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Title: Washington Times: Resign, Mr. Speaker
Source:
Washington Times
URL Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/func ... ?StoryID=20061002-102008-9058r
Published: Oct 2, 2006
Author: Washington Times
Post Date: 2006-10-02 23:08:32 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 178
Comments: 18
Published October 3, 2006 The facts of the disgrace of Mark Foley, who was a Republican member of the House from a Florida district until he resigned last week, constitute a disgrace for every Republican member of Congress. Red flags emerged in late 2005, perhaps even earlier, in suggestive and wholly inappropriate e-mail messages to underage congressional pages. His aberrant, predatory -- and possibly criminal -- behavior was an open secret among the pages who were his prey. The evidence was strong enough long enough ago that the speaker should have relieved Mr. Foley of his committee responsibilities contingent on a full investigation to learn what had taken place, whether any laws had been violated and what action, up to and including prosecution, were warranted by the facts. This never happened. Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, the Republican chairman of the House Page Board, said he learned about the Foley e-mail messages "in late 2005." Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the leader of the Republican majority, said he was informed of the e-mail messages earlier this year. On Friday, Mr. Hastert dissembled, to put it charitably, before conceding that he, too, learned about the e-mail messages sometime earlier this year. Late yesterday afternoon, Mr. Hastert insisted that he learned of the most flagrant instant-message exchange from 2003 only last Friday, when it was reported by ABC News. This is irrelevant. The original e-mail messages were warning enough that a predator -- and, incredibly, the co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children -- could be prowling the halls of Congress. The matter wasn't pursued aggressively. It was barely pursued at all. Moreover, all available evidence suggests that the Republican leadership did not share anything related to this matter with any Democrat. Now the scandal must unfold on the front pages of the newspapers and on the television screens, as transcripts of lewd messages emerge and doubts are rightly raised about the forthrightness of the Republican stewards of the 109th Congress. Some Democrats are attempting to make this "a Republican scandal," and they shouldn't; Democrats have contributed more than their share of characters in the tawdry history of congressional sexual scandals. Sexual predators come in all shapes, sizes and partisan hues, in institutions within and without government. When predators are found they must be dealt with, forcefully and swiftly. This time the offender is a Republican, and Republicans can't simply "get ahead" of the scandal by competing to make the most noise in calls for a full investigation. The time for that is long past. House Speaker Dennis Hastert must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once. Either he was grossly negligent for not taking the red flags fully into account and ordering a swift investigation, for not even remembering the order of events leading up to last week's revelations -- or he deliberately looked the other way in hopes that a brewing scandal would simply blow away. He gave phony answers Friday to the old and ever-relevant questions of what did he know and when did he know it? Mr. Hastert has forfeited the confidence of the public and his party, and he cannot preside over the necessary coming investigation, an investigation that must examine his own inept performance. A special, one-day congressional session should elect a successor. We nominate Rep. Henry Hyde, also of Illinois, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee whose approaching retirement ensures that he has no dog in this fight. He has a long and principled career, and is respected on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Hyde would preside over the remaining three months of the 109th Congress in a manner best suited for a full and exhaustive investigation until a new speaker for the 110th Congress is elected in January, who can assume responsibility for the investigation.
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
What are the odds that Mark Foley never had actual sexual contact with a teenage boy? I say zero. That's when the other shoe will drop.
The Times left Hastert and pubs no wiggle room and now even want to pick his successor. Hastert is toast. Either now by resigning or by failure to be re elected.
Ahhh yes, Henry Hyde: Cyni...no way is this guy stepping down like Foley. If he doesn't fight, the Ds walk in. If he does fight, the Ds walk in. So, either way, it's a D victory. I gotta hand it to them. This is one of the best political hits I've ever seen :) Hastert stays.....at least for the short term.
The very married Henry and his babe....
i wonder if bot heads are exploding somewhere this evening?
Remember, free speech is a privilege, not a right. In time of war speech should be censored and even prosecuted if it crosses the line. ~ Aaron on LP
Goldi-Bot: 21. To: All (#19) FIRST THEY GOT RID OF DELAY. NOW THEY'RE WORKING ON DESTROYING HASTERT. HELLO............. PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.... ...THERE IS A BIGGER GAME PLAN HERE Goldi-Lox posted on 2006-10-02 21:42:53 ET Reply Trace
Goldi's head has imploded on LP: 19. To: BengalsFan (#11) Please tell me exactly what crime was committed. Do we not have a Constitution that gives us "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY"? If Foley resigned, that is all that was necessary. Why they are now all dumping on Hastert is stupid. STUPID Goldi-Lox posted on 2006-10-02 21:39:36 ET Reply Trace
Check out my blog, America, the Bushieful.
Yes, Golden-one...it's called gridlock, thus putting a clamp on tBush. Sorry, no Iran, bitch.
Do I recall that Hyde also fathered a child out of wedlock????
Goldi lecturing her forum population on the nuances of Constitutional law.
I’m not sure if the sanctimonious one had a child out of wedlock. It looks like he might have eaten a few tho.
Ha! There is a resemblance
You can learn a great deal concerning an individual's character based on their response to middle aged men pursuing underage boys for sex.
That is a nice pix, I must tell you.
STUPID Goldi-Lox posted on 2006-10-02 21:39:36 ET Reply Trace The why is "Dirty Denny Hastert" and Goldischmuck had better get used to the idea. There is lots more dirt on him with the Turkish scandal which ties right back to AIPAC.
“The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge, and principles of the majority form the tribunal of appeal.” James Fenimore Cooper
She don't look that good.
Since the Washington Times is a Moonie paper, controlled by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon (and by extension, the KCIA and their keeper the CIA) we must aks whom they have in mind to replace Hastert in the 110th Congress? Whomever it might be, it will be no good for the people. "Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature." James Garfield
“The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge, and principles of the majority form the tribunal of appeal.” James Fenimore Cooper
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
We nominate Rep. Henry Hyde, also of Illinois,
#3. To: Cynicom (#2)
We nominate Rep. Henry Hyde, also of Illinois,
As Hyde was publicly pursuing the impeachment of Clinton, the Internet magazine http://Salon.com published a story about Hyde entitled "This Hypocrite Broke Up My Family." According to the story, from 1965 to 1969, Hyde conducted an extramarital sexual affair with Cherie Snodgrass. At the time, Snodgrass was married to another man with whom she had had three children. The Snodgrasses divorced in 1967. The affair ended when Snodgrass' husband confronted Mrs. Hyde. The Hydes reconciled and remained married until Mrs. Hyde's death in 1992. The Snodgrasses remarried in 1969 but re-divorced shortly thereafter. Although Hyde was 41 years old and married when the four-year affair began, he dismissed it as one of his "youthful indiscretions."
#4. To: Cynicom (#2)
#5. To: Brian S (#3)
#6. To: Brian S (#0)
#7. To: Brian S, Jethro Tull, Cynicom, Fred Mertz, buckeroo, jessejane, christine, All (#3)
#8. To: Morgana le Fay (#6)
(Edited)
wonder if bot heads are exploding somewhere this evening?
#9. To: Nostalgia (#7)
...THERE IS A BIGGER GAME PLAN HERE
#10. To: Jethro Tull (#4)
Hastert stays.....at least for the short term.
#11. To: Arator (#8)
#12. To: Cynicom (#10)
#13. To: Ferret Mike (#11)
#14. To: Nostalgia (#7)
#15. To: Ferret Mike (#11)
oldi lecturing her forum population on the nuances of Constitutional law.
#16. To: Arator (#8)
Why they are now all dumping on Hastert is stupid.
#17. To: Ferret Mike (#11)
#18. To: Brian S (#0)
A special, one-day congressional session should elect a successor. We nominate Rep. Henry Hyde, also of Illinois, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee whose approaching retirement ensures that he has no dog in this fight. He has a long and principled career, and is respected on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Hyde would preside over the remaining three months of the 109th Congress in a manner best suited for a full and exhaustive investigation until a new speaker for the 110th Congress is elected in January, who can assume responsibility for the investigation.
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