a guy called Mark Foley who is in bush party and works alongside bush's brother in florida had to resign when he sent 3 e mails of a sexual nature to 5 young boys.it now gets worse as it now turns out this has been going on for 3 years and the bush administration knew about it....Oh dear what now.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/...ley.quits/index.html

The story has been around for ages - but is breaking big now.

What's a juvenile pecadillo compared to what is already being called the

www.informationliberation.com/index.php?id=16337

.

whether the US observers react the same was we Brits do on discovering the majority leader looking into this is a Mr BOEHNER?

the story hasn't been around for ages.he only resigned last friday 29th.it turns out for the last 3 years foley would e mail young boys,if they returned his e mails he would then text by phone his illicit thoughts ( most news stories don't say this)on friday 29th a boy came forward to which foley said was just a fun bit of banter e mail,he obviously forgot this was one of the "text" boys.once he sussed it out he resigned before the matter exploded.Too late.the worse thing here for republicans,is that they knew about it but covered it up till hopefully after this novembers elections so as not to lose a florida seat.

I understand the youngest boy was 16, so not such a shock story really, although I heard that the Yanks can treat 19yr olds as minors. Over here it would be perfectly legal. Maybe a bit unethical, that's all.

mark foley set the law about minors in Florida and it states "A person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this section, "sexual activity" means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another; however, sexual activity does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose".
He set this law and while others were being punished he was doing it and getting away with it,but this isn't just about a lonely gay man its more about how the Bush administration tried to cover it up and thats what makes it world news.

He may only have resigned last friday - but the rumours have been circulating for some time, Cilla. You know what the gossip mongers in Washington are like, and as it appears that everyone in the Republican Party knew all about it, it was only a matter of time before it became public knowledge.

As you said yourself, the Bush mob were hoping to keep it secret at least until after the mid-term elections.

unbelievable how a fuckwit gets in trouble out here and then checks his/her self into some rehab.I cannot believe he is saying drink did it.about 10 year ago a politician actually convinced the USA public that drink made him homosexual.well,I love this country but the politics stink.

well, I suppose he needs some kind of "excuse" cilla !

You were sharing an American story on a British message board, and I was giving my reaction as a Brit.

Plain and simple.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/...y.scandal/index.html

Was that before or after he became an alcoholic?

I still think this is less of a story than the fact that the UK government will ship you over there without much in the line of evidence, and they can then torture you without fear of the law getting involved if they can call you an enemy of the US.

I assume you are being sarcastic. Are you saying you don't believe he was abused, or that being abused/alcoholic is no excuse? clarity please.

<<< Are you saying you don't believe he was abused, or that being abused/alcoholic is no excuse? clarity please. >>>

Both !

No, sorry if I wasn't clear. My point is that the steady dismantling of civil rights in the US is an issue that is getting less press but is much more significant in the long run.

I wouldn't like to comment on what was done by whom or why, as I don't follow the private lives of US politicans any more than I follow those of Bosnia.

But the recent "torture" bill combined with the extraordinary extradition treaties between the US and UK does actually worry me.

x

... the salacious e-mails from Rep. Mark Foley were leaked to ABC News by career Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents who are incensed that Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales covered up the House page scandal for political reasons. The back story of Pagegate is that there was a criminal conspiracy by the top political leadership of the Justice Department to cover up the predatory activities of Foley and other GOP members of Congress since at least 2003 and, likely, as early as 2001.

btw - I always said Yanks were weird !
Anyone who gets a stiffy from seeing a plastercast is totally weird !!!!!