NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301787.html?referrer=email

Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), a primary architect of the House Republican majority who became one of the most powerful and feared leaders in Washington, told House allies Monday night he will step down from the House rather than face a reelection fight that appears increasingly unwinnable.

The decision came just three days after his former deputy chief of staff, Tony C. Rudy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and corruption charges, telling federal prosecutors of a criminal enterprise being run out of DeLay's leadership offices. Rudy's plea agreement did not implicate DeLay in any illegal activities, but by placing the influence-buying efforts of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff directly in DeLay's operation, the former aide may have made an already difficult reelection bid all but out of reach.

DeLay, who turns 60 this Saturday, did not say precisely when he would step down, but under Texas law, he must take himself out of reelection consideration by August if his name is to be removed from the November ballot.

Good ridence to bad rubbish.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301787.html?referrer=email



Good ridence to bad rubbish.


Having met the man personally (many years ago), all I can say is yes, good ridance!

:::dances a happy dance:::

Yes, but will he go to jail? That's my burning question.

Yes, but will he go to jail? That's my burning question.

Hopefully he does. If he doesn't, it goes to show that a politician can do no wrong and that'll be a bad thing for this country.

Ha ha. I must agree with you guys, the man's unabashed corruption is astounding. Glad he'll be gone.

Did he even really have a choice?

Yes, but will he go to jail? That's my burning question.


I sincerly hope so, but unfortunately I'm dubious about the prospects of that happening.

Did he even really have a choice?

Well he could've opted to run again but if I lived in Texas, I would've had to vote for his opponet.

Did he even really have a choice?
He could have held on and maybe even won re-election, although he had a stouter opponent this time around and didn't do so well in 2004, but he's facing a ton of legal issues, and not just the indictments he's facing in Texas.

oh the poor thing, hounded out of office by those godless liberal commie democrats

maybe he can use his time to build a campaign for president in '08

being a convicted felon serving time isnt a disqualification for president is it?

As an astute Canadian observer of American politics, as well as my own country's politics and international politics, all I have to say is this:

HA!

As in HAllelujah. Looks like Jesus couldn't save poor Tom from THIS. I wonder if his support of human rights-violating, child-prostituting/labouring, capitalist paradise Saipan, as outlined in Al Franken's wonderful book, "The Truth: With Jokes", will ever become a general fact in the US...but let's not count on it while Republicans control everything.

As an astute Canadian observer of American politics, as well as my own country's politics and international politics, all I have to say is this:

HA!

As in HAllelujah. Looks like Jesus couldn't save poor Tom from THIS. I wonder if his support of human rights-violating, child-prostituting/labouring, capitalist paradise Saipan, as outlined in Al Franken's wonderful book, "The Truth: With Jokes", will ever become a general fact in the US...but let's not count on it while Republicans control everything.

You do know that Saipan is an Ameircan outpost right? Right above Guam which is another American outpost?

This proves it. There is a God.

This proves it. There is a God.

And that maybe He's finally noticing the Religious Right is doing all sorts of Shit in His name.

Unfortunatly this is all part of a rather sleazy (are republicans anything but?) strategy that hopes to give Nick Lampson trouble, by allowing the governor to call for a special election, which has different rules.

In a special election a candidate has to take a majority of the vote, not just a plurality. DeLay and the state GOP probably think it'll be more difficult for Lampson to get a majority as a challenger than it would be to get simple plurality. Plus, he would now have to win two elections.

Same shit, different day/sleazeball

Well he could've opted to run again but if I lived in Texas, I would've had to vote for his opponet.

The sad thing is that he might very well have won if he had run. I have little confidence in the electorate in this country, much less in an extremely conservative (gerrymandered to be so,) district in Texas.

You do know that Saipan is an Ameircan outpost right? Right above Guam which is another American outpost?
And as such, was subject to US laws concerning human rights and minimum wages until DeLay and his cronies got hold of the law. Clothes made there get to carry the "Made in the USA" label, but the workers there are subject to horrific abuses.

And as such, was subject to US laws concerning human rights and minimum wages until DeLay and his cronies got hold of the law. Clothes made there get to carry the "Made in the USA" label, but the workers there are subject to horrific abuses.

Why dosn't this surprise me?

Why dosn't this surprise me?
Because I think you realize that when it comes right down to it, for most politicians, religion is a convenient tool. DeLay likes to talk a lot about his faith, and even pulled it out in his interview yesterday, but in the end, he's just another greedy shit who abuses people if he can make a few bucks out of it. Those are the kind of people who give Christians a bad name.

Because I think you realize that when it comes right down to it, for most politicians, religion is a convenient tool. DeLay likes to talk a lot about his faith, and even pulled it out in his interview yesterday, but in the end, he's just another greedy shit who abuses people if he can make a few bucks out of it. Those are the kind of people who give Christians a bad name.

Amen my brotha.

Interesting update on this. According to election law, campaign contributions can be converted to legal defense funds (ttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040302145.html)
DeLay faces a trial later this year on money-laundering charges in Texas that stems from an October 2005 indictment related to corporate contributions to state elections in 2001 and 2002. Since then, two former aides and one of his most prominent contributors have pleaded guilty in a separate federal probe to crimes including conspiracy; wire, tax and mail fraud; and corruption of public officials....

DeLay has assembled a substantial legal team to fight back, and he has a defense fund -- financed largely by corporations with business before Congress -- that contained more than $600,000 at the end of last year, based on the cumulative record of its receipts and contributions. But contributions to the fund dropped from $318,000 to $181,500 between the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

DeLay also is entitled under federal election rules to convert any or all of the remaining funds from his reelection campaign to his legal expenses, whether or not he resigns, is indicted or loses the election. Election lawyers say one advantage of bowing out of the election now is that the campaign cash can be converted to pay legal bills immediately, instead of being drained in the course of a bid to stay in office.
Wonder if any of those people who contributed are feeling like suckers now?

He's also resigning from the House too. I forgot to add that :blushes:

Interesting update on this. According to election law, campaign contributions can be converted to legal defense funds (ttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040302145.html)

Wonder if any of those people who contributed are feeling like suckers now?I certainly hope so.
If people who buy crooked politicians start getting nothing in return, that can only help to clean up politics as a whole.

Im hoping this is a beginning of a "return to sanity" in America.

If a conviction is in the future, I'd say theres still hope for America.