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Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 09:50:36 AM EST
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Think Progress says House Speaker Denny Hastert is now trying to blame others for the Mark Foley mess. From the news conference today,

QUESTION: How satisfied are you with how your staff handled the scandal so far and whether anyone resign in your office?

HASTERT: I understood what my staff told me, and I think from that response, they've handled it as well as they should. However, in 20/20 hindsight, probably you could do everything a little bit better. If there is a problem, if there was a cover up, then we should find that out through the investigation process. They'll be under oath and we'll find out. If they did cover something up, they should not continue to have their jobs. But I -- but I didn't think anybody at any time in my office did anything wrong. I found out about these revelations last Friday. That was the first information I had about it.

News coverage here.

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    Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 02:46:50 PM EST
    Hastert: I found out about these revelations last Friday. That was the first information I had about it. Kolbe warned clerk about Foley, denies confrontation CNN - 49 minutes ago
    ... Hastert has acknowledged that his office was told in November 2005
    There is an old proverb that says: "If you always tell the truth you never have to remember what you said." Thus, The coming Republican debacle.

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 02:46:50 PM EST
    What? No comment on the fact that the Foley scandal was supposed to be a Democratic October Surprise? No concern over the fact that liberal operatives at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington knew about Foley's weird text messages to pages months ago and sat on the story, allowing those poor innocent young men to be victimized while they waited for the opportune moment to spring their story? Could it be that this scandal has been micromanaged for political gain by people who only now profess concern about the safety of these pages? When was Howard Dean made aware of this? When Did Nancy Pelosi know? Why didn't they do more to stop this evil Republican from playing his weird sexual inneundo games with impressionable young men? If Dennis Hastert must go because of how he handled Foley (I'd say he must go, but for better reasons than Foley), shouldn't those Democrats and liberals who knew about this and let it go on for partisan purposes also be forced out? Or is just a smidgen of integrity too much to ask from the likes of the Democratic leadership these days?

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#1)
    by scarshapedstar on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 03:54:32 PM EST
    However, in 20/20 hindsight, probably you could do everything a little bit better.
    Yeah, seriously. I'm still kicking myself for some stuff I did and didn't do on a date last night. The difference is, though, that sometimes I'm actually successful, and when I'm not I'll actually admit my failings. BushCo acts like life is just one big game of poker and, sure, they probably shouldn't have bluffed away their life savings and their house on a runt hand, but did you know that he was holding a royal flush, Mr. Knowitall?!?! Didn't think so! He coulda folded! Now kindly loan them another thousand bucks so that they can do the same thing for the fifth time tonight. They'll do better this time around. Promise.

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 03:54:32 PM EST
    Oh, he's trying to blame his own staff now? That'll turn out well... :-)

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 03:54:32 PM EST
    JP - "liberal operatives at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington knew about Foley's weird text messages to pages months ago and sat on the story allowing those poor innocent young men to be victimized"
    ... Hastert has acknowledged that his office was told in November 2005
    What, JP??? No concern over the fact that Hastert knew about Foley's weird text messages to pages a year ago and sat on the story, allowing those poor innocent young men to be victimized? Give it up JP. They waited months for Hastert to do something about it. Now go back to sleep. We'll wake you when it's over. In November.

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#6)
    by Sailor on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 05:04:17 PM EST
    What? No comment on the fact that the Foley scandal was supposed to be a Democratic October Surprise? No concern over the fact that liberal operatives at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington knew about Foley's weird text messages to pages months ago and sat on the story
    What. no comment on the fact that you lied on every allegation you made!? BTW, I notice you don't have any links for your lies.
    What, JP??? No concern over the fact that Hastert knew about Foley's weird text messages to pages a year ago and sat on the story
    Edger, as you know I usually agree with you, but rethugs (AKA hastert), knew about this in 2000! Please, please ask for links!

    Re: Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing (none / 0) (#7)
    by Edger on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 06:36:47 PM EST
    Sailor, thanks! I have to admit that I've haven't followed the details on this one as much as I could have, only because the resulting damage to the gop is so obvious. Regardless of how long Hastert knew, it's been too long, with him doing nothing about it. It's like Foley threw Hastert and the gop under the bus that bush and the rest of them have been driving straight towards the cliff all these years. Or something. We need a good metaphor here! Where's Oscar?? ;-) Poor guys. I'm trying real hard to feel some sympathy for them, you know? "It's not getting any smarter out there. You have to come to terms with stupidity, and make it work for you." --Frank Zappa

    Hastert Tries Finger-Pointing | 7 comments (7 topical)