DeLay is Done

by Jonathan Singer, Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:58:13 AM EST

The AP's David Espo has scored this scoop:

Embattled Rep. Tom DeLay decided Saturday to give up his post as House majority leader, clearing the way for new leadership elections among House Republicans eager to shed the taint of scandal, two officials said.

These officials said DeLay, R-Texas, was preparing a letter informing fellow House Republicans of his decision. These officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to pre-empt the formal announcement.

While a number of House Republicans have been clamoring for DeLay to step down from leadership permanently in recent days, their aboutface on the Houston Congressman is simply too little, too late.

Just one year ago, the Republican caucus in the House rewrote their internal rules to allow DeLay to maintain his post in the case of a criminal indictment. Even after DeLay was forced to step down "temporarily" following the indictments related to money laundering in Texas, the majority of House Republicans appeared fine with the prospect that he might return to power. As a result of these repeated moves to defend DeLay, House Republicans inextricably linked their fate to that of their leader, and consequently, they cannot be allowed to simply remove his taint from their midst.

There must be C-SPAN footage from the debate over the Republican rules change in which GOP House members arduously defend both their leader and their move to reshape the regulations of the chamber. Even if not, film of Republican Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut blasting his caucus for its undermining of House ethics would make a fine DCCC commercial next fall. Whatever the case may be, even if it takes millions of dollars and significant hours of background research, the Democrats should stop at nothing to remind voters just how much Tom DeLay embodies both the goals and actions of the Republican Party. (This is a good start.)

As a side note, this, too, should please you (from Gannett, via  Atrios):

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is likely to be indicted in an ongoing public corruption scandal, according to a fellow Republican congressman, Jim McCrery of Louisiana.

Ney has been linked by prosecutors to Jack Abramoff, a former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to charges this week that include mail fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. He also is linked to Abramoff's associate, Michael Scanlon, who pleaded guilty in November to conspiring to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials.

"He'll probably be indicted," McCrery speculated Friday.

And the Republican indictments continue...

Tags: House 2006 (all tags)

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4 Comments

Shadow_head_small
not a good thing
this may not be a good thing. the more easily recognizable and nasty the faces, the momentum can be built to change the congress as a whole in November. Moving him to behind the scenes and putting a 'nice face' up front is the game they have played all along and it works well.
by anijoni 2006-01-07 08:53AM | 0 recs
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Re: not a good thing
Agreed.  This is a bad thing on 2 fronts.  I'd like to have him both as the face of House Repubs and running for re-election.  I suspect now that he is totally out as Majority Leader he will resign his seat or not run for re-election.  
by John Mills 2006-01-07 04:23PM | 0 recs
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I disagree anijonin, if...
there are more indictments and they are spread out over the course of 2006.
January - Ney
February - Rove
March - Frist

...and so on...

We already have Scanlon, Abramhoff, Cunningham and DeLay.

by Robert P 2006-01-07 09:18AM | 0 recs
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Various DeLay-related quotes
Congressman Tom DeLay has been one of the most effective leaders in the history of the House of Representatives. Under his leadership, over 4 million Americans have found new jobs, Medicare beneficiaries have gained prescription drug coverage, and U.S. troops have received unprecedented support to protect American families. I am proud of his accomplishments and grateful for his service.

Rep. A. G. "Joe" Wilson (R-SC), 9/28/05

As a former Speaker of the Florida House where the ethics process was never partisan, I have been saddened and disappointed at some of the wild ethics charges made by billionaire socialists and repeated by Democratic Members. Let me say, there is no greater ethical sin by a Member, and no greater poison to our Congress, than to make false ethical charges against another Member for partisan gain. The Democratic leadership has created a fog machine to attack TOM DELAY . They claim that the Democratic fog blown at the Leader is smoke; and insist that where there is smoke there must be a fire.

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), 4/21/05

Social Security is in major trouble, hundreds of thousands of Americans still I need the opportunity to obtain health insurance, and much more work must I be done to secure our ports and borders.
Yet the Democrats must have all those important issues solved because they are wasting all their time playing politics and making unsubstantiated accusations against United States House Majority Leader, TOM DELAY.

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), 4/21/05

Democrats' attack on the Republican majority leader is nothing but a coordinated agenda to stop an effective leader from accomplishing the people's business.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), 4/21/05

But let's go back to sunnier days

The time has come that the American people know exactly what their Representatives are doing here in Washington.

Are they feeding at the public trough, taking lobbyist paid vacations, getting wined and dined by special interest groups? Or are they working hard to represent their constituents?

The people, the American people, have a right to know.


Rep. Tom DeLay, 11/16/95

Look, I think we have enough restrictions and regulations and rules right now that regulate the way that we go. But if we have got to do something that I support, full disclosure, who are you tell me I am dishonest because I go out with a lobbyist ? And many of you have said it. How dare you say that I am bought and paid for because I have dinner with a lobbyist?

Rep. Tom DeLay, 3/24/94

Aw damnit.. I put the wrong quote file in.

:D

by RBH 2006-01-07 09:44AM | 0 recs

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