An emergency meeting

Florida Republicans had an emergency meeting about the Foley resignation at the U.S. Capitol late Friday afternoon, with Gov. Jeb Bush taking part by speakerphone.

Rep. C.W. Bill Young said the delegation agreed that House Republican leadership had done the right thing "by moving quickly and basically telling him, 'resign or you're out.'"

The conversation turned to the difficult question of how to get a Republican replacement, Young said. Foley's name will remain on the ballot, but the party will choose a replacement nominee. The difficult spot for Republicans is that they will still have to tell voters to vote for Foley.

Young said the members at the meeting were concerned they could lose the seat to the Democrats because Foley's name will still be on the ballot.

"Based on the charges that Mr. Foley is facing, I don’t’ think anybody would want to be assocated with that kind of a charge," he said.

Young said the governor "was basically explaining state law and mentioning what the options would be. He was just as upset as we all are."

Someone at the meeting said there are 36 pages of incriminating emails, according to Young.

Young said the meeting ended and, "We concluded by all walking out of the room, shaking our heads."

Comments

Pruitt still sucks

[gatordem]

"walking out of the room, shaking our heads."

I think that about says it all for the RPOF, RIP.

Gatordem,

Yea right, one disgusting politician breaking the law, and the RPOF is dead. NOT QUITE.

By that rationale, William Jefferson caught with 90K of bribe money in his freezer ruined the ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY nationwide.

It didnt did it? I didnt think so.

[TB]

I believe that GatorDem is saying that the lack of any sort of cogent approach to solving this problem says that there is a distinct lack of leadership among the Florida GOP Delegation.

This is an out-of-left-field situation, but not impossible to fix. Remember, leaders see a problem and come to the table prepared with possible solutions.

If I were in the GOP leadership, I would forget that seat for two years and then field a strong GOP candidate in two years. A decent, Republican family man if you know what I mean. As far as Foley's campaign goes, put his money in the party and get aggressive in the closer races. Maybe they could pick off Jefferson's seat in Lousiana and that would make up for this loss. Will they do that? Probably not, but somebody should say it.

More evidence of Washington's culture of corruption and hypocrisy.

Giving voters another reason why the GOPers should get thrown out.

Wait! One minute it's a underhanded attack by Foley's opponent against the character of a fine Congressman.

The next minute it's a quickie "I'm sorry I let you down" resignation.

1 more Congressional seat for the Democrats!

This is BIG, HUGE for the Dems. But can they capitalize?

Here's the real question- Will Charlie Crist, Florida's self-proclaimed top cop and protector of children from sexual predators, fully prosecute his good friend and endorser Mark Foley? The ABC transcript of the IM's (and it's pretty foul) has Foley saying he's in Pensacola when he talking to the underage minor, so it would seem that Florida has jurisdiction.

[sally]

Foley should donate his campaign funds to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

[Susan S]

I'm hearing the GOP leadership in D.C. knew about Foley and tried to protect incoming interns from him.

If it weren't already apparent from their votes for torture this week, then surely that charge will prove how craven and immoral Republican "leadership" is. Oh, but wait, Bill Clinton got a blowjob. (pathetically predictable GOP talking point)

[possible candidates]

What about Tom Gallagher? Will McBride? Any others?

I'm a Republican and I will be the first to say that Foley should get help and enjoy some time in prison.

That said, this has nothing to do with anyone but this scumbag.

What are the dems going to do with this, if they try to use this it will back fire on them. If people even think they are using this kid for there gain everybody will turn on them.

Why even bring Gallagher into this now, don't you think the RPOF has enough to deal with? Oh by the way doesn't Tom live in Tallahassee?

THIS HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE HYPOCRITICAL REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THEY ARE TOUGH ON CRIME - THEY'RE ON RADIO RIGHT NOW WHINING THAT ABC WAS "WASTING THEIR TIME" ON THIS STORY WHEN THEY COULD BE REPORTING ON IRAQ BEHEADINGS. wait, i thought the republicans only wanted false positive news about iraq

THEY KNEW and still they made him Chairman of House Caucus on Missing & Exploited Children! They knew!

How many children were paraded in front of this monster and the Republican "family values" leadership knew he was one sick monster!

HEADLINE I'D LIKE TO SEE ...
"Republican Leadership appoints pedophile to lead caucus on exploited children"

OMG the Republican House leadership (Denny Hassert) knew and still they put this guy - a sick sick man - to guard and fight for helpless and victimized children?! What the heck are these folks doing in DC? OMG

[Imadashell]

As a taxpayer of this state Im shocked that a public offical so close to Gov Bush and a strong supporter of our leader in the war on terror is not in Jail.Where is Chaingang charley in all this ???He needs to comeout strongly against all GOP congressional molesters.If not the state will conclude he is soft on homosexual child molesters!!..This man is a homesexual pervert a molester Charlie Needs to insist on prosecution of homosexuals like him NOW

Imadashell,

He will be prosecuted, but I know as a raging liberal you have to spin this to make Crist look bad.

DOnt worry, soon this will all be over, and you can solemnly chant in your head...

Governor Crist, Governor Crist.

Oh yea, its happening, Crist is winning big.

http://www.ocalapride.com/charlie_crist_at_tonys.htm

foley and fasono are old news....wait until they drop the next story on harridopolos. his involves students that he taught in class! thats why his name was so quickly droped from the lg race. come clean mike and save the party from more bad news cycles!!!

btw st pete times soviet tass editors, you can randomly take down postings and leave others up but I really want to know why you are protecting mikey boy? everytime someone posts about him you quickly remove them but leave the ones accusing TG of having sex with a woman on the hood of his car and that foley and crist took trips to key west together. stop acting like the soviet tass editors and start upholding your obligation to inform the public!!! (kinda like holding the foley email stories until 5 weeks before the election)

Republicans: They can't protect our youth. They can't protect our country.

I find it fascinating that Denny Hastert and John Boehner are pointing fingers at each other, saying "it's his fault".

Another episode of
"Republicans Eating their Own" {thanks Stpehanie Miller}

Yum, yum, yum.

come on spt (socialist party times) it has been 24 hours since people here started asking why you held the foley storey from november 05 until now, 5 weeks before the election. if you were asking questions of a politican and he didnt answer you for over 24 hours you would blast them in your paper!! what do you have to hide? Are your communist party censors that you commonly call "editors" afraid to tell us the truth? Or are they all laughing this morning because they once again their political agenda is served at all cost?

Don't misunderstand me, what foley did was terrible. He deserves what he gets. But the actions of the spt (socialist party times) are ethically bankrupt. Stop with the yellow journalism and begin to uphold your responsibility to the public trust!!!!! Stop trying to be the arbitrator that deciedes whom to attack for political gain along with when and how!!! This behavior on the part of the spt (socialist party times) must stop!!!! You have a responsibility to report the news not to hold stories until they can cause maximum damage!!

The people of florida deserve an explination!! We are waiting

Mark Foley was a sicko who deserves what he gets. Get over yourselves in tying this to republicans and Crist.

Governor Crist will be great for our state. He is up 10 points avg, and the longer people gripe and moan about this sick freak Foley, the longer Crist holds his lead.

All the better for us GOP's, especially since the cabinet races have the GOP leading as well, but by less points.

[Cugel]

Newsflash: The Washpost today is reporting that the House Republican leadership had reports about Foley for YEARS and did nothing other than report that "it's being handled."

The Blatant Lying Hypocrisy of the Republican leaders is just so outrageous! In their eyes the only thing Foley did wrong was get caught! They've known about Foley and pages for years. Apparently all the young boys coming into the page program were "warned about Foley".

This just gets worse and worse! And it DOES squarly implicate the House Republican leadership who shut their eyes and did nothing!

[outsider]

Seems to me that to be a good Republican you have to vote for Foley to save the seat. How many good Chiristians can bring themselves to do that? Vote the party line with the reminder of the DISGRACED FOLEY to save the Party's Seat?

Vote for the Man not the Party but the man's name is not FOLEY.

They are on the horns of a dillemma, now aren't they?

Vote for Foley, but not really, it just looks like your voting for Foley, but trust us, your really voting for a great non-pedophile. NO really! Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi....never mind the man behind the curtain...Trust us

[scooter727]

Re; Fasano, Foley & Mike Haridopolos comments: Can anyone apprise me of some of those stories? I used to work for the State Senate, and rumors were rampant about Mike Fasano (and Charlie Crist, of course). Foley has always been "out," but I never really heard about the Mike Haridopolos. How gay is he? And aren't/weren't Fasano and Crist roommates in Tally? And when will the Times go ahead and out Crist FINALLY! Cowards!

Cugel and Scooter 727,

I guess I must repeat this since you are such an incredible idiot.

Mark Foley was a sicko who deserves what he gets. Get over yourselves in tying this to all republicans and Crist.

Governor Crist will be great for our state. He is up 10 points avg, and the longer people gripe and moan about this sick freak Foley, the longer Crist holds his lead.

All the better for us GOP's, especially since the cabinet races have the GOP leading as well, but by less points.

[deep_throat_74]

As long as Mark Foley is out of the picture, Joe Negron will be a natural shoe in just as long as Ralph Hughes continues to write him checks.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/campfin/contrib.asp

Ralph Hughes contributor
Negron, Joe (REP)(ATG) 03/02/2005 500.00 CHE HUGHES RALPH W. 10909 THERESA ARBOR DR. TAMPA, FL 33617 INDUSTRIALIST

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/13/news_pf/State/Activist_s_company_bo.shtml

[Florida Republicans]

Carol Jean Jordan should immediately step down as the Chairman of the RPOF this case is the icing on the cake. Carol Jean and other Florida Republicans leaders have know about Foley's continued issues with underage boys but have refused to show leadership by forcing him out of office. This could have been accomplished in 2004 but Carol Jean refused to listen. Carol Jean wants to travel around the United States and tell everyone how great the Republican Party is in Florida and tell the RNC how they need to be more like Florida Republicans. Now the world is seeing exactly what is going on in Florida and our parties founding Father is turning over in his grave. Maybe the RNC will show a little leadership and request Carol Jean step down as the Chair of Chairs effective immediately.

CRIST IS A LOST CAUSE.. PLEASE STOP POSTING ABOUT HIM, WE SURELY CAN'T TAKE THE INUENDOS RIGHT NOW, CAN WE??
McGreavy waiting to happen...

[scooter727]

Re UNSIGNED comment: "Get over yourselves in tying this to all republicans and Crist." YOU, IN FACT ARE THE IDIOT. IT'S ALL ABOUT CRIST AND THE HYPOCRITICAL GOP ESPOUSING 'FAMILY VALUES'! As the previous commenter noted, Crist is just another "McGreevey waiting to happen." It's more than a rumor in Tallahassee politics......... Crist, Fasano, now Haridopolos perhaps, among others? Crist is is for his downfall. It's just a matter of time. By the way, Democrats are generally willing to embrace the GLBT community, because, well, at least 10% of humankind is gay! Deal with it. And so should "holier-than-thou" Charlie Crist.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/15648866.htm

Crist 51%
Davis 30%

Read it and weep Liberals.

[memaui]

It's about the war not the battle. i think fl will be down 1 gop seat huh

[patrick Emory]

You people are amazing. How you can shot fromt he hip when sooooooo many demos have had deviant behavior brought to the public eye is amazing. it's a laundry list. the funniest being barney and his boy friend engaged in apparent disgusting behavior in his office. and, don't forget our 42nd president. what ever happened to that dress. Please folks. try to be intellectually honest, okay?

[Dan Fenwick]

The Franks, Clintons, and Harts are nowhere as bad as this. This was attempting to take advantage of a child, a child perhaps in a state of sexual confusion himself as so many teenagers are wont to. This was not an exchange between two consenting adults, even though cash was involved in some of those Dem scandals. There is no rationalizing this to try and make all politicians out to be this bad. Foley, whether drunk or not, was being nothing less than despicable, and if the GOP leadership read any signifigant part of the transcripts that have hit the press than they should be held accountable in some measure for allowing him to continue in his post. One word: Disgusting.

[Xantius]

Be pround of the St Pete Times. It truly is the last balanced outlet in the fascist state of Florida. Remember, after GOP falls, George is still around for 2 more years of stupidity along with gormless Dick. And you still have Jeb, the next worst thing to George, in Florida. How can you even vote for any of the creepy Bush family members; maybe forced euthanasia for Floridians voting Repiglican is a good idea after all...

[Xantius]

Be proud of the St Pete Times. It truly is the last balanced outlet in the fascist state of Florida. Remember, after GOP falls, George is still around for 2 more years of stupidity along with gormless Dick. And you still have Jeb, the next worst thing to George, in Florida. How can you even vote for any of the creepy Bush family members; maybe forced euthanasia for Floridians voting Repiglican is a good idea after all...