Jonathan Turley: 109th Congress just can't resist

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2006/10/109th_congress_.html

109th Congress just can't resist
The Foley scandal is the perfect bookend to one of the most corrupt Congresses ever. Whether they’re dealing with sleazy lobbyists or innocent pages, lawmakers have shown that they can’t be trusted.

By Jonathan Turley

In its waning months, the 109th Congress has finally achieved a status in politics that the 1919 Black Sox achieved in sports: It is a symbol of utter corruption. Over the past two years, the congressional scandals have traversed the universe from the gross to the grandiose to the grotesque: visits from call girls, gifts of Rolls Royces and fancy commodes, sweetheart deals for contractors, high-paying lobbyist jobs for underachieving children, free vacations for members and their families.

Yet, if the young boy saying "say it ain't so, Joe" to Shoeless Joe Jackson perfectly summed up the betrayal of the 1919 World Series, the young male pages pursued by former GOP congressman Mark Foley of Florida perfectly summed up the betrayal of the 109th Congress. The public clearly suspects that, in dealing with Foley, House leaders were more concerned with protecting a House seat than a House page. In a CNN poll, 75% of Americans say the Republicans failed to act responsibly, and 52% believe a coverup was attempted.

If the page scandal captures the raw depravity that is the 109th Congress, the proposed solution captures its raw audacity. Faced with the abuse of children, some lawmakers have called for the removal of the children. First voiced by Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., some members have indicated that they would terminate the page service after almost 200 years of tradition. As LaHood explained, "We should not subject young men and women to this kind of activity, this kind of vulnerability." When asked whether he was suggesting that his colleagues cannot be trusted with children, he responded, "Well, that's pretty obvious."

more...

[Straight Shooter]

1. Well, his colleagues can't be trusted with anything.

That's also pretty obvious.

Good for you, J. Turley. Amazing how the Repubs believed you when you talked about Clinton's transgressions, but when it comes to bush and this GOP corruption-addled Congress, they turn a deaf ear.

[bluestateguy]

2. Turley was a cheerleader for the Clinton impeachment in 1998

Some of you may have forgotten that, but I haven't.