As for the Senate Ethics Committee? Brand said he thinks it's "inconceivable" that the Senate "will open the door to bringing cases against senators" for committing "misdemeanors that have nothing to do with the performance of official duties."

He's right; Congress only does that when there's a Republican majority.

"Relief in Minnesota?" Would that be "executive relief?" I thought that's what caused this problem for Craig in the first place.

OK, I can't resist -- wasn't trying to get some kind of relief in Minnesota how he got into trouble in the first place? ;)

He's probably spent a fortune on DC "escorts" in the last month.

ah yes, Chris Matthews and the scales of Justice. Parking ticket. Soliciting Sex from an anonymous stranger in an airport bathroom. Of course they're equal. Justice is blind. And, at least according to Matthews, Brain Dead too.

may be willing to take a "wide stance" on this and other very important issues. It makes my heart soar. Or is it, sore...

which is the second best thing to do. Even better would be to take the high road on this one and support craig staying in his current position through the year. After all, hypocrite that he is, kids weren't involved, bribes were involved, and nobody got killed or tortured which puts him way ahead of administration SOP.

And hope he decides to run again.

Getting arrested for Driving under the influence of alcohol isn't enough to disqualify someone from being President or Vice-President so why should Senators get kicked out of office when they didn't even risk killing anyone?

It must be the sex thing. No, no, that can't be it since Vittier wasn't kicked out of the Senate.

I know! Pushing Craig out of office must be an advantage to the Republicans! After all, isn't that what determines right or wrong in the Government these days?

Our esteemed governor, Butch Otter, was all ready to get one of our Republican stalwarts in to replace Craig. That would have given him a leg up as an incumbent. Now he'll have to run cold turkey, assuming Craig decides to retire. If Craig decides to run in 2008 the Texas oil money that goes to our Republican candidates will be used to defeat Craig in the primary. Craig may just be pissed off enough at the GOP to be a spoiler. He loyally voted for every stupid thing they wanted. However, Mike Crapo, who will become the senior Idaho senator if Craig does not remain, has the notoriety of having voted for Clinton's impeachment in the house, and then voting for all four articles when he hot appointed to the senate. He is even more a lackey than Craig ever was.

But has more guts than all the Dem Senators combined.

(Cue Mr Burn's voice)

Bring back Tom Delay too.

Congratulations GOP! Finally stopping the pretense that you actually care about hypocrisy. If you're not going to run Vitter out of the capitol, then leave the bathroom lurker alone.

After all, this is the party thats enabled the White House to use the bill of rights for toilet paper for the last six years, whats a little "wide stance" problem?

I'm excitedly awaiting the spin for upcoming GOP scandals with Patrick McHenry, Lindsey Graham, Cong. Dolittle, Cong. Don Young, Sen. Ted Stevens, Cong. Jerry Lewis,Sen. Mitch McConnell...

...here is the concluding paragraph from Sen. Larry Craig's statement on Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, as entered into the official Congressional Record of Feb. 12, 1999:

- - - - -

"However, reluctant as I am to say it, I do not believe this sorry chapter in our history is closed. On the first day of this trial, as I watched the Chief Justice take the chair, I was angry -- profoundly angry that this president had brought this nation to this point because of his own self-gratification, setting what was good for himself above what was good for the nation. It is unconscionable what the president has put the country through, continues to put the country through, and will continue to put the country through for his own personal and political ends. My differences with the president on this point transcend party or policy; I am saddened that this sorry chapter will continue, that the book will be open and the pages of this chapter will be turning as long as this president remains in office. Our young people, our citizens, our Constitution deserve a better end to a better story."

- - - - -

Wow -- does the word "hypocrisy" even begin to touch on Sen. Craig's double standard? He could condemn Clinton's "self-gratification" and pursuit of "personal and political ends", lamenting a "sorry chapter" in this nation's public life? And now HE can entertain the idea of staying in office?

Thank you, Senator, for proving that Republicans never mean what they say and view language merely as a tool to manipulate the people. You have proudly stood up for yourself! Here's the Republicans new website: http://wwwthepartyofthewidestance.blogspot.com/

...that might come to mind after posting the above excerpt, I claim first right to wonder what or whose "political END" could be Sen. Craig's reference in his impeachment statement.

I also stake a claim to any similar cheap jokes on "Congressional pages" that might arise from from Craig's reference to "pages of this chapter" that might continue "turning".

Sorry, but just couldn't resist!

Aside from the obvious..the Craig is desperate to keep his cushy job in the Senate..I can't help thinking he must have had some phone calls from key constituents (read: wealthy corporate donors who expect their full money's worth), telling him he wasn't going anywhere.

Something changed, that's for sure.

If Senator Craig is allowed to withdraw his guilty plea to a misdemeanor, the original charges would be reinstated. He would not be scot free yet until those charges are resolved. The best thing for him is to allow the plea to stand. Maybe he is hoping for a double jeopardy argument. If he had not entered a guilty plea, he could have appealed his conviction in the Circuit Court.