memeorandum: Craig's Bathroom Bust Statement: "I am Not Gay!" (John Amato/Crooks and Liars)

6:55 PM ET, August 28, 2007

Top Items:

Craig to Hold Press Conference: Will He Resign? — Idaho Republican Is Expected to Discuss His Guilty Plea in Public Restroom Incident — Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is seen during a 2006 hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Craig pleaded guilty on Aug. 8, 2007, to misdemeanor disorderly conduct …

Discussion: The Politico, CNN, Hot Air, Pam's House Blend, The Democratic Daily and AMERICAblog

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

Romney links Craig with Bill Clinton — From NBC's Mark Murray — In his interview on CNBC's Kudlow & Company (which will air later this afternoon), Mitt Romney had some sharp words for Sen. Larry Craig, who had endorsed the former Massachusetts governor's presidential campaign and was his Idaho chairman.

Discussion: The Corner, The Caucus, On Deadline, The Raw Story, TIME and The Right's Field

David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:

WHAT DID SEN. CRAIG ACTUALLY DO? — We've had lots of back and forth discussion here internally about what conduct by Sen. Craig in that Minneapolis airport restroom was actually illegal. We've posted the arrest report, so take a look and reach your own conclusions. — Leering stares, foot tapping, a lingering presence.

Discussion: The Smoking Gun, TPMmuckraker, All Spin Zone, The Carpetbagger Report, The American Street, IntoxiNation, Macsmind, Liberal Values, The Atlantic Online and Balloon Juice

Joe Strupp / Editor and Publisher:

How Did News Outlets Miss Senator's Arrest for Nearly Three Months? — NEW YORK The revelation late Monday that Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested nearly three months ago for allegedly making sexual advances in a men's room raises the issue of how such an action could occur without the press reporting it.

Discussion: Think Progress, Political Radar, The Democratic Daily, Minnesota Monitor and Truthdig

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

CRAIG'S CATCH-22 — Following up on David's post below on what Craig 'did', I have to imagine this was one of those catch-22s that Craig really had no way out of. I'm going to assume for the sake of the discussion that the gestures Craig is described as making are ones easily recognizable as soliciting sex.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online

Dan Popkey / Idaho Statesman:

Men's room arrest reopens questions about Sen. Larry Craig — Idaho senator pleads guilty to disorderly conduct after incident at Minnesota airport that echoes previous allegation of homosexual conduct. — Sen. Larry Craig, who in May told the Idaho Statesman he had never engaged in homosexual acts …

John Amato / Crooks and Liars:

Craig's Bathroom Bust Statement: "I am Not Gay!" — Republican Sen. Larry Craig speaks...He was harassed by Idaho and caved to the pressure...What did Nixon say again? … Download (538) | Play (878) Download (144) | Play (247) — He denies any wrong doing...Pleading guilty was all a big misunderstanding.

Discussion: TalkLeft, Firedoglake, AMERICAblog, DownWithTyranny!, Comments From Left Field and CNN Political Ticker

Elana Schor / The Hill:

Police: Craig was 'agitated, demeaning' — Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) "appeared agitated and demeaning" during a follow-up visit to the Minneapolis airport police operations center 11 days after his arrest for lewd conduct in June, according to the arrest report.

Discussion: On Deadline, CNN Political Ticker, National Gay … and Wonkette

Fox News:
Senator Larry Craig: 'I am Not Gay'

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Associated Press, The Democratic Daily, Gateway Pundit and HorsesAss.Org

Matt / Think Progress:
Conservatives Begin Calling For Craig To Resign Over 'Lewd Conduct' And Guilty Plea

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Next Hurrah, Idaho Statesman and The Jawa Report

Kate Phillips / The Caucus:
Romney Links Craig's Troubles to Foley, Clinton Scandals

Discussion: Norwegianity

Matt / Think Progress:
Brownback on Craig: It's 'not good,' 'very odd.'

Discussion: The Right's Field

The Corner: Cruisin' for jihadists — A reader writes: … I take your point.

The Raw Story:

US PREPARING 'MASSIVE' MILITARY ATTACK AGAINST IRAN: STUDY — The United States has the capacity for and may be prepared to launch without warning a massive assault on Iranian uranium enrichment facilities, as well as government buildings and infrastructure, using long-range bombers and missiles, according to a new analysis.

Discussion: The Newshoggers, On Deadline, The American Street, Comments From Left Field, Democrats.com, At-Largely, "7.62mm Justice" ™ and Shakespeare's Sister

Brody Mullins / Wall Street Journal:

Big Source of Clinton's Cash Is an Unlikely Address — Family's Donations — Closely Track Those — Of Top Fund-Raiser — DALY CITY, Calif. — One of the biggest sources of political donations to Hillary Rodham Clinton is a tiny, lime-green bungalow that lies under the flight path from San Francisco International Airport.

Matt / Think Progress:

Fear-mongering Bush warns of Iranian 'nuclear holocaust.' — In his speech about Iraq to the American Legion today, President Bush warned that allowing Iran to pursue "technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust."

Discussion: Agence France Presse

White House:
President Bush Addresses the 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report and Wake up America

CNN Political Ticker:

Castro calls Clinton-Obama ticket 'invincible' — WASHINGTON (CNN) - Add another name to the list of political observers who think a Clinton-Obama ticket would be unbeatable: Cuban leader Fidel Castro. — In an editorial in Cuba's communist party newspaper, Granma, the ailing dictator …

Discussion: granma.cu, The Hill and Comments From Left Field

Anthony Boadle / Reuters:
Castro's tip: Clinton-Obama the winning ticket

Discussion: CALIFORNIA YANKEE

GottaLaff / Cliff Schecter:

Lieberman as next Attorney General? — That's what Marjorie Cohn is saying on The Thom Hartmann Show. The talk started a few hours ago, from what they're saying. (not that it didn't occur to any of us earlier, but it's going around now) Per Cohn: — It would stop the Senate investigations dead in their tracks.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Booman Tribune, Middle Earth Journal, Comments From Left Field and Left in the West

Sam Youngman / The Hill:

Fire Fighters to back Dodd in surprise move — International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger told The Hill Monday that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has won the union's coveted endorsement. — In an exclusive interview with The Hill, Schaitberger said Dodd …

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, My Left Nutmeg and The Agonist

Newsweek:

Counterterror chief on al-Qaida's plans — The head of the National Counterterrorism Center speaks out on Al Qaeda's plans, America's readiness—and the nature of the war on terror. — Retired Vice Admiral John Scott Redd, head of the National Counterterrorism Center, says …

Discussion: Dr. Sanity, The Moderate Voice, Hot Air, QandO, Heading Right, Captain's Quarters and Liberty Pundit

Jmapes / OregonLive.com:

Vancouverites vent at Baird — For more than three hours Monday night, Rep. Brian Baird was verbally flogged by hundreds of his constituents for no longer supporting the quick withdrawal of troops from Iraq. — More than 500 people packed a high school auditorium in Vancouver while another 175 or so were unable to get inside.