Rossputin.com: Rational Thinking About Our World

[This article is far from politically correct...]

Part of me really doesn't want to write about Senator Larry Craig, in part because everyone else is. But it's just too tempting.

So, Craig "denies being gay". It reminds me of an old joke complaint from an in-the-closet homosexual: "You give just one blow job and suddenly everyone thinks you're gay!"

[Let me be clear here: I don't care what someone's sexual tastes are as long as the activities are confined to consenting adults. As a good friend of mine says about gays, "just close the door and don't scare the children." I do care, at least a little, when people moralize against gay sex, drugs, or Barbra Streisand movies and proceed to partake of them themselves. I have no use for hypocrites. I'll respect Barney Frank over Larry Craig any day of the week (as long as we're not talking about tax policy). Again, let me be very clear: I don't care if people engage in whatever adult-only sexual exploits they choose, nor do I care if people use drugs in the privacy of their own homes. I do not, however, forgive people who intentionally watch Barbra Streisand movies.]

In any case, if Craig's not gay, he appears at least to be very willing to learn.

It's most likely, just as with Mark Foley, that long-term suspicions about a politician being gay (or willing to learn) probably have some basis in reality.

What's your guess, readers, on how long until Larry Craig resigns from the Senate? I'll say September 19th, although I also thought Gonzales would resign much sooner than he did.

The whole thing is a mess. Why can't Republicans stop acting so stupidly, or at least stop getting caught? Yes, there is a difference in public perception between Republicans being gay and Democrats being gay. If a Democrat were caught doing what Craig seems to have been doing, he would probably get a hearty pat on the back for his appreciation of diversity...of sexual appetites and locations. After all, look at Gerry Studds. He got re-elected after having gay sex with a 17-year old page. But just because there is a double standard doesn't make Craig's actions or situations any better. Indeed, it's worse simply because he has to know there is that double standard, i.e. there are standards for Republican behavior where there are few or none for Democrats. (Can you say "Chappaquiddick"?)

I must say that one thing in this story made me and several friends laugh out loud: From the article on The Nation's web site, in response to questioning why his foot slid under the divider between his bathroom stall and the next, touching the foot of the undercover cop in the next stall,

Craig stated "that he has a wide stance when going to the bathroom and that his foot may have touched mine," the report states. Craig also told the arresting officer that he reached down with his right hand to pick up a piece of paper that was on the floor.

"It should be noted that there was not a piece of paper on the bathroom floor, nor did Craig pick up a piece of paper," the arresting officer said in the report.

I guarantee you that will be the source of jokes for years to come..."I have a wide stance". By the way, a friend of mine said he actually tried a wide stance and concluded that "it can't be done while sitting on the john with pants around your ankles" Yep, this will keep us laughing for quite some time.

You can read the entirety of the police report on this other blog or in the Nation article linked above, and it's quite entertaining:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2007/08/larry-craig-caught-in-act-in-public.html

Well, Senator Craig, I suppose we'll be seeing you after you do the Ted Haggard thing, start therapy, move to another state, and proclaim in public that you're praying in private for forgiveness.

As far as I'm concerned, the sooner we're rid of you the better, and not because you're gay, but because you're a hypocritical moronic embarrassment to the Senate. I'd almost rather have a Barbra Streisand watcher than you...almost.