"Sick, Sick, Sick"

Foley is a dirty, rotten, no-good, sorry, son of a pit viper..., same as all the other predators who go after teens and young children....

Can we please send them all to a remote desert island where they are forever forbidden contact with anyone off that island in any way whatsoever, totally alienated from normal people?

I can think of a few war criminals I'd like to see on that island, too............

Could it be that this might FINALLY be the last straw that we need?

What slimy bunch a foul excuses for human beings.

So much for family values. Gives (com)(passionate) conservatism a whole new meaning.

Casey we can not protect the homeland from Katrina, floods, fires,or school violence, because our National Guard is bogged down in Iraq. Its time that the National Guard be redployed.

Just like the Catholic Church leaders had to take responsibility for the pedophile Priests, the Republican House Leadership should be held accountable and responsible for allowing a child predator to continue to have contact with underage pages. Hastert and Boehmer should be portrayed as enabling a child stalker to continue work in the Congress. I really hope that Hastert's Democratic opponent goes after him on this one. The DCCC should not let this drop. I wonder if Rahm Emmanuel will come out and challenge Hastert on this? I am not counting on it. No doubt that if the Democrats were in the Republican's position we would see the Republicans screaming for Pelosi's and other Dem's heads.

Two diaries I prematurely posted on the previous thread...

RE: Dennis the Menace Hasturd

Read this diary about the good candidate who is running against him in IL-14.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/30/0513/74033

Another good diary about why Hasturd has to go...

Top Lawyer: FBI Should Investigate Hastert in Sex Scandal
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/30/122426/005

No wonder they don't want a House Ethics Committee...

There will be individuals on both sides of the aisle with this kind of sickness. As was demonstrated in recent years in the Catholic Church, the problem has to be faced and dealt with. Covering it up makes recovery more difficult for the victims and magnifies the problem by allowing the perpetrators to continue victimizing the innocent. What the House "leadership" has done is doubly despicable because they had the example of the Catholic Church situation in front of them. Therefore they cannot claim that they didn't know the terrible harm of covering up the perpetrators behavior.

Posted by: oncall at September 30, 2006 01:52 PM

Just saw your post-- I should read before I rant :p

What I see in common with Abu Ghraib, secret torture prisons, lies to start an illegal war, the Bolton nomination, etc is one common denominator...COVER UP.

The Republican Party in addition to be the party of corruption, the party of torture, is also the party of coverups.

And to think...they invested so much of our tax dollars investigating a consenting adult extra-marital affair.

Values? They have none.

Went to see/hear Holly Near last night. Had fun singing along- it is empowering! I recommend anythign by her, and especially her new album, so:

I Want You Gone Too
Original words and music by Laura Love (2002); New words by Holly Near (2005)
© Laura Love Publishing A/C Painted Desert Music Corp. (BMI)
HN: Laura Love wrote this fun song—check out her version. She generously agreed to let me write new/more lyrics. Will the song be dated in a few years? Wouldn't that be great. But chances are, there will always be someone out there who, in the name of damage control, should gracefully agree to "retire."

You been telling big time lies
And you been stealing money
In any book of law or god, that's illegal honey
You can’t lead your nation and you are no peace maker
With people dying every day, in my book that's a deal breaker

I’m tired being smooth
I’m tired of being nice
I’m tired of making it sound all pretty
I want you gone like the wind
I want you gone like the wind
I want you gone gone gone gone gone - hey

What we need is a mama
Thanks so much for trying
We are sending you on your way
That's the price you pay for lying
But don’t you worry little one
We won’t be after you only
Most the congress and most the court
So you won’t be sad and lonely

We could feed the whole wide world
And empty all of the prisons
Doctors could return to healing
Leaders would require vision
War would be a thing of the past
And we would all learn to listen
You're running the world with an iron hand
And the heart and soul is missing

www.hollynear.com

The Woodward book has made front page of Seattle Times, with names, faces and deeds.

The White House intimidates the media. The Democrats are outnumbered. The People need to know 1) conservatives have done virtually nothing so far in office except agree in theory to build some fence, 2) progressives can and would do much more for regular people if given the chance, 3) our systems of checks & balances is broken, 4) HERE IS THE BIG ONE THEY MIGHT LISTEN TO - The Moral Majority, The Christian Coalition, The Family Values people, and their descendants HAVE BEEN HAD.
Doesn't mean they'll change their voting patterns but maybe they won't suck up as easily any more.

The hypocrisy and actual child endangerment by elected officials and moral leaders such as priests should be a wake-up call to decent people all along the political spectrum. Maybe this is more effective coming out right before the election than if it had been known a year before, because now people can learn that other complacent government officials actually enabled and protected the pervert. There may be much more going on - to think how outraged they were about Clinton - ridiculous!

As we discuss the repugnants here, let's not foget this important and telling website regarding their pedophilia:

www.armchairsubversive.com

It was, afterall, Rick Santorum who said:

"I think people are using
(pedophilia) for political purposes."
-- Sen. Rick Santorum, Republican

Values? They have none.

Posted by: sparrow at September 30, 2006 02:35 PM

I disagree. They DO have values. They love money, power, and property above all else. They hold other's lives as cheap compared to their own.

Grand Old Predators
Grand Old Pedophiles
Grand Old Perverts
Grand Old Prevaricators
Grand Old Perpetrators

Carol
Thanks for the Holly Near link - hadn't thought about her in awhile. She's great!!

We went to "Bombay Dreams" - which has been in London & New York on Broadway. Found out there are approx. 1000 Bollywood movies per year and approx. 500 Hollywood movies per year. The Bollywood musical theatrical style is popular not just in India but in the rest of Asia, much of Russia etc. It's running for a few weeks here and every night at least a quarter of the audience is Indian-American or Pakistani-American. The choreography and sets were fabulous and it was a bit of escapism. The movies are not out of reach of the poor, as some can be seen for a few cents & in the US, they're available on video at some specialty grocers.

Posted by: DiAnne at September 30, 2006 02:39 PM

I do believe that we're beginning to see the formation of a perfect storm - a storm with the potential to cleanse both the House and the Senate.

cyrano if you truly believe that get involved and email me so I can give you an assignment to help dump a senator

Values Voters Start to Lose Faith in the Republican Cause

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15003249/

Bill Clinton said Republicans "want to consolidate their wealth and power" and that they are "ideological not philosophical" (ie they use facts to bolster their ideas rather than figuring out what is true based on facts). These are their "values."

Posted by: aimzzz at September 30, 2006 02:20 PM

Yes, but you said it much better than I did.

Oh wo - don't tell me Boehner knew about Foley! That guy is suing McDermott (case is on Halloween at the Supreme Court) for leaking something to the press about Gingrich!

Posted by: DiAnne at September 30, 2006 02:49 PM

"Bill Bennett, a conservative radio host, said that when US soldiers were killed and dragged through the streets in Falluja, Iraq, "you take out Falluja. You level Falluja. You have to teach them that American life is not cheap".'

This is what we're up against. Bennett is advocating the leveling of an entire city in response to the brutal killing a couple of Americans. And he's apparently advocating this nearly a year after it happened, so this is not an emotion-driven, spur of the moment response. This is the response of a monster who truly believes that American lives are worth exponentially more than Iraqi lives, or Vietnamese lives, etc. The Nazis shared the same attitude in World War II - executing 500 French citizens for every German the resistance killed. It didn't work out for them, and wouldn't work for us.

Here is another part of how this Administration has created its own reality. They may crumble from within on more than one front but will hang onto their power desperately.

FOCUS | Revolt of the Generals
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/093006X.shtml
A revolt is brewing among our retired Army and Marine
generals. This rebellion comes not because their beloved
forces are bearing the brunt of ground combat in Iraq but
because the retirees see the US adventure in Mesopotamia as
another Vietnam-like, strategically failed war, and they
blame the errant, arrogant civilian leadership at the Pentagon.

Bush vs Woodward - Only One Reputation Will Survive

http://www.slate.com/id/2150601

A former conservative who still kind of gets mostly MSM sources was going on about how Clinton is being blamed for this & that by conservatives. I was able to quickly point out the the Foley story, the Woodward book & the issue of military dissent are now competing.

Congress Approves Kerry Legislation Urging Summit of Iraq and Its Neighbors to End Civil War, Build Political Solution

The U.S. Congress approved Sen. John Kerry's legislation calling for a summit of Iraq and its neighbors to arrive at a political solution to the growing civil war in Iraq – part of Kerry’s plan to force Iraqis to stand up for Iraq and bring American troops home.

The Kerry summit language was passed as part of the Defense Authorization bill, and calls for an intense, Dayton Accords-like summit that brings together Iraq and its neighbors and others with a stake in Iraq’s future to hammer out issues from oil revenues and power sharing to a regional security arrangment.

“Anyone who is in touch with reality knows we desperately need to change course in Iraq, and that requires a deadline to make Iraqis stand up for Iraq,” said Senator John Kerry, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“It also desperately requires something else this administration disdains: diplomacy. Real diplomacy -- a Dayton-like summit of Iraq and the countries bordering it, the Arab League, NATO, and the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council. Our own generals have said Iraq can not be solved militarily. Only through negotiation and diplomacy can you stem the growing civil war, and only by setting a deadline to get out can we force Iraq and its neighbors to take diplomacy seriously. Congress has now spoken unequivocally about the need for a summit and real diplomacy, long overdue. Now we must continue to press the case to set a deadline and to do it now.”

Below is the text of the amendment passed by Congress:

SEC. 1229. SENSE OF CONGRESS CALLING FOR CONVENING OF A SUMMIT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLITICAL AGREEMENT FOR IRAQ.

IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress that the President should continue working with the Government of Iraq and the United Nations to convene a summit as soon as possible after the enactment of this Act for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq—
(1) that promotes the Government of Iraq’s National Reconciliation and Dialogue Plan of June 25,2006, which is designed to focus on many of the fundamental questions dividing Iraqis; and
(2) that address the issues of—
(A) federalism;
(B) the equitable distribution of oil revenues;:\TEMP\CONFRPT.XML HOLCPC
(C) the demobilization and reintegration of armed militias
(D) the inducement of the armed opposition to lay down their arms and join the political process, and
(E) the building of a renewed international partnership with Iraq aimed at encouraging the economic recovery and reconstruction of Iraq
(b) SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS.—A summit convened for the purpose stated in subsection (a) should include the following participants (as well as other appropriate participants):
(1) Representatives of Iraq’s neighbors.
(2) Representatives of the Arab League.
(3) The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(4) Representatives of the European Union.
(5) Leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

We shoot ourselves in the foot if we focus on the fact that a sexual perpetrator is a Republican. The arrogant & negligent way the Republicans handled the problem is another matter.

Perpetrators of sexual abuse will be found in both parties from time to time— it's an unfortunate truth, the human condition— it could have been us as easily as them. First & foremost, sexual predation is an illegal act that must be dealt with using the appropriate legal framework to prevent perpetrator from harming other victims. There is nothing meaningful about the perpetrator’s political affiliation—it’s a psychological affliction.

The issue here is the cover up, the hypocrisy, the pretext of moral superiority—it’s the way the Law & Order Republican hierarchy chose to handle the situation. Rather than dealing with it, the Republican leadership covered it up, thus becoming perpetrators themselves in ways such as the following:

— not helping those already abused, perpetuating their pain
— allowing the perpetrator to persist in his activities
— Accessory (failed to perform a legal duty to prevent it) or maybe Accessory After the Fact — Obstructing Justice, Interference… I’m not a lawyer, but these categories suggest themselves—with media attention to the Catholic Church sexual abuse cases, it would be hard for the Republican leadership not to know that perpetrators of sexual abuse rarely stop without treatment
— perpetrating an illusory moral high ground

Hmm.

(This is a long excerpt, but it explains the convoluted timelines involved so it's worth the read.)

---------------

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Thomas Reynolds, head of the House Republican election effort, said Saturday he told Speaker Dennis Hastert months ago about concerns that a fellow GOP lawmaker had sent inappropriate messages to a teenage boy. Hastert's office said aides referred the matter to the proper authorities last fall but they were only told the messages were "over-friendly."

Reynolds, R-N.Y., was told about e-mails sent by Rep. Mark Foley and is now defending himself from Democratic accusations that he did too little.

[snip]

The teen's family contacted their congressman, Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., who then discussed the problem with Reynolds sometime this spring.

"Rodney Alexander brought to my attention the existence of e-mails between Mark Foley and a former page of Mr. Alexander's," Reynolds, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a written statement Saturday.

"Despite the fact that I had not seen the e-mails in question, and Mr. Alexander told me that the parents didn't want the matter pursued, I told the speaker of the conversation Mr. Alexander had with me," Reynolds said.

Hastert said he does not remember talking to Reynolds about the Foley e-mails, but did not dispute Reynolds' account.

"While the speaker does not explicitly recall this conversation, he has no reason to dispute Congressman Reynolds' recollection that he reported to him on the problem and its resolution," Hastert's aides said in a preliminary report on the matter issued Saturday.

The report includes a lengthy timeline detailing when they first learned of the worrisome e-mail in the fall of 2005, after a staffer for Alexander told Hastert's office the family wanted Foley to stop contacting their son. Alexander's staffer did not share the contents of the e-mail, saying it was not sexual but "over-friendly," the report says.

Hastert's aides referred the matter to the Clerk of the House, and "mindful of the sensitivity of the parent's wishes to protect their child's privacy and believing that they had promptly reported what they knew to the proper authorities," they did not discuss it with others in Hastert's office - including, apparently, their boss.

After the issue was referred to the clerk, it was passed along to the congressman who oversees the page program, Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill.

Shimkus has said he learned about the e-mail exchange in late 2005 and took immediate action to investigate.

He said Foley told him it was an innocent exchange. Shimkus said he warned Foley not to have any more contact with the teenager and to respect other pages.

Democrats charged Reynolds did far too little and said more digging should be done.

"Congressman Reynolds' inaction in the face of such a serious situation is very troubling, and raises important questions about whether there was an attempt to cover up criminal activity involving a minor to keep it from coming to light before Election Day," said Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney.

[snip]

---------------

oh what mangled webs they weave,
Otter

But wait! There's more!

(Boy howdy, if'n this don't bring new meaning to the concept of cutting and running, I don't know what...)

---------------

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Thomas Reynolds, head of the House Republican election effort, said Saturday he told Speaker Dennis Hastert months ago about concerns that a fellow GOP lawmaker had sent inappropriate messages to a teenage boy. Hastert's office said aides referred the matter to the proper authorities last fall but they were only told the messages were "over-friendly."

Reynolds, R-N.Y., was told about e-mails sent by Rep. Mark Foley and is now defending himself from Democratic accusations that he did too little. Foley, R-Fla., resigned Friday after ABC News questioned him about the e-mails to a former congressional page and about sexually suggestive instant messages to other pages.

"The improper communications between Congressman Mark Foley and former House Congressional pages is unacceptable and abhorrent. It is an obscene breach of trust," Hastert, R-Ill., Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in a written statement Saturday evening. "His immediate resignation must now be followed by the full weight of the criminal justice system."

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.

----------------

turn the page(s),
Otter

Hastert is shocked,shocked
Will the people buy it?

October 1, 2006
G.O.P. Leaders Knew in Late ’05 of E-Mail
By CARL HULSE and RAYMOND HERNANDEZ

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 — Top House Republicans knew for months about e-mail traffic between Representative Mark Foley and a former teenage page, but kept the matter secret and allowed Mr. Foley to remain head of a Congressional caucus on children’s issues, Republican lawmakers said Saturday.

The exchanges began with what Republicans now describe as an “overfriendly” e-mail message from Mr. Foley to the unidentified teenager. But news reports about the exchanges have led to the disclosure of e-mail correspondence with other former pages in which the discussions became more and more sexually explicit. Shortly after he was confronted by ABC News on Friday about the subject, Mr. Foley, who represented a south Florida district, resigned from the House.

The revelations set off a political upheaval, with Democrats and some Republicans alike calling for a full investigation of Mr. Foley’s conduct and whether House leaders did enough to look into it. Members of the Republican leadership sought Saturday to detail how they had handled the case in an effort to defuse the matter, even as it was emerging as an issue in Congressional races.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01foley.html

If Foley was desperate for action, he should have been messaging James Gluckert/Jeff Gannon instead of 16 year old pages.

Minden Louisiana

Democrats have made an almost clean sweep against republicans in local elections.

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=09300660

ONLY ONE republican councilman remains.

Louisiana has gone Bonnie Blue.

In Taking On Fox, Democrats See Reward in the Risk
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/weekinreview/01manley.html?hp&ex=1159675200&en=ef226545aa105cb6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

I'm hiding...shhhhhhhhhhhh...........

My husband is listening to a political narrative by...George Carlin. It's comedy? Not really! It's politics. But shhhhhhhhhh....maybe it's sinking in. So I'm being very quiet so that he keeps it on and listens...and maybe will vote in November.

(Ok..maybe George Carlin isn't the key...Time to send Nolie in to get him to vote for the second time in his life.)

Posted by: aimzzz at September 30, 2006 07:55 PM

Exactly aimzzz!

Sparrow
I couldn't think of anyone better than George Carlin. His diatribe on censorship is just classic, like someone had crossed Robin Williams with Lenny Bruce. If anyone made a good defense of the lst Amendment/Freedom of Speech, it's George Carlin.

Christy
I am ecstatic to hear about your local elections! I give you at least some credit! The rest is probably because people aren't deaf, blind and dumb - they witnessed a major hurricane come through & the government basically ignore it.

---Do not send your sons to be pages!! ---

I went to a local mall & one of those generic shops for teens had a bunch of anti-Bush buttons & stuff. I got one for my friend from Florida who is emigrating: "George W. Bush - The Best Reason Yet for Canadian Citizenship."

They also had kind of a mall bookstore, not very political, really mainstream. I grabbed the Newsweek with the Annie Liebowitz bio cover & took it to the counter. I told the clerks that this version was only seen in the United States & that for Europe & other countries, people would see a version showing a failed Afghanistan. They looked at me kind of strange - couldn't figure out if they even believed me.

For bestsellers, O'Reilly was next to Chomsky. There was a book called "Heist" - about Abramhoff, one by Niall Ferguson about the "descent of the west," Friedman's latest, one called "Fiasco" (about Iraq, of course), one called "Ethical Realism" and Pat Buchanan's latest treatise (about how he thinks 3rd worlders are taking over our country). Then there was a book on the Freemasons, or a bio on Sharon Osborne.

The best title was "Bloodthirsty Bitches & Pious Pims of Power."

They also had kind of a mall bookstore, not very political, really mainstream. I grabbed the Newsweek with the Annie Liebowitz bio cover & took it to the counter. I told the clerks that this version was only seen in the United States & that for Europe & other countries, people would see a version showing a failed Afghanistan. They looked at me kind of strange - couldn't figure out if they even believed me.

Posted by: DiAnne at September 30, 2006 11:04 PM

Hey! That's funny! I stood in the line at the grocery store and while chatting on the phone and speaking more loudly than I usually would, I said the same thing. Of course people like to pretend that they don't hear your conversation, but they do. I made sure I mentioned Asia editions says, "Loosing Afghanistan", Europe says, "Loosing Afghanistan" but the American edition has a photographer nobody could even name.

I saw a few look at the magazine with a confused look on their face. Hopefully...they're thinking about that.

White House Lists Book's 'Five Key Myths'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093000969.html

Grab a barf bag before clicking here...

In Rove's Footsteps
They learned from the master, and are applying the lessons in the hottest races ahead. Meet the architect's protégés.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14974832/site/newsweek/

o_O
______________
Leaving behind a pile of unfinished work, members of the scandal-rocked U.S. Congress adjourned and went home on Saturday to ask voters to re-elect them in five weeks.

With polls showing President George W. Bush's fellow Republicans could lose control of Congress in the November 7 contests, their leaders even decided to depart a week early to give members more time to campaign.

"It's been a ghastly congressional session, particularly the last year," said Stephen Hess, a congressional scholar the Brookings Institution. "They figure the best thing to do is get out of town. They aren't doing anything here."

Congress has been dogged by low approval ratings, huge federal deficits, the increasingly unpopular Iraq war and a string of scandals. At the top of the list was the departure of indicted former House of Representatives Republican leader Tom DeLay of Texas and an investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who, according to a congressional report this week, had frequent contact with the White House.

On Friday, there was another case. Republican Rep. Mark Foley of Florida resigned after reports he sent sexually inappropriate e-mails to congressional interns.

Foley was the third Republican House member to resign under pressure in the past two years. A fourth, Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio, abandoned a re-election bid before agreeing to plead guilty in the influence-peddling scandal that snared Abramoff and some associates.

Aside from the ethics issues, critics have called this a "do-nothing Congress," citing its failure on legislation to clean up how it does business, revamp the nation's immigration laws and overhaul the Social Security retirement program.

Lawmakers couldn't even agree on a new budget and have to return after the election to finish a number of must-pass federal spending bills...
______________
Congress adjourns for election with work unfinished
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-09-30T134454Z_01_N30266110_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS.xml&src=093006_1108_ARTICLE_PROMO_also_on_reuters

Hmmm, now who's out of touch...

"A survey released on Friday found broad public dissatisfaction with Congress as well as demand for action on such matters as global warming, immigration, energy, health care, Social Security and even old roads and bridges."

Link @ October 1, 2006 12:40 AM

Bush's men snarled like wild animals
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/457062p-384625c.html

Powell and Rumsfeld were like "bulls" who "staked out their ground, almost snorting defiantly, hoofs pawing the table, daring a challenge that never came," Woodward wrote. "And the President, whose legs often jiggled under the table, did not force a discussion."

Bush advised Rice to be "playful" with the stubborn Rumsfeld in an effort to get along. And he cajoled Rumsfeld, telling him: "I know you won't talk to Condi. But you got to talk to her."

________________________
Bush's men snarled like wild animals
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/457062p-384625c.html

If the president's legs often jiggled under the table, then he probably has Attention Deficit Disorder or latent aftereffects
of his substance abuse history.

It actually sickens me that the not-so-new news about a sexual predator in the Congress gets more attention than the destruction of our Constitution.

You can read the text and definitions of the new torture law for yourself here:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:s3930enr.txt.pdf

I don't care about Foley - it is irrelevant to the issues at hand, specifically Torture and suspending Habeas Corpus for American Citizens.

I am a one issue voter this year, as of this week, and I will not be distracted with tabloid sensationalizm over a pervert in the Congress.

Posted by: wild salmon at October 1, 2006 02:25 AM

thanks, salmon

Posted by: wild salmon at October 1, 2006 02:25 AM

Wild salmon,

Of course the torture bill and the suspension of Habeas Corpus is important, but I care about the Foley case--lurid though it may be--and believe that the ultimate bottom line about it is the coverup the Republican heirarchy was involved in.

It boils down to what they chose--make the guy resign immediately (and lose 1 Republican vote in the House) and stand up against child pedephilia or cover up the situation and hope it doesn't get leaked to the public.

They chose the coverup and that exemplifies every act they've done in 6 years. This from the same people who had the gall to impeach a President, release a rather smut filled book about a extra-marital tryst, and who said lying about sex was an impeachable crime against our country.

The Republican party has spent over 40 years defining liberals as irresponsible, sex maniacs, drug addicts who can't get or keep a job because they have no ambition and no self control and no morals. I'm glad to see every bit of information out there that throws that meme (LIE) out the window.

And if the voters need tabloid like this for the soccer moms to get out and vote for someone who isn't supporting a pediphile than so be it. If they need this tabloid to get themselves to feel pride after the past 40 years--so that they can PROUDLY say, "I'm DEMOCRAT or I'm LIBERAL" than that's great.

Because what Clinton did took away many Democrats ability to stand tall as a Democrat and they voted for Bush (and Republicans) as the ones who exemplified the "best of what America can be" and now they have no choice but to see the layers upon layers of coverups, scandals, and poverty of the soul that Republicans have.

And when progressives can show this poverty of the soul, then people will hear us about other important issues too--like torture, endless war, illegal war, etc...

Chaplain Prayer Provision Cut From Military Spending Bill
By NEELA BANERJEE

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 — Congress removed a controversial provision in a military bill on Friday that would have permitted chaplains to offer sectarian prayer at mandatory nondenominational events. At the same time, lawmakers moved to rescind guidelines issued last year by the Air Force and Navy meant to curtail the risk of religious coercion and proselytizing within the ranks.

“The provisions in today’s bill represent a full step forward and a half step back,” said Representative Steve Israel, Democrat of New York and a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “We removed dangerous language undermining religious freedom and military effectiveness, but I am distressed that instead of moving forward with unequivocal religious tolerance in the military, we are reopening old loopholes that permitted some acts of coercion and proselytizing.”

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01chaplain.html

I wrote about this same subject in a Tao column in 2005.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2005/07/the_chaplains_c_1.html

Posted by: sparrow at October 1, 2006 05:34 AM

So well put, sparrow! I completely agree.

Matthew,

It's "deja vue all over again".

When will they ever learn? When will they e -ver learn?

wow wild salmon is back, now the only JK blogger we are missing from 2004 is hardrain. Welcome home.

"Instead of a plan or a strategy, we get shallow slogans like 'Mission Accomplished' and 'Stay the Course,"' former Army Capt. Tammy Duckworth said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "Those slogans are calculated to win an election. But they won't help us accomplish our mission in Iraq."

Duckworth's address served as a response to the president's weekly radio talk and gave the Democratic Party a chance to showcase one of its strongest candidates as it seeks to regain control of the House in November's elections.

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished."'

At a GOP fund-raiser Thursday in Alabama, Bush said, "The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut and run."

In her address, Duckworth, now a major in the Illinois National Guard, also lashed out at the GOP-led Congress for refusing to do its job of holding the Bush administration accountable for its flawed Iraq policy.

"We need a Congress that will ask the tough questions and work together for solutions rather than attacking the patriotism of those who disagree," she said. "It is time to encourage Iraqi leaders to take control of their own county and make the tough choices that will stop the civil war and stabilize the country."

if hardrain doesn't return soon I may just start calling myself hardrain2 or just Bubba. I just loved those screen names hardrain and wildsalmon;
how do I change my screen name after 1 1/2 years?

From ThinkProgress on another revelation in the Woodward book:

Bush Officials May Have Covered Up Rice-Tenet Meeting From 9/11 Commission

-snip-

As a Counsel to the 9/11 Commission, I became very familiar with both the PDB and the Phoenix Memo, as well as the tragic consequences of the failure to detect and stop the plot. A mixture of shock, anger, and sadness overcame me when I read about revelations in Bob Woodward’s new book about a special surprise visit that George Tenet and his counterterrorism chief Cofer Black made to Condi Rice, also on July 10, 2001:

They went over top-secret intelligence pointing to an impending attack and “sounded the loudest warning” to the White House of a likely attack on the U.S. by Bin Laden.

Woodward writes that Rice was polite, but, “They felt the brushoff.”

-snip-

Many, many questions need to be asked and answered about this revelation — questions that the 9/11 Commission would have asked, had the Commission been told about this significant meeting. Suspiciously, the Commissioners and the staff investigating the administration’s actions prior to 9/11 were never informed of the meeting.

-snip-

The notion that both the 9/11 Commission and the Congressional Joint Inquiry that investigated the intelligence prior to 9/11 did not want to know about such essential information is simply absurd. At a minimum, the withholding of information about this meeting is an outrage. Very possibly, someone committed a crime. And worst of all, they failed to stop the plot.

full piece here:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/30/911-meeting/

Hastert's spin today about why the Repulithugs didn't stop Foley 8 months ago was that Foley had lied to him.
Sic, Sic,Sic

Posted by: wild salmon at October 1, 2006 02:25 AM

Posted by: sparrow at October 1, 2006 05:34 AM

Wild Salmon,

Welcome back. Very interesting conversation. This politically important development clearly was used by the Republicans to distract Americans from the unconscionable assault on the Constitution. The Republicans saved this moment for a time when they knew Foley had to be sacrificed. Like a good soldier, he fell on his sword, and now the Republican leadership is struggling to figure out how they can lie their way through their complicity.

Here's why I'm interested in knowing who knew what & when about Foley...

My current incumbent rep is Mark Kirk, the assistant majority whip for the House, who worked on his silly Suburban strategy with Foley.

So, we now know the following:

Hastert knew.
Blunt knew.

And Kirk???

Either there was a cover-up or the leaders in Congress don't talk to each other/aren't working effectively together. Or both.

In either case, it's most definitely time for a change. I can't wait to vote these bums out.

I don't think that the Republicans hid the Foley story so that it would break weeks before the mid-term elections. This story broke now because somebody at ABC News decided to do their job - and force the issue into the open.

This is a terrible story for the Republicans, just terrible. Just think of the message it sends to the evangelicals - that the GOP leadership would sanction keeping a potential homosexual child molester as the head of committee entrusted with the responsibility of protecting children, for purely political reasons!

And during the same week that the Abramoff story came back into view.

Posted by: wild salmon at October 1, 2006 02:25 AM

Posted by: sparrow at October 1, 2006 05:34 AM

Congress might get a pass from the terrified public for passing the "Torture Bill" (Which is what we should all be calling it every time it is brought up) However very few in the public are going to give Congress a pass for allowing a child preditor to roam its halls, without comment or thought.

Clinton knew in his first election and his second what many many people in office today forget, a good parent will always vote in the best interest of their children and good parents far out way bad or selfish ones. What we have had in the last few years is a lot of terrified and scared parents voting to what they thought keep their children safe, without really really thinking about what that meant. The Torture issue will be abstract to a lot of hardworking family that do not have time or engery to pay attention. But a pedophile in office with the support of his party leaders well I believe that is a differant story.

As someone else pointed out I am sure there are more than a few Democrats with Skeltons in their closets however can anyone honestly think if the Republicans knew about them they would have kept it quiet? and Having control the Republicans would have already found out. Not only that Republican have one of the largest muck searching apporatises in place, so they would have dug it up.

Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely : Lord Acton

What we have seen in the past several years is a real testing and proving of this statement. Like no other time in history.

Plain and simply candidates should not approve Tim Russert's moderating so called debates on Meet The Press. In all the debates I have ever watched over the years, I have never viewed a debate like I saw a few minutes ago where a moderator has let one candidate constantly interupt and rudely talk over the other's response. Mike Dewine's presence on Meet The Press was totally out of control and disrespectful to the good people of Ohio and Russert did absolutely nothing to stop DeWine's incivility.

Ira

I am glad I decided to forgo watching MTP this morning then. I usually when I am allowed to by the local station it airs on watch it, this morning somthing told me not to I have already been screaming mad all weekend over several issues I did not want to add a new one yet.

Posted by: Matthew Carnicelli at October 1, 2006 10:47 AM

Matt,

You might be right about ABC news. Still I have to wonder why there was such a long delay between when the Republican leaders learned about Foley's predatory behavior and his resignation? Foley was their ace in the hole for distractions.

By the way, is there a time line that delineates when ABC announced and Foley announced? It was my impression that Foley announced, then ABC went with its story.

Here's the text of a letter that I sent Russert on October 31, 2004. I have refused to watch that show ever since:

Dear Mr. Russert,

Your performance this morning was shocking and offensive. You took a significantly harsher tone with Bob Kerrey than you did with Rudy Giuliani, and allowed Giuliani to get away with making any number of completely irresponsible claims about John Kerry's record.

John Kerry saved lives by helping to force Nixon to end the Vietnam War. As NBC's own Lawrence O'Donnell has eloquently stated on a number of occasions on MSNBC, John Kerry may have saved his life. He may have saved my life, and the lives of my generation of American men (I'll be turning 49 this month). We killed an estimated 3 million Vietnamese during that war. Why is it that I never hear you, or any other network commentator, lament their deaths - while you allow the Sleaze Boat Veterans (lead by Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman, who authorized the free fire zone strategy, and hence has much to be ashamed of) to spew their nonsense on the airwaves. Why is it that I never hear you ask them to apologize for their actions in Vietnam? We killed an estimated 3 million Vietnamese. But, of course, John O'Neill was just following orders.

Furthermore, to allow a chicken-hawk like Rudolph Giuliani to spin the '91 IWR vote, and not confront him in the very same way that you challenged Bob Kerrey suggests an anchor that has been completely intimidated by either your GE bosses or your conservative critics. I turned your show off at that point. I may never watch you again. And for the record, your former boss, Daniel Patrick Moynihan voted against that resolution as well. I guess that Senator Moynihan hated America too. We should all hate America as he did.

If you're going to be fierce, then have the stones to be fierce with both sides. Otherwise, you're just going to be perceived as another bought-and-paid for mouthpiece for the defense contractor that owns NBC.

Sincerely yours,

Found this great comment on Daily Kos RE: Foley

It is very possible that Mr. Foley broke a Federal law. In fact, he may have broke a law that he helped create and get through Congress. Other people, who are not Congressmen, will be prosecuted under this law and receive serious jail time.

I think Republican Congressmen should have their feet held to the fire and put on record on whether or not they are going to ask for a Federal investigation into Foley breaking the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act of 2006 which, among other things, increases penalties for adults who use the Internet to discuss or solicit sexual acts with "minors" (defined as an "individual who has not attained the age of 18 years"). Since this is their law, they need to be asked if this law applies to Congressmen or just to the average Joe on the streets. Do the laws of the land apply to equally to everyone or not. And ask whether or not they will request this investigation be broaden to include whether or not Republican leadership helped to conceal this crime.

Frameshop: Hastert "Protected A Predator"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/1/92456/8536

Representative Christopher Shays, Republican of Connecticut, said any leader who had been aware of Mr. Foley’s behavior and failed to take action should step down. “If they knew or should have known the extent of this problem, they should not serve in leadership,” Mr. Shays said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01foley.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Mike Dewine's presence on Meet The Press was totally out of control and disrespectful to the good people of Ohio and Russert did absolutely nothing to stop DeWine's incivility.

Posted by: Ira at October 1, 2006 11:01 AM

I totally agree with you. Foolishly , I watched this, and am still fuming.

oh ,yeah-- and another thing. A glutton for punishment, I watched not only MTP this morning but also most of This Week with George Stephanopoulos and snippets of Face the Nation. TOTAL focus on Woodward and Foley, and nothing that I heard -NOTHING!- on Congress' rollback of the Magna Carta this week. Maybe I missed something when I was changing channels, but, if so, there could not have been more than a 1-sentence mention of the most truly serious event of the week. Unbelievable.

anyone fed up with Republican behavior this week who wants to help me put an end to one party rule should email me off line and help with my project today to end one party rule in Washington

mbk
Thanks for the report, since on the west coast those shows are probably just on now or so. I'll take your word for it and go back to sleep!

I can't stand Tim Russert or Chris Matthews. That's one reason I kept to not watching tv any more. If they were fair, they would probably get fired. I don't even like the way Tim Russert looks.

Good to see Wild Salmon. Had been one of the people I was wondering about too!

I think the Foley story is important in that is is a story of moral hypocrisy. I think moral hypocrisy is important to point out because maybe it will mean something to the hundreds of thousands of social conservative voters who were used. They were used to get these thugs into power. These thugs don't care anything about so-called moral values. This happens again and again and the social conservative voters never learn. They will always be trumped by pro-business forces such as organizations of CEOs and corporate lobby groups. Being socially conservative doesn't make people rich, it just helps thugs get into power. These are the people who were so outraged about Clinton. They need Foley exposed, so they will learn a lesson. They won't learn but it still has to happen.

hundreds of thousands of social conservative voters who were used.
Posted by: DiAnne at October 1, 2006 12:03 PM

Absolutely right. I also like to point out to "pro-life"/social conservative types that , for all their support for "pro-life" congressmen and presidents etc. IT DIDN"T EVEN WORK.Abortion rates are higher in Bush administration than Clinton . Also, the hypocrisy of the "pro-family" congressmen provides more rich material. (Remember the "family values" congressman who couldn't recite the Ten Commandments?! And there's always my favorite weirdo, Santorum . . .)

Dems have good values --REAL pro-life values that address not just human embryos, but the whole life of a person , and all aspects of the health of society, the country, the world , and nature - and we should be proud to say so. We need to help people put things in perspective.

Nope, the more I think about it - I don't believe in single issue voting or litmus tests because everything is connected. We need more seats in the House in order to try to regain the balance of power. That is the path to undoing damage done by this administraton, and it could take a long time.

I am willing to make that first step, nose plugged, and that means voting at times for people on whom I disagree on certain issues. Someone like Foley is a stepping stone. This is what happens to people who don't practise what they preach. This is the big problem with closet cases who are pedophiles on top of it. Don't they realize that their own party won't support them when they get into trouble through their two-faced behavior? Wouldn't it be better to be honest?

Like Mayor West of Spokane, who used the internet to attract young male interns, yet for years promoted legislation against gays - his own people didn't support him when the chips are down. Hypocrites like Foley and West drag mentally healthy and well-functioning people of diversity, People like Santorum get all confused (he lumps gays with polygamists and bestials). It's similar to the pervert priest epidemic.

There may be more like Foley and West - and there may be all sorts of Republican Congressman friends who hid this. If they are exposed, many in their own party will think twice about voting for them. They may not all want to vote Democrat but they may sit it out or vote for 3rd party candidates from the right and splinter the tickets. This is a good way to make local elections national, along with the war.

and..

Incoming!

Bookstores lay am-Bush of war books

If White House officials want to avoid some major agita in the next few weeks, they'd be well advised to steer clear of best-seller lists. Hitting the book stores this week is the latest blockbuster, Bob Woodward's "State of Denial."

And next week is a new biography "Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell."
(snip)
Hawks will be holding their breath as they await Powell's version of his battles with Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney over planning the Iraq war, and Powell's infamous UN presentation of flawed evidence claiming to prove Saddam Hussein had WMD.

In recent weeks there has been a parade of tell-alls critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war, its planning and its aftermath. Among the most recent tomes were damning titles like "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," about life in Baghdad's Green Zone; "Hubris," detailing planning screwups before the war; "Fiasco;" "The One Percent Doctrine" and "The Looming Towers."

While Woodward's two other books on Bush have been criticized for serving up too much unfiltered White House spin, the title of his new book suggests the Watergate journalist may be inking a more critical narrative. "It's going to be an instant best seller," predicted Bob Wietrak, a vice president of merchandising at Barnes & Noble.

The flood of books about the Bush White House and war on terrorism is not hurting sales. Paradoxically, the more books with similar themes are published, the better they all sell, industry experts said. "It's going to be a banner year," Wietrak said. "The more books that are being written, the sales continue to grow."

The last few years have also been banner years for the subject with best sellers like "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror" by Richard Clarke and "Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror" by Michael Scheuer.

(snip)

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/457351p-384797c.html

I'm buying the books and I'm sending money to World Can't Wait so they can run an ad about torture.

Can't get the Nation's website to come up - has it been hacked?
Google top story just now is called "Hastert's Living a Lie" and I wanted to read it.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=126070

I got in DiAnne try this link

Hooray - it is captured! http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=126070

Hastert's Living A Lie (The Nation: Blog)

Excerpts:
Tragically, as a Florida Republican, Foley felt that if he wanted to remain a political player he needed to live a lie. He was probably wrong – Republicans who have come out of the closet, such as retiring Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe – have often thrived politically.
(snip)
Foley's Republican colleagues, who are champions when it comes to shooting the wounded, immediately began trashing him.
(snip)
"His immediate resignation must now be followed by the full weight of the criminal justice system," Hastert, Boehner and Blunt said of Foley.

Fair enough. But what do these Republican leaders think about those who knew about Foley's undue interest in male pages, covered the fact up for months – perhaps years -- and then lied about what they knew. Should they, too, face "the full weight of the criminal justice system"?

When the news of Foley's emails broke in the media, Hastert declared, "I was surprised." Really? That's strange.
(snip - Read about coverup by a number of prominent conservative politicians in the House, who were hoping the matter would be dropped).

Some readers may be surprised that these top Republicans, who go on and on about the need to fend off supposed "threats" posed by loving and responsible gay and lesbian couples, would be so accepting of Foley. The truth is that the hands-off approach to this whole scandal is entirely in character for the current crop of Republican leaders, who could care less about the sexuality of members of their caucus.

They only employ "moral values" appeals to scare up votes at election time; it's never been something they believed in.

Hastert and his compatriots care only about winning elections and keeping power – even when that involves looking the other way after concerns have been raised about what a good many Americans see as the stalking of children.

Dennis Hastert and the other Republican leaders certainly were not surprised to learn last week that Mark Foley had acted inappropriately with male pages. They knew all about Foley's e-mails and all the issues raised by those communications.

Hastert and his colleagues have gotten caught in a lie. And it's a big one.

What's the proper response? Hastert, Boehner and Blunt have got the right idea. Those who knew about Foley's actions and failed to respond in any kind of serious manner are guilty of "an obscene breach of trust."

Since they control the machinery of the House Ethics Committee, it is doubtful that Hastert and his colleagues will face a serious investigation – let alone "the full weight of the criminal justice system." But this is an election year, and political campaigns can also extract a measure of justice.
(snip - explanation of upcoming fundraisesr)

"Holding happy hour fundraisers with people who cover-up the cyber-molestation of children should be below even the questionable morals of Don Sherwood," explained Carney campaign manager Andrew Eldredge-Martin. "Sherwood should immediately cancel his upcoming fundraisers with Hastert and Boehner. Don Sherwood has already brought Washington's values back to the district, now he wants to bring a depraved cover-up home."

--
A personal aside - Glad to see the name Boener, as he's actually suing my Congressman for "Ethics" - which is a big joke, but it's going to the Supreme Court - on Halloween of all times. It is the next biggest case about our First Amendment Rights.

April
Thanks! It may just be my dumb computer, or maybe so many people were reading the article that it's slow to come up. Maybe they weren't all progressives either. That would be nice.

Woodward will be suprised to learn that he is no longer Bush's favorite Author. poor fellow. I am checking news that seems to be biggest story. The White House in major damage control on several fronts. Looks like the Republicans decided to gift Democrats with their own Oct Surprises.

Oh My God
Boehner is suing McDermott because he leaked something to the press that hurt Newt Gingrich. It's something the American people needed to know. & Boehner sought revenge. It's a big First Amendment case & very important but details later.

Anyway, I went to McDermott's site and guess what?! Take a look at this bipartisan legislation he is involved with! You can watch the floor speech on his site & see why he is my hero.

Bi-Partisan McDermott Bill to Better Protect Abused and
Neglected Children Passes House and Senate
September 26, 2006

Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-D), in close cooperation with a Republican subcommittee chairman, led the floor debate today as the House passed on a voice vote new legislation co-authored and introduced by McDermott to better protect abused and neglected children in America.

"For many of these children, we are the last line of defense, the last line separating hope from despair," McDermott said. "The Child and Family Services Improvement Act is a lifeline that will save lives."
(snip)
McDermott said the legislation extends for five years the largest source of federal funding to states for programs to prevent child abuse, reunite families and promote adoption when children cannot return home.

Recognizing the critical role caseworkers play in safeguarding children, McDermott said The Child and Family Services Improvement Act provides $95 million over five years in new funding for States to improve their caseworker workforce. The money will be used for retention, recruitment and training.
(snip)
Other key features of the legislation include: ensuring that Indian Tribes receive adequate funding in line with their needs; provides funds to combat substance abuse as it affects vulnerable children and families, and requires States to have a disaster preparedness plan in placed to track vulnerable children, identify at-risk children after a Hurricane Katrina-like disaster, and preserve essential records.
(snip)
McDermott said the legislation, while not a comprehensive solution, is an important step in the right direction. "We know the problems confronting our nation's child welfare system are staggering. We won't solve them all in one day, or in one bill."

"This legislation is an example of what is possible when we forget party labels and work together for the common good," McDermott said.

---So who has the moral values?

I hate to give voice to this but Woodward being who he is. Is it possible he knew the only way anyone would pay attention to this Book that he calls part 3 would be to be favorable enough of the White HOuse to get them to endorse him? The he could let it all hang out and they would be unable to call him a partisan hack?

April
Wonder what impact Colin Powell's book will have & what he'll have to say? He did provide a dissenting voice when it came to changing the Geneva Convention interpretation. He has been the Good Soldier respecting Commander in Chief through thick and thin but he was also instrumental in stopping Bush's father from creating further carnage in Iraq, though couldn't get through the thick head of the son. Also hasn't seen eye to eye with Condi, especially considering that both were eventually Secretary of State - she was warned 2 months before 9/11 and ignored it.

All of this needs to come to light & be understood by American people at all levels of education, location & participation. The rest of the world knows alot about it, but we have to absolutely use any chance we have to change the dire situation (illegal wars, damage to balance of powers, unstable economy, messed
up infrastructure, corruption at the top).

Posted by: DiAnne at October 1, 2006 12:57 PM

I come from a Military family anyone else who does can varify what I am about to say.

I would be extremly and pleasently surprised if Powell actaully tells all. Most Military people who have been in as long as he was are more apt to protect the Commander and Chief than to bring them down. Only 2 things would force a loyal Military person to do so I believe 1) they believe that the Commander and Chief is hurting a country they have fought for and devoted their lives to. 2) they believe that the Commander and Chief is hurting a country they have fought for and devoted their, and they want to try and stop it. So a reading of Powells Book is in definate order it will tell us alot about how he feels about the policies of this President.

I am not talking about in my answer to DiAnne, the military coming forward and talking about the cilivian leadership like Rummy I am talking about how they talk about the President. My Uncle does not like a lot of what Bush has done but he instinctivly protects the office of President to the point one talking to him would believe he supports Bush. He does not but its not the impression someone gets when they speak to him about only the President.

April
I agree. I think that the book authors Suz discusses in the new thread are under the same pressures. They don't bring out the criticism until it is almost too late, & then people wonder about their motives. But before then, they are part of the system and within the system. Think of John Murtha.

Interesting timing-- Diane Rehm did a program titled Christian Voters, which included both progressives and conservatives as well as polling info from the Pew Forum on Religions and Public Life. Apparently the fundamentalist/conservatives feel shafted by BushCo & Congress, despite what we have seen. Support from these voters in 2006 elections has been seen as soft. The program was done before the Foley story broke. I get the idea that the Repug handling of Foley take the air out of their tires as they consider going to the polls...

Link to the page w/ program audio:
http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/06/09/27.php#11398