As long as we're in who-knew-what-when mode with the House GOP leadership, couldn't we just tack on a few other questions for the boys?

Here's an idea that would be the essence of simplicity and practicality. Since we're already seeing all this attention focused on the questions of who among the House Republican leadership knew what and when with regard to, well, you-know-what, it would take just an extra minute or two to add to each query a who-knew-what-when about the House Republicans' celebrated Carnival of Corruption.

As in: Who knew that many (most? all?) House Republicans in positions of power, in particular chairmen and other influential members of committees and subcommittees that control large chunks of federal spending, were taking bribes to influence legislation and siphoning off for themselves portions of the booty they've been hauling in for their benefactors?

It's not necessary to defend former Congressman Foley's behavior to appreciate that his carryings-on with the pages pale beside the massive breaches of law and ethics that have apparently become institutionalized in the way the Republicans do the business of the House. So each time one of the GOP power brokers is asked what-he-knew-when about you-know-what, why not just take the time to run through a list of, say, the top 20 House Republicrooks? Okay, maybe the top 10? (Longtime DWT readers already know the names. They're like old friends already--old deadbeat friends. Newcomers can browse the archives.)

It might be a little embarrassing to be asking the boys about their own corruption, since most of the leadership is implicated. Still, it might actually be useful to ask, say, "Planet Denny" Hastert what-he-knew-when about his own shady dealings.