Larry Craig is throwing in the towel

His appeals are apparently extinguished. And he's no longer a senator -- his replacement was sworn in earlier this week.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

Comments

[Mike]

I think its time that this guy just fades away. " Oh I've just got a very wide stance " Bullsh*t, anyone who thinks this guy wasn't solicting sex gets the idiot of the day award.

[blarneology]

Who cares if someone thinks he was soliciting sex. How a person places their foot doesn't constitute soliciting sex and anyone who thinks it does get the idiot of the year award.

[Drew]

Ooh, ooh, can I have idiot of the decade? Thanks.

[T]

Now he can live the life he always wanted: creepy, old gay guy that hangs out in the video booths at the adult video store.

[Jellybean]

Is that his attorney behind him? Whoever it is, it looks like he's about to cry.

[Jellybean]

And BTW, I always play footsies with the chick in the next stall when pooping in a public toilet. What's so weird about that?

[Marvin]

No, it's a Senator, I think it's Mitch McConnell. But, he's wearing the same expression I would be if I were that close to him.

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

Blarney,

I think that Larry pleading guilty to it in the first place is an admission that he just may prefer the lumberjack type in bed.

If he was really innocent, he would have pleaded that way instead of pleading guilty and hoping that no one would notice.

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

Of course, now he'll be throwing in the towel at "the manhole" and other local "saunas".

[blarneology]

R2, I think he just plead to get it overwith and didn't realize the implications. That makes him foolish and he should have to stick with it but this doesn't change the fact that "foot placement" is considered soliciting for sex. It's asinine to have this kind of rule for solicitation.

[DSW]

Foot placement and hands under the stall wall. I dont think I have ever heard of anyone putting there hands under the wall for any reason.

And since he said he was soliciting for sex then he was.

[Searching]

I REALLY hate to agree with Blarney on this but, I dont think what he did is a justification for a charge of soliciting sex. It is just too, general. not exacting enough to confirm something like this.

[Kelly]

Wow, I can't believe it, but I completely agree with Blarney. And who cares if he's gay or not - that's beside the point. The point is, if we, as a society, are to the point where we can actually charge people with a crime by where they place their foot while they're pooping (or tap their foot or whatever exactly it is he did) that's pretty damned scarey. I know that I have screwed up and said the wrong thing around the wrong company because I didn't know something was offensive in their particular culture or where they're from or whatever....what's to say you couldn't get arrested for standing in church when you're supposed to be kneeling? Yes, that's a silly comparison, but you get my point. I hope. Or...you find a wallet on a booth at a restaurant and get arrested for stealing when the owner comes back to claim it....that seems like it might be a better comparison. I don't know. Anyway, yeah...I think it's a bunch of crap. (no pun intended)

[Kelly]

Well then, DSW, you must have never had to ask someone if they can spare a square. You're lucky.

If he touched the guy, okay - I could understand that. But seriously, even someone sticking their hand under the stall is not something to get charged with a crime for - creepy and gross, yes, but a crime? No.

[Mike]

If some of you had read the original story you would know that these were all common signs of gay pickup. If thats not enough then explain why he admitted it.

[Kelly]

That doesn't matter, Mike. Before this story originally broke, I had no idea those were common signs of gay pickup. Who's to say someone else might not know and do these "signs of gay pickup" and end up with charges that ruin a marriage, career, the rest of their life? That's what I'm saying.

[Twinky]

Anybody that would think that a United States Senator would plead guilty to anything especially some sexual perversion charge "just to get it over with" is just not very bright. I mean I don't know what else to say. These are some of the smartest and powerful people in the world and I just don't see one admitting that they were trolling for a BJ except for the fact that they were shocked to be caught.

There are certain specific gestures that are made when men solicit each other for sex in the bathroom. There was no confusion about what he did. The officer who arrested him knew this. The guy's a sicko. He's a married man who happens to be a US Senator, who also solicits other men in bathrooms for sex. What a guy.

[Kelly]

"....These are some of the smartest and powerful people in the world"

Wow. Really? Wow. Perhaps you shouldn't be saying others aren't very bright when this is your view on things in the world. Seriously.

[Dan]

Kelly, I'd have to disagree with you on the point of not charging someone for sticking their hand under the stall. Essentially, it's disorderly conduct because it is behavior that disrupts your lawful rights to take a crap in private.

[Drew]

Twinky wins. Fin.

[blarneology]

"There are certain specific gestures that are made when men solicit each other for sex in the bathroom. There was no confusion about what he did. The officer who arrested him knew this. The guy's a sicko. He's a married man who happens to be a US Senator, who also solicits other men in bathrooms for sex. What a guy."

someone else well versed in the gay pickup scene. This is a diverse crowd here.

[blarneology]

"Kelly, I'd have to disagree with you on the point of not charging someone for sticking their hand under the stall. Essentially, it's disorderly conduct because it is behavior that disrupts your lawful rights to take a crap in private. "

B.S.

[Twinky]

Kelly anybody that becomes a state senator is very bright. You don't get there by being an idiot. They may not be up to your standards or mine, but I am sure that they have better educations, more money and obviously more influence than 99% of the population. So to say for this guy to admit guilt and then say "I just wanted to blow it off" is a joke.

If you don't think that our memebers of the senate are powerful people...well I find that kind of goofy and naive.

If you don't think they are smart and very well educated...well I find that kind of goofy and naive as well.

The cops knew this was a pick up area. They knew the signs (just like they know gang signs). Get real.

[Dan]

Blarney, so you're saying that you would be cool with some guy just waving his hand around under your stall when you're out in public?

[blarneology]

Dan, I don't crap in public bathrooms so this is a moot question. I don't think he should be arrested though. I would just piss on his hand and then leave.

[James Hart]

Blarn, there is the chance that he REALLY would enjoy that.

[blarneology]

Twinky, becoming an elected official does not take exemplary intelligence.

[blarneology]

James, now don't go projecting.

[Dan]

Then you would be guilt of disorderly conduct at that point. Same as if you hit the guy.

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

Blarney and Kelly,

I had no ideas that either of those were pick up lines. The only time there should be conversation from one stall to the other, or a hand reaching under is after you ask for a roll of TP because you dumped your load before checking the paper situation and were out.

I don't care if the fine would have been minor and quicker to get done with it, if I were arrested and charged with something like this, I'd have fought it because I'm not gay and wasn't soliciting anyone.

He's a dirty dirty man, but he's out of office now so I could care less what he does in his free time now.

[blarneology]

Dan, no I would be arrested for Assault.

[Dan]

Yes, Blarney, you would be arrested for assault and disorderly conduct. Revenue, baby, revenue.

[blarneology]

R2, I don't disagree with anything you are saying. I am just saying his actions were not cause to be arrested.

[blarneology]

Actually Dan I would be assaulted for Assault, it would take a second act to create one for discorderly conduct. Keep on going though if you keep adding to it eventually you will get it right.

[blarneology]

assaulted=arrested

[Marvin]

If a cop thinks you're a hooker when you're standing on a corner randomly talking to guys, and you confess, then you're going to get charged. This was Craig's fault. He didn't do enough to lose a court case besides the confession! End of story.

Remember the cop who busted him wasn't some random yahoo. He was there specifically to look for that activity. And, if you read the report, it was pretty obvious what he was up to. Not just innocuous gestures.

[blarneology]

Say all you want, does this mean anything considered gay pickup activity should be deemed illegal and subject to arrest?

Here is the problem, and it has nothing to do with Larry Craig. They are taking an action which could have been random and making it illegal. Larry Craig in the video originally posted with the original story kept saying he wasnt doing that. The police didn't care. He was picking up gays. The cops told him in the original story it was no big deal and basicallly talked him into just pleading guilty and moving on. He was dumb enough to listen. None of this touches on the fact that the police are using something as innocuous as foot placement in a bathroom stall and toe tapping as trying to solicit sex. Maybe they are actions for this but they are also actions of someone who is fat, someone who is nervous, antsy or any number of things.

The logic behind the arrest is what is in question not Larry Craig or his guilt or innocense. He plead guilty so he is guilty, this doesn't make this rule right or even logically enforceable. If he had just fought it in court he most likely would have won just because their basis was so asinine.

[Kelly]

Right...and I also agree that he may have been doing those things to solicit gay sex - but he did not do anything illegal. Just like when cops go undercover to pick up prostitutes....they have to wait intil the prostitute brings up sex for money before they can bust her; just standing on a street corner in a red leather thong, silver tube top, and fishnet stockings is not enough. Why is this different?

And Twinky, there is a BIG difference between being well-educated and being smart/intelligent. BIG difference.

[Kelly]

intil = until

[RBeigher]

Another hypocrite bites the dust. Good riddance.

[blarneology]

I often stand on street corners in a leather thongs, silver tube top and fishnet stockings. I am not a Ho.

[Tom K]

He could research this kind of swindle and publicize the results. Then he could earn some money and this would show the world his innocence as well as anything.

[JUNGLE JIM]

It woeks for animal haters...

[Tom K]

?

[Searching]

I still agree with Blarney *gulp* the police should not be charging people with a sex crime on gestures that are not exclusively for the purpose of soliciting sex. They could also mean a lot of things. And dont cops have better things to do then hang around bathrooms looking for two adults that want to have consensual sex.

For instance where were they when Blarney was standing on street corners in a leather thongs, silver tube top and fishnet stockings. I dont believe he is not a ho...

[blarneology]

I'm not a ho, I just like thongs and colorful outfits.

[Tom K]

Like they've been doing for more than thirty years, they convinced him to plead guilty to get it over with. That's the stupid part.

[Steve]

Twinky says:

"Kelly anybody that becomes a state senator is very bright. You don't get there by being an idiot. "

Thanks Twinky, that's the best laugh I've had all day. You obviously have not met too many state legislators. Read the paper while they're in session over the next few months, and you may come to think that being an idiot is a REQUIREMENT for being a state senator.

[Twinky]

Marvin great post.

Kelly and Steve...ok you run for Senate. Let's see how far you can get.

So Kelly if someone accused you of some sex crime You would confess your guilt even though you are innocent? Who in the world would do that? I find your statements ignorant and less than honest.

Steve to be frank I don't trust politicians or the police. But the guy is very well educated. To get a good education you have to be smart. He is definitely smart enough to not plead guilty to something he didn't do. I can't believe someone has to explain this. Did you go to graduate school? Have you ever held a position private or political that welds as much power as a US senator? I very much doubt it.