GOPers are apparently online child predators now...

[DroppinScience]

That's just... wow. :eek:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/29/congressman.e.mails/index.html

[D_Raay]

What's even more shocking...

Foley, chairman of the House caucus on missing and exploited children,
was the author of the key sexual predator provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which Bush signed in July.

Foley, who represents a district in southern Florida, was also a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax and trade policy.

[DroppinScience]

Let's hope the very laws he helped to put into action will be used against him. THAT, my friends, is justice!

[Pres Zount]

Foley was part of the Republican leadership, holding the post of deputy whip.

WTF

[D_Raay]

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2820

“Congressman Mark Foley’s resignation is a great loss to Florida and the nation. He has been a hard-working, dedicated and effective Congressman. He will be missed."

From the center for missing kids no less...

[valvano]

he's been offered a staff position with Barney Frank

:D

[kaiser soze]

Beware the Family Values Party!

[King PSYZ]

Why do you think they push draconian laws and hardline punishments for criminals?

Why do you think they push hardcore family values?

Why do you think they're homophobic?



















Because they don't like competition.

[bilbo]

Nice job of trying to cover this up by fat Denny Hastert and Boner.

[D_Raay]

Why do you think they push draconian laws and hardline punishments for criminals?

Why do you think they push hardcore family values?

Why do you think they're homophobic?



















Because they don't like competition.

(y)

[DroppinScience]

More details emerge

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/30/foley.quits/index.html

[D_Raay]

Some GOP leaders knew of contact

An aide to Rep. Tom Reynolds, the New York congressman who heads the National Republican Campaign Committee, said he knew about the matter a year ago.

The GOP panel coordinates election efforts for House Republicans, who now must find a candidate to replace Foley in Florida's 16th District, six weeks before the election.

Majority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, learned about the contacts from Louisiana Rep. Alexander in the spring, said Boehner's spokesman, Kevin Madden.

"It was Congressman Alexander's opinion that the contact was not of a professional nature," Madden said.

Boehner blocked a vote Friday on a resolution offered by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi asking the House Ethics Committee to begin a preliminary investigation into Foley's conduct and the GOP leadership's response to it.

The California Democrat's resolution would have started an investigation of "when the Republican leadership was notified and what corrective action was taken," according to her statement.

Instead, Boehner made a motion that the Foley matter be sent to the House Ethics Committee, which passed 409-0.

So, ok they knew of it beforehand.

They attempted to cover it up as long as they could. Shows just how corrupt they all are. Even in a election season this is something that should never be covered up.

Let's see, racists and sexual predators so far, what's next?

[Documad]

he's been offered a staff position with Barney Frank

:D
I know that this was intended to funny and I should ignore it, but it's incredibly lame and I need to say it. :)

[Documad]

These stories are just about daily now, and they make me sad. There is so much riding on this election and if we can't win this year, I'm going to be so depressed. I mean, THIS is our competition. How have we (as a nation) allowed these people to be in charge of EVERYTHING for so long?

[Bob]

I know that this was intended to funny and I should ignore it, but it's incredibly lame and I need to say it. :)

that's valvano pretty much

[yeahwho]

Let's see, racists and sexual predators so far, what's next?

Are we talking about congress or the Catholic church here?

I'm getting mixed up.

[DroppinScience]

These stories are just about daily now, and they make me sad. There is so much riding on this election and if we can't win this year, I'm going to be so depressed. I mean, THIS is our competition. How have we (as a nation) allowed these people to be in charge of EVERYTHING for so long?

I used to be very uncertain of whether the Democrats would gain anything this year, but with all these GOPers being in bed with Abramoff, 16-year-olds (*rimshot*) or being racist, I don't see how voters WON'T be angry this year.

[QueenAdrock]

that's valvano pretty much

hahaha

[D_Raay]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/09/30/boehner-blocks-pelosis-investigation-resolution-surprise/

[kaiser soze]

Republican House election leader knew months ago (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061001/D8KFH1N01.html)

The House leaders said it is their duty to ensure House pages are safe. They said they are creating a toll-free hot line for pages and their families to call to confidentially report any incidents, and will consider adopting new rules on communications between lawmakers and pages.

Wait a minute....are they saying that working for the government as a page is a dangerous job? What the fuck is going on there?

(n)

[Schmeltz]

And the plot thickens with the publication of an Instant Message convo (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/BrianRoss/story?id=2509586&page=1) Foley apparently had with another page three years ago.

I find it odd that the Republican party's endorsement of torture hasn't brought on the sort of criticism and opposition one might expect, but this story has erupted into a national scandal. But whatever punishes these guys at the polls is all gravy.

[QueenAdrock]

For some reason I thought he was soliciting gay men, but the guy in that IM conversation is straight since he talked of a previous girlfriend. Unless he was bisexual or something. I dunno, if something THAT CREEPY happened to me, I'd report it immediately. So that leads me to believe that maybe the guy just wasn't uncomfortable about it...especially the way he's answering the questions.

And all the use of "lol" is making my eyes and brain hurt. :mad:

[D_Raay]

And the plot thickens with the publication of an Instant Message convo (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/BrianRoss/story?id=2509586&page=1) Foley apparently had with another page three years ago.

I find it odd that the Republican party's endorsement of torture hasn't brought on the sort of criticism and opposition one might expect, but this story has erupted into a national scandal. But whatever punishes these guys at the polls is all gravy.
I am simply at a loss for words reading through that.

You're quite right though it should pale in comparison to the torture bill.

Funny it's sex that brought down the democrats too, shows where our priorities are .

[DroppinScience]

Funny it's sex that brought down the democrats too, shows where our priorities are .

In all seriousness though, this DOES bring about worrying questions of the safety of minors serving under Congressman at Capitol Hill. One would hope that if an elected official was sending lewd messages to your kid, you'd hope the situation would be dealt with, NOT swept under the rug.

[D_Raay]

In all seriousness though, this DOES bring about worrying questions of the safety of minors serving under Congressman at Capitol Hill. One would hope that if an elected official was sending lewd messages to your kid, you'd hope the situation would be dealt with, NOT swept under the rug.
Well, you know how that goes,especially in Washington.

[Echewta]

Protect their own before the country.

[sam i am]

Foley is pedophile, checks himself into rehab for alcohol abuse, resigns his post, is daily being derided throughout the media, and people are CROWING about how this will help them gain power in the elections?

Hmm...

Haven't you all heard you're supposed to be "compassionate" and "understanding" of different ways of expressing "love?"

At least, that's what NAMBLA says.

Anyhow...Foley's a freaking prick and deserves whatever the law metes out to him.

How this affects the November elections is still not clear, especially if the GOP can find a suitable replacement....

[Echewta]

I think if Foley was just alone on this matter, than people talking about how this would gain seats in the White House would be just as lame as Swift Boat, First Lady DUI death, etc. But the fact that some of the senior republican leaders knew about this before the press did and didn't do anything about it makes it much more fair game to attack the party for votes.

I, of course, am waiting for the Ethics Committee to come to its conclusion before throwing stones. Perhaps Ken Starr is available to look into this troubling matter further.

[sam i am]

I think if Foley was just alone on this matter, than people talking about how this would gain seats in the White House would be just as lame as Swift Boat, First Lady DUI death, etc. But the fact that some of the senior republican leaders knew about this before the press did and didn't do anything about it makes it much more fair game to attack the party for votes.

I, of course, am waiting for the Ethics Committee to come to its conclusion before throwing stones. Perhaps Ken Starr is available to look into this troubling matter further.

LMAO.

Starr would be ideal. Maybe OJ can join in and find the "real" criminals behind all this...

As far as the gothca game of who knew it and when...invariably this line of reasoning leads to crap that is totally unimportant to the matter at hand.

[DroppinScience]

Hastert didn't know nuthin' 'bout no IMs :rolleyes:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/02/foley.quits/index.html

[Echewta]

It is important to the matter at "hand" if the events leading up to the particular conversation in question could have been avoided or prevented.

[sam i am]

It is important to the matter at "hand" if the events leading up to the particular conversation in question could have been avoided or prevented.

Really?

I wonder if your take is the same on the Clinton/Lewinsky thing leading to his impeachment and attempt to distract therefrom by firing missles in the sudan and Afghanistan?

Foley deserves what he gets, but just because you know someone committed a crime does not make you a criminal nor subject you to having to report it. If that were the case, many Clinton staffers would be under lock and key for their complicity in Clinton's obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury (both felonies, BTW).

[Echewta]

Then i guess its a matter of what you think is worse for a politician. Consential sex between two adults or online "flirting" with a minor.

[Drederick Tatum]

online "flirting" with a minor.

and that's putting it pretty lightly.

[sam i am]

What Foley did is wrong, against the law, and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Same goes for Clinton.

All the rest is hoopla.

[kaiser soze]

Same goes for bush

[Drederick Tatum]

All the rest is hoopla.

no it's not. the Repbulican leadership knew about him and didn't do anything.

[yeahwho]

no it's not. the Repbulican leadership knew about him and didn't do anything.

Don't bother sam i am with facts, it's his opinion that counts, he's smart in the head area.

[QueenAdrock]

What Foley did is wrong, against the law, and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Same goes for Clinton.

All the rest is hoopla.

I think it's silly when people are SOOOO mad about Clinton lying under oath to America about his own personal life, which they had no business prying in it in the first place, since it was an act between two consenting adults. In all seriousness, if it was a Republican who lied about having sex and was then found out, I wouldn't hold it against him (unless of course, he was one of these "family values" Republicans who reached out to the religious voters, in which case one can see the hypocrisy). Just because who the fuck cares? Ain't my business.

Why are you so mad about Clinton lying to the public about a blowjob? I mean, how does it hurt you, as an American? So he cheated on his wife. That is regrettable. Little known fact: all but 4 presidents had mistresses/cheated on their wives...even George H.W. Bush. I just don't get what the big fucking deal is with Clinton.

I understand that lying under oath is illegal. But step back and view the situation. What about it REALLY makes you angry? Politicians lie all the time, Republicans AND Democrats. Most are very good and don't get found out. Clinton did. It sucks for him, but if the whole deal is "He lied to us" ...well, I'd like to hear your thoughts on every single other politician, too. I'm pretty sure it's part of the job description.

[DroppinScience]

I should probably stop hanging around the CNN site so much, but...

Jeff Greenfield analysis!!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/02/greenfield.foley/index.html

Greenfield (http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/images/greenfield.jeff.jpg) actually looks like my Spanish teacher (who is from Argentina) I had last year. Too bad I don't have a photo of my teacher.

[Bob]

all but 4 presidents had mistresses/cheated on their wives...even George H.W. Bush.

well, can you blame him?

[D_Raay]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020015?src=newsbox-www.crooksandliars.com

Drudge said teen was having fun with Foley.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020013?src=newsbox-www.crooksandliars.com

LIMBAUGH: I'm just thinking out loud here. What if somebody got to the page and said, you know, we want you to set Foley up. We need to do a little titillating thing here. Keep it and save it and so forth. How would you get a kid to do that? Yeah, who knows? You threaten him or pay him. There's any number of ways given the kind of people that we're dealing with and talking about here.

Now, folks, I don't want to be misunderstood here. I'm not trying to mount any kind of a defense. That's a bad word. I'm not trying to get into a defense of what Mark Foley did. Please don't misunderstand. I'm just telling you that the -- the -- the orgy and the orgasm that has been taking place in the media since Friday and with the Democrats is -- it's all coordinated, and it's all -- it's all oriented toward the election. There's no concern about the kid -- no concern about the children.

There is -- there is -- there's not even any real problem with what Foley did, as we've discussed. In their hearts and minds and their crotches, they don't have any problem with what Foley did. They've defended it over the -- over the years.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020010?src=newsbox-www.crooksandliars.com
--------
He says he isn't trying to mount a defense of Foley and then right after says there is nothing really wrong with what Foley did.

[D_Raay]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/02/cliff-on-predatorgate-and-oh-so-many-republican-scandals/

This is good stuff...

[D_Raay]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/01/predatorgate-abc-on-foley-gop-round-up/

Because you know you should measure it in case you become a carpenter and forget your tape measure, you'll have a back-up measurement device.

[Echewta]

I was listening to NPR today and they interviewed some expages who knew about this before it was given to the press. They never reported it and just ignored it. Shame on them too.

[Travis Bickle]

Just posted this on "Beasties in the Press," but it might be more approrpriate here...

Beastie Reference on Political Website

Don't know how many Beastie heads are following the charming tale of Rep. Mark Foley, but I laughed out loud when I saw the headline of this column:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001670.php

[sam i am]

Separate the e-mails from the IM's.

Clinton lied to a GRAND JURY, under oath. He was a lawyer...an officer of the court.

Big difference.

[King PSYZ]

Yes because not wanting to disclose consenting sex acts between adults is exactly the same as sexually harassing a minor...

[DroppinScience]

Leave the Clinton business out of this. That is so 1998.

Anyways, Foley is now saying he was abused by clergyman when he was a boy...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html

[sam i am]

Yes because not wanting to disclose consenting sex acts between adults is exactly the same as sexually harassing a minor...

The guy's a world-class creep and deserves whatever he has coming to him.

As for the political fallout, GOP leaders claim they didn't know about the IM's, only the e-mails....not enough to make it a big public brouhaha until the IM's came out...once they did, Foley resigned (which he should have) and will be duly punished for his behavior....leave the rest of the GOP out of it.

[DroppinScience]

The guy's a world-class creep and deserves whatever he has coming to him.

As for the political fallout, GOP leaders claim they didn't know about the IM's, only the e-mails....not enough to make it a big public brouhaha until the IM's came out...once they did, Foley resigned (which he should have) and will be duly punished for his behavior....leave the rest of the GOP out of it.

Have you been in the dark? They may have known as long as 3 years, or as recent as 1 year. And they kept it internal and kept their Democratic counterpart in the page program out of the loop.

Political fallout? You better believe it.

[Drederick Tatum]

Anyways, Foley is now saying he was abused by clergyman when he was a boy...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html

the cynical side of me sees this and the apparent alcohol problem as a convenient way to deflect blame and possibly work some sympathy. take the edge off the outrage basically.

[yeahwho]

the cynical side of me sees this and the apparent alcohol problem as a convenient way to deflect blame and possibly work some sympathy. take the edge off the outrage basically.

I think the judge is going to find he has a chronic child molester problem and he will be charged with Felony Child Molestation class B or C.

This will sober up a few politicians.

[bilbo]

100 years from now the Repugs will still be reaching for "the Clenis"

[yeahwho]

100 years from now the Repugs will still be reaching for "the Clenis"
hey thats pretty damn good!

[gorilla]

Jeez, at what level would you drop your integrity to?

I'm an alcholic, I was abused by a clergy man.

sad, so so sad.

[King PSYZ]

Leave the Clinton business out of this. That is so 1998.

Anyways, Foley is now saying he was abused by clergyman when he was a boy...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html
and that has what to do with anything?

"it happened to me so fuck it, I got me some power now, payback bitches!"

[kaiser soze]

foley had to get his cyber on while in the midst of a vote

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/new_foley_insta.html

[befsquire]

what pisses me off most about this is i have a client who failed to register as a sex offender because he was homeless and didn't have an address to register, so he used his sister's address even though he wasn't truly living there, and instead was living under an overpass. they find out he was living there and he gets a third degree felony which, due to it's level, makes him automatically score mandatory prison time. the crime which caused him to have to register? when he was in high school, a girl that lived on his block kept harrassing him and saying he had a small penis. so, one night after he had just turned 18, they're all at a party and she says that shit again and so he pulled it out to prove his penis wasn't small. she was 3 weeks away from being 16. now he's a sex offender and if he doesn't register twice a year, plus each time he moves or anticipates leaving the state or his residence for longer than 2 weeks, he gets a third degree felony charge. for the rest of his life.

fuck you foley.

[D_Raay]

The guy's a world-class creep and deserves whatever he has coming to him.

As for the political fallout, GOP leaders claim they didn't know about the IM's, only the e-mails....not enough to make it a big public brouhaha until the IM's came out...once they did, Foley resigned (which he should have) and will be duly punished for his behavior....leave the rest of the GOP out of it.
Come now sam you are smarter than that. If they knew they should damn well be held accountable,and it should be investigated with the same vigor that was applied to Bill Clinton who had consensual adult sex.

You have children too brother.

[D_Raay]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/04/bill-oreilly-labels-rep-foley-a-democrat/

See anything wrong with this graphic? The O'Reilly Factor ran it in not one, but two segments and posted it three times.

[Echewta]

^ thats great!

[sam i am]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/04/bill-oreilly-labels-rep-foley-a-democrat/

See anything wrong with this graphic? The O'Reilly Factor ran it in not one, but two segments and posted it three times.

What an ignoramus.

Deliberate? Probably.

Partisanship of this magnitude is idiotic : Foley should burn in hell.

[Echewta]

But he was molested by a priest :confused: How can he go to hell? Ahh, its all confusing.

[sam i am]

But he was molested by a priest :confused: How can he go to hell? Ahh, its all confusing.

Be judged by your actions.

[DroppinScience]

Concerns over Foley raised BEFORE 2005
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/04/hastert.foley/index.html

[yeahwho]

That Fox news mistake takes the cake!

Fair And Balanced? Or just Ignorant and Ill-Informed? Fox Distorts, You Decide!

Look at what Foley had to say about the Starr report back in 1998 (http://www.sptimes.com/Worldandnation/91298/Congress_sees_through.html).

I have not given much creedence to this story. That is probably a mistake on my part, I didn't give much creedence to the Clinton/Lewinski story when it first broke either. I think it's being used to distract much in the same way the Republicans used the Starr report to distract the easily manipulated American public from keeping the eye on the ball. I wish it never happened because I would like to think a little less about this goofballs sexual behaviour and more about the state of the nation.

that said checkout this, a photo(shop) is worth a thousand words (http://www.worth1000.com/entries/271500/271503RWAV_w.jpg) ;)

*forgive me if this has all been put up here before, it's late and I'm too lazy to read the thread.

[DroppinScience]

I don't see it as a distraction. I see it as yet another exhibit of the GOP just being inept/incompetent/corrupt/racist, etc, be it Katrina, Iraq, Jack Abramoff, George Allen, torture, Libby, you name it.

Anyways, Hastert is refusing to resign
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/05/hastert.foley/index.html

Whether he stays or goes, the guys days are numbered, methinks.

[yeahwho]

I don't see it as a distraction. I see it as yet another exhibit of the GOP just being inept/incompetent/corrupt/racist, etc, be it Katrina, Iraq, Jack Abramoff, George Allen, torture, Libby, you name it.

Anyways, Hastert is refusing to resign
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/05/hastert.foley/index.html

Whether he stays or goes, the guys days are numbered, methinks.

Saw a headline when this all started,

While Hastert Fiddles, Foley Cyber-Diddles :)

I liked the Rome comparison.

[D_Raay]

"Maybe…Maybe the page…my original theory, maybe the page is out there engaged in some kind of chicanery…maybe the, maybe the, maybe the, maybe the pa…you know, you know kids play pranks too. Maybe the page…maybe they were…uh…uh…maybe they were laughing at Foley in the page room. Maybe Foley's making advances and maybe you know, "let's egg this guy on." I've…you know, I've done my share of pranks. So it's for that reason that I ask "why in the wor…how in world did these instant messages find their way into the public domain after such a long time."
http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/10/05/welcome-to-another-round-of-how-low-can-they-go/#more-4824


Right. Says the man who took an illicit bottle of Viagra to a vacation spot with a thriving child sex industry. Maybe Rush knows a thing or two about ungrateful kids himself.

[ms.peachy]

Look at what Foley had to say about the Starr report back in 1998 (http://www.sptimes.com/Worldandnation/91298/Congress_sees_through.html).

Oh, the irony. Brilliant. What a fucking idiot.

[yeahwho]

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/10/05/welcome-to-another-round-of-how-low-can-they-go/#more-4824


Right. Says the man who took an illicit bottle of Viagra to a vacation spot with a thriving child sex industry. Maybe Rush knows a thing or two about ungrateful kids himself.

That is the difference in this crime. The victim is going to be scarred in a much more dynamic way than an average teen victim(s) of such a crime. This crime has no less than the POTUS saying he is "shocked and dismayed". National Radio right wing star Rush Limbaugh is doing his part to make life miserable and the story that this/these kid(s) have become involved in. Also there are over 4000 links from Google News (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&q=foley%20sex%20scandal&btnG=Search&sa=N&tab=wn) in the first week of this story breaking.

Most of these cases can can be kept discreet enough that the kids involved are able to rebound without intrusion.

The average joeblow soliciting sex from teenagers on the internet has a very low percentage of citizens covering up his crime when they find out. He is charged for abusing his companies wi-fi for sexual solicitation of minors immediately, the sexual harrassment of fellow workers alone is going to put the average joeblow out on the bricks.

So how much power has infiltrated this insular elitist group of politicians that they can despise our own laws and look the other way while Foley gets his jollies soliciting sex from the newly hired pages at the House of Representatives?

Maybe the 44 subpoenas the House Ethics committee issued will tell the story and unearth more dirt than we can stand.

(note how already it is a page scandal in the media, impropriorities always start with the newhires and least powerful)

MEANWHILE
(http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/2006.10.html) diversion from the real problem is skewered, priorities shifted successfully, almost as if it were pre-planned for election time.

[DroppinScience]

I smell desperation...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/06/foley.fallout/index.html

[D_Raay]

I smell desperation...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/06/foley.fallout/index.html
What complete bullshit. As if the man didn't actually do anything because the dems sat on the info. They wouldn't have done the same if that is true?

[DroppinScience]

Legality of IMs too soon to call, but here's the factors of whether or not it's a crime
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/09/foley.law/index.html

[Pres Zount]

I think DPRK officially nuked this scandal.

Crisis OVER.

[yeahwho]

Good News! Foley say's once he's out of alcohol re-hab he plans to return to Congress and turn over a brand new page. (y)

[D_Raay]

Good News! Foley say's once he's out of alcohol re-hab he plans to return to Congress and turn over a brand new page. (y)
Ba-da-bump