Rush Limbaugh re-victimized Mark Foley's teenage victim today by using his name publicly, as did Matt Drudge. (Both Roger Simon and InstaCracker made sure the identity was widely disseminated by linking to the no-name wingnut blogger to whom the original dirty work was tasked.) Because it's not enough that their leaders are beating off online during national security votes, or that the GOP spent years covering the whole thing up — no, no they must do their part to harass, bully and intimidate anyone who threatens their authoritarian cult, even the young victims of sexual predators. Especially if there might be other kids thinking of stepping forward with similar stories (as three more now have). It's the manly thing to do, after all.
Take it away, Rush (via Crooks & Liars):
Maybe…Maybe the page…my original theory, maybe the page is out there engaged in some kind of chicanery…maybe the, maybe the, maybe the, maybe the pa…you know, you know kids play pranks too. Maybe the page…maybe they were…uh…uh…maybe they were laughing at Foley in the page room. Maybe Foley's making advances and maybe you know, "let's egg this guy on." I've…you know, I've done my share of pranks. So it's for that reason that I ask "why in the wor…how in world did these instant messages find their way into the public domain after such a long time.
Right. Says the man who took an illicit bottle of Viagra to a vacation spot with a thriving child sex industry. Maybe Rush knows a thing or two about ungrateful kids himself. Eh, Rush?
But this "blame the kids" storyline is not just limited to pervy, pill-gobbling Rush. There's reliable Republican mouthpiece Michael Savage:
But the kid was leading him on. I mean, this kid was leading him on. You know what I'm saying? You read these things. Who is the kid? Maybe he's a Democrat. Maybe it's a — I don't know who it is. Is there a real kid? I could argue that the age of consent is 16 in Washington, he really didn't have sex, that it's not illegal to actually have sex with a 16 year-old, but it's illegal to write an email suggesting sex, to show you how crazy America is.
And who could forget Matt Drudge (headline today: "Filthy Foley Messages Were A Page Prank Gone Awry"), who sounds like he's bringing a few of his own issues to the table in defense of the GOP hierarchy:
And if anything, these kids are less innocent — these 16 and 17 year-old beasts…and I've seen what they're doing on YouTube and I've seen what they're doing all over the internet — oh yeah — you just have to tune into any part of their pop culture. You're not going to tell me these are innocent babies. Have you read the transcripts that ABC posted going into the weekend of these instant messages, back and forth? The kids are egging the Congressman on! The kids are trying to get this out of him. We haven't got the whole story on this.
And then there is Joe Lieberman, who blames any Democrat for wanting to "politicize" this (I guess Rush, Drudge and Savage are just some sort of well-organized truth tellers, or maybe they all just spontaneously came to the same conclusion: kids are scum).
Fortunately, a few Democrats are not being intimidated by Lieberman's collaborationist antics in defense of the GOP elite.
Harry Reid:
It is not enough for House Republican leaders to work to ensure this disgrace is not repeated in the future. Every parent in America expects them to fully investigate why it was permitted in the first place. The problem today isn't the page program, which has been in existence since the time of Daniel Webster. The problem today is that House Republican leaders had evidence of a sexual predator in their ranks and chose to cover it up instead of choosing to protect these children. What is needed is for Republican leaders to testify under oath about what they knew, when they knew it, and why they didn't properly act.
Barbara Boxer:
I can hardly believe my eyes and ears as I watch excuse after excuse over a set of e-mails that any parent would immediately know is not only inappropriate but a prelude to a predator's first steps — winning the trust of a young person before taking full advantage of that trust.
Parents — who would you choose to guard the welfare of your children in the same situation?
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FITZ!
Of *course* they’re going out of their way to out the page’s identity, they want to scare any other pages away from coming forward with their corroborating evidence of Foley’s misdeeds, that way they can run with the “prank” storyline.
Really grasping at straws, these guys.
dang missed again
2nd Fitz!!
lurkers’r’us @ 1
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with FITZing a 2 (or a 1 if the 0 is still hanging around).
That’s what a get for reading the post first! 8(
Oh Hell. Fitz!
“it’s not illegal to actually have sex with a 16 year-old, but it’s illegal to write an email suggesting sex, to show you how crazy America is.”
Um, Rush, guess who came up with that idea? That law? Not “crazy America”, but the GOP, spearheaded by Foley, and backed by your army of dittoheads.
George Jr. couldn’t remember anyone telling him, the day before Katrina hit, that the levies were about to cave; Condi couldn’t remember anyone telling her, two months before September 11, that al Quaida was about to attack the United States; how can anyone expect Denny to remember someone telling him one of the majority whips was hitting on pages?
from ABC News tonight:
Three more former congressional pages have come forward to reveal what they call “sexual approaches” over the Internet from former Congressman Mark Foley.
The pages served in the classes of 1998, 2000 and 2002….
“I was seventeen years old and just returned to [my home state] when Foley began to e-mail me, asking if I had ever seen my page roommates naked and how big their penises were,” said the page in the 2002 class.
The former page also said Foley told him that if he happened to be in Washington, D.C., he could stay at Foley’s home if he “would engage in oral sex” with Foley….
The second page who talked with ABC News, a graduate of the 2000 page class, says Foley actually visited the old page dorm and offered rides to events in his BMW.
“His e-mails developed into sexually explicit conversations, and he asked me for photographs of my erect penis,” the former page said….
All three pages described similar instant message and e-mail patterns, with remarkably similar escalations of provocative questions.
“He didn’t want to talk about politics,” the page said. “He wanted to talk about sex or my penis,” the page said.
The three new verbal accounts are in addition to two sets of sexually explicit instant messages provided to ABC News by former pages.
Now, let’s see here. What kind of world does the GOP suggest we live in?
A world where the *proper* response to seeing a huge heaping load of irresponsibility and abandonment of our kids is to say *nothing,* if not to praise the neglectful authority as someone with *integrity.*
Why? Because otherwise you are politicizing it.
I’d love to hear someone ask these creeps what the *proper* response to malign neglect SHOULD BE, if speaking out against it is NOT IT.
Witchywoman @
6
That’s the spirit, fitz whenever you feel like it! Even if it’s post number 283, make it feel like the first!
I refuse to listen to Limbaugh, but his words sure look stupid in transcript form.
Love, Republican Style
;>)
OOOW EEEE! I didn’t know that Rush even knew a biiiig word like chicanery.
All Rush and others are doing is prolonging the scandal and discussion of the scandal.
If there was full disclosure of who knew what and when, there would be shock but at least it would be out and the GOP would recover more quickly.
But as Nixon proved, it’s not the crime it’s the coverup.
Then there’s Lucille’s kid in the LA TImes today, title: ‘Foley Could Haunt Dems’.
I’m assuming he’s running the ‘blame the Dems’ line. (I didn’t read it: I don’t want to have to replace my work keyboard.)
And just now Katie introduces yet another new shining star for her network and her news show, commenting on (or, rather, making excuses for) the House Republican scandal: “Nicole Wallace,” former Bush White House spokesperson, “now a political consultant for CBS News….”
Somebody explain to me how the party that lays claim to “values voters” can allow a moral degenerate like Rush Limbaugh be one of their go to guys when they want to get a message out. I don’t get it.
Reposting my thoughts on this:
This is another major misstep. Drudge loves a scoop, which is why he’s running with it. My take on it is that the now-revealed page, a conservative Republican with political ambitions, has to come up with some sort of story to explain why he was having cybersex with another man. He should have just gone with, “Look, I’m not proud of it, but I needed a good letter of rec, and the guy started sending me dirty messages. I figured talking dirty to an old man was a small price to pay to get a letter of rec from a sitting Congressman.” I think most people would’ve bought that. He probably would’ve been able to dodge questions about his sexual orientation. Instead, we have the “prank” scenario. This does nothing to help Foley (he still took the bait), and it makes the page look both vicious and culpable for the whole scandal. I understand that the ploy is to shift blame to “enemy political operatives”, but I just don’t see how it’s going to work. Now people are going to start asking the page what he did with the IMs. How did they get from the page to these “enemy political operatives”? You’re in a jam, kid. And you sure as hell can’t tell a whopper like that to the FBI. I think this page is going to be the first kid outed as a result of this scandal.
darkblack @ 13
oh, my…
darkblack @ 13
my eyes, dear God my eyes!
Anybody have a spoon?
It is especially irksome for anyone as useless as Matt Drudge or Rush Limbaugh to heap scorn on pages, who represent some of the best and brightest of our country. All kids are worth protecting. But what these guys are doing is trying to equate the pages with the future drop-outs that are caught smoking in the boys’ room and lie about it. Not gonna work. This attack is utterly doomed.
From Lawrence O’Donnell today:
“Now two Republican staffers are locked in a credibility contest: it’s Kirk Fordham v. Scott Palmer, Hastert’s chief of staff. Palmer flatly denies that Fordham warned him about Foley. Hastert’s political life depends entirely on Scott Palmer’s credibility. I can’t find anyone in Washington who knows Palmer who thinks his credibility can survive this test.”
“It’s no accident that the first call for Hastert’s resignation came from Tony Blankley, Newt Gingrich’s former press secretary. Tony knows that the scandal cannot die as long as Hastert and his staff are still in the building.”
Here’s hoping Denny continues to ‘hang in there’.
Oh
Much lower.
Though blaming the kids is a strong step.
Blaming the gays is already gaining strength.
You know, they want to get married so they can adopt…
I had an interresting argument with a co-worker today who thought somehow it was worse that the vics were boys.
Wrong is wrong, and pedarists’ preferences, like rapists’ are not about sexuality.
And those who would turn a blind eye are the saddest lot imaginable.
After watching Bill Moyer’s show last night on PBS, I am even more determined to take back congress AND the public airwaves. The 24/7 SPEWAGE of EVIL from these fucktards HAS to be STOPPED!
Speaking of Fucktards that need to be stopped; here’s a fresh slice of EPU for you:
For the past five weeks I’ve spent countless hours researching small radio stations – ones outside Arbitron market metros, but with signals covering the congressional district of promising Blue America candidates. Progressives with a real chance to win this November.
It’s been a hell of a lot of work, (and fun) but also challenging. I’ve had to step outside my comfort level and speak to folks in the bible belt about “progressives” and “throwing the rascals out”, not knowing what reaction I’d get on the other end of the line.
Right now we have enough money in the Blue America PAC to fund two congressional races – and frankly, that isn’t enough for me. We need to affect MORE races this election! To this end, Howie is running a contest at DWT. Check it out and enter. (You WILL already be a winner!)
Remember what John Laesch said about the “Have You Had Enough?” video on his own campaign site? The sitemeter had uncovered the sad truth that people from Hastert’s campaign had been clicking onto Laesch’s site to watch the customized “Have You Had Enough?” video, “over and over and over again”?
Imagine the reaction a rubber-stamp Republican will have when he’s stuck in traffic and hears “it’s time to throw (said rubber-stamp) OOooouuuuut!” on his car radio… Like the ad says, “Priceless!”
A lot of people have put a lot of work into ROFLMAO’s “Have You Had Enough?” campaign. You can help, too – by adding to the Blue America PAC kitty to fund targeted, local progressive radio campaigns designed to take back Congress this November.
This song is absolutely infectious. It will get inside of voter’s heads and not let go! The more people we can get this song to, the more that will be hearing it in their minds as they walk into the polling booth in November…
No pressure or anything… I’m just sayin’
Although I find myself savoring the Republican disintegration, I recommend that we not forget Senator Finegold’s warning. Since Bush has been left in the dark as the spotlight has switched to Pervegate, will he stamp his foot and launch a nuclear strike against Iran?
Rush may be just about ready to arrive at his tipping point. As are the Republicans.
It’s quite true, isn’t it? They do in fact eat their young.
darkblack @ 13
But but… where’s PAM and her bikini-topped pair, bobbing in the waves?
EPU’d:
Lamont needs to hit Joey Low Road hard on his failure to criticize his Repug buddies in the House “leadership.” I can envision TV spots with parents talking about how disgusted they are with Joe over this failure.
Jacq –
That Moyers production on Abramoff was amazingly well-done, no? A complex story, described clearly, pulling no punches.
It was bad for my blood pressure, though. Even though I knew all the parts of the story, seeing it all tied together along with the arrogance of the perps and showing their smarmy, smirky faces made me want to throw things….
or cry, when I thought about all the victims of their rapaciousness, greed, and exploitation.
We must continue to cry out for justice, no matter what.
Hey Jaqrat– I watched Bill Moyers last nite and am with you completely.
It. is. disgraceful.
Every American should be made to watch it…before November.
here’s the link and lots of information available including replay times and dates.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moye…..index.html
Finally, the answer to the old GOP riddle:
Q: What will we tell the children?
A: The children are to blame.
“Love, Republican Style,
Truer than the Red, White and Booty Call.
Love, Republican Style,
That’s mean, y’all”
Rush Loonbaugh=Pervert, drug addict, rascist,uber jingoist
Matt Drudge= closet case, dated Lynn Samuels to cover it up(think about it), lying LOSER.
These are the idiots that would out an innocent victim. Ah I forgot, they also cover up for an administration that has criminally killed hundreds of thousands of innocent victims in Iraq, along with 2,762 of our brave heroes.
Jacqrat at 25 — For those who want it — here’s the link to the contest Howie is running. Any contributions to our “Had Enough?” PAC will be well used in the next coupla weeks, gang, we promise. We can truly make a difference for these campaigns if we can get more on the airwaves. :) Howie is doing an amazing job with this — and every little bit helps.
darkblack @ 13
two thumbs up . . .
Just FYI, this STILL is on .gov servers. Your tax dollar$.
http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html
Googling will get you other sources. like Heritage, etc.
——-
Punaise Roolz!
———-
Saw Looseheadprop shoot and score!
-
Any info re: Zennurse?
—–
These brouHaHAs are like watching Ali/Frazier.
———
Ned’s as I’ve seen are quite good. Problems with Jozo’s new fuzzy politics do the trick pretty well. …and sniority; no aatter which side he goes.
——
Where will the A’s go? Hot pitching, timely hitting and smart baserunning? Error-free fielding. Not the a’s I know. But when a team gets hot anything can happen.
======-
-30-
Oklahoma kiddo @
23
So what do we know about Scott Palmer?
Jacqrat @ 29
Bobbing, or boobing?
‘I know nothink!’
;>)
OT Your daily gas and oil prices
Average price for regular gasoline 10/05/06 in 50 states and DC
$3.00 plus 1 state
$2.90 plus 0 states
$2.80 plus 1 state
$2.70 plus 0 states
$2.60 plus 6 states
$2.50 plus 3 states
$2.40 plus 5 states
$2.30 plus 6 states
$2.20 plus 11 states
$2.10 plus 15 states
$2.00 plus 3 states
Average national price: $2.290, down $.005 from yesterday
Down 65.1 cents from same time last year.
Highest recorded national average price: $3.057 9/5/2005
Highest average price: Hawaii $3.070
Lowest average price: Missouri $2.052
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp
Nymex Crude Future $60.02, up $.61
Dated Brent Spot $59.04, up $.70
WTI Cushing Spot $60.03, up $.62
The decline in gas prices has slowed. Having tested a lower limit, oil goes back to hang out at ~$60/bbl. On the one hand, there was a move to bid the market down and on the other an OPEC response invoking production cuts. Most of this is the shadow boxing of a market waiting for something real to happen.
Me thinks the republican leadership has far to much respect for the tools and methods of the American Catholic Bishops (you know the ones who banned communion for Kerry supporters). I mean Hastert et al are giving Roger Mahoney a break from the limelight in the Sexploit Coverup Follies!
Hugh-
Nice summary, as per SOP.
Any info on Home heating oil? Trends supplies, etc.?
.. and the fate of the neon vibrating Citgo sign in Kemmore Square?
Frank Probst @ 42
I’m often in my car during Rush’s show and I have been listening to it for years now. He has occasionally described the “pranks” he and his friends pulled. One was to make it known that some benefit to seniors (don’t remember the details — food or medicine, maybe) would be available at a certain time and a certain place. Ha Ha, they were just “kidding”. He described how he and his friends laughed at the old people who showed up. There are other examples that he’s shared with his listeners, as if “we” are all cruel and “get it”. He is a sick individual– as if that wasn’t already known. The problem is that they project their sickness on the whole nation.
Poor Foley, got punk’d by 16 year olds.
Bill Kristol, on Fox News with Brit Hume, opines that there will be no Foley fallout for GOP in November election.
Hastert expects to run for Speaker again after the November elections.
Kool Aid, anyone?
Blank Kludge @ 46
ditto on the props! I have called 7/11 telling them not one more penny from me because of their decision on CITGO. At least Hugo cares about poor people…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 36
Damn, the cut-and-paste didn’t add the links? :( THANK YOU, Christy. I have been sitting here too long, I guess. Eyes went fuzzy.
Here is the link to my original Post.
Here is the contest link at Down With Tyranny – Howie Klein’s (a/k/a TRex’s future husband!) excellent blog.
Here is the Blue America PAC
angie @ 49
Dow Jones Newswires, citing an unidentified OPEC governor, said OPEC ministers agreed to cut 1 million barrels a day from its current oil production levels, with Saudi Arabia cutting 300,000 barrels per day, effective as soon as possible.
“We each have an idea of what is an appropriate response … we agree that something needs to be done,” Daukoru said, referring to possible cuts in output. “We will have to agree on how much, how soon and how we distribute it among the member countries.”
Daukoru said OPEC members would only agree on a formal position on oil cuts after consultations. But he said Venezuela has already promised to announce a cut of 50,000 barrels per day.
“Algeria also gave me some understanding,” Daukoru said. “The Saudis were already taking some measures on their own as part of leadership.”
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. had said on Wednesday that he did not expect OPEC to hold an emergency meeting to discuss prices ahead of its scheduled Dec. 14 meeting, despite the recent decline in prices.
Congratulations, Jane. You made my blood boil.
I hope this lurid scandal drags their whole sham apparatus over the cliff.
Just FYI, if anyone would like to listen to Reynolds on On Point, npr, from this am, you can do that here right now:
http://www.onpointradio.org/sh…..a_main.asp
Only have a minute, great posts today, inspired.
I inadvertently ended up near a radio spewing Michael Savage last night. He was blaming the email/IM revelations on a homosexual conspiracy, directed by “the pink hand.”
I wish I was making this up.
This “story development” will prove a fine example of the “vast right wing conspiracy theory”.
How did they ALL come up with the almost exact same formulation on the same day?
I listen to Michael Savage on the way home from work and he claims he is “independent” of all the other wing nuts but this shoots that assertion down.
Do they have some sort of master email list where they come up with an agreed upon mud spraying attack? Or are they contacted by someone else, ie Rove, who gives them their marching orders?
I lean toward the latter explanation.
IMPEACH BU$HCO & U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW !!!!
It’s simple intimidation. Scare off anymore potential promblem creators.
All on Rove’s leash, like a pack of poodles.
Biggus Diggus @
15
It’s kinda like reading a slow paced mystery novel. The suspense keeps you hooked. Since you can’t flip to the end to find out how it turns out, as with a book, you keep looking for twists and turns. The more coverage, the more time you invest in keeping up, the more you want to know how it comes out, and why it comes out the way it does..
The republicans are on the defensive here, and that’s hard work. Usually they they get in the first outrageous statement, and the democrats end up looking whiny when they try to point out the truth.
Rush revictimized one of Foley’s victims. The right is trying very very hard to make people think that there is only a single former page involved in this; that’s one of the motives for constantly mentioning Studds.
There seem to be at least a dozen victims coming forward to ABC at this point, young men who were pages between 1995 and 2006. That’s a heck of a long-running prank, don’t you think?
Limbaugh-style prank
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/0…..ters.phtml
Pranksters (excerpt)
Zack Ricky…..Seth Meyers
Larry Hobson…..Christopher Walken
Zack Ricky V/O: [ anticipating a great prank ] I can’t wait for him to get it!
[ on video, Larry jumps out from behind Phil’s car, and proceeds to smash Phil’s backside with a rusty tire iron, until Phil’s lifeless body slumps onto the pavement; still clutching the tire iron with his right hand, Larry jumps in front of the hidden camera and displays a victory thumbs-up with his left hand, as the “Prank!” logo graphic covers the screen ]
[ dissolve back to “Pranksters” studio ]
Larry Hobson: [ laughing uproariously ]
Zack Ricky: [ stunned by the freakish turn of events ] Wha-wha-what happened?
Larry Hobson: I jumped out and pranked him! To death with a tire iron!
[ cue buggy horn sound effect ]
Zack Ricky: What?!
Larry Hobson: [ fighting the tears from laughing so hard ] Yeah! You shoulda seen the look.. on his face! Classic!
A fifty year old multi-term Congressman is blameless because he was ‘egged on’ by a teen?
Responding to being ‘egged on’ is voluntary. It requires one’s willing participation.
No one can force you to be ‘egged on.’
Interesting. I was watching the NBC news with Brian Williams tonight, and during the Hastert story, they mentioned that he was a “former high school wrestling coach” at least five times. I’m surprised no one said “nudge, nudge, wink, wink.” Nice to see the MSM working the GOP over for a change.
Blank Kludge @ 43
No and no but about that sign . . .
As far as I know which isn’t necessarily very much is that supplies of most energy sources are currently good and because of El Nino effects the general forecast for this winter is for a wetter, milder winter in the West and North.
yeah, right: Foaly was just horsing around
Primordial Ooze @ 33
A Brilliant Haiku.
Cleanup requested on previous threat at 3:49 near the bottom of the comments. Single word blogwhoring.
Any info re: Zennurse?–blank kludge
I’m here, in fits and starts. Doing orientation for a little second job giving flu shots, but they’re making me watch a bunch of films about fire safety and infection control. Aren’t you the sweetie for wondering!!! Thanks so much, I’m trying to stay current and stick my nose in now and then.
Reynolds is trying to shut down Tom Ashbrook on On Point, wants to talk about races, supports the Speaker, wants an investigation and wants it “all out”. Sounds tired.
“House Speaker Hastert activates Congressional page tip line”
“The Clerk of the House of Representatives will oversee the tip line, accessible at 866-348-0481. Callers will be encouraged but not required to leave names and contact information.”
Think the NSA will be monitoring that number?
OT – SANTA ROSA, Calif. – A judge dismissed child pornography charges Thursday against former JonBenet Ramsey murder suspect John Mark Karr after prosecutors said they didn’t have enough evidence to take the case to trial.
Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau ordered Karr released immediately.
There is a DU discussion post up now saying a former KY page who is a soldier in Iraq has stepped forward with a similar story
alton @ 53
The Pink Hand eh? Is that what they call Ken Mehlman sotto voce? /em giggle
Frank Probst @ 39
Scott Palmer:
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/s…..681144.htm
Oh and about OPEC oil cuts, the reason they need to be taken with a big grain of salt is that members routinely violate their agreed upon production levels and there is no good mechanism to monitor what a country’s true level of production is except in a very general way which leaves lots of room for cheating. I think the Saudis were just signaling the market that they don’t want prices to decrease further than where they are. In this, they are being pragmatically greedy. They want the golden eggs to keep coming but do not want to kill the goose or let it go.
punaise @ 62
or feeling his oats?
I had this dream last night that Rush had swallowed his monster cigar and I could not
do heimlich on him because I could not get him
out of his lazyboy~
windje @ 66
seems that this might be a job for law enforcement or social workers rather than falling under the job desc. of House staff.
Thanks *xyz. Let’s resyllablize and haikuify that properly:
*ahem*
The right wing answers
“What will we tell the chidren?”
That they are to blame
Hugh @ 74
the old grey mere just ain’t what he used to be
Don’t forget, beating off, while drunk …..
The democrats ought to use the drival that Rush Limpjaw, savage,drudge etc. say as the official GOP talking points in their compaign commercials.
They speak for the GOP so why not use it?
Thank you for pointing out the obvious – and something that no media outlet did at the time- that Rush was returning from a country that has billboards telling tourists “not too have sex with their children.” – with a bottle of viagra.
How this missed the mainstream “liberal” media I don’t know.
Primordial Ooze @ 73
Primordial Ooze @ 73
Well done, Ooze.
This question-and-answer cuts at the very heart of the hypocrisy of the modern-day Republican party.
Every time I read it, I laugh out loud.
This haiku is the rightful epitaph of Rush Limbaugh, among others.
OT, but…
When is Ned going to come out with some hard stuff exposing Lieberman for the real piece of scum he is?
Latest polls are not encouraging and actually look like Ned had lost momentum. I’ve got to think CT voters are still not aware just how bad Joe is with his fake “bi-partisanship.” It’s up to Ned to make them aware of that, and go after the indies, as well. No more Mr. Nice Guy, this is too important
I guess we know how Drudge spends his lonely nights. Maybe the FBI should sieze his computer too. There really is no limit for these people. We are in the last days of Empire — Caligula times are here again with the full backing of evangelical Christianity. It is a strange and sad world.
I leave to eat dinner, and come back and the Hastert/Foley/Limbaugh thread has turned to composing haikus? What did I miss? LOL
People can influence each other, you know. B.Muse/Southern Dem got me interested in North Carolina races, so when Howie Klein brought Larry Kissell here, I was ready to help.
Edward Teller has been asking for fdl support for Diane Benson. Since I can’t find her on the BlueAmerica list here, I added her to egregious’ favorite candidates at ActBlue.
To contribute to Diane Benson of Alaska:
http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious
So, ET, all that ranting has paid off! Congratulations on the sweeping progressive victories in Alaska, and good luck in November.
Re ActBlue, I can’t persuade all my friends to donate through fdl, some of them feel more comfortable donating thru my webpage. It is ridiculously easy to set up an ActBlue page. Trust me if I can do it you can too.
*xyz @ 63
The ‘Murkan Haiku version is best –
Ol’ 60 Grit on Hardball
I love this site for in-depth political analysis and timely responses to events as they unfold. I check in two-three times a day.
That said, I just have to leave a comment on this one…..I’m speechless, absolutely floored, my jaw is on the floor!
What is it going to take for the die-hard supporters to be repulsed and disgusted? I SHUDDER to imagine, no I take that back…I can’t go into that territory without losing my mind and my soul.
Rush has lowered the bar even further…is he taking inspiration from beezelbub himself? Unbelievable to any decent person, these kids don’t deserve this, victims of sexual crimes need support. This is further victimization. Truly, truly Evil.
60 grit has a very emerald green sheen to her visage…
I think she’s hiding some bruising on her ole neck– either evidence of a vampire feeding frenzy or her own husband/ self gripping the neck in desperation.
Don’t forget that Rush was buying street pain killers in some restaurant parking lot in West Palm Beach I believe it was. And extolling his radio listeners at the same time that drug dealers ought to be lined up and shot. Or something to that effect.
OT — kind of, although it does involve Foley. AOL surveying now, freep if you can. Current results:
Which party do you want to control Congress?
Democratic 65%
Republican 35%
Total Votes: 30,513
Note on Poll Results
Which party do you think will control Congress?
Democratic 63%
Republican 37%
Total Votes: 30,424
How important are these elections to you?
Very 84%
Somewhat 13%
Not at all 3%
Total Votes: 29,965
Do you know who you’re voting for?
Yes 88%
No 12%
Total Votes: 29,963
Via boing boing:
cute elephant t shirt for sale
Time for Keith.
Get ready for another “Special Comment”
“All the President’s Lies”
It is only a matter of time before we start seeing merchandise that simply says:
“GOP equals MaF54″.
A MUST READ article about Bush’s signing statements: http://www.boston.com/news/nat…..and_power/
Curious in Central Texas @ 96
Yep, Charlie Savage is still on the case. He is truly a hero.
OT: Important campaigning question:
I’m looking to find information on using photographs of our opponent for our TV campaign. I’m looking for legalities on using
photos we get from, say, the internet.
Specifically, what photos can we use and what photos can’t we use for our TV campaign? What’s considered public domain, and what’s considered
hands off? Photos from the opponents web page? Etc.
THANKS!
metalmaven @
85
Sadly, nothing will make die hard supporters be repulsed and disgusted. They are true authoritarian types who are not swayed by logic, reason, morals, facts or anything else as their whole mental structure is dependent on a certain, warped point of view. If they let that worldview be demolished, or even questioned, their entire psychological facade will crumble into an emotional heap. Can’t let that happen, you know.
Olbermann’s on. Mmmmmm.
David Shuster is amazing. I understand both of them have been through trials of a personal nature that have rendered them hardened and ready to do battle.
The Hastert “High School Coach” comments being repeated in the press and even on the Colbert Report last night are coded reminders to HASTERT — and is no secret to many …when he was a wrestling coach he was repeatedly accused of inappropriate touching by the boys and parents made loud PUBLIC complaints.
Those parental complaints spilled over the first time Hastert ran for local office and he had to drop out of the race . . .due to the public outrage to his “innapropriate touching of boys” brought up during his campaign.
Later the man who DID run fell ill and into a coma and Hastert was able to step in by default.
Spritey @ 101
Any links or documentation of this?
RevDeb @ 98
ruh-roh.
Well… if you follow the trail… it turns out that Foley’s IM chat buddy is a loyal Republican (biw 21( who took time off from college to serve in the campaign of a Republican candidate for governor in a very red state. But Rush doesn’t mind throwing him under the bus.
KO’s going to do a special comment tonight btw
*xyz @
91
the Republican MaF-feel-oh-so
hey, siun!
Hey Punaise! missed you!
Boy, these guys sure are willing to live with a lot of maybes. Well, maybe they are just plain fucked and have absilutely no idea what to do with it. For five years, they have lorded this winner-take-all attitude over the country. So when they start losing — well, man, you see how pathetically weak they are.
Siun @ 105
Title:
“All the President’s Lies”
RevDeb @ 107
Special comment? That would be a mini series.
wow! – just took a look at the Blue America page and we’re sooooo close to a quarter million bucks and several great candidates are almost at $10K … add in Howie’s contest and there are lots of cool chances to make a big difference!
At the end of the day, what’s paramount is what’s going in the Middle East. The up side of this Foley thing for the Republicans is it takes the heat off Bush respective of the colossal GOP foreign policy failure and the on going deaths occurring in Iraq everyday.
So, what’s prankster Bill O’Reilly’s online sex chat room handle?
BOR69?
Yeah, these brainiac high school juniors from politically connected Republican families are now being portrayed as a bunch of sleaze bags who “egged on” a 50-something Congressman.
If I was the parent of a page (or former page) I’d be even more pissed than I already am. These Republican apologists simply have no shame. The pages will probably end up not mentioning their Congressional Page service on their resumes simply to avoid being asked a lot of stupid questions by moronic dittoheads.
Disgusting isn’t a strong enough word. Puketastic comes closer.
The Oracle @ 113
BOR1N9
punaise @ 55
This is why we are gonna win. We’ve got the A Team here.
I haven’t seen anyone link to this yet here. I think this can stop any BS lying attack on Iran if more widely read and distributed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01577.html
looks like we are on our own……….
Oklahoma kiddo @
109
Anybody with half a brain understands the disaster that is Iraq. It’s not getting better; it’s not going away.
This Foleygate nonsense is going to hit the semi-brained constituency as well. There’s nothing to complain about–the smart people already know Iraq is a disaster. Now the dumb people can be turned off by the GOP and either vote blue or stay home.
Part of the theory behind maintaining the death penalty in this country is that people convicted of certain crimes in which they clearly demonstrate no compassion for other humans; in which they denigrate and dehumanize another person to such a degree; that they must be permanently removed from society.
To act the way Rush and Drudge act, whether it be to intimidize or destroy, is the denial of another person’s worth as surely as is killing them.
But, of course, I am absolutely against the death penalty.
Haven’t seen anyone writing about the so-called “soccer moms” or “security moms” and how this is all playing with them.
Funny, that.
I reckon lots of us here in America could learn much from the Amish in Lancaster…
bless them.
I came across this thanks to Wikipedia. It’s old news in a way, but a reminder that there’s more to Hastert than just his unwillingness to deal with a potential scandal:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thebl…..pdate.html
In a nutshell, it’s a story from May saying that the FBI is looking into Hastert’s relationship with Abramoff, including the Indian casinos thing.
angie @ 118
Angie, were you watching Countdown?
They did a nice piece.
angie – do you know that little book by the woman who visited the amish …can’t remember the name but it was lovely
as a kid visiting relatives in Philly I was always fascinated by the Amish who would come to the zoo, etc …then by Shakers … cultures we can learn from
angie,
over the past few days you and I have been tracking the same things over and over again.
I’m preaching about Job on Sunday. Was planning to before the Amish tragedy.
Hard to put it all in perspective, but the Amish, a very faith-filled people are able to do just that.
Heartbreaking segment on Countdown about the Amish families, even as they are burying their children, they talk about forgiving the killer, and insist on sharing money they have received with his family.
I am a Christian who has tried very hard to be forgiving, even when not deserved. This would truly be beyond my capacity. God bless them for their strong example. May we learn from them.
RevDeb @ 117
RevDeb — I haven’t seen much written, probably because those polls are in the field, but I have heard three separate radio or TV commentators remarking how mothers are hating this.
egregious @ 122
I can’t remember ever hearing a bad word spoken about them.
Job’s wife: “Curse God and die!”
Best line in the old testament IMHO.
neurophius @ 128
Or by them.
Siun @ 120
From the Powell’s website
Sue Bender is the author of Plain and Simple: A Woman’s Journey to the Amish (HarperSanFrancisco). The book was a New York Times bestseller. A fascination with Amish quilts led Sue to live with the Amish in their seemingly timeless world, a landscape of immense inner quiet.This privilege, rarely bestowed upon outsiders, taught her about simplicity and commitment and the contentment that comes from accepting who you are.In this inspiring book, Bender shares the lessons she learned while in the presence of the Amish people.
Fern – thank you! I had a copy a while back and enjoyed it … just a nice little read when it all gets too much.
immanentize @ 129
One part of the story that no one mentions. When Job has lost everything, his “comforters” come to him. They spend 7 days and 7 nights in silence together. Just imagine that. Being present with someone through a tragedy in silence for 7 days and nights.
Yes, after that, the blame game ensues, but just think about those 7 days and nights of silent presence. Awesome.
Fitz! Jane! At last I am at FDL today!
These Limba et al fucks are beyond unbelievable.
Denny hangin on like a puppy with a sock! Yeah baby give it to us! Please don’t stop! Denny’s tenacious cute butt in the air, refusing to stop working for the good of America – er, never mind, sorry
neurophius @
125
The Amish? Like a lot of very insular communities, they’ve been known to have some serious issues to deal with that haven’t always worked out in a healthy way for everyone. Ask another time and I’ll be happy to share.
However, when it comes to this particular tragedy, in this particular Amish community, I have nothing but respect and awe for the way they’re facing it and the courage and compassion they’re expressing. My heart goes out to them, as do my prayers.
neurophius– yes, I was. I have been thinking about this a lot. They are such a community unto themselves and so much unspeakable and inexplicable horror was visited upon them on Monday.
A microcosm of the nation’s 9/11 perhaps. Not at all like the victims of war; we visit such violence upon our own soldiers and many, many others daily and have treated common people so awfully for so long with our failed foreign and domestic policies.
But what if our response to 9/11 had been forgiveness and understanding and a correction to our own path? I think we would be in a better place in a better world.
Siun @ 128
I read it years ago – a library copy – and think I will see if I can find a copy of my own. I did love the book. Plus I’m a quiltmaker.
Jane’s offering a new Blue America thread.
here comes KO ’special comment’about chimpy and the L word.
Oh and neurophius, RevDeb, Fern, Siun and egregious– thank you all.
thanks for FDL.
RevDeb,
Actually, I think that Job’s wife’s quote comes before the “comforters” come. All men of course.
The devil and God make a deal to test Job. The devil destroys Job’s crop, his cattle and then his family — and everyone worries about Job.
Why the book is not called, “Job’s Abused Wife” I will never know.
PS — No comforters sit in the ashpit with her.
immanentize @ 137
And when God finally shows up at the end, his comfort pretty much consists of “Who do you think you are, you puny earthling.” Or words to that effect.
Never liked that particular book of the Bible, even back in my Christian days.
Keith Olbermann’s latest Special Comment was incredible. He deserves the Pulitzer Prize. I hope he can keep his job.
Joe Scarborough appears on screen with a logo that says, “GOP Sex Scandal.”
Obermann!!!
Fern @ 138
Actually, Fern, that is precisely why it is my favorite book in the bible. As true a depiction of God’s indifference as was ever transcribed. :~) I think everyone pretty much has concluded that the weird disconnected and most offensive part — the ending you describe — is apocryphal.
The mere fact that people actually listen to and follow this moral degenerate speaks volumes. This fat fuck, drug addicted, kiddie rapist has no more credibility then the monkeys running the government. Hey Mr Limpballs – Get a Life !!!!
immanentize @ 138
In the Odyssey, when Osysseus is rescued by Nausikaa and guided to the palace by a child — Odesseus clasps Queen Arete about the knees, and begs her indulgence while he sits in the ash pit.
Book Seven (line 100 or so)
immanentize @
138
yeah – job is one book i really hate…. and you’ve just described why. bleh. good luck to revdeb – she’s sure got her work cut out for her.
immanentize @ 142
Good point
immanentize @ 141
That’s why when I teach it I include “J.B.” by Archibald McLiesh and “A Masque of Reason” by Frost, both of which give a larger part to Job’s wife and bring home a whole different perspective to the loss, one that the wife profoundly feels while Job tries to rationalize.
ck — that is an excellent referrence!
I think we need an ash pit thread.
Holy crap. I think Joe Scarborough is on the edge of conversion.
Olbermann defends the Dems against Bush’s strident slander…
And Joe says if this fingerpointing between Repugs and Dem-blaming is the best his Repug party can do, they’re doomed.
Wow. A one-two punch.
p.s. KO, I only have one contention with your otherwise stellar commentary tonight. You said that Bush badmouths Dems to protect and preserve Repug power; this is incorrect, IMO.
Bush is trying to save his own *ss from the investigation(s) that will inevitably come if/when Dems are returned to a majority during Bush’s term of office. He must be terrified.
And we must redouble our efforts to Get Out the Vote.
immanentize @ 149
Read Homer’s Daughter by Robert Graves — his thesis (shared by Jean Houston) is that the Odyssey was written by a woman, who is the fictonal Nausicaa. Interesting book — as are both the Odyssey and the Iliad.
The Iliad is a war story written by men for men; the Odyssey is written by women, for everyone. The Odyssey is the tale of how a warrior, whose soul has been wounded by war, is healed and returned to civilization.
Jane, thank you for having the class and decency not to repeat the young man’s name just because assholes like Limbaugh and Drudge let it out of the bag. I still don’t know his name, because I don’t waste my retinas on the kind of media that reveal such things, and I’m glad to see somebody who recognizes when information goes beyond their need to know.
Or you could read The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odyseus by Margaret Atwood. It’s a retelling of the Odyssey from Penelope’s perspective. It starts with Odyseus stringing up all the maids, which kinda tells you about the point of view. It is also brilliant.
-ck- @
152
I have, it’s a great book — but I still prefer Julian Jaynes’ theory that the two books (Iliad and Odyssey) represent different levels of brain development and that impact on story telling:
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.”
http://www.julianjaynes.org/bicameralmind.php
immanentize @ 155
Hey imm, whatca been smokin’? Okay, but if it’s two diff. levels of brain development, that certainly in no way rules out the hypothesis that one was written by a man, and the other by a woman.
“What is needed is for Republican leaders to testify under oath about what they knew, when they knew it, and why they didn’t properly act.”
Harry Reid
What makes Harry Reid think that a Republican leader wouldn`t lie their asses off under oath? Didn`t Bush swear to uphold the Constitution which last week was further shredded by the Military Commissions Act at his bequest?
there is no floor under republican depravity.
let that sink in awhile. It will help you get through this dark ages of republican rule.
.
Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but doncha find it interesting that Matt Drudge and Rush Limbaugh BOTH are Florida residents? As is Ann Coulter….and all in the Palm Beach area, represented until last Friday by Mark Foley….Can any Florida reporter connect these dots?
It’s the same old story from the Red Team – shut up, sit down and take it, you baby. It happens to everyone, it’s no big deal, deal with it, dude. Get over yourself.
And that may be true. Maybe NAMBLA (NAWGLA?) is the world’s oldest club, maybe it happens all the time, everywhere, that must mean it’s normal, right, if everyone does it? And this issue keeps coming up, generation after generation, in our society, in every society, and we don’t deal with it, we just keep sweeping it back under the rug. Just like the Congress is trying to do now.
But this issue won’t go away. This is society’s chance to say it loud and clear – This may be what everyone is doing, but it is wrong and it should stop. Now. Don’t look away, look directly at it. See how much it hurts everyone?
I’m sorry it happened to Foley, I’m sorry it happened to anyone. I know how much it’s hurt me over the years. And I got the same don’t look, don’t deal with it that almost everyone else has gotten. It’s past time for it to stop.
Morris Sheppard @ 79
Sadly, the Lamont campaign seems to be sticking with the strategy that the best way to win is one-on-one, i.e. volunteers talking to voters & winning them over, one at a time.
I love Ned but no matter how dedicated and expansive the grassroots is, it, alone, cannot win a campaign. Joe’s ads are on 24/7 – talking about what a good progressive he is, what a Jack Kennedy Democrat he is, how negative and shallow Ned is, etc. And the Lamont campaign just let’s it go on with no rebuttal (except “statements” Ned makes).
Post cards, phone calls, letters to the editor and door canvassing alone can’t do it.
I guess you can tell I’m frustrated. And angry.
There are just too many people who want & need Ned to win (particularly in CT). I’ll shoot myself if I have to listen to whiney no-show Joe for six more miserable years. I hope the campaign wakes up and smells the coffee soon.
It seems to me that Rush Limbaugh is walking a pretty thin line here. Not that most Americans didn’t think that it was his love of fine cigars that got him busted for carrying viagra prescribed someone else’s name. Anyone who cares to pay attention understands that the vacation spot he was returning from is known for golf, cigars and “young talent”.
In this light, the hypocrisy of Mr. Limbaugh is astonishing; having given on air the name of a page who has come forward. Eventually, aren’t people gonna recognize that smell?
HANG IN THERE DENNY! Oklahoma kiddo @ 23
Florida is a cesspool of the Reich Wing. FitzFan @ 159
Also, Rush met his third (and now ex) wife Marta on Compuserve (and she wasn’t the only woman he hit on there).
I has been a long time since I’ve been on compuserve, but I seem to recall they had chat rooms where people could send private messages.
People on the far right are no more concerned with “family values” than the leaders of the former Soviet Union were concerned about “the people”.
In both cases, the people running the show are concerned with power above all else.
Besides, what was Rush doing recently with a bottle of viagra in the Dominican republic, a country well known for its rampant prostitution?
As Frued once Wrote:
“It is so important for them to parade around as moral protectors and moral warriors precisely because they have no other way to cleanse themselves, despite being in desperate need of a cleansing.”
This is what home schooling does. Their morals and ability to connect with others are gone.