The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[wendybeth]

Scaeagles, I would think you knew me well enough to not have to ask the question whether I support dirty politics or not. I am really just tired of the usual Repub response to any trouble they get into, which is "Oh, looky at what the Dems are/aren't doing!" Right now Cheney is going around delivering the same old 'Dems are evil and we are doomed if they get into office!' speech that would be laughable if there weren't so many people buying into it. Dems turn the other cheek and get sucker-punched, and it is getting very old. Truly, if the Dems did sit on this one I wouldn't be happy with them, but we already KNOW that the Repubs have, so that's where I'm going to direct my ire.
So, you don't have a problem with Hastert- will that hold even if he is found to be culpible in this?

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Dems turn the other cheek and get sucker-punched, and it is getting very old.

So, you don't have a problem with Hastert- will that hold even if he is found to be culpible in this?

They turned the other cheek? How? Not trying to be rhetorical or snarky....

I currently have no problem with Hastert. I did at the start (obviously), but I really am not sure of his knowledge. Granted, I am way out of touch currently and don't know a whole lot about it. If it's found that he had full knowledge of predatory behavior (and not all of the IMs or emails publiches in volve predatory behavior) then that of course goes back to my original outrage. Someone, though, knew. Probably a lot of people. I just don't understand how something this continues.

I have never been a Hastert fan. He's the Speaker of the House, where all spending bills originate, and there is way too much money spent.

[wendybeth]

Maybe you should learn more about the subject before you start making accusations and deciding where you stand. I don't know much about it, but I do know that no one has yet to produce any proof regarding the Dems and whether or not they knew beforehand. I think the FBI should be allowed to conduct their investigation before we all get our panties in a twist about who knew what and where and .....bleh.


We're still dealing from the fallout from our ex-mayor and that whole scandal. People knew about his activities for years, yet no one did anything until our newspaper got aggressive and went after him. Of course, they endorsed him during the election, even while they were investigating him. I think they set the whole damned situation up to get a good story. Is that wrong? Hell, yes. But it couldn't have happened if Mayor West hadn't committed the misdeeds.

[scaeagles]

Exactly, WB. And Foley is thie one ultimately responsible.

To quote your first sentence and the start of the next....

Maybe you should learn more about the subject before you start making accusations and deciding where you stand. I don't know much about it

You are making accusations without knowing much about it. The only accusation I have made was in my first post when I was so ticked at Hastert. I have stepped back because it is unknown exactly what his knowledge was. Yet you now portray that as a bad thing?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I am upset with a few media outlets (a couple papers I think) that had the storey months ago and did nothing with it.

Just for the record, the papers that apparently sat on this were the Miami Herald and the St. Petersburg...Times (I think it is the Times, St Petersburg something or another).

The liberal media once again protects the republicans.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

There is another angle I've heard to this as well now, being that the dems have known about this for months as well and wished to have it times for release closer to the election. If so, that is as despicable as what I believe Hastert is possibly guilty of.

It is all conjecture, of course, except for the Foley part. I would not put it past republican leadership to try to hold the story until after the elections and the dems to try to hold the story until weeks before them.

And to finish the part of my quote that you left out..."I don't know much about it, but I do know that no one has yet to produce any proof regarding the Dems and whether or not they knew beforehand."

Again, all I am saying is that I don't know enough about this (I am a Dem, after all) to really say how I feel about Hastert, etc. By your own admission, neither do you. So, wtf are we arguing about here?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Scaeagles, it would appear that the good Senator in your home state has know about this for about 5 years.

From the Washington Post:

A Republican congressman knew of disgraced former representative Mark Foley's inappropriate Internet exchanges as far back as 2000 and personally confronted Foley about his communications.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) confirmed yesterday that a former page showed the congressman Internet messages that had made the youth feel uncomfortable with the direction Foley (R-Fla.) was taking their e-mail relationship. Last week, when the Foley matter erupted, a Kolbe staff member suggested to the former page that he take the matter to the clerk of the House, Karen Haas, said Kolbe's press secretary, Korenna Cline.

The revelation pushes back by at least five years the date when a member of Congress has acknowledged learning of Foley's behavior with former pages. A timeline issued by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) suggested that the first lawmakers to know, Rep. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.), the chairman of the House Page Board, and Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), became aware of "over-friendly" e-mails only last fall. It also expands the universe of players in the drama beyond members, either in leadership or on the page board.

[scaeagles]

Kolbe is a Representative, not a Senator. Our Senators are McCain and Kyl. When I read your opening, I was hoping it was McCain that had known. Kolbe is actually retiring after...18 years, I think?....and his seat is open this election.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

So, wtf are we arguing about here?

Because you're a freakin' lib and therefore must be up to no good!

[wendybeth]

At least our pervs are loud and proud, baby!