DeLay takes Texas' clout in Congress with him

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 12, 2006, 12:49AM
DeLay takes Texas' clout in Congress with him
Despite a long history of holding top posts, Texans now have none


By JULIE MASON
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Through most of the past century, the leadership of Congress had a certain Texas swagger.

The power and parliamentary skills of Texans — House Speaker Sam Rayburn, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey — are the stuff of legend in the Capitol.

But when embattled Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, stepped down permanently as House majority leader Saturday, Texas found itself without a rainmaker in a top congressional leadership role.

"It has been essentially a Texas right to lead one house of Congress or the other for most of the 20th century," said Cal Jillson, an expert on Texas politics at Southern Methodist University.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3581616.html
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[Spider Jerusalem]

1. Um...wha?

"It has been essentially a Texas right to lead one house of Congress or the other for most of the 20th century..."

Right? My arse. Fucking Texan chauvinism.

[booksenkatz]

2. Don't worry, Texas is still thoroughly represented in our fed govt.

via Bush and Cheney... even though it is patently illegal for the president and vice-president to be from the same state. It was one of the first laws they broke.

[Orsino]

3. Good.

No disrespect meant to Texans in general. Texas has much more to offer than DeLay-style corruption; maybe something better will get play.

[txindy]

7. Well, I live here.

And I'm with you. :toast: Let's hope BugBoy's lack of influence helps overturn the redistricting fiasco here, too, then we can send people to DC and Austin who truly represent the state and its districts.

[Orsino]

10. I don't like the idea of *any* bunch of reps...

...wielding the kind of power DeLay had.

[AlCzervik]

4. "A Right" WTF? I don't think so missy.

[Justitia]

5. Rayburn vs DeLay & Armey - TOTAL OPPOSITES!

At the time of his death, Sam Rayburn was the longest serving Speaker of the House ever.
He was LEGENDARY for his integrity - never took a single dime above his federal salary, and REFUSED to even be reimbursed for TRAVEL EXPENSES for any travel (incl. speaking engagements, etc).

He was quoted as saying that any congressman that left congress with a dime more than he came in with was corrupt. He had the same exact assets when he left office so many yrs later as when he went in. He went back to live out his life in the same house he owned when he went in.

Sam Rayburn (as was LBJ when in congress) was PIVOTAL in pushing thru FDRs New Deal programs - it never would have happened without Mr. Sam Rayburn.

His name should NEVER BE SPOKEN in the same breath as those two GOP CROOKS, they have forever sullied any good Texan to ever serve their country.

See my sig line.....

[Straight Shooter]

8. Hear hear!

A real Texan holds her or his head up high, because they have integrity in their heart; and if they are a true believer, they follow the Almighty, not the almighty dollar.

Good post on Rayburn. :thumbsup:

[shugah]

6. ah well, new century.

It has been essentially a Texas right to lead one house of Congress or the other for most of the 20th century

i am flabbergasted at times, by the bizarre words that people sometimes speak.

ot: Judi Lynn - is your sig photo a power rangers villain or an old ultraman villain? i'm sure i recognize him, but can't quite place him... (except for his resemblance to delay, of course ;-) )

[Judi Lynn]

9. I wanted a photo I could post on Delay threads, and did a search

for "roachman" in google images. I just went back to see if it's still there, and found this terrific one, rat chere!



I saw a Gahan Wilson cartoon years ago of an exterminator kneeling on the floor, smashing roaches with a hammer. Someone was saying to another, "I love to see a man who really enjoys his work." I've often wondered if that's how Delay got his name, "The Hammer!"