Same job, different uniform.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Does this surprise anyone at all?

Senator Craig's self-imposed deadline to resign his seat was September 30. He has not chosen to do so. The reason, he states, is the continuing effort to "clear" his name, which began with a hearing before a markedly skeptical judge. This judge will rule this week whether Craig's case will be reopened, and given that Craig is a lawyer with, one hopes, some understanding of the legal process, the judge will deny the motion. No doubt this will result in an immediate appeal, which will also be denied, followed by another appeal that will be thrown from court so hard it will dent a Subaru station wagon parked at the curb in front of the courthouse. Whereupon he will appeal to the State Supreme Court, which, if it has any sense at all, will refuse to hear it.

By that time, Craig's term will have concluded and he can slink off into the night with his name entirely unrehabilitated and his reputation as a prevaricator and word parser par excellence secured. Unless he chooses to run for re-election, and one can only imagine the fun that will bring about.

The most honorable politician I can point to is Brent Coles, former mayor of Boise. On the day he was indicted (on a ticky-tack charge), Coles resigned his office and the city got on with its business. Contrast that with what Senator Craig is doing now. Stripped of seniority, he is no better than a freshman, and has less credibility.

He thinks he can ride this out now, and he's probably right, but at what cost? Does anyone really believe he can be an effective voice for Idaho?

UPDATE: Wow. There's a surprise. Senator Craig lost his appeal with the Minneapolis judge referenced above, then issued a statement to the effect that he is staying, and anyone who does not like it can...lump it. Somewhere in Boise, you just know that Governor Otter is absolutely infuriated at being played for a sucker. As well he should be. I'm pretty steamed myself.

It became absolutely apparent that he was going to weasel when he went back to the Senate and the story largely died down. The fact that the story lost feet isn't because anyone believes his denials or thinks he was not trolling for boy-toys in the airport potty. Frankly, Craig is such small potatoes (sorry; the pun is apt here) nationally that, in the throes of a presidential election/rugby scrum, media attention on a small state, colorless senator was bound to ebb.

And so he stays. I suppose it could be worse. He said he would not run for re-election, but I haven't read his statement yet. It could say "I have no intention of running for re-election."

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4 Comments:

Blogger Lois E. Lane said...




Color me not surprised.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

 
Blogger Unknown said...




What did you honestly expect? A Senator from IDAHO? I mean this a politician.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

 
Blogger Lois E. Lane said...




What does IDAHO have to do with it? I'm confused. Oh well...

Thursday, October 04, 2007

 
Blogger girlfriday said...




It's just too bad. It makes Idaho look so bad; it makes Craig look worse; and it doesn't help the GOP.

Helen Chenoweth was a politician and she promised to limit herself to three terms and she did it. They're not all bad.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

 

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