Washington Times Calls for Hastert resignation

[nam78_two]

Strange coming from the Moonie paper but there it is!

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20061002-102008-9058r.htm

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.

[Imagevision]

1. Hastert will give the; " I serve at the pleasure of the president" schpiel

[TahitiNut]

6. No he won't. That's for Executive Branch appointees.

He'd have several Congresscritters unconscious on the floor in front of him after butting heads in their rush to the microphones to condemn such grovelling. (I'd hope.)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. Hastert's One Of My Most Detested Repubs. I Can't WAIT To See That Fucker

fall.

I still laugh my ass off inside about Delay sometimes. But fucking Hastert? Ohhhhhhh the laughing I will do.... ....the laughing I will do.

:toast:

[nam78_two]

3. yes he is one of the worst/nt

[alittlelark]

4. More rats jumping from the RancidRepukes

They don't have time to carve out the infection before it overcomes the whole body. The next few weeks should prove interesting.

[nam78_two]

7. Thats what I made of it too

I don't think the WT has actually had a change of heart...

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Something like this is where the ideology stops

This is not about what's right or left, this is about what's good government. It's those things that come before a Congressman says "I'm a Democrat and I'm for spending more on education and job training" or "I'm a Republican and I'm for cutting taxes."

It's no better to coddle a child molester in that environment than it is extort money from lobbyists or accept bribes from them; we know that happens on both sides of the aisle and when your Congressman is caught doing it, it's time for him to retire.

That is what the Republican leadership should have done with Foley. It would have been easy for Hastert to have called Foley into his office, let him know what he knew and told him in no uncertain terms that he was not running for re-election and that he would have hell to pay if he got into any hanky panky between now and the time he left Congress. That might not be what some people here would want, but it would spare Foley's victims a lot of unwanted publicity; for those who haven't considered it, keeping the spotlight off the victims would be a very desirable outcome.

That is so easy I could have done it. I haven't checked, but I don't think Foley lives in marginal district. It shouldn't be too hard to find a Republican candidate to replace him in Congress from Florida. That is so simple, it amazes me that Hastert didn't do it. What was he thinking?

As for Foley, I hope he gets the help he needs, whether in or out of prison.

[nam78_two]

9. Oh I agree with you 100%

But I am just a little skeptical about that being the rationale of the Washington Times...
But hey, if its genuine, good on them...

It certainly raises them above those still defending the behavior of the GOP leadership over this!

[Pachamama]

10. My guess is that their call for his resignation is their "out" for him,

because there are many more things coming down the pike for Dennis "Fat Bastard" Hastert than this fiasco. If Sibel Edmonds ever gets to talk, I think that things will get real ugly for him.

The Washington Times knows this....

[CornField]

11. Exactly what I think

"House Leadership" isn't only Hastert. They whole conspiring bunch should have to resign, not just Hastert.

[cascadiance]

17. Not to mention Hastert is next in line after Bush and Cheney...

... should they get impeached.

Perhaps this is their methodology of trying to find someone else that is "bullet proof" that can take over as president to keep Pelosi from taking over after a Bush/Cheney impeachment in 2007. Getting a new Speaker of the House in place would allow them to:

a) if they win the house back, protect them from getting any possibility of a Dem takeover in 2007 if they are presented with evidence to force Bush, Cheney to step down.
b) if the Dems win the House in 2007, they might do a quick resignation of Bush and Cheney before the end of the year to put whomever they replace Hastert with now in as president. That would protect them from a Pelosi "takeover" later too whether it be trying to get rid of Bush, Cheney (or Hastert if he were to take over in a similar instance). Republicans know they have to get rid of Hastert NOW to put someone else in as their "Gerald Ford" to take over if things get rough.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. The party's over, it's time to call it a night . . .

[Justice Is Comin]

12. The donkeys just overpowered me for this one.

............... ......

[robinlynne]

13. The dancing donkeys are tremendous!!!!!!!!!

[Justice Is Comin]

14. Ya love em. They knocked me over coming out of the barn.

Can't wait to see blubberbutt on McGlauglin Friday night choking on this.

[robinlynne]

16. Can you send me the dancing donkeys somehow? I would love to borrow them.

[FogerRox]

15. Heres the real headline:

"House Speaker Dennis Hastert must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once."