Where's the Outrage?

Senator Larry Craig is now trying the last act of a disparate man. He is trying to be seen with wife in front of the camera. I’m not sure if this helps or hurts his case. There really isn’t any excuse. If you thought that you were framed then hire a lawyer. I panicked is his excuse. Please. What a load of horse feathers. The best part of the interview is that he is trying to blame the media. It is their fault. It isn’t his fault for bumping boots with a police officer. It isn’t his fault for not telling his wife, his staff or his lawyer about it. It wasn’t his fault for pleading guilty. It was the media’s fault for covering the story. I would like a Kilo of whatever he is smoking for next weekend!

Update:  Lauer’s interview style was terrible.   There were no probing (pun intended) questions.  It was a waste of time.

 

 Larry Craig interview [0:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congress, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Note that I resisted the title – Senator Craig has his panties in a twist.

Just in case you are wondering Senator Larry Craig is going to appeal his most recent court decision. He also feels that Mitt Romney has treated him unfairly.

Give me a break. The Senator has become Britney Spears. He does something stupid. The press covers it and he whines.

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From CNN.com:

Sen. Larry Craig says he will file an appeal Monday over a judge’s refusal to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea stemming from his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting.

In an interview Sunday with KTVB-TV, Craig repeated he will not resign his post in the Senate and said he will continue to work his legal options.

“It is my right to do what I’m doing,” said Craig, an Idaho Republican. “I’ve already provided for Idaho certainty that Idaho needed — I’m not running for re-election. I’m no longer in the way. I am pursuing my constitutional rights.” (more…)

 

 Senator Craig Appeals [1:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Most Republicans understand that Larry Craig is an anchor and he is pulling the Republican Party down with him. As far as I’m concerned Larry Craig and Mark Foley belong in the same sentence.

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From WaPo:

Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) vowed to serve out the remainder of his term yesterday despite losing his bid to withdraw his guilty plea for disorderly conduct in an airport men’s restroom.

Craig, who said earlier that he would resign if unable to withdraw his plea, said he is considering appealing yesterday’s decision by a Minnesota judge. The judge ruled that some of the senator’s legal arguments were “illogical.” (more…)

 

 More on Larry Craig [2:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Hardball, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Ah, the gift that keeps on giving – Larry Craig. Senator Larry Craig announced today that he was not leaving the Senate. I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes when you are trying the think of the latest example of Republican hypocrisy you can’t come up with the right on. Some examples are too old. Some didn’t get enough press for everyone to know what you are talking about. Larry Craig on the other hand, can be pointed to as the best example of someone who opposed gay rights but clearly acted on gay impulses. You can’t convince me that this is the first time that he had gone to that bathroom. (more on Larry Craig – here and here)

So, now the judge in Minnesota says no way Jose to Larry Craig’s petition to have a re-trial. TPM has a great paragraph that sums up this whole case -

So Craig’s fellow Republicans basically do everything short of physically forcing him to resign. He “resigns”. Only it’s not a resignation. Rather, it’s a rather ingenious ploy to let the temperature ease off on the story, a post-dated resignation. Then it’s not a resignation. He’s going to fight the guilty plea — something of a novelty in the annals of jurisprudence. He’ll stay in office if he can get his plea withdrawn. And now he can’t get his guilty plea withdrawn so, well, too bad. He’s staying anyway.

It is kind of remarkable that it is the Republicans that look impotent for once.

 

 Craig's plea for a re-trial is denied [1:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, House of Representatives, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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He ain’t going nowhere. When you are addicted to power it is hard to let go. It looks like Senator Larry Craig is not going to leave the Senate at the end the month as he hinted a couple of weeks ago. it looks like he is going to wait until the judge hands down his verdict on whether or not he should get a retrial.

BTW, he shouldn’t get a retrial. If his judgment is so BAD that he pleads guilty to something that he is not guilty of then he needs to be removed from the Senate for being too stupid to govern. On the other hand, if he was soliciting sex like I think he was, he needs to be removed from office for being a 2-faced liar. There’s his choice. I look forward to him choosing.

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Sadly, The Daily Show has been on break for the last 2 weeks. They completely missed the Larry Craig scandal but because of the craziness that has infected Larry Craig’s brain, the scandal continues. So, Rob Cordory comes back (after a year long absence) and has been staking out the Men’s restroom at the Minneapolis airport for a year. Then we get an explanation of the whole ordeal complete with a soulful backup singer. It has to be seen to be believed.

 

 TDS - Larry Craig [8:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senator Larry Craig, The Daily Show by ecthompson
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The 3th installment of the first Star Wars trilogy…Well, It really wasn’t the first because the 2nd trilogy was a prequel. So, the movie Return of the Jedi was originally named Revenge of the Jedi. Jedi’s have nothing to do with Larry Craig but I’m running out of titles for these posts. Look for titles like Nightmare in the bathroom with Larry Craig, Jason vs. Larry in Friday the 13th part 69 and finally, Larry Craig – Reloaded.

Yep, I went there. This whole thing is so ridiculous, you have to go there. For the women out there that haven’t been in a men’s restroom, there is a protocol. It is just like getting in a elevator where no one talks, in the mens room there is very little chitchat. There is very little eye contact. You go. You do your business. You leave. Done. There is no foot touching. That just doesn’t happen. Never. There is no time when your stance is wide enough so that your foot goes under the stall divider. NOT. NEVER.

BTW, have you ever heard of someone pleading guilty then trying to take back him/her guilty plea? I’m not talking about 16 year old kid but instead, a 62 year old veteran of national politics.

 

 Countdown - More and More on Larry Craig [6:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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What is this Jason from Friday the 13th? Will this guy not just go away? He has disgraced himself and his family.

I, personally, think that he should stay so that everyone can see the hypocrisy of the Republican “Family Values” party.

(video later.)

The Carpetbagger Report has been all over Larry Craig – here, here and here.

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From MSNBC.com:

Sen. 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, his spokesman said Tuesday evening.

“It’s not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign,” Sidney Smith, Craig’s spokesman in Idaho’s capital, told The Associated Press.

“We’re still preparing as if Sen. Craig will resign Sept. 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,” Smith said. (more…)

 

 Countdown - Craig [6:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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To give you a sense of how Republican Idaho is, the Senate seat to be given up tomorrow by Larry Craig has been held by a Democrat for a total of just under 8 years since Idaho Statehood in 1890. The last time was in 1946.

Don’t despair though—Idaho did elect for it’s other Senate seat the great liberal Frank Church between 1957 and 1981. Senator Church was a great champion of Civil Rights. He lost his seat in the 1980 Reagan landslide which cost Democrats the Senate.

Senator Church was the last Democrat to represent Idaho in the U.S.Senate.

The above picture is of a public toilet back in ancient Rome days. It looks quite open in terms of making a covert solicitation.

Tags: Party Politics, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by Texas Liberal
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His story was not believable. He should resign. Not for being gay and not for engaging in homosexual activities. He should resign for lying and being a hypocrite.

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From MSNBC.com:

Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig will announce Saturday he will resign from the Senate amid a furor over his arrest and guilty plea in a police sex sting in an airport men’s room, Republican officials said Friday.

Craig will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. MT and say that he will resign effective Sept. 30, three state GOP officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The announcement follows by just five days the disclosure that he had pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to a reduced misdemeanor charge arising out of his arrest June 11 at the Minneapolis airport. (more…)

Tags: Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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It is hard to watch a man shoot himself in the foot with his own gun then turn around and point the finger at some guy who is the assailant. I’m sure that this could be a Saturday Night Live sketch if we weren’t talking about a US Senator at a time when basic rights are being debated.

This is nuts (here is the transcript of the arrest interview). Larry Craig pleaded guilty. He plead guilty to a crime in which he was accused of lewd behavior. Now, there isn’t a heterosexual man in America who would admit to being Gay if he wasn’t. It just doesn’t happen. It is like a White guy walking around saying that he is Black. That doesn’t happen. (Except in that stupid Hollywood Movie Soul Man)

What’s up with him getting arrested and not telling his wife? If Craig truly thought that he was wronged wouldn’t his wife be the first person that we would tell? The only way that I don’t tell my wife is if I’m trying to hide something from her. Something like being accused of propositioning a police officer in a public bathroom when you have been plagued by rumors of homosexual activity for over 25 years!!

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From MSNBC.com:

… “You are sitting here lying to a police officer,” Karsnia (the arresting police officer) responded. “People vote for you. Unbelievable.”

…Craig pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to a charge of disorderly conduct, but the case didn’t come to public light until Tuesday. Craig held a news conference then and said that despite his guilty plea, he had done nothing wrong and had hired an attorney.

He has received little public support from Republicans, however. Several GOP lawmakers have suggested he resign, some citing the fact that he pleaded guilty in the case.

 

 Audio of Craig's Arrest [8:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Craig audio [2:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Many of the guys that I grew up with will put in 8, 9 or 10 hour days. Some times I wish a long day was only 9 or 10 hours. Anyway, no political blogging tonight. I’ll hopefully be able to some blogging tomorrow.

C&L have a nice post on Bush’s really terrible week.

One of my favorite blogs is The Carpetbagger’s Report. Steve has a great post on the Idaho Values Alliance. First, what a stupid name. Anyway, check out his post.

Jeff (frequent reader of Where’s the Outrage?) sent me his take on the Senator Larry Craig flap. This is sung to the Tony Orlando and Dawn tune – Knock 3 times.

The Ballad of Senator Craig

Hey man, what’s that panting I hear
From over there on your side of the divider?
I visualize your big [BLEEP] swaying,
And with it I want to be playing!
Just one seat from me, oh that’s so crummy, I love you….

(Refrain)
Knock three times on the stall wall if you want me!
Or flash your badge if I’m under arrest!
Knock, knock, knock means you’ll [BLEEP] me in the men’s room.
Or that damn badge means I’m going to jail.

When I peek thru the crack in the door
He looks so cute all my judgment goes right out the window….
I don’t care if I get busted,
Politicians can’t be trusted,
But hey, we promise we’ll obey the law come tomorrow….

(Refrain)
Knock three times on the stall wall if you want me!
Or flash your badge if I’m under arrest!
Knock, knock, knock means you’ll [BLEEP] me in the men’s room.
Or that damn badge means I’m going to jail.

Tags: Domestic Issues, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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Keith Olbermann does a great job in outlining what we now know. Senator Larry Craig has fatally fumbled this whole incident. I really don’t understand this. Craig has been in trouble before. He knows how Washington works but he chose to handle this matter by himself? Vitter is a great example of Republican hypocrisy but the R’s support him because he kept them in the loop the whole way. Craig, who has been in Washington for over 30 years, left the Republican leadership out in the cold. They now seem to be throwing him under the bus.

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From WaPo:

… In a highly unusual move, the entire Senate Republican leadership team issued a statement minutes before Craig’s press conference complaining that none of them were told of Craig’s legal troubles until yesterday. Craig issued a statement Monday confirming his arrest and guilty plea, which were first reported in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. The GOP senators asked the Ethics Committee to investigate the matter, vowing to consider other punitive sanctions.

“This is a serious matter,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and three other elected GOP leaders said in their joint statement. “Due to the reported and disputed circumstances, and the legal resolution of this serious case, we will recommend that Senator Craig’s incident be reported to the Senate Ethics Committee for its review. In the meantime, leadership is examining other aspects of the case to determine if additional action is required.” (more…)

 

 Countdown - Craig Meltdown [9:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Countdown, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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When you read everything that is out there about Senator Larry Craig a pattern begins to emerge. First, of all, it is clear that Larry Craig plead guilty to lewd conduct in a male public bathroom. Secondly, he thought that everything would blow over if he just paid the fine and didn’t make a fuss. Thirdly, there have been allegations of homosexual activity in the past. (see earlier post)

I find it interesting how the Republicans jumped on the resign bandwagon. Remember they really never came out and denounced Rep. Foley. They helped Denis Hastert badly fumble what should have been a cut and dry case of immoral behavior.

Check out Senator Craig’s statement (see vid below). He plead guilty with out telling anyone. Either he is dumber than dirt or he is lying. Then way he should never be elected to any post high than dog catcher.

Again, Glenn Greenwald has a great take on this. He points out the right wing hypocrisy.

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From MSNBC.com:

Under fire from leaders of his own party, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig on Tuesday said the only thing he had done wrong was to plead guilty after a complaint of lewd conduct in a men’s room. He declared, “I am not gay. I never have been gay.”

“I did nothing wrong at the Minneapolis airport,” he said at a news conference with his wife, Suzanne, at his side.

Craig also lashed out at the Idaho Statesman newspaper, which reported Monday that, according to an anonymous source, Craig had a homosexual encounter in a Washington train station. Craig accused the paper of waging a witch hunt against him. (more…)

 

 Senator Craig's Statement [4:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Senate, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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So, Bob Allen of Fla propositions a cop in a bathroom just a couple of months ago. His explanation for what happened as racist at best. Now, we have Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. It appears that there was some lewd conduct in a men’s restroom. Of course, Craig is trying to spin this.

Update: It appears that Craig was a big supporter of Mitt Romney. They even had a commercial together. Now, that commercial has been pulled by Romney campaign. I can’t find a copy of it on the web anywhere.

Update II: Well, well, well. It appears that Larry Craig has a little history of homosexual behavior. At least he was accused of the behavior. Check out this video from 1982! Wait for the last 60 seconds of the video. (BTW, look at Lisa Myers!!! OMG!!!) Oh, if you look and look, you can find just about anything on the web. LiveLeak had a copy of this Craig’s pitch for Romney.

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From MSNBC.com:

Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho pleaded guilty this month to misdemeanor disorderly conduct after being arrested at the Minneapolis airport.

A Hennepin County court docket showed Craig pleading guilty to the disorderly conduct charge Aug. 8, with the court dismissing a charge of gross misdemeanor interference to privacy.

The court docket said the Republican senator was fined $1,000, plus $575 in fees. He was put on unsupervised probation for a year. A sentence of 10 days in the county workhouse was stayed. (more…)

 

 Larry Craig in 1982 [2:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Craig - Romney Ad [1:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Congressman Mark Foley, Party Politics, Senator Larry Craig by ecthompson
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