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READER COMMENTS CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND - but here’s something to chew on for now

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Illinois

While Congressman John Shimkus has finally admitted to having seen “excerpts” of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley’s e-mails to a young page, we don’t yet know exactly what he knew.

If we can assume (and that’s a pretty safe bet) that the e-mail exchanges posted by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington are what Shimkus saw, then Shimkus has some more explaining to do.

The former page forwarded the e-mails to a friend, and as most of you are already aware, in his introduction he calls Foley “sick, sick, sick, sick, sick…”

But there’s something else in that intro as well.

I talked to another page that was here during the school year and first part of the summer. Kerianna (her name) said that there was a congressman that did hit on the pages. She didn’t know his name.

If Shimkus saw that, then as chairman of the page board is it really all that unreasonable to suggest that he should have made more inquiries? You would think he would have at least contacted “Kerianna” to see what she knew, and maybe asked around a little, instead of just giving Foley a verbal warning to stay away from the page.

The e-mail exchange can be downloaded here [pdf file].

As always, you can comment all you want, but they won’t be visibile to everyone else until Monday morning.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Oct 7, 06 @ 11:27 am

Comments

Boy, a few weeks ago Topinka was sooo proud to march around downstate Illinois with Shimkus and accept his money. No wonder she is “reserving judgment” on the scandal. She might was well say that nothing happened!

She cant jeopardize money from the Hastert, Shimkus, and the RNC.

Comment by Roomie Saturday, Oct 7, 06 @ 2:37 pm
wow.. there really is no news to report on this weekend.

Comment by Da Godfather Saturday, Oct 7, 06 @ 3:07 pm
LIKE I SAID BEFORE IF WAS JOHNNY BOY OR DENNEY BOY SON OR DAUGHTER THEM WOULD BE SCREAMING BLOOD BURDER IAM RIGHT JOHN AND YOU KNOW IT.

Comment by taxs man Saturday, Oct 7, 06 @ 6:01 pm
If Shimkus can’t handle the responsibility of watching over this page program properly, why should we think he’s any darn good at the stuff he was elected to work on? You know, actual bills, legislation, committee work, etc.?

In the best possible light, he was at least negligent and unthinking regarding potential dangers and consequences in this matter. At worst, he spiked the whole issue for partisan political reasons, putting party success and ther avoidance of public scandal above the safety of minors put under his care and supervision. I don’t think I want either guy, the fool or the liar, making decisions or votes about the public welfare and safety. MY welfare and safety. I think it is time to retroactivey apply his original term limit.

Back in Illinois, this scandal is overriding the media coverage so that nobody is paying attention to the Governor’s race. Rod must think it’s Christmas, he’s getting out of the hot media spotlight on his ill-gotten gains and questionable doings while we all stare mesmerized at the sex pervert story… Guess I better start finding pretty holiday cards to put his bribe checks, um, I mean daughter’s Christmas gifts… in.

Comment by Shimmy Shimmy Shakeup Saturday, Oct 7, 06 @ 6:38 pm
Where is Danny Davis in all of this?

As I mentioned elsewhere in a comment, he and Shimkus were presiding over a going away session of pages when my family was in the House gallery on June 9th.

If he is not the Democrats counterpart of Shimkus, why was he there?

Comment by Cal Skinner Sunday, Oct 8, 06 @ 1:18 pm
Now, JBT has called to drop the page program. How ridiculous. Taking away the pages isn’t going to solve the problem. The problem is, we had a pedophile in congress and no one stopped him. He would have been a pedophile whether there were pages there are not. Do not blame the victims.

Comment by Shelbyville Sunday, Oct 8, 06 @ 1:44 pm
looks like curtains for shimkus…wonder if john makes it electuon day?

Comment by bonvoyagejohn Sunday, Oct 8, 06 @ 8:16 pm
Like it or not poll gives a 50% to Skimkus and 34# to Stover in Stover’s hometown so pound all you want he will be re-elected.Hey that’s a bigger lead than Blago’s got.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 6:56 am
===If he is not the Democrats counterpart of Shimkus, why was he there?

Cal, I’m not sure it matters since Shimkus says he kept the whole thing in confidence. He seems to finally get that was really stupid at least.

Then again, maybe it was a Moonie event….then Danny would have a purpose.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 9:06 am
JOHNNY BOY GOT MY VOTE EVERY YEAR HES RAN. JUST FOR THE FACT HE TOLD US HE ONLY STAY IN FOR TEN YEARS AND NOW HES RANING AGAIN AND TO THINK I BELEIVED HIM. WHAT WAS I THINKING. YOU LIED TO US JOHN AND ITS TIME FOR YOU TO GO. BECAUSE TEN YEARS AGO YOU SAID YOU ONLY WOULD ONLY GO TEN YEARS YOU LIED JOHN. IAM VOTING DEMOCRAT THIS TIME AND IT HIRTS THANKS FOR LIEING TO US.

Comment by taxs man Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:02 am
Danny Davis is not the counterpart to Shimkus on the page board, it’s Kildee from MI. And he & the other GOP member of the board didn’t know anything about Foley till the rest of the world did.

Comment by Ellinoyed Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 10:06 am
Birds of a feather flock together………might be interesting to see just how many of the pages were bent over in the book by Shimkus and Hastert, “Where the Boys Are?” I think there is a lot, lot more that is being desperately hidden by the Republicans. Old Rome is alive and well.

Comment by Ben Dover Monday, Oct 9, 06 @ 4:47 pm