DON'T THINK LARRY CRAIG'S RESIGNATION IS THE END OF THE STORY OF CLOSETED GAY REPUBLICANS GETTING INTO BIG TROUBLE

It's been mentioned that it was very convenient for the Bush Regime to get Alberto Gonzales' resignation story off the front pages and off the national TV screens-- with nary a trace-- and, in fact, the first I heard about Larry Craig's outing was a joke by a friend who said Gonzales himself had forced his closet door open. Political Washington has been aware of Craig's adventures in Toiletland for decades and it was quite a coincidence that he was outed at the same time that Alberto would have resigned. At the time I dismissed it for what it was-- just a joke.

But there's another story going around the Internet today, that the Bush Regime was more than happy to get rid of Senator Craig because of his antipathy towards the Patriot Act. Bush was furious with Craig for joining with mainstream conservatives and Democrats in opposing the renewal of the highly unconstitutional Patriot Act. "At a meeting recently, Bush referred to Craig as 'a goddamned
traitor' and told the National Republican Senatorial Committee to start recruiting someone to run against the Idaho Senator in 2008."

The Bush Regime-- even post-Rove-- just sent a harsh and powerful message to senators that they have the way, and the will, to enforce their version of... discipline. Even a right-wing tool like Ben Stein has been yapping around on TV claiming Craig was set up by "the Executive Department."

Meanwhile, there's another gay Republican and another Republican Gonzalez in trouble-- except this one was murdered 2 weeks ago. But the AP report about the gay love triangle seems to have missed one point: one of the men, Republican consultant David Abrami, was straight. (Just because someone is Republican, you can't automatically assume they are secretly gay.) Gonzalez and Drake, on the other hand were gay, and former roommates.

As we mentioned yesterday, Drake, a former marine, also is alleged to have a strong relationship-- both intimate and business/political-- with right-wing Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC). When I spoke to McHenry's office about this they at first insisted they never heard of Drake then, confronted with specifics, admitted they know him. They refused to put Congressman McHenry on the phone. There is every indication that McHenry may have been one of the Republican elected officials who was using the services of the gay prostitution agency connected to Drake. Our pals over at the BradBlog points out the connections between Florida's ultra-corrupt, vote-tampering congressman, Tom Feeney, and Gonzalez and reports the threat to expose the list of Republican elected officials who were using the gay escort service.

These matters are being examined by law enforcement officials. DWT will keep you informed as it unfolds.