Signs Fossella May Run Again Unnerve G.O.P.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/nyregion/19fossella.html

There has been nothing but silence coming from the embattled Staten Island congressman, Vito J. Fossella, regarding his plans to run for re-election this year. And that uncertainty has caused waves of concern not only among Republicans in New York City, but in Washington as well.

All signs indicate that Mr. Fossella, a Republican who was arrested in Virginia on May 1 on a drunken driving charge and then admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock, is leaning toward running for a sixth term in November. He has been telling friends and advisers that he thinks he can win. And though he canceled a fund-raiser scheduled for this past weekend, he has five or six events planned for the coming month, his spokeswoman said.

And on Saturday, he marched in the Memorial Day Parade in the Great Kills section of the island. He was greeted warmly while marching and while sitting on a platform with other politicians at the end of the route.

But for all his popularity on Staten Island, long a Republican stronghold, Mr. Fossella, 43, faces daunting obstacles. If convicted of drunken driving, he would have to serve a mandatory five-day jail sentence. His acknowledgment of an extramarital affair — he has three children with his wife, Mary Pat — has clearly upset many voters in his conservative-leaning district.

..snip

For all those reasons, the prospect of a scandal-tainted Mr. Fossella on the ballot in November has caused more than a little apprehension among Republican leaders in New York and Washington, though they decline to speak publicly about Mr. Fossella’s problems.

Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican minority leader, has contacted Daniel M. Donovan Jr., the Staten Island district attorney, to discuss the possibility of his running should Mr. Fossella resign or decide not to seek re-election.

..snip

RUN VITO RUN!!1!!

The GOP propped up Nader and Operation Chaos meddled in our nomination process; I think it's time we return the favor.

Broke wedding vows? Yes.
Had mistress bear your child? Yes.

A polititheological "do-over," if you will. Which you won't, and neither will I, but such is life. Can we go surf now?

mikey_the_rat

:evilgrin:

:rofl: