The Republicans are setting themselves up with their talking points

[Walt Starr]

and I don't even think they know it.

They're talking about how hard it is to get a conviction in a case like this and how going for a conspiracy charge is a last ditch desperate act to try and get somebody and how hard it is to convict for conspiracy.

This is a heavy gamble because I think Earle knows he has Delay dead to rights and furthermore, he would have brought many additional charges had he not already been handcuffed by the Texas court which ruled he had no jurisdiction on the other charges. I also think there may be a federal case in all of this.

If Delay goes down, he's going to tke a lot of Republicans with him and a lot of Republicans will have egg all over their faces next year smack dab in the middle of the elections.

Everything is spin to these assholes, and this is something they won't be able to spin themselves out of.

[Melodybe]

1. agreed! Kicked and nominated

We agree again!?! First Walt Starr and then Ann Coulter, the world is upside down!

[Walt Starr]

3. It's worse than I thought, DeLay probably already copped a plea bargain,

I expect a nolo contendere plea. He waived the statute of limitations on the charge with the advise and consent of counsel according to the indictment.

Here's the text:

"The Grand Jury further presents that, with the advise and consent of counsel, the defendent, Thomas Dale DeLay, did heretofore knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive application of Articles 12.01 and 12.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to the indictment presented herein. In particular, the Grand Jury present that with the advice and consent of counsel, the defendent, Thomas Dale DeLay, did knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive the requirement that an indictment for the felony offense of criminal conspiracy, the object of which is felony other than those listed in Subdivisions (1) and (5) of Article 12.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, may be presented within three years from the date of commission of the offense, and not afterward, insofar as such requirement pertains to the indictment presented herein,"

Bottom of page three of the indictment:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0928051delay3.html

and the top of page four of the indictment:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0928051delay4.html

[Melodybe]

7. A republican admitting guilt of anything is hard to believe

But it is definitely lose-lose for them.

[Walt Starr]

11. That's why it will be "nolo contendere"

"No Contest"

"I'm not guilty but I'm not fighting it."

After the plea is entered, though, Earle will be free to brag about how it was a plea bargain.

[BigBearJohn]

2. Delay is like a kid bringing home an F on his reportcard and then

blaming the teacher... "aw mom... that teacher doesn't like me. That's why I got the F"

[Just Me]

4. They do appear to be "spinning" themselves into a political grave.

There is so much more looming over the Republican party and the BushCO/neoCON regime right now. Their willingness to risk this country and her people for their own obsession with power along with the pathological deceit and lying WILL bury their political influence for much longer than the Nixon debacle because they are so much friggin worse!!!

Rule #1 in a democracy: Do NOT deceive and betray the people in order to feed your own addiction to power IMHO.

[Beetwasher]

5. If Delay Cops A Plea, They Are ALL So Fucked

It's delicious...

[Tatiana]

6. I agree. This warrants a federal investigation. DOJ should be on it. n/t

[Cocoa]

8. I'm looking forward to Bill Bennett's radio show tomorrow

my email to him:

Dear Dr. Bennett,

I'm looking forward to your program tomorrow morning, I can't wait to see which Shakespeare qoute, or maybe a Thucyidides quote, you will use to rationalize Tom Delay's corruption.

Sincerely,

[grannylib]

23. Ask him what group he's going to suggest be aborted out of existence

next...

[Dhampir Kampf]

9. I hope so.

But knowing them, they'll find a way to weasel themselves out, but coming up with some BS excuse, and bash Democrats in another way.

[Ikonoklast]

10. They will ask him to quietly go away

to save their chances in '06. Some big money will be thrown his way to disappear.
If Bugmans' ego gets in the way, he will then be thrown under the bus to save the party. Federal indictments will definitely ensue.
I wonder what eating your own tastes like.

[mcctatas]

26. Chicken

it tastes like chicken:rofl:

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. If it's hard to convict, you know they've been taking this into account

all this time that they've been breaking the laws.

[rucky]

13. Naw...he knows he fucked, or he wouldn't have stepped down

as speaker.

This is good ol' fashioned saber-rattling to rile up his true believers.

[phylny]

15. I believe he was required to step down as speaker by virtue of being

indicted.

He didn't have a choice.

[rucky]

17. Could be. If so, I don't know what's more alarming...

that he was required to step down (meaning he probably wouldn't have if he wasn't forced to).

or that there's precedent for this situation - enough to warrant a rule like that.

[Catfight]

14. Of course they'll spin it, the interesting thing is isn't bushites dizzy

by now from the constant right wing spin? I think they are sick to death of right wing talking points justifying bad ethics and bad behavior. A house divide WILL fall.

[DefenseLawyer]

16. Not only is it spin, but it is flat wrong

Conspiracy is generally much easier to prove than the underlying crime, especially for defendants at the top that rarely "get their hands dirty". A conspiracy is simply an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime followed by an "overt act" by someone in furtherance of the agreement. DeLay doesn't even have to be the one who acted in furtherance of the conspiracy. In other words the state doesn't have to prove that he physically did anything, only that he made an agreement with others to do something illegal.

[Just Me]

18. That was my thinking, as well. His constitutents are facing 99 years,...

,...of potential imprisonment. He did NOTHING to save their asses. Anyone really believe that their loyalty is so blind as to sacrifice the possibility of a huge reduction by simply testifying about his involvement and direction?

C'mon!!! There is enough evidence in news-type to tie Delay into the scheme.

He is a gonner!!! However, he also feels quite comfortable in waging intimidation tactics,...hope the bastard gets caught 'cause he'll invite additional charges relating to interfering with an investigation.

What is with the rumors about him "copping a plea"? :eyes:

[Walt Starr]

21. Read the indictment

Here's the text:

"The Grand Jury further presents that, with the advise and consent of counsel, the defendent, Thomas Dale DeLay, did heretofore knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive application of Articles 12.01 and 12.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to the indictment presented herein. In particular, the Grand Jury present that with the advice and consent of counsel, the defendent, Thomas Dale DeLay, did knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive the requirement that an indictment for the felony offense of criminal conspiracy, the object of which is felony other than those listed in Subdivisions (1) and (5) of Article 12.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, may be presented within three years from the date of commission of the offense, and not afterward, insofar as such requirement pertains to the indictment presented herein,"

Bottom of page three of the indictment:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0928051delay3.html

and the top of page four of the indictment:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0928051delay4.html

[JohnnyBoots]

19. Is this a sacrifice in the public eye to dsicredit big time GOPindictments

[FreedomAngel82]

20. I hope you're right

I'll wait till 2006 for sure though. I do love justice though.

[cowboy hula girl]

22. This should be the end of the bug man....... bye bye bug man....!

[blossomstar]

24. Praise God, I have lived long enough to see his smirking, evil

face all red and blown up because he is coming DOWN! YES! There is HOPE! Thank you Lord!

[AuntiBush]

25. So SICK of RE-THUGLICAN Spins!

I'm praying they get more then just "egg" on their faces!

[The Unknown Derelict]

27. Egads

Does anyone else get tired of 'talking points'?