Rob

This was just posted over at the Drudge Report...

Quote: TV STATION: LETTER FROM FOLEY CLAIMS EX-LAWMAKER HEADED TO REHAB Mon Oct 2 2006 00:45:11 ET Letter purpordedly sent to WPBF, the ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach, from former congressman, Mark Foley: X X X X X October 1, 2006 Painfully, the events that led to my resignation have crystalized recognition of my longstanding significant alcohol and emotional difficulties. I strongly believe that I am an alcoholic and have accepted the need for immediate treatment for alcoholism and related behavioral problems. On Saturday, with the loving support of my family and friends, I made arrangements to enter a renowned in-patient facility to address my disease and related issues. I deeply regret and accept full responsibility for the harm I have caused. Over the weekend, I communicated extensively with one of the most respected mental health experts in Palm Beach County, Florida, who has been instrumental in counseling and assisting me. Attorney David Roth, my good friend of four decades has been requested by me to fully and completely cooperate regarding any inquiries that may arise during my treatment. Words cannot express my gratitude for the prayers and words of encouragement that have been conveyed to me. Sincerely, Mark A. Foley X X X X X A spokeswoman for WPBF says that a reporter went to Roth's house where a woman, allegedly Roth's wife, confirmed a fax had been sent. Developing...

This is what I have referred to in the past when I discussed our society's failing duty to accept responsibility.

"Oh, it really wasn't me....it was the (insert scapegoat here)!!! I'm sorry!!! I wouldn't ever do anything that like if I hadn't been influence by the (insert scapegoat here)!!!"

Give me a f*$(#)@ break!!!

The guy is a homosexual (or bi-, I don't know) that has a taste for teenage males. End of story. Period.

Step up to the plate, Congressman. Owe up and admit your fault. Claiming innocence via uncontrollable influence is nothing more than a pathetic excuse to save your own a** from public humiliation and, if proven guilty in a court of law, a butt raping with a broken broom handle in prison.

Can anyone tell that I'm a little p*ssed? I'm getting tired of every single politician in the last 50 years using a scapegoat instead of accepting responsibility.

Rob

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BigAkita

Using Alcohol as a crutch to make excuses for more lurid behavior. I can only be satisfied knowing that his career is over.

I've been drunk and done stupid things before, but that mainly involved jumping on stage or making an ass of myself. I have grabbed women's asses (when I was single) but had never propositioned a 16 year old boy.

They say alcohol removes inhibitions. I guess that says it all in his case.

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HoJo

What pisses me off more is that the legal system lets them get away with it. Anybody else would find their asses in jail in a heart beat.

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godfoot

Quote: Originally Posted by HoJo What pisses me off more is that the legal system lets them get away with it. Anybody else would find their asses in jail in a heart beat.

Well, most of them are part of the legal system. I don't know of many politicians that didn't get their start in law or law enforcement. Obviously there are exceptions though.

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Rob

Actually, most of them start off working within the judicial system, such as a lawyer.

Remember what Samuel Clemens had to say about Congress?

EDIT: Well, since he said a lot of things, this was the quote I was referring to...

Quote: It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.

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godfoot

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Actually, most of them start off working within the judicial system, such as a lawyer.

That's what I said isn't it?......... Yep "in law or law enforcement".

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FunkyStickman

At least he resigned... there are some people in congress this very minute who have been caught red-handed in scandals who have refused to resign.

It doesn't make him any more right, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander, they say. I personally think that since Congresspeople are all public servants, they should be held to a *higher* standard that the general public, not the other way around. The Bible clearly states that we should abstain from even the *appearance* of evil. Think about that for a minute.

Bleh. Our country isn't what it used to be.

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Rob

Quote: Originally Posted by FunkyStickman The Bible clearly states that we should abstain from even the *appearance* of evil. Think about that for a minute. Bleh. Our country isn't what it used to be.

I don't think that whether or not someone reads a Christian Bible should be the basis of what makes a great politician. That type of litmus test would ultimately lead to a theocracy. That's all fine and dandy if you are in a majority, but not so hot for the minority.

You're right. Our country isn't what it used to be, but more importantly, neither are the people in it. Words like honor, integrity, and decency is lacking from their vocabulary.

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joecoin

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob I don't think that whether or not someone reads a Christian Bible should be the basis of what makes a great politician. That type of litmus test would ultimately lead to a theocracy. That's all fine and dandy if you are in a majority, but not so hot for the minority. You're right. Our country isn't what it used to be, but more importantly, neither are the people in it. Words like honor, integrity, and decency is lacking from their vocabulary.

Our country never was what it used to be. If you would read some detailed, in depth history, you would understand. This crap has been going on since day one.

By the way, Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer. Say something bad about him, go ahead, I dare you.

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Im_gumby

Quote: Originally Posted by joecoin By the way, Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer. Say something bad about him, go ahead, I dare you.

OK... He was a tall, gangly lookin fella with a horse face.


That being said, one of the best lines I've heard about this sad state was on the Daily Show last night.

It was something to the effect of...

Congressmen are assigned to committees based on their greatest weakness. Foley headed the Child Exploitation Committee and Ted Stevens, who is more comfortable with horses and buggies, is in charge of regulating the internet. Stevens believes the internet is a series of tubes... that you can reach through to molest pages.

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FeRaL

"Oh!, I'm sorry... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah..." Sorry you got caught.

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Rob

Quote: Originally Posted by joecoin By the way, Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer. Say something bad about him, go ahead, I dare you.

President Lincoln never really cared for the slaves owned by the South. If you read closely in the Proclamation Declaration, what it really says is that only in the States that have suceeded, he frees the slaves. The Proclamation Declaration didn't affect any of the slaves in the States outside the Confederacy except for the "escaped slaves from the South" (this allowed them to join the Union Army). It was only issued as a military measure....to deprive the South of the labor and to convince more of the escaped slaves (and to entice other slaves in the South to flee to the North) to join the Union Army. By the time it had been issued, seven States had already suceeded from the Union.

The Civil War was fought over the issue of keeping the Union together, not over slavery itself.

In 1849 when Lincoln was in Congress, he introduced a bill to outlaw slavery in the District of Columbia, more so because he didn't want them there in his sight. When he finally became President, he did eventually sign the measure, but he was more worried about people being deprived of their servants, cooks, and stable boys. Also, what does it say when he insists upon compensating the slave owners for the loss of their slaves? It just reinforces the idea that a human being has monetary value.

No, Lincoln fought the Civil War to keep the Union together and only under pressure from the abolitionist and the radical Republicans did he ever address the issue of slavery. He also addressed it because it became a central issue as to why the Confederate States suceeded from the Union.

I've spoken with a few hardcare Lincoln historians and what is not widely known is that Lincoln had no idea what to do with the slaves once the Civil War had been won. His proposal was to either to pack them all up and ship them off to the Texas territory or to return them to the continent of Africa (or to Haiti). I haven't looked too hard for this information so I can't vouch for its veracity.

Did you know that one month before issuing the Proclamation Declaration that President Lincoln wrote to Horace Greely (editor of the New York Times) that "if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it...."?

I'm not demeaning President Lincoln in any way. Many view him as a noble man bent on abolishing slavery. He simply used the issue of slavery as a tool to gain popularity, just like every other politician. President Lincoln was a great man that kept his country together in a time of strife; however, we just need to properly understand his motives.

Didn't expect that, did you?

Rob

EDIT: I found this and this. It appears that President Lincoln only opposed slavery on the basis that blacks and whites were not equal races and therefore, were unfit to live together.

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chapper

Frankly for what it's worth, I think the whole thing is a nasty political storm in a tea cup.
Have you fellows read the e-mails sent...come on!
Oh well, only in America.

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Im_gumby

Here's an interesting link I found while checking out CNet:

Maf54 (Ex-Rep. Foley) Still Lurking Around The Internet Under The Same Screen Name... | The Huffington Post

Ohh, and chapper... here are links to the emails and IMs as posted by the citizens for responsibility and ethics.

NOTE: CHANCES ARE THERE IS STUFF NOT PG-13 IN THESE LINKS!! But that's why this is more than a tempest in a teacup.

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