NYT: In the House, DeLay Is a King Without a Crown

[kskiska]

(snip)

While Mr. DeLay is officially out of his position as majority leader due to his indictment on criminal charges in Texas, he remains the go-to guy for many House Republicans. They say he is virtually indispensable as the party faces the daunting prospect of delivering $50 billion or more in spending cuts as well as an immigration measure in the coming weeks.

(snip)

But the continuing strong presence of Mr. DeLay presents House Republicans with a quandary. Though he has the political muscle and inside knowledge to maneuver difficult legislation in a dicey political climate, he is also is operating under the liability of the criminal charges. Some Republicans acknowledge that their work could be tainted by any perception that he commands the House from the sidelines while awaiting a resolution of the charges.

"DeLay is driving the agenda," said one senior Republican lawmaker who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of talking about internal party matters. "I guess he has to be because he is the only guy who can get this done. But once people find out he is still in charge, that brings its own set of issues."

(snip)

His intense involvement also creates a potentially awkward situation with Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, now the titular No. 2 in the House and a potential permanent candidate for the post should Mr. DeLay's Texas legal troubles drag on. Though Mr. Blunt has said he expects Mr. DeLay to take back the leadership post, the temporary leadership team is still finding its footing and the task will not be made easier if lawmakers continue to look to Mr. DeLay.

"I thought once he was out, people would move on," said James A. Thurber, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. "But he is still there, concentrating power within the leadership and himself."

more…
http://nytimes.com/2005/10/12/politics/12delay.html?hp&ex=1129089600&en=e83ce278c73334cc&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Elidor]

1. Tom is the new face of the hot new GOP club: the Indictables.

Like bad cheese, they won't go away anytime soon.

[President Kerry]

2. that's what it's come to.. They can't even identify themselves as they

would be known as collaborating with an indicted criminal. Tough apples, eh, house repubs?

[Straight Shooter]

3. DeLay is more like a hemorrhoid that's been cut loose from home base.

Still a pain, though.

[ShockediSay]

4. Sort of reminds me of John Ghotti calling the shots from behind bars

(so to speak)

[antonialee839]

5. You'd think he'd be wearing a thorny crown, what with all his

claims of being wrongly persecuted.

[truthisfreedom]

6. he's an excellent liability for the thugs...and the Democratic Party knows

it. they can use delay's connections to his minions against them for the next year as they structure the great takeover. 8^)