Monday, August 27, 2007
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ID-SEN: Possible Replacements
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
9:34 PM
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All that seems clear right now is that Senator Larry Craig will not be invited back for another six years in Washington, be that through resignation (as Hugh advocates), retirement, or defeat at the ballot box next November (or in the primary).
Idaho statutes call for the Governor to appoint a replacement in the event a vacancy, with a subsequent special election to fill out the remainder of the term. That would coincide with the regular election for the seat, which happens next year anyway. Idaho's Governor, C.L. "Butch" Otter, is a Republican.
As the second most Republican state in the Union, Republicans should have no problem finding a suitable candidate to replace Craig and defeat former Congressman Larry LaRocco in the general. A few potential replacements jump out.
Congressman Mike Simpson has represented the 2nd district for 5 terms. He has been re-elected with well north of 60% every time, including 64% in 2006 when Bill Sali struggled to gain election in the 1st. The Almanac of American Politics calls him a bit moderate for a Western Republican, and his lifetime ACU rating is 88.
Lt. Governor Jim Risch briefly served as Governor last year after Dirk Kempthorne left to be Interior Secretary, and could have easily made a run for the top job. Instead, he stood down for Butch Otter, and returned to the No. 2 slot after the election. He enjoyed a strong approval spread during his brief tenure. Watch for Otter to reward Risch's loyalty in the event of a vacancy.
Or could Kempthorne be the next Bush cabinet secretary to leave, to go back to the Senate which he left 10 years ago? Kempthorne is an Idaho institution, having served as Boise Mayor, U.S. Senator, and Governor. At a relatively youthful 56 (for someone with that resume), he could be looking for something to do next.
UPDATE: According to this Kossack, Otter and Risch are rivals, but that may not stop Risch from getting the nod. Also, Craig himself sounded pretty lukewarm about running again two weeks ago.
Bottom line: with the deep Republican bench in Idaho, there are a number of plausible candidates in a primary or for the appointment. With an open seat, this becomes a generic Republican vs. Democrat race in one of the only states where the President sports a positive approval rating. We won't have a Conrad Burns scenario here.
Let's act as the open-source back room. Take a few minutes to research these guys, and then vote: Who should replace Craig? Vote here.
UPDATE II: Idaho conservative blogger also calls for Craig's resignation.
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The whole Senate(those who have 18 years or more)should be replaced.100 men who think the sun rises and sets on their command.I'm sick of the whole lot. |
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Our party will not be a true majority party until the day comes when the big-tent philosophy, as advocated by Jack Kemp, etc., is over-turned.
This henious ideology says we should accept perverts as well as decent, law abiding citizens.
First we had the pervet/page lover in Florida, then some other Republican who cruised parks in Florida for me now we have Senator "Public Bathroom."
Please, we're losing our base, the Christians, as we accept the homosexuals.
Oh yeah,
BUILD THE FRIGGING FENCE ALREADY. |
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I would not be surprised if Senator Craig resigned before the race of 2008 for his seat starts heating up... |
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The key for any of these replacements is whether or not they are an open borders advocate such as Sen. Craig. I would rather have seen Sen. Craig lose his seat in a primary due to his support of amnesty, but I'll take a gain any way it can come. Bye bye Sen. Craig, don't let the bathroom stall door hit you on the way out! |
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then focus his support for Team Romney.
Okay, okay, that last part was a joke. Governor Romney is not cause Craig to do this and certainly does not endorse it.
I will say this, if you plead guilty to a crime you are guilty of it. I am sick and tired of people claiming, I did not do it, after they plead to it. That means Craig perjured himself when he plead guilty.
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Moreover the voters sent him to Washington to represent THEM and he has done so PERFECTLY.
He is so true to family values that Romney sought him out and made him co-chair of his election campaign. There is a YOUTUBE video supporting Romney for president featuring Sen. Craig.
It was strong support for family values that brought Craig and Romney together, the values Craig has consistently fought for in the Senate.
I honestly don't believe that Craig is guilty of ANYTHING. He wasn't found guilty of lewd behavior. So think twice before we discard such a conservative stalwart. We may not be able to find the likes of Craig again. |
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Forger writes: "I honestly don't believe that Craig is guilty of ANYTHING. He wasn't found guilty of lewd behavior."
Craig already pled guilty and was sentenced.
Legally, once you plead guilty, you are legally guilty.
Would an innocent man ever plead guilty to something like that, knowing full well it could jeopardize his entire political career from then on?
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Golden opportunity to replace one of the worst "in your face" supporters of open borders with someone who supports self-determination for the American people.
I believe Simpson has a good record on immigration policy, Risch I know nothing about.
The sweatshops lose one of their best friends in the Senate when Craig goes. |
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Yes I understand that Craig had a low score on gay rights legislation but do you have evidence he was a gay basher, or was he simply a rubber stamp for the policies on gay issues that are considered "conservative".
That is a distinction that liberal critics of Craig don't seem to be able to grasp.
Not that I support Craig, I am overjoyed to see him become political roadkill on account of his support for radical open-borders policies. |
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Wonder what the atmosphere will be like at the dinner table for Larry Craig. |
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I saw on one blog someone commenting they couldn't believe that anyone intelligent enough to become a US Senator would do something so stupid.
The obvious response to that person is:
Have you looked at who serves in the US Senate these days? |
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It is interesting how little compassion liberals have for men like Senator Craig, who are confused and conflicted about their sexuality. If the is right about the way our culture forces men into the closet, then they should sympathize with the Senator and defend him.
Instead, they play to the prejudices of the anti-gay revulsion that many people feel. They turn these men into pariahs for doing something that liberals themselves insist is not wrong. And toilet sex is common enough gay behaviour that the police know the "protocol" of foot-tapping etc, but we do not hear any condemnation of that behaviour, except in the case of a conservative senator. In fact, a mayor in Florida was recently criticized as being "homophobic" for trying to crack down this kind of activity. So we once again see the left caring, not about an actual conflicted gay man, like Craig, but about scoring cheap political points at his expense, playing to the emotions of the public.
Let me make this clear: the Senator has betrayed his family, broken the law, embarrassed the conservative movement, and offended God's moral law. And worse, he refuses to take responsibilty for his actions. He must step down from his position of leadership. But he is clearly a tortured soul, in need of compassion and understanding, and being shot at by both sides. |
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You describe the Senator as being "pretty screwy"; why is that? Do you think he is screwy because he is gay? Because he engaged in activities that many gay men engage in?
You can't have it both ways: if homosexuality is normal, and your sex life is your own business, then that applies to the senator as well. But you seem to agree that there is "something screwy" about being a gay man. Interesting. |
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This is not about being Gay. Its about a personality type that would want to have sex with a stranger in a dirty airport mens room and then gets to go to the Senate Floor and tell others how to live their lives.... |
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This is not about being Gay. Its about a personality type that would want to have sex with a stranger in a dirty airport mens room and then gets to go to the Senate Floor and tell others how to live their lives.... |
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Why don't you wait until you find out the facts instead of your knee jerk reaction. The Cops said that Craig was charged with Disorderly conduct. The lefist LSM "Hill" admitted that but continued to imply that Craig was arrested for "Lewd Conduct. The only one I know that was in trouble with the Law for "LEWD CONDUCT" was former President Clinton. I don't think they ever arrested him for hhis Lewd Conduct with Monica, but he was fined for lieing about it.
By the way I am fed up with so called conseratives demanding that Republicans resign for P-ing in the alley. |
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How many of thease guys have to be exposed before you folks realize (And some admitt) that moral fortitude and civic virture is NOT the provence of the Republican Party and the people who vote Republican for that matter.
This kind of behavior has no party
affiliation |
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no conservatives are defending this guy on any level. We have standards that we impose on everyone, no matter how inconvenient or painful.
You will not see us circling the wagons and chanting: 'Hey, it is just about sex'. |
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I don't know whether Craig is guilty of soliciting or not, but he signed a paper saying he was guilty. If he did this and he wasn't guilty, then he showed unbelievably poor judgment and should not be in the Senate. He claims (I just now heard him on TV) that he only pled guilty "to make it go away". If he thought a US Senator pleading guilty to soliciting sex in a public bathroom "would make it go away" then, again, he showed very poor judgment. Meanwhile he didn't even consult an attorney. Sounds like a three-in-one "poor judgment". Senators have to make important decisions. This guy doesn't sound competent to do that.
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This is a wonderful news flash! I had no idea that liberals objected to what consenting adults do in the privacy of their bathroom stall. My understanding was that efforts to discourage bathroom sex were considered "homophobic" by the "open-minded".
As to the bathroom floor being dirty, think about what gay men do to each other; you cannot argue that it is any cleaner. |
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This may also be the first time in history that liberals supported efforts by police to catch gay men having sex. Ordinarily, this sort of sting operation is regarded as being a "witch hunt", or "Big Brother", or the "sex police".
But today, a cop with nothing better to do but sit in a bathroom stall playing footsy with the gays is a hero of Biblical proportions. |
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Does thie mean Craig will now become a Democrat? His actions are a plus in the democrat party, Donna Shalala, Janet Reno, Barney Frank and Hillary are considered outstanding stars by the dems. Perhaps he would be able to get a lucrative job on ABC, CBS or NBC if he professes he is not only a closet homosexual, but a closet democrat. |
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I think he has been setup, and thrown to the wolfs. Someone tell me what is illegal about accidentally touching feet with a stranger. He may be gay, he may not be.. who cares. Is it illegal for me to sit next to a woman in a bar and bump my leg against hers. Is it illegal for me to show possible sexual attraction to her. I am a straight, republican hating male. It would not be a stretch for me to jump on the "Senators a Pervert, stone him" mentallity if I did not have a conscience and a desire to hear the full story before I find an opinion. I think this is a form of discrimination against homosexuals. Would it not be a worst crime, if he was not gay and wrongly proclaimed a homosexual pervert. |
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Otter's appointment of the next U.S. senator could be Congressman Mike Simpson.
Probably not Lt. Gov. Jim Risch.
But I expect the appointment will be more personal in nature, i.e., rather than elevate or recycle or resuscitate an existing political personality, Otter will choose instead to put a close personal ally in the office of U.S. senator.
Given that ANY incumbent Republican will hold the seat in the 2008 general.
So familiarize yourself with these two names:
1. "Senator" Mike Gwartney (long-time political ally and cowboy buddy of the gov; in my opinion, if he wants it, it's his)
2. "Senator" Jeff Malmen (current Otter chief of staff who started out working the GOP phone bank as a teenager)
The only question is whether either of these guys could survive an expected primary from Risch. |
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