Republican Ethics Bar Set Even Lower

Yes, Republican standards just got set lower, if such a thing is even possible, and incredibly Donald Trump was not the one lowering the bar, although he has certainly been making an effort.

No, you can blame former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert for setting the standard for Republicans now officially below sea level. Starting around the turn of the century, Hastert used his position as House Speaker to fight social programs, battle against civil rights, and ironically be a fierce foe against the LGBT community. Yesterday, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was publicly labeled a serial child molester by the judge.

Time-out for a brain teaser …

Q: What do Al Capone and Dennis Hastert have in common?

A: Both sent to prison for lesser crimes than they actually committed.

Capone was sent to prison on a tax evasion conviction and Hastert was sentenced for structuring bank transactions amounting to millions to avoid reporting requirements. Yawn to both.

Now you may be wondering where Hastert got all that money? Well, let me tell you, he became wealthy using his position and influence to profit from insider real estate deals at taxpayer expense for federal highway projects. Nice guy.

I wasn’t convinced that prison was an appropriate punishment for Hastert. In addition to the actual sexual abuse of teen boys while a HS wrestling coach many years ago, former students have reported that Hastert set-up a La-Z-Boy recliner in front of the shower to watch the young men shower and monitor for any shower “hi-jinks.” He’ll have plenty of opportunities to see young men naked in the shower in prison. It sounded too perfect for him, although I guess the difference is that the young men in the prison shower may be carrying shivs.

Dennis Hastert’s legacy will now be that he wrested the title of Worst Republican of all Time away from Donald Trump as Trump tramples non-white America on his way to a Presidential general election. That is indeed quite an accomplishment.