Vice-presidential scandal watch

From Andrew Sullivan:

"Todd Palin's former business partner files an emergency motion to have his divorce papers sealed. Oh God."

Whoops! You'd think maybe last week or even last month would have been a better time to do this, eh? But wait, what's this? Oh dear: Motion denied!

(via dependable renegade)

Choice for me, etc.

Meet Oregon Republican congressional candidate Mike Erickson. A solid, hard-right conservative "pro-life" kinda guy with all the right stuff for the GOP, and... uh... a little further down his Wiki Page:


Whoops! Speaking of wickies... oh, the humanity! Or should that be "the hypocrisy"?:

"An Oregon City woman who dated congressional candidate Mike Erickson seven years ago said she asked him directly whether he wanted to have a baby. He shook his head no, she said, and paid for her abortion." [...]

"Her story is backed up by medical and other records, and the accounts of two friends, one of whom was with her at the abortion. Their story conflicts directly with Erickson's version.

He agrees that he gave Tawnya $300 for medical help, and a ride to a doctor's office near Lloyd Center, but said he didn't know she was pregnant or planned to get an abortion. He said he doesn't think he saw her again after that day."

Sorry Mike, but that's pathetic: you have to be a way better liar than that to make the cut for the GOP.

Pot, kettle, blah blah

Oh, this is special. Georgie's in the Middle East lecturing Arabs about legitimate elections and womens' rights:

"Bush urged countries to make their economies more diverse, open to free trade, with lower taxes and protection for intellectual property rights.

He called for political changes that bring competitive, legitimate elections where leaders are held to account..." [...]

Legitimate elections... *cough*Diebold*cough*... Leaders held to account? What's that?

"He urged an expansion of women's rights as "a matter of morality and of basic math. No nation that cuts off half its population from opportunities will be as productive or prosperous as it could be..." "

Very nice rhetoric if it wasn't for the theocratic juggernaut that propelled Georgie into a second term 4 years ago -- those Focus On The Family types who'd like nothing more than to return women to the pre- legal abortion, pre- birth control (and therefore, pre-career) dark ages. I guess because we're allowed to drive to work and don't wear burkhas that get in the way of the gearshift lever, we're supposed to be thankful for small favours. Well, bugger that: hit the road, Georgie, you baffled little turkey.

GOP sex fiend roundup

Quite the line-up we've got this week: two lavatory lurkers, a fondler and a... umm, one guy I'm not quite sure how to qualify. Number one, come one down! Last week yet another Republican toe-tapper was revealed as the conga line of hypocrisy continues snaking its way around the public washrooms of the nation:

"St. Bernard Parish Councilman Joey DiFatta, who on Thursday withdrew from the 1st Senate District campaign, has been stopped twice since 1996 for suspicion of engaging in lewd behavior in public restrooms in Jefferson Parish, records obtained by The Times-Picayune show." [...]

The detective asked DiFatta, 'What do you want?' according to the report, and he replied, 'I want to play with you.'"

Wish I could resist the schadenfreude cake, but that line on DiFatta's website, "Defend our conservative values from attacks by extreme liberal groups" -- mmm no. Corner piece, please.

Back at the Larry Craig ranch, Ted Haggard's escort friend Mike Jones revealed that Craig also paid for his services. Apparently the jury's still out on that one, but Hmm. Craig's "I'm not gay" thing isn't looking good.

It seems there was a bit of a backstory (heh) to the untimely demise of Reverend Gary Aldridge (one of Dobson's pals) last June. When he was found he was wearing two complete rubber diving suits with mask, headgear etc., and a little visitor at his back door (in its own little diving suit). Not only that, but he was hog-tied, a feat he was apparently able to accomplish without any help, as he was alone at the time. He could hog-tie himself??? Man, that's sad... that kind of talent is a terrible thing to waste.

Last but not least, there's a new GOP wienie wagger in town: the Brown County (Michigan) Republican party chair was charged last month with -- oh my fuggin god, I can't go on with this any more. Just read:

The chairman of the Republican Party in Brown County faces criminal charges for allegedly fondling a 16-year-old Ethan House runaway and providing the boy with beer and marijuana late last year.Donald Fleischman, 37, of Allouez, was charged last month with two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and a single charge of exposing himself to a child.

GOP -- Gang o'Perverts, prowling the bathrooms and group homes of the nation. No child's behind left behind!

montreal simon, joe.my.god , cc, prole from ACR)

Craig votes against hate crimes bill

On Thursday, the US Senate voted to pass the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime definitions to include violence based on sexual orientation and other factors. In order to ensure its passage, the bill was attached to an imperative defense spending bill, but even so there were some Republicans who voted against it... ironically but not surprisingly including lavatory lech Larry Craig:

"The Senate Thursday voted 60-39 to end debate on the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors. Senator Larry Craig, arrested in an airport bathroom while cruising for gay sex, voted against the legislation."

And here we have yet another example of conservative cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy, the reason it's almost impossible to resist ridiculing and denouncing Craig and his hypocritical ilk. Given that there are violent predators who seek out gays cruising for sex for the express purpose of bashing them, I can only hope Craig's vote doesn't come back to haunt him in some other public restroom, some other time.

Craig returns to senate

Hmm, looks like Senator Larry Widestance is serious about digging his heels in and fighting his guilty plea. But when Craig showed up to the Senate yesterday after a 3-week absence, he got a bit of a cool reception from his fellow Republicans:

"Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) stood alone on the Senate floor Tuesday, much like a lonely kid at a high school dance." [...]

"After sitting quietly Tuesday through the Senate Republican Conference’s weekly luncheon, Craig addressed the senators — a group that once gave Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) a standing ovation during his post-scandal redemption tour but has largely kicked Craig to the curb.

Craig apologized for bringing any embarrassment to the Senate, according to two aides in the room. And he reiterated his intention to pursue all of his legal options, which include withdrawing his guilty plea, senators and aides said."

Given what's been happening with some of their other Republican comrades this week, Craig should be starting to look pretty good, even to those bigots. At least the guy Craig came on to was a grownup!

Your daily Perv

Because a day without a Republican sex scandal is like a day without ... air! Oh, my. The latest one to dance up and join the ever-growing Conga Line of Lechery that is disgraced Republican perverts is a federal prosecutor from Florida. It's safe to say he's a Republican since the Bush administration stacked the prosecutors' offices with their buddies -- remember the "prosecutor purge"? This one was caught in a *(gag)* child sex sting:

"A federal prosecutor from Florida was ordered held in custody Monday after he appeared in U.S. District Court in Detroit on a charge that he flew to Detroit intending to have sex with a 5-year-old girl.

John David R. Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., an assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida's northern district, is expected to appear again in court for a detention hearing on Tuesday.

He was caught in an Internet child sex sting run by the Macomb County Sheriff's Department and the FBI and arrested Sunday when he flew into Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Pensacola, Fla., according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Detroit."

He made online arrangements with a Sheriff's deputy posing as a mother looking to pimp out her kids. And get a load of this:

"According to the complaint, Atchison reassured the sheriff's deputy who was posing as the child's mother that he would not hurt the 5-year-old because he goes "slow and easy," and "I've done it plenty.""

"I've done it plenty"?? Oh fuck, get me a barf bag. Hey, I wonder if this will come up at the so-called "Values voters debate" the wingnuts are having tonight? It's even in Florida, how convenient!

EDIT: He's a Republican, all right. Surprise!

EDIT #2: This guy says he's a Rethug, according to his election records. And let's face it, if he was a Dem, we'd probably know it by now. (Fox News doesn't mention his party affiliation, which they almost certainly would if he was a Dem.) D'oh!

EDIT #3: He's been added to the burgeoning list of Republican Sex Offenders.

(via atrios)

As a brother & sister in Christ...

...don't ever go against the Family. Ever.

Republican congressman Doug Lamborn has apologized for leaving threatening voice mails with two of his Colorado constituents who sent a letter to the local newspaper complaining about him. In their letter to the editor, Jonathon and Anna Bartha complained in about the hypocrisy of Lamborn accepting a contribution from the International Game Technology PAC when he was supposedly anti-gambling. Lamborn then left two voice mails saying there would be "consequences" if the Barthas didn't withdraw the letter:

"According to the Denver Post, in the voice mails, Lamborn implores the couple to meet with him to discuss “blatant, wrong” statements in the their letter, at one point appealing to them as “a brother and sister in Christ.”

“I would like to get together with you and show this to you and appeal to you as a brother and sister in Christ,” Lamborn said in one voice mail. “You didn’t give me that opportunity but I am happy to overlook that and deal with you on that level because I think that is the right thing to do and show you where you made a blatant, wrong statement.”

Then, however, the voice mails take a more aggressive tone. “Now, there are consequences to this kind of thing, but I would like to work with you in a way that is best for everyone here concerned. So please call me at your earliest convenience. It is now 2:40 on Saturday afternoon.”"

Hahahaha! "...so if you don't want the cops pulling you out of the trunk of a car at the airport, call me by 2:55."

Somewhat amusingly, oh okay, gut-splitting hilariously, the Barthas are members of that arbiter of all that's good and godly, Focus on the Family. Think these nitwits are finally getting the message that the Rethuglicans are just using them for their votes?

Craig re-thinks resignation, maybe

We haven't seen the last of bathroom-cruising Senator Larry Craig, who may be re-thinking his decision to resign. (Oh, goody goody goody.) It's been a busy summer for the Senator; let's review:

1. Craig busted for lewd conduct for trying to tip-tap his way into an illicit sexual encounter with, unfortunately, a vice cop;
2. Craig cops a plea for the lesser charge of disorderly conduct
3. Someone at Roll Call suspects that "disorderly conduct" in a public washroom might just be about something scandalous, and sure enough
4. "Wide Stance" Craig goes into excuse mode5. GOP senators demand his resignation
6. Craig resigns

And now... (drum roll please) 7. Craig re-thinking resignation... apparently he called the wrong number to confirm his resignation... although he addressed his message to "Billy" and the number belonged to Billy Martin, his lawyer.

The GOP spin machine must be near redline trying to deal with this. Post-Labour Day, the 2008 election campaign will now officially kick into high gear. The GOP knows all too well what can happen when there are sex scandals during the runup to an election -- Foley and Haggard probably lost them a lot of midterm votes from the "moral values" nitwits. The last thing they need is for this Craig situation to drag out any longer, so they must be apoplectic that Craig is having a re-think on his resignation.

Me, I want him to stick around. Then there'll be lots and lots more stuff like this:

(vid from HuffPo)

Because people always resign

Over things they didn't do:

"Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig will resign from the Senate amid a furor over his arrest and guilty plea in a police sex sting in an airport men's room, Republican officials said Friday.

Craig will announce at a news conference in Boise Saturday morning that he will resign effective Sept. 30, four state GOP officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Word of the resignation came four days after the disclosure that Craig had pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge arising out of his June 11 arrest during a lewd-conduct investigation at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport."

Craig was last seen headed for the men's room.

NEXT!

Fox News at it again!

As an addendum to stories about both Republican Senator Larry Craig and Republican Rep. Mark Foley, via Crooks & Liars there's more evidence of truthiness-tampering once again at Fox News.

You may recall how, at the height of the Foley scandal, Fox ran the story of Foley's resignation with graphics that erroneously pegged him as a Democrat:

"Erroneously", right. Fast-forwarding to their coverage of the Republican Senator Larry Craig (aka the Bathroom Bandito) story, the "mistake" isn't quite so blatant as a big "D" emblazoned on the screen after Craig's name. This time Fox goes for the subliminal, and commits a reporting Error By Omission. Their entire story, although it states that Craig is a Senator, makes absolutely no mention of the fact that he's a Republican Senator. C&L has the entire text of the report here.

Tsk-tsk! Bad Fox! You just get to report the news, not write it.

Republicans want to flush Craig

Senator Larry Craig, R (what else?)-Idaho, is getting flack for the public washroom incident that ended with him pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Rep. Pete Hoekstra and Senators McCain and Coleman, all rethugs, are demanding that Craig resign:

"Republicans turned on one of their own on Wednesday, demanding that Senator Larry Craig resign over his recent arrest in a men's washroom.

Craig, a Republican from Idaho, was arrested June 8 when he allegedly made sexual advances to an undercover police officer who was in the stall next to his in a public washroom at the Minneapolis airport."

Craig, meanwhile, wants a do-over: he now claims he only pleaded guilty to the charge of disorderly conduct in a public washroom to make the whole thing go away. Why he'd think that copping a plea to such a charge would make the situation go away is anyone's guess -- as mundane as this kind of behaviour is becoming among Republicans, such stories still have enough currency that there's no way it wouldn't get out. To top it off, he did it without even consulting a lawyer! Even a bad lawyer, or for that matter, even someone whose legal pedigree consists of watching a few seasons of Law & Order, could have walked him on this charge. That is, if all that happened is what was described by Roll Call (who first obtained the arrest record). If not, well that's a different story. Whatever happened, Craig obviously thought he was beyond legal help. Hmmm?

Poor Senator (ex-Senator) Craig. Another self-loathing hypocrite who thinks he can hide in a "wife-and-kid fort". But if it isn't hiding him from other Republicans, it certainly can't hide him from Gay.

Another public washroom, another Republican

Time to get out the "Republican hypocrite/Public washroom" post template again. Newspaper copywriters must love these stories, they almost write themselves:

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men’s public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call on Monday afternoon.

According to the incident report, Sgt. Dave Karsnia was working as a plainclothes officer on June 11 investigating civilian complaints regarding sexual activity in the men’s public restroom in which Craig was arrested." [...]

“At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moved his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area,” the report states.

Craig then proceeded to swipe his hand under the stall divider several times, and Karsnia noted in his report that “I could ... see Craig had a gold ring on his ring finger as his hand was on my side of the stall divider.”

Karsnia then held his police identification down by the floor so that Craig could see it."

Hey, you know what -- if this guy Craig had any brains, as soon as he saw the badge he should have said, "You don't want me to wipe my ass with that, do you?"

DC Madame - 30 more to come

Larry Flynt continues to charge along on his quest to shine a light on Republican "morals-and-values" hypocrisy with the information garnered from the DC Madame's phone list. On the Larry King Show the other night, Flynt said he has 30 more names to expose... including one senator who, according to Flynt, will be a big surprise.

(From CNN): "FLYNT: We’ve got good leads. We’ve got over 300 initially. And they’re down to about 30 now which is solid….FLYNT: I was shocked, especially at one senator…"

Who, who who could it be? My first thought was Santorum, but he's irrelevant. It has to be some equally holier-than-thou, high-and-mighty christian moral values prick who's still in office... if it's that idiot Brownback, and I'm really hoping it is, I'll laugh my ass off.

Video at Crooks & Liars, and commenters speculate.

Don't Chop It

Rep. David Vitter's wife once said she was "more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary Clinton", referring to Hillary's forgiveness of Bill's extra-marital escapades. Ruh-roh! Now that David Vitter's been caught swinging it here, there and every whichway but loose, he might want to hide that Wiltshire Staysharp Knife Set he gave her for their anniversary. Meanwhile, supporters have started a campaign to save his weewee from the chopping block:

Wearing a cast-iron jock strap wouldn't hurt either! Hahahahahaha!

(via wonkette)

Is McCain's campaign that strapped for cash?

Running low on money and with employees dropping like flies, Senator John McCain's presidential campaign has been swirling in the bowl recently. It was only a matter of time until someone, maybe the campaign Co-Chairman from Florida, would screw up and the campaign would be beset by:

"Sex Charges!!!"

"Republican Rep. Bob Allen of Merritt Island, whose district includes a large swath of east Orange County, was arrested for soliciting a male undercover police officer for sex in a Titusville park restroom.

Allen was considered to be acting suspicious by police as he entered and exited the men's room three times, according to a Titusville Police report. Moments later, he approached the plainclothes officer and offered to perform oral sex for $20, police said."

Okay, so maybe McCain was late with the cheques this pay period and Bob wanted to make a little money on the side, then made the mistake of coming on to an undercover cop. Not such a big deal, except... whoops! What's this?! A wife and kid? Oh, no! Another straight-arrow morals-and-values traditional family Republican hypocrite caught with his pants down. Or someone's.

Allen insists that he's just a victim of circumstances, and is adamant about his innocence.

"Allen told a television reporter that what happened was a "misunderstanding." But Hutchinson said the lawmaker did not dispute the undercover officer's version of what happened in the park."

A misunderstanding? Sure, there are a lot of completely innocent non-sexual phrases that could be misunderstood as "I'll blow you for $20". I just can't think of any right now. Meanwhile, if McCain's looking for a new guy in Florida, Mark Foley's probably available.

She's naming names

and one by one, republicans are dropping like flies on a shit pile.

Yesterday's resignation-of-the-day was republican Randall Tobias, US AID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance. Tobias cites "personal reasons" for his resignation. Very personal indeed:

"Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias submitted his resignation Friday, one day after confirming to ABC News that he had been a customer of a Washington, D.C. escort service whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a prostitution operation."

On Thursday, Tobias told ABC News he had several times called the "Pamela Martin and Associates" escort service "to have gals come over to the condo to give me a massage." Tobias, who is married, said there had been "no sex," and that recently he had been using another service "with Central Americans" to provide massages." ...

"Tobias' private cell number was among thousands of numbers listed in the telephone records provided to ABC News by Jeane Palfrey, the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam," who is facing the federal charges. In an interview to be broadcast on "20/20" next Friday, Palfrey says she intends to call Tobias and a number of her other prominent D.C. clients to testify at her trial."

Oh noes! The DC Madam story gained notoriety recently when the woman charged, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, published her phone records, which are chock fulla high-profile politicos, including Tobias. The hypocrisy angle, and you had to know there'd be one:

"As the Bush administration's so-called "AIDS czar," Tobias was criticized by some for emphasizing faithfulness and abstinence over condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS.

In a 2004 interview, Tobias explained his approach as "A and B and C. . . Abstinence works. 'Be faithful' works. Condoms work. They all have a role. But it's not a multiple choice, where there is only one answer.""

Give the guy a break, 1 out of 3 ain't bad. Woot!

(via dependable renegade)