# Rep. Mark Foley resigns over e-mails to teenage boys -- repercussions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 30, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735 "2006-09-30T14:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/301 "2006-10-10T01:05:23Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] Do you think that will hold after today’s nuke test? The Nuclear Boogeyman is good at scaring people into voting republican. [/QUOTE] I’m not so sure. Americans - even Republicans - are at least vaguely aware Bush bullshitted us by screaming, “Saddam has WMDs, and is within weeks of launching!” If Bush takes a similar alarmist “get tough” approach to NK, we may well see an avalanche of Democrats sweeping into office. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/302 "2006-10-10T01:46:35Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] I doubt it will play out that way in the current environment. Recent polls show the Democrats leading the Republicans on national security. In that case the recent news from North Korea should push the Republicans even lower. [/QUOTE] It may be seen as a failure on Bush’s part that North Korea got this far along. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/303 "2006-10-10T01:51:59Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] It may be seen as a failure on Bush’s part that North Korea got this far along. [/QUOTE] It _should_ be seen as such. At least Clinton’s carrot and stick kept the lid on the plutonium. Bush took away both and pretty much ignored NK for the last 3 years (we’ve been busy elsewhere, after all) and lookie there… ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/304 "2006-10-10T02:43:19Z")
I think ignoring N. Korea while it goes nuclear is about as major a mistake as a President can make, but I think it’ll be the Foley Follies and Humbuggery Hastert who’ll sink the Pubbies in November, as far as the number of votes cast goes. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/305 "2006-10-10T16:45:01Z")
Update: [Hastert desperately seeking somebody to throw under the bus](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061010/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/306 "2006-10-10T18:02:58Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] I’m not so sure. Americans - even Republicans - are at least vaguely aware Bush bullshitted us by screaming, “Saddam has WMDs, and is within weeks of launching!” [/QUOTE] In [a recent poll](http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/10/america/web.1010poll.php) **83%** of the respondents thought that Bush was either lying or hiding something when he discussed how the war in Iraq was progressing. That’s a huge confidence gap. The Republicans have Lost the Mandate of Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/307 "2006-10-10T18:40:17Z")
And gained the boy date from Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/308 "2006-10-10T19:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] And gained the boy date from Hell. [/QUOTE] 😃 Took me a minute! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/309 "2006-10-10T19:43:34Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] In [a recent poll](http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/10/america/web.1010poll.php) **83%** of the respondents thought that Bush was either lying or hiding something when he discussed how the war in Iraq was progressing. That’s a huge confidence gap. [/QUOTE] Of course, the dark side of the matter is that there’s still 13% of the respondents who are frickin’ morons. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/310 "2006-10-11T02:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] > [@Pochacco](#): > > The Republicans have Lost the Mandate of Heaven. And gained the boy date from Hell. [/QUOTE] Beautiful! Could you say public confidence in them has been ex-Foley-ated? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/311 "2006-10-11T02:32:50Z")
Of course I could! But you already did. So I’ll say it somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/312 "2006-10-12T14:35:07Z")
This just in, [Karl Rove pressured Foley into running in 2006.](http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=47854) > [@](#): > > But there’s more to the story of why Foley stood for re-election this year. Yesterday, a source close to Foley explained to THE NEW REPUBLIC that in early 2006 the congressman had all but decided to retire from the House and set up shop on K Street. “Mark’s a friend of mine,” says this source. “He told me, ‘I’m thinking about getting out of it and becoming a lobbyist.’” > … > According to the source, Foley said he was being pressured by “the White House and Rove gang,” who insisted that Foley run. If he didn’t, Foley was told, it might impact his lobbying career. > > “He said, ‘The White House made it very clear I have to run,’” explains Foley’s friend, adding that Foley told him that the White House promised that if Foley served for two more years it would “enhance his success” as a lobbyist. Very interesting. Not only did the Republican House leadership cover up his activities, the White House wanted to keep this seat so badly that they pressured him into running. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/313 "2006-10-12T16:16:29Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] This just in, [Karl Rove pressured Foley into running in 2006.](http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=47854) Very interesting. Not only did the Republican House leadership cover up his activities, the White House wanted to keep this seat so badly that they pressured him into running. [/QUOTE] Not just pedophile enablers, but pedophile ENCOURAGERS. Consistent with Rove’s slimy approach to politics, you bet! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/314 "2006-10-12T16:28:20Z")
Bet Karl Rove’s been kicking himself in the butt nonstop for the past two weeks. Works for me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/315 "2006-10-12T16:40:24Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Bet Karl Rove’s been kicking himself in the butt nonstop for the past two weeks. Works for me. 😃 [/QUOTE] I’d be surprised if the Evil Genius ever regretted any thing he has ever done. Watch him try to spin this turd into gold also. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/316 "2006-10-12T16:52:56Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Bet Karl Rove’s been kicking himself in the butt nonstop for the past two weeks. [/QUOTE] As long as that’s the **only** thing happening to his butt. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/317 "2006-10-12T18:28:05Z")
From the “Thanks, but no thanks” department: Bush and Hastert are coming to Chicago to campaign for a couple of candidates in close Congressional races. “Um, we appreciate it, guys, but you wouldn’t have John McCain’s number, would you?” ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/318 "2006-10-12T19:42:31Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] I’d be surprised if the Evil Genius ever regretted any thing he has ever done. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t he need to evolve a conscience first before he can regret anything? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/319 "2006-10-13T02:04:02Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] I’d be surprised if the Evil Genius ever regretted any thing he has ever done. Watch him try to spin this turd into gold also. [/QUOTE] Oh, he’ll never _publicly_ regret it, but right now it’s starting to look nearly a sure thing that the Dems will retake the House, and they’ve got a shot at a landslide. And whatever they win, Foley’s going to be seen as the reason they didn’t win a good bit less. So Rove looks a lot less like the Boy Genius, and a lot more like a turd blossom. And he’ll be kicking himself for that. Also, the Abramoff stuff is quietly rolling on in the background, and Rove’s tied in with that, hence Susan Ralston’s resignation last week. If the Dems retake the House, Rove’s gonna be testifying, under oath, about his part in the Abramoff machine. Yeah, he’s regretting it now. And he’ll be regretting it even more, once the Dems retake the House. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735/320 "2006-10-13T14:09:25Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] This just in, [Karl Rove pressured Foley into running in 2006.](http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=47854) > [@](#): > > “He said, ‘The White House made it very clear I have to run,’” explains Foley’s friend, adding that Foley told him that the White House promised that if Foley served for two more years it would “enhance his success” as a lobbyist. [/QUOTE] Somehow, I don’t think the WH is going to be able to keep that promise, now . . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-mark-foley-resigns-over-e-mails-to-teenage-boys-repercussions/374735.md?page=17)