Maf54, Where Are You?

Oh, the irony:

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee....

Mahoney was elected two years ago following the abrupt resignation of his disgraced predecessor, Republican Mark Foley, whose lewd internet messages to teenage boys and Congressional pages created a national outrage.

More here.

Lest we forget, the scandal involving Mark Foley (whose AIM handle was Maf54, hence this post's title) had a serious effect on the 2006 elections. And on downward-sloping approval ratings for Congress. A serious part of it was the hypocrisy involved: Foley was a proponent of wide-ranging databases and tough laws to police cyberstalking of kids online.

reason on the Foley scandal.

Comments

the innominate one | October 13, 2008, 4:18pm | #

What Mahoney did is reprehensible and unacceptable. However, I wonder if the situation is exacerbated by his being a vocal proponent of tough sexual harrassment laws. Anyone know his (wide) stance on the subject?

Gimme Back My Dog | October 13, 2008, 4:19pm | #

A born again christian congressman who turns out to not live up to the moral standards they would hope to impose on the rest of us? Has this ever happened before?

Some Guy | October 13, 2008, 4:22pm | #

Why do we let Florida have electoral votes, again?

Episiarch | October 13, 2008, 4:23pm | #

If I were ever going to sell my soul and join a party and become a politician, I think I would have to go with the Dems. Their heterosexual, mistress-banging, Ashley Dupree-pounding shenanigans are a lot more appealing than the Republicans' messes.

Eryk Boston, J.D. | October 13, 2008, 4:29pm | #

Irony? I see no irony here. I see only predictable consistency.

John-David | October 13, 2008, 4:34pm | #

Episiarch,

I might agree, Heck you can even murder your interns after you're done banging 'em and get away with it.

the innominate one | October 13, 2008, 4:34pm | #

Episiarch makes a good case.

RL | October 13, 2008, 4:39pm | #

"Foley was a proponent of wide-ranging databases and tough laws to police cyberstalking of kids online."

Didn't he call it the "Stop Me Before I Strike Again" bill?

LarryA | October 13, 2008, 4:46pm | #

"If we only get the right party in office..."

zig zag man | October 13, 2008, 4:48pm | #

"A born again christian congressman who turns out to not live up to the moral standards they would hope to impose on the rest of us? Has this ever happened before?"

Yeah, at least he was only screwing around on his wife, trashing the sanctity of marriage and christian moral values and not on teh reefer.

Shirt | October 13, 2008, 5:02pm | #

(whose AIM handle was Maf54, hence this post's title)

OK. That's part of it. But how many reasonoids are old enough to remember "Car 54, Where Are You?"

Uncle Bob | October 13, 2008, 5:04pm | #

"But how many reasonoids are old enough to remember "Car 54, Where Are You?""

Present

bubba | October 13, 2008, 5:07pm | #

Meh. It's not hypocrisy until congress inserts an amendment exempting congressmen from prosecution.

Episiarch | October 13, 2008, 5:08pm | #

But how many reasonoids are old enough to remember "Car 54, Where Are You?"

Ever heard of Nick at Nite?

gmatts | October 13, 2008, 5:10pm | #

So long as the guy wasn't caught w/ a dead woman or a live boy, he should be in the clear, right?
I thought those were the rules everyone agreed to.

umalumba | October 13, 2008, 5:10pm | #

If I were ever going to sell my soul and join a party and become a politician, I think I would have to go with the Dems. Their heterosexual, mistress-banging, Ashley Dupree-pounding shenanigans are a lot more appealing than the Republicans' messes.

You mean like a gay escort service being run out of Barney Frank's residence?

joshua corning | October 13, 2008, 5:13pm | #

"But how many reasonoids are old enough to remember "Car 54, Where Are You?""

In Washington State King 5 an NBC affiliate bought up another channel and called it Kong TV. They showed car 54 reruns everyday. This was in 1998 or so. You don't have to be all that old.

I think Nick at Night showed reruns as well.

stephen the goldberger | October 13, 2008, 5:15pm | #

"A serious part of it was the hypocrisy involved: Foley was a proponent of wide-ranging databases and tough laws to police cyberstalking of kids online."

That's why it was so despicable, but the reason it the story was influential was that it was so sensational.

Shirt | October 13, 2008, 5:22pm | #

Wow. I had no idea reruns of that show were still around. I remember watching it in the early '60s, but I'm sure I was too young then to really understand the humor. I just found a bunch of episodes on YouTube ... might check 'em out & see if I remember any of 'em.

Episiarch | October 13, 2008, 5:27pm | #

You mean like a gay escort service being run out of Barney Frank's residence?

They will know where all the good parties are. See? It's all win for the Dems.

joe | October 13, 2008, 5:32pm | #

I can't forgive him, because she looks like a Katherine Harris wannabe.

thoreau | October 13, 2008, 6:00pm | #

Why do we let Florida have electoral votes, again?

Seconded.

Episiarch@5:27 pm:

Win.

Officer Muldoon | October 13, 2008, 6:51pm | #

Aye-up.

rap | October 13, 2008, 7:24pm | #

"But how many reasonoids are old enough to remember "Car 54, Where Are You?"

Those were the days. Police not only drove black and whites, the whole show was black and white - except for the cops of course, who were always white.

the OverKiller | October 13, 2008, 7:40pm | #

I've got to agree with joe on this one; it's unforgivable. It looks like she puts her makeup on with a hammer!

Now Clinton, he had good taste in women; Bang Bro-esque taste.

Ironic | October 13, 2008, 8:44pm | #

"Why do we let Florida have electoral votes, again?"

For the same reason we let California, Massachusetts and New York have electoral votes.

Ironic | October 13, 2008, 8:50pm | #

I see an advert to my right that reads "Find a conservative like you." and has a picture of John McCain underneath. I am confused. What does the one have to do with the other? If there is one thing John McCain is NOT, he is NOT conservative. Can someone explain this to me?

SIV | October 13, 2008, 9:03pm | #

Oh my god that was hideous.How dare you compare her to Katherine Harris.

ALF | October 13, 2008, 9:06pm | #

Trust me, I'll have her running trough the streets screaming your name. If the cops don't pick her up, she'll be yours.

tomhynes | October 13, 2008, 9:47pm | #

Two tidbits from the article:

The woman broke off the affair (and got her ass fired) when she found out the congressman was also banging a variety of other woman. Who'd of thunk it?

Her lawyer (who collected $60k as part of the settlement) is also the lawyer that represented Mark Foley. Niche marketing?

brotherben | October 14, 2008, 2:06am | #

the man obviously needs contacts. and glasses. and rehab for his habit of getting lip walkin drunk before dates. are the rumors true that he liked to call her madam speaker before getting her to bang his gavel?

ed | October 14, 2008, 7:46am | #

Why do we let Florida have electoral votes, again?

I think it has something to do with balancing the wishes
of all those dead and canine Ohio voters.

YoungLiberal | October 14, 2008, 9:01am | #

Private life != Public life. Leave him alone.

Lamar | October 14, 2008, 9:42am | #

All you people care about is readers and making money off of Foley and Mahoney. They're human! Leave Florida's sexually promiscuous congressional delegation alone!