What buck? Where?
So House Speaker Dennis Hastert says "The buck stops here." But not on his desk, apparently.

"I'm deeply sorry that this has happened," Hastert said at a news conference in his Illinois district. "And the bottom line is that we're taking responsibility, because ultimately, as someone has said in Washington before: 'The buck stops here.'"
[By William L. Watts, MarketWatch
Last Update: 5:12 PM ET Oct 5, 2006]

Yesterday, Hastert said that any member of his staff involved in a coverup would be fired, although he doesn't think he should lose his position over mishandling the Foley situation.

So let me get this straight: The buck stops somewhere, just not on the desk of someone who could have made a better decision several years ago and thereby avoid the morass he's in now?

Enough already with this political pandering and game playing. It's time for people to step up and demand real representation in Congress ... and be willing to replace those who fail the test of common sense.
- posted by Chris @ 10:27 AM

 
Moral values?
WTF?!? And while this may sound partisan, it's really just about the party in power. Either party is as likely to try anything just this side of criminal to keep their majority ... this year it's the Republicans.

If you're going to tout yourself as the party of strong moral values, however, as the Republicans have inarguably done, then party members need to be a helluva lot more stringent when it comes to their behavior. It's not just about party leadership doing the right thing; it's about EVERYONE doing the right thing. And if you can't keep your hands and thoughts off teenage boys, get out of office and get some help. If you are compelled to cheat on your wife and get rough with your mistress, don't go home and campaign on the "I'm sorry" platform. Get out of office and get some help. If you think it's okay to take money from sleazy lobbyists, you may not be engaged in criminal activity, but are you really doing the best job for the people you represent? NO! Get out of office, get some help!

And Democrats? STOP MAKING THIS ABOUT BEING A REPUBLICAN!. This is only about trying to stay in power ... Democratic candidates could use that, but only if they acknowledge that their party has done some questionable things in the past as well.

What we need is more awareness of human nature, more honesty, and more transparency.
- posted by Chris @ 9:48 AM