The White Man's Medicine

Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne/Hodulgee Muscogee) on the common thread in nearly all political scandals: a lust for power, or even just the proximity to power. I think her point is well-taken, and it emphasizes why I cannot let the late Cong. Gerry Studds off the hook for precisely the same offense as Mark Foley. Yes, Foley was more hypocritical, but both of them abused their positions of power to gain influence over children and both deserve condemnation for it.

Dr. James Dobson Thinks Pedophilia is a "Prank"

Well-know hypocrite and apostate Dr. James Dobson once again shows his credentials as a shameless hack for the Republic Party by attempting to slough off Mark Foley's sexual predation of young boys as merely a "prank" gone awry. Disgusting.

UPDATE: A lawyer representing one of the pages now says some of his client's IM's with Foley may have had the "element of a practical joke" about them. Not sure exactly what that's supposed to mean; even if the page was joking, Foley was not. There are plenty of guys in prison right now for arranging liasons with undercover officers they imagined were minors. Nor does this let Dobson off the hook; was Foley's drunken raid on the page dorm a "prank" too?

Hastert Political Deathwatch

Glenn Greenwald does his usual thorough job updating Foleygate and Speaker Denny Hastert's march to political oblivion.

Republicans Want Your Children!

As human shields apparently! This is just repulsive on so many levels, like watching Saddam Hussein pat that little kid on the head right before Gulf War I. More from the thoroughly disgusted shores of Firedog Lake.

Like Sharks in a Tankful of Chum...

...Conservatives are turning against Speaker Denny Hastert for coddling pedophiles. Bay Buchanan is pissed. Meanwhile, Tony Snow and Matt Drudge are belittling the case and blaming the victims. Now there's some "traditional values" for you.

UPDATE: When Michelle Malkin and the Right-Wing Blogosphere are turning on the Republicans, you know things have gone off the rails. And incidentally, those on the Left should be quick to praise those on the Right who are putting principle (and children) ahead of politics.

Why is the House GOP Leadership Covering for Pedophiles?

Cong. Mark Foley is disgusting enough. The fact that House Republican leaders knew about his activities FOR A YEAR and yet did nothing is even more repellent.

UPDATE: From BOR, House Republican Leaders are now turning on each other trying to deflect blame.