Propositions, Pleadings, and Resignations?

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) continues to tread water over what media and the public are calling a sex scandal, but it isn't even clear from the transcript and audio that solicitation was involved. Sure, the cop wants to believe that it was a soliciation, and Craig's actions were suspicious, but did they rise to the level of criminality?

In any event he pleaded to disorderly conduct, not charges of soliciation or lewd conduct. That is still more than Rep. Cynthia McKinney ever copped to after slugging a Capitol Policeman (a grand jury could not find sufficient evidence to indict). Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) continues to fight claims of corruption, fraud, and influence peddling despite having been caught with $90,000 in his freezer.

And Rep. Patrick Kennedy was able to avoid getting tested for DUI at the scene of a car crash because he claimed he was on his way to a House vote. At 2am. He later pleaded guilty to a single count of DUI and entered rehab. He attempted to use his position to weasel out of his predicament, which is not unlike that what Craig attempted to do when showing his US Senate business card in the hopes of making this go away. Indeed, Kennedy's actions were far more egregious since he actually commited a criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt - driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle into a barrier and then making the farcical claim that he was on his way to a Congressional vote in the middle of the night. How is it that calls for resignation are greater with Craig than for Kennedy, who clearly put the public in danger by driving while under the influence and who used his position as a Member of Congress to avoid arrest that night?

Still, rumor has it he may resign today.

A GOP source with knowledge of the situation told CNN's Dana Bash that the Republican National Committee was poised to take the extraordinary step of calling on Craig to resign.

However, that move was put on hold, the source said, because top party leaders have received indications that Craig himself is preparing to step down.

Sources have confirmed that high-level meetings on the matter were being conducted in Idaho on Thursday.

Craig has been under pressure to quit since news surfaced this week that he was arrested in June at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and later pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge.

How's that for a Friday night news dump - right before a holiday weekend to blunt the effect of such an extraordinary act. Heh!

UPDATE:
Others covering the issue: Hot Air, Ace, Macranger, Michelle Malkin, and Jammie.

UPDATE:
Sen. Craig's aides are saying that Craig has no intention to resign. Good luck with that. Pressure to resign continues mounting from all sides.

UPDATE:
Now, we're getting reports that Craig plans to hold a presser tomorrow to discuss his future.

UPDATE:
The future is now. He's going to announce his resignation and Idaho Lt. Governor Jim Risch will serve out the rest of Craig's term.