When Larry Craig resigned it seemed pretty clear, from Craig staff statements made behind the scenes, (Candy Crowley / CNN reporting) that he was going to "fight like he!!" to overturn his prior guilty plea. But a new week without new Craig headlines has brought the media to another tizzy!


USA TODAY: Craig reconsidering decision to resign - "We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight — and stay in the Senate."

One might have thought that was already the plan in place given the whole premise at the time, Craig hiring Billy Martin and stating he was going "to pursue my legal options" in front of all on Saturday afternoon. Of course, since then, Arlen Specter had an opportunity to discuss some of the finer points of Scottish Law with the press and possibly a little teaser about the applicability of "no contest" next time Craig finds himself in such controversies. It also helps that since both Billy Martin and Arlen Specter had experience with the Clinton impeachment scenarios, they are probably both well versed in Scottish Law. But the underlying premise, that Craig was stepping down so he could clear his good name, has not changed.


Thus it might seem this is a desperate attempt by the media to try and bring the story back to the headlines as the RNC was pretty effective in removing it over the weekend.


The media are bringing out the big guns, however - Brian Williams delivering a "BREAKING NEWS" alert on MSNBC and the story's release was perfectly timed for prime time flashing "ALERT" messages on Hannity and Colmes.


PRIOR POST: Beating a Dead Craig


UPDATE: Not to be outdone, Anderson Cooper (who is reportedly himself gay) presents CNN's best quality "BREAKING NEWS" rotating red + black screensaver-like graphics in the background. Headline at bottom of screen emblazoned, "BREAKING NEWS - Senator Craig is Fighting Disorderly Conduct Charge". Candy Crowley makes a return appearance and points out they've now succeeded in bringing the story back to the top of the fold for "another day, another week" before acknowledging "this may just take things back to where it was" (when none other than SHE herself was reporting - ON SATURDAY - that Craig was going to "fight like he!!" to have the plea overturned).


PRESS RELEASE: From Saturday, September 1st, upon announcement that Craig would resign to clear his best names and had hired Billy Martin of Monica Lewinsky + Dog Fighting fame to fight the disorderly conduct charge (just "breaking")





NEXT: O.J. to look for real killer!





BELDAR: Craig "reconsidering" resignation; and his chance to withdraw his guilty plea is probably better than Beldar first presumed


TAKING CALLS: AC opens CNN lines for DNC sanctioned callers after stretching his hour with replays of the Arrest Audio (one wonders what AC, Jonathon Alter, Keith Olbermann et. al. are using for ring tones these days)





UPDATE: Prior to his "I'm resigning to fight to clear my good name" speech on Saturday (above) Craig screwed up & left a voice mail intended for his attorney (Martin) before issuing the press release (above) later that afternoon ... which helps the media keep the cycle alive.