Moral Relativism is a distinctly dirty word when conservative republicans use it, generally to demonstrate the absolute moral bankruptcy of those shifty, over-tolerant liberals.
Conservatives generally hew publicly, to a standard of Moral Absolutism founded in Biblical principles.
Apparently their morals are relative in private - relative to the potential political costs of a perv being caught as opposed to the political benefits of maintaining a safe seat with a completely "reliable" vote. Yep, "ideological reliables" are all fine and good, but for real security in an uncertain world, there's nothing like like blackmail and the terrified compliance it brings.
Apparently the "right" thing to do was to keep Foley in his job. Because, at least according to Randi Rhodes, who's been following this closely, Hastert either did know or should have known as early as three years ago - and did nothing. When pages are being warned about Foley in 2001, with you being in the oversight position, that means that if you did not know, Mr. Hastert, it's because it was a matter of policy for you to be uninformed.
The GOP Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert sounds like a paranoid, ill-informed Bill O’Reilly. He blames ABC, Democratic operatives, George Soros, and Bill Clinton via Dick Morris…someone Clinton fired 10 years ago and is now a GOP pundit. Astonishing! Especially for someone who turned the other cheek on Foley for years.
Hastert then has the audacity to say he taking responsibility! Responsibility, just not any blame. Sick.
The House Ethics Committee announces near 4 dozen subpoenas. And the GOP chairman of the committee thinks Hastert’s doing a great job, or does he?
The pages involved did everything conceivable to bring this to the attention of someone who would do something - anything. Their Page supervisor (Republican) did nothing - aside from freezing out the lone Democrat on the page board.
The Speaker, Mr. Hastert - who's office was contacted? He did nothing.
Dennis Hastert is a former educator and coach, an insight that gives me the creeping oogies, now that I think of it in this context. He is either a mandatory reporter or once would have been - I do not know if the mandate lapses with the licence or persists. Certainly the moral imperative and the training to spot problem situations does not. I am not inclined to give him wiggle room on that point.
Even the FBI declined to investigate. They do try to not get involved in politically sensitive matters. It can interfere with a career. Especially when the AG is Republican and an election is just over the horizon.
So let us be clear. Moral Relativism states that things are moral or immoral vis-a-vie the culture and the context. Well, by both, this was and is an immoral situation, a violation of every standard of expected decent behavior of authority figures in our Culture. Moral Absolutism agrees - and hints strongly toward stoning, or perhaps castration followed by stoning.
But "Don't get caughtism" allows a free pass - on condition that you cover the asses of all your buddies who are doing the same thing.
Is that an unreasonable assumption? Not for the parents of America; it's the only safe assumption, short of absolute proof to the contrary. I'm not at all sure what sort of proof I would consider acceptable.
As far as I am concerned, anyone who knew about this situation and permitted it to continue for political reasons is even more guilty than Foley, who has at least the thin and slight excuse having been thinking with the little head.
People who thought with their big heads and came to the same conclusion are, in my humble opinion, pimps, panderers, procurers and human traffickers in what seems to have been a private preserve of teenage sex toys. If this has being ongoing since 2001, it's not just Foley, it's not just boys and it's certainly not just gay congress-critters, not that the latter has any bearing. Indeed, it's probably not limited to the House; it may well spread to K street, the Senate and the White House. There is no influence that lasts longer than photos of someone important in bed with a teenager - unless it's a dead teenager. And if influence is what you peddle - why settle for less than the guy down the hall?
So I am asking myself aloud - when did Karl Rove Know, and Who Got Known On Tape?
Now, the FBI is searching computers and records of various persons they think may be involved.
I'm kinda hoping they find one or two Dems involved, just so there's no question about it being a partisan job. Because right now, that's Hastert's spin, as spun on Limbaugh's show.
YOUR election. Sir? YOUR election? What an interesting Freudian slip! Is there something about also illegally screwing the voters that you'd care to share with us? And how utterly arrogant - and factually inaccurate - to claim "You are the insulation that protects this country."SPEAKER HASTERT: There were two pieces of paper out there, one that we knew about and we acted on; one that happened in 2003 we didn’t know about, but somebody had it, and, you know, they’re trying — and they drop it the last day of the session, you know, before we adjourn on an election year. Now, we took care of Mr. Foley. We found out about it, asked him to resign. He did resign. He’s gone. We asked for an investigation. We’ve done that. We’re trying to build better protections for these page programs.
But, you know, this is a political issue in itself, too, and what we’ve tried to do as the Republican Party is make a better economy, protect this country against terrorism — and we’ve worked at it ever since 9/11, worked with the president on it — and there are some people that try to tear us down. We are the insulation to protect this country, and if they get to me it looks like they could affect our election as well.
Damn you sir, and the party you rode in on.
tag: Election, Dennis Hastert, Resign, Resignation, Mark Foley, Republican Pedophiles, FBI Investigation, US Congress, Pedophile, Pederast, Scandal, Pandering, Sexual Favors, Corruption, Morality, Ethics.
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