Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) Not Running For Senate in 2012

"And so, since my parents paid the hush money, this is not
technically prostitution. . ." Photo from NY Times

Wow, that was slow. It's been forever ago, politically speaking, that John Ensign got busted for schtupping one of his staffers (and that's just the tip of that iceberg of a story). Why now? I mean, David Vitter got busted soliciting hookers from the House floor for goodness' sake, and he got both a standing ovation from his colleagues and won reelection! My guess is that Ensign either a) is polling badly, b) is having trouble raising money, c) his wife is pitching a fit and doesn't want the attention all over again, or d) all of the above.  But like the earlier disgraced Senator from a neighboring state, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Wide Stance), Ensign will serve out his term, which for Ensign is all the way to January 2013! Way to milk the taxpayer, Captain Hairdo!

[Excerpt]

Senator, After Scandal, Won’t Run Again



Senator John Ensign, the two-term Nevada Republican caught up in a sex and ethics inquiry, announced Monday that he would not seek re-election in 2012 to avoid what he predicted would be an “exceptionally ugly” campaign. . .
 
Read more at: New York Times

Olbermann: Michelle Bachmann's Crazy Interview

Minnesota is turning out to be a fertile ground for political goings-on over the last couple of years. There is the endless Al Franken/Norm Coleman battle for the Senate. The collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis shone a huge spotlight on our infrastructure problems. There was an infamous incident at the airport with one Senator Larry Craig. And then there is Congress' resident batshit crazy member (apparently taking over for Katherine Harris), Michelle Bachmann.

Here, Keith Olbermann narrates exhibit A in the competency trial. Enjoy.

Daily Show Larry Craig's Restroom

I realized that I neglected to post one of the funniest Daily Show clips from the Republican National Convention coverage, and thought I should rectify that now. Enjoy.

One Year Ago Today: Larry Craig Taps His Way Into History

Original Photo from Wikipedia.com

What are the odds? I got the idea to start a new feature, One Year Ago Today, because my blog has been around since about June 2, 2007, and I thought it might be interesting to revisit some old posts. Because of the news-suckingness of the 2008 Presidential election, many other stories are lost or forgotten.

So, can you believe my luck that one year ago today, Larry Craig was found out to be a toilet stall tapper? I find that very fortuitous (and funny).

Original Post, from August 27, 2007:

What is with this tidal wave of GOP sex scandals? And why are the majority of them married men in gay sex scandals? They also all tend to be big supporters of banning same-sex marriage, and "protecting" traditional marriage. Protecting them from what, getting found out?

It is true that Democrats have been busted for "illicit" sex, but they're not out there braying about "teh gay," and then doing it in private! Amazingly, this guy pleaded guilty, and still maintains his innocence. Read all about it. . .

[Excerpt]

Craig Arrested, Pleads Guilty Following Incident in Airport Restroom

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.

Craig’s arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on Aug. 8.

A spokesman for Craig described the incident as a “he said/he said misunderstanding,” and said the office would release a fuller statement later Monday afternoon.

After he was arrested, Craig, who is married, was taken to the Airport Police Operations Center to be interviewed about the lewd conduct incident, according to the police report. At one point during the interview, Craig handed the plainclothes sergeant who arrested him a business card that identified him as a U.S. Senator and said, “What do you think about that?” the report states. . .

Read it all at: RollCall.com

More on Vitter & Craig's "Marriage Protection" Amendment

Photo from source (with editing!), TowleRoad.com

Yeah, I know. I've commented on this story already. But I still can't get over the hypocrisy of the whole thing. Why is it that the loudest "defenders" of marriage (not just Larry Craig and David Vitter, but Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and many others) are the worst at marriage?

[Excerpt]

Chutzpah Defined: Vitter and Craig Co-Sponsor Marriage Amendment

OK, so it's not news that politicians are hypocrites. But, my goodness. This just takes the hypocritical cake. As reported by PageOneQ.com, two infamous senators have signed on to the bill of Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker to establish a constitutional amendment codifying marriage as between a man and a woman. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Top 10 Conservative Idiots: June 30, 2008

Another Monday, and another list. Enjoy this one, because the Democratic Underground column usually takes a week off on holiday weekends. It's no surprise that Larry Craig and David Vitter (highlighted in my last post) topped the list this week. The writers of the column are talented, but c'mon, this one pretty much wrote itself! Enjoy.

[Excerpt]

The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 343
June 30, 2008
Look Who's Protecting Marriage Now Edition

This week Sens. Larry Craig and David Vitter (1) make a triumphant return to the list as they... well, you won't quite believe it. Elsewhere John McCain (2,3,5) struggles along, Sam Brownback (8) gets it backwards, and George W. Bush (10) drops a clanger. . .

Read more at: Democratic Underground

"Marriage Protection Amendment" Sponsored by Who?

Images from source, Page One Q

Quick. Name the two least likely Senators to co-sponsor a new federal "Marriage Protection" Amendment to the Constitution. Did you guess Larry "toe tapper" Craig, and David "I like hookers" Vitter? You can cut the irony with a knife, huh?

Honestly, which does marriage more damage? Furtive restroom sex with a strange man, hiring a prostitute, or The Other Half and I getting married in Palm Springs? I for one am more than a little insulted by all of this.

[Excerpt]

Sens. Larry Craig and David Vitter co-sponsor Marriage Protection Amendment

Two United States Senators implicated in extramarital sexual activity have named themselves as co-sponsors of S. J. RES. 43, dubbed the Marriage Protection Amendment. If ratified, the bill would amend the United States Constitution to state that marriage "shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. . ."

Read more at: Page One Q

Larry Craig is NOT Gay! He's NEVER Been Gay!

Well, maybe just a little gay. . . As Shakespeare said, "I think the lady doth protest too much."

Yet Another GOP Gay Sex Scandal!

Photo from Wikipedia.com

What is with this tidal wave of GOP sex scandals? And why are the majority of them married men in gay sex scandals? They also all tend to be big supporters of banning same-sex marriage, and "protecting" traditional marriage. Protecting them from what, getting found out?

It is true that Democrats have been busted for "illicit" sex, but they're not out there braying about "teh gay," and then doing it in private! Amazingly, this guy pleaded guilty, and still maintains his innocence. Read all about it. . .

[Excerpt]

Craig Arrested, Pleads Guilty Following Incident in Airport Restroom

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.

Craig’s arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on Aug. 8.

A spokesman for Craig described the incident as a “he said/he said misunderstanding,” and said the office would release a fuller statement later Monday afternoon.

After he was arrested, Craig, who is married, was taken to the Airport Police Operations Center to be interviewed about the lewd conduct incident, according to the police report. At one point during the interview, Craig handed the plainclothes sergeant who arrested him a business card that identified him as a U.S. Senator and said, “What do you think about that?” the report states. . .

Read it all at: RollCall.com