The MountainGoat Report

Larry Bids Farewell to 'Uncle Ted'

At Red State Rebels yesterday, Tara mentioned the speech Idaho's outgoing senior Senator Larry Craig gave in paying tribute to Senator Ted Stevens as the Alaska Republican bid farewell to forty years in the U.S. Senate in which Craig referred to the convicted felon as "Uncle Ted."

Here's video of Craig's speech from yesterday's CSPAN video archives.  (Sorry, you'll have to click the link and hopefully it works; CSPAN has removed the video embed option and I haven't been able to locate the entire speech elsewhere yet.)

The Second House Bailout Vote

Today the U.S. House of Representatives debated and voted for the second time in a week on what is being called, depending on perspective, either the bailout or rescue bill, although officially the title of this portion of the bill is the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.  The legislation passed 263-171 to applause in the chambers as the acting speaker gaveled the vote closed with 172 Democrats and 91 Republicans voting in favor.  As expected Idaho Representatives Simpson and Sali once again split their votes, Simpson voting for and Sali against the bill.

The original bill was defeated in the House on Monday on a 228-205 vote (Reps. Simpson in favor and Sali against) sending the stock market into a dive, the Dow losing nearly 778 points at the market's close.  Wednesday the Senate passed a revised version of the bill 74-25 with Idaho Senators Craig voting in favor and Crapo against, which added what is being called "sweeteners," including tax cuts, an increase in federal deposit insurance and other measures, to make the bill more appealing to House Republicans.  Apparently that was enough.

Best Headline Today

What's this?

‘Motion for enlarged brief’ filed in Craig case — From Betsy Russell at Eye on Boise.

Who's got enlarged briefs?  What?

Alas, just some legal mumbo-jumbo . . . filed on Valentine's Day, though.

Poor Ol' Larry Craig

I really tried to get worked up over the news that five additional men, four willing to disclose their names, had come forward to the Idaho Statesman with descriptions of their encounters with Senator Larry Craig.  I couldn't do it.  The Statesman did its best, printing detailed accounts, posting audio clips of the sometimes excruciatingly descriptive interviews and revealing the evidence they'd uncovered trying to separate fact from fiction.

Any other year, any other Senator, any other scandal, any other anything.  But I just can't do it.  I've had enough of Larry Craig and nothing short of some admission from him will likely be enough to nudge me out of apathy to all things Craig.

What began as a shocking scandal in August with every twist and turn leaving me more incredulous than the last, has become an expected and unsurprising non-event.  Appalling news has become the mundane; the story of the eccentric aunt or deranged cousin told at family reunions and holiday parties, "Oh, you'll never guess what crazy Larry did this time."

Of course, in keeping with the Larry Craig paradigm, he denies this new report.

However, despite the fact the Idaho Statesman has decided to pursue its own agenda and print these falsehoods without any facts to back them up, I won’t let this paper’s attempt to malign my name stop me from continuing my work to serve the people of Idaho.

Poor ol' Larry Craig. 

You know, at some point, even the family of an eccentric aunt must consider assisted living arrangements, by jiminy.

Statesman's got names for Larry Craig

Who had encounters with Senator Larry Craig and is willing to come forward?  The Idaho Statesman's got names with detailed accounts and audio.

We'll have more later but for now, this puts a statement by 1st District Congressman Bill Sali as reported in the Idaho Business Review into context.

On Sen. Larry Craig: “He has steadfastly denied that he did anything wrong. There are some weird things that happened there. [If he was gay all this time] wouldn’t you expect there’s a long line of people saying, ‘I was one of them’? Are you really going to believe the Idaho Statesman?”

Deny and defend and then vilify the messenger.  Hmmmm, seems to be a pattern.

The Effects of Larry Craig Being Effective

While many have turned attentions elsewhere, Bubblehead points out some very interesting news about Idaho Senator Larry "you-can't-make-me" Craig.

While he's lost most of the power he once held, he still has the power, as do all Senators, to put "holds" on bills he doesn't like. So which bills is he going after? [...] Funding bills for veterans, that's what.

Senator Craig, once the chairman and ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, is holding up funding for veterans.  If this is what Craig meant when he said, "I have found out that I can be effective," we'd rather he not be so "effective."

Craig: Arrogant or Unstable?

As Senator Larry Craig's attempts to explain his story grow literally more incredible each day, it's become obvious that he's either arrogant enough to think that Idahoans will continue to buy his swiss-cheesy sob story or he's a desperately unstable man who finds it impossible to make logical, sound decisions under pressure.

Today's Idaho Statesman has the latest Craig conundrum [click to enlarge].

Then in another piece the paper goes on to point out the absurdity of Craig's claim that he hired his attorney in February for a potential lawsuit against the Statesman and never consulted with him after the June arrest despite paying him in July.

"I don't understand why Sen. Craig would hire a criminal defense attorney to file a civil lawsuit," said Jim Weatherby, a former Boise State political scientist. "And I don't understand why when he goes on to be charged with a crime, he did not consult his attorney who is one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country."

Weatherby said Craig's playing with words mirrors his Sept. 1 "intent to resign" speech.

"It raises further credibility issues," Weatherby said. "When Sen. Craig announced in late August that he had retained an attorney, I thought he was saying he had just hired an attorney. Now it turns out he'd hired that attorney back in February. It appears to be another semantic game."

So when are the Idaho Republican elite, including Sen. Crapo, Rep. Simpson, Rep. Sali et al, going to start distancing themselves from Larry The Unstable Guy?

Reaction Ahead of THE Interviews - Updated

Tonight, NBC is scheduled to broadcast Matt Lauer's interview with Idaho Senator Larry Craig.  It will be carried locally on affiliate KTVB at 7 p.m. Mountain and will be preceded by the broadcast of KTVB's own Craig interview by anchor Mark Johnson at 6 p.m. Mountain.

Here's some local media blog reaction ahead of the broadcast:

• Today's 6 news director's blog -- They tried and failed to get the interview and Scott Picken explains.  KIVI will host a screening with several of "Craig's most vocal critics" and will carry their response on the 10 p.m. broadcast.
• ID Quicktakes -- Idaho Statesman's Kevin Richert is planning a live blog of both broadcasts and invited previous Craig letter writers to join in the discussion.
• BW Beat -- Boise Weekly asks if we even need to watch with all the juicy stuff being leaked already.
• Eye on Boise --  "I'm no longer in the way."

Update 10.17.07 13:42:  After watching both interviews and still feeling like this only now maybe in all caps, I don't have the stomach to write an analysis.  Here are some from others who do.

• NewWest Boise — "Larry Craig and the Code of the West"
• Fort Boise — "The Larry Craig Shows"
• Ridenbaugh Press — "Re-viewing Craig"
• Idaho Democrats via 43rd State Blues — "Democrats weigh in on Craig interviews"
• IdaBlue — "Live blogging the Craig Interview"
• PrideDEPOT — "Larry Craig entrapped by the truth"

And don't miss this from the Idaho Statesman, "Popkey: Craig hopes to redeem himself for future lucrative job as lobbyist"

Workin' it

While Idaho's Senator Larry Craig (who apparently has never heard a lie he didn't love) was trading in resignation for infamy; Larry LaRocco, the Democrat who hopes to take his place in 2008, was busy.  The latest job in LaRocco's "Working for Senate" campaign was on a sheep ranch near Bellevue.

It's time Idaho had someone in the Senate working hard for Idaho.  Larry LaRocco's that guy.  Check out the website for how you can help and if you can, consider making a contribution to his campaign.

The Unforgivable Tragedy

When first writing about Senator Larry Craig's toilet-gate, I used the word "tragedy" and it was, on so many levels.  Now, my head struggles with the persistent image of a pathetic Senator Craig clinging to his Senate seat like a feeble old woman clutching her handbag and it's painfully obvious that this tragedy has grown exponentially.

Sure, I've joked about Craig's decision to serve the remainder of his term as a boon to bloggers and I've joined many in poking fun.  I've even gloated with others over what a dream scenario this is for Idaho Democrats.  But the tragedy that Larry Craig has foisted on Idaho, for it can't be called anything but, is deeply personal for me and for anyone else who loves this place.

With four generations of Idaho blood in these veins and embedded with the spirit of Bear Lake Valley pioneers, my love of this state and the people in it is deeply rooted.  I cringe to see and hear Idaho reduced to sleazy humor infamy by the arrogance of one man who, in the O. J. Simpsion style of "looking for the real killers," just wants to "clear his name."

Enough already, Senator Craig.  You've done quite enough for Idaho.  Many mistakes can be forgiven with time, however this tragedy is no longer about personal indiscretions—you've tarnished and stained and then selfishly smeared that tarnish and stain all over the image of Idaho. 

That may be unforgivable.

Larry Craig: I will continue my work in the Senate

Well, with the news from Senator Larry Craig's hearing in Minnesota today, we can look forward to more of this:

Craig Hearing Today

Lawyers for Idaho Senator Larry Craig will appear in court today arguing that the senator should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct, although Craig himself will reportedly not make an appearance.

Meanwhile, Idaho Governor Butch Otter has told ABC affiliate KIVI [video link], that he is prepared to name Craig's replacement today, should it become necessary. 

Apparently the hearing itself will not be televised but stay tuned, we'll have updates as news becomes available.

Update 14:59:  Here is the statement regarding today's proceedings from Senator Craig as promised in the comments:

"Today was a major step in the legal effort to clear my name. The court has not issued a ruling on my motion to withdraw my guilty plea. For now, I will continue my work in the United States Senate for Idaho."

Apparently Craig intends to stay in office beyond his self-imposed deadline for resignation.

Craig still a punchline

What prompted Minneapolis airport police to initiate the sting designed to decrease the number of men soliciting sex in a restroom that ensnared Senator Larry Craig?  Well, the prosecutor answers that in a brief asking the judge to throw out the ACLU's brief supporting Senator Craig, as reported by the Idaho Statesman:

The airport takes privacy in its restrooms seriously, according to the brief. Police started their undercover sting operation "on the heels of an incident in which a private citizen was seated in the stall, the individual next to him invaded the space of the adjacent stall and looked up the stall divider. The victim was so upset he waited for the defendant to come out of his stall and took him to a security checkpoint to call the police."

So much for this being a victimless crime.

This comes as Senator Craig says he's awaiting the results the Sep. 26 hearing on the petition to withdraw his guilty plea before making a final decision on resignation.  Meanwhile he's back in Washington where he remains a punchline even for his colleagues.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was trying to impress upon reporters Thursday to what lengths he had gone to try to win enough Republican votes to pass an amendment mandating longer troop rest times between Iraq deployments. The amendment had fallen short.

"I spent three weeks trying, I called and spoke to Republican senators -- I even called Larry Craig, OK?" Reid laughed.

How is this effectively representing the interests of Idaho?

Mr. Craig Goes Back to Washington

Okay yeah, that's a corny title but it is the truth.  Senator Larry Craig is back in Washington today, casting votes and attending Republican luncheons.  (No word if he was allowed to sit at the "grown-ups" table though.) So Idahoans can rest assured that their interests are being represented in the Senate, right?  Uh...yeah.

Also today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington released their annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress.  It's entitled Beyond DeLay: The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and two to watch).  Hmmmm, interesting—over seventy-five percent with R's behind their name.

But wait, who's that near the bottom of the list?  Why that's our little old Wide-Stance; he's made the list as one to watch.

I think it's safe to say that everyone is.  Even the Emmys couldn't resist a Senator Craig crack.

Update 09.19.07 10:19:  Senator Craig avoided the Minneapolis air terminal, instead choosing a flight routed through Denver, on his return to Washington. 

[Insert funny "look out Denver" comment here.]

Stapilus on Larry Craig

I don't normally like to just direct readers to other blogs without adding something of my own.  In this case Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press has some great analysis on where things stand with Larry Craig and there really isn't much to add.

He begins:

The state of play - in this game most people thought had ended Saturday morning - over Senator Larry Craig is, if anything, intensifying. It is probably a lesser deal now for the talk show comics, but it has become more intriguing - by orders of magnitude - as a matter of politics.

Go check it out.

Non-binding Resignation

Well, well, well.  When Senator Larry wide stance Craig announced his resignation on Saturday, he had his fingers crossed.  That's now evident from his misplaced phone call to what he apparently thought was his lawyer. 

I wasn't aware that resignations could be "non-binding" but apparently that's what Craig did.  He intends to resign only if he's not cleared of charges to which he's already pleaded guilty.   

So Craig says when he went into a men's room stall he didn't intend to solicit sex from an undercover officer.  When he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct he didn't intend to imply that he was guilty of disorderly conduct.  When he held a press conference announcing his resignation he didn't intend to actually resign.

What other statements by Larry Craig are non-binding?  How many times does a Senator get do-overs?  Can Idahoans really believe anything that comes out of his mouth?

Update:  PrideDEPOT puts the recent news surrounding Senator Larry Craig's non-binding resignation into their pic of the day.  Go check it out.

Update:  As noted in the comments, a couple of interesting developments today.  First of all, the Senate Ethics Committee rejected a request from Craig's attorney to set aside the complaint.  This eliminates one of the conditions that Craig was using to justify reconsidering his resignation.  The other condition was the possibility that his lawyers may be able to withdraw his guilty plea.

The other development was Otter's short list of possible candidates for Craig's replacement.  They include:

• Lt. Gov. Jim Risch
• Rep. Mike Simpson
• Attorney General Lawrence Wasden
• Former Attorney General David Leroy
• Former Idaho Sen. Dane Watkins of Idaho Falls

Breaking: Craig to Reconsider

MSNBC is reporting that Senator Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign.  The breaking news does not specify whether the Senator intends to withdraw his resignation or to simply change the date of the resignation.

No further information available at this time.  Stay tuned. 

Update:  KTVB has a report as well:

Sen. Larry Craig's spokesman says the senator is reconsidering his decision to resign. A spokesman says Idaho Senator Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting and may still fight for his Senate seat. Spokesman Sidney Smith says: "It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign." Smith also says: "We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign September 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight -- and stay in the Senate."

Update:  The Idaho Statesman has the report now as well.

Update:  John Miller of the AP now has a more extensive report.  Not a whole lot we didn't already know although Craig's spokesman Sidney Smith credits the statement and phone call from GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania as a catalyst for this news.

A telephone call Craig received last week from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., urging him to consider fighting for his seat is affecting Craig's decision to reconsider his resignation, Smith said.  [...]

On Tuesday, Specter, senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested Craig's GOP colleagues who pressured him last week to resign should re-examine the facts surrounding his arrest June 11.

"The more people take a look at the situation, there may well be second thoughts," said Specter, a former prosecutor. If Craig had not pleaded guilty in August to a reduced charge and instead demanded a trial, "I believe he would have been exonerated," Specter said.

Update:  The Idaho Statesman now has a more extensive report that puts in doubt his intent considering some of the language used in the press conference on Saturday.  [emphasis added]

Roll Call, a Capitol Hill political newspaper, posted a voice mail tonight that Craig may have inadvertently left at a wrong number Saturday morning. In it, Craig says he changed the wording in his speech and that "this thing could take a new turn or a new shape."

Whiting confirmed that the message is Craig's. Here is the transcript of the message:

"Yes, Billy, this is Larry Craig calling. You can reach me on my cell. Arlen Specter is now willing to come out in my defense, arguing that it appears by all that he knows that I have been railroaded and all that.

"Having all of that, we have reshaped my statement a little bit to say it is my intent to resign on Sept. 30. I think it is important for you to make as bold a statement as you are comfortable with this afternoon, and I would hope you could make it in front of the cameras.

"I think it would help drive the story that I’m willing to fight, that I’ve got quality people out there fighting in my defense, and that this thing could take a new turn or a new shape, it has that potential. Anyway, give me a buzz or give Mike a buzz on that. We’re headed to my press conference now.

"Thank you. Bye."

Update:  mcjoan at Daily Kos has been following the story too.

Update:  Apparently this is going to be a long, drawn out battle.  KTVB has more: 

"Certainly Senator Specter's comments to him, both personally and on Fox News Sunday demonstrated at least Sen. Specter is on his side and should fight this," Washington, DC-based spokesperson Dan Whiting told NewsChannel 7. "It's times like these when you found out who your friends are. Senator Craig found out what he's known all along - that he has a lot of friends in Idaho, and friends are few and far between in Washington.

NewsChannel 7 has also learned that Craig will fight a Senate Ethics Committee Investigation.

"He will be filing paperwork that will demonstrated that he believes that to take action against the Senator for a misdemeanor, which is what he plead guilty to, would reverse 200 years of senate history and set a major precedent that is inappropriate."

The Resignation

Waiting for the small motorcade that would bring Senator Larry Craig to the Boise Depot where he would announce his resignation was gathered a mixed bag of approximately a hundred and fifty people and lots of media.  There were those who were in a somber mood knowing they were soon to witness the sad and tragic end to a long and distinguished political career.  Then there were those that were in a much more celebratory mood knowing that Craig's resignation was just the culmination of a hypocrite's, in the eyes of many, rapid downfall.

There were the usual Idaho Republican dignitaries:  Governor Butch Otter, GOP Chairman Kirk Sullivan, Congressman Bill Sali, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and others.  [I didn't see Sen. Crapo or Rep. Simpson.]  There were also some prominent Democrats:  State Rep Nicole LaFavour and Idaho Democratic Party Executive Director John Foster and others. 

There were also the three women holding the "Craig is not gay; he's a pervert" and similar signs.  Some of those gathered had brought their children and carried them on their shoulders for a better look.

As Craig's car arrived, a scattering of applause erupted, accompanied by disbelieving looks from others; more evidence of the political division apparent in the crowd which may truly mirror that in the entire state.  As he got out of the car, Kirk Sullivan greeted him with a handshake, then as he slowly made his way to the podium, looking tired and resigned, he was greeted by other GOP dignitaries.  Once at the podium, another scattering of applause.

It was immediately clear as he began to speak that the Depot location had not been wired for sound and anyone not in the front row or listening to the feed would not be able to hear.  The crowd pressed closer hoping to catch a few of the Senator's final words over the persistent hum of the satellite trucks.

When he finally uttered the word "resign," two young men shouted "yeah!"  The gentleman in front of me turned around looking horrified, as if wondering who would dare celebrate that moment.  I thought, "Apparently this man hasn't been paying attention."

The speech over [read a copy here], Craig took no questions and ushered his wife to the waiting car, walked around to the front passenger seat amid a press of reporters, cameras and a few catcalls and climbed in.  With a short brrupp from the accompanying police escort, he was gone. 

That was it.  The end of Larry Craig's political career.  The whole thing lasting just a few minutes longer than the events in the airport men's room that precipitated the inevitable events that followed.

And as perhaps an omen, I have no pictures of the event:  dead batteries in the camera.

Update 15:05:  Check out more local coverage:

• Red State Rebels has pictures, an account of events and video.
• New West
• 43rd State Blues
• Boise Guardian
• Ridenbaugh Press
• The Political Game
• PrideDEPOT and more here and here

He Doth Protest Too Much

What if someone, say a certain current Senator from say, Idaho releases a preemptive denial about a gay congressional page scandal as a freshman congressman in 1982, but then was never named because the page recanted.  Then, say this said Senator winds up twenty-five years later being embroiled in a brouhaha over solicitation in a men's room. 

Does that preemptive denial mean anything besides being a slightly humorous blunder by a freshman congressman?  Arkansas' NWAnews.com went back to the source of that page scandal and learned this:

Twenty-five years ago, North Little Rock teenager Leroy Williams Jr. helped set off a congressional sex scandal. He told federal authorities that, while serving as a congressional page, he had had sex with three House members and procured homosexual prostitutes for a senator, a congressional aide and a Government Printing Office employee.  [...]

Then, Williams recanted, saying he had made up the story because he wanted to draw attention to the lack of supervision in the page program.

No one was charged, and most news outlets never named the accused.

But Williams’ former attorney, Bob Scott of Rogers, confirmed in a telephone interview this week that one of the congressmen Williams claimed to have had sex with was Republican Larry Craig of Idaho, now a senator in his 27 th year in Congress.

Apparently Craig and his staff were way out in front on this one.

Resignation May Happen Soon

Lots of reports that Senator Larry Craig is considering announcing his resignation today.  Here are just a few:

• Idaho Statesman
• Eye on Boise
• Red State Rebels

Update 08.31.07 17:11:  Word is that Senator Craig will announce resignation tomorrow.

Thank God: An open letter to Larry Craig

Dear Senator Larry Craig,

Whew, thank God you're not gay.  I can't tell you how relieved my friends and I were to see your repeated and vociferous denials of being even just a tiny bit gay after the arrest and guilty plea for the incident in the airport men's room.  Finding out that you are just a "naughty boy" who enjoys anonymous encounters but that you in no way intend to sully the gay community with your behavior was good news.

Just the Facts

There's plenty of Larry Craig humor circulating in the media lately, but none has the effect of an actual re-creation of the events of June 11th and the police report that led to Craig's guilty plea. 

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has the Dragnet style re-creation.  Check it out here.

Craig Loses Committee Seats; More GOP Hypocrisy

The Idaho Statesman is reporting that Republican Senate leadership has asked and Senator Larry Craig has agreed to temporarily give up his seats on four committees.

Sen. Larry Craig has agreed to temporarily give up his seats on four Senate Committees at the request of Senate Republican leadership, while his political support eroded significantly today when three fellow Republicans in Congress called for his resignation.

Craig gave up his posts as the top Republican on the Veteran Affairs Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.

Now many may say that this is reasonable given that he did plead guilty to a crime.  But when comparing this case to that of Senator Vitter (R-LA) who recently admitted to the crime of soliciting prostitutes, how can this be anything other than rank hypocrisy? 

• Vitter admits to soliciting heterosexual sex — no ethics investigation; keeps committee seats.
• Craig admits (and now denies) soliciting homosexual sex — immediate ethics investigation; must give up committee seats.

Hmmm...now why do you suppose that is.

Take a break with punditry from actual citizens

Need a break from the national punditry salivating over the Larry Craig scandal?  We got your break right here.  Find out what actual citizens are posting online at some of Idaho's daily newspapers about Idaho's Senior (I'm still not gay) Senator, wide-stance Larry Craig.

My personal favorite from the South Idaho Press in Burley:

Wooops wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:17 AM:
" Maybe he was looking for a stress reliever? He was just confussed, he is usually on the other end, with Bush. Republicans are going down!! Wohooo "

Not sure if Wooops intended the double entendre of "the other end" but that's some funny stuff.  The readers in the Mini-Cassia area sure are creative.  Here's one more from the SIP: 

to black eye wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:36 PM:"
Sorry you had to grow up gay in a mormon community but just cuz people don't accept your lifestyle don't mean you have to go wagging your hand under the stall in an airport to get a date. Its called "gaydar" develop it and use it. I don't think Craig is gay, i just think he needed more toilet paper. "

Yeah, something we can all agree on, more toilet paper in public restrooms.  Here's one from the Idaho Press-Tribune in Nampa:

“If any of my children (they are all adults) were caught///they would be charged, convicted and jailed. Mr Craig is NOT ABOVE THE LAW. Serious scrambling will take place to try and save face. He needs to step down and take time to heal family wounds//his family must be horrified.
Jeanine - 1:25 PM, Tuesday August 28, 2007

I'd say Jeanine has it pegged; definitely "serious scrambling" going on and we're not talking eggs here.  And another from IPT:

“KNEE-JERK reaction to want Mr. Craig to resign immediately!! What if he DID resign...and it was later proven that the COP was the liar and the one who started the whole thing?!! WAIT for the end results before you try-convict-banish the man! And if Mr. Craig IS the liar, THEN have him leave office immediately.
bb - 7:33 AM, Wednesday August 29, 2007

Should we tell bb that Craig already pleaded guilty?  Probably not....  Here's one from the Twin Falls Times-News:

Josh Wallin (id:FaithlessTheWonderboy) wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:19 PM:"
Oh the sweet irony that the "party of values" now has 2 senators busted for similar things. I have no problems with homosexuals, or bisexuals, but hypocrites really get me going. Seems like another one is exposed. Oh and if he accidentally plead guilty, maybe he shouldn't be a senator. He might accidentally help send us into an ill advised war. "

Josh, you are now my personal hero.  If Craig resigns I nominate Josh to take his place.  And one more from the Times for good measure:

Jessica Guerra (id:jessilin79) wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:23 AM:"
It's sad when trolling for sex in public bathrooms and lying to yourself and your wife strikes you as a better alternative than just being gay. If, of course, the rumors are true. "

Okay, Jessica is my second choice.

Hey if you really need a break from the scandal, Larry LaRocco is live blogging at Daily Kos today, 12:00 Mountain/11:00 Pacific.  Head over there prepared with questions for the man who hopes to take Larry Craig's Senate seat in November 2008.

Update:  Here's LaRocco's live blog diary taking place right now at DKos.

Stand By Your Man

So today, Idaho Senator Larry Craig continued to deny allegations of lewd conduct that led to his August 8th guilty plea.  And now Idaho Republican Chairman Kirk Sullivan told NBC affiliate, KTVB, in an interview broadcast at 5:00 pm [no link yet] that the Republicans are standing by their man despite evidence that is at best contradictory to Craig's statements.

Let's review:

• Craig was arrested for lewd conduct June 11th after, according to the officer's report, he was observed peeking at an undercover officer from outside a men's room stall and that upon entering the adjacent stall, he was observed making gestures with his foot that the officer recognized as ones typically used to solicit sex.  He was also observed making motions with his hands under the stall divider.
• During the subsequent interview, Craig attempted to explain his behavior by stating that he uses a "wide stance" and that he was picking up paper from the floor.  The officer observed no paper on the floor and noted that his feet remained within the boundaries of his stall.  Craig also presented the officer with a card noting that he was a U.S. Senator stating, "What do you think of that?"
• On June 22nd, Craig showed up at the station and spoke with an officer indicating that he needed "a contact so his lawyer could speak to someone."
• August 8th, nearly two full months after the arrest, Craig entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
• August 27th after reports of the incident were made public, Craig released a statement which said, "At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct.  I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."
• August 28th, while reading a prepared statement that contradicted the June 22nd account, Craig said of the arrest and guilty plea, "In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision. While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of making it go away. I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney, staff, friends, or family."  [emphasis added] He blamed his "poor decision" on his state of mind induced by the Idaho Statesman's investigation and reporting.

So, the Idaho Republican Party is supporting a Senator who either was too incompetent to seek legal counsel when arrested and facing serious charges, or has blatantly lied and continues to blatantly lie about the incident. 

We understand what that means for Senator Craig, but what does that say about the Idaho Republicans?

Update:  KTVB posted a video link to Kirk Sullivan's statement; link has been updated.

Breaking: Larry Craig Schedules News Conference

ABC News is reporting that Senator Larry Craig has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon.  No word yet on the specifics.  Stay tuned.

Update:  The press conference will be at 2 p.m. Mountain time.

Update:  NBC is reporting that the press conference will be at 2:30 Mountain.  Meanwhile Idaho's other Senator, Mike Crapo, stands by Craig.  Video at KTVB.

Update:  As noted in the comments, you can read Craig's entire statement at The Political Game or the unequivocal notion and watch the video here.

Update:  More local blog reaction at New West, Eye on Boise and BW Beat.  Also for a national blog with a local voice, check out this from mcjoan at Daily Kos.

The Tragedy of Larry Craig

The news of the arrest for lewd conduct in a men's restroom and subsequent guilty plea by Idaho GOP Senator Larry Craig is a tragedy on so many levels.  First, for the very obvious personal tragedy of a once successful political career being literally and figuratively flushed down the toilet.  But perhaps even more importantly, for the personal tragedy facing Craig's wife and children who, at least publicly, were unaware of the inner turmoil facing this man they loved.

How tragic to be relegated to cruising men's rooms for sex?  And yet even that tragedy has multiple layers.  It's tragic that an intelligent, promising young politician is so terrified by the possibility that his own orientation might become public, that when news of a homosexual congressional page scandal broke in 1982, the young bachelor, freshman congressman issued a preemptive denial.  By the next summer he was married and on the National Rifle Association's board of directors.

It's tragic that the socialization of gay Americans and even more deeply, gay Republicans, and still more deeply, gay Idahoans of Craig's generation, led him to take the path of secrecy and denial—and ultimately led to playing footsie under a men's room stall hoping for sex from a complete stranger.

Yet another layer to that tragedy is that young, gay Idahoans were denied the positive role model that might have been had Craig been able to proudly and openly declare his orientation.  How many young teenage suicides would have been prevented?  How many years of self-loathing and depression for how many teens and young adults could have been prevented?  We'll never know. 

But perhaps the ultimate tragedy is that the denial continues.

Breaking: Craig Arrested For Lewd Conduct

So the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey either has a story that he hasn't reported yet or he spent four months investigating allegations of Idaho Senator Larry Craig's sexual orientation and found nothing.  Not so for Roll Call.  According to Daily Kos, Roll Call was able to secure a copy of the arrest report following this incident:

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men’s public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call Monday afternoon.

This should hasten news of Craig's retirement.  We'll have more later.

Update 17:11:  Craig tried to mitigate his guilty plea with this response to local NBC affiliate, KTVB:

"At the time of the incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct. I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."

It should be noted that from the time of the arrest to the guilty plea was two months.  For a politician to not seek legal advice during that time on an incident of this magnitude suggests either incompetence or "scared rabbit" syndrome.  Either way this is not good for Craig.

Update 18:03:  Talking Points Memo is reporting that the Mitt Romney campaign has yanked the video of Craig endorsing Romney for president.  Craig was a co-chair of the Romney for President Idaho Leadership Team.

Update 20:57:  The Idaho Statesman has responses from the rest of the Idaho congressional delegation.  A preview:  we...know...nothing.

The Idaho Statesman also reports more of the undercover officer's observations:

According to the police reports, a man, later identified as Craig, kept watching the undercover police officer through a crack in the stall. Craig then entered the next-door stall and placed his luggage against the opening under the stall door.

The account goes on to detail methods of solicitation used by the Senator.

Anyone want to speculate on the resignation date?

Update 08.28.07 05:38:  As noted by Serephin at 43rd State Blues and Daily Kos, the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey has finally released his much anticipated story.

We Know Nothing

So the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey is finally writing about Senator Larry Craig, but the topic is not what you might have expected.  What hard-hitting journalistic revelation has the crack investigative reporter uncovered?  Larry Craig may or may not seek re-election in 2008 and your guess is as good as any.

Yep, Popkey's got a whole column devoted to:  "will he or won't he," and if he learned anything while on special assignment, he's not telling.  He does reveal that despite the dizzying decision Craig faces, there is an effort by some to ensure that he does seek another term.

Craig's vertigo has prompted an odd curiosity: a Draft Craig movement. Last week, a group of Craig alumni — veterans of campaign and congressional staffs — mailed a flier statewide asking Republicans to return postcards urging Craig to run. They plan to deliver him mailbags by month's end.

"Larry is a dedicated and valuable leader for Idaho, and we hope that this effort will help Suzanne and him make the right decision — which in our opinion is to run again," said Jason Kreizenbeck, treasurer of the Idaho Needs Craig Draft Committee and government affairs chief at Micron.

Craig is touched. "I was very flattered by the expression and the quality. It's a beautiful piece."

Popkey concludes that he's guessing Craig will run again, but stresses that it's only a guess. 

Well, I'm guessing that we're right back where we were.  We...know...nothing.   

Larry Craig in Trouble

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) is in trouble, but we already knew that.  He's endured criticism from his GOP base for his stance on immigration, veterans groups are upset with his mishandling of veterans' issues (here and here) and there still remain persistent questions concerning his sexual orientation and, if the questions are true, his hypocritical stance on gay issues.  While Craig hasn't yet declared whether he's going to retire or seek another term in 2008, it appears that some conservatives are hoping he just throws in the towel.

Enter conservative blogger Adam Graham.  As of June 22, Graham was defending Craig against the "sleaze-ball tactics" [mp3] of Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey who spent time earlier this year on special assignment trying to confirm rumors of Craig's orientation.  By July 7th, after the Senate's highly charged immigration fight and Craig's support of the President's policy (called shamnesty by many), Graham had changed his tune, predicting a 55% chance of a Craig retirement.

Now Graham, very appropriately, is declaring Craig "one of them," in response to reports of Craig's support for embattled fellow Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska.  In fact Senator Craig compared FBI officials investigating Stevens to the Gestapo.

After 28 years in Washington, he’s one of them. He’s a Senator, a member of the club. He doesn’t understsand the country is fed up with corruption in Washington, fed up with pork, fed up with members of Congress getting sweetheart deals for themselves.

This doesn’t mean he’s a bad man. ... I don’t question that he’s well-intentioned. I’m sure his defense comes from a great sense of loyalty, however misplaced. While he’s a great singer (a Singing Senators Alum), he’s tone deaf to the larger political picture of how Americans and Idahoans view the august body he serves in and the need to clean house.

It’s a case for term limits.

It's not often I can say this but...he's got this one right. 

Granted, conservative blogger Adam Graham does not represent all Idaho Republicans, but he does have his finger on the pulse of many Idaho conservatives.

I think it's safe to say, Senator Larry Craig is in trouble—maybe even more than we knew.