Comments on Advance Indiana™: Democratic Hypocrisy On Foley Scandal

Looks like there was some there there to the hype ...

2006-10-06T16:27:00.000-05:00

Looks like there was some there there to the hype StAlio. CNN revises Edmund's attorney's statement--he doesn't rule out that it was a prank:

"We asked him about that item in the DRUDGE REPORT. He said very clearly he cannot rule that in, he cannot rule that out. He says he is not saying it was not a prank but later in the interview, CNN pressed him on that. He said that he -- he does not read the DRUDGE REPORT, not part of his regular reading and, quote, it sounds like a piece of fiction...

Chicago Tribune:Comments that Hastert made in a Tr...

2006-10-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Chicago Tribune:

Comments that Hastert made in a Tribune interview suggesting the scandal had been orchestrated by ABC News, Democratic political operatives aligned with the Clinton White House and liberal activist George Soros were considered a serious misstep in national Republican circles, an official said. Senior Republican officials contacted Hastert's office before his news conference Thursday to urge that he not repeat the charges, and he backed away from them in his news conference.

"The Chicago Tribune interview last night--the George Soros defense--was viewed as incredibly inept," a national Republican official said. "It could have been written by [comedian] Jon Stewart."

since the GOP is desperately grasping at straws, "...

2006-10-06T10:33:00.000-05:00

since the GOP is desperately grasping at straws, "drudging" up ancient Democratic scandals, lest anybody forget:

TEAPOT DOME WAS A REPUBLICAN SCANDAL !!!

3 more Pages have come forth - was it all one gian...

2006-10-06T07:26:00.000-05:00

3 more Pages have come forth - was it all one giant prank?

Isn't his attorney that whacko who defended Timoth...

2006-10-06T07:09:00.000-05:00

Isn't his attorney that whacko who defended Timothy McVeigh and tried to prove bin Laden and not his McVeigh was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing?

Stallio, Edmund is also claiming he isn't gay. Did...

2006-10-06T07:07:00.000-05:00

Stallio, Edmund is also claiming he isn't gay. Did you read the exchange he had with Foley? The then 18-year-old kid was quite the willing participant in talk of gay sex. If he expects people to believe he's not gay, then the only logical conclusion is that it was a prank. He can't have it both ways.

i told you not to believe the hype.http://www.news...

2006-10-06T00:53:00.000-05:00

i told you not to believe the hype.

http://www.newsok.com/article/2951710

A former congressional page is willing to talk to the FBI and the U.S. House Ethics Committee about former Rep. Mark Foley, his attorney said Thursday.

"He will answer fully and truthfully any questions put to him," attorney Stephen Jones said.

...

Jones said Edmund has done nothing wrong.

"Jordan was a minor when the alleged events described in the media occurred," Jones said. "He retained me ... to guide and assist him through a difficult investigative and media onslaught because he thought I might be able to help him.

"Jordan has authorized me to say that if he has any relevant information on the matters involving Congressman Foley, he will voluntarily present it to any appropriate official authority."

...

The attorney disputed as "a piece of fiction" a report on a widely viewed Internet site, The Drudge Report, that Edmund's exchanges with Foley were a prank by the page.

Jones said, "There is not any aspect of this matter that is a practical joke nor should anyone treat it that way."

Ross is still looking for that crazy Aunt hidden a...

2006-10-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

Ross is still looking for that crazy Aunt hidden away in the attic. He hasn't figured out it's the man in the mirror.

Where's Ross Perot when you need him???

2006-10-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

Where's Ross Perot when you need him???

In a way, everyone here is right.The far-right has...

2006-10-05T21:23:00.000-05:00

In a way, everyone here is right.

The far-right has been pandering and baiting for a good while.

Remember the gay mariage amendment talk? Gotta keep the fags from marrying.

Flag amendments? Disguising a failed and ridiculous war policy by branding any opponent a "cut and run" Democrat?

Do I need to go on?

Mel Reynolds was a goof. And a thief. Why Clinton pardoned him is beyond me. Coulda been that he was extremely ill at the time.

Gerry Studds shoulda been shown the door. He wasn't.

Barney Frank did horrible things, too.

If you're looking for consistency in enforcement of moral values, don't look at the GOP Congressional crowd.

Sadly, don't look at my party either.

Maybe, just maybe, we can look to the future?

Hastert's fall from Speakership was already well on its way. I hope this sorry episode doesn't contribute to it any more than it should.

Then my party will likely have to lead. And try to do so in an incredibly fragile glass house. It won't be easy.

I'm just hoping it can be a new era.

Wilson's right.Or, as John Stewart said on the Dai...

2006-10-05T21:07:00.000-05:00

Wilson's right.

Or, as John Stewart said on the Daily Show the other night: "They're abandoning the ship, and jumping into an ocean of their own jism!"

Andrew Sullivan: If Hastert stays the GOP could...

2006-10-05T18:05:00.000-05:00

Andrew Sullivan:

If Hastert stays the GOP could lose 50 seats, according to an internal poll. And if he quits? Maybe they didn't ask that question. One aspect of this is worth further noting. The base of the GOP has been fed homophobia and gay-baiting for years now. It was partly how Rove won Ohio and the presidency. Gay-hating is integral to their machine. Now, the very homophobia these people stoked and used is suddenly turning back on them.

Part of me is distressed that the GOP could lose not because of spending recklessness, corruption, torture, big government, pork, and a hideously botched war ... but because of a sex scandal which doesn't even have (so far as we know) any actual sex. But part of me also sees the karmic payback here. They rode this tiger; now it's turning on them. And it's dinner time.

from the Political Wire:Internal Poll Shows Haster...

2006-10-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

from the Political Wire:

Internal Poll Shows Hastert Dragging Down GOP

"House Republican candidates will suffer massive losses if House Speaker Dennis Hastert remains speaker until Election Day, according to internal polling data from a prominent GOP pollster", Fox News has learned.

Said the source: "The data suggests Americans have bailed on the speaker. And the difference could be between a 20-seat loss and 50-seat loss."

The source also said "the internal data had not been widely shared among Republican leaders, but as awareness of it spreads calculations about Hastert's tenure may change. The source described the pollster who did the survey as 'authoritative,' and said once the numbers are presented, it 'could change the focus' on whether the speaker remains in power."

However, The Hotline notes there "is clearly a movement afoot among Republicans to get behind their leader."

I'm not excusing Foley's behavior as I've already ...

2006-10-05T17:26:00.000-05:00

I'm not excusing Foley's behavior as I've already said StAllio. My point is that the IM exchanges which everyone has been reading were written when the page was over the age of 18. That makes a hell of a big difference as far as criminal liability. ABC and Ross didn't bother to check this out even though that sat on the story for 2 months before they ran with it. It still doesn't excuse Foley's behavior. His resignation was in order.

Jeff said: "It appears to me the Repubs are the ones throwing each other under the bus while the Dems are just happily watching it all unfold."

What planet have you been living on for the past 6 days. Give me a break. Have you not heard what all their leaders are saying? I don't disagree with you that the Rs deserve to lose control of the House, but for reasons other than one extremely screwed up guy, including the outrageous lobbying scandals and out-of-control federal spending.

I'm just not seeing it; maybe we're getting news ...

2006-10-05T16:41:00.000-05:00

I'm just not seeing it; maybe we're getting news from different sources. It appears to me the Repubs are the ones throwing each other under the bus while the Dems are just happily watching it all unfold.

Most of the comments I've seen from Democrats are to denounce Foley; who's calling for the leadership's heads? I've seen quite a few die-hard Dem bloggers say that they hope Hastert stays, theorizing that he's more of a liabilty for the Republicans right where he is.

Interesting that you bring up 1994 when a fed up public had had enough of a scandal-ridden congress and the party with the lions share of the scandals (fresh ones, not 20+ year old ones) lost power. Why shouldn't that happen again?

don't believe the hype, gary. even michelle malki...

2006-10-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

don't believe the hype, gary. even michelle malkin knows better than that.

the page was 17 when the communications began, and then he turned 18 later. the page explicitly said they should "slow things down a little" because we "dont want to do anything illegal...im not 18 till feb 23"

regardless of whether the page was pulling a prank or honestly wanted to hook up with foley (and once his name was disgustingly leaked to the press, i'm not surprised he would want to claim it was a prank even if it wasn't), it doesn't change the fact that he was underage when the correspondence began. that's a textbook example of grooming on foley's part.