Proof Tom DeLay is now politically radioactive? -Houston Chronicle

[Rose Siding]

Monday's stunning reversal by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and the Republicans in Congress on the so-called DeLay Rule caught all by surprise, including those of us in the midst of the effort to hold politicians accountable for these types of actions.

But it shouldn't have. There are three reasons why DeLay caved on the provision, which was enacted by the House Republican conference back in mid-November and was designed to protect him if he gets indicted for his role in the on-going investigation into corporate fund-raising in Texas politics: constituent anger; a measurable rebellion among House members that emboldened House Democrats; and the growing sense that DeLay is becoming politically radioactive.

But first some background. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has been conducting an investigation into possibly illegal corporate campaign fund-raising in the 2002 elections by a DeLay-created political action committee known as TRMPAC. Eight corporations and three individuals have already been indicted by a grand jury for their role. All three individuals have strong ties to DeLay, making DeLay's potential indictment a matter of great speculation.

Already two of the eight corporations, including Sears Roebuck & Co., have recently turned state's witness.

The corporate fund-raising led to a Republican majority in the Texas Legislature that was willing and eager to pass DeLay's unprecedented plan to re-redistrict congressional lines in Texas, skewing them toward electing more GOP members of Congress. And that is what happened. DeLay returned to Congress after the November elections with five extra GOP members from Texas.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/2978085

[metisnation]

1. Tom DeLay

Put him in shackles and throw him in the clinker.

:kick:

[roguevalley]

2. Please God that it will be so.

[Bouncy Ball]

3. I think what happened is this:

the repukes figured out that the fix is in, DeLay's not going to get convicted. So now they don't need the change in the rule and they can leave it like it is and go after Pelosi.

On edit: the article you linked to is certainly optimistic (for us) and I was pleasantly surpised to find it was written by the same guy who runs the Daily DeLay blog, and I hope he's right but I've come to view ANYTHING repukes do with a suspicious eye.

[coloradodem2005]

4. He's not uptight. He is unattractive.

Turn him loose tonight. Cause he's radioactive. Radioactive.

[MSgt213]

5. Redistricting is pure bullshit to begin with. How the hell are you going

to carve up districts so only one party gets elected and some how that's fair. Oh, I forgot we got a bunch of dumbass fuckers in this country who are more then willing to give up their voice, vote and turn their ass over to be fuck as hard as some policitian wants.