Greetings from Jennings HQ in sunny Sarasota, Florida.

My name is JR, and I'm with the Christine Jennings for Congress campaign.  I'm a longtime poster at dKos, and a longtime lurker on MyDD, and I signed up tonight to let you know about what's going on in what's shaping up to be the most expensive House race in America.

By now we all know that Rep. Tom Reynolds, head of the National Republican Campaign Committee, has known about Rep. Mark Foley's excruciatingly improper relationships with House Pages for months.

We know that, after learning of Foley's indiscretions and failing to alert proper authorities or take appropriate steps to protect the 15 and 16 year-old Pages, Rep. Reynolds accepted a $100,000 contribution for the NRCC from Rep. Foley's personal PAC.

So, given that Rep. Reynolds is clearly implicated in a scheme to protect a predatory Congressman at the expense of the safety of children who wanted to serve their country, one would think that perhaps having him at a political fundraiser might not be the best idea.

Tell that to Vern Buchanan.

There's more...

Most people who follow the news on Capitol Hill are generally not surprised by what they see and hear in the news. But the developing story around former Rep. Mark Foley, R-FL, who resigned Sept. 29 after news broke that he had sent sexually graphic e-mails and instant messages to a House page, left me even more shocked.

First, there's the spectacle of the co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus talking about masturbation with a boy less than one-third Foley's age.

But the more disturbing thing is that several members in the House Republican leadership apparently knew about Foley's actions LAST YEAR, and did virtually NOTHING to stop it. Those members include House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-IL, House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-OH; and Reps. Thomas Reynolds, R-NY (the chairman of the House Republican Congressional Committee) and John Shimkus, R-IL, who heads the House Page Board.

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Cross-posted from Daily Kos.

As we all know by now, Mark Foley (FL-16) was known by the GOP to be a sexual predator since at least 2001.
At least four other Republicans have been involved in covering up his predation: Denny Hastert, John Boehner, Tom Reynolds, and John Shimkus.

Wondering what you can do about it? Let's replace the whole lot.

http://www.actblue.com/page/foleyfive/

House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children Chair Mark Foley, Republican, (FL-16) was known by the GOP to be a sexual predator since at least 2001.

Tim Mahoney, Democrat, is a rancher, family man, entrepeneur, and former Republican with ending Abramoff-style corruption as his number one issue.

Fight the Foley Five and support Tim Mahoney.

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Based on remarks made by Rep. John Shimkus on the House floor in June 2004, it is possible that Rep. Mark Foley was in line to be the chairman of the Page Board.

On June 3, 2004, Rep. Foley and Rep. Shimkus were thanking that year's graduating page class for their services:

[Rep Foley speaking]: "....God bless you. I wish you well, have a great life, and thank you for your service to this Congress.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his chance to share with you.

Did he not mention that maybe it might be your high privilege and honor to be the chairman of the Page Board some year? He always leaves that off. I do not know why that is."

Technically the grammar makes it possible that Rep. Shimkus is refering to the Speaker Pro Tempore.  But what is more likely, given the context, was that Rep. Shimkus said, in essence: "Mr Speaker...Mr. Foley always leaves off...[turns to Foley] that you might be chairman of the Page Board one day." So this one might require video.

As we know from ABC News, Republican leadership knew about Foley for 5 years.  But a little over 2 years ago it is possible that he was being considered to chair the House Page Board.   Which to me is unbelievable.

The official site to the above Congressional Record page is 150 Cong Rec H 3750.  The link to the GPO site is here.

There's more...

Based on remarks made by Rep. John Shimkus on the House floor in June 2004, it is possible that Rep. Mark Foley was in line to be the chairman of the Page Board.

On June 3, 2004, Rep. Foley and Rep. Shimkus were thanking that year's graduating page class for their services:

[Rep Foley speaking]: "....God bless you. I wish you well, have a great life, and thank you for your service to this Congress.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his chance to share with you.

Did he not mention that maybe it might be your high privilege and honor to be the chairman of the Page Board some year? He always leaves that off. I do not know why that is."

Technically the grammar makes it possible that Rep. Shimkus is refering to the Speaker Pro Tempore. But what is more likely, given the context, was that Rep. Shimkus said, in essence: "Mr Speaker...Mr. Foley always leaves off...[turns to Foley] that you might be chairman of the Page Board one day." So this one might require video.

As we know from ABC News, Republican leadership knew about Foley for 5 years.  But a little over 2 years ago it is possible that he was being considered to chair the House Page Board.   Which to me is unbelievable.

The official site to the above Congressional Record page is 150 Cong Rec H 3750.  The link to the GPO site is here.

There's more...