Among the many depressing aspects of the downfall of Mark Foley--who has now done the inevitable checking-into-rehab thing--is that a number of young people could have blown the whistle on this deceptive congressman in recent years, but didn't. . . . Now I don't want to come down on 16-year-old kids (though some are now as old as 21) who must have been intimidated by the whole thing. Indeed, the power imbalance between a big-shot member of Congress and a lowly page is part of what makes this infuriating.

But did they really think that if they told the outside world that the co-chair of the Exploited Children's Caucus was sending them, or their friends, graphic sexual messages, that their future careers would be ruined? That they would be washed up in politics? Isn't it more likely that they would be hailed as brave for doing the right thing?

You forgot to check Drudge Kurtz -- they set Foley up!!!! So you don't go far enough, according to The Note. Though I do like the way Kurtz slipped in the conspiracy theories from the Right:

Rightwing Nuthouse isn't defending the right wing on this one. Says Rick Moran "The House GOP leadership -- indeed probably many on both sides of the aisle -- knew of Foley's predilections and did nothing about it. Are you trying to tell me that if Republican House pages were warned about Foley 5 years ago that at least some Democratic pages weren't also aware? That's laughable. I'm sure the FBI will have some interesting conversations with former pages that will reveal not only that the Democratic pages had heard the rumors about Foley also but that they had dutifully passed them on to Democratic staffers.

"Foley's sick behavior through the years was suspected, never proven. For that reason, when the email exchange with the ex-Page took place last year, the House leadership dropped the ball by not carrying out some kind of an investigation. Would that have revealed the existence of the IM's and perhaps other things? Maybe not. But any such investigation would have ruined his career and left the leadership wide open to attacks by the left that they were persecuting a gay man. In effect, it was a damned if you do damned if you don't situation which makes the smug charges by Democrats today -- some of whom may have known about Foley as well -- ring a little hollow. Nevertheless, to out a potential sexual predator in their midst should have overrode any other concerns."

Not defending the Republicans? Sheesh. Ah, good to see you are back on Drudge's page Howie. What a wanker. Which reminds me -- Atrios? Here's today's winner no?

UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds endorses blaming the young people.