I just wanted to take a moment to highlight the things that our Blue America candidates are doing to call out the corruption rife within the GOP and demand their Republican House opponents repudiate those involved in the coverup conspiracy. Angie Paccione doesn't think much of the GOP's priority of getting its hands on the $2.7 million dollars worth of loot for the RNCC that Mark Foley raised for his re-election campaign. Says Angie:
This morning, I called on Marilyn Musgrave to join me in demanding that Speaker Dennis Hastert step down from his leadership post. Speaker Hastert is presiding over a culture of corruption, and this is the last straw. The moral crisis into which the House leadership has thrown the Congress is not the product of yet another partisan fight; it is a question of honoring the values of decency and service that all members of Congress ought to value. The special interest protection racket that shielded Foley needs to be dismantled.
I applaud members like Geoff Davis, who donated the $1,000 he received from Foley’s PAC to a child advocacy agency in his district. I hope that every other campaign committee Foley supported has or will join Congressman Davis. This is not the time to cave in to powerful politicians. When a powerful institution like the U.S. Congress passively tolerates abusive and predatory behavior like Mark Foley’s, it has betrayed the trust of the people.
I am asking Marilyn to help me in urging Foley to transfer his campaign funds to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Predatory behavior like Foley’s ought to teach her how important the center is, given her past opposition to it. I hope Marilyn seizes this opportunity to champion a vital program and do the right thing for vulnerable children who are victimized.
Angie also recently received the endorsement of Wes Clark, if you didn't get a chance to read over Howie Klein's Blue America session with Angie, please do. She's a person of faith who told Howie Klein "I believe in living it, not legislating it," as opposed to the "do as I say, not as I do" members of the GOP sexual predator protection racket.
Angie is in a winnable race and we hope to be writing a lot more about her. If you have any good stories about Angie, or any great clippings about either her or the race, please leave them in the comments. And if you'd like to give to her campaign you can do so here — we really want to support progressive candidates especially when they show, like Angie, that they are ready and willing to fight.
Update: Per Peterr in the comments, the Rocky Mountain News says that Musgrave refuses to answer questions about Hastert. Spotlight, anyone?
Related posts:
- Blue America Launches New TV Initiative in Arkansas — And We Need You
- Supplemental: Why Must Progressive Members of Congress Grovel For the Blue Dogs?
- Blue America: Meet Linda Ketner
- RedState Fundraising Drive for Wingnut Senatorial Candidates: Epic Fail
- Online Health Care Townhalls Sunday at FDL: Ohio Democratic Senate Candidates
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FITZ FITZ FITZ
Damn you Windje; damn you to hell.
I was going to make a guest kazuza post.
GO Angie!
Tammy Duckworth’s not on the ActBlue list, but she understands exactly what you’re talking about when it comes to calling out corruption. I commented more on an earlier thread, but won’t repost here.
Ms. Paccione,
Welcome to this marvelous blog which is introducing so many deserving progressive candidates to so many in such a warm and effective way.
Good luck on your campaign!
There is only one use for Foley’s tainted cash: Help victims of Foley and people like him.
Here’s Foley’s comments in support of the Internet SAFETY Act that he authored:
One down.
Evil Parallel Universe @ 1
Need a chuckle? chuckle
Be sure to read the second to last paragraph
Marilyn Musgrave is/was AGAINST the NCMEC? Isn’t that like being against cake?
Lewis Cancels With Hastert, Cites Foley
By Elisabeth J. Beardsley, The Courier-Journal
U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis has canceled an event next week with U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, citing the growing Capitol Hill sex scandal.
The Lewis campaign asked to cancel the fundraiser featuring Hastert that had been scheduled for Oct. 10 in Simpsonville, said Lewis spokesman Michael Dodge.
“The congressman takes the speaker for his word, but there’s more questions that need to be answered and until they are, it’s better that we don’t move forward with that event,” Dodge said.
http://www.bluegrassreport.com…..cance.html
If Hastert goes, and he surely should, then so should exit Boehner. Boehner should not be allowed to slip from the noose. Boehner, Tom Delay’s hand-picked replacement, is the real power (as was Delay) in the House of Representatives. Not Denny Hastert. And Boehner, reports directly to Karl Rove. And supposedly Rove is responsible to Bush and Cheney. If Hastert leaves and Boehner remains, the country has gained nothing. If only Hastert resigns, it will only serve the GOP purpose to falsely claim their party is ‘doing something’.
Reynolds should be next, followed by Shimkus, Boehner, and finally Hastert. Then the GOP can say they’re doing something about it. Until then, it’s scapegoating.
Rocky Mountain News reports “Colo. Republicans Defend Hastert“. Musgrave apparently didn’t like being asked about Hastert.
We need Angie in Congress. Now. Or even sooner. Angie supports designating the Rocky Mountain National Park as a Wilderness area, making it immune from Pombo’s efforts (supported by Musgrave) to open it to logging and mining.
Go Angie!
Probably something worth spotlighting to CO media, if anyone was of a mind. Putting Musgrave on the spot? Priceless.
Hastert’s office warned 2 yrs ago acc to Fordham
on cnn
Blitzer on CNN – “if Hastert’s office was alerted to this two years ago, it ratchets this whole thing up to a whole new level.”
Fordham talking, being listened to. Tom Reynolds IS next.
Mark Foley made his political career by grandstanding about protecting under-18s from sex on the Internet, and all the while he was having sex on the Internet with under-18s.
Between this and Frist’s “Let’s talk with the Taliban”, I feel like I woke up in Bizarro World.
angie @ 14
The circular firing squad is set.
“FIRE!!”
Breaking news from CNN, Fordam now says he warned top house officials two years ago re Foley’s problem.
Hastert is toast.
Someday… ‘President Duckworth’ sounds damn good. Duckworth thinks the Iraq war was a big mistake. Duckworth’s views on all matters political are worth consideration. This is no armchair warrior Democrat, like someone I could mention.
Jane,
Is Angie Paccione going to join us?
Ed*ard Teller @ 15
Now, now, we have to give them a LITTLE time to first line up their lobbying jobs.
Jane,
Who are the best people to spotlight to? I don’t know whether I’m chosing ones who have the last say (or any say) in what stories are covered.
Publish the Rep List.
And even Republicans are canceling events with Hastert: http://www.courier-journal.com…..1/61004037
go Angie! Colorado is going to make big news this year.
I wonder when Republicans are going to stand up for all the “morals and ethics” they always talk about in campaign season.
Salon.con War Room
Atrios says:
“Oops
CNN sez AP reporting Fordham had “more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene.”
Bye Denny.”
CNN Report: Hastert’s office warned about Foley two years ago.
Fordham quit SO he could get out from under this big stinking pile of shit. And now he’s talking.
Hastert’s resignation by Friday, if not COB today.
Here’s a link to the “knew 2 years ago” story:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITI…..index.html
Well good luck Angie.I see that Huffington
is reporting that the O’Reilly Factor is
simply listing Foley as a Democrat.Unreal!
Here’s a press release from my Congressional candidate, Phyllis Busansky. She’s running against Gus Bilirakis, the son of 12 term Republican Mike Bilirakis.
(Tampa, Florida) – Phyllis Busansky, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 9th District, issued the following statement demanding the immediate resignation of House Speaker Dennis Hastert:
“Like all Americans I am outraged by the actions of the ‘Foley Five.’ Earlier this week I called for a full and thorough investigation and demanded Congressman Tom Reynolds’ resignation. Now I am joining Republicans and Democrats from across the country in also demanding Speaker Hastert’s resignation.
“Hastert’s indignant press conference on Monday and his refusal to answer any questions from reporters was the final straw. What kind of leader does not stand up and answer questions?
“It has been well documented that Hastert knew about Congressman Foley’s reprehensible emails and still enabled Foley to remain chair of the Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
“Yesterday’s Washington Times documents Hastert’s ineptitude, demanding his immediate resignation: ‘Mr. Hastert has forfeited the confidence of the public and his party, and he cannot preside over the necessary coming investigation, an investigation that must examine his own inept performance.’
“Speaker Hastert gave Gus Bilirakis $10,000 and raised him another $50,000.
“It is time for Gus Bilirakis – not his spokespeople – to step forward and speak for himself for once: Does he support Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House?”
It seems like every dem house candidate should do what Angie did. If we put all 400 of their house candidates on the spot, it’s a pretty safe bet that at least one or two will say something stupid. And some might even do the right thing, which may cause the 2.7 million to help a good cause.
Margot @ 22
I tend to Spotlight to reporters – on the theory that they are reporting because they tend to be curious about things, and if something catches their interest, they will dig around and then go to editors with a story idea – and also to editors/news directors – who might be inclined to assign someone to look into it.
mc @ 28
off to TREATMENT . . . i reckon!! ha ha.
they’d best hurry up and throw Hastert under the bus before the wheels on said bus fall off.
punaise @ 35
Oh punaise – simply great to have you back!
Hastert won’t resign until Rove tells him to. If this keeps going the way it is, Rove will have to insist soon. Every move they make is just making it worse.
I can’t think of many things worse than the leaders of a party publicly fighting it out 4 weeks before an election. They are calling each other liars in the media. Bad move fellas.
Hehehehehe…mmmmmm…roasted elephant…
Jnae: I think the “La Cage Aux Foley” was a poor choice of words, since so many on the right are trying to make this about Foley being gay.
fran @ 30
Apparently the way it works is thusly:
If one stays in the closet, one can be a Repug.
If one comes out, then one must be a Democrat.
No other options!
It is taking “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the limit.
newspaperbrat @ 36
hiya! still getting used to that new monicker….
punaise @ 35
There isn’t enough room under the bus for the number of people being thrown in that direction.
What does Hastert think could possibly be gained by refusing to step down? The media’s got its jaws clamped in a death grip on this story, and it ain’t lettin’ go anytime soon. Even Hastert resigning as Speaker won’t kill it.
Wonder what Rove’s working on to turn attention elsewhere…but maybe he’s too busy worrying about Susan Ralston and what she might tell prosecutors to save her own ass from the Abramoff debacle.
Hastert’s dilemma…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ag8J2NMYmc
Anne @ 33
Here is a link to a map of Angie’s Congressional District: OH-04
So, first target the local CO papers that fall into that geographic area; Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Sterling, Fort Morgan, Lamar, etc. (It doesn’t contain Denver, but Denver is reeeeallly close)
“The fact is even prior to the existence of the Foley e-mail exchanges I had more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene when I was informed of Mr. Foley’s inappropriate behavior,” Fordham said.
If you read the article about Hastert’s office knowing 2 years ago, you will see an allegation that Fordham went to them 2 years ago about inappropriate “behavior” by Foley.
That description sounds a lot broader in scope than just emails.
If true, then Hastert’s office was aware 2 years ago that Foley was behaving inappropriately.
Was Fordham telling Hastert’s office about other behavior by Foley besides emails?
Someone needs to ask.
Here’s what the Dems and Repubs did together when another page scandal broke more than 20 years ago. People should use this to focus on how awful the Republican response truly is:
Joe Califano on Studds/Dan Crane investigation
Anne @1:38 says,
If anything, it would be like pouring chum into an aquarium full of hungry news sharks.
Cozumel @ 42
selected lyrics from that Clash song:
“
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision’s bugging me
Esta indecision me molesta…”
I’m sorry to go a bit OT but huffington post has a “contagious festival” video incorporating the village people’s YMCA song in a foley parody.
first, it’s neither clever nor funny.
second, it’s disturbing to see all the barney frank jokes and diatribes against homosexuals that are on the MSM comment boards in relation to this matter. homosexuals (men, in partciular) are always conjured up as the bogeyman against whom we need to monitor in order to protect the children.
it’s even more disturbing to see it on “progressive leaning” sites like huffpo.
i remember huffpo took down jane’s lieberman / blackface parody due to complaints. at least there jane was referencing (quite clevely) joementum’s playing of the race card.
Colorado media now being notified.
Angie: slam dunk!
Carville says Hastert gone by the end of the week and Bay Buchanan says if what Fordham has said is true, he should be gone by the end of the day.
Carville– they gotta get the shovel out of Hastert’s hands. Hastert is toast.
CNN…
Bay Buchanan: “The Speaker will be gone by the end of the day”
Jane Hamsher @
13
Yes’m. Spotlighted.
Wow, Bay and I agree on something! To what is the world coming?!
The more leaves the better for foleyage of the fall.
I don’t know why everyone is trying so hard to snag Foley’s warchest, when he is sure to do a Tom DeLay and use it for legal fees!
Susan S. @ 31: Nice to see Busansky getting into the mix. I’m a registered Democrat in FL9 and have heard literally NOTHING from her campaign. She’s way behind in the polls and really needs to make some noise.
CNN…
Dana Bash said earlier that there’s a rumor floating around D.C. about yet another REPUBLICAN lawmaker that’s about to be named in a SEX scandal. Hmm…
What Rush Limp Paw is spewing
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/el….._years_ago
Whether Fordham was fired or quit, I am sure his attorneys want him now to talk about how much he advised Hastert’s office about what he was hearing about Foley. There was one attorney on T.V. who was saying that any ANY delay in reporting to authorities is criminal and in any other case there would be arrests.
People are going to start defending themselves instead of Hastert or republicans.
Wait a minute. What exactly did Forham warn Hastert about? He’s saying he warned Hastert BEFORE the e-mails. About what, exactly? Were pages coming to him with complaints? I can’t imagine Foley bragging about cybersex with teens to his Chief of Staff. (Okay, I CAN imagine it, but I don’t think that’s what happened.) Did Foley see something he’d like to share with the rest of us? We’re all ears.
Denny @ 34: TREATMENT for Hastert….Doesn’t Jenny Craig have a Rehab Clinic?
Hey Denny: Step away from the trough…your unsatiable greed has had enough.
Jacqrat @43,
Thanks!
Frank @ 59
Fordham was Foley’s COS before he moved to Reynolds. That move (and when and why it occurred) is in and of itself interesting.
Fordham isn’t blind. Is it conceivable that he saw something? or fielded a complaint from a page?
Everyone knows if their boss is an asshole.
Here we go. It’s just a matter of time before this hits one of the blogs. There’s a list of gay top level Republican aides going around: http://www.davidcorn.com/archi…..of_gay.php
Looks like a lot of homophobia-enablers are about to have a really rotten weekend.
Answering MarcLord’s question from the last thread. I don’t see this as OT here.
MarcLord @ 70
I think it has to do with their marketing approach to politics. Part of this approach is to say and do whatever it takes to sell the product; in this case, “the product” being the Republican candidates. So they “gin up the base” by appealing to voters’ worst fears and prejudices, with a total disregard for the truth or the effect of such a campaign. Only results matter, the desired result being continuation in power.
With this mindset, morals become a marketing ploy, just something to appeal to the rubes. This leads the Republican politicians to be as values-free as the capitalist system they so stoutly defend.
The current scandal is a classic example: a closet homosexual and sexual predator who loudly proclaimed his loathing of exactly such people.
Not OT here because, as Howie says, Angie Paccione “believes in living it, not legislating it”. Anyone with any real morals should support candidates with real values, which excludes all Republicans when you consider their support of their values-free leadership.
My first post at FDL, although I have lurked here for a while (long enough to know what EPU’d means, which is what will happen to this comment). I’d like to thank Jane, Christy, Howie, T-Rex and the other posters for this site. And best wishes to Marksb for a speedy and full recovery.
Bustedknuckles:
That’s why they’ve been trying to choose bad (staying) over worse (resigning). But that equation just changed.
The first level of questions about Fordham’s 2004 remark is obvious. (”Mr. Speaker, were you planning to mention this to us anytime soon?”) A taste of the new (second-level) questions to come: Did RNCC give money to Foley’s 2004 election campaign after they knew from Fordham about his “behavior”? Did any other congressmen, for instance, say, Denny Hastert, give money to his 2004 campaign knowing this? They won’t be able to ask for it back now…
New thread with Robert Greenwald and Jane.
Frank Probst @ 59
My thought exactly. I think Hastert was warned about more than just an email or two. He was warned about Foley’s “inappropriate behavior”. That sounds like a lot more than just a couple of “naughty emails”.
Then there’s this:
Talk about an avalanche. Then you got Rush talking about a vast Liberal conspiracy…LOL!!!
Hell, even Sean Hannity is trying to say Aravosis at AmericaBlog is the one who set up the whole thing.
Oh what a fun election season!!!
windje @
62
I agree. And based on his statements so far, it’s looking like he has no intention of being the fall guy for this.
DKos diary:
MayDaze @ 64
Hi, MayDaze and welcome.
Don’t let it be your last post. :)
Frank Probst @ 68
I’m going to buy some extra popcorn – this looks like its becoming at least a double feature.
punaise @ 69
So how much longer before this allegation is on Wolfie’s show?
You can’t stop a feeding frenzy once the blood’s in the water.
Margot @ 61
My Pleasure, of course. We are all learning here together. I love teamwork!!
PS: Speaking of Teamwork…. I cannot tell you WHY but I am feeling VERY Happy right now about “Teamwork”.
Poached from Kos: (look at the date and time)
“Story Number: NNS061004-14
Release Date: 10/4/2006 1:31:00 PM
Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) — President George W. Bush will deliver the principal address at the christening ceremony of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, named for his father, former President George H. W. Bush, at 10 a.m. EDT Oct. 7 at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va.
The last of the Nimitz-class carriers is named in honor of World War II naval aviator and America’s 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/4/165128/925
So well said, don’t be a stranger, MayDaze.
jinny @ 74
The SS George W. Bush will be a Numb-nutz Class Carrier
LindyH @ 70
Thanks, LindyH. This is really a great group here and I’m glad to be a part of it now.
jeffreyw @ 75
yes, welcome.
FYI, Fordham is openly gay, per ABC.
mc @ 72
Read the article – Link below. These are as yet ALLEGATIONS and the records so far show nothing.
Link
John Laesch coming up on Hardball
Hi firedogs–
apologies if this has already been posted:
http://www.courier-journal.com…..1/61004037
“U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis has canceled an event next week with U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, citing the growing Capitol Hill sex scandal.”
that buss is bearing down on denny.
From Pickle’s remarks at the Tom Reynolds fundraiser this afternoon in Amherst, NY.
John Laesch on Hardball right now
Goopers line of defense:
Well until we have a full and complete investigation- we don’t know what if anything Hastert is guilty of- so lets all hold our fire until the investition is complete.
Of course the investigation will never be complete at least not until after the election.
Voters have to vote on the basis of probability- and the probability is that Hastert covered up Foley’s behavior.
punaise @ 76
Do you think he’ll dress up as a Gilbert & Sullivan Admiral of the Fleet?
punaise @ 76
Naming a carrier for either Bush sounds like some kind of insult to the admirals Nimitz!
Foley Scandal a Trap for Democrats?
This on Tucker’s screen……..
PS: Where is Tucker’s bow tie today?
And, as if we didn’t know, a new study has just come out with the findings that the DAILY SHOW has as much authentic news as any other regular news medium.
ccmask @ 88
Spinning like gyroscopes.
TPM reports that now Fordham is specifically naming Hastert’s chief of staff as someone who knew in 2004. Hastert also blamed his staff early on (in his sixth or seventh version of what happened.)
As Reynolds is learning with Fordham, undertakers know where the bodies are buried. Hastert’s choices are to keep his now-blamed CoS (”Mr. Speaker, if you can’t even run your own office staff, why should we think you can run the U.S. Congress?”), dump his CoS (”Mr. Ross, you have a call on line 2.”), or resign (”Breaking news: the Republican Speaker of the House has resigned over his role in a growing child predator scandal in the U.S. Congress.”)
Tough call.
ccmask @ 89
I read somewhere that its his new image. Truly!
Dennis Hastert visiting Loveland, Colorado to tell us about good Christian values.
John Ashcroft Stands by Valerie Plame Probe
Former Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, author of “Never Again: Securing America and Restoring Justice,” today spent time with bloggers talking about his new book and the War on Terror.
I felt it was necessary to investigate it. We did not go outside the Justice Department. We did not call in a special prosecutor. We used Justice Department individuals who had experience in this.
I have not rejoiced in what’s happened, but the truth of the matter is, I think they proceeded in accordance with the rules and enforcing matters. My own sense is we need to signal that when individuals involved in government, if they do indeed violate the law, they have to answer for it.
Now, we’ll find out. I don’t want to go any further than that because we still have things open there.
I don’t like the idea of special prosecutors outside the Justice Department setting up special bureaucracies — they operate with independent budgets and they go way out of line. I think if you’ve got 100,000-plus people in the Justice Department, if you can’t find the person with independence and integrity to run the operation, you should think very carefully about doing something else.
http://www.humanevents.com/rig…..e_plame_pr
Jinny-his little chest hairs are showing–he looks different. But it’s only the second time I’ve ever watched him. I usually watch Democracy now at that time.
Busted: They sure are. Bunch o’ losers
Fordham says he repeatedly told Hastert’s then-Chief of Staff Scott Palmer as far back as 2003 that there was a problem with Foley and the pages. And nothing was ever done.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Next?
Drip
Drip
Drip
Marilyn & Denny @
94
the hits do keep coming….
Did it not occur to a single one of these people to go to the police or a sex crime unit with this information? This is a law enforcement matter,period. Instead they kept it”in house”,just like the Catholic church did. And now everyone’s running around saying they told so and so who did nothing. So,what,you just give up and keep quiet? This really boggles my mind.This goes back to 1995,and that’s just Foley.God only knows who else has been doing this and for how long.
How many pages were paid off or threatened over the years? How many are being paid off or threatened now? This goes lots farther than just Foley,there’s NO WAY all this ass covering is only about him.
I hope this whole thing blows the lid right off of Capitol Hill. The place needs a good bleaching and lots of sunshine to disinfect it.
And the saddest thing to me is that teens are watching this unfold and it’s being driven home that they’ll be blamed for coming forward if they’re being abused or coerced by adults. Damn it.
An Angry Old Broad @
100
It occurred to the folks at CREW. Of course, the Fibbies did fuck-all with the information, as snoozual.
I agree with you about the teens, and I think that it would be a good idea for the good guys (Ned!) to emphasize that the TEENS ARE HEROES for speaking out.
Why the HELL are so many of these candidates afraid to put the word “DEMOCRAT” with their names?……
I don’t know, maybe I am too friggin sensitive.
I think I may be responsible for this tact by Angie. I sent her campaign a note shortly after the Hastert thing began to happen, urging her to press Musgrave on whether she supports Hastert. Her campaign wrote back and said “good question.”
So, not for sure, but I strongly urge everyone to contribute their best ideas as soon as possible to campaigns they care about. This is how intelligence becomes collective wisdom–as opposed to “conventional wisdom.”