Thursday Briefs

Idaho: Reports are just now breaking that Larry Craig appears to be surrendering any thoughts of not resigning. Hearsay and fact will be clarified throughout the day, but it looks like Craig may be turning it in. For what it was worth, it looked like Craig was beginning to gain the support of some of the Senate's more cantankerous Republicans, including Ted Stevens and Jim Bunning. Meanwhile, the hands-down dumbest observation about the Larry Craig scandal by a colleague belongs to Oregon's Gordon Smith:

“If this story doesn’t get smaller, it will get bigger.”

No kidding, Gordo. Meanwhile, for provocative commentary, prostitute-lovin' David Vitter had his thoughts on the record:

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said Wednesday that some Democrats are making "very partisan arguments" by accusing the GOP of a double standard for demanding that Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho resign while not urging Vitter to do the same.

Two months after the story broke, David Vitter still has not been fully forthright with his constituents about what he did and did not do. Until that occurs, he cannot say that he has taken responsibility for his actions. For whatever he did, Larry Craig is paying a price for his actions. Vitter has not paid a price (other than whatever price his prostitutes charged for their services).

Kansas: Pat Roberts and his unintimidating approval ratings may see a tough challenge yet. Six-term former Congressman Jim Slattery is publicly considering a 2008 Senate bid. Slattery retired from Congress in 1994 to run for Governor that year. Of course, we all know 1994 was not a good year for Democrats. His reputation as a stern budget-cutter may serve him well in Kansas. I've thought for some time that Kansas could be the sleeper competitive Senate race of the cycle, for reasons ranging from Roberts' flaws to the breakdown of the Kansas Republican Party. We'll see if Slattery can bring that prediction to fruition. Think Progress offers a fine summary of Pat Roberts' failures and scandals as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for those interested in learning more about Roberts' sad record.

Texas: Burnt Orange Report brings us Senate primary poll numbers. A majority of primary voters are still undecided, 52% the poll found. State Representative Rick Noriega has 27%, nearly doubling attorney Mikal Watts' 14%. Attorney Emil Reichstadt, who may soon exit the race, clocked in at 6%. Also, Texas firefighters have backed Noriega.

Kentucky: A quick glance at Mitch McConnell's priorities: he voted against body armor for the troops but he voted for iPods for Afghani tribesmen? Huh?!? Yeah. The Public Campaign Action Fund rolls out its new ad against McConnell highlighting this. Ditch Mitch KY explains how this happened: a former McConnell staffer left the office to become a lobbyist, raised six figures for McConnell, and subsequently secured an earmark from McConnell for the music players. That's how McConnell Republicans operate.

Minnesota: When it comes to Iraq, Norm Coleman is still in the pocket of the Bush administration. Meanwhile, Minnesota Campaign Report offers a thorough rundown of last night's Democratic Senate primary debate. It was a terrific forum where the candidates all focused on the failings of Bush-Coleman regarding Iraq, terrorism, education, health care, energy, the environment, and so on.