Are Dem Candidates/Leadership going to ruthlessly exploit the Foley

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

situation?

As well they should?

As the Republicans would no doubt do if it were a Democratic candidate?

Are the ads being made?

[niyad]

1. I certainly hope so!!

[Greeby]

2. Already off to a head start

Laesch and Stover are already calling for the heads of Fat Bastard and Shimkus respectively.

[LostInAnomie]

3. They better, god damn it.

Winning in November is ALL that matters. Save the scruples bullshit for some other time.

[maddem]

4. Foley

Everybody be carefull this might be a trap!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Ummm thanks for that.

:eyes:

[kestrel91316]

8. LOL, HAHA HAHAHA HAHAHAHA HAHAHA

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Why do these guys so frequently use that funkyass "type" font? Wassup

wit dat?

Is that some kind of homage to "Buckhead"?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[kestrel91316]

14. It's probably all the same person, lol.

[kestrel91316]

6. I sure as hell hope so.

[stepnw1f]

7. All? Nope... but Some Surely Will and Should!

The Republican Party just shouldn't be trusted.

[MrModerate]

9. There are ways to "exploit" this without sliming yourself . . .

I see it as another thread in the "they can't be trusted" tapestry.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. How would it be "sliming yourself" to point out the sleaze and immorality,

both by Foley and the Republican House Leadership, that's just fallen into your lap? :shrug:

[MrModerate]

20. Sorry for the tardy reply . . .

But in response to your question: you'd slime yourself (as well as squandering a golden -- no, platinum -- opportunity) by trying to make the whole midterm election about crypto-NAMBLA congressmen. A "more in sorrow than in anger" mature tut-tutting is called for here.

As potent an issue as Foley's follies are, he's just one guy. To extract the maximum political advantage, we have to, IMO, tie this to 'Lican untrustworthiness generally. They are mentally and (now, more obviously than ever) MORALLY unfit for leadership.

Given the hypocritical/moralistic tone that's been injected into politics over the last decade or so, Foley is an albatross precisely to the extent that he reflects Republicans' true values -- privilege and immunity from behavioral standards -- but most of all to the extent that he's a SEXUAL SINNER.

Apparently all other sins (lying, thieving, cheating, etc.) get a pass in this brave new world, but sexual sins are unforgiveable. Silly me, I'd think it should be the other way 'round -- but then I'm a godless liberal.

And the sin-enablers (Hastert, et al) are now getting swept up in the "untrustworthy" net.

Anyway, I think Dems should certainly stir the pot, but avoid falling in. Remember: when your opponent is committing political suicide, the last thing you want to do is get in his way.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. They's Boldly Run Away!

They'll bravely flee as if it were plutonium, anthrax, or a censure resolution.

Ahhh.... Golden Triangle... so shiny...

[wiley]

13. Looks like Republicans are doing a great job getting caught already

Want to make sure no one misses this story, however. What do Republicans actually care about other than f•cking over working men and women, veterans, the elderly and chronically ill, the uninsured, and the safety and rights of every American?

Helluva job, Denny!

[ellenfl]

15. we don't need to be ruthless . . . the repugs are imploding. eom

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. Why does their imploding preclude Dem ruthlessness?

Do you think they'd back off if the Dems were imploding? And their methods have worked well.

I don't think we should ape all Repub tactics, particularly dishonest ones, but we shouldn't automatically eschew all of them either.

[ellenfl]

19. i'm not saying to do nothing. i'm just saying

that we may not have to stoop as low as we did before foley. i'm still going to call on voters to get out the vote for foley's dem opponent.

ellen fl

[cynatnite]

17. Repukes are imploding all on their own n/t

[mmonk]

18. Why get in the way of a train wreck?

All they have to do is act disgusted and ask why did the leadership stay silent and put pages in jeopardy.