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Larry Craig Wide-Stance Bathroom (h/t Mark Hogan)
Let’s see. If there was a situation . . . ahem . . . where I had to file some court papers in an embarrassing case . . . cough, cough . . . and I didn’t want them to be on the front page, yesterday might have been a good day to file them.
From the AP, courtesy of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
Seeking to have his guilty plea in a bathroom sex sting erased, the attorneys for Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho argue in a new court filing that the underlying act wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.
An appeals brief filed Tuesday contends that Minnesota’s disorderly conduct law "requires that the conduct at issue have a tendency to alarm or anger ‘others’" _ underscoring the plural nature of the term.
Craig’s brief goes on to cite other convictions that were overturned because the multiple-victim test wasn’t met. His lawyers apply the same logic to his case.
Poor Larry. Even the NH primary wasn’t enough to knock this completely off the media’s radar. But he can look on the bright side — the Writer’s Guild is still on strike. Of course, with the way his luck is running, the strike will be settled just when his case comes to the Appeals Court for its hearing.
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Hi Peterr!
Wow, I’m surprised that Viacom management could take the time off from dumping stock.
I am a victim of hypocrisy.
I don’t see what the big deal is, since he’s not gay. (Do I really need to indicate that this is snark?)
Craig: Mini-appelates, St. Gall
Tap, tap, tap… Fortunately for Wide-Stance, they are…
I suppose if the law says “it is illegal to rob banks” your first robbery is a freebie.
Ah, the Larry Craig School of Law . . .
So…next GOP debate:
“how many of you here–show of hands please (snigger snigger)–how many of you are openly GAY? How many in the closet? in the washroom?”
knock three times on the ceiling if you want me
Twice on the pipe if the answer is no, oh, my sweetness
(Knock, knock, knock!) Means you’ll meet me in the stallway
I don’t see what the big deal is, since he’s not gay.
I want judicial verification. Or appellate verification.
Or ask his wife.
Tinkle-toes Larry dancing the two-step shuffle
What I derive great pleasure at is the idea that all the Repug delegates/etal… Will be walking by Wide-Stance’s new historical monument… Bwhahahaha… *g*
Don’t you guys get it. Craig is NOT gay. He just thinks its ok to have sex with men in bathroom.
I want Tweety to ask the candidates in the next GOP debate:
Show of hands, how many of you are gay? still in the closet? in the washroom?
Visited the Stall…! ;-)
or like to dress up as women, or have children that like to torture animals, or cry in public.
6.4 Quake in Oregon
6.4 is a good shake.
Looks like there is no tsunami warning.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqc…..hp#summary
Seriously, folks. As much as I dislike Craig’s, ahem, positions, as well as his hypocrisy, this wasn’t solicitation for prostitution, only a request for a private act among consenting adults.
That it was bargained down to “disorderly conduct” is perhaps more disturbing. In my opinion, many disorderly conduct statutes are unconstitutionally vague. Tapping the side of a shoe? You’re guilty. Yell at your kids in public? Get the cuffs. Give a waitress a bad time? It’s covered too. How about ask a police officer why he wants to search your trunk? Do it too loudly, and you will face charges. It’s the perfect vehicle for prosecuting everyone.
I’m worried about a tsunami… that’s large enough to generate one…
You guys OK?
Also happened in a common spot for them.
No, let him ask “How many of you say you’re not gay?”
Mahalo, Mary!
USGS says no tsunami expected here.
We in norcali are fine.
oh man, are lawyers allowed to file claims like this?
ahem, in that context the term is not plural…are they serious?
Turn your head and cough!
let me elaborate;
if there is a law that says “you are not allowed to shoot others”, that doesn’t mean you can shoot one person, just not more then one person
That is a totally fucking feeble legal argument.
speaking of the writers strike, it seemed to have worked on the people’s choice awards last night…
Ratings were down 54%.
Mod note: Link repaired by mod
Can you imagine the response to women having sex in public bathrooms. Cameras would be mandatory.
All humor aside, the potential for blackmail with all these closeted men is a serious issue. I, for one, think that Chief Justice Roberts is a closeted gay. That scares the hell out of me.
others, as in one or more.
No question that Larry Craig is a lying sack of you-know-what. He’s the worst sort of hypocrite. That said, I contend he did nothing illegal in the bathroom stall. Stupid, yes. Illegal, no.
I blame Clinton
Larry Craig has shoved himself down the Republicans’ throats (ahem!). They are stuck with him and they can’t do a damn thing about it without focusing more undesirable attention to the embarrassing gay bathroom issue that is Larry The Stinking Hypocrite Craig.
Disclaimer: Nothing wrong with being gay. Whole lot wrong with being a stinking lying hypocrite whom has voted against equal rights for all and stoked the impeachment fires for the Clenis for engagement in a similar (albeit more private) sexual peckerdillo.
I wonder if all this applies to the bathrooms in the club lounges too…… I spend way too much time in airports (legitimately)
hm, that didn’t work. try again. here’s the link for the ratings for the people’s choice awards.
An argument which requires cash to bolster it
And distribution rights.
Perhaps, perhaps not — but in any eveny, the time for him to have made that argument was before pleading guilty to it.
The man is a fool.. Disorderly conduct is hardly a biggie. He should be arguing the facts to his constituents (misunderstood, set-up, etc) not the law. If he gets off on a protected speech argument, or a really stupid technicality what does he gain? Just more publicity.
He must have thought he could plead to this and it wouldn’t get out.
645.08, Minnesota Statutes 2007
Copyright © 2007 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota.
645.08 CANONS OF CONSTRUCTION.
In construing the statutes of this state, the following canons of interpretation are to govern, unless their observance would involve a construction inconsistent with the manifest intent of the
legislature, or repugnant to the context of the statute:
(1) words and phrases are construed according to rules of grammar and according to their common and approved usage; but technical words and phrases and such others as have acquired a special meaning, or are defined in this chapter, are construed according to such special meaning or
their definition;
(2) the singular includes the plural; and the plural, the singular; words of one gender include
the other genders; words used in the past or present tense include the future;
’nuff said.
If Craig’s conduct was not “disorderly,” then he shouldn’t have pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
I can’t see where he has a legitimate issue to appeal.
We have a winner!
Stuck with him? His fellow senators may agree. But for Cheney, he’s a dream-come-true. Especially after they get some pictures developed.
Beerfart Liberal Esq.
I agree.
I firmly believe that Larry Craig is a nasty, bad naughty boy.
But a link would be nice, so that the judge can get the snarky footnote right.
But of course!! How else could it have happened!
He deserves a firm spanking!
Does he get to choose his own switch??? He’s been a bad bad bad boy1
or a closeted opus dei gay….
It got even stupider — He pled guilty, i.e. admitted his illegal conduct and gave the court a fcatual basis for finding him guilty. Did he do anything illegal? I agree with you – except that he admitted he did something illegal Dope.
I seem to recall reading or hearing that in order to enter a plea of guilty in a Minnesota court, the accused has to affirm to the court that he is guilty of each and every element of the offense. If he does so falsely (e.g. affirming that he engaged in conduct that has a tendency to alarm or anger “others” when said fact was not true) then could he be charged with perjury?
BfL, got anything on that?
And he get to chose who uses the switch but only if they take cash. Credit cards leave a paper trail.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G5F-tdtANm8
“Take Out the Trash”
not to pick nits and not even knowing what I;m talking about, I’ll ask: Is this even an appeal or is he still in the trial court trying to “take back” his plea and go to trial? Good luck.
Pretty funny. Does he intend to run again? Please say yes!
The guy pled guilty- one would think that would be the end of it- he shouldn’t have the opportunity to dream up a dozen things he SHOULD have said after the fact.
So Larry is still at this thing. Where’s he getting the money? I would have thought he’d be tapped out by now. Apparently though he is hoping that the court will take a stance on this as wide as his own.
I love it when the hang ‘em high, law ans order Rightwingers get in touble and suddenly they are clawing tooth and nail to find a technicality to get off on.
Those same technicalities they lamented in their legal jihads.
-G
Larry Craig is a nasty naughty bad boy. In a post-enlightenment age, it should be ok for the old boy to attempt to get it on with a consenting adult in a public restroom without harrassment or arrest. The Republicans made this bed (hypocrites in government, Christian fundamentalism with pearl-clutching false moralism), now they have to lay in it (with Larry).
Will be back later, my son and his girl fried are taking us out to sushi! Yeah!! I don’t have to cook dinner. See ya on the late night shift!!
I don’t mind gay sex in the men’s room as long as I cannot hear it from the ladies’ room.
That took all of two – literally – two minutes to find using internet explorer – no westlaw or lexis here. I think this one will be “on the papers.” If not, his attorney has my great respect if he or she has the balls to go in front of a judge and say anything other than “I don’t have anything to add, Your Honor.”
But the question I can’t figure out is what does he gain by this? Everytime he files something it’s in the media andf the guy is an object of ridicule again.
They despise trial lawyers except when they need one. They seem to need them more and more frequently.
Richardson Drops Out of Democratic Race
Because they couldn’t possssssibly graviate to John Edwards.
No, this is part of the appeal.
And apparently, they are only arguing that the law doesn’t apply, that this is protected speech, and that because the judge didn’t do the paperwork properly it should all be thrown out. They are not arguing that Craig disputes today what he admitted happened in his plea agreement.
I have to admit I was disappointed when I read the article on that point. I wanted to hear an appeals court judge ask Craig’s lawyer if his client was now trying to trade in his disorderly conduct guilty plea for a perjury guilty plea.
LOL!
I hope the I Am Not Gay bathroom stall becomes a shrine to all the Bush scandals. maybe a local FDL can post Hugh’s list there for the GOP gatherings?
He needs an activist judge who will legislate from the bench (and is demented.)
Yes, and he’s been punished enough and I have been amused enough by it. Might as well have put the man in a stockade and thrown rotten fruit at him. I’ve gotten to the point, enough is enough. I’d just as soon stay out of other people’s sex lives and don’t get any bang out of playing voyeur. Others may get some satisfaction from trying to catch famous people as they follow their most base, prurient interests, they may want to go beyond that bedroom or stall door and watch, or take a quick beaver shot at Britney or Paris, but as for me, I’d rather they keep it to themselves. A little porn was one thing, but there’s been so much of this crap lately, there’s no fun in it anymore. Just like everything else, a little goes a long way. Think I’m suffering from overkill.
Can i please yell that I am Sick and F’ing Tired of the Hillary v. Obama There are Only Two Candidates in the Dem Race “Narrative”. shit fuck.
Is John Edwards The Invisible Man?
Maybe he hopes to avoid a divorce.
Someone must have promised him plea would be deep-sexed.
If Craig wants to be left alone- then he needs ta shut the fuck up about it.
Really!
Ok. Got the procedural posture. But are you serious about protected speech? The newspaper article describes a preposterous statutory construction argument.
I did notice that around the time of Delay’s multiple indictements, the fever pitch of GOP attacks on trial lawyers suddenly and mysteriously ended.
A necessary truce no doubt.
-G
You must not work in cable TV. ;)
Yes, he does. He needs exactly what Republicans profess to hate most emphatically – A good trial lawyer and an activist judge whom will legislate from the bench and is demented.
Bork. Yale Club. QED.
Not to be repetitive, but if he was only engaging in protected free speech, then he shouldn’t have pleaded guilty to breaking the law.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21225995/
Link to complete exit poll results from NH. They leave out one number- the total percentage of vote by candidate- but you can get back to it through the male/female breakdown. Hillary won the exit poll results by just over two points.
From the article, way down toward the end:
Elsewhere I saw that this was a 27 page brief.
So Craig wears briefs, rather than boxers, when he goes a-toe-tappin’?
Yeah. Just copy and paste and change it to ALL CAPS!!!!
I’m so sick of that shit too.
i was thinking this scenario. Edwards gets enough delegates to prevent HRC and BO from getting the nomination. They go to a smoke filled room and he says: “You know all that populist stuff about change? It was all bullshit. You want my delegates? How much ya give me?” It’d serve them right.
I wonder if Larry Craig has gotten any since the bathroom bust.
Guess the “Plea is flawed” claim is the key- if that’s thrown out then the whole thing is wide open again.
Oh, mary, I love your comments.
Well thank you.
Points for creativity.
We spent the next 8 years giving the truth such a furious beating everytime it showed its face that it eventually stopped coming around altogether. Candidates, voters, the press-noone wanted anything to do with it. The reporters gave up asking serious questions, the voters stopped reading past the headlines, and it was a very cozy arrangement for everyone.
-Allen Raymond, How to Rig and Election
I have the book in my hands.
that’s funny.
Amazing. I can’t figure what he stands to achieve from all this. Seems to me that his lawyers are grasping at straws, and every time they do it just picks the scab off and allows fresh ridicule to be heaped upon his head. Where’s the up side here?
150 straight West bfrom where I grew up.
happens all the time out there, it’s a subduction zone.
Either of those two libertines would glady fork over whatever fee he demanded in a Giuliani minute.
I know, right. That’s what I said at 68. i have the exact same query.
It is really no great mystery.
In all realities the Obama people should be extatic that they came that close to beating the inevitable Sen. Clinton.
He should have downplayed the wild polls instead of getting too cocky.
-G
Yes, he is.
Maybe it is the negative attention is better than none deal.
Must be some pricey lawyers , trying to pull out every possible technicality.
Waste of dough, the damage is done Larry.
Sorry, guilty of skimming over the comments. Figured it out yet?
Yup. I’d just like to see Edwards make ‘em sit up and beg. I’d say make Hillary iron his shirt but I haven’t seen the word “misogynistic” here for awhile for the first time in 2 days, so i won’t do that.
Hey- It’s free advertising- next time he won’t have to tap his toes to get laid.
That stupid Harry Reid will not help his fellow Senators with wide stances. But Nancy Pelosi would protect him, if he was in the House of Reps. Congressman Mark Foley will not be prosecuted because Nancy will not allow his computer’s e-mails to be examined. Nancy is very kind to child molesters. But do not criticize the War in Iraq, as Pete Stark did.
Hiya.
He’s trying to keep it off the criminal record.
Even though it’s died down, the Puke’s were wanting his resignation.
From the NYT
Gee, a bunch of conservative Republican justices with greater loyalty to their ideology than to the law love them some voter suppression. I never saw that one coming.
That’s a possibility. Forgive me for thinking that that sort of reasoning by a Senator is pathetic. I can see it being true for Brittney, Paris or Lindsey, but a Senator should be a bit more circumspect.
I do it all the time. Poiund out something i think is really profound and then go back and see it’s been discussed and discussion’s over.
But no, I see no benefit to him. And I htink An has expressed weariness of te whole thing. Most feel the same way, i think. If Craig would just let it drop. I just don’t get it mm.
My pop psychology theory is Craig is posturing on behalf of his family who, of course, are humiliated by the own thing. It’s so sad, really, when I think about them. No sympathy for Mr. Craig, though.
now the question on my mind is, who will the Wide Stance Caucus endorse for president? Mitt?
Trying for incognito, eh? *g* Aloha, Missie!
Craig made many mistakes- including a detailed taped description of what he does when he takes a dump.
Hi Snarkita!
Yep. No other explanation makes any sense.
MM, they fired our AD for the Jones fiasco… 8-(
I am just having a really bad day.
I have to move to El Paso in a few weeks.
my brother is getting reassigned
most of the soldiers from his base here are in afghanistan
and all the equipment is in iraq
and there’s not much mechanic stuff to do
Hi, SnarK! Night, everyone.
OT but check out this site/chart on the NH election in terms of Diebolt problems (I was an early skeptic – but now I don’t know. Still lots of issues, none the less…..
http://ronrox.com/paulstats.php?party=DEMOCRATS
Wha? UH couldn’t offer the $$ SMU did, could they? How would the AD change that?
File under “More than I need to know.” But really, when you come down to it, a dump’s a dump, no? We just wipe ourselves. otherwise we’re the same as dogs. Does he sniff maybe?
Not, Ft Blissless! You won’t be living with Aunt Petunia… 8-(
Aunt Petunia can’t come cause my cousin lives here and her jobs are all here.
Bummer. Is there any way you can stay with your Aunt till the school year ends?
I know I always reach to pick up the abandoned scraps of dampened toilet tissue on the floor of the stall. And I wonder why my fingers are falling off.
where is he getting re-assigned to? i missed that.
What a bummer!
Right in the middle of the school year, of course.
Jones had been asking for improvements in facilities from day one… At the start of this season Jones asked for a long term contract, the AD diddled… 8-(
it will be 3 weeks or 4 weeks into the semester. el paso.
I don’t know that “dampened” exactly the right word. Maybe more like “remnants.” And I’d advise against it.
I’m confused, Cassie, who do you live with? Your brother?
Even so, that means choosing between your brother or your aunt. Neither is a happy choice.
Me too. I’m confused about everything.
My brother is my legal guardian but I also live with my aunt. I can’t stay with my aunt or maybe the army will send my brother to afghanistan. I have friends in Dallas and in Austin.
I came to live with my aunt 2 yrs ago and then my brother came a few months later.
Oh, well in that case maybe he should be let go. Jones obviously a good coach and they had the chance to get a long term deal, but didn’t. Big momentum crusher for the team and the school, though.
That totally bites! Brush up on your Espanol, Signorita! 8-(
Oh yeah. I don’t know if anybody mentioned it here today, but Chris Matthews is a dick. Did anybody mention that?
Re:
Greg,
Thanks for the suggestion for the book. I’ve just placed a order for it. Vote fraud is something I’ve been studying for years now. It’s at epidemic proportions, and the general public just doesn’t seem to care.
There’s an AOL poll on the home page. Pick you candidate.
It shows the GOP is clearly in disarray.
Romney holds MA, MI and the Mormon triad out west.
McCain holds the rest of N.E.
Huckabee has a long on the South.
Rudy takes NY, NJ and FL.
Even Ron Paul has Alaska.
No takers for Dinky Hunter.
-G
After all, it’s a matter of Freedom of Speech! Gestures made with the hand are protected speech, even when it comes to picking up stray pieces of toilet paper off the floor in a public restroom. Let’s just call it “caring for our environment…save a tree!”
I read a comment or two :)
Her brother is her Guardian, being the eldest, and of age…
i hate the army. i wish my brother never joined and just learned to be a mechanic some other way.
This seems to be this man’s David Brock moment. He is unsparing in his critique of the GOP.
-G
Curious if you saw this chart and have any comments. Thanks
http://ronrox.com/paulstats.php?party=DEMOCRATS
I like the bright yellow and brown toilet paper colors!
Jeesh, what a lame excuse. No wonder the cop was insulted.
-G
Amen, Everybody’s pissed, trust me they wanted more heads on the platter, why do you think Gov. Linda Lingle personally plead our case…
How does your brother feel about this move?
Juarez is a fun town to visit. Be sure to go in the daytime with some company. You can take a bus (2 hour trip, IIRC) to Chihuahua. From Chihuahua, you can take a train to the Copper Canyon. Its a wonderful trip if you can take some time to do it. Many Americans take the train to Copper Canyon (las barrancas del cobre).
Oh no!
Don’t bet on rudy in FL. At least not too much. If he does, it’s gonna cost him plenty. He’s falling. Huckleberry Hound is a-commin’ on. It’s the only game in town since the DNC fucked us.
big ouch! i’m so sorry you and your brother will be uprooted from austin and betsy. for you and for betsy. (((((hugs)))))
Goddamn George Bush and his goddamn war!
Looks like the West Coast could be decisive for the Repugs then. I’d say that McCain, Rudy, and Romney may split enough to throw it over to Huckster…enough evangelicals out here that even that could happen. Or maybe none of them will have enough to win without some horse-trading at the Convention. Could be bloody and use a lot of money that they need for the General election. Booo-hoooo-hoooo!
My brother and his girlfriend are getting married so we can get a 2 BR apt there, but this is just the judge wedding. The big wedding in Dallas is still in June. He doesn’t want to go, but he isn’t angry about it like me.
Missie, I’m a twenty-year Vet, and, I hate the Army…!
Yes yes! Copper Canyon to the south and Carlsbad, not to far up into New Mexico.
Jane has a nice new post upstairs if anyone is interested!
Cassie, I’m so sorry. It must feel awful.
It seems that nobody could have anticipated Rudy’s creepy slimey factor. Its hurting him and it can’t be fixed. He’s coyote ugly.
NH had 526,000 turnout to vote.
Democrats doubled their turn-out from the last contested primary.
-G
I just want to stay with my friends and my aunt, and even with my cousin. Everything is gonna change. :(
Hi Richmond,
Re:
I had seen that earlier today, but thanks for bringing the link back to the screen. :)
My completely unscientific theory is that we’ll eventually find that the more urbanized areas voted for Clinton in a somewhat greater proportion than the state overall. NPR’s ATC program had an segment on tonight featuring an interview with three women who voted for Clinton. I found it interesting that the reiterated some of the feminist empowerment themes that we’ve seen here at FDL over the past couple of days. I was somewhat taken aback. You see I’m a huge fan of Arianna Huffington and fully support Arianna in her attack on Hillary Clinton as being a war monger, Wall Street prostitute (not Arianna’s exact words) and manipulative fraud. But I find myself terribly disappointed that so many women flock to Hillary on the basis of her sex only. This is the ultimate sexism, howver much Hillary supports protest that we others are the mysogynists, etc. Me? I’m growing ever more inclined toward curmudgeonry if not outright misanthropy. Our politics in this nation are a disgrace. But I just got a great lead on a new WiFi setup for my place, so I’m happy as a pig in a wallow thinking pleasant thoughts about technology saving us all. (wink)
Re:
How so?
EXCUUUUSE ME??!!!?????
….the conduct at issue have a tendency to alarm or anger ‘others’” _ underscoring the plural nature of the term.
Humbly, it was MY observation that pretty much the entire nation was alarmed and/or angered at Lavatory Larry’s behavior and subsequent guilty plea.
I’ll be glad to trip on up to MN and testify as to MY anger and alarm. I’m pretty sure others would too.
What a bunch of horseshit!
siri@legitgov.org
http://www.legitgov.org
Okay…it seems that whoever rigged the voting machines did so to favor Obama in the large towns and Hillary and Edwards in the small towns. Hillary got more hand-counted votes in the large towns while Obama did in the small towns.
Clinton had a 5.4% surplus (> optical scan vs. hand) and Edwards +1% in small towns. Obama had more hand counted in small towns (-4.5%).
Clinton had +5.5% while Edwards had -0.5% in Medium towns. Obama had more hand counted than machine counted (-4.2%).
But in large towns and cities Clinton had more hand counted than Die-Bold optical scans (-4.7%). Edwards also had fewer optical scans (-1.7%). Obama had more Opti-Scans than hand-counted +4.5%.
So it’s difficult to contrive some general statewide conspiracy by a central programmer. There is no general pattern of all Opti-Scan votes going for Clinton…or Obama. Also we have to remember that these contrasts are not necessarily of votes cast in the same precincts. Thus we are not examining votes by the same population samples and seeing a disparity between the two samplings.
Let me suggest an alternative explanation. We know that voter turn-out was very high and that some individuals had to turn in hand ballots late. Let’s assume that these were areas where enthusiasm ran highest for a particular candidate…Hillary in rural towns and Obama in the larger cities. Thus more Hillary’s voters would have to cast supplemental ballots in the smaller towns and Obama’s would have to cast hand-counted ballots in the urban areas. OR it may be that these hand-counted votes are those of the folks that voted by mail. Thus they represent a different sample (hard core supporters in a particular area) than those that actually voted at the polling booth.
But I don’t see any necessary evidence of a Die Bold conspiracy. They would not have given advantages in the fashion that is seen in the surpluses.
Cops ought to have better things to do than sit in a stall waiting for somebody to hit on them for sex. Where’s the public safety aspect in busting men’s room cruisers?
Maybe Minneapolis has a surplus of special funds allocated for Homeland Security. If the Minneapolis cops had to bear the cost of their priorities they might have deployed that sergeant where real crimes were being committed.
would you want larry craig soliciting your 10 year old son it the airport restroom ???
how about having your 10 year old son witness larry craig in full “Wide Stance” action
is that something you would want your son to be exposed to ???
should every parent be required to check every restroom to make sure their children aint walking into a scene from fire island ???
most days the following phrase would piss me off, but it is an apt warning here:
PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN