June 9, 2007 - Pensito

Former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Florida, who was forced to resign last year after he was caught sending X-rated emails to congressional page boys, is reportedly returning to his career as a real estate broker. He is remembered around Palm Beach for once netting a $500,000 commission on the sale of a golf course to a local school district.

Former Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona, who was for years the only openly gay Republican in the House, has been cleared by the Justice Dept. of charges he was overly avuncular with pages. In particular, he was found not to have behaved inappropriately with youngsters on a wilderness camping trip in 1996. Kolbe had already announced his retirement before the charges were made.

There is at least one allegedly closeted gay Republican remaining in the house, Rep. David Drier of California.

Day: June 9, 2007

Update on GOP Gay Ex-Congressmen Accused of Chickenhawking Page Boys

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.