IMPLOSION

Republicans face election disaster as e-mail sex scandal gathers pace
Beleaguered Republicans have been dealt a fresh blow by the publication of a new poll which suggests the Democrats are leading in 11 of 15 crucial races for the House of Representatives ­ the clearest indication yet that the party's stranglehold in Washington may be about to be broken.
Rep. Lewis cancels event with Hastert
U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis has canceled a fundraiser next week with U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, citing the growing scandal over former Florida Rep. Mark Foley.
Shimkus defends his leadership of the House Page Board
WASHINGTON - Rep. John Shimkus mounted an intense media offensive Wednesday, saying he has no intention to resign from the House Page Board and angrily lashing out at the press and Democrats who have questioned him about his role investigating ex-Rep. Mark Foley's contact with former House pages.
Aide reveals more details about timeline of complaints about Foley
WASHINGTON - A top congressional aide accused of trying to protect ex-Rep. Mark Foley abruptly quit Wednesday, but not before he accused House Speaker Dennis Hastert of ignoring the scandal for three years.
Questions About Page Scandal Leave a Republican Leader Buffeted on His Home Turf
AMHERST, N.Y., Oct. 4 — This was supposed to be a big moment in Representative Thomas M. Reynolds’s re-election campaign: a hotel banquet hall packed with Republican faithful eager to see one of the national party’s biggest attractions, the first lady, Laura Bush.
But outside the hotel, there was a reminder of the trouble hanging over the congressman these days: a group of people carrying signs with slogans like “Shame on You Tom Reynolds” and “Reynolds Resign Now.” And inside, the pastor delivering the invocation asked God to give Mr. Reynolds strength in this “hour of testing.”
Bush ‘disgusted’ as Republican sex scandal worsens
Washington: President George W Bush said on Tuesday that he is “disgusted” by a Republican party sex scandal worsened by new revelations over messages sent between a top lawmaker and teenaged Congress aides.
It Just Gets Worse
Joe Galloway October 05, 2006
After all that came down on their heads in September, the Bush administration and congressional Republicans must be wondering if the situation can possibly get worse.
Sure it can. Chickens tend to come home to roost all at once.
As Republican congressional leaders scrambled to do damage control and distance themselves from any responsibility from the fallout that Rep. Mark Foley left in his wake, President Bush stumped out West praising the GOP stalwarts and attacking the Democrats as weak on national security.
Please.