Tom Delay and the charges sticking

[adarling]

My friend, who is a republican...i keep him around cause he is amusing, tried to point out that this will not stick and the charges are "lame". That they can't charge him with something like this because it does not exist. Help me fellow DUer's figure this out, it has been bothering me.

[SteppingRazor]

1. It doesn't exist?!

While I'm actually no fan at all of criminal conspiracy laws, like them or not, they _do_ exist. To deny their existence is just plain stupid.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Well, I believe there is a Texas statute that says it DOES

Ronnie Earl convinced a jury of Texans that laws were broken. DeLay was indicted. End of discussion.

[Richardo]

3. Because *what* does not exist?

The law? Ethics Rules? The Judicial system? Travis County? Ronnie Earle? The Grand Jury?

What do you mean? Avoid the use of ambiguous pronouns if possible. :thumbsup:

[adarling]

9. thought people would know if they were reading this

will not use them next time, i was in a rush :). I am asking about the charges being not real.

[louis-t]

4. Ask him to explain "lame", and which laws "do not exist".

If he responds with "cuz it's not fair", you'll know that he is hopeless.

[Justitia]

5. Money laundering is very serious. And Tom has a loooonnngg trail.

Don't forget that two major corporations - Sears & Cracker Barrel - just made a deal to flip on him.

There is lots of evidence of financial transactions made by DeLay where he moved serious, non-legal cash, all around the US and eventually got it back to himself (some thru his "charity" for children).

This snail left a long, sliimy trail.

[melissinha]

8. thats right

forgot about that.... Could make an argument for the fact the laundered other funds through his own bank account and then contributed to campaigs???????

[melissinha]

6. De Nile is a river in Egypt

They can't see why accepting corporate money for state races is illegal when it is not illegal elsewhere. The fact is that this is one of the only election laws in Texas and frankly there's a good reason for it (corporations are running our federal legislative branch and look where its gotten us). Its against the law here in Texas, period, has been for several years, and the snake wouldn't have had to divert funds if it were legal.


Look at it this way: Al Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion, not very glamourous or for his most heinous crimes... same goes for DeLay, he broke Texas law not for political strongarming and redistricting.

[adarling]

13. Thanks everyone, i feel better now

haven't had time to research Delay, even though i am from texas, i have been focusing on school and the indictments and such.,

[Debi]

7. There once was a time when it was believed that the earth was flat

There once was a time when only wealth white male land owners could vote and there once was a time when criminal conspiracy occurred without consequence.

But now there are laws, and lawyers, and judges that ensure that the laws be followed.

Tom Delay did not follow the law, he broke the law, he got indicted for breaking the law and he will be convicted of breaking the law.

[Raster]

10. yeah, I have a republican or two I keep around for the "fun" factor...

...you're friend is whistling past the graveyard. The charges are anything but "lame." He's been charged him with money laundering and conspiracy, very serious charges. And to boot, bugman delay has many, many enemies. Even if he walks away tomorrow, scot-free, he is damaged goods. And believe me, he ain't walking away. The evidence will be conclusive and there's just too many bullets with his name on them.

[Lexingtonian]

11. One count out of three is 'controversial'

Point him to the other two being easy to make. The money laundering law-breaking is obvious.

Tell this fellow that in court, if you're exonerated on one felony charge and convicted on two, surprisingly enough you will in fact go to jail. :D

[gratuitous]

12. It's kind of a foreign concept under the corrupt Bush regime

But this is why we have criminal *trials*. See, the prosecutor and the defendant both get to put on their evidence, and the jury (or the judge, if there's no jury) decides whether the defendant is guilty of the crime he's been charged with.

That's that "rule of law" thing all the Repukes were bleating about seven years ago, when their case against Clinton fell to pieces.

[BOSSHOG]

14. Pretty soon your friend will be telling you the conviction doesn't exist