THE FOLEY FOLLIES
The New York Times and Washington Post are regaling readers with their latest predictions – Democrats will win the 15 seats needed to control the House and could win as many as 30 – a poll-projected turnover based in part on unhappiness with Iraq and the Foley debacle. Note that, if one reads down into the stories, the polls do not reflect individual races, but the sentiment on which party the respondents would like to see in power. Of course, parallel polls reveal that only 25% of Americans approve of the Congress – not a surprise given inaction on many key issues voters care about, like immigration.
Washington has had sex scandals dating back to Thomas Jefferson
The nation endured the rumors about Edith Wilson, who may have been the de facto decision-maker. FDR’s paramour was at his side when he died in Warm Springs (no one ever thought of Eleanor as a paramour). Nancy Reagan was “associated” with several leading men before marrying the Great Communicator. For all the private buzz during his life, JFK’s dalliances were below-the-fold gossip rag material until well after his assassination. No one knew about 21-year old staffer Cynthia whose only function was to serve Jack’s sexual needs. There was such an aura about Jackie that her affairs after the White House years were kept quiet. Ted Kennedy’s skirt-chasing, like that of Sen. Dodd, and Sen. Packwood (a notorious womanizer who kept a bed in his office), and House power Wilbur Mills, who cavorted in the Tidal Basin with stripper Fannie Foxe, were given about the same treatment as Hollywood bed crawlers. Rep. Sherwood was a one-day story in the Capitol. Mary Bono’s romances are also just so much titillation. Barney Frank’s homosexuality was an issue only when a male prostitute moved in his house. Sex and politics make Washington a true merry-go-round.
To be sure, the Foley case involves pages. But, there have been affairs with pages before – eg, Rep. Dan Crane with a 17-year old female and Rep. Gerry Studds with a 17 year-old male.
What makes this different?
Power!
Bill Clinton’s tawdry affairs didn’t become cause celebre until he cavorted in the Oval Office with Monica Lewinsky. The Post, Times and others sensed a story which could have major political repercussions – and indeed led to impeachment.
Now, the media, and the Congress, which has a pack mentality, sniff blood in the water again. To be sure, all want to protect the pages and render judgment on Foley – but the spur which bites is power – a possible change in leadership attended by political repercussions. Politics is the fossil fuel which burns red-hot in the Washington engine. Mere censure, ala Adam Clayton Powell, won’t do. There are issues much more important to the movers and shakers than Foley’s fate.
Such a change could be dramatic. Potential Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi, Charley Rangel, Robert Waxman, and others have very specific legislative agendas involving taxation, environment, immigration, health care, etc which are at odds with the Bush agenda. Some Republicans sense a chance to move up.
Off in the distance but becoming more visible is the real 800 pound gorilla – the 2008 Presidential election. The White House and leaders of both parties will be hell bent for election in their efforts over the next two years to craft a record to take to the country. The individual outcomes in 2006 will shape those efforts.
Unfortunately, neither party has a sure-fire solution for the Iraq war. Indeed, Members of Congress in both parties have concurred the US just can’t cut and run. The domino theory is as prevalent today as in the Vietnam era. But, the White House and Congress are eagerly seeking a way out with honor.
History suggests that, if there comes a day, when a reasonable assessment can be made that the Iraqi army/police and government have the situation in hand, the US can declare its objective achieved – and leave. Even if civil war breaks out the next day – and it surely will – the US can justifiably claim that our men and women did all possible to bring peace and democracy to a land which has never known either. If the Sunnis and Shiites were smart -- and could put aside the blood lust for a brief period -- they would create the kind of cease fire which would encourage the US to leave. Then, Katie bar the door.
With all these great portents, Foley’s future is inconsequential in the long run. This is a man whose only relevance is in his past.
In Japan, disgraced leaders commit hari kari, just as Romans once fell on their sword. In America, the disgraced and dishonored go into alcohol rehab. The conventional wisdom is that religion and sex are man’s great weaknesses; John Barleycorn is catching up.
Incredible. For the first time in two weeks, NBC et al did not lead the nightly news with Iraq or Foley. North Korea too center stage, news of the low level blast followed immediately by high-level finger pointing between Bush and Clinton stalwarts.
(Side note: in the piece I keep rewriting about spying, war, etc., I am particularly critical of the people sent to Iraq to replace Sadaam Hussein. Knew several of the key players; wouldn’t send some of them to fetch lunch. Not only did not have a viable plan, they ensured chaos by dismissing the existing army, police, and the bureaucracy needed to run the country – and the water works, power plants etc. George Patton was roundly criticized for keeping a number of such civil servants who were non-combatant members of the Nazi party because he needed people to run the railroads and so forth.) RFH
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