Hastert has a bipartisan thing for scandalous congressmen. Why the concern now?

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has an odd affinity for congressmen caught up in scandals. Hell, he's even bipartisan when it comes to crimes and corruption on behalf of his fellow Members of Congress.

Remember when we jumped up and down and demanded one of our own, William Jefferson, resign when he looted the public treasury? Well, Hastert reached across the aisle to protect Jefferson.

And when his fellow Republican Tom DeLay turned fundraising into racketeering, does anyone recall Hastert being particularly troubled?

Not a peep came from Hastert about Patrick Kennedy's latest problems; this was another inexplicable show of bipartisan support.

All of which raises the obvious questions. The first is "why?" The only logical conclusion is that Hastert believes that his role is to protect those who serve with them. In the Speaker's eyes, the only bad congressman is...well that reaches the next question.

Why is Hastert so taxed about Mark Foley? After all, he has supported House thieves, junkies, and racketeers. Well, the answer probably will come to us quickly. When a right-wing rage like the Washington Times wants Hastert gone, something more is wrong than meets the eye.

The only conclusion to be drawn is that Hastert sees only one thing more important than a dirty congressman to protect. That is his ass, and it is obviously up to it in this scandal unlike other ones where he remained silent or ran block.

Bring on Speaker Pelosi. Now.

•  Tip jar.

  by earthmissinglink on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 06:34:46 AM PDT

•  Here's a thought.

  We know this has been going on for some time.  But how long precisely?

  What Foley was doing to the pages was "grooming".  But what precisely was he gooming them for?

  Try this;  The pages are people contemplating entering political lives as Republicans.  Y'think the Reps are not going to keep files on each one?  How amenable to control they might be?  What strengths/weaknesses they might have?  Who better to groom and evaluate such than someone like Foley?  His vice might have been his "job".

  I cannot understand why the Repub congress has so emasculated itself.  It is troubling that I cannot think of a better explanation than a cabal of blackmail.  Laws like the ones being passed do not get passed in a democracy.  Someone is pulling strings.

  Maybe the pages were being groomed to become puppets rather than sex objects.

  by Demena on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 07:10:13 AM PDT