The Most Amazing Crisis Press Conference Ever
Congressman Thomas Reynolds held a press conference to answer questions about his role in the growing scandal over Rep. Mark Foley’s suggestive and graphic emails to an underage teenage page.
And, apparently believing imagery is the name-of-the-game, he surrounded himself with….did you guess?..a literal SEA of kids. We’ve heard of using human shields, but this is ridiculous….
And people thought Senator Rick Santorum exploited his kids in his TV ads? This one is so blatant, it can’t have been done on the advice of a political consultant because it’ll probably backfire.
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I have a question. I don’t mean this to sound partisan but I want to know who believes that if we lived in a reverse universe and all the Republicans were Democrats and all the Democrats were Republicans if we’d be in the same situation? I think we would be because the agenda of those people in the congress and any president is not the agenda’s of the rest of Americans. Their agenda is about power. getting it and keeping it.
The sad part is that so many good Americans have bought into their petty partisan hatreds: Democrats want America to be attacked again — Republicans are Fasists. We are so busy fighting each other that we can’t focus on a country who don’t give a rats ass about us and who want us to act just like them: blind loyalty to whatever party we are in.
Spike Lee was right: WAKE UP!
I think this is about the starkest example in American history of group of people who seem soley focused on power. I believe that’s why so many traditional, principled conservatives are so upset because the only thing that matters seems to be obtaining and retaining power.
What’s the big deal about using kids as human shields? The islamofacist dhimmi pinko hippy terrorists do it all the time and I never hear any complaints from libruls about them!
Charles, unfortunately, I think you’re right. I’m sure there are a few politicians out there who are focused on serving their constituents. However, especially at the national level, they are a rarity. Actually, I don’t think your query is partisan. Anyone who would tell you that their party, whether that’s an R or a D, is more interested in helping Americans than in obtaining/maintaining power is a blind partisan. This is why a split government is important. No matter which party is in power, if the other doesn’t control some branch, they are going to use that power to their full advantage. Having a split government ensures that can’t happen because the opposing parties will always be fighting for power and a Democratic Congress will never give a Republican President a blank check, just like a Republican Congress will never give a Democratic President a blank check.
As you stated, the real sad part is that a lot of Americans don’t see this. They buy into the vile hatred and actually take that hatred personally, while politicians spew that hatred toward each other in the media, then go out and have a nice dinner together (probably with the bill picked up by a lobbyist with an agenda).
Ryan,
I mostly agree with you here but I think the current environment is worse than it has been in the recent past (I’ve certainly heard about times when it has been as bad or worse, but I’m comparing it with the past few decades). From what I understand, the partisanship in this Congress is quite bitter and you don’t see the members from each party making nice at the end of the day (when I think of that phenomena I always think of the Warner Brothers cartoon with the sheepdog who punches the timeclock and fights the wolf all day and then he punches out and they are friends at the end LOL)
But on one thing I agree: the American people are being played by the leaders of the two parties. As long as we hate and distrust each other, their job is easy. I hope we all get wise to this, and soon.
As you stated, the real sad part is that a lot of Americans don’t see this. They buy into the vile hatred and actually take that hatred personally, while politicians spew that hatred toward each other in the media, then go out and have a nice dinner together (probably with the bill picked up by a lobbyist with an agenda).
AMEN! Ryan I heard cspan this morning and listened as callers from both parties made their usual lameasss arguments. Republicans pointing out the actions of some freak from the Democrat party; Democrats pointing out what the acations of some nut case in the GOP with a couple of screws loose. As if 2, 3, 4, or 5,000 wrongs make a right!
I honestly think those callers are basically good people who are way too caught up in the partisan line to realize we all want the same thing: COMPETENCE; a serious discussion of the issues. SOLUTIONS not spin and certainly not this circus we see today.
We are the silent majority and we need to find our voice.
Snark The SilentMoralMajority give their money to Falwell and Robertson. These Elmer Gantry’s have built monuments to their egos while the homeless go hungry.
CS: “But on one thing I agree: the American people are being played by the leaders of the two parties. As long as we hate and distrust each other, their job is easy. I hope we all get wise to this, and soon.”
A very wise statement CS and I concur with you. There is nothing wrong with debating policy, but the attacks should NOT be made personal. There are times you and I agree and others where we don’t. I’ve always tried to stay away from making personal attacks though I admit, sometimes my temper flares up and I falter.
Too bad the leaders of both parties are too busy demonizing each other to see it.
Rambie,
That’s true of all of us and I’m sure I’ve crossed the line on some occasions too. I don’t recall ever feeling that you had attacked me or anyone else, but it’s good to admit that none of us are perfect and we all succomb to the emotions of the moment at times!
C Stanley, I agree that the environment is worse than it has been in a long time and there are probably some politicians who believe those on the other side of the aisle are actually evil incarnate. However, from what I’ve observed, they play up the “the other side is evil incarnate” angle for the media and their constituents, then at least can be cordial to each other off the camera. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t picking up on that and actually carry that attitude through their whole lives, thinking everyone of the opposite party is evil incarnate. People are making it too easy for politicians to divide and conquer.
Interesting that you and I both think of the same cartoon. It’s scary that we can compare government with a cartoon but that is a pretty good depiction of how government tends to work.
Charles, I do think that people from both sides have much more in common than politicians want us to realize. Outside of the extreme wackos on either side, we actually have a lot in common and I think we’d like to have cordial discussion of issues. Most of us are just being set up by those who direct the discussion publicly to do the exact opposite. It’s about time that the people, not the politicians, decide both the topic and the tone of the debate.
Actually, the leaders see it and actually rely on it. It’s too bad the average American is too busy taking that demonization too seriously to see it.
I agree: it is up to us to see it and call them on it.
Henry Hyde as speaker? Ah, the House “Manager” who pursued Clinton’s impeachment on the basis of a blow job. As the $72m probe was ongoing it was revealed that Hyde himself had commited a “youthfull indiscretion”— at 40 years old!
Give the GOP points for consistency.
“actually the leaders see it and rely on it”
Yes, they rely on it, because in its absence both parties would have to provide some kind of justification to remain in power or obtain power. .
Gerrymandering and cozy relationships with corporate PACs who host fundraisers give a strong advantage to incumbents. Ethics violations go unnoticed or disregarded until an outside agent brings charges.
The Republicans maximized their influence with corporate lobbyists under Tom Delay in the K St project, where they attempted to get corporations to hire only Republican lobbyists- similar to the way the administration wanted Bush loyalists to get contracts for reconstruction of Iraq. Were the two parties reversed, the Dems would be no better-so pls don’t take this as a partisan rant.
The press confrence was a joke. Renyolds hid behind a bunch of kids so he wouldnt have to field questions. The reporters were disgusted, you could hear it in their voices. And this is suppossed to be the party that boldly stands up to terrorist?
Bill first wants to do a truce with the Taliban. I swear Im taking crazy pills.
And yet we have some musing on wether the Dems wouldnt have done the same. I see this as nothing more than trying to justify the whole thing on some kind of lizard brain level. Why dont we skip the rumination and knee-jerk blame the democrats centerism disease and stick to the facts at hand.
Dems didnt do this, and point in fact were cut out of the process in the same manner as was done in the K-Street project. Deal with that and leave the damn Dems out of it.
Speculating on how just-the-same way the Dems would have handled it is mental masturbation at best.
Snarky- I didn’t mean that they would do the exact same things- the K St project or Abramoff’s Indian casino deals. What I meant was that this is an indictment of one-party government. When the Republicans took over Congress in ’94, they won big because of Democratic corruption.They ran on cleaning up after guys like Dan Rostenkowski and Jim Wright.
Now that they’ve been in office 12 years they are corrupt as well.
I have to say, though, there was never a year that 4 Dems went to jail, or were indicted that I can think of!
I have to say, though, there was never a year that 4 Dems went to jail, or were indicted that I can think of!
The year’s not over yet.
Nothing personal Kim, but I am just amazed how fast a post on Republican malfeasence can turn into a bash Dems thread.
Or at least drag out some moldy corpse of a 20 year old Dem scandal to kick some more.
I guess its a centerist thing.
Snarky- No offense taken- I am a registered Democrat, and am helping with a get out the vote drive. If you’ve read my posts, you know I have no intention of voting Republican in a national election until the Republicans purge the party of the Dobsonites and neocons!
I was trying to show the abuses of leaving one party in power for too long, but in the name of fairness had to list the problems Dems had as well. Actually I am pretty disgusted with both parties, but would vote for Donald Duck right now if his name had a “D” next to it, just to get rid of the crew in charge now.
I know Kim. The very first post of the thread was were it went so very arwy. Given your known propensities, its a given we are fellow travalers in many ways. You do have to admit though, Dems do take a lot of abuse in here over Republican hi-jinx. I’m not saying that is earth shattering bad or anything, but it is curious.
Not just in here. I was really amazed by that article Sebastian Mallaby wrote in the Washington Post (it was posted on here yesterday) talking about the party with no principles. Given this last week, I wrongly assumed he meant the Republicans until I read it! Whatta hypocrite. I honestly don’t see how anyone with real principles -even conservative ones- could vote for the status quo in November. But I guess they gotta keep those decadent, bin Laden-appeasin’ Socialists at bay LOL!