It's eerie how quickly a news story can disappear. Larry Craig announced his resignation from the Senate Saturday, amid a sex scandal.

My colleague Gary Crooks took an interesting look at the "friend" who didn't stand by in his Saturday column Smart Bombs.

One friend and politician showed support, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter. Jim Camden And Betsy Z. Russell of the S-R reported:

"I have known Larry and Suzanne Craig for almost 40 years," Otter said, noting he’d worked with Craig in Boise and Washington, D.C.
"As a public servant who has made mistakes in my private life, I am mindful that you don’t really know who your friends are until you stumble," Otter said.
"I want Larry and Suzanne to know that Lori and I stand by them."
Otter’s career was blemished by a 1992 DUI and a win in a bar’s "tight-fittin’ jeans" contest when he was the state’s lieutenant governor. He came back from that low to later serve in Congress and be elected governor.

Catholic and Christian teachings are big on compassion, forgiveness and throwing the first stone only if you are blameless.

So the question here: What determines whether you'll stick by a friend in really tough times? Have you done it in the past? If so, was it easier to do because you had once "stumbled" and people stood by you? And what happened in your own life because you stuck with a friend through tough times?

This is being simulblogged at Journey to Vatican III.

(S-R file photo from 1991 movie Thelma and Louise.)

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