Too Bad You Can’t Stay

The calendar has moved to October, and that presumably meant that Larry Craig would head home to Idaho and allow a replacement appointment to take his seat. Unfortunately for the Senate Republicans, embarrassed by Craig’s guilty plea to disorderly conduct in a Minneapolis airport restroom, Craig has decided to extend his tapdancing. Since he won’t commit to resigning, his GOP colleagues plan on holding a public ethics hearing to shame him out of the Senate:

The Senate hearing would examine the original charges in Craig’s case, including the allegation of “interference with privacy,” for peeping into the bathroom stall occupied by an undercover police officer. One senior Republican aide imagined “witnesses, documents, all in front of the klieg lights.” The committee also could look for “a pattern of conduct” — which means combing court records in other locales to discover whether Craig had prior arrests that haven’t come to light.
The call for a public hearing is not unprecedented. In 1995, the Senate narrowly rejected holding an open forum to examine sexual misconduct allegations against Bob Packwood (R-Ore.). The Democrat who called for the open Packwood hearing? Barbara Boxer (Calif.), the current chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee.

Once again, Craig has no one to blame but himself for his predicament. He should not have pled guilty to the disorderly conduct charge if he thought he did nothing wrong, and there’s some question as to whether the police have been overzealous in their attack on gay panic in the Lindbergh Terminal. Having taken the plea after having two months to think about it, going back in front of a judge to say that he pled guilty in a “panic” is ludicrous. It’s almost as bad as announcing one’s resignation publicly and then rescinding it.
Has this man ever made a decision and stuck with it? Has he ever stood up for himself when it counted? How did he get elected in the first place?
All of that said, one has to wonder why the Republicans are in such a hurry to see him out the door. They certainly didn’t put David Vitter through this, even though Vitter admitted to a nebulous set of “sins” when his number appeared on phone records at a DC brothel. That’s at least as illegal as what Craig is accused of doing, and yet no one seems all that anxious to toss Vitter out of office. Neither act really relates to their work in politics, unlike, say, Jerry Lewis, who faces a federal corruption probe and yet still remains on the House Appropriations Committee.
It’s a curious case in which to draw a bright line. The Republicans seem determined to run Craig out of town on a rail, and had they been consistent in doing so, it would be laudable. However, under present circumstances of both parties — with William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson still serving in the House — it just looks curiouser and curiouser.
UPDATE: Misspelled “curiouser” twice in my Lewis Carroll reference. Thanks to reader Mark M for the correction.

15 thoughts on “Too Bad You Can’t Stay”

  1. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
    CRAIG NEEDS TO GO.
    The man is an idiot and has no more business being in the Congress than has my dog. Less, perhaps; my dog isn’t stupid.
    As for Cold Cash… Well, what do you expect? It’s just another demonstration of just how corrupt and loathesome the democrat party is. They NEVER clean their own house.

  2. Has anybody ever looked into how his story was made front page when it did? The arresting officer was in the transcript saying he wouldn’t talk it up but it is public record I suppose.

  3. The Captain says: “… it just looks curioser and curioser.”
    —————————
    Really? I’d say it it pretty clear that with the Christian Coalition getting restless, the fact that Craig may be (gasp!) gay, is too much for the Republicans to handle.

  4. Craig was elected because before this particular dust-up, he was conservative, mostly stuck to his guns, and was one of the biggest gun rights supporters in Congress. If it weren’t for Craig’s work, the worthless Assault Weapons Ban would not have sunset, and another generation of Americans would have been saddled with bad legislation.
    Now, having said that, he was on shakey ground in Idaho due to his voting for the Shamnesty Bill. This scandal is the straw that broke the camel’s back, as it were. He’s done, because even if he manages to not get kicked out, he’ll never get the vote again in Idaho.

  5. Democrats are very grateful that the Republican party still insists on doing the job of reducing republican elected office holders for them.
    Until we have the guts to take care of our own, imperfect as they may be, we will never build the majorities we need to accomplish the conservative agenda.
    As long as we permit lefties to tell us who is acceptable as a conservative, we will never be in charge of our agenda.

  6. Your point about Vitter is a valid one…however, when you say “…there’s some question as to whether the police have been overzealous in their attack on gay panic in the Lindbergh Terminal.” That sounds like it comes from a man who has never been accosted by a homo in a public bathroom. It’s pretty sickening.
    When someone goes to a “singles bar” he/she should expect, to some extent, to be treated like a piece of meat…hence the term “Meat Market”.
    Bottom line: YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO GO TO THE BAR.
    But public restrooms while waiting for your flight? Aren’t we being forced to use the public restrooms? Or should we just pee on the bulkheads and decks of the terminal?
    Maybe I’m a bit “old school”…but I think every freedom loving American should be able to poop in peace. If not, the alternative is going to be a smelly mess.

  7. There’s a sociological study, done by Laud Humphreys, published in the early 1970’s; that explains why some men prefer the “excitement” of finding sex in men’s bathrooms. The book is called TEAROOM TRADE. And, it’s still published.
    Of course, everyone probably knows that old adage: “The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name.” Uttered by Oscar Wilde.
    Wilde was a genius. And, he dressed to perform. He excelled at one-liners. And, retorts.
    Then? He got accused of buggering the 17 year old son of the Marquis of Queensbury. Yes, the guy famous for setting the stage for “laws” that guide compatents in wars. (Queensbury’s Rules.)
    Anyway, the father, very angry, posted the information of his son’s involvement with the GAY Wilde, at his club. And, in arrogance, Wilde decided to sue for “defamation.”
    It was a civil case that Oscar Wilde LOST.
    As to the “silence” surrounding the bathroom behaviors of men who are looking for genital contact with other men, in public toilets; what I discovered from TEAROOM TRADE, is that it is done entirely in silence.
    Ah, and when a man enters looking for this stuff? It’s not just a “two and two” dance. But one that involves others, who are also there to “watch.” And, TO KEEP LOOKOUT.
    You would not want to send your own son into these mess! And, public spaces, (the commons), needs to be kept free of perverts; or sex sales would be continuous. And, no park. No restroom would be safe from its contamination.
    Wide-Stance Larry has been concocting this story since he got caught in early June.
    Well? Seems like a feature? Oscar Wilde was a narcissist. (With a family. A wife who bore him chilcren. And, who loved him.) Well, she had to grieve.
    Wilde went off to Reading Gaol. And, he was lucky he wasn’t hung. The crime of homosexual, male to male contact, in England, at that time, was A-Hanging. Wilde went to jail (gaol) being found guilty of a lesser charge.
    It’s not as innocent as it looks.
    As to Larry Craig’s abilities to hog the limelight, I suppose that’s “good” if it keeps Up-chuck Schumer out of the limelight for awhile?
    But I’d have like it, better, if Craig kept to his pledge, and resigned.
    Since he is not going to resign, I guess everyone here can figure out exactly what’s going on.
    And, I don’t mind quote chapter and verse from TEAROOM TRADE, either.
    Of course, I know why this activity is done in total silence! As soon as any one man speaks, the others ZIP UP, and race out. You cannot even ask a man’s name. You can toe tap. And you can run your hands in a way that would make the deaf think you’ve learned a sophisticated version of sign-language.
    Now, why can’t talking prevail? Well, what if 90% of men are in the toilet just to take a crap? There’s already rules for urinal ussage; and men don’t dare sidle up to someone mid-stream, to gaze and see if the “member’s” circumcized. Or not.
    Take a look at the 90% figure … on those who don’t like to be sexually “admired” in lavatories; and you’ll recognize that some men could lose their teeth. And, then have to explain their black eyes, once they leave the toilet.
    “Hey, honey, I was just being nice,” doesn’t cut the mustard, back home. (Even though wives who are beards are the “last to want to know” anything.)

  8. As far as I’m concerned the biggest difference between Vitter and Craig is timing rather than orientation. Vitter’s “sins” were 5 or more years ago, and even if they were just a couple of years ago it wouldn’t be that bad. The problem with Craig is that he couldn’t control himself even after Foley, Cunningham, Abrams, etc. He kicked his party when it was down. I think any Republican who is stupid enough to get caught with a hooker now will be run out of town just as quickly.

  9. Craig plead guilty to a crime in a courtroom.
    Everybody else is fighting for acquittal.
    Craig DID commit to resign. It was Craig who said yesterday was his last day. Now he wants to take that back, too.

  10. As you may know, Judge Porter is deciding IF Craig can withdraw his guilty plea. Or not.
    And, yesterday, up at InstaPundit, the law professor, Glenn Reynolds, gave a link to Corsair’s blog. Here, is a little piece of that, below.
    Basically, Corsair got a “cease & disist” type of letter, from a guy named Maxhausen. A minister, who accepted a guilty please (and 50 hours of community service work.) At issue? Does that mean Maxhausen can now say “he never fondled the undercover cop?” Reputations are at stake, ya know.
    And, the case against Maxhausen took place in Minnesota. (The same State with the Craig case, now in its hands.0
    Well, I didn’t know about this rule! To say the least, I’m not a lawyer. But look at, and see if something like this doesn’t show up in Judge Porter’s Opinion; which should be out shortly. Enough.
    As to Craig’s “word games.” He’s full of it. But he does the same thing with his homosexuality. And, I guess? He’s hoping for a nation of OJ jurors. Here’s the QUOTE:
    “Mr. Marxhausen did not actually commit the crime he was convicted for. In the state of Minnesota, individuals are allowed to accept what is called the “Alford Plea”, which means that they do not admit to the offense but accept the conviction.”

  11. Ya know, the one place Larry Craig’s vote “went to the RINO’s,” was on amnesty.
    What does amnesty’s approval have to do with his State’s concerns?
    Sure raised the red flag with me: THAT HE WAS BLACKMAILED!
    Which is basically a threat to our security; when a man is a pervert, gets caught. And, then gives into the blackmailer’s demands.
    You want better evidence than that?
    Doesn’t appear when you haven’t got the tools to do the detective work.
    Larry Craig’s definition of “wide-stance” however, gives the whole game away.
    That ALL the senators are too weak for words?
    I could’a told ya that.
    We’re ill served.
    And, yes. We’ve got to deal with this one State at a time. One turkey worse than another, ditto.

  12. No, Buzz. The biggest difference between Vitter and Craig is IN the MATH.
    Louisianna’s governor is a democrap. Blanco could send herself to fill Vitter’s seat.
    Craig’s replace-able with another republican; but one that isn’t queer.
    Meanwhile, no one made Craig the money offer, yet.
    And, he’s not satisfied with his pension.
    Senators are always out for their biggest shares of the money pie.
    As to Vitter, he’s toast. Hardly likely to get the votes of religious conservatives.
    So, there ya go. Religious conservatives, in 2008, will see their strengths eroding; by INTERNAL damage.
    Less clout, all around.
    Not just why Vitter hangs on as Louisianna’s representative, either.
    We all deserve better.
    The Internet? Seems to make information so much more readily available. And, the old system, where the pundits told you to “keep your place,” has thankfully, gone to hell in a handbasket.

  13. Carol Herman, why don’t you get a blog of your own, you seem to have a lot to say and a lot of time to type it.
    Anyway, Larry just comes off as a bizarre victim, and this allows for the criticism to multiply. He can’t get by as a gay-bashing victim, as Senatorial R’s can’t do that. He has terrible survival instincts, and should have gotten some serious counsel before stepping to the podium and making his mea culpa speeches.
    He could have survived this, but he’s made himself a joke now… too bad, really.

  14. leftnomore,
    This is the Captain’s blog; if he didn’t want Carol here she wouldn’t be here. If you want to monitor who can and cannot post, perhaps you should start your own blog!!
    Carol brings up a good point regarding Craig, i.e. perhaps being blackmailed into supporting shamnesty.
    Is Idaho heavily dependent on illegals for labor? I seem to recall folks being surprised that Craig voted pro shamnesty.
    He needs to go though…..he’s a laughingstock. Brit Hume’s show had a clip of Ahmadinnerjacket speaking at Columbia regarding gays…..but the voice over was Craig’s voice saying ” I was not gay, I am not gay, I’ve never been gay”. Everyone cracked up!! It’s difficult to get people to take you seriously when they are laughing at you.
    The Dems are probably hoping he’ll stay; even though he says he won’t run for re-election they’ll get to clobber the GOP with more “culture of corruption” sound bites.

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