There are sooo many things I could say about the Mark Foley matter. Here are just a few things:

— OK, so he’s checking into rehab. Good for him. However, even if he is an alcoholic, would that have ANYTHING to do with him sending inappropriate, sexual messages to underage boys? No, it would not.

— If—and this is a huge if—the Republican leadership knew Foley was maybe doing stuff like this … how could they look the other way. Aren’t they the family values party? Allegedly?

— I know there are exceptions (i.e., that idiot former New Jersey governor), but why does it seem like most of the politicians who get outed, usually in the process of doing something embarrassing, are Republicans? I don’t mean this question in a snarky way; I mean it seriously.

Just some thoughts …

This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 4, 2006.

4 replies on “On Foley”

  1. Re: Foley as Alky — Practicing alcoholics are sicker than sober alcoholics. If you accept that, and know that one of the key symptoms of alcoholism is the kind of self-destructive behavior Foley has shown in spades, what he’s done, which is entirely inconsistent with what he’s done in his public career, is precisely the kind of sick behavior practicing alcoholics show unless and until they become sober. Alcoholics, even sober ones, can be stupid. But alcohol is the kind of drug that makes people even more stupid, and sicker than if their brains weren’t awash in booze.

  2. Don’t you love the way fallen politicos go loudly into rehab so fast? It gets them two things: 1) keeps them from getting hounded for interveiws till the news cycle moves along to the next debacal, 2) Lets them imply ” It was the drink, not my fault!”
    It will also be interesting to see how the rightwing-nuts spin the gay = pedophile rant when it’s one of thier own. Should be fun.

  3. WHile I have no reason to dispute what Mr. Hotep says about alcoholism, I have no particular reason to believe that Foley was an alcoholic. Sounds like he’s just covering.

    And why is this the big story when our habeas corpus rights are about to be suspended? I really don’t care that some creep sent dirty IMs, and yet it’s this that tars the Republicans, not their utter disdain for the founding principles of this country. This one-two punch is making me internet crazy.

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