Housekeeping first!  While Mark Foley begins the ascent of his twelve step program, many hope that gallows await him at the peak.  I can’t find any good reason to disagree with them.  Mark Foley is a pervert and a disgrace, for which he should be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law, including those which he helped to draft and pass through the U.S. Congress.

A certain level of righteous outrage and indignation from the public was to be expected.  A manic level of righteous outrage from Democrats, thirty days before the mid-term elections was guaranteed.  But the feeding frenzy the Republicans seem intent to visit upon their own house is auguring a collapse from power disproportionate to the crime committed by a sole member of the House.  Not content with the swift removal of Foley, many over-zealous Republicans can find no road to salvation that does not include tossing the baby out with the bath water. 

STOP!  The fate of America should not be determined by a pervert from Florida talking dirty on the internet with a sixteen year old kid.  If necessary, give him treatment, a fair trial then hang him, but for God’s sake don’t accept this as the defining issue in next month’s elections.  For good reason, we don‘t expect much from Democrats.  That is why we are not shocked by the outrageous behavior of Barney Franks, Jim McGreevy or even Bill Clinton.  We are too often accustomed to watching Democrats dutifully circle around their members when they commit real sexual crimes.  Yet, the true party of deviants will find a way to keep this issue on the front burner, with just enough fuel necessary to allow Republicans to self-immolate. 

The sad part of our Congress is that most of the outrage feigned by both parties is just that; feigned!  This is hardball politics and the Democrats currently have the advantage in field position.  But, instead of digging in for the fight, Republicans are screaming, “Beat me! Whip me! Make me write bad checks!” 

The Republicans have been pitifully weak as a majority.  Since the departure of Newt Gingrich as Speaker and most recently Tom Delay from the House Leader position, the conservative party seems totally ineffectual in utilizing their majority position.  The Senate under Bill Frist’s leadership does not even merit commentary.  Yet as pathetic as the leadership has been, it is out of the realm of sanity to imagine Democratic control of the House or Senate at this critical moment.

Immigration, taxation, education and the struggle for our nation’s survival are what are at stake this mid-term election.  Perhaps a public execution of Foley can be arranged as a pay-per-view telecast on election eve this November 6, 2006 to satisfy the blood sport mentality that exists in America at this time.  If the gods are smiling and the planets aligned, that might be followed by the public tar and feathering of Jack Murtha the day after the elections. 

Strategically, Republicans must sacrifice whoever or whatever is necessary to reframe the debate.  This does not mean Hastert’s resignation or the formation of a Senate investigation as recommended by John McCain.  If Republicans start down this path now they do nothing more than ensure its conclusion will occur under the watchful astigmatism of House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid.  And while the nation remains distracted by the show staged by the new Democratic majority, Charles Wrangell, Chairman or the Ways and Means Committee will be pulling the plug on our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The Foley scandal, as horrific and disgusting as it may be, should not serve as the moment when all Republicans ceremoniously fall upon the sabers that Democrats have conveniently laid in their path.  Instead get busy with the work you were elected to do, or certainly you will no longer be elected to do it.

See this article with The Gray Dog Picture of the Day at www.thegraydog.org

Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 4, 2006 at 08:57 PM in Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, The Gray Dog | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Bill Faith

Excellent, Mike. I'm still trying to invent the blog I really want. 24 hours ago I would have said I'll redate your post after midnight to get it more exposure but I think what's better is to start each Bill's Bites with a list of good posts written by other Dogs the day before.

I hope you don't mind that I swiped that picture to use in a Halloween post. I know I've seen it around the web some but I hadn't gotten around to saving a copy yet.

Posted by: Bill Faith | Oct 4, 2006 10:18:37 PM

Posted by: Scrapiron

Not to excuse Foley's actions but it turns out the former page was 18, now 21. He served in the house in 2001-02 and the Instant messages are dated 2003. Something more than Foley stinks here.

Posted by: Scrapiron | Oct 4, 2006 11:23:44 PM

Posted by: REB 84

Its amazing how the American media works. We have lost fifteen more American service people over the last couple days, and what is getting attention? Its just another sex scandal. And it wasn't even real sex.

Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley's instant message records indicate he is a dude who gets off on fantasy cyber sex with teenaged boys. I believe this is the first virtual sex scandal in Washington DC political history.

Back here in the real world, American men and women are killed, maimed and scarred, both physically and emotionally every day. War is hell. Finally, the mainstream media is beginning to support our troops by speaking the truth about their sacrifices. more

Posted by: REB 84 | Oct 5, 2006 12:00:43 AM