FREEDOM WILL NOT RING, WHERE JUSTICE CANNOT SING!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Speaker Hastert Announces Page Program Tip Line Number
Saturday, December 16, 2006

Outgoing House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert today announced an official Page tip line number.

According to Hastart, “As the Speaker I take responsibility for everything in the building. The buck stops here. The safety and security of the students in the Page program is imperative."

Hastert goes on to offer, “That is why I directed the Clerk of the House to establish a hotline for reporting any information concerning Pages or the Page program. As of this morning, the Clerk of the House has activated the tip-line. It is for anyone with information regarding the Foley matter. This number can also be used to report any other concerns regarding the Page program."

On October 3, 2006, during a CNN broadcast, Hastert acted shocked, while insisting on a full investigation of a member of his own party, resulting from sexually explicit e-mails from former representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) to a 16-year-old male page.

According to previous Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) Hastert was notified early this year of inappropriate e-mails from Foley to the child, contradicting the speaker's assertions that he learned of concerns about Foley at a much later date.

In an October 1, 2006 article of The Washington Post Boehner claims Hastert knew of "inappropriate contact" between Foley and the young page since last spring.

Hastert did not dispute the claims of Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.), and his office confirmed that some of Hastert's top aides knew last year that Foley had been ordered to cease contact with the boy and to treat all pages respectfully.

On not only CNN but also other news programs, back when media briefly focused on the Foley Scandal, announcers sang in unison that actions by Foley are surprisingly not criminal. Is CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR, no longer a crime?

SAFEGUARDS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR HOUSE PAGES
House Page Board:
3 House members
2 congressional staffers
House Sergeant At Arms
AND
Clerk of the House

Here is another nice touch, directly from the official Clerk of the House Wedsite:

The Office of the Clerk is pleased to announce the launch of Kids in the House–an interactive center that helps kids learn about the United States House of Representatives and its role in lawmaking.

Current Clerk of the House
Karen Lehman Haas, a native of Catonsville, Maryland, was appointed the thirty-fourth Clerk in December 2005. She is only the second woman in history to hold this position. As Clerk, Ms. Haas plays a central role in the daily operation and legislative activities of the House.

Ms. Haas began her service on Capitol Hill in 1984 when she worked for then-Minority Leader Robert H. Michel. For almost 11 years she served as Leader Michel’s Executive Legislative Assistant. Following a brief leave to work in the private sector, Ms. Haas returned to Capitol Hill in June of 1999 to serve as Floor Assistant to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. In this capacity, she coordinated the daily floor activity, including the appointment of presiding officers and activities relative to the Speaker’s chair. During her tenure with the Speaker she also served as Staff Director of the Steering Committee.

Here is some brief commentary from Jeffersons Ghost:

Whether it be Goddess or concept,
if Justice lives, let Her speak now.
Symbolically, Alberto Gonzales dares
cover her bosom, as if to appear moral.
Let Her raise sword with voice to expose
Her naked beauty to the world once more.
Let Her scales again weigh all evidence,
without shameful influence or partiality.
Let Her render verdict without mercy or
scorn. Justice delayed is Justice denied.
Let Justice sing!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

1. Only 25 readers opening this OP so far suggests several things...

1) My lead sux
2) No one reads in DU Political Forum much anymore.
3) Political views and influences have radically changed in a few short months.
4) All my old friends, fans and readers that voted up OPs, exactly like this one, many not nearly as well-researched and documented are dead, sick of DU, decided to support Bush or no longer care about politics.
5) Recommendations no longer register accurately.
6) At least 25 readers today think that the Foley matter should be dropped because Justice no longer matters.
7) The average true-blue Democrat is afrain to post on DU these days.

Is there something I've missed? I'll think about it and get back to you folks... I'll also attept the OP, later. I think I'll print it out and ask a Republican neighbor his opinion on the article. He's not a new-fangled neocon, the guy is a real old-fashioned Fiscal Conservative with values. I'll let you know how it goes. Have a great day!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. It's Saturday morning hon...

the board is sllooooooowww.

I can't wait to hear what your neighbor has to say. :popcorn:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. it was soooo worth writing in an OP... what's freaky...

Is that it was like a mirror image of what we might say. much too cool to try writing after the bars.