Exhibit #41894 demonstrating the slow, painful death of the Republican Party

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/nyregion/10fossella.html?em&ex=1210651200&en=a69218a650f54fb6&ei=5087%0A


Bob Dole, the former senator from Kansas, and George H. W. Bush attended an Oct. 30, 1997, campaign event for Vito J. Fossella Jr. in his first race for Congress.

When Vito J. Fossella Jr., the soon-to-be boy congressman, stood beside the young girls of a cheerleading squad at the Excelsior Grand catering hall in 1997, it seemed a particularly vivid version of Staten Island pageantry. Mr. Fossella — 32 and with Al Pacino looks — was on his way to becoming the sole Republican in New York City’s Congressional delegation at a spirited party billed as an evening of “pasta and politics.”

George H. W. Bush and Senator Bob Dole were there that night, strolling past the steaming trays of ziti and charging donors $1,000 each to pose for pictures. Sonny Bono was on his way from California to stump with them the next day. Mr. Fossella, the man of the hour, raised his hands, quieted the crowd, then launched into a rousing speech on cutting taxes and championing school choice.

The spectacle that evening — Reaganism as seen through the Italianate lens of Richmond County — was a dizzying distance from Mr. Fossella’s latest public appearance, at his Staten Island Congressional office last week. The high school marching bands were gone, replaced by the granite visage of his wife. There were apologies this time, not promises of victory. The questions in the air did not revolve around impending election results, but whether or not there might be a five-day jail term resulting from his drunken-driving charge.

In the nine days since the 43-year-old Mr. Fossella, who has served five terms in Congress, was arrested and charged after running a red light in Alexandria, Va., things have gone from not-so-good to pretty bad, with only a slender thread still staving off the worst.

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I really love Republican mug shots:

It looks like something from the Rake's Progress or the Picture of Dorian Gray.

Only ten years.

Mug shot looks like a bouncer or a goon or some such lowlife.

I think they're drooling and pooping in their Grampers.

Time is on our side.

The First pic is from the WTC...probably one of the observances there and he represented an area that lost many people in that disaster. So are Sen. Clinton & Cong. Maloney supposed to be associated with him in some way?

The second pic looks like one from a "gaggle"...one of those impromptu pressers held in the hallways of the Captiol...probably announcing some bill compromise or other deal. So are you implying Pelosi has some kind of special relationship with Fosella, too?

I have my issues with both Senator Clinton and Speaker Pelosi, but trying to tie them to this slimeball is a low blow.

Vito Announces Support for

Federal Sex Offender Legislation

Rep. Vito Fossella speaks about sex offender legislation as Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes looks on. Joining them are (left to right) Dr. Nicoletta Pallotta (Director of Brooklyn Women’s Services) and Jodi Heywood (Executive Director of Women Against Violence).

When was the last time you saw a RepubliKKKan fall from grace in a fashionable manner?

Larry (Wide Stance) Craig and David (Diaper Boy) Vitter not included. If these two had been pushed out (minus RePuke Filibusters) we would be on our way to progress in Iraq by now.

Don't these RePukes like to trot out their "legitimate" wifes on the TV? I would think a nice "predator" animal print should do the trick. Show the folks back home they mean business you know...

I had no idea that Fossella had such a star-studded start!

Just goes to show anybody can become a Knight for $3500. a year in dues. These people turned it into the Mafia.