DeLay Goes on Offensive in Ethics Woes

[Rose Siding]

snip>
DeLay's lawyer, Ed Bethune, sent a 33-page letter to Rep. David Dreier (news, bio, voting record) of California, chairman of the House Rules Committee. Bethune said in the memo the House should prevent lame-duck lawmakers like Rep. Chris Bell (news, bio, voting record) from filing ethics complaints.

Bell, a first-term Democrat from Texas, lost his seat in a primary that followed a DeLay-engineered redrawing of House district lines in Texas so Republicans could win more seats.

Bethune wrote that the House should consider finding Bell in contempt for "libeling" DeLay. He also faulted the panel for its procedures.

"Mr. DeLay never had an opportunity to appear and argue his position, and there was no offer to allow Mr. DeLay the courtesy of submitting a comment that could be published along with the committee's report," Bethune wrote.
........
"If DeLay and his lawyer feel he was treated unfairly, they can come back and we can open it all back up again," said Hefley, R-Colo.

Bell's spokesman, Eric Burns, said DeLay was attempting to undermine the ethics committee.

"It's telling that less than 24 hours after Mr. Delay is publicly admonished by the ethics committee, he is attempting to dismantle the ethics process. What we need in Congress is a more open and stronger ethics process and not a weaker ethics process," Burns said.....

More.........

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=1278&e=1&u=/ap/20041008/ap_on_go_co/delay_ethics

[skylarmae]

1. Does anyone have the #'s on DeLay and Morrison--?

Last I heard DeLay was up by 9 --- Somehow he's got to go.
He will never resign, unless more than this happens, so we have to
beat him at the poles... Pray for Texas.....

[CBHagman]

3. I will.

But I do think DeLay is ready for the lily in his hand politically, if you know what I mean. There is damage this time. We've got to clean house and remove him.

[amber dog democrat]

4. They misunderestimated the Travis Co District ATty, Ronnie Earle

Two of his aids are indicted, the Speaker of the House or Reps is under the magnifying glass, ( phone and appointment logs are being sued for - sans redactions Tom Craddick does not know how a 100,000.00 check from a nursing home consortium got into his hands ) and 8 corporations are under criminal indictment as well.

The DA is taking his time about going after DeLay. No need to hurry. Plenty to do with the smaller fish first.

They would have gotten away with if but for a 100 year old Texas Campaign Finance Law. This thing has not yet gotten fully underway.

Some of us Texas Dems are understandibly interested in how this turns out.

Worms are turning and fat ladies are warming up in the wings as DeLay's chickens are on final approach.

Stay tuned.

[BQueen]

7. good blended metaphor assessment

I love this --

"Worms are turning and fat ladies are warming up in the wings as DeLay's chickens are on final approach.

Stay tuned."

God all of this is fun to watch -- I keep thinking of the character in "My Favorite Year" who only whispers to the female writer - at the end when chaos reigns around him -- "I'm so HAPPY!"

[Supersedeas]

2. Repug members of the Ethics Committee must be proud of their esteemed

colleague.

He shows much respect for them, doesn't he?

[goodboy]

5. This is the best quote:

"It's telling that less than 24 hours after Mr. Delay is publicly admonished by the ethics committee, he is attempting to dismantle the ethics process."

This is the true, Tom Delay.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

6. Goes on the offensive?

I have always found Delay to be quite offensive.