still does not explain why the entire committee was not informed. still have to cross that bridge.

As a Republican from Congressman Shimkus' district, I'm disappointed and disgusted. If Shimkus knew of this information in 2004, why didn't he notify any of the other congressmen on the Page board? That inaction, in my opinion, shows a cover up by the Republicans. Previously, I have never voted Democrat; however, the Republicans action/inaction shows a complete disregard for the american public. I don't want that attitude representing me. Please, Shimkus resign - I don't want you representing me, and you are casting a horrible light on our district.

This "excuse-making" is absolutely LAME. As a mother, I want to kick these guys sky high!
None of them showed ANY sincere concern for protecting the kids who were away from home & their responsibility. Get real...
They obviously could care less what goes on, as long as it does not cost them politically.
I hope every creep on BOTH sides ends up being "outed" by pages and former pages and that this publicity will scare the rest off!

Also as a constituent of Congressmen Shimkus, I am appalled from these actions. I hope my district strongly considers Dan Stover for Congress this year.

Is it true the lad was 18 when the IM you have reported was released? If so, why should we believe any other explanation you offer? Whether it be an 18 year old page or a 21 year old female intern, both have been taken advantadge of by people in authority, people they trused. Questions for Mr. Ross, when did you first know about the IM's? Was the supplier a political operative? Why did you not report it to the federal authorities when you found out? Should you not resign your position for failing to do so?

Is ABC still talking about this non-story? Other than the Dems trying to use this politically, what good does it do to keep talking about it. Foley is gone. Now lets move on and get on with dealing with some real issues like security, healthcare, social security, etc.I am so sick of seeing Dems like Pelosi in front of the camera whinning, "fire Hastert, fire Rumsfeld, fire Cheney, fire Bush...BLAH,BLAH,BLAH...Isn't there some legislating out there she could be doing?

I haven't done this much laughing in a long time.

The Republicans insist all of America, from sea to shining sea, is safe from terrorism on their watch. "You're safe in our hands," insists Bush.

But it turns out that teenage boys within a mile of the White House need to be careful of Republican hands. Bush can't protect even kids from even his own party, even on Capitol Hill.

I am just wondering why this Jeff Trandahl or any other person who told the Republican leadership about Foley's emails didn't go to the police if they were so concerned about a young boy's safety? I mean, Foley was wrong but it sounds more political than anything. There was no real concern about this boy but only concerned about themselves.

Anti-Bush fever causes otherwise reasonable people to lose the ability to understand plain English. Look at what Shimkus said: The PARENTS of the boy did not want the emails released and so NO ONE in Congress saw them initially. Shimkus and Hastert received a complaint from the PARENTS, who declined to reveal the exact content of the emails, but only non-sexual excerpts. Their complaint was that Foley was overly familiar and it made their son uncomfortable and the PARENTS wanted the behavior to stop. Shimkus,Hastert & Co. asked Foley if he contacted the page. He said "yes". They asked him to stop. He said he would. That's it. No allegations of any other improper contact. No evidence of the exact wording of the email which the PARENTS objected to.
Very reasonable explanation of what happened that will get lost in all the howling and Democrat dirty tricks, aided by a news media that loves hysteria (even Fox).
The real scandal would be if Hastert and the GOP are really hurt by lies and spin but I have faith in the American people to sort out the bs.

Now, as the rats desert the sinking congressional ship, it turns out that Foley, in a drunken state, had to be stopped by the Capital Police from entering the page dorm. I supposed this "hear no evil" congressman didn't know anything about that episode, either!

With every excuse these Members of Congress make it's becoming more and more obvious that priority was given to maintaining the congressional seat and not to protecting the most innocent constituency in our country, our children. This is arrogance and power run amuck and I pray that any remaining sense of decency these men have will reveal itself.

As a republican,I am now totaly appalled and embarrassed in all aspects of the conduct of the entire Bush administration. I am now convinced that the morals and beliefs of this party is in total shambles.

Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Take the politics out of this and you're left with an adult abusing children over a number of years. He, along with those who covered it up, should be punished by the law, just like any other US citizen would be.

The Republican Congress is now in the process of being de-Foley-ated. Of course that means that soon (hopefully) all forms of vegetation that have previously obscured the Republican Congress will be removed. There are two types of de-Foley-ation that can occur to the Republican Congress:

1. All of the Republican Congress's fig leafs are removed. This would allow the Republican Congress's private parts to be exposed. This process may have already begun.

2. The Republican Congress's laurel leaves are removed. These leaves are the laurel leaves that symbolize victory, such as the ones Caesar wore after conquering a foe. Once these are removed, Congress may have to revert to being a Democratic institution once again.

The amazing thing in all of this is the lack of concern for the pages. The members of Congress - from both parties - are entrusted with the welfare of these high school students during their term in Washington. I have not heard anyone say "we failed to live up to the trust these students and their parents placed in us, we apologize for that failure, and we must insure we never fail that trust again". Have we become so partisan that we are more concerned with "our side" winning than with basic moral decency. You can ask what the media knew; ask what the Democrats knew; try to suggest the pages are of legal age and "beasts"; blame alcohol; and point fingers in every direction possible but at the end of the day you still have to face the fact that members of Congress failed to look out for the interests of these pages. Please take responsibility and tell us what you will do to insure this never happens again.

You have to ask yourself, if these guys can't protect a few undreage pages in the Capital of the United States, how are they supposed to protect the nation from external threats.

Oh, and I am a lifelong Republican who has never voted for a Democrat...until this coming November, that is.

These guys have been arrogant and entirely out of bounds for a long time now. The budget deficit, this disaster of a war, rubber stamping the executive with no oversight.

It's time to give the other side a try.

Page-gate is just the final straw.

Please let us not politicize this unacceptable event. Like Bruce says in his posting, "Now lets move on and get on with dealing with some real issues like security, healthcare, social security, etc". That would be fine but unfortunately, our "do nothing" Congress cannot even muster the willingness to address the aforementioned issues, much less, deal with the reality of child abuse. I think John Walsh should take on Congress and root out the immorality.

This is another example of the media confusing an email from an instant message. The emails were known about, but they DID NOT contain the disgusting content the IM's had. There is a very important difference between the two, and ABC and other media outlets are NOT telling the truth.

I am in Congressman Reynold's district and I am completely disgusted with how he, Shimkus, Hastert et al in the GOP have tried to cover up pedophilia in order to save their own political careers without regard to the children whose lives are permanently affected. I'm voting for morality and therefore NOT voting for Reynolds. Foley is a depraved individual who wrote disgusting emails but it's those in power in the GOP that put the IM in immoral majority.

Troy...in your comments you admit that Hasstert knew of the problem and tried to deal with it (by asking Foley to stop) while he told the public yesterday that he knew nothing of it. This is called lying and I am afraid he made a very unwise decision to say that.

The anti-gay republicans in the heartland are furious.