Monday, October 02, 2006

Stink On GOP Hill

The electorate should be cynical over this sudden flurry of GOP activity in response to the revelation that just-resigned Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) sent "inappropriate" communications to teenage House pages.

The "FBI to Examine Foley's E-Mails." is one response. And, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has "asked for a Justice Department investigation into not only Foley's actions but also Congress's handling of the matter once it learned of the contacts," (WaPo) is another. Foley has taken the currently popular refuge of scoundrels, he has checked into a rehab facility.... evil alcohol will be his alibi.

Why cynical?... because in this election season it's The Decider's FBI and Justice Department!

Because only after public outrage, when the details of Foley's resignation came to light, did Hastert act to investigate even though he "acknowledged that some [of his] aides knew last year that Foley had been ordered to cease contact" with a 16-year-old-page.

Because Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R-NY) said that he personally had notified Hastert months ago. A former house page said he knows of three or four pages from his 2001-02 class who were sent sexually suggestive messages from Foley. We are talking years here.

Because even after revelations of Foley's contact with pages, the Republican-controlled House allowed Foley to remain as co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus. The fox was left in charge.

Want an example of GOP-controlled House ethics reform? Take, for instance, the sham lobbying "reform" legislation in response to widespread corruption, most notably the Abramoff scandal.... the "reform" basically is the denial of some gym privileges.

The GOP owns, and controls, the government.... The Decider Bush's government. There are no vital "checks and balances" possible. No one to stop the abuse of power and stem corruption. No recourse in oversight.

This is just one reason why the November elections are so important.

Vote.

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