A drunken night and Father's Day celebration that saw Idaho state Sen. John McGee steal a Ford Excursion from a complete stranger, get it stuck in a yard and get charged with a DUI after a breath test showed his blood-alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit, wasn't enough to make the four-term Republican from Caldwell consider resigning.

Neither was a report that surfaced showing despite having a home just 26 miles from the Capitol, McGee was claiming a $122 per diem, money intended to defray the costs of a second residence in Boise during the legislative session. That adds up to roughly $6,000 annually.

So what finally made the fourth-highest ranking member of the chamber submit a resignation letter last week? That would be sexual harassment allegations involving a senate aide.

Quite an impressive run this year, Mr. McGee. It's oh so sad to see such a standup citizen leave Boise in disgrace.

But don't go thinking McGee's conscience finally got the better of him. No, after his party remained steadfast by his side through his first two shenanigans, it appears the GOP finally had seen enough of his act, giving McGee the choice of either resignation or being put before a state Senate ethics panel.

Give the party members credit, they remain loyal far longer than most. It takes a lot for them turn on one of their own.

But that's one of the many things wrong with politics in Boise. Men like McGee and the "respected" representative from Athol, Phil Hart, run wild in the Capitol with no regard to rules or even common decency. Hart, if you remember, is the same man who faced three separate ethics complaints last year and is now fighting the federal government's effort to foreclose on his house in lieu of about $550,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties. Rules, it appears, just don't apply to Mr. Hart.

Unfortunately, McGee and Hart aren't isolated incidents. There are plenty of others in Boise who share in their disrespect for laws, and few of them seem willing to hold their counterparts responsible. Hopefully, Idahoans will at the polls.