Tom Delay is not off the hook

[Gothmog]

I saw this in the Houston paper. See http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2914202

AUSTIN — A Travis County prosecutor Monday said no one is "off the hook" in the investigation of a political committee founded by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land.

Assistant District Attorney Gregg Cox, who is leading the investigation, said all individuals associated with Texans for a Republican Majority are still potential suspects in the case. But Cox said no further grand jury investigation or potential indictments will occur before January.

"No one has ever named Tom DeLay or any other individual as a target in this investigation. Nor have we ever said that anyone is off the hook," Cox said

[liberal N proud]

1. He could be the first Majority Leader to lead from jail.

[whistle]

2. Listen, that sounds like a novel idea, and let the rest of the majority...

...party join Delay. The country would at least know that they have to attend every session. The democrats would be assured of an audience, plus felons can't actually vote, but they can participate, so we could end up on the top end of most of the voting. Let's push for prosecution and jail time.

[yellowcanine]

5. No, if he is in jail it means he is convicted. The "free pass" only

covers indictment, not conviction.

[liberal N proud]

6. Until they change that law also!

Put nothing, Nothing past these assholes.

[coloradodem2005]

3. Nobody should be off the hook.

n/t

[Gothmog]

4. Powerful editorial by Ronnie Earl

Ronnie Earl is the Travis County DA who is investigating Delay. See http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/opinion/23earle.html?oref=login
The thinly veiled personal attacks on me by Mr. DeLay's supporters in this case are no different from those in the cases of any of the 15 elected officials this office has prosecuted in my 27-year tenure. Most of these officials - 12 Democrats and three Republicans - have accused me of having political motives. What else are they going to say?

For most of my tenure the Democrats held the power in state government. Now Republicans do. Most crimes by elected officials involve the abuse of power; you have to have power before you can abuse it.

There is no limit to what you can do if you have the power to change the rules. Congress may make its own rules, but the public makes the rule of law, and depends for its peace on the enforcement of the law. Hypocrisy at the highest levels of government is toxic to the moral fiber that holds our communities together.

The open contempt for moral values by our elected officials has a corrosive effect. It is a sad day for law enforcement when Congress offers such poor leadership on moral values and ethical behavior. We are a moral people, and the first lesson of democracy is not to hold the public in contempt.


Ronnie Earle is the district attorney for Travis County, Tex.