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Craig leaves door open to remain in Senate
Idaho Statesman ^ | Sept 5, 2007 | Erika Bolstad and Gregory Hahn

Posted on 09/05/2007 7:42:05 AM PDT by Jeff Head

Craig chose his words carefully during his resignation speech Saturday in Boise, according to a voice mail message he mistakenly left on a stranger's phone.

In that message obtained by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, Craig tells a man named "Billy" that his choice of language is deliberate because it leaves the door open for him to stay in office.

Craig made the call just minutes before his speech.

"We have reshaped my statement a little bit to say it is my intent to resign on Sept. 30," Craig said. "I think it is important for you to make as bold a statement as you are comfortable with this afternoon, and I would hope you could make it in front of the cameras. I think it would help drive the story that I'm willing to fight, that I've got quality people out there fighting in my defense, and that this thing could take a new turn or a new shape; it has that potential."

He said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., had encouraged him to fight.

The recording was offered for sale to the Idaho Statesman, which turned it down because the newspaper's ethics policy precludes it from paying for information from sources. A Roll Call editor said that publication wouldn't pay either, but it managed to obtain the recording without charge.

The voice is indeed Craig's, spokesman Dan Whiting said. Whiting would not say who "Billy" is. On Saturday, Craig announced that he had hired high-profile criminal defense lawyer Billy Martin to help him unravel the guilty plea he filed last month.

(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Idaho
KEYWORDS: larrycraig; senateresignation; sexscandal; uhohstalldooropen; ussentae; widestance
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To: Jeff Head
It doesn’t change the facts but it gives Craig too much ability to now say it was a mistake to attempt resignation. Most Constitutional lawyers would jump on this case just to get their names in a book.
61 posted on 09/05/2007 8:42:22 AM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: tobyhill
Understood...and they will get their name in a book.

Craig will push this to what? The Supreme Court? To show that he technically shouldn't have been stopped or arrested at all for what he pled guilty to? That may wash in legaleze, but I do not believe it will wash for the voters here in IDaho.

...and in the mean time, Craig, his family, the State, and the Nation are dragged through a sordid spectacle that will just jeopardize having another strong consevative in the Senate...which our Governor would appoint if Craig would step aside over his horrible judgement and actions.

Oh well...we'll see where it goes.

62 posted on 09/05/2007 8:46:00 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head

U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.
Interesting. Was Craig involved in a recognized constitutional "breach of the peace"? Would the Court take that position?

I'm starting to find the Craig matter to be more interesting. Note how Senator Byrd avoided arrest and a ticket for crashing his Caddy into the back of another vehicle after following too closely.

Sen. Robert Byrd: Invoking an ancient rule to avoid a modern law
63 posted on 09/05/2007 8:48:24 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: Jeff Head
I cannot speak to the actuality of his sexuality. I had always discounted the rumors...now they do have more credibility.

Ed Shrock, the gay and disgraced former Congressman, was my Representative and when he was outed there was an article in our local paper about "Secret Gay Republicans" and in the article it mentioned that the same guy who outed Shrock said that, among other things, a Senator from Idaho was accused of soliciting sex in a men's room. I didn't believe it then. I do now.

64 posted on 09/05/2007 8:52:42 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Jeff Head

I don’t disagree - I am adding that he also should resign because he does not know the constitution.


65 posted on 09/05/2007 8:52:44 AM PDT by patton (Congress would lose money running a brothel.)
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To: George W. Bush
See my posts 53, 57, and 62 on just this issue. It is an interesting constitutional and legal issue...but does not change the facts of what happened and what an honorable, conservative Senator should do as a reult of them.

As far as I am concerned, the Senator comes off looking worse and worse the more he tries to dig himself out of what is pretty open and closed to the average joe. He did something wrong and pled guilty to it.

It may turn out that he should not have been detained, should not have been convicted, etc., etc. But he still did what he did.

66 posted on 09/05/2007 8:54:23 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head

I think Craig feels the Republican Party threw him under the bus and I think he would challenge this all the way if for no other reason, to make the Republicans miserable.


67 posted on 09/05/2007 8:54:25 AM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: patton

Which, IMHO, was an issue already settled given his stance on immigration.


68 posted on 09/05/2007 8:55:14 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head

This dude has some serious issues.


69 posted on 09/05/2007 8:55:26 AM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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To: tobyhill

Which just means it would be all about him...and certainly not what is best for the State or the Country. A real shame.


70 posted on 09/05/2007 8:56:22 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: California74
The low-life opportunist morons he calls by mistake, go public with the recording and offer it for sale... going public i don’t give a rats ass about, but offering it for SALE?

You got a problem with Capitalism???... only reason it didn't have good $$ value is that the was no "juicy" addmission ..

71 posted on 09/05/2007 9:01:33 AM PDT by SubGeniusX ($29.95 Guarantees Your Salvation!!! Or TRIPLE Your Money Back!!!)
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To: Jeff Head
Some Republicans also feel bamboozled by the media for claiming Foley was sure to be indicted which now isn’t likely. There is definitely a bipolar atmosphere within the GOP and until everyone gets on the same page it’s not going away. I think that Craig plead guilty to a really lame case and should step down but there are others that believe it was such a lame case that despite the guilty plea he should remain.
72 posted on 09/05/2007 9:04:43 AM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: dooltotheend
[But an adult, particularly one as “smart” as a US Senator]
 
Smart?  If the allegations are true, this guy's probably been under threat of blackmail and compromising the integrity of the Senate for at least 25 years.
 


73 posted on 09/05/2007 9:07:41 AM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Jeff Head
but does not change the facts of what happened and what an honorable, conservative Senator should do as a result of them.

Have you met our senators? LOL.

These are congresscritters you're talking about. You think too highly of them, Jeff.

Or maybe I'm too cynical, being a few years older than I think you are at present. Given enough exposure to these congresscritters over the years, we all get pretty cynical.
74 posted on 09/05/2007 9:23:33 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: California74
Senator Craig is not a deviant nor is he gay. The dems set him up and he fell for the trap...

Please explain how the "dems" set him up and describe this this so called "trap" ... you don't actually buy the "wide stance" do you?

Sorry, every action he reportedly took in that restroom ... was a "signal" ... although maybe he was just trying to "reach safety" and was "intimidated" by folks in the restroom ....

75 posted on 09/05/2007 10:00:06 AM PDT by SubGeniusX ($29.95 Guarantees Your Salvation!!! Or TRIPLE Your Money Back!!!)
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To: VxH

To hell with the Senate’s integrity. There is not much there to start with anyway. I’m more concerned about US security. This damn thing has the potential for becoming very dirty.

I think Craig’s game is to get Senate Pubbies to back off resignation demands or else. The “else” is his willingness to destroy any chance the GOP may have had for presidency. This is a very nasty, but sick inidvidual.

I suspect he may also have the goods on some other people as well. In his malice he will only out the GOP sodomites.


76 posted on 09/05/2007 11:22:37 AM PDT by dooltotheend (uir)
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To: Jeff Head

Is he playing footsie with us again?!?!


77 posted on 09/05/2007 12:46:50 PM PDT by WOSG ( Don't tell me what you are against, tell me what you are FOR.)
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To: Lancey Howard

“Yeah, makes one wonder if Arlen has a “wide stance”.”

ARLEN IS JUST DOING WHAT HE CAN TO GET DEMOCRATS ELECTED NEXT YEAR .... SHEEEESH!


78 posted on 09/05/2007 12:47:57 PM PDT by WOSG ( Don't tell me what you are against, tell me what you are FOR.)
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To: California74

“Senator Craig is not a deviant nor is he gay. “

There’s a heck of a lot of too much smoke for this to a fire started by a Democrat setup.

“If he were gay, or a propositioner, don’t you think every gay guy he fooled around with would be coming up from under the woodwork by now?”

You mean like the outing stories from last year?


79 posted on 09/05/2007 12:49:58 PM PDT by WOSG ( Don't tell me what you are against, tell me what you are FOR.)
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To: tobyhill

“I think Craig feels the Republican Party threw him under the bus “

Craig threw himself under the bus when he pled guilty.

he cant blame the Republican party or others for that.

Besides, this ‘rowback’ is absurd. Pleading guilty then backtracking from then ... Resigning then backtracking *again*.

This man is as disabled in making decisions as Democrat Sen Tim Johnson (D- SD).

They both should resign - for health reasons!!


80 posted on 09/05/2007 12:53:54 PM PDT by WOSG ( Don't tell me what you are against, tell me what you are FOR.)
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