The whole sorted episode is a great case study of the impact and power of the digital communications and politics.

First, it was Foley's email to the page - once sent emails are 'long gone' and where they end up is anyone's guess. Next came the blog, on September 24th, The Stop Sex Predators Now blog was the first to post the suggestive e-mails sent by Foley to a former house page. The blog's role in exposing the controversy highlights the issues about the differences between the roles and standards of bloggers and traditional journalists. Several news sites followed by providing transcripts of sexually explicit instant messaging conversations that Foley allegedly had with pages.

Then, the whole thing exploded in the blogosphere and the Main Stream Media (MSM) was not far behind.

The press and blogosphere have continued to have a field day attempting to pin the blame everywhere from Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, to Al Gore for “inventing the Internet.”

Foley has since checked into an alcoholism rehabilitation center and Foley’s lawyer has issued the statement, "Mark Foley has never, ever had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor in his life. He is absolutely, positively not a pedophile." ...Republican speak for 'I did not have sex with that page."

Stay tuned as there are no signs of this slowing down and the big question now is what will this do to the GOP in the November Midterm Elections.

Related Links:
Lawmakers Investigating Foley Scandal
CNN Video: Hastert on Foley
How Blogs Influenced the Foley Story