The Buck Stops Here! Right Here. Right here on the other side of this line from me.

Dennis Hastert, quoting a famous Democrat, has stated that "the buck stops here" with regard to the ongoing Mark Foley scandal. Speaker Hastert, and Republican strategists and sympathizers generally may be able to quote Democrats, but, to paraphrase another famous Democrat:

"Mr. Speaker, You're no Harry Truman."

The buck may stop at Speaker Hastert, but not before it survives these hurdles:

(i) questions about whether the Democrats kept the story secret so it could be leaked a few weeks before election day (that's right Democrats should be blamed for covering up a Republican cover-up - the irony seems so entirely lost on them);

(ii) efforts to smear one of Mr. Foley's victims as a prankster;

(iii) gay-baiting;

(iv) absurd denials (if a sixteen year old page knew Rep. Foley's missives were improper, how can the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the greatest country in the world - the second in line to the President - not think they merited investigation).

(v) Congress members publicly accusing their own aides of dishonesty and negligence (it's so much fun watching them eat their young - if only the Crocodile Hunter were here to commentate).

(vi) Presidential declarations of support for Hastert;

(vii) investigations by the FBI, the House ethics committee and god knows who else.

The buck may stop with Dennis Hastert, but not until its been passed around a lot.