<p>We covered the homophobes calling this scandal homophobic…oh…about 400 posts ago.</p>
<p>Having avoided the Duke thread entirely, since it seemed destined for endless circumlocution, I am wondering if this one is destined for the same fate.</p>
<p>well, it is kind of fun watching these guys trying get their stories straight, and know we here that Hastert knew 3 years ago about concerns staffers had…gosh gooly gee</p>
<p>and it is kind of fun watching people trying to blame the Dems for not doing enough…while Republicans stated they kept it to themselves to take care of it in the party</p>
<p>“With that, I’m back on the soapbox again: This isn’t about homosexuality. This is about pedophilia.”</p>
<p>On the contrary, it’s about both. As I’ve said several times, I’ve been taken to task in other forums for being against attractive school teachers having sex with their students who were in this age bracket. Now that it’s a gay man, suddenly it’s the end of the world to send suggestive email and IMs?</p>
<p>Not defending his behavior, just pointing out the discrepancy and the one factor I see different. Unless you’d like me to go back to that Democratic Congressman pardoned for actually having sex with a 16 year old girl, that is.</p>
<p>discreprency, there is so much discrepency in the house leadership right now, it is getting amusing if it wasn’t so bad</p>
<p>A democratic congressman having sex with a 16 year old should not have been pardoned…see I said it</p>
<p>Lets get back to how the leadership is handled this…you want to talk about their discrepncies, strickt, or ignore it</p>
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<p>In the house 48 pages are appointed by Republicans and 24 by Democrats. Not sure what the arrangement is for the 30 Senate pages. The pages may not officially have party affiliations, but I doubt those appointed by Republicans come from Democratic leaning families.</p>
<p>Well, I haven’t been able to confirm any information that Denny is gay, though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The Dems may already have the information, and will use it later in the month, perhaps. </p>
<p>"Religious Right leaders praised Hastert’s elevation to the Speakership. Phyllis Schlafly said, “This is great news for the Republicans. It’s turning over a new leaf. Denny Hastert has a longtime record as a pro-family conservative and I know that this is a better day for the Republicans in Congress.” </p>
<p>The Executive Director of the Christian Coalition Randy Tate: “Denny Hastert is a man of true principle and integrity. He is a true conservative. Denny received a “Friend of the Family” award [from the Christian Coalition] and only 80 members out of the 435 members in the House received that award.” </p>
<p>On June 10, 2003 Dennis Hastert signed a letter along with three other members of the GOP leadership, to Interior Department Secretary Gale Norton opposing the issuance of a casino license to the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians to open an off-reservation casino near the casino of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Indians, a client of Jack Abramoff’s. The other singatorees of the letter were Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Majority Whip Roy Blunt, and Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor. The letter was odd because none of these members represented any tribal interests. The lobbyist for the Jena Band, V. Heather Sibbison, found the letter to be very strange, "I have never seen a letter like that before. It was incredibly unusual for that group of people, who do not normally weigh in on Indian issues, to express such a strong opinion about a particular project not in any of their home states The letter, it turns out, was drafted by Todd Boulanger (whose original version was toned down), a lobbyist working with Jack Abramoff.</p>
<p>Seven days before writing the letter, on June 3, 2003, Hastert attended a fundraiser for his leadership PAC, Keep Our Majority, at Signatures, a restaurant owned by Jack Abramoff. Keep Our Majority collected "at least $21,500 for his Keep Our Majority political action committee from the lobbyist’s firm and tribal clients Hastert then failed for two years to report using the restaurant for fundraising and did not reimburse for the cost as he is supposed to. In total Dennis Hastert and his PAC, Keep Our Majority, took in well over $100,000 in contributions from Abramoff and his clients. </p>
<p>On January 3, 2006 Abramoff pleaded guilty to a number of charges including bribing officials to obtain positive legislative action for his clients. Hastert quickly dumped campaign contributions connected to Abramoff by giving $70,000 to charity. Abramoff, in his plea deal, agreed to cooperate with further investigations of lawmakers who he had bribed. Three other lobbyists also pled guilty in connection to the case and agreed to provide information on lawmakers. Two of those lobbyists formerly worked for Tom DeLay and one worked for Bob Ney. </p>
<p>On May 24, 2006 Brian Ross of ABC News reported that Dennis Hastert was “in the mix” in the Justice Department’s investigation of lawmakers influenced by Abramoff. </p>
<p>Federal officials say the Congressional bribery investigation now includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, based on information from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government. Hastert quickly countered, stating that he never did anything wrong and that there was no investigation. The Justice Department also issued two denials of Hastert being under investigation. One of those denials was issued by the Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty, "“With regard to reports suggesting that the Speaker of the House is under investigation or ‘in the mix,’ as stated by ABC News, I reconfirm, as stated by the Department earlier this evening, that these reports are untrue.”</p>
<p>Ross refused to back down and, after checking back with his sources, reaffirmed the story. Ross and ABC state that Hastert is not a subject or a target in an investigation, but rather is “in the mix” of the ongoing investigation."</p>
<p>But nothing about him being gay here.</p>
<p>Strick: You talking about Congessman Crane? I didn’t even know he was prosecuted. I don’t know about other forums, but I believe you. There’s an attitude that a teenage boy who has sex with his female teacher should consider himself lucky, not abused. I’ve heard the comedy routines. The conduct of the adult in either case is reprehensible. </p>
<p>So let me say this, strictly on my own behalf: For me, it’s about pedophilia. I don’t care which sex either the adult or the teen is. Period. Clear enough?</p>
<p>and the descrepncies of the house leadrship…</p>
<p>and the coverup</p>
<p>You know, I’m a Democrat, Bush-disliker (to say the least). It is tempting to go with this Foley thing and dig up what Hastert did or didn’t do, and who knew what and who didn’t act, and who should also be removed from office, etc etc. But Foley is gone, it was emails not intercourse, and I think right now there are more important things to do. I say let it go, let’s address the really important issues of the day and let Hastert be judged by his own voters at election time.</p>
<p>Mini,</p>
<p>Thanks for [the</a> link](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061004/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages_48;_ylt=Aq3K676wAmWzrFvq0_BPLRiGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl]the”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061004/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages_48;_ylt=Aq3K676wAmWzrFvq0_BPLRiGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl). I agree that Hastert has to go.</p>
<p>SuNa, as boring as it sounds, I’m with you (and Mini.) How about we pay attention to more serious matters from now on? As I said before, this probably would have flashed and disappeared by now if it wasn’t for the indefatigable efforts of the right to try to find some way to blame the Dems for it.</p>
<p>As I wrote, I DON’T think Hastert should go.</p>
<p>“Hastert is known for having a VERY good and efficient staff. I’m looking forward to the interviews. And I sure hope Denny doesn’t resign. I LOVE that pic with Mr. Sleaze, Denny, Foley and the Mullah Omar lover, doing the political happy dance! Put that in an ad with the $20 mil for the “Victory Party” now that the insurgency is in its final throes.”</p>
<p>so, strict, are you saying that because of what happened in the past, with both parties, it justifies the inaction NOW of the house leadership?</p>
<p>just wondering</p>
<p>I’m sorry, Mini. I think Hastert has to go. I did not mean to impute that to you.</p>
<p>[Channeling Don Smart:] Would you believe my keyboard got away from me?</p>
<p>If he has to go, it’s 'cause he is a corrupt crook, not because he covered up or ignored anything…</p>
<p>…or because he is gay.</p>
<p>It is serious because it is covering up, an ethicial violation, and now trying to blame democrats somehow for not doing enough</p>
<p>if the Republicans would say, yeah, we blew it big time, and Hastert would tell the truth, maybe you are right, it should go away, BUT, because this event was handled as it was to protect one of their own, as has happened over and over with this congress, with all the ethical problems, resignations, jail time, etc., to be able to see how it all works, the lies, the blame, etc., it is important in that regard</p>
<p>Of course there are bigge issues, but when you have a group that claims to have the corner on values and it is brought out that the leadership of that group does not- it must be discussed</p>
<p>Kudos to Mr. Fordham for resigning from his job and coming forward with this information.</p>
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<p>I’ve read Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, Ann Couter among others. But I’ve yet to read or see a movie of Michael Moore. Should I do so?</p>
<p>I’ve read Woodard’s and Bernstein’s WP articles during the Watergate era. I still have an original copy of the WP’s summary of the ‘Coverup’. I wonder if his writing style has changed. What do you think?</p>
<p>I have read some of Ann Coulter, I listen to Rush, so I feel I understand it more, so if you are going to argue about something, at least read it, unless you are too afraid to</p>
<p><the cosmic=“” irony=“” of=“” foley=“” being=“” in=“” charge=“” a=“” subcommittee=“” responsible=“” for=“” abused=“” children=“” is=“” delicious.=“”></the></p>
<p><it’s cosmic=“” level=“” funny=“” to=“” have=“” the=“” official=“” gay=“” bashing=“” party=“” say=“” this=“” scandal=“” is=“” all=“” about=“” bashing.=“”></it’s></p>
<p>It’s cosmic level sickening to witness the glee some members of the CARING party are taking in this situation–the party that CARES so much about the welfare of children.</p>