Tom Delay indicted

[Vegassc400]

Rough times for the GOP lately. The Karl Rove/Valerie Plame scandal, Bill Frist's under investigation for a stock sale, FEMA/Katrina mess and now Tom Delay indicted on violating TX state campaign laws.

Many of Delays defenders are saying this is the product of a witch hunt. Well, just because it's a witch hunt, doesn't mean they didn't find a witch here. This is so typical of the right wingers. Attack the source and don't worry if it's actually true. I believe the American public will soon grow tired of this line and start forcing elected officials to start being accountable for their actions. My fingers are crossed.

GOP Loses a Powerful Enforcer By Janet Hook and Maura Reynolds Times Staff Writers
Thu Sep 29, 7:55 AM ET



WASHINGTON — The indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) undercuts one of President Bush's most powerful allies at a time when the GOP is already battered by other ethics controversies, plummeting public confidence and intraparty divisions over budget policy.

ADVERTISEMENT

The departure from the leadership ranks of DeLay, a commanding figure in the House's machinery for enforcing party discipline, could hamper Republicans' ability to advance political and legislative agendas.

The indictment is the latest in a series of developments that have put the GOP on the defensive, among them the Bush administration's halting initial response to Hurricane Katrina, soaring gas prices and continuing violence in Iraq. It comes less than a week after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) acknowledged he was under investigation for a stock sale, giving new ammunition for Democrats who seek to call attention to alleged ethical lapses to bolster an argument that Republicans have abused power in Congress and the White House.

"It's hard to spin this as anything other than another problem dropped on the pile of troubles our side faces now," GOP pollster Whit Ayres said. "Bad news tends to come in bunches, and we've had a bunch lately."

"People are upset," said Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (news, bio, voting record) (R-Ohio). "It's not a good day for the home team."

Still, Republican colleagues rallied around DeLay and embraced his view that the indictment — by a Texas grand jury on a charge of violating state campaign finance laws — was politically motivated.

"This is the first day of a war," said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.). "This was a cheap shot against Tom DeLay, and he was indicted because he was majority leader. If we abandon Tom DeLay, we're abandoning ourselves."

Some Democrats tried to restrain their glee at the legal troubles of a GOP leader they had demonized. "Don't write that I'm smiling," said one House Democrat on learning the news.

Others immediately linked DeLay's problems to Frist's, as well as to the investigation of Bush advisor Karl Rove in connection with the disclosure of a CIA operative's identity.

"The Republican leadership in Washington is now spending more time answering questions about ethical misconduct than doing the people's business," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

House Republican leaders said their legislative agenda would not be disrupted by the loss of DeLay as majority leader. The removal was required under House Republican rules that prohibit leaders from serving if they are indicted. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) moved quickly to replace DeLay, choosing Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as acting leader. Reps. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) and Eric Cantor (R-Va.) are to assist Blunt.

Republicans predicted DeLay would be exonerated, but his indictment may set off behind-the-scenes jockeying to succeed him — and leadership struggles often weaken party unity. Among those thought to be interested in the post are Blunt; Thomas M. Reynolds of New York, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee; and John A. Boehner of Ohio, chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

But it will be hard to fill DeLay's shoes, because he is more than a powerful congressional leader. He helped build a new political machine in Washington, one that leveraged the influence of large corporations and trade associations and created pathways for them to contribute to the party.

Starting with the election of a Republican congressional majority in 1994, DeLay was among the most outspoken in demanding corporate support for the party, not only for fundraising but in choosing Republicans to fill jobs at lobbying firms and trade associations. Two dozen former DeLay staffers now have prominent positions as lobbyists around Washington. DeLay's aggressive rhetoric — sometimes issued directly to powerful CEOs — helped cement a close relationship between business and the party.

DeLay is also renowned for his skill in enforcing the party line on key votes. He twisted arms so aggressively to help pass a Medicare bill in 2003 that he was rebuked by the House Ethics Committee and told to temper his actions in the future.

Even his admirers said he had tempted fate with his hardball political tactics. "Tom skates right up to the line," said one GOP lobbyist who works closely with the congressional leadership and who requested anonymity in order to speak freely. "If you play on that edge, you make yourself the test case."

DeLay has been a prolific fundraiser for the party and for other members of Congress, which has won him deep loyalty among his colleagues. That has helped him weather controversies, including three admonitions from the House Ethics Committee.

DeLay's broadest political ambition, which he shares with Bush and Rove, is to build the party's majority in Congress and the country. It was in service of that goal that DeLay masterminded a redistricting plan in Texas that gave Republicans five new House seats in 2004. His indictment Wednesday arises from fundraising in connection with that plan.

A key question is whether Democrats will succeed in turning GOP ethics controversies to congressional electoral advantage in 2006. Some analysts see a parallel between current developments and the scandals involving Democrats in the late 1980s and early 1990s that helped lay the groundwork for Republicans to win control of Congress in 1994.

Democrats concede that it is a long shot for them to gain control of Congress. House districts in recent years have been carefully drawn to protect incumbents of both parties, so few seats are competitive. And with elections more than a year away, it is hard to predict how the political climate may shift.

A series of controversies could also turn voters against incumbents of both parties — a "throw the bums out" mentality. "I'm not certain that voters are sophisticated enough to see this as Republican wrongdoing rather than Congress," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel (news, bio, voting record) (D-N.Y.). "So we have to be very careful how we handle this."

Rep. Joel Hefley (news, bio, voting record) (R-Colo.) echoed: "Anytime you have anything that even smacks of scandal, I think it hurts all of us."

Some Republicans think the political fallout can be contained if Congress and Bush keep pushing their legislative agenda. "If we can do something positive — on Katrina relief or immigration reform — we'll be fine by the end of the year," said Rep. Tom Cole (news, bio, voting record) (R-Okla.).

But Republicans are divided over some major issues. They disagree on how — or whether — to offset the enormous cost of reconstructing the Gulf Coast. On immigration, Bush's call for temporarily legalizing millions of workers is bitterly controversial.

Those are just the kinds of tough issues that Republicans count on DeLay to help drive through the House. "It's going to be harder for Republicans to pass whatever it is the Republicans want to pass," said former Rep. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.), who left office in January and is now president of the Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group. "If there's a tough vote, there's been nobody like DeLay for rounding up the votes and getting that job done."

[drink300]

And yet the GOP will still sweep in 2006. The main reason: No one (but the media) really cares about Delay, Frist or Rove. The general public doesn't even know what the Plame case was about. Most people don't even understand what Delay's case is all about, and frankly, they don't care...Even if they did care, I think most people are so incredibly dissolusioned with politics in general that they expect it from both sides and then tune it out.

But seriously, if the Dems ever want to have a chance again in this country, they need to get away from this far left-wing ideology. They need new blood - politicians who are moderate enough to appeal to the red states too...

drink300

[Lil4X]

The indictment of Tom DeLay is another extortion attempt by Travis County DA Ronnie Earle, Democrat. This showboating partisan operative has built a reputation for bringing Republicans before the bar – and letting them off for substantial contributions to his pet projects. He’s never brought a landmark case, obtained only a few minor convictions, He's only lined his pockets by making threats of political ruin. If you’re a Travis County justice of the peace or dogcatcher, a local corporation or power broker, it’s effective. It's proven to be cheaper to simply pay the toll and let this little toad slink back into his slimy hole. This time Mr. Earle, Democrat, has bitten off ‘way more than he can chew.

For years, Ronnie Earle, Democrat has been slinging mud, mounting charge after charge at Rep. DeLay. Nothing has stuck. After his SIXTH attempt, he finally got a Grand Jury to hand up an indictment on DeLay – on a single nebulous charge of undefined “conspiracy”. A Grand Jury indictment only means that a majority of the Grand Jurors believe the case is deserving of investigation. It is a long way from a criminal charge, and light-years from a conviction. Thus far, not one single fact has come forth, let alone proven in the investigation. Accusations are a dime a carload - especially from a political hack like Earle, Democrat.

The agenda here remains “Get Bush”. All of the talking points, all of the media reports read like the abortive Guard Document forgery scandal. It all goes to show how desperate the dems are, trying to wrest control of the Congress away from the Republicans . . . because they are losing their primary legislative body, the courts.

[Matters]

I was wondering what the GOP sympathisers were going to say about this. Sounds like they are using the same argument Clinton did: partisan prosecutor.

What's the truth? I don't know. Irrespective of any agendas, the independent Grand Jury seem to think he was worth indicting. Isn't that enough?

Or don't we trust the jury of our peers now? Because he couldn't possibly be guilty of corruption because he's a good ol' GOP man? Hmmmmmmmm....

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Matters

What's the truth? I don't know. Irrespective of any agendas, the independent Grand Jury seem to think he was worth indicting. Isn't that enough?

No it isn't enough to convict him, this is only an indictment which needs to be investigated objectively. Of course I doubt that will happen w/o a lot of political posturing on both sides. From what I've seen this case is suspect at best.