The political situation in the wake of the surprise resignation of GOP Rep. Mark Foley (FL-16) remains very fluid.
As of now, this scandal is consuming the national news media.
Republicans were hoping that Speaker Hastert's call for a Justice Department investigation on Sunday and the universal denouncement of Foley by the GOP leadership would cut off the oxygen needed to continue to fuel this story. It sure hasn't worked out that way. The finger pointing among Republican leaders - who knew what and when did they know it - has kept this a front-page story. The fact that Congress is out of session may help to dampen the media frenzy. Being able to pigeonhole members is harder to do when Members are spread all across the country instead of being cloistered in D.C.
Still, it's hard to see this story die down completely. And, in the 16th district of Florida, the damage has already been done.
We also know that on its face, this district has a Republican lean to it. President Bush carried the district in 2004 with
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