Wonkette labels Rep. Weller (IL-11) "Pagefucker"

[UPDATE: Archpundit reports this story is either debunked or has been derailed b/c of insufficient sourcing.] There have been rumors circulating about Rep. Jerry Weller (IL-11) being somehow implicated in the page scandal. See TheMadEph and Archpundit.

Wonkette has labeled Weller a "Pagefucker".

A journalist working on the case emailed me, "The details of the story are pretty friggen nasty too."

Wonkette also wrote:

Meanwhile, this could turn out the be the worst day of Hastert Chief of Staff Scott Palmer's life, as former House Clerk Jeff Trindahl's gonna nail [Weller] before the ethics committee today.

For background on Weller you should know he's married to the Udai Hussein of Guatemala. Weller's wife's daddy was a genocidal dictator and she leads his political party. Weller chairs the the subcommittee on the western hemisphere which some say is a conflict of interest.

Weller is being challenged by John Pavich.

•  Arch says ABC is about to break the story

  See Archpundit.

  by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:58:48 AM PDT

  •  well says AP not ABC

    and i agree with the one guy...define "soon" heh

    by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:02:07 AM PDT

    •  Definition:

      Soon enough = on or before November 6th.

      by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:04:43 AM PDT

      •  That's not soon enough

        Now that it's out there, it needs to be headlined by the traditional media.  If it waits a week or so, Big Denny will have the opportunity to control the story.  I'd rather make him play defense.

        by ThirstyGator on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:06:38 AM PDT

        •  rich at the Capitol Fax Blog

          has his doubts about the rumor.

          Now, I can’t guarantee you one way or another if The Rumor is true or not, of course, but I do have more than just serious doubts about it. What I am sure of is that some high-up Democrats have been pushing the heck out of this story and they ought to stop it or produce some real evidence. It may have begun as a well-meaning leak, but it certainly isn’t that now.

          Weller’s spokesman, Steve Shearer, described the rumor as a “political nuclear bomb” that opponents could throw and then “retreat into anonymity” without providing any real evidence.

          by Glic on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:08:57 PM PDT

          •  I'd be more skeptical...

            ...if there hadn't been some heads-up that this was coming.  Rep. Kildee on the House Page Council indicated on Monday that there were more page issues, but declined to say more...  sources eventually got it out there that it was a midwestern Congresscritter by Tuesday.  That all lines up - not that it implies that Weller's rumor is true, but it lends more credibility.

            by divisionbyzero on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:17:11 PM PDT

            •  I agree with you

              just putting that out there...

              by Glic on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:22:51 PM PDT

          •  More from Capitol Fax Blog

            The spokesman called back a half hour later or so and said the office now believes that the rumor began when reports surfaced that “one of our pages or interns was hit on by another congressman,” and then morphed from there.

            So, the rumors that Weller is holed up somewhere and is “about to resign any minute” don’t appear to be true. The rumors that he is being pressed to resign by House GOP leadership also don’t appear to be true. The page rumor itself seems unsubstantiated at best and malicious at worst. There was even a rumor posted on some blogs that Weller had pulled his campaign website offline this week. Not true.
            Capitol Fax Blog

            by pollyusa on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:19:40 PM PDT

          •  for those not aware ...

            Capitol Fax Blog's name might seem to suggest an inside the Beltway angle ... but Rich Miller's locale is a town several hundred miles west ... Mike Royko referred to that burgh as Springpatch for a reason ...

            Rich does a pretty good job, but his sources seem to be local Illinois rather than DC ...

            Weller? I'm sure he's a jerk ... suspect Rich's cautious approach is not merited here ... we'll have to wait and see, eh?

            by wystler on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:09:59 PM PDT

            •  Rich is right, but may be wrong

              There are several rumors going around.  I believe he's right to call the specific one's he's heard bogus and he did get Weller's office on record so I think he did the fair thing.

              My take on it is that this is still out there and I think something is coming.  There are some details I've heard that suggest to me this isn't as spurious as he's concluded.  That said, I could be wrong as well. Rich did the right thing with what he had.  

              I think there is some stuff out there that he hasn't heard. Whether that changes the end story, we'll see.  

              by ArchPundit on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:13:42 PM PDT

              •  nice to see ...

                ... you drop by ... slummin'?

                /snark

                by wystler on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:16:21 PM PDT

            •  What do we know about Capitol Fax Blog?

              Is it a right wing outfit?  An inside beltway gossip mill?  Is it just some guy's opinion that this story isn't true?  

              by Subterranean on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 03:29:08 PM PDT

    •  "guy"...Hey`

      that was me. I'm a gal.  :)

      by Glic on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:22:41 AM PDT

      •  haha

        well, i agree with whatever she/hi/it said :-P

        by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:24:10 AM PDT

      •  Fox News on Jerry Weller

        Fox News reported there are suspicions that Rep. Jerry Weller, D-IL, had sex with underage pages.

        The Music Room.

        by madhaus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:00:46 PM PDT

        •  Link please!

          Fox broke the Bush DUI story in 2000 too, so they may want to scoop ABC....for whatever strange reason....

          by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:02:50 PM PDT

          •  It was snark

            Note the party designation.

            The Music Room.

            by madhaus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:05:13 PM PDT

            •  Ah, I'm too eager, I suppose n/t

              by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:21:46 PM PDT

            •  Snarky

              but not funny! I'm running lower on my heart meds.

              by CCSDem on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:12:42 PM PDT

        •  Are you crazy? You almost gave me a heart-attack

          you almost had me believe this guy is a Democrat.

          Dont do this again.

          by Down but not out on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:23:22 PM PDT

          •  I did have a heart attack!

            Where is my pepto-bismol smoothie?

            by StormBear on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:52:49 PM PDT

        •  remember that the Louisiana page

          had a female friend in the program last year (she's named in the CREW emails) who was warned about a Congressman who "hit on" pages. She was warned.

          Which is to say: the Republican leadership and the Page Board should be held to account, certainly as of October 2005, for having been warned about a potential male-on-female predator among the Congressional ranks.

          Did they ask any questions then? Or before? They knew about Foley, but when did they know that the girls weren't safe, either? I think it's safe to assume America will be newly disgusted by all this.

          Wonkette calls all it the Cocktober Surprise, and teases ABC about a using a photo of Foley with Weller in the background. (I think the two were buddies, in fact. Foley and Weller co-sponsored the Wind Energy Tax Credit, which creepy Weller brags about at the 2:15 mark in this YouTube video.)

          by Vereker on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:27:18 PM PDT

    •  Well, the last day

      to replace somebody on the ballot in Illinois is Sunday, so I imagine that we will hear one way or the other by then.

      by Superribbie on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:52:32 AM PDT

      •  Not so sure about that

        Illinois' election code seems to say (and I'm not a lawyer, so I freely admit I could be wrong on this) that once you get down to within two weeks of the election, the ballot's frozen. But that was written before the state decided to allow early voting--which has already started. It would depend on just how the state Board of Elections defined "election" within the meaning of the law--is it the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, or is it the day that early voting starts?

        by musing85 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:57:09 AM PDT

        •  Hmmm

          I hadn't considered that.  I read that it was Sunday.  I could well be wrong.

          by Superribbie on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:36:14 AM PDT

          •  so go vote already

            get it over with!!!

            by wystler on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:11:47 PM PDT

      •  No way

        There's NO way a name can be replaced on the ballot once voters have already voted. That has nothing to do with state law, that would be a violation of the Constitution, near as I can tell.

        by ColoDem on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:06:05 AM PDT

        •  If it isn't, it should be.

          by Hillbilly Dem on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:28:57 AM PDT

      •  early voting has already started...

        so I don't think it's possible to change that now...

        by Elise on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:32:21 AM PDT

    •  Within 24 business hours :)

      by PerfectStormer on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:11:07 AM PDT

      •  French business hours, or US? n/t

        by highacidity on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:43:01 AM PDT

    •  ABC has this story

      they found the priest that did Mark Foley.

      The Music Room.

      by madhaus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:58:32 AM PDT

      •  Wonkette caught the irony of ABC's photo choice

        in this post.  I'm pretty sure Foley and Weller were on friendly terms, as they co-sponsored the Wind Energy Tax Credit.

        by Vereker on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:33:56 PM PDT

    •  Been hearing about this for over a week

      My guess is that the media is scared to report it, for fear that it will sweep too many democrats into congress.  They're waiting for some dirt on a dem so they can report on further GOP pagefucking with "balance".  If they don't get any dirt, I bet they just make it up, using the trusted "there are those who say" tactic.

      by Subterranean on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 03:25:19 PM PDT

  •  Wow ABC

    has been all over this pagegate story. Good for them!

    This is guys...this is the guarantee to a 60 seat pick up. IT's all over for the Grotesque Old Perverts.

    by michael1104 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:04:59 AM PDT

    •  AP not ABC

      My bad.

      by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:09:20 AM PDT

  •  Paging Mr. Weller and Mr. Foley

    

    More on Weller from the Chicago Tribune:

    11th District: Republican Rep. Jerry Weller needs to recognize that he has a vast conflict of interest: His wife is a leading member of Guatemala's Congress and the daughter of a former Guatemalan dictator who has been accused of war crimes, yet Weller continues as vice chair of a House subcommittee on the western hemisphere. He says it's enough that he recuses himself on matters that deal specifically with Guatemala. But the committee deals with many regional matters that have potential impact on that nation.

    That alone should be reason enough for the voters of IL-11 to hand Weller a defeat on Nov. 7.

    According to the Herald News:

    U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller had $1 million more in the bank than challenger John Pavich in the 11th Congressional District race through September.

    [...]

    Weller has raised almost $1.8 million and Pavich has raised $499,785, according to the center, a nonpartisan research group. The election is Nov. 7.

    I wonder if Weller will try to use the $1 million to buy his way out of the page scandle if the rumors do turn out to be true?

    by Magnifico on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:39:14 AM PDT

    •  Suspect that 10 x 1m

      won't buy him out of this one if it proves to be true

      by stevej on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:15:25 PM PDT

  •  Have a 3

    Oh wait since we can't do that anymore, have a recommend

    by Thor Heyerdahl on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:15:07 AM PDT

  •  The brakes are on

    Apparently, the story is not coming as "soon" as expected. This may be because of difficulties in securing confirmation, or other reasons.

    by Explorer8939 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:41:49 AM PDT

    •  You are a troll

      I remember you from last night.  

      Folks:  This guy is a clever troll that me and another poster unmasked last night.  He is a Busby supporter from California.  Just FYI.

      I have not troll-rated this comment but don't fall for any of his "advice."  He is always offering helpful "advice."

      Note the speculation as to why the story is being delayed--that is not what Wonkeete has said but it is Republican spin.

      by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:01:35 PM PDT

      •  Huh?

        What's wrong with Francine Busby?

        Or do you mean he's a Busby opponent?

        by tjekanefir on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:08:14 PM PDT

        •  Probably meant

          BILBRAY supporter....too many "B" names!  ;-)

          by Shaking the Tree on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:17:40 PM PDT

        •  My bad n/t

          by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:19:09 PM PDT

      •  check out Capitol Fax Blog (IL)

        So, the rumors that Weller is holed up somewhere and is “about to resign any minute” don’t appear to be true. The rumors that he is being pressed to resign by House GOP leadership also don’t appear to be true. The page rumor itself seems unsubstantiated at best and malicious at worst. There was even a rumor posted on some blogs that Weller had pulled his campaign website offline this week. Not true.

        Now, I can’t guarantee you one way or another if The Rumor is true or not, of course, but I do have more than just serious doubts about it. What I am sure of is that some high-up Democrats have been pushing the heck out of this story and they ought to stop it or produce some real evidence. It may have begun as a well-meaning leak, but it certainly isn’t that now.

        by Glic on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:19:05 PM PDT

        •  Well, we do

          have a dearth of verifiable evidence....BTW, do you have link to that website?

          by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:23:04 PM PDT

          •  asdf

            easily googled

            rich miller blogs from Springfield, IL ... has progressive tendencies, but works both sides of the aisle ...

            by wystler on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:14:39 PM PDT

  •  Well...

    Hopefully we move beyond the "salacious rumors" stage eventually...

    by Shapeshifter on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:01:32 PM PDT

  •  Carl You May Want To Consider Deleting This Diary

    Looks like this story may be more rumor than fact. Archpundit is backing off the story and referring people to an article at Rick's which states that he doesn't think the rumor is true.

    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:14:50 PM PDT

•  other recent diaries

  IL-11: BENDING: Weller on the hot-plate? by klondike

  Jerry Weller(R)(il-11): A Page Of Incriminating Material (UPDATED) by trifecta

  by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:00:38 AM PDT

•  Thanks for the round up....

  I'm refreshing abc the blotter every few mins....I agree this could break soon.

  by Mikecan1978 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:01:35 AM PDT

•  recommend this diary?

  You know you enjoy the schadenfreude of watching the GOP go down in a cascading sex/cover-up scandal.

  by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:02:07 AM PDT

  •  Do we have more than wispers yet?

    Maybe I am being paranoid, but couldn't this blow up in our face if we are seen as getting all excited about running with these rumors and it turns out there in no there there?

    It just seems that if we run with this too much and it doesn't pan out, it gives them the ability to label the whole page fiasco as just being partisan, ala Rathergate.

    Just my $0.02.

    by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:14:26 AM PDT

    •  Time for a blogger ethics panel

      Or was that a Repbulican House member ethics panel by an international third party organization?

      by Aeolus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:22:51 AM PDT

      •  I don't get it. But I'm pretty dumb.

        It sounds sarcastic, so it made me laugh.

        My point is along the lines of the lines of clammyc's diary.

        If you follow the links, we are going in a circle here.  Everyone is pointing to everyone's rumors and saying "SEE??!!!"

        Besides being dumb, I guess I am also paranoid.

        by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:37:56 AM PDT

        •  Yes, sarcasm

          You have a good point, but my gut feel on this is that the story has been an open secret for a long time, waiting for some official confirmation. The disclosure will be blamed on bloggers or partisan Dems doing some election year dirty trick. Republicans don't believe their dirty linen should be washed in public when they are trying to sell fear, smear, and queers to an underinformed electorate.

          by Aeolus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:46:59 AM PDT

          •  And don't call yourself dumb

            You're here, aren't you?

            by Aeolus on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:47:33 AM PDT

            •  I'm brilliantly dumb. Here is the thing...

              I think that the other thing that I am worried about is looking like we are taking pleasure in the disgrace of others.  Democrats were able to avoid that as the Foley mess came out.  Here we are doing it openly.

              The perception has to be on the concern for the young adults involved and the GOP leadership looking the other way in their quest for power.  Our glee in this situation looks like the same sort of grasping for power.

              Joy at the misery of others is not a family value and will allow us to steal defeat from the jaws of victory.  Yet again.

              by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:55:45 AM PDT

              •  We're taking pleasure in the exposure of others

                who have been getting away with illegality, and now may no longer be doing so in all areas.

                They are getting caught and we are happy by that fact.  Plus, the fallout may help our own party's chances to overcome the Republican rubber-stamp/Corruption Incorporated Congress next month - I see no reason to be neutral about those increasing prospects.

                Overall, we don't need to lie or slime our opponents to make them fall from grace in the electorate's eye (i.e., we have no desire or gumption to use their horrible smear tactics).

                by wader on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:51:28 AM PDT

                •  I still think that "shocked" is a better reaction

                  Yes, there has to be justice, but I don't think that it follows that we have to take pleasure in it.  The right wingers take pleasure in being able to torture detainees.  I know that it isn't the same thing, but they feel completely justified in it.

                  But let's take a step back.  What are we talking about?  How do we know it is Weller?  Here is the reason.  Who is this guy?  Gimmebush has 5 comments.  Well, plus one weird one.  

                  Here is the other source:

                  Gonna have to trust me on this, but I have fantastic information that Weller R-IL (11th District) is the next one coming down in the page scandal.  Can't reveal source.

                  snip  

                  There are other people who have mentioned this on the site, so i figured I would come out and just post. see GimmeBush's comment that not many people seemed to pick up on... He referred to Weller in the lower main page (the other shoe post)... but i dont know who he is and im almost positive we would have a different source... but thats the story that I have... sorry I cant back it up anymore

                  That is as solid as it has gotten so far.  I can't help but feel that something is being pushed on us.  That is all.  We just need to not overplay our hand, as we often do.

                  by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:17:33 PM PDT

                  •  We're not taking pleasure in hurting anyone

                    though, so I continue to find your comparisons a bit on the unfair side.  Sorry.

                    As you even noted, Republicans delight in torture.  We admittedly feel some delight when those same supporters/enablers of mental, physical and economic torture meet their comeuppance via very chilly meals, sure.

                    Republicans as a generally elected bloc seem to show a range of absolute uncaring to bat-crazy, drive purpose in simply getting their way at any costs, these days.  Those costs have been tremendously high to so many people, as you know.

                    IMHO, DKos posters are not being immoral or immature by feeling happiness and satisfaction from minor relief, primarily in learning that justice is very slowly seeing the light of day against ostensibly selfish and hurtful people, aka Bush Republicans.  Yet, there is still an onslaught of charges to be accounted for with respect to injustices made against the USA people and those in other countries.  More relief, further satisfaction, greater sense of levity and revelling in a hopefully fair system of government and law finding its way through the darkness in which we are living.

                    Now, on the point about Weller and these specific claims . . . I actually didn't address him for a reason.  Similar to you, I don't see the direct evidence as of yet.  I don't enjoy Weller at all as a representative (see http://www.ontheissues.org/... for highlights as to why) and wouldn't mind seeing him taken down by his own poor actions.  Yes, it would make me content - perhaps even happy - to find he has lost this governmental job, primarily due to the hope that he will be replaced by someone of more progressive public purpose.  Someone who will help us swim out of this darkness even faster than we might hope today.

                    If, by chance, we happen to find in 50 years that the world has been made a more stable, energy-rich and culturally equitable place - with sustainable habitats/essentials for most of the inhabitants - I would likely feel more than happy that people such as Weller were taken down by our system.  I'd care that he was treated fairly, but only to that extent: if you live on the backs of others, expect little sympathy when those same backs slough you off into bad section of town.  I would like people such as Bush, Cheney, Foley, etc. to become nothing but ghoulish, cautionary fairy tales in future books of children's nursery rhymes.  They would make typical icons of dark and evil forces at that level of learning, such is their level of practiced extremism.

                    Six years ago, I stated to some of my most fierce online political opponents (different venue than DKos) that I would NOT wag my finger and smirk, "deal with it" if the Democrats took Republicans to the electoral barn and shot them in the head 4-8 years from then.  I will not revel in the downfall of my opponents and lose my sense of self to become a poor winner, but I would easily be happy for justice to be served . . . PRIMARILY BECAUSE better things could finally come to pass by that happening.

                    I may not represent the rest of our peers at DKos in these perspective, of course.

                    by wader on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:02:40 PM PDT

                    •  The only problem I have with that

                      is that it doesn't fit into a soundbite, and that is unfortunately how the two sides seem to be judged.

                      BTW, you represent me in those perspectives.  Thank You.

                      by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:41:48 PM PDT

        •  I see your point,

          but it still pisses me off that WE are always so careful to be truthful and scrupulous and all that.

          Meanwhile the GOP is running around lying through their teeth about the Dems; smearing their filth onto every possible surface where it will stick; and conflating/misrepresenting/and outright CONNING the voting public!  Just look at what the RNC (!) is doing to Sherrod Brown right now!

          I am not saying that we should be like them....HELL NO!...I'm just saying that I'm sick to death of there being 2 sets of rules.  If there was a peep of anything page-related that tied up a Dem, you can bet your sweet ass that the fascistas would be screaming from their rooftops, regardless of there being any merit to their claims.  Yet, here we are, self-regulating and making certain that we are guided by the FACTS!

          I'm thrilled to be on the side of righteousness, don't get me wrong.  I'm just tired of their shenanigans and their getting away with them.  Sometimes I wish we would play dirty just to give them a taste of their own medicine.  Then again, we're just not like that.  And in the end, that's a good thing.

          by Shaking the Tree on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:56:27 AM PDT

          •  "Because it is the right thing to do"

            I am with you.

            "We aren't like them."
            "Don't sink to their level."

            Meanwhile the GOP is running around lying through their teeth about the Dems; smearing their filth onto every possible surface where it will stick; and conflating/misrepresenting/and outright CONNING the voting public!  Just look at what the RNC (!) is doing to Sherrod Brown right now!

            The thing is that the voters ARE starting to see through it.  That is part of the power of the Foleygate thing.  It illustrates that all that matters to the GOP is power and holding on to it.

            We have to keep making a distinction.  They can't be left with the arguments:
            "Everyone does it."
            "Both parties are the same."

            That is what they want (the MSM).  Look at the Reid stories that are coming out as "balance" to the corruption of the GOP.

            Here is the other thing.  Timing is everything.  We are now on the record of trying to get it out now.  When will it have more impact?  Coming out now as a rumor?  Or closer to the election when the facts are more fleshed out and damning?  The MSM will still want to go with this.  They know that sex sells.

            Besides, the Ethics Committee is doing their thing right now.  We don't want to drown out that story.

            In the end, we also don't want to be seen as trying to take advantage of this for partisan reasons.  We aren't like that, remember?  We rise above it.  We have more noble goals than just having power.

            Besides (again), we aren't going to have all the house seats handed to us like this.  We DO still have to go out there and GOTV.

            by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:12:33 AM PDT

            •  I know, I know...

              forgive me.  I guess I'm just having a bi-polar kind of day.  :-/

              And I'm growing very tired of their bullshit trickery.  There's just so much of it, and on a daily basis.  Sometimes I just want to punch them out, flat, onto the mat.  BAM!

              by Shaking the Tree on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:29:31 AM PDT

              •  And I don't want to be a concern troll, but...

                I just think we just need to remember that it is easy for the Republicans to paint us as partisan opportunists.  We have to be able to be sure that they get to keep that label.

                eom

                by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:38:15 AM PDT

                •  Republi-cons

                  are political Demons.  It doesn't matter WHAT the Dems say or do, however careful or calculated...the republi-cons will paint us as political opportunists.

                  It's classic projection on their part, given myriad facts that it is THEY that pounce politically 24/7/365.

                  And the only reason why it's so EASY for them to spin and lie and cheat and steal is because they have their media machine working overtime.

                  Ethically and morally, I'm with you and what you've said...passionately, I want to fight back, hit below the belt, and plaster them with their own filth over and over and over again, until it is THEY who are crying "UNCLE!"...then again, I've never been one to embrace patience.  ;-)

                  by Shaking the Tree on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:22:56 PM PDT

                  •  I think with the Foley thing...

                    The people are starting to see through what the "cons" say.

                    Let's not have them see us in the same light.

                    by marchmoon on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:30:01 PM PDT

  •  Gladly recommend Carl 3 Nyberg n/t

    by Agathena on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:51:00 AM PDT

  •  CSS

    Well, you learn something new every day. Here I was thinking CSS stands for Cascading Stylesheet. Now I know it stands for Cascading SexScandal.

    Thanks for the education. :-)

    by DoLooper on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:56:34 PM PDT

•  re

  For background on Weller you should know he's married to the Udai Hussein of Guatemala. Weller's wife's daddy was a genocidal dictator and she leads his political party. Weller chairs the the subcommittee on the western hemisphere which some say is a conflict of interest.

  Oh yah. forgot about him. thanks for the reminder.

  by cookiesandmilk on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:02:10 AM PDT

  •  I knew of Rios Montt

    but had no idea his son-in-law was in Congress.
    For him to hold any public office in a democracy is a conflict of interest.
    Sheesh.

    by Allogenes on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:04:23 AM PDT

    •  re

      South / Central America.

      Its the new Black.

      Or Iraq... one of those...

      by cookiesandmilk on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:09:33 AM PDT

    •  Pavich diaried the Guatemala/FRG connection

      here a month or so ago in The Congressman and the Dictator's Daughter

      The FRG is led by her father, the former dictator of Guatemala, General Efrain Rios Montt. Rios Montt is under indictment by the Spanish government for crimes against humanity during his leadership of Guatemala in the early 1980s, which took place during Guatemala's 36-year civil war.

      Neither Weller nor his bride have denounced the activities of Rios Montt's goverment, which he himself described as, "excessive." Weller holds the vice chairmanship of the House's western hemisphere subcommittee, which oversees much of the policy in relation to Latin America.

      Though Weller had promised to recuse himself from any legislation having to do with Guatemala in order to avoid a conflict of interest, Weller went on to cast a vote for CAFTA, which passed with a razor-thin majority (Weller also serves in the Illinois congressional district with the largest labor population in the state).

      When questioned about the conflict, he backtracked on his statement, saying that he only meant he would recuse himself from legislation that directly deals with Guatemala. Except the U.S. Government almost never directly deals with nations in that area.

      The appearance of impropriety doesn't end there.

      Weller stated in 2004 that he wanted to focus on cracking down on the drug trade. Up to 70% of the drugs that enter the United States come through Guatemala, but in his subsequent dealings with the issue, he notably excuses Guatemala from the list of drug trafficking nations. The FRG, as the article points out, is known to have opened the door to drug trafficking and organized crime in the district.

      by dannyinla on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:31:20 AM PDT

      •  Many more details on Weller, his wife and the FRG

        This Chicago Reader article is the one that provides the background for the Pavich post above. If Wonkette's "pagefucker" charges do anything - I hope it shines a spotlight on Weller and his wife's shady connections.

        by dannyinla on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:04:19 AM PDT

    •  Hey...whose inlaws aren't genocidal assholes...

      anyway?

      by Cheez Whiz on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:33:38 AM PDT

    •  asdf

      weller was a congresscritter before married into that murderous thug's family ...

      by wystler on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:19:18 PM PDT

  •  If I were Weller,

    I'd be looking over my shoulder after this breaks.

    I can't imagine that a genocidal dictator father-in-law would take very kindly to his son-in-law being unfaithful to his daughter...

    ...Egads!  Now I'm having flashes of scenes from "The Godfather" in my head!  Hmm, let's see, will the brakes go out on the car?  Will the food suddenly become "tainted"?  Will he awaken to a horse's head?

    The possibilities...they're endless...

    All I know is that I wouldn't want to be Weller!!

    by Shaking the Tree on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:01:35 AM PDT

•  Uday. . .

  . . . was a man.  Rios Montt de Weller is a woman.

  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

  by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:03:56 AM PDT

  •  Weller is rumored to be

    a switch hitter. That's the double entendre of the analogy.

    by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:08:30 AM PDT

    •  Is he?

      News to me.  I thought this breaking page scandal involved the rumored sixteen year old girl.

      by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:10:45 AM PDT

      •  does fucking a female page

        exclude the possibility of having sex with men?

        One of Weller's big contributors owns a big gay phone sex business.

        How many gay phone sex business guys are natural Republicans?

        by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:14:18 AM PDT

        •  I think. . .

          How many gay phone sex business guys are natural Republicans?

          the number might surprise you.  As should be patently obvious by now, Republicans attract a lot more gay voters and candidates than one might expect and the operative term in your question is "business guys".

          by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:18:51 AM PDT

          •  Not only that...

            ...but the possibilities for blackmail just build themselves.

            It's like a multi-level blackmail trap, in fact: the owner's compromised, the callers are compromised (especially if the business keeps any kinds of records), and the politicians who support it are compromised (well, assuming that any opponents decide to actually raise the issue or do anything about it).

            by Christopher on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:53:03 AM PDT

            •  probably MOST phone sex business guys

              People who operate phone-sex businesses are likely to be -- and I'm generalizing here -- a tad behind in the ethics department.  One operates a business like that for one reason:  to get nasty rich.  People on the get-rich-quick train are very likely to be republicons, because they're convinced Democrats will tax them into oblivion.

              by ThirstyGator on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:11:23 AM PDT

        •  probably more than you think

          by Kiamichi on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:46:50 AM PDT

        •  I'm thinking of a natural Republican, Jeff,

          Jeff Gannon.

          (Looks like Jeff has tried to edit Wikipedia.)

          by Agathena on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:57:05 AM PDT

    •  You mean he does a page double sided? n/t

      by hcc in VA on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:52:50 AM PDT

    •  He flips through his pages?

      by catzilla on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:55:22 AM PDT

•  Thanks for the updates-Pavich is good candidate

  I'm watching this closely.  Weller should have resigned from congress when he married someone active in the Guatemalan government.  It's called conflict of interest. I know Schadenfreude is not nice, but I do hope this story is true and Weller either resigns or is defeated.

  by extradish on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:04:58 AM PDT

  •  Not just somebody

    He is married to the daughter of the butcher of Guatamala. They had to get married in Guatamala since her dad is a wanted war criminal and can't leave the country without being arrested and being sent to the hague. She now runs his party in Guatamala, while married to him.

    Yeah, a bit of a conflict of interest here since he voted for CAFTA.

    by trifecta on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:06:52 AM PDT

    •  Long distance relationship?

      She doesn't run a major Guatemalan political party from Illinois, does she?

      One wonders how they met.  What kind of cocktail parties does Weller go to? (pun intended)

      by curtadams on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:57:53 AM PDT

    •  I remember learning about the horrible things

      that happened in Guatemala in Spanish class...

      Was this what happened to Roberta something... I think she just won a humanitarian award... her family was massacred, her brother was burned alive in front of her... I believe her family were natives, not immigrants, and that's why they were killed...

      I can't remember the dates, and I can't remember her last name... grr... I did a brief google, but it's not coming up...

      It's now I realize how badly my habits in univeristy affected my memory... :)

      by L0kI on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:29:52 AM PDT

      •  You are talking about

        Rigoberta Menchu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize--but be careful here:  Prof. David Stoll published a book showing that she was untruthful in describing her father's land dispute and how her brother died.

        There are, however, many, many credible accounts of atrocities in Guatemala.  The Gerardi report published by the Roman Catholic Church contains thousand of detailed, eyewitness accounts.  

        by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:43:45 AM PDT

      •  Rigoberta Menchu

        Was later found to have somewhat dramatized her own story, although all the atrocities in her account seem to have actually occured.

        It is a shame, because it has distracted a bit from the truely, deeply evil stuff that happened to thousands of indiginous Guatemalans.

        Menchu has nevertheless become a major political leader in Guatemala and a voice for justice and reform.

        by Alan in Phoenix on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:46:52 AM PDT

        •  Yup

          Her brother was killed by the Guatemalan military--just not burned alive.

          The government of Spain backs Rigoberta's claim that the Guatemalan military started the fire that killed her father while he was in the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala.  (In a very poignant way, the downtrodden of Latin America often appeal to Spain for help.)

          Her father's land was not confiscated by the Guatemalan government but lost through a lawsuit with another Quiche Indian.

          The book with the incorrect facts waspublished when she was quite young in 1982 iirc.

          But she was instrumental in bringing peace to Guatemala and helping to achieve the 1996 Peace Accords.

          by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:10:31 PM PDT

          •  Thanks so much for all that information..

            Would this dictator everyone is talking about be the government in charge of these occurances? Or is this a different time period??

            Thanks,

            by L0kI on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:43:34 PM PDT

            •  Rios-Montt was

              President of Guatemala during 1982-83 when the genoicide was occruing.

              He has been and still is major player in Guatemalan politics.  In fact, I believe he is the real guy in charge.  A few years ago a new President of Guatemala was elected promsing reform, human rights, etc.  He thuen changed after taking office.  IIRC, his borther was kidnapped, etc.

              by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:59:41 PM PDT

    •  Montt

      Rios Montt (the father) isn't just a former murderous dictator. He is still a major player in Guatemalan politics.

      And he is bad. Much worse than his wikipedia profile suggests. I met a guy in northern Guatemala who saw 90% of his village massacred by montt's soldiers when he was a boy, including watching his  toddler sister be killed by a soldier with a machete.

      It still sickens me to remember him drawing his thumb from his shoulder down toward his heart to indicate where the machete hit her.

      by Alan in Phoenix on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:41:11 AM PDT

      •  Montt Campain slogans everywhere

        During my spring break of 2004, I spent some time in Xeyla.  Touring the countryside, there was Rios Montt campaign images and slogans everywhere.  His core group of support was the rural poor, I remember a teacher telling me.  So yes, still a very current player.

        It was an interesting trip.  

        by Titian on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:55:34 AM PDT

        •  To say his core group is the rural poor

          is true, but somewhat misleading. His core group is the wave-your-hands-in-air and talk-in-tongues brand of virulent evangelistic christianity, which recruits and converts very effectivley among the rural poor.

          by Alan in Phoenix on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:11:18 PM PDT

        •  Xela

          is beautiful.  And Guatemalan politics are a complete mystery.. I don't think Rios-Montt's support comes from the Mayan Indians....

          by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:12:11 PM PDT

          •  Rios Montt

            is an "evangelical Christian".  I can't even type that  without feeling sick.
            Guate is deeply divided between Catholics -- often very syncretistic Catholics who blend indigenous ritual and belief into their pratice-- and evangelicals.

            Evangelicals of all classes & ethnicities may have supported him at times.

            by sayitaintso on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:23:48 PM PDT

          •  I saw him speak

            in Totonicapan in 1995. I was out at the market and there seemed to be a lot of people going towards the plaza so I followed. There he was, just like an evangelical preacher lecturing the people on how immorral they were. He was running for President at the time. Later on in the year the Guatemalan Supreme Court ruled that former Dictators, or specifically, those that came to power in a coup, could not run for President. So, he selected a guy to replace him on the ballot. And even though it was a different guy, Portillo I think was his name, his supports headed to the polls were saying they were "going to vote for Rios Mont." A lot of his support did come from Mayans. He "represented" law and order and cheap consumer goods.
            Truly a vicious dictator, his campaign was, of course, fully supported by the Regan Administration.

            by jkbiscuit on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 12:56:50 PM PDT

            •  I once lived in Toto n/t

              by MKS on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 01:00:29 PM PDT

  •  what do you like about Pavich?

    give some details so people will feel like they know him.

    by Carl Nyberg on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:07:47 AM PDT

    •  That Pavich isn't a lecherous, fascist creep?

      And he looks a lot like Markos.

      Thanks for staying on this story, Carl--although it's ironic we're hoping that finding out Weller (allegedly) had sex with a 16 year old kid will convince the voters of Illinois' 11th that he's a creep when they ignored the fact he's a murderous war criminal's son-in-law and his being in congress at all is a massive conflict of interest.

      by Helena Handbag on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:13:29 AM PDT

    •  Having met him...

      I can tell you all that beyond the resume, he is very sharp. He knows what he's talking about. He doesn't rely on notes or people to tell him what to do or what is going on.

      He is also very genuine when you talk to him. He listens. None of that phony-baloney politician stuff.

      As for the resume stuff, go to Pavich For Congress

      You'll like what you see. All that is needed to w