The begining of the end for the Hammer. The GOP is trying to cut their losses from the corruption scandal which will be the worst in several generations. ************ Jan. 7, 2006 — It's been quite a fall for Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the House majority leader who formally stepped down today as he awaits trial on charges of conspiracy and money laundering. He retains his seat in Congress but reliquishes his leadership role. In addition to his own legal troubles, which include charges that he laundered campaign money used in state legislature races, DeLay's association with lobbyist Jack Abramoff has further hurt his reputation. Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion in a corruption probe that has linked him with lawmakers from both parties. Although DeLay had temporarily left his post, calls to replace him permanently had grown within the party. "The situation is that Tom's legal situation doesn't seem to be reaching clarity," Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., told the Associated Press on Friday, before DeLay's announcement. "There are stories of more indictments or questions associated with Jack Abramoff. And I think that Tom DeLay is going to have to concentrate on that." Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has served as acting majority leader and has indicated he'd like the post permanently, although Kline said he supports Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is reported to be vying for consideration, and more candidates are sure to come forward. DeLay insists he is innocent of the Texas charges. He has repeatedly accused the prosecutor, Ronnie Earle, of going after him as part of a political vendetta. 'The Hammer' Falls During his time as majority leader, DeLay became known as a tough politician with a conservative agenda, a reputation he'd already solidified during his years in Congress, where he earned the nickname "The Hammer." First elected to the House of Representatives in 1984, DeLay was elected majority whip in 1994 and became majority leader in 2002. He was a fervent supporter of the movement to impeach President Clinton, but he just as eagerly became part of a group that sought — and failed — to boot former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich from his post in 1997. DeLay's legal troubles began in earnest in September 2004, when a Texas grand jury indicted three of his associates for allegedly using corporate funds to aid Republican candidates for election to the Texas legislature in 2002 through a political action committee DeLay worked with. Two of them were indicted on additional charges in the probe the following September. At the same time, DeLay was reprimanded by the House Ethics Committee for creating the appearance of tying political donations to legislative favor, as well as for improperly seeking the help of the Federal Aviation Administration in a political dispute. That November, House Republicans passed a rule that would have allowed DeLay to stay in the leadership position if he were indicted, but they reversed the controversial measure in January 2005. DeLay's association with Abramoff came to light in the spring as the federal investigation against the lobbyist proceeded. DeLay denied knowing that Abramoff or his clients had paid for some of his overseas travel expenses, and he asked the House Ethics committee to investigate. In April House Republicans got rid of Ethics Committee rules from earlier in the year that would have made it harder to pursue an ethics investigation — a move that Democrats said was designed to protect DeLay. The Texas grand jury indicted DeLay on the conspiracy charge on Sept. 28 and on the money-laundering charge Oct. 3. He resigned temporarily with the first indictment but remained defiant. "Let me be very, very clear," he said in a statement at the time. "I have done nothing wrong. I have violated no law, no regulation, no rule of the House." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=1479719
This is a freaking outrage. I have had enough of this vast liberal conspiracy that is ruining our country. What next the President?!! Mother%^&*@#$!!! I am pissed!!!!!! NOT!!!!!! to bad he can't be sent to a pound you in the #$% prison.
This is a great political move by the republicans so they can blame everything on him, and say that they have fixed the problem when we all know that the ring leader maybe Delay but he is not the only Republican corrupt on the Hill. As a Democrat I wanted him to stay, so he could make a fool of himself by explaining how he took those bribes **cough** I mean donations.
Tom Delay is responsible for bringing all the sugar to Sugarland ~ there is no way the residents there are going to let TD pack up those magic sugar trees and head out of town.
In related news; Tom Delay has agreed, in return for a fraction of the power he once held, to let R. Kelly pee on him.
They didnt even "strongly" re-elect him in 2004. He's going to have a hell of a time getting out of the Republican primary if he has any challengers.
I would pee on him, given half a chance. What an arrogant pr!ck that man is. How he's been reelected so often is a stain on his community. I hope Lampson beats him like a drum. Keep D&D Civil.
Dems had their fundraising scandal during Clinton. What happened to finance reform, and is the movement pretty much dead?
All the democrats should probably refrain some stroking each other off over the whole thing, though. Yeah, it's awesome to see a worm like DeLay go down, but it's not as if the Republicans have the market cornered on whoring themselves out to the highest bidder. Hopefully both parties will start to at least attempt to hide their illicit deals deals a tad better in the future due to this embarrasment.
It died when the supreme court stepped in and struck down part of the McCain-Feingold law on free speech grounds. That pretty much shot down almost all momentum because its fairly safe to assume that any stronger regulation will probably also get struck down and lobbyists have done a solid job at finding loopholes no matter what Congress does.
Agreed, the democrats need to play their cards right and do what the republicans did after the democratic scandals involving members of Congress broke out. Guys like Jim Wright did all kinds of illegal stuff and the Republicans capitalized by starting that whole contract with america bs. Sure it was all a lie but the point is that it projected an image of major change and reform that many people still long for. Cheering for DeLay's collapse is good in the short-term but memories are short and the Democrats need to step up and send a message that resonates with the American people rather than sitting on the sidelines and hoping that the Republicans will just self-destruct.
Well, it's hard not to self-destruct when you have so much power. Power corrupts and absolute power yadda yadda. The Democrats are eventually going to have to hit a home run, because they're not even being pitched to at this point-- They're getting teeballs to hit. If they continue striking out then they're seriously not worth a ****.
No they don't, it only seems like they do. And public image is important in politics. Why is it that the democrats have to do anything while republicans self implode? A majority of americans have put a republican controlled congress,senate and white house in charge in order to take care of americans and yet republicans blame liberals and democrats for all that goes wrong, especially their own f***ups. How about cleaning up your own mess?
