Indictment not only cloud hovering over DeLay

[Judi Lynn]

Oct. 1, 2005, 10:09PM

Indictment not only cloud hovering over DeLay
An investigation into his dealings with a lobbyist has big implications
By MICHAEL HEDGES
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The prospects of Tom DeLay ever returning to a leadership position in Congress may be jeopardized more by scandals rooted in Washington than this week's indictment in Texas.

Particularly worrisome for DeLay are a federal investigation into the dealings of Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist who had close ties to the Sugar Land Republican, and a House ethics committee examination of DeLay's trips and any other activities with Abramoff.

"Either being linked to Abramoff in a federal criminal indictment (of Abramoff) or a finding against him by the ethics committee would be hugely damaging," said Thomas Mann, a senior political analyst with the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution.

Larry Noble, a former Federal Elections Commission lawyer, said the accumulation of ethics concerns surrounding DeLay could put him at a "tipping point" where even Republican loyalists feel the party is better served with him relegated to the sidelines.
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3378292
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Lost in the ruckus over DeLay is this: A vital law is at stake
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EDITORIAL BOARD

Sunday, October 02, 2005

In the white-hot glare surrounding the indictment of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay last week, it is easy to forget that what is at stake is the integrity of Texas elections.

A Travis County grand jury indicted DeLay, one of the country's most powerful politicians, for conspiring to violate the Texas law banning the use of corporate money in political campaigns. Indicted along with him were John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, heads of two political action committees that DeLay established. The three are accused of funneling $190,000 in corporate donations to Republican candidates for the Texas House of Representatives in the 2002 election. Those receiving the money included Austin's Todd Baxter and former representatives Jack Stick, of Austin, and Rick Green, of Dripping Springs.

That money was part of a much larger campaign to ensure a Republican majority in the Texas House. Some $1.7 million went through the Texas Association of Business from secret corporate donations, which under Texas law can't be spent for electioneering.

The fiction still being perpetrated about that political effort is that it was an information campaign to make voters aware of the issues. Secret corporate and union donations are allowed for get-out-the-vote projects and similar efforts to inform the public about ballot issues, but not for or against candidates.
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http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/2delayfolo_edit.html
(Free registration required)

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Tom DeLay's House of Shame
Congress has always had its share of extremists. But the DeLay era is the first time the fringe has ever been in charge.

Politics: Delay Indicted and Other GOP Woes
10/2/05: Jonathan Alter, NEWSWEEK Columnist, NBC analyst; and Stephen Hess, Research Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University

By Jonathan Alter
Newsweek
Oct. 10, 2005 issue - A decade ago, I paid a call on Tom DeLay in his ornate office in the Capitol. I had heard a rumor about him that I figured could not possibly be true. The rumor was that after the GOP took control of the House that year, DeLay had begun keeping a little black book with the names of Washington lobbyists who wanted to come see him. If the lobbyists were not Republicans and contributors to his power base, they didn't get into "the people's House." DeLay not only confirmed the story, he showed me the book. His time was limited, DeLay explained with a genial smile. Why should he open his door to people who were not on the team?

Thus began what historians will regard as the single most corrupt decade in the long and colorful history of the House of Representatives. Come on, you say. How about all those years when congressmen accepted cash in the House chamber and then staggered onto the floor drunk? Yes, special interests have bought off members of Congress at least since Daniel Webster took his seat while on the payroll of a bank. And yes, Congress over the years has seen dozens of sex scandals and dozens of members brought low by financial improprieties. But never before has the leadership of the House been hijacked by a small band of extremists bent on building a ruthless shakedown machine, lining the pockets of their richest constituents and rolling back popular protections for ordinary people. These folks borrow like banana republics and spend like Tip O'Neill on speed.

I have no idea if DeLay has technically broken the law. What interests me is how this moderate, evenly divided nation came to be ruled on at least one side of Capitol Hill by a zealot. This is a man who calls the Environmental Protection Agency "the Gestapo of government" and favors repealing the Clean Air Act because "it's never been proven that air toxins are hazardous to people"; who insists repeatedly that judges on the other side of issues "need to be intimidated" and rejects the idea of a separation of church and state; who claims there are no parents trying to raise families on the minimum wage—that "fortunately, such families do not exist" (at least Newt Gingrich was intrigued by the challenges of poverty); who once said: "A woman can't take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure." I could go on all day. Congress has always had its share of extremists. But the DeLay era is the first time the fringe has ever been in charge.
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http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9557669/site/newsweek/

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. "single most corrupt decade in the ... history of the House". Nominated

"Thus began what historians will regard as the single most corrupt decade in the long and colorful history of the House of Representatives"

Nailed.

[hang a left]

2. stick a fork in Delay

he's done.

[Why Syzygy]

3. And now we know.

Thank Goddess the judiciary is doing it's job.

[Theduckno2]

4. I think the Republican leadership is becoming quite anxious.

Every scandal brings the country closer to a "Throw the bums out" attitude. I don't like this uninformed, knee-jerk response to the issues at hand, but it would remove the Republicans from power.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Roy Blunt, chosen to replace DeLay as House Majority Leader may be WORSE

if that is possible, blatantly using his influence to try to sneak favors for Big Tobacco and involved in the traditional shady campaign finance. This guy is corrupt to his over-groomed hairline.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2121615
http://www.beyonddelay.org/beyond_delay/rep_roy_blunt_r_mo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1818023
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A41839-2003Jun10¬Found=true

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. And remember:

The repukes are a party that shares information and tactics from top to bottom. Similar tactics are used at every level where they have power.

[drduffy]

7. Yes....Blunt and so many

more repukes to go. Truly a pack of evil bastards/bitches.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Yup, the thing in Texas is just the opening act.

A small matter by comparison to what's waiting in the wings. And the Abramoff thing will bite much more than Delay's gnarly ass.

[H2O Man]

9. Great thread!!!

Thank you for bringing a grin to this old man!

I suspect that this is why Old Tom is taking the aggressive stance. He is convinced that others will stand by him, because he knows so many secrets. He is a fool: this is exactly why the republicans will be eager to sacrifice him. He's like the nasty, cruel gang leader in A Clockwork Orange, thinking the boys will help him now. Ain't gonna happen, Tommy Boy. Sit back and enjoy the show!