Senator Larry Craig (yes, he's still a Senator) to skip GOP Convention in St. Paul

Senator Larry Craig (R. - Idaho), in his element

Among prominent no-shows to the Republican Convention in St. Paul later this month(indicted Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine,...every one facing major challenges to their re-election), is none other than Senator Larry Craig. He'll be busy working on an appeal that could allow him to change his guilty plea on bathroom cruising and footplay charges. The appeal will be heard in Minneapolis (the scene of the crime) the week after the G.O.P. coronation of John McCain...
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Sen. Larry Craig to be inducted into Idaho Hall of Fame

[Thanks to Jeff Clinton for passing along this news tidbit...]

Senator Larry Craig is about to be inducted into Idaho Hall of Infamy Fame. And no, this is not All This Is That pulling your leg! Check the AP story on CNN.com.

According to the Associated Press today, Sen. Larry Craig was selected for induction into the Idaho Hall of Fame in March, well before he pleaded guilty to foot shuffling and disorderly conduct charges (a/k/a cruising). Earlier this year, you will remember that the Senator was busted in a sting operation in Minneapolis aiport's men's kaybo.

"Larry Craig has made a great contribution to Idaho over the period of 20-some years. At the time it was considered, this other matter had not come up," Harry Magnuson told The Spokesman-Review newspaper Saturday.



A few Republicans think "this other matter" should put a stop to the Hall of Fame induction. "Maybe in 10 or 15 years we can think of this hall of fame stuff. Now is not the time," said one Republican leader. "It's a sad day to be a Republican."
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Go Larry Craig, go! Idaho Republican Senator decides to stand tall

You may recall, on August 30th, we wrote a fan letter to Senator Larry Craig (and begged for an autographed photo):

"...I don't care what the Idaho Statesman or the New York Times say...I want you to stand fast and fight! Sure, they may be trying to railroad you with these trumped up charges, but please!!!!! stay the course! Do not resign or apologize! You fought valiantly against same sex marriage..."

As it turns out, the Senator did just that. After hinting that he would resign at the end of September (much to the relief of the Republican high command as well as the rank and file), Senator Craig backed off from his earlier promises and has decided to stand fast. To the horror of the G.O.P., the Senator will remain an issue throughout the election cycle, until his term expires in January, 2009. Throughout the upcoming election, voters will be treated to callbacks of the oral and anal outrages Senator Craig villified (in his public life, at least), not to mention replays of the foot tapping bathroom-cruising episode, and as always, a list of the G.O.P. miscreants who have been caught in gay acts over the last year!

Do we think that All This Is That played a small part in the Senator's decision to remain in the Senate? We'd like to think so! But then, we never did receive that personally autographed photo. In case you think we are being disingenuous, please understand that we want nothing more than for the Senator to remain in office as long as possible. Go, Senator, Go! As Frank Valli wrote: "Walk like a man/fast as I can/walk like a man from you..."

Go, Senator, Go! This is going to be a lot of fun. Not only have you helped open up a national debate on gay rights and other issues, but you have helped educate the American public on cruising behavior. Many more of us now know what it means when that black oxford in the next stall begins tapping and sidling over.

Other recent articles here on Senator Larry Craig:

1. G.O.P. rethinks policies on gays in light of recent events
2. Dear Senator Larry Craig: Send me an autographed photo, and stay the course!
3. Senator "Wide Stance" Larry Craig defends his men's room actions and swears "I am not gay" - Bonus content: Link to a latrine debacle reenactment
4. Another Republican cork soaker takes a fall: Senator Larry Craig busted in the men's room scouting for man on man action
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G.O.P. rethinks policies on gays in light of recent events

Top ranking insiders in the Republican Party have disclosed to Vanya Newton at All This Is That's Washington D.C. desk that the party is debating changing its positions on homosexuality. The party has long battled against gays in the military, equal rights for gays, anti-gay discrimination, and gay marriage and adoptions. "In light of recent events," one official told us, "we have begun rethinking these policies." The senior official would not speak for attribution. Another top ranking Republican said, "this isn't totally foreign to us, as you well know. The Log Cabin Republicans have a long tradition in our party now."

Interestingly, the Log Cabin group may not be on board. Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon made the following statement about the resignation of Senator Larry Craig (R-ID): Senator Craig made the right decision in resigning from the U.S. Senate. He lost his credibility to serve the people of Idaho and his actions damaged the credibility of the Republican Party. Senator Craig had no other choice but to resign—for the good of his State, the good of his Party, and the good of his family."




"Of course, that's what the Log Cabin guys say," another G.O.P. source told us. "They fought for years to 'mainstream,' and these knuckleheads are ruining it for them. At least they have achieved a patina of respectability, and now they see it all falling apart."



A leading fund-raiser inside the party said, "Look, it sounds completely crazy, but it's kind of like 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do,' or even 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' I mean, just this year you've got Congressman Mark Foley slobbering all over the pages; Reverend Ted Haggard buying gay prostitutes (and snorting crank!); Senator Craig, of course...or, the straw that broke the camel's back; Congressman Bob Allen offering an undercover cop $20 for oral sex; and Glen Murphy Jr., chair of the Clark County Party, who got himself in quite a pickle fellatng a sleeping man who turned out not to be gay at all."

The Republican money man added "If this is who we are, let's accept it. Let's bring in the gay voters. God knows, we need them now. We are not going to win any elections going forward shoveling the same old s**t at the voters. We didn't know it before, but we are clearly the gay party. It's time to accept that, embrace it, and exploit it."

A top aide to Republican Chair Mike Duncan said that the high command of the Republican Party is meeting in Key West at a weekend retreat to discuss whether this change in direction is viable."That's five righteous outings this year alone, man! How many dozens more went unreported? You can see why it might be in our best interest to embrace the gay lifestyle, if not in practice, with our support for our differently swinging brothers and sisters. The outcome of all this may well be that we don't end up supporting the gays, but we need to dial back the rhetoric and the anger and the hatred. . .at the very least. Sure, we may lose a few red states. So what? Think of all those blue states out there, ripe for the plucking."
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