DeLay out of the House - Next stop jail

[Rodeo]

The sleazy, unapologetic Tom Delay has dropped out of the race for his seat in the House of Representatives. He will be forever remembered for raising the corruption bar of a corrupt city to new and alarming levels.

The "hero of the right" that sold his soul, and his office, to the highest bidder. Good riddance. Next stop should be prison.

Rep. DeLay Won't Seek Reelection

By Jonathan Weisman and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, April 3, 2006; 10:35 PM

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.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[Moneyguy1]

makes one wonder if this was his decision or whether he was "urged" by a higher power....

[Rodeo]

Sure, the "higher power" of the voters in his district. That's the beautiful thing about democracy. There are plenty of hiccups, and I think history will judge the last 10 years as an aberration of extraordinarily brazen Washington greed and corruption, but eventually the ship of state settles itself.

DeLay out the door and hopefully into prison is part of the process of returning to normalcy and, one hopes, higher ethical standards.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
makes one wonder if this was his decision or whether he was "urged" by a higher power....

So, you think God came to him with the message?

Here's Bill Maher's message to Bush (and no, I'm no Maher fan):

Bill Maher's closing bit last Friday night:

Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't startanother war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck,the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people.

Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished. Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man?

Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in.

Please don't.

I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a ****ty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airlines, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.'

[Jim Richards]

ROFLMAO! Thanks Pat.

[Rodeo]

I saw him do that a while back ... laughed my a$$ off. I am a Maher fan, the guy is funny and smart.

[lendaddy]

I wonder who will replace him on the ticket? If the anti-Delay money all goes to watse down there and we keep the seat DeLay will have the last laugh.

In the end he did a lot for the party and gained us a bushel of seats, so kudos to him.

[Jim Richards]

He did a lot for the party, at the expense of the country. Priorities, man!

[kach22i]

Bill Maher rocks!

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by Jim Richards
He did a lot for the party, at the expense of the country. Priorities, man!

Bingo!

Just wrote that in another thread. Repubs care about Repubs. Americans care about America.

That's why Repubs are on the way out.

[hunter914]

Originally posted by lendaddy
I wonder who will replace him on the ticket? If the anti-Delay money all goes to watse down there and we keep the seat DeLay will have the last laugh.

In the end he did a lot for the party and gained us a bushel of seats, so kudos to him.

People who put party, and worse, individuals, above country are traitors. Please proceed to the nearest large oak tree to be hung. bring a friend if you like.

BTW, you are not "us". Us are DeLay's friends, lobbyists, etc. You poor schlub. You actually think that DeLay cares about you, don't you.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by hunter914
People who put party, and worse, individuals, above country are traitors. Please proceed to the nearest large oak tree to be hung. bring a friend if you like.

BTW, you are not "us". Us are DeLay's friends, lobbyists, etc. You poor schlub. You actually think that DeLay cares about you, don't you.

Aren't you cute The adults are talking honey, hush hush.

[Rodeo]

Don't let daddy get to you hunter, he's got no game. None.

[lendaddy]

And to the adults, I don't put DeLay or my Party above America. Such an extrpolation that "good for republicans" = "bad for America" is obviously one that I(as a Republican) am going to have to disagree with if you don't mind.

[Rick Lee]

Those who support DeLay do not at all necessarily put party and politics above the good of the country. Plenty of folks, even if they disagree with his positions, admire him because of his style and effectiveness. And some just happen to agree with the guy. I totally disagree with DeLay on some issues, though I agree with him on most. But I love his unapologetic style and ability to get things done. That he so drives Rodeo nuts is icing on the cake. For the record, I also admire Chuck Schumer in a similar way for his unapologetic style.

[Rodeo]

Please list the things deLay has been "effective" at.

1. Republican majority in the House

your turn ...

[Jim Richards]

RL, you admire a Dem from NY? From which direction did the sun rise today? I'm so confused.

[Rick Lee]

Rodeo, just about every Republican bill that has passed in the House since 1995 has been the handywork of Tom DeLay. You probably know this, but I'll explain it for the others.

DeLay used to be the whip. That's that the guy who counts votes before a bill comes to the floor. The majority leader (Dick Armey was it before DeLay) is the guy who schedules the floor votes when the whip says they have enough to pass. Can you see where I'm going here? DeLay was probably the most effective of all time at getting the Rep. conference to vote for or against bills, then get those votes scheduled at the right time. C'mon, Rodeo. Even the Dems acknowledge this.

[Rodeo]

Ok, he was a good manager.

Anything else? Any of those bills you are particularly proud of? I mean, did they cut spending? balance the budget? Eliminate unecessary programs? Demand accountability from government agencies? Fix social security?

He got the bills out ... what was the result?

[hunter914]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
That he so drives Rodeo nuts is icing on the cake.

Childish at best. Is this what daddy was talking about RE: adults?

Originally posted by Rick Lee
But I love his unapologetic style and ability to get things done.

Please list 5 "things he's gotten done". They don't even have to be good for the country, but please list them.