forgive me, but his whole Foley thing makes me ill . . .

[OneBlueSky]

that the Repugs may finally be taken down by a tawdry, titillating sex scandal when there are SO many other areas in which they are culpable is both disgusting and disheartening, imo . . .

I mean, these guys have stolen elections, started illegal wars, invaded and occupied sovereign nations, facilitated the death of a major American city (and region), LIHOPed (at minimum) the worst terrorist attack in American history, turned regulatory bodies over to the industries being regulated, spent the country into a hole that seemingly has no bottom, initiated a totally fraudulent Medicare prescription "benefit," and passed a law giving Bush virtually unlimited and unchecked power -- and the only thing that sticks is the sex stuff . . .

oh, I'm all for using whatever's available to knock them on their asses . . . and if the Foley affair is what does it, there's certainly a little poetic justice involved in bringing them down on the same kinds of morals issue they continually throw at Democrats . . . but it's still a damned shame that the state of our political culture is such that the ONLY way to get them is with something like this -- instead of the REALLY damaging things they've done (and continue to do) to us . . .

it's also a damned shame that the whole GD discussion board has to be so consumed by this when there is so much else going on that needs immediate attention (the elections, the pending Iran attack, etc.) . . . I understand it, to a certain extent -- but I sure as hell don't like it . . .

sorry . . . just had to vent a bit . . .

[Chipper Chat]

1. If your football team has lost 20 straight games to Team X.

And many of those games were by cheating. And Team X fumbles in the defensive end zone with 10 seconds on the clock when they're 1 point ahead - you take the victory and feel no remorse.

[OneBlueSky]

2. yup . . . but it's not just about winning or losing . . .

it's mostly about right and wrong, and what happens when a radical cabal of corporate whores takes over your country . . .

sure you want them gone yesterday -- but for the right reasons . . .

Foleygate is certainly A right reason -- but it's far from the most important one . . .

[Chipper Chat]

6. But it could be the issue that pushes democrats over the top 11/7

Just like the Osama Bin Laden tape that appeared "out-of-nowhere" two days before the 2004 election that pushed Bushie to victory.
However, I agree that Americans are just sex-obsessed. Europeans are probably yawning over the Foley thing.

[tsuki]

7. It is the most important one. It takes about 20 years to move the

great inert. The Republicans got it right. Force the masses into exhaustive overwork with 2 jobs, family and money worries, then preach to them through the corporate media, 'it is all the lib'ruls fault.'

Events happen, but they do not relate to the working man. Feelings of unease develop, but most people want to believe in their government. So you 'bitch about everything, you're a partisan democrat,' and corporate news spins and teaches 'you'll feel better, just consume.'

It takes one event, crystal clear, black & white, relevant to the average joe to have all the feelings of unease coalesce into a certainty that something is wrong, real, bad wrong.

This is the event. Since the scandal broke, I have been asked, not volunteered, but been asked, by three different people, one asked about the Mariannas, one about Ohio 2004 and one asked just what is waterboarding.

Trust has been broken, so arm yourself with facts and go gently into the fray. There is no way to spin this scandal away. M$M might seem to be working, but remember, that is one way communication to the base. And trust has been broken.

The great questioning has begun. Do not be unapproachable.

[KharmaTrain]

3. One Door Opens Another

Right now Democrats have few power bases that enable us to get a message or agenda pushed forward. We are stymied in the House & Senate by rigged rules that Hastert has perfected into a one-party aparatus. That's why there isn't an invetigation into Foley going right now, nor were there any into Ney, DeLay and other Repugnian sleeze.

I'd love to fight this election on more substansive issues, but you play with the cards you're dealt and grab opportunities where they present themselves. Do you think if the shoe were on the other foot, there'd be the least bit of remorse from Repugnicans from stealing or cheaing their way to winning? Of couse not. I don't suggest we follow that blueprint, but we can't back down when we see an opportunity that can move ahead our common goals...or in this case, put the brakes on a runaway regime.

The Democrats had NOTHING to do with this scandal. We didn't start this investigation, these pages weren't Democrats and the Democrats who were supposed to be notified and involved were ignored. You can't find a more one-sided scandal than this. Being such, sit back and watch the show play out...there's precious little we can do in the meantime. This is a story that continues to drip something new by the hour and day and that will draw both attention and suck oxygen away from other issues.

Look at it this way...at this point, the RNC would love to see all those millions it threw into opposition research starting to turn poll numbers and pidgeon-hole Democrats. With them having to play defense, this levels many playing fields as our candidates can continue to focus on the local issues and let the national Repugnicans fumble their way into the minority.

Cheers...

[JI7]

4. the fact is that many Americans don't pay attention to the things you list

at least not in depth. on places like DU while the Foley thing is huge we also do in depth research and discussion of many other things like the torture issue, war, economy etc.

but the morons only really look into it if it's about sex or something similar. otherwise they just get influenced by the tone of the media reporting.

you can bet a lot of people who don't pay attention to politics and never heard of Foley or even Hastert or any other congressman is going online and reading all about maf54 now.

if maf54 had been discussing bribes involving tax favors in exchange of campaign contributions they would not look into it. if asked they will of course say they don't like it. but wont give it much thought.

[Skittles]

5. people care more about high gas prices than our troops

they care more about Janet's breast than they do about stolen elections

[and-justice-for-all]

8. Well milk it for all its worth....

...Because they have fucked us enough and payback is a raving mad bitch!