The stupid idea that the Foley scandal is a Rove tactic to distract

[DeBunk]

In order for this assumption to be true. The one thing would have to be less damaging then the other thing.

Given the American people's lack on interest in protecting the constitution. Do you honestly think that a sex scandal, which is easy for the average voter to understand, is less damaging then the torture bill?

Also, do you think the Iraq revelations that are attributed directly to the President are more damaging to the Republican party then a sex scandal directly related to a House seat.

This is an election over the control of Congress. You have to be dumb to think that this scandal is less damaging then any of the other scandals.

This has the potential to destroy Republican power more than any other issue.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Rove does not want to risk losing leadership of the House because...

Democrats will investigate the hell out of the White House.

No, this is NOT the distraction he would have engineered.

[DeBunk]

2. "this is NOT the distraction he would have engineered."

Absolutely correct.

I think the people pushing this online and calling talk shows are right wing operatives.

Their mission is to lesson the damage by trying to distract us from this.

[Human Torch]

4. Rove has been PROMISING an "October Surprise"...

...but in a wonderful twist of fate, HIS surprise may be an October filled with damage control and criminal allegations.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

:patriot:

[SeveneightyWhoa]

32. Maybe his "promise" of an October surprise...

..IS his "October Surprise"?

Why do you trust Rove; why should anyone trust Rove?

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[jayctravis]

28. Someone should keep an eye out...

while I don't think this was Rove's doing, I can totally see the WH using the smokescreen to do something awful that Condi will not remember.

[DeBunk]

31. I just don't get it. How is this supposed to end up bad for us?

What exactly is Rove going to do in this grand strategy to destroy the Republican House leadership?

[Cha]

37. condiliar would have been fired in

any admin except the bush regime because as national security adviser there should have been no 9/11 if she were doing her fucking job. With bush she got kicked upstairs as sos.

[dchill]

3. It could be a stupid idea...

AND a Rove tactic at the same time. However, in this case I agree. This is WAY too damaging to be used as a red herring.

[DeBunk]

5. There is no way Rove would have done this

There is no other scandal that has the potential to damage the Republicans like this scandal.

It's easy for the public to understand, it cuts to the heart of the value based Republican strategy, and it involves the House leadership.

This is the thing to talk about. Please don't let anyone try to make you think it isn't.

[dchill]

14. I know that.

I just meant that stupid ideas and Rove tactics aren't mutually exclusive.

[DeBunk]

18. I certainly don't think Rove is soooo smart either

His boy is still below 40% as far as I can see.

I think the myth of Rovian infallibility is over.

[dchill]

19. Rovian infallibility...

is totally dependent on Republican control of Congress. Unfortunately, I fear that paperless voting will perpetuate that infallibility.

It certainly has nothing to do with better ideas for America.

[ryanus]

6. I think it is a real scandal

But I did think that maybe there's a possibility that there really isn't a big scandal, that the accusations are not true. I still haven't been able to figure out where the evidence has come from. Foley hasn't admitted to it, as far as I know. What if it all turns out to be a "witchhunt by the democrats" that the republicans use to "show how evil the democrats are." Unlikely, but I wonder.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. then why did he resign? doesn't make sense....

if, as you insinuate, that foley might be innocent, why resign? On Thursday, foley was still claiming that this was just election year tactics. By Friday, when confronted by Brian Ross, he up & quits? You gotta be kidding me. Trust me, there is definitely some THERE, THERE.

Brian Ross presented him with documented proof of his communications with these kids, and he bolted. And don't let the right wing fool you into thinking that his sudden resignation was somehow "noble". There was nothing noble in his departure, he desparately wanted out of the public spotlight, he did not want to stand in the well of House and withstand CENSURE. I hope the authorities are waiting for him as soon as he's checked out of "REHAB".

I can't believe that the Moral Values crowd seem to be more outraged with Dems than with a known predator who has had access to god knows how many kids. Pathetic.

[calimary]

7. It's rovian strategy gone to HELL!

It cuts straight to the quick of their "other" strength, aside from national security/terrorism issues. They claim the "moral high ground" on "family values" issues, too. This hits the latter directly in the shorts. And I couldn't be more delighted about it. It's NOT the kind of diversion or distraction that rove would welcome - AT ALL. I'd say BRING 'EM ON, then.

For Your Consideration...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2859867

[DeBunk]

11. Right on!

This is going to hurt them more than Iraq. It's sad to say that, but it's true.

[dchill]

20. I have often wondered...

how many straight Republicans there actually are in the true core of their party's power structure.

I DO NOT have a problem with homosexuality, but these people are obviously not "normal" gay people.

[MADem]

8. Absolutely a stupid idea...as stupid as they come, frankly

Gee, let me set my house on fire to distract from the fact that I haven't mowed my lawn!

This is a disaster. Even if it could be held to just Foley, they've lost a solid, slam-dunk GOP seat, and that's never good news.

And SEX SELLS. And PERVERTED sexual assaults sell EVEN BETTER. Arcane legislation doesn't. Torture of "furriners" in far away lands doesn't. Even abrogation of civil liberties (Well, GEEEEE, if ya weren't doin' nuthin' wrong, who CARES if the gubmint can look through yer records and such?) doesn't resonate with people the way fiddling around with children does.

[madame defarge]

9. Exactly...

Sex scandals are the one thing republicans want to avoid at all costs, unless they can pin it on a Democrat.

[DeBunk]

13. I've heard a couple people calling talk shows pushing the idea

It's absolutely damage control in my view.

They know lefty talkers don't screen calls, they are using that to try and let some air out of this.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. All I have to say is Rove's...

gonna have to come up with one hell of an October surprise to put a damper on this. Plus, the realease of Woodward's book (which is selling like hotcakes). I just hope all our guys are "clean".

[dogday]

15. This is the worst of the political sins you can commit...

Everyone will pull away from him, now that this information is public... This is a political death sentence for Foley and for those who knew this in the Republican Party....

[rhiannon55]

16. I agree...

There's nothing like a sex scandal to get the voters' attention. The trashing of our constitution (and thus, our civil liberties) doesn't even come close for people who don't know or care about politics, but just love those smut-talking all-sex gossip-all-the-time cable "news" channels. Karl Rove knows this. If he was going to orchestrate a distraction, it would not be something like this. Even repuke voters care about their kids, after all.

[DeBunk]

17. Sad but true...

[meldroc]

21. I seriously doubt Rove would engineer this.

Even at his stupidest, he'd be crazy to engineer this. The Foley scandal can do nothing but hurt the Republicans. I see absolutely no way it would be a net benefit. It not only lost a seat in the House when the GOP's in serious danger of losing the house, the blowback from the coverup is a huge shit sandwich, and every Republican in the House will have to take a bite.

[Beetwasher]

23. Don't You Know? ROVE IS A GOD AMONG MEN!

A leaf does not fall from a tree unless Rove engineered it!

This scandal is supposed to be a distraction from the torture bill according to some. The torture bill was supposed to be a big part of the Republican election strategy!! They were going to USE that to club Dems over the head with by claiming Dems were soft on terror for NOT supporting it! Why would they want to distract attention away from that?

People give Rove waaaaay too much credit. Rove is hiding under a table right now.

[MzNov]

24. How could anyone doubt that Rove could engineer this????

No one says his diversions are WORKING, especially the closer we get to election day. On the contrary, whatever devious and desparate plots they are hatching or slowly feeding to the public, JUST AREN'T WORKING ANYMORE. So it doesn't really matter that the timing of these headliners are so suspicious and possibly pre-planned. They. Are. Done.

:dem: :kick:

[DeBunk]

26. Because Rove wants to help Republicans

This does not do that in the very least.

There is talk of the Speaker of the House being pressured to resign by conservatives 5 weeks before the election.

You really have to be paranoid to think this is some kind of scam.

[MzNov]

38. I don't myself think Rove did this, I'm saying it's not out of the

realm of his dastarly deeds. You can't flatly rule out Rove on any dirty deed. Or the rest of the criminal pack either. No matter if it hurts them in the long run. It's hit or miss in these desparate sweaty neoCon days.

[omega minimo]

25. Folks, You are being PLAYED

[DeBunk]

27. How exactly is this supposed to blow up in our faces again?

Cause I can't see it. This is a lose lose for Repugs. And, a win win for Dems.

How is this possibly good for Republicans?

[SeattleGirl]

29. Care to elaborate, omega, or are we just supposed to read

your mind?

You know, sometimes a scandal IS a scandal. Despite what some folks on this board seem to think, KKKarl Rove is NOT a fiucking genius; he's a fucking bully. And he does NOT have complete control over the world......

Just sayin'....

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. DU Really Needs A Talking To The Wall Smiley LOL

I can't tell you how many times I need to use it. :)

[DeBunk]

34. I just want one of these Rovian plot people to explain to me

How is this supposed to hurt us? I just don't get it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

35. Don't Hold Your Breath LOL But I Guess It Doesn't Really Matter Much.

I mean, we really wouldn't get it if someone claimed that typing on a keyboard causes rabies either. Sometimes the absurd should just be dismissed as absurd, and illogical ramblings dismissed as illogical ramblings, without really requiring any further explanation. :)

[DeBunk]

36. I've been hearing this crap all day. I have one theory but it's lame

Rove traded the torture vote from dems for this scandal. But, he won the torture vote anyway. There wasn't enough for a filibuster. And, why would he surrender ground on the election, and maybe give up the House, when he knows there are high crimes and misdemeanors in the closet.

[SeattleGirl]

41. No way would Rove surrender ground

He's all about power, and if anyone knows the corruptness of this administation, it's him (because he engineered so much of it, though of course, some of these folks do just fine on their own :crazy: )

Anyway, I am so glad you posted this, DeBunk. Several of us were discussing this in GD last night. Not everything is a Rovian plot. Sometimes you just get caught with your pants down, literally and figuratively. And, except for the fact that underaged males were the ones to suffer, I am enjoying the bloody HELL out of this!

[DeBunk]

43. Me too!

I particularly like watching the cheerleading squad defend pedophilia. This has done more to discredit the Republican spin machine then anything we could have done.

I find it hard to believe that event he most indoctrinated numb skull conservatives don't see the spin on this one.

I wouldn't be surprised in Bush number dropped into the low 30% this week (on the woodward book hit). And I don't doubt that there will be less then 20% who support this congress in the next round of polls.

[SeattleGirl]

39. ROFL! Great idea, OMC!

I could definitely get some use out of that one!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

40. LOL. It Came To Me A Few Months Back. I Can Just See It Too:

Cute little yellow smiley talking towards a grey brick wall with it's mouth opening and closing and stuff and a little text blurb comin out. I can totally see it. Funny thing is, I keep forgetting to search the smiley sites on the web and see if they've got somethin like that out there! :)

[SeattleGirl]

42. I just checked a few, but couldn't find any like that.

I'll keep huntin'; see what i might be able to find. :hi: