Where is Senator Vitter right now?

[saltpoint]

Does anyone know?

Maybe some of you up-late Louisiana political junkies can set me straight and clear on this question.

The subject has been raised in the log-in Forums of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE (http://www.nola.com/) and on one entry at DailyKos (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/13/02356/4650).

There is speculation and rumor "swirling" about Senator Vitter's whereabouts, with one blog suggesting he is in a New Orleans-area hospital on a suicide watch. This is reported by that blogger as a rumor and not as a journalistic fact. Three contacts are mentioned but so far as I can tell, none of those three confirms Vitter's whereabouts.

None of the three denies that he's in a hospital. The three contacts may or may not even exist.

We're at the rumor stage only here, and that should be stressed.

Anybody still up know what's going on?

[Snarkoleptic]

1. Depends....

[saltpoint]

2. I don't wish anybody to die, whether they DIAPER-son or die a politician.

OK, enough of that. Sorry.

Really, though. I am looking at various news reports and can't find where Vitter is.

Some of the reports are saying he's with his family, but they fail to mention if his family is in Louisiana, or DC, or what.

[kestrel91316]

30. Has anybody checked that nice, big ranch down in Paraguay??

[saltpoint]

37. The Domain of Republican Exiles. Yes. It's worth checking out.

Vitter could be down there with the others, moping around the ranch, watching Sean Hannity on cable.

[Liberal_in_LA]

35. Me either

[tridim]

3. I think he's on a forced GOP retreat.

It does the Republics no good to have him in D.C. right now.

[saltpoint]

7. Agree that he's likely perceived as a pariah and volatile political liability.

My own take on his association with the prostitute is akin to my friend Erik, who in response to John Kennedy's alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe, said "If it ain't my dick, it's none of my business."

Erik had a coarse tongue but that isn't a bad policy overall.

I hope Senator Vitter is ok. I've never liked him politically, but I don't want him harmed over an affair with a prostitute.

[AlCzervik]

14. i think the bigger problem for him is the timing, after Foley, Haggard and the other

problems is quick succession his fetish and frequenting people that made it happen was really bad timing. plus the whole diaper thing, i'm progressive and very open minded and i totally get people lean toward different proclivities but even i was surprised by the angle of the story.

[saltpoint]

18. Agree with you that the timing is going to hit the Republicans hard.

Vitter may survive this for all I know politically, but his private psyche is laid bare now. He has kids, too, doesn't he? It must be impossible for them to show up at school this coming season. And all the rest of it.

From a humanitarian standpoint, I want him to be ok. Politically, I will likely continue to despise his votes in the Senate.

[AlCzervik]

19. i do feel really bad for his kids, his wife not so much and yeah i'm being petty but

she has some nasty things about democrats, but his kids, that has to be really difficult for them, it owuld have been better for them if he was just on the take for $$.

[saltpoint]

21. Yes -- and with money you'd almost kind of expect it. Politics is often

about money.

I'm with you all the way on his kids. I hope they can find a way to navigate through the murk.

[Liberal_in_LA]

27. I'd rather be the kid of Rev. Haggard then Vitter these days.

Yeah, must be horrible for the kids.

[Initech]

8. Like the Yankees with Jason Giambi?

That would make the most sense.

[Liberal In Texas]

4. He had to work late tonight. He's down in the Quarter. Working.

You know, working.

[saltpoint]

10. "She works hard for the money..."

I wonder if Vitter will ever again see the street lights of the District if his penitence is imposed by the higher-ups in his party. GOP politicians are supposed to defy the law, yes, but they aren't supposed to get caught and become a politicl liability.

This is one strange story coming out of Louisiana.

[AlCzervik]

5. they must have sent him to a camp, which one--anyone's guess, does the gop

have one for diaper wearers, maybe they'll get him at the very least into pull ups. Gotta crawl before you can walk i guess.
:o

[saltpoint]

11. Maybe they'll send him to Jesus Camp -- out in the Dakotas, or wherever

it is.

He may just need to recharge -- you know -- git down with the gospels.

[Liberal_in_LA]

didn't Jesus Camp shut down after all the bad press?

[Swamp Rat]

6. Down on Canal St. getting his nappy changed.

I have no idea Old Crusoe. :hi:

[saltpoint]

13. Swamp Rat, you slay me with these images. Good Christ.

Vitter -- the family values guy.

These Republicans. What'll they think up next?

[Swamp Rat]

16. Credit goes to dicksteele for that one.

Here's one of my latest: :D

[saltpoint]

20. That thing in her left hand -- I bet it's an alarm buzzer she's ready to

use in case Dubya tries one of his instant massages like he tried on Angela Merkel.

Dubya doesn't have a knack for black folks or white folks or any other kind of folks, pretty much. He mostly just snickers and snarls and pouts and stutters.

Can we hold the Iowa caucus this coming Tuesday?

[Swamp Rat]

22. Too bad it wasn't a million volt taser.

I'll be busy building a life raft next Tuesday, since our levees are still broken and all the new water pumps sold to us by Jeb Bushler's former business partner are defective.

[saltpoint]

23. Yes. I heard about the Jeb connection on those. Sounds like a bum deal

to me.

You get down there and do it right, since the thing so far has been kind of iffy.

Be careful. We're with ya. And you're doing a very good thing.

Much more than our president did for the same citizenry.

[Swamp Rat]

26. Building a raft?

I guess it's a good thing, since I'll likely need it.

I don't follow your last 2 sentences. :shrug:

[saltpoint]

31. Forget those last 2 sentences. I'm losing altitude here by the minute.

Sorry for the blurry headed talk.

[Swamp Rat]

36. s'ok

I am from and live in NOLA, a Katrina survivor, so I do appreciate any help we can get. ;)

[wicket]

62. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

You KILL me Swamp Rat :) :yourock:

[orleans]

9. his last vote was july 9

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00239

with such a humiliating "rumor" (fact or fiction) going around about him i can certainly imagine he would be under a suicide watch.

really. even if it wasn't true--can you just imagine what he must be going through.

[saltpoint]

15. Exactly. I don't blame Vitter for hiring a prostitute. I may object to

every vote he's ever made in the U.S. Congress, but I have no business criticizing his private life. None of my beeswax, etc.

But if this rumor is true -- a big if, of course -- this is going to be the political story of the year.

Nancy Grace must be licking her chops as we speak.

[bluestateguy]

12. I imagine the official story is that he is "in prayer" in seclusion with his family

The people of Louisiana deserve to be represented by 2 senators, and his resignation should be submitted if he can't uphold his duties.

[saltpoint]

17. I think you're right on the seclusion with family angle, although the

reports I see don't say where they're holed up.

They live in New Orleans proper, I think, maybe in one of the outer-lying areas of the city, plus the house in Washington.

I can't find any sentence anyplace so far that says WHERE they are.

I don't want him to resign over hiring a prostitute, but I'd welcome his resignation because he's a Republican. Pretty selfish viewpoint, but that's the direction I'm leaning.

[SoCalDem]

25. I want him to resign from the SHAME

and for knowing that every time anyone looks at him, they'll immediately think of a dirty diaper :)

[saltpoint]

29. Hi, SoCalDem. I'd like to see him feel the shame of being a Republican,

a member of a political party which undercuts citizenship, education, and health care for all Americans.

What sets me off gainst Vitter isn't the prostitution episode(s), but the Republican votes.

I could do without him in the Senate. John Breaux was by no means a fire-belching liberal, but he was a dman sight better than Vitter as a public servant. Even with the corporate ties, I'd still take Breaux any day over Vitter.

[orleans]

28. no--just think tim johnson. he's still one of our senate dems

unable to work. i wouldn't want anyone kicking him out of the senate because he hasn't been showing up for work

[SoCalDem]

32. No one is kicking Vitter out. He must be shamed into resigning

Johnson's illness is not shameful, and he deserves the same consideration we all gave ole Strom, who was less attentive than a carrot for the last 10 years he was in the senate..

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. Do the Dems gain anything from Vitter resigning?

Sometimes it's better for the opposing party if the scandal ridden politician remains in office.

[SoCalDem]

38. Blanco will be appointing a dem to fill out his remaining term

which makes Holy Joementum irrelevant.. at least for a few months..:)

[saltpoint]

39. That's right -- if Vitter steps down, Blanco can fill the seat with one of

our blue people.

In case that should happen, who will it be?

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. Ray Nagel. heh heh. Just kidding

[saltpoint]

43. I thought of Ray, but didn't think he had the statewide presence. Well,

maybe after Katrina he does? Who knows?

This is going to be interesting to watch.

[orleans]

45. who is ray nagel?

[Liberal_in_LA]

50. Mayor of New Orleans. The guy who got a little hysterical during Katrina

At least I thought he was acting a big hysterical

[orleans]

53. oh...you mean ray NAGIN! n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

40. YAY! But Vitter has years left on his term, not months.

[SoCalDem]

42. A replacement only serves until the next regular election which is '08

:( But they would be an incumbent, so maybe enough dirt on Bobby Jindall will surface by then.. Remember there are MANY missing dem voters in Louisiana these days..:scared:

[orleans]

44. i agree.

here's what i found on google:
NEW ORLEANS -- The scandal surrounding Sen. David Vitter is sparking a partisan fight as the state Democratic Party chairman called Vitter an "embarrassment" and Republicans rallied behind their embattled senator.
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6783966

can you imagine standing behind this asshole? these pukes have absolutely no shame!

(and it's the hypocrisy that just kills me!)

[PA Democrat]

59. Just hope those supporters are standing down wind. n/t

[ljm2002]

24. It would not be surprising...

...and although I have indulged in my share of shadenfreude over all this, I certainly hope he receives care and counseling.

The thing is, it has to be deeply shaming to be exposed to the world like this; all the more so when you have presented a totally different face to the world, to your wife, and to your children, and have made a career out of condemning others for their sexual behaviors. This is about as extreme as public humiliation gets.

So rather than indulge in shadenfreude this time around, I offer the following thoughts to Mr. Vitter:

You've been selfish and hypocritical; but this also really smacks of obsessive behavior. You need treatment. Committing suicide would be the ultimate selfish act. Instead use this catastrophe that you have brought upon yourself, to grow as an individual, and to learn tolerance. Work on the causes of your obsessions. Then work on repairing the damage to your relationships with your children -- they are going to be very hurt by this. The last thing they need is for you to take the coward's way out. Buck up and be a man, they need you more now, not less. They may strike out at you and feel betrayed; they may think you are not the man they thought you were. But for the most part, I'm betting, you really are the man they thought you were; there was just this one side that you could not reconcile. Get the help you need, don't add yet another burden to your family.

Finally, if you really believe in God, draw on your faith to help you through.

[saltpoint]

34. If the rumor is true, your advice to Vitter is sound and humane.

I don't expect to find out what is happening unless there is a hospital employee with a laptop somewhere in New Orleans preparing to break this story.

And because it's a rumor, it may not be true at all, and will vanish with the dawn light.

But if it happened to be, Vitter could not do better than hear your words. He needs to pull through for those kids, if nothing else.

[ljm2002]

47. Thanks...

...as much as I've enjoyed this story, it has been from a political rather than a personal perspective. I do think he ought to resign his Senate seat; but I certainly don't want to see the man and his family utterly destroyed.

It's funny. I am not a religious person, not by any means. Yet I believe strongly in the possibility and the power of redemption.

Go figure.

[saltpoint]

49. I hear ya. Vitter is not my idea of a public servant, much less a U.S.

Senator, but that's about his politics and not his private life.

His kids have a right to their dad.

And a far greater claim than my political objections.

[Maddy McCall]

46. STATEMENT RELEASED TODAY

He's supposedly with his family.

Here's a statement released today by a Vitter staffer:

''Senator Vitter was very honest and direct in his statement on Monday. Unfortunately, that has resulted in political enemies and those looking to profit from the situation shopping all sorts of false stories. Four different lawyers in the Canal Street matter, including the lead defense attorney and the U.S. attorney, have confirmed Senator Vitter had nothing to do with the operation in any way. But sadly the media insists on being completely irresponsible and continues to report rumors and false accusations,'' said Joel DiGrado, a Vitter spokesperson.

http://blog.nola.com/updates/2007/07/former_prostitute_confirms_vit.html

[saltpoint]

48. Thanks for that update, Maddy.

I notice that the report skips his whereabouts. "with his family," but where are they?

That's the gap that's fueling -- or may be fueling -- the rumor that he's in a New Orleans hospital on a suicide watch.

Someone in the Vitter camp should mend that gap quickly before it becomes urban truth, true or not. I have plenty against Vitter politically, but don't think I want him hurt over a prostitute.

[SoCalDem]

51. "...Senator Vitter had nothing to do with the operation in any way..."

Huh?? What operation??

That gobbledeegooky press release says NOTHING.. Just more politico-doubletalk,..

[saltpoint]

52. Uh, yeah. An operation. That's it. This is an OPERATION. And this thing?

It's a THERMOMETER.

And this is my lab assistant, Miss Cortez.

[blogslut]

54. IIRC

The info about the LA brothel visits of Vitter came from the investigation/arrest/conviction of the brothel's owner. I believe it was she that proclaims the diaper fetish was the proclivity of her former client, Vitter. Her lawyer and the investigators, however, found no proof that Vitter was a client in the brothel owner's documents gathered as evidence.

At least, that's what I recall.

[DeSwiss]

56. Translation:

''Senator Vitter came clean in his statement on Monday, after being caught red-handed. Unfortunately, that has resulted in political enemies finding out more lurid things about his bizarre sexual appetites and who are looking to profit from his stupidity, say like not using an untraceable throw-away cell phone to conduct his sleazy lifestyle. Four different lawyers in the Canal Street matter, including the lead defense attorney and the U.S. attorney, have confirmed that all evidence of Senator Vitter's involvement with those ho's on Canal Street was completely and utterly expunged from the ho house and its records. But sadly the media, at White House direction, insists on keeping the spotlight on this and won't let go. Just because Senator Vitter lead the opposition to defeat the White House on the immigration bill. And as regards the diaper problem, the senator is receiving counseling,'' said Joel DiGrado, a Vitter spokesperson.

[Sparkly]

63. Not specifically denying Diapergate, eh?

Hm... I think a media person needs to ask him. It'd be fun just to see somebody like Andrea Mitchell or Wolf Blitzer pose the question. :rofl:

[opihimoimoi]

55. Rumored to be in the GOP Diaper Rehab Center...sweating bullets...

[Solly Mack]

57. he's either wallowing in guilt or wallowing in blaming others

and feeling persecuted

Probably both

but you can bet it's the self-serving form of guilt. Where you do feel guilty but don't want to so you convince yourself others really share the bulk of the blame.

- I can't help myself. I need understanding. I have needs. I'm weak. I couldn't tell you. I couldn't share with you. It's DC - the environment - it draws you in... -

the kind of guilt that places enough of the blame on others so as to not be fully responsible for your own actions.

[Horse with no Name]

58. There is a sale on adult diapers at the Costco

Clean up on aisle 9....

[madokie]

60. Don't they have rehab for that

they'll fix him right up

[Coes]

61. he is staying the course

that's the logical follow-up of his accomplished mission

[Hubert Flottz]

64. In deep shit I suspect.

By choice and by chance methinks...

[peekaloo]

65. He enrolled in an accelerated potty training course.

:hide:

[Hubert Flottz]

72. If Dave Vitter thinks he will weather this shitstorm and keep his job

I'm afraid he's only shitting himself...

[sniffa]

66. he's covering his ass

:rofl:

[Hubert Flottz]

67. He has his shit in one stack I hear!

He's in a world of poopy!

[saltpoint]

68. I'm no closer this morning to finding out where Vitter is.

Would love to have a statement from somebody from his office claiming he's here or there, or better yet, a quotation from an anonymous staffer in the Senate -- say, from Landrieu's staff -- who actually knows but doesn't want to go on record.

It could all be quite innocent -- rumors are never fact until they're demonstrated to be, and many never ever get to that point -- and he may in fact be with his family in Louisiana. I'm not ruling anything out.

[Initech]

69. You know how I keep saying anyone that far to the right is hiding a deep dark secret?

This one is certainly the shits! :rofl:

[malaise]

70. Check this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1328932&mesg_id=1328932

[Decruiter]

71. He is spending "quality Time" with his family. R & R

Retreat and Recovery.

He'll be okay I'm sure. My good friend in NO, he well, he assures me so. Just another little blip on the map on corruption that is Louisiana, especially New Orleans. Nothing new here folks. Move on. Mistresses are common, as is infidelity. It is quite normal.

Diapers, well not so much...............

[rug]

73. Spotted here late afternoon.