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Mark Foley

Valadius Oct 04 2006 12:05 AM

Has no one started a topic on this yet? Wow.

cooby Oct 04 2006 07:38 AM

Another enraging story. Sexual advances to teens, congressional coverup, alcohol rehab, now he says he was an abused child.

Rockin' Doc Oct 04 2006 07:39 AM

Well, you have now. It seems that this forum is not as big on discussing current events and politics as was the old MOFO. There were members on the old MOFO that seemed to be on the forum for current event discussions more so than for the baseball.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 04 2006 07:53 AM

That's why there needs to be a separation of church and state. Congress is behaving too much like the Catholic Church.

cooby Oct 04 2006 08:23 AM

Sorry, I should say that the alcohol rehab and his own abuse as a child are not things I blame Foley for, but to bring them out now when he's looking for excuses is low class.

Willets Point Oct 04 2006 08:55 AM

There was a scandal like this in the 80's which prompted the joke: Q: How come Congressmen don't use bookmarks? A: Because they like their pages bent over. I don't know why I remember that.

Nymr83 Oct 04 2006 11:33 AM

has "I was molested by a priest" become the #1 excuse for criminals these days? its almost like you when you get caught doing something wrong you immediately have to blame the priests and throw in an "oh yeah and i'm gay" while you're at it. At least Foley never DID anything (that we know of) but what makes him think that what happened to him is an excuse for what he wrote to these kids? (and he does think its an excuse, or at least his lawyer does, because why else would you bring out NOW?)

metirish Oct 04 2006 11:37 AM

Didn't Foley help author a bill that dealt with pedophiles?

MFS62 Oct 04 2006 11:40 AM

What he did is not the major problem, IMO. What's worse is his party's coverup. They've apparently known about this for several months. If so, why was he allowed to be on a committee that is concerned with children's rights and safety? There are some major questions to be answered here. According to the radio this morning, Foley will hold a press conference "after he is released from his current treatment program". I'm not much of a betting man, but if I were I'd bet that release will happen after the upcoming elections. I hat politicians. Later

cooby Oct 04 2006 11:45 AM

metirish wrote: Didn't Foley help author a bill that dealt with pedophiles? That would at least make some sense, if he was a victim himself.

Willets Point Oct 04 2006 12:10 PM

Leave it to Bill O'Reilly to find a way to spin this:

MFS62 Oct 04 2006 12:40 PM

It scares me that many of the O'Reilly viewers will actually believe that Foley is a Democrat. Later

Nymr83 Oct 04 2006 01:10 PM

I for one am glad he did the right thing and RESIGNED his position. He committed a less serious crime than plenty of other politicians who clung to their offices, lied to the American public even after the truth came out, and disgraced themselves and their affiliates even more. I didn't see or hear that O'Reilly thing, did he actually say that Foley is a Democrat? was it a typo on the screen? The party leadership, from what we know so far, did nothing wrong in my mind. They knew of emails that were inapproriate but not in a sexual way, they spoke to the kid's parents who did not want the matter pursued. As long as they didn't know of the sexual content in other emails (and i don't know if they really did or didnt, i've only read that they didnt) they did the right thing. the wishes of the family deserved to be followed, because they are the ones who now get to face an unwanted media circus. Finally, it is the height of hypocracy for any Democrat (or anyone else) who supported Bill Clinton staying in office to criticize the Reoublican leadership. Lets see if i've got their position right: its not ok to ignore another man's alleged dirty emails but having oral sex with an employee and committing perjury is just dandy? (on edit- this is not directed at anyome on this board in particular but more at the media coverage i've seen the last few days from the same outlets that praised the perjurer in chief) I really wish that the private lives of public figures would stay private, but theres about as much of a chance of that happening as there is of my winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning on the way home from pedro martinez's game 5 perfect game in the world series.

Nymr83 Oct 04 2006 01:14 PM

oh yeah and one last thing... Florida/federal election laws need a revamp, its pretty stupid that whoever runs for Foley's seat on the Republican ticket has to ask people to vote for Foley. Does anyone remember when a dead guy won a seat? (i believe the governor replaced him with his wife)

Yancy Street Gang Oct 04 2006 01:16 PM

People are more likely to vote for a dead guy that they liked than a guy who resigned his seat in disgrace. It's definitely a handicap for whoever gets nominated in Foley's place. And with four weeks before Election Day you'd think there would be enough time to get the name replaced.

MFS62 Oct 04 2006 01:26 PM

I believe that under his State's law, the replacement has to run under Foley's name. Later

Nymr83 Oct 04 2006 01:29 PM

MFS62 wrote: I believe that under his State's law, the replacement has to run under Foley's name. Later he does. i just wasnt sure if it was state or federal law.

A Boy Named Seo Oct 04 2006 02:49 PM

]I for one am glad he did the right thing and RESIGNED his position. He got busted sending dirty emails to kids and quit before he got fired. Yay, Mark Foley! You did the right thing! ]The party leadership, from what we know so far, did nothing wrong in my mind. They knew of emails that were inapproriate but not in a sexual way, they spoke to the kid's parents who did not want the matter pursued. As long as they didn't know of the sexual content in other emails (and i don't know if they really did or didnt, i've only read that they didnt) they did the right thing. the wishes of the family deserved to be followed, because they are the ones who now get to face an unwanted media circus. Regardless of what the parents wanted, if an employee of an organization is sending inappropriate emails to another employee, let alone a child age 16, that organization should probably realize they have a problem with that employee and address it. Telling him to knock it off isn't really addressing it, and that certainly wouldn't be tolerated where I work. Asking the kid what he wants for his birthday? Eh. Asking him to send a picture via email? Over the line. ]Finally, it is the height of hypocracy for any Democrat (or anyone else) who supported Bill Clinton staying in office to criticize the Reoublican leadership. Lets see if i've got their position right: its not ok to ignore another man's alleged dirty emails but having oral sex with an employee and committing perjury is just dandy? Two consenting adults having sex cannot be equated to a grown man attempting to prey on an underage child. You have to know this.

ABG Oct 04 2006 02:50 PM

Enjoy--a dramatic interpretation of one of Foley's im conversations. http://www.wonkette.com/politics/mark-foley/your-dramatic-reading-of-the-mark-foley-ims-post-205055.php

Willets Point Oct 04 2006 02:53 PM

]I didn't see or hear that O'Reilly thing, did he actually say that Foley is a Democrat? was it a typo on the screen? From what I've read the caption appeared on the screen 2 or 3 times in the show spaced a few minutes apart. Most likely a typo, but with O'Reilly's/FNC's reputation for skewing the truth to fit their agendas it's a pretty funny one.

HahnSolo Oct 04 2006 03:03 PM

I saw one of O'Reilly's stories about this...he was not trying to make Foley look like a Democrat. He had two women on (one a Dem, one a Rep.) and they were both blistering this guy and how Congress handled it and even the Republican lady agreed that her party really dropped the ball on this. O'Reilly (whether you can stand his bluster or not, often I can't) has been highly outspoken about the perpetrators of crimes against children (and the lenient sentences that often come with them) for years now. He did not all of a sudden change his stance to protect this Foley guy because he is a Republican.

Willets Point Oct 04 2006 03:09 PM

Nobody said he was defending the guy, it's just that they made him a Democrat. That's funny if it's unintentional - which it probably is - and crass if it was intentional.

Sandgnat Oct 04 2006 03:36 PM Food for thought

Not to defend this jerks actions, but before we call him a criminal we need to consider that the legal age of consent in both Florida and DC is 16.

A Boy Named Seo Oct 04 2006 03:50 PM

I didn't know that. A 52-year old and a 16-year old isn't creepy at all. That changes everything for me.

Sandgnat Oct 04 2006 04:01 PM

A Boy Named Seo wrote: I didn't know that. A 52-year old and a 16-year old isn't creepy at all. That changes everything for me. I'm not saying it changes anything. Of course it is creepy. However, I saw one or two posts on here calling him a criminal and I am just pointing out that of all the things his actions were, I am not sure they were criminal. Immoral? Reprehensible? Despicable? All of those for sure. Criminal? Not under the current statutes. Perhaps under federal law where it is illegal to solicit sex from a minor over the internet is where his actions may be punishable under law, but I don't believe it is clear what federal law considers a minor.

metirish Oct 04 2006 04:01 PM

I get the feeling that the real prize here for the democrats is Hastert.

Valadius Oct 04 2006 06:22 PM

On the dead guy winning: This was is 2000. Governor Mel Carnahan of Missouri, a Democrat, was killed in a plane crash while campaigning for the Senate seat then held by... wait for it... JOHN ASHCROFT. Yes, that's right, John Ashcroft, who became George W. Bush's first Attorney General, lost his Senate seat to a DEAD MAN.

Nymr83 Oct 05 2006 12:04 AM

the guy's crying widow, who the governor supported all the way, had amazing sympathy and publicity, one could even say (though i dont know enough to state this as fact) that he won while dead what he couldnt win while alive. ]Two consenting adults having sex cannot be equated to a grown man attempting to prey on an underage child. You have to know this. i have a problem with what clinton did to lewinsky, but i have a much, much, much bigger problem with PERJURY, more so than i do with sending emails to a person who is, at least technically, legal. ]He got busted sending dirty emails to kids and quit before he got fired. Yay, Mark Foley! You did the right thing! Clinton didn't resign, neither did Alan Hevesi (sp?) and neither have hundreds of other politicians who got caught doing something that was 100% sure to have constituted a crime. while i will in no way defend the morality of what Foley did he deserves some credit for resigning which many other actual criminals in his place have refused to do.

A Boy Named Seo Oct 05 2006 12:21 AM

]i have a problem with what clinton did to lewinsky, but i have a much, much, much bigger problem with PERJURY, more so than i do with sending emails to a person who is, at least technically, legal. Okay, so perjury is worse than pedophilia on your morality scale. That doesn't freak me out at all. ]while i will in no way defend the morality of what Foley did he deserves some credit for resigning which many other actual criminals in his place have refused to do. He deserves credit for nothing. The inaction of other crooked politicians in no way makes this perverted freak some stand-up guy because he resigned. Don't lose perspective on this. If he was a camp counselor or school teacher or some other professional who pulled this crap on a 16-year old (legal or not), you wouldn't be patting him on the back for quitting his job after he was found out.

Nymr83 Oct 05 2006 12:42 AM

camp counselors and school teachers would generally be fired on the spot, politicians get a free pass that most them seem happy to take, i'm glad one of them said "i'm sorry" and resigned instead of selfishly keeping his job and denying it all as many seem to do. ]Okay, so perjury is worse than pedophilia on your morality scale. That doesn't freak me out at all. if he'd touched the kid in any way it would be 1,000,000 times worse, but yes i dont think an inapproriate email can even compare to the president of the united states perjuring himself.

Valadius Oct 05 2006 04:17 AM

Today's Daily Show "Moment of Zen" was an old 1919 video clip of then-Vice President Thomas R. Marshall with Senate page boys promising them "big Christmas dinner". It looks like he was quite fond of the pages:

Yancy Street Gang Oct 05 2006 08:10 AM

Are you sure that isn't Buddy Ebsen?

cooby Oct 05 2006 08:33 AM

I love that picture. It looks as though they are wearing an early version of sneakers

Nymr83 Oct 05 2006 09:00 AM

the VP looks like some old uncle that everyone has

MFS62 Oct 05 2006 09:07 AM

He looks like Mark Twain. Later

metirish Oct 05 2006 09:39 AM

[url=http://www.slate.com/id/2151017/?nav=tap3]Spin the bottle[/url]

Valadius Oct 05 2006 02:05 PM

Tom Marshall was Woodrow Wilson's VP. He was apparently gifted with a great sense of humor. He reputedly coined the phrase, "What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar."

Willets Point Oct 05 2006 02:12 PM

]This is vital, because when you're also a crook, anti-Semite, or pervert, "alcoholic" sounds so much nicer. Made me laugh.

A Boy Named Seo Oct 05 2006 02:20 PM

]camp counselors and school teachers would generally be fired on the spot, politicians get a free pass that most them seem happy to take, i'm glad one of them said "i'm sorry" and resigned instead of selfishly keeping his job and denying it all as many seem to do. They had instant message TRANSCRIPTS of his perverse attempts to reel in kids, and his superiors warned him previously about inappropriate emails. He couldn't keep his job and deny it. Do you get that he had no alternative? That he said "I'm sorry" really makes you feel glad? ]worse, but yes i dont think an inapproriate email can even compare to the president of the united states perjuring himself. Inappropriate emails? You're giving this guy way too much credit. It was the instant message transcripts that got him in hot water and they were vile. Have you read some of the them? Here's one I just found (made up) that took place with a teen-ager we'll call "Nymr83" to protect the real teen's anonymous internet user ID anonymity. Warning, the material below is not suitable for young audiences, but hey, at least it's not perjury. ... maf54: how r u? Nymr83: Hey, Mark. What do you want? maf54: just want 2 say hi. im tired. nambla meeting ran long. now I'm supposed to go vote. zzz.... wood rather chat with you... Nymr83: Wood? maf54: sorry, meant would. :P Nymr83: No, you didn't, Mark. maf54: send me pic of u... Nymr83: Dude, I told you last time, I'm not going to send you a picture of me. And I hope you're not hitting on those kids you work with either, you sick bastard. You need help. maf54: lol... im just being xxx-tra friendly. 6 of them are coming to my house this weekend. wanna cum too? Nymr83: You're pathetic, man. Look, I've got work to do. Leave me alone, okay? maf54: Cum on... i'll have wine coolers... ;) hahaha :) Nymr83: Okay, you're gross. Good-bye. maf54: wait, wait, wait, i have question ask u... Nymr83: What is it, Mark? Make it fast. maf54: u dont want me to take it slow? lol... rofl... heeeheeee.... :-) Nymr83: Dude, I'm going to find you and beat your ass. maf54: oooh, talk dirty baby. :) hahahahahahahahaha teee heeee rofl lol!!! :) *Nymr83logs off and blocks user maf54*

Nymr83 Oct 05 2006 02:56 PM

"well umm i don't think thats included in the defintion of sex because as you can see this is crossed out in paragraph 426 and is not present in paragraph 453 and...." i'd rather have a criminal who confesses than one who doesn't when he gets caught. of course, i shouldnt call Foley a criminal, because what he did might actually be legal in the jurisdictions where he did it despite its overhelming immorality. he could easily have held on to his position alot longer if he had chosen to do so.

Edgy DC Oct 05 2006 03:00 PM

Well, considering we're a month from elections...

Nymr83 Oct 05 2006 11:31 PM

he could have held his job until he (presumably) lost the election and the new Congress came in in January. I suppose he feels this way he at least gives his party the possibility of "saving the seat" but if he cared about that he'd have resigned weeks ago so Jeb Bush could have replaced him with someone whose name would have then gone on the ballot as the incumbent. as a side note will Jeb Bush be replacing him for the small remainder of this term? (3 months left minus vacations and stuff)

Nymr83 Oct 06 2006 11:47 AM

[url]http://www.addictinggames.com/imfoley.html[/url] not necessarly work safe.

Yancy Street Gang Oct 06 2006 12:09 PM

Governors can appoint replacements for Senators, not for House members. The only way to refill a vacant House seat is through an election.

sharpie Oct 06 2006 12:12 PM

]if he cared about that he'd have resigned weeks ago so Jeb Bush could have replaced him with someone whose name would have then gone on the ballot as the incumbent. If he cared about it he would have resigned years ago, not weeks. He only resigned because ABC News got wind of the story. What the Florida Republican Party could've done if he had resigned earlier was come up with a new candidate whose name would be on the ballot instead of Foley's. As it is, that seat is toast for the GOP.

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2006 02:13 PM

The party heads are so scared of losing even a seat - especially in these days of pencil-thin majorities - that they'll both do almost anything to "protect" a seat from going over to the other side ... * He may be a scoundrel, but he's OUR scoundrel. * ... and now they're getting burned by it.

Edgy DC Oct 06 2006 02:18 PM

I hate this thread and hate these stories. The ill part about that reasoning (and it's probably true) is that Foley represented a solid Republican district anyhow. And had they asked him to discretely resign months ago (assuming that they had things firgured out), there'd presumably be a solid citizen running, and likely winning, in his stead now.

sharpie Oct 06 2006 02:22 PM

Yes, this is probably a 1-time Democratic win for that seat a la the Republican win in the '90's for that Congressional seat from Chicago that was held by the corrupt Demo congressman with the Polish name. (on edit): Dan Rostenkowski.

Nymr83 Oct 06 2006 04:21 PM

i forgot all about that guy. there are so many dirty politicians that unless you're the president (hey Nixon!) your misdeeds probably won't even be remembered a few years later

Valadius Oct 06 2006 05:49 PM

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVQPvycxunY]Tricky Dick still believed himself above prosecution 3 years after resigning[/url]

TheOldMole Oct 06 2006 06:13 PM

I love it that as I look at this board, "Mark Foley" is right next to "Things That Are Fun to Say."