Addiction to alcohol and to drugs - the last refuge of the misbehaving

[question everything]

political and/or civic and/or religious leader.

I am not a lawyer but if I were, this would be the advice I would give Foley and... yes, Patrick Kennedy. Perhaps this is what Cynthia McKinney should have done.

Our liberalism has come home to roost. We were the ones championing the leniency for criminals who were abused as children, who had never known a normal, loving family, who, yes, were ill. And by doing so we've shown the way for others to shirk personal responsibility and accountability.

Yesterday we wondered whether Foley would kill himself. How can he possibly get out of this? we wondered. Today we know.

[valerief]

1. No way! Wasn't Foley being monitored like the rest of the country?

Why didn't the wiretappers report his crime?

[noonwitch]

2. It can play a part of that kind of thing

It's easier to justify one's behavior after a few drinks, lines or a pill or two. It's also easier to cross the line from thinking about doing something and doing it if one is drunk or high, because his conscience is compromised.

That's not excuse, though, just an issue for the therapist to address.

[ellenfl]

4. no, no, no!

getting drunk does not give you pedophile thoughts, it just brings the already existing ones to the fore. if he gets away with this crap . . .

ellen fl

[DainBramaged]

3. Demon alcohol, scourge of scummy pukes

when in doubt blame demon alcohol

[mrsadm]

5. Timing may be suspicious, but do not generalize about "last refuge"

Alcoholism cuts across all walks of life and is not just the last refuge of a degenerate, please!

Ann Richards was a reformed alcoholic. Doesn't make her a less reputable person.

Foley's timing is suspicious, and he probably should have checked in a long time ago. But let's not generalize.

[question everything]

8. Of course not

Did Ann Richards start treatment after she goofed?

I have a lot of empathy to addicts who, on their own, realize that they need help.

But for people like Foley and like Patrick Kennedy and others who, all of a sudden need treatment to escape investigation, or the public eye, or what have you... their timing just get them off the hook and all of a sudden people feel sorry for them, or their friends and families get off the hook by explaining their behavior.

[Zhade]

6. Are you actually comparing McKinney to Foley?

She was never indicted, remember, because THERE WAS NO PROOF.

[question everything]

9. Sorry, was being sarcastic

that if McKinney had sought treatment for "addiction" - real or imaginary - she could have ended the debate, could have taken the easy road out.

Good for her that she did not.

[sueh]

7. I don't think Foley is in rehab for addiction to alcohol...

I think it's because no one can get to him in a rehab center - nobody.

[question everything]

10. And he can disappear from the public eye

avoiding humiliating looks from people who trusted him.

Someone on CNN earlier commented that this approach was speculated upon back in Friday.

[TrogL]

11. If he enters a 12 step program

(AND KEEPS HIS MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT) he'll eventually need to fess up and make ammends, if possible.

[Keseys Ghost]

12. I'd like to get into a "small group" with him

I'd like to "12 step" him for all the kids who died in Iraq; all the kids he wanted to molest....

Time has come today.

[Mendocino]

13. Mel Gibson/Mark Foley

Mel Gibson "That wasn't me, that was the alcohol talking about jews, wars and sugar t*ts".
Mark Foley "That wasn't me, that was the alcohol sending IMs, talking dirty and soliciting for sex".

I think everyone (even repugs) will see this for what it is.

[Tace]

14. It Makes Sense That Alchohol Had A Part In This

I've been thinking for a long time that the radical excesses within Bushco that we've seen the past five years have something to do with drug abuse.

It's because they're acting in ways that can only be explained by serious drugs.

Anyway, I'm glad he's drying out, although I see that it's all very convenient for the Republicans to have him out of touch in a rehab center.