuality. They hate their sexual orientation, and they hate people just like themselves. They get their rocks off by gay-bashing the GLBT community.

    Foley got his rocks off by being a VIP. He gave a speech in the House of Representatives about taking pages out to dinner in his BMW. How nice, Mark! I'm impressed! What series BMW was it, Mark?

    Let's see there's a:

    3 series
    5 series
    7 series

    I HOPE MARK HAS A 7 AND 1/2 SERIES BMW. UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Beautiful!!!!

    Mark Foley was only interested in, Mark Foley. He was a big bully with psychological problems. I'm gay, and there's nothing wrong with being gay. Nothing? I have no intentions of going to Worthy Creations in El Paso. Castro Street, and South Beach is the place to be--not Worthy Creations.

    Now, Foley is professing alcoholism. Get real!! How many alcoholics have hard erections? He, himself, said he was as hard as a rock, while e-mailing the boy. Mark's real problem is not accepting his same-sex orientation.

    The taxpayers are paying for his rehab. He's going to be there for at least 30 days. Why doesn't Foley do us a favor and sell his BMW to pay for his rehab.

    Foley really needs to come to terms with his homosexuality.

    John


  88. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    Being that I am here in California, I am wondering if somebody on the East Coast could tell me what the smell of BBQ Republican on a Spit smells like. I’ll bet it smells delicious.

    Most of them are too heavily pickled in alcohol and sin and burst into flames, flying flaming GOPig can be quite messy!


  89. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    Kinda like when Rapture comes..


  90. Robert Says:

    Geez, can we ever get a Speaker to leave his post honorably?

    3 of the last 4 went down in flames Hastert, Gingrich, Wright


  91. Bob's+Your+Uncle Says:

    I’m just telling you that the average American isn’t going to pay much attention to this “scandal...”

    Comment by Concerned+Conservative — October 4, 2006 @ 5:41 pm

    But the above-average ones will, and that'll be all that matters.


  92. Robert Says:

    Future Fox "News" Headline "Speaker Hasterd (D-IL) Resigns"


  93. Above+the+Clouds Says:

    What a stinking, shitty Republican mess--what should we talk about? The Republican sex scandal, or Bush's failed Iraq policy? The GOP has set off a storm of outrage against themselves that is of their own making.


  94. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger — October 4, 2006 @ 5:12 pm

    You are too stupid for words.

    You seem to think that ALL income under $94,200 a year should be subject to FICA withholdings (i.e. your Social Security insurance premium) whereas if you make say $1,000,000 a year, only a 1/10th of your income should be subject to FICA withholding.

    Again, someone who cannot even make a distinguish the difference between CONSENTING sex between ADULTS vs. sexual preying on MINORS should stick to who should be voted off Survivor, not issues of governance or policy.


  95. KRank Says:

    Look, what this whole scandal comes down to is the REPUBLICANS ARE HORRIBLE AT GOVERNING. They don't believe in the ability of government to affect people's lives positively; why would anyone trust a party like that to GOVERN?

    Granted, this bunch is more incompetent and corrupt than most, but face it, the GOP serve this country much more effectively as a MINORITY PARTY. Let's make that happen, shall we?


  96. barfly Says:

    Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies. I suggest you guys focus a little more on the “Think” in TP instead of just constantly spouting bile. You might actually come up with something I would enjoy discussing with you.
    Comment by Concerned+Conservative

    Another concern troll. I'm touched. You've de-bunked yourself. Who cares what you find enjoyable, little one? Go back to wingnutville; they love your brand of crazy.


  97. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    You guys aren’t interested in the truth. Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies.

    NO, they are tearing you down so they can slip all kinds of stuff past you conservatives that you would never vote for. A few bones over here, good dog! And a the Gold over here. Thank You Wacko Christians!! -Scanlon/Abramoff


  98. SpudgeBoy Says:

    Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies.

    So, you think that your insane policies are better than our insane policies? We have tried your insane policies and they aren't working. Time to give ours a go around.


  99. Dog+named+Boo Says:

    What policy of Bush's has been good concerned?

    War?
    stay the course?
    trickle down theory?
    privitization [bizarro conservatism]
    perpetual war?
    torture?
    protecting the predators?
    cutting DHS budgets?
    Ignoring PDBs?
    Habeas Corpus?
    fical policy?
    foreign policy?
    [what foreign policy?]
    selling off of social infrastructure for an unworkable budget?


  100. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by Concerned+Conservative — October 4, 2006 @ 5:41 pm

    How could the GOP leadership have found those IMs, when they did NOTHING to investigate it. They never investigated anything. They only told Foley to stop harassing the one page who complained about the emails at the request of his parents. They never investigated anything. They simply looked the other way and did NOTHING to ensure that nothing untoward was occurring.

    They didn't even think to investigate when they got a complaint of "sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick" emails, and now we find out that prior to that, they were warned the Foley was acting inappropriately with pages and they did NOTHING and undertook NO INVESTIGATION to see if anything was going on.

    And these are the clowns who will root out al Qaeda?


  101. katy Says:

    haven't been able to read all the comments... just want to get this out there... keep hearing about studds - don't forget this:

    Also in '83, Republican Dan Crane's relationship with a female page, also 17, was exposed. He was defeated in '84; Studds served his district until '96.
    Who investigated the '83 page scandal? Yep. Rudy Giuliani.
    http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/10/gop_playbook_st.html

    .


  102. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by Concerned+Conservative — October 4, 2006 @ 5:56 pm

    "Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies."

    ROFLMAO

    Yeah, insane polices that balanced the budget (correction, created surpluses), shrunk the Fed. Gov. to the smallest they have been since Kennedy's adminsitration (which was prior to the EPA, Dept. of Energy, Education, and the great society programs BTW), increased serivces, created a booming economy, goes after actual terrosits successfully, yeah... that's just crazy.

    Thankfully the GOP gained control of all three branches of Gov. and put an end to peace and prosperity in our midsts.

    Your statement is borderline mental.



  103. Quadrajet Says:

    Lestatdelc, I'm not so sure about the 'they didn't investigate' story line. I think they indeed investigated - just far enough to know they didn't want to investigate any further. I believe we'll eventually find out that Denny & Co. knew at least enough to know that they didn't want to know any more than they'd already found out.


  104. Pete+Bogs Says:

    Fordham's got the balls to try and blame all this on Dems... Jesus H. someone needs to put him in a cage...


  105. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by Quadrajet — October 4, 2006 @ 6:29 pm

    Beg to differ. We have zero evidence the GOP leadership investigated anything. They did nothing but tell Foley to stop emailing that page who complained about the "Sick x13" emails. They investigated nothing from all accounts.

    If they investigated anything, let's hear what they did then?

    So far we have them doing precisely nothing. Of course once the scandal started to break, they were johnny on the spot to investigate what the failed to do and try and get their cover stories straight (and failed to do) which is indicative of their entire world-view. How to get and hold onto power, not actual governance, upholding their responsibilities or doing the people's work. Nope, they are great at CYA and blame everyone but themselves for their problems. So far the GOP have blamed the Democrats (Hastert, Limbaugh), Liberals (Limbaugh, Hannity) the victims (Drudge, Savage), the media (Hastert, Limbaugh), the voters of Florida (Kristol), gays (Gingrich, Perkins, Bay Buchanin), liberalism (Perkins), and the American culture as a whole (WSJ, Perkins), and now the GOP blaming it on their own staff for why this occurred. Yep, the GOP culture of personal responsibility writ large... blame everyone BUT themselves.

    And of course both Fox News Channel and the AP wire identifying Foley now as (D-FL) in the chryons and in the wire reports. Guess that's one way to be "fair and balanced" and make this a "bipartisan" scandal... just say to the public that Foley was a Democrat.



  106. lestatdelc Says:

    Fordham's full statement to the AP ...

    I've learned within the last few hours that unnamed sources have purported that I intervened on behalf of [Florida] Congressman [Mark] Foley to prevent a page board investigation. This is categorically false. At no point ever did I ask anyone to block any inquiries into Foley's actions or behavior. These sources know this allegation is false.
    Having stepped down as Mr. Reynolds' chief of staff, I have no reason to state anything other than the facts. I have no congressman and no office to protect. I intend to fully cooperate with any and every investigation of Mr. Foley's conduct. At the same time, I will fully disclose to the FBI and the House Ethics Committee any and all meetings and phone calls I had with senior staffers in the House leadership about any of Foley's inappropriate activities.

    The fact is, even prior to the existence of the Foley e-mail exchanges, I had more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene when I was informed of Mr. Foley's inappropriate behavior. One of these staffers is still employed by a senior House Republican leader. Rather than trying to shift the blame on me, those who are employed by these House leaders should acknowledge what they know about their action or inaction in response to the information they knew about Mr. Foley prior to 2005.

    GOP Leadership = R.M.S. Titanic


  107. Left+Coast+Mike Says:

    Barfly says:
    One question: if Foley is a homosexual, why not prove it by having an adult former “partner” come forward to corrobrate? Because there are none - he wanted kids, plain and simple.

    He came out of the closet yesterday!


  108. theswan Says:

    Republicans should be calling for "grief counseling".
    But no body wants to hear!
    Time for your suffering GENTLEMEN.
    But, they have a hard time with suffering. Or doing anything.
    NOTHING EVER GETS DONE UNDER REPUBLICANS.
    tHEY DWARFT MANKIND!


  109. stonehinge Says:

    Here's something for those who are tired of this scandal rag mess....

    World Can't Wait - Protest Rallies Scheduled on Oct 5

    Take a look - I'll bet there is a rally within a few miles of where you live.


  110. Karim Says:

    How much do you want to bet that he will sign a sworn affadavit?


  111. ForTruth Says:

    Just keep repeating Hastart in the context of this scandal and pretty soon people will begin to associate Hastart with being a pervert.


  112. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    Before Bush's Torture Bill was passed, I wrote my Senators. Here is one reply:

    Dear Mr. ______:

    Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to the Military Commissions Act of 2006. I appreciate hearing from you, and I strongly agree with you.

    I am proud to have opposed the Bush Administration's indefensible plan to detain and try suspected terrorists.

    Instead of giving our intelligence services the tools they need, this bill will endanger our troops in the field and will lead to lengthy delays in prosecuting those charged with terrorist acts against Americans. At the same time, the bill violates both American military doctrine and the right of habeas corpus, one of the bedrock constitutional principles of the American system of justice.

    This bill, which violates both the U.S. Constitution and the Geneva Convention, will likely be overturned in the Supreme Court, further delaying our ability to bring terrorists to justice. And because it violates established standards of international law, this bill exposes U.S. troops to mistreatment by our enemies while needlessly antagonizing and alienating our allies. As General Colin Powell said in criticizing the Bush tribunal plan, "The world is beginning to doubt our moral basis of our fight against terrorism."

    Be assured that I will continue to fight for tough anti-terrorist legislation that is consistent with American military doctrine and our nation's guiding constitutional principles. Thank you again for your letter and for caring deeply about this critical matter.

    Barbara Boxer
    United States Senator

    Both of my Senators and my Representative voted against the bill.


  113. homer+simpson Says:

    If this was a Kennedy scandal, it would have been swept under the rug and he would have been given an award!

    What that Congressman did was wrong & I hope he gets to spend a few years in a jail that a few southern "Bubba's" will like his little swish!


  114. lestatdelc Says:

    Comment by homer+simpson — October 4, 2006 @ 8:17 pm

    Wow, you hit all the GOP-bigot tropes there... Kennedy's are evil, southern "Bubba's", "swishes"... allusions to and hoping for prison rape... you do black-face as well?


  115. Zooey Says:

    And that good ol’ interragation bill.
    I’m just looking around at the sky, hands in pocket, whistling, tapping the foot, any day now right?
    Comment by ForTruth

    I don't find anything current on this anywhere. It's just hanging over our heads, getting ready to drop.

    TP.....any news on the interrogation bill? Please?


  116. Zooey Says:

    Both of my Senators and my Representative voted against the bill.
    Comment by Briseadh na Faire

    Your Senators and Rep obviously have brains.

    Mine have mashed potatoes -- there really is no hope for Idaho.


  117. JPark Says:

    "My point exactly. You want to save these entitlement programs by simply raising the folks taxes even more. "

    If we had a decent economy nobody would give a damn.


  118. JPark Says:

    Studds married his youngin'. When is Foley going to marry his...oh, wait that would be polygamy about 20 times over, wouldn't it?


  119. JPark Says:

    #123 Don't bother. Good old homer would get his ass whooped by the real Homer Simpson in a knowledge contest.


  120. barfly Says:

    He came out of the closet yesterday!

    Comment by Left+Coast+Mike

    And convieniently went into rehab, claiming to be gay, and a drunk. So far, no evidence has arisen to support either contention. They had all weekend to work out the political angles. Until some male admits to actually "knowing" him (or is convincingly outed), it smells of political necessity. He isn't gay, he's a power-loving pedophile, until evidence proves differently.


  121. Steve-O Says:

    You guys aren’t interested in the truth. Just tearing down Repubs to get your people in power so they can put in your insane policies. I suggest you guys focus a little more on the “Think” in TP instead of just constantly spouting bile. You might actually come up with something I would enjoy discussing with you.

    Comment by Concerned+Conservative — October 4, 2006 @ 5:56 pm

    Um... why are you here? Go away and we can enjoy this discussion. Don't you have someone to IM?


  122. JPark Says:

    #133 Don't pick on CC. He is concerned with the truth!!!!


  123. R0ger__R0ger Says:

    The repugs are supposed to be the party of morality. I understand when this crap happens to the Dems. They promote and make hero’s out of those that have affairs and sleep with children. Just look at Clinton, Gerry Studs, and Barney Franks. Either way, the Repugs should not go to those low moral levels the Dems exist in.

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    The GOPips were immoral before they were immoral, immoral took lessons from the bush debbils cloaked in christianity.

    -DNB

    The repugs are supposed to be the party of morality. I cannot understand when this crap happens to the Republicans. They promote and make hero’s out of themselves, then have affairs and sleep with children. Just look at that list form armchairsuversive and its got 46 Republican sickos. Either way, the Repuglican predator pigs have lower moral levels than the child molesters in prison. - Roger_Roger


  124. Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party Says:

    Republican were for covering up pedophilia before they were against it.


  125. Otherworld » I get by with a little help from my friends… Says:

    [...]  “Moving with unusual speed,” (a.k.a. moving at all, but wait, it’s right before elections and we need to protect our asses) the House Ethics Committee has started interviews in its probe of the Mark Foley scandal. Longtime Foley aide and former chief of staff for Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-NY) Kirk Fordham will be testifying this week.  [...]


  126. LittleBee Says:

    I understand when this crap happens to the Dems. They promote and make hero’s out of those that have affairs and sleep with children. Just look at Clinton, Gerry Studs, and Barney Franks. Either way, the Repugs should not go to those low moral levels the Dems exist in.

    Comment by Roger_Roger — October 4, 2006 @ 4:13 pm

    First, let's make a distinction between those who have affairs and those who are pedophiles. Last I checked, one is regrettable, undesirable and the other, illegal. Until we make affairs illegal, how is that anyone's business? I am tired of all the Clinton bashing. He wasn't made into a hero. He was made into a pariah, by a hypocritical Repug. congress for political ends. I can't understand how a private mistake in judgement can be compared to pedophilia. I can't understand how the only thing about Clinton's presidency that matters to you is the affair. What about all the things he did FOR this country. He eliminated the defecit, the economy was booming, we were in good relations with other countries, we were successful in Afghanistan, gun laws brought down violence. Those are things that truly make one a hero. No matter how much the Repug's spout about their "morality", it is one's actions that make a hero. I would urge you to take a closer look at the Repug's stance on the issues. It is such a narrow, judgemental viewpoint they retain. They are driving this country right into the ground by expressing such a religiously biased agenda and focusing on real American values: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom from discrimination. The Republican's hands down are against all of that. Take a real good look.

    Until we are able to make a distinction between personal failure, public success and that which is illegal, we will lose the ability to distinguish what is truly important in our leaders. I don't like that Clinton appears to be a sexual addict, but our country is more like a business. I don't need to know my CEO's personal life, I just need to know he won't run our country/business into the toilet. Just look at "W" and how he ran his businesses (yes, plural) into the ground for contrast. Now which is more important.

    Also, how moral is it to expose Clinton's affair to the world for political gain. Clinton's moral failing was between him, Hillary, Chelsea and God. To me the former is a crying shame for that family, the latter disgustingly shameful...period. It is like comparing adultery and pedophilia. One is forgivable, the other unforgivable.


  127. LittleBee Says:

    Oops! I meant to say INSTEAD of focusing on real Amer. values. Sorry!


  128. Qtec80 Says:

    It must be so VERY DIFFICULT to maintain the appearance of holding-on-to that "High Moral Ground" while secretly supporting and even APPROVING of leadership standards & practices that are in FACT so very LOW!

    In the upcoming weeks, we will stand as witnesses to EVERY CONCEIVABLE ATTEMPT to cloud & confuse the actual FACTS behind this growing scandal MOSTLY TARGETING those members of the "Conservative Fundamentalist Christian Voters Block"!

    It’s the DUTY of EVERY AMERICAN to REMAIN "Focused" on the CURRENT ALLEDGED CRIMES, and to SIDE-STEP those attempts to somehow CHANGE the timing or topography of the "Truth".

    Has America REALLY become such a nation of out-of-control politically unbalanced policy-makers who’s dangerous self-serving policies & agendas are not only PROVEN to be mind-beguilingly expensive as well as in many cases FATAL to our "Adult Population" but NOW also painfully dangerous to the safety and welfare of our CHILDREN as well???

    To SUM-UP what a NEO-con supports...

    ...Aside from the obvious of wanting to enamor themselves to the very criminals that are robbing them blind, ignoring American disaster victims, as well as giving our ports to the very enemies they claim we went to war to fight and wishing to bankrupt Americans of their last existing guaranteed freedoms and liberties not to mention Personal Rights to Privacy, AND “Republicans” are in and BY that stand-alone description somehow ABOVE the “Law”... EVEN NOW we have the LATEST EPISODE called "GOP= GUARDIANS OF PEDOPHILES"


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