Rush Limbaugh to Radio-Newbie Mark Foley: 'The Greats' Make It Look It Easy

Mark Foley, the former Republican congressman who resigned in 2006 after an election-year congressional page scandal, will begin a stint, unpaid as of now, as a radio host on WSVU 960 AM in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday night.

The first show will feature the station manager, Chet Tart, interviewing Foley in a Q&A format, to be followed by a more traditional talk program hosted by Foley in the future. Topics on Tuesday's "Inside the Mind of Mark Foley" include health care reform, the role of lobbyists in Washington and the scandal that led to Foley's departure from Congress.

The show's producer, Joe Raineri, told Politics Daily that the details of Foley's future shows have not been finalized, but that he foresees success for Foley in radio. "People need to tune in -- Mark gives an insider's point of view about what's happening in Washington," he said. "People will be very amazed at what he has to say."

He also said that listener input has been "extremely positive from a local standpoint," with the most negative reaction to Foley coming from outside his station's territory.

One Floridian who did have harsh words was talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh, who told the Palm Beach Post, "The reasons so many people want to do a radio talk show are simple. It has tremendous impact and influence. People also think a pot of gold is attainable and they think it is easy because the greats make it appear easy."

Does Limbaugh need to worry about the new competition? "Not yet, but talk to me in six months and we'll see how Rush is doing," Raineri said.

Foley won't be the first member of Congress to find a second career behind the microphone after an ugly departure from Capitol Hill. Former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) began hosting "The Bob Ney Show" after serving a 17-month prison term, and plenty of other Hill veterans have gone on to successful broadcasting careers who never got into trouble at all. Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), for example, took over Paul Harvey's show after Thompson retired from the Senate and was so successful he briefly engaged in a run for the White House.

You can listen to Foley's debut program 6-7 p.m. EST Tuesday at SeaviewAM960.com.