I wouldn't obsess too much over this lame attempt by conservatives to spin culpability over l'Affaire Foley. The American public has lots more common sense regarding this sort of issue than one might otherwise believe.

While many Americans, rather unaccountably, give a "pass" to women who prey on teenage boys (note the numerous "hot teachers" who've bedded their male students, but weren't harshly punished), men who prey on teens (particularly teen boys) are held in particular disrepute. They aren't cut any slack at all by most people, and this isn't likely to be any different. Indeed, the fact that this man is an elected official will make it all the worse for him.

If, as suggested, a truly independent prosecutor or investigator is named, we will know the truth soon enough. Let the evidence lead where it may -- right up to the Speaker's office, if that's the case.

Considering the depths to which Limbaugh and company are evidently willing to go to divert blame for this entire incident, I wonder how long it will be before the congressional pages themselves are somehow claimed to bear responsibility? Hey, maybe they LURED or ENTICED Foley, and MADE the poor man act against his better judgment!

Just wait -- it WILL happen! You read it here first, gang. The PAGES are at fault -- they and their families entrapped Foley!

...as both "dry out."

Just off the news wire: Following the lead of disgraced Ohio Congressman Bob Ney, Mark Foley has entered rehab for alcoholism! More and more, this is becoming THE preferred excuse for nearly every bit of bad judgment or behavior.

My, my -- it's going to be CROWDED at the clinic when Hastert, Boehner and other GOP leaders also quit and enter rehab! See this: http://www.wpbf.com/news/9965384/detail.html

...and resign from Congress. Both are quite obviously patent liars, not worthy of public office, and even less deserving of leadership positions. All Americans should be ashamed each additional day that they are on the public payroll. To think that they will be eligible to draw retirement pensions no matter what happens now is depressing and WRONG.

While reading the comic strips in this past Sunday's local paper, I had a revelation explaining exactly what kind of trick GOP party leaders have been playing on us for years.

Sunday's "Classic Peanuts" strip was one of those annual visits to Lucy enticing Charlie Brown to try kicking that football, leading inevitably to poor, trusting Charlie falling flat on his back after Lucy yanks it away AGAIN.

The perfect analogy for our country! Time and again, the GOP says all the right words that play on the fears and emotions of just enough voters to gain majorities in Congress and hold onto the White House. (I'm assuming, of course, that Dubya's wins in 2000 and 2004 were legitimate, which is certainly in dispute.)

The trusting voters, burned previously by Republicans at least as far back as the so-called Contract with America -- say, what WAS that again, and exactly how much was ever enacted? -- keep coming back for more, hoping against hope that THIS time, the GOP is being honest. Their strong words about morality, steadfast defense against "terrorists" and so forth obviously resonate with sincere voters, but as the Current Occupant of the White House once put it, "...fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

How many more times will Lucy succeed in convincing Charlie Brown to try kicking that blasted football? We DO know the answer, of course; with Charles Schulz' passing, it will never happen again. So now, how much longer will anyone be fooled by the national GOP and their empty rhetoric of morality, family values and honesty? No one knows that answer for sure, but let's hope the public at long last is more skeptical and realistic.

Out with the bums, perverts and liars! Clean House, and Senate too!

Say, THAT should be the national campaign theme for the Democrats (and I hereby give them full rights to any part):

CLEAN HOUSE

CLEAN SENATE

CLEAN GOVERNMENT

While those of us in the reality-based world find Santorum's loony claim amusing, don't ever "mis-underestimate" the ability of the public to fool themselves. The memory hole is deep and really black these days -- let's just hope most voters aren't THAT forgetful!

The good Senator is desperately bailing water from his sinking campaign, isn't he? Just wait as even more mud and utter B.S. are flung by him in the waning weeks of the campaign -- should be highly amusing...

It's now officially "every man for himself" in the U.S. House of Representatives after this statement from John Boehner. The circular firing squad that's recently much more typical of Democrats appears to have been formed with Republican members this time.

It's going to get much bloodier (and MUCH more enjoyable) before this is resolved -- after all, Republicans prefer to use Teflon-coated, hollow-point ammunition to maximize damage in their targets!

If so, they're the only major business or school that does NOT. Of course, given the incredible stories of the decrepit computer systems at the FBI and other law enforcement agencies following the 9/11 attacks, maybe we shouldn't be surprised.

What WOULD be surprising is if Foley (and others) had never visited any of many porn sites on the Internet from their Congressional offices, on their Congressional computers. Someone tell me, please, that we DO have SOME kind of computer security within our Congress that AT LEAST records websites being visited, even if none are blocked or considered "forbidden."

Then PLEASE tell me that records of such Internet activity are being investigated by the FBI. PLEASE!!!