American politics, like the politics on any country whatsoever, is a perpetual race to the bottom. Sometimes though there are clear winners. So who won the race that is American politics? Who sunk lower than any other politician ever?

Three-time divorcee Newt Gingrinch attempting to impeach a President over a lie about an extramarial affair while carrying on one himself?

No.

Dick Nixon's crime after crime?

No.

George W. Bush's incomptence, lies and desire to put political considerations above even running a minimally functional government and war policy in the not one, but two major wars he is in charge of?

No.

The winner of the race to the bottom is little known, but relatively important Tom Reynolds. The lowest point in American politics and perhaps in any politics, anwhere, ever came during the run up to the recent 2006 Congressional elections. As the more cogizant of you may recall, Republican Congressman Mark Foley was discovered to be a bit of homosexual pedophile with a liking of underage Congressional interns. This obviously wasn't a good thing for an increasingly unpopular political party to face in an election. But add to that substantial evidence that many leaders of said party had been aware of the Congressman's activties for some time, but had attempted to cover it up in an attempt to hang on to his seat in Congress for the party and you have the makings of a landslide election, which of course is how we have enough people in Congress now to actually get a few decent things accomplished.

Back to Tom Reynolds. During said Foley scandal, the standard bit of questioning for those involved, e.g. Tom Reynolds, at any random press conference concerned their role in the cover-up. "Mr. Congressman did you protect that kiddy-diddler?" Doesn't sound good, huh? So how to stop those annoying questions...hmmm...thus, the lowest point in American political history.