'Public letter of admonition'

That's the phrase slapped across the Senate Ethics Committee's letter delivered yesterday to Larry Craig.

In rendering its judgment that Craig's actions have "reflected discreditably on the Senate," the panel of three Democrats and three Republicans noted Craig's "accurate, intelligent, and voluntary guilty plea" and his attempts to withdraw it; his decision to give the arresting officer his Senate business card ("What do you think of that?"); and his use of more than $213,000 in campaign funds to pay legal fees and defend his reputation.

It's been nearly six months since word of Craig's arrest in a Minneapolis Airport men's room triggered saturation news coverage around the world and Craig's laughable and lamentable legal maneuvers to clear his name. First, the bombshell revelation in Roll Call and the subsequent Statesman coverage. Then the "resignation." Then, the un-resignation. Then the Halloween costumes. Oh, the ignominy of it all, not just for Craig, but for our state.

Idaho finally captured positive headlines again when more than 14,000 people packed a sports arena to hear Barack Obama and the state subsequently gave the Democratic candidate his largest Super Tuesday margin. No, it wasn't the 24/7 coverage we suffered with Craig, but it was probably enough to start removing the senator's stain from the nation's image of Idaho. Until this. But it's OK: Craig is a lame duck. (His reaction yesterday: disappointment and a vow to continue "serving the people of Idaho.")

Gee, thanks, Senator Craig. I think it's time we give a Democrat a chance in the Senate. The last one was pretty good.

Cross-posted at Daily Kos.

Update 11:45 Thursday: Per the MountainGoat Report, Walt Minnick has some questions for Bill Sali. There's also more at New West.

Comments

[Sisyphus]

Happy Valentine's Day from the Ethics Committee. Do you think the Committee was aware of the timing when they admonished Senator looking-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-places?

[Julie in Boise]

Ha ... that thought crossed my mind as well.

Hey, go over to my cross-post at Kos (click my name) to see a funny Village People video I somehow missed last fall. It's in the comments.

[David Erin Anthony]

That is wrong on so many levels.....But ya gotta love it!