Good news! Kos reports - activists have influenced Ethics Comm on DeLay!

[Darby]

http://www.dailykos.com/

Keeping the pressure on DeLay
by kos
Mon Sep 20th, 2004 at 21:36:33 GMT

A Capitol Hill Democratic source tells me that your calls last week, demanding the ethics committee investigate DeLay, made a difference.

It wasn't so much that committee Democrats want to punt on the investigation, nor that they are more interested in maintaining the ethics truce. Rather, they have been seeking a way to move forward that doesn't invite retaliation from the other side. Of course, given who they're dealing with (DeLay), retaliation seems all but assured if they do anything other than punt.

In any case, the source said that your phone calls (and there were a ton of them) slowed the rush toward giving DeLay a pass. Committee Dems are apparently now holding a harder line, and the outcome is once again up in the air. I have included the committee member names and phone numbers below. It's best if you live in those members' districts, but not requried. On an issue like this, I'm told, committee members may be swayed by the national mood.

On another front, Rep. Chris Bell, who filed the ethics complaint against Tom DeLay, is also not ready to surrender, just today issuing a new letter once again urging the committee to move forward with an investigation. I have included a copy of that letter in the extended entry.

So keep the pressure up. We've already had an impact.

Republicans

Joel Hefley (CO-5)
202.225.4422

Doc Hastings (WA-4)
202.225.5816

Judy Biggert (IL-13)
202.225.3515

Kenny Hulshof (MO-9)
202.225.5712

Steven LaTourette (OH-14)
202.225.5731

Democrats

Alan Mollohan (WV-1)
202.225.4172

Stephanie Tubb Jones (OH-11)
202.225.7032

Gene Green (TX-29)
202.225.1688

Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
202.225.1766

Michael Doyle (PA-14)
202.225.2135

[Darby]

1. More info on what to do - DO IT NOW!! Improve Texas Without DeLay!!!

CONTACT THE CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE (5 Dems, 5 Republicans) TO DEMAND THAT THEY VOTE FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST TOM DELAY AT THIER SEPT. 20, 2004 MEETING. If they don't vote to proceed - Tom DeLay will not be held accountable for what he has done (and will be even more emboldened, if that is possible.)

The complaint covers three well-supported allegations:

1) DeLay's soliciting a bribe from Westar Energy in return for an amendment to the energy bill that would have resulted in millions of dollars in savings for the company;

2) DeLay's use of his PAC, Texans for a Republican Majority to launder corporate money, converting such funds into hard dollars that were donated directly to candidates for the Texas State Legislature; and

3) DeLay's use of the Federal Aviation Administration to track down a plane carrying Texas legislators who had left the State to avoid voting on DeLay's partisan redistricting plan.

***

ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
http://www.house.gov/ethics/CommitteeMembers.htm

10 Members = 5 Dems + 5 Republicans

THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS:

JOEL HEFLEY - Colorado
2372 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-4422 voice
202-225-1942 fax
http://www.house.gov/hefley/contact.shtm

DOC HASTINGS – Washington
1323 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4704
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.house.gov/hastings/district.html

JUDY BIGGERT – Illinois
1213 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://judybiggert.house.gov/contact.asp

STEVEN LATOURETTE – Ohio
2453 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone - [phone]
http://www.house.gov/latourette/contact.htm

KEN HULSHOF - Missouri
412 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2509
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=360&lvl=C


Read the ethics complaint at http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/20040615 /

THEN MEDIA BLAST YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON THIS

[Darby]

4. Don't forget to contact the DEMOCRATS as well - very important

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. As a bonus- let's make DeLay the noose around Bush's neck

I believe Tommy boy can be closely tied to a LOT of Texas shenanigans that benefit Bush.

[CitySky]

21. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE

Hooray! :7

Keep the pressure ON ON ON. Time for the full court press! Go team!

[LisaLynne]

2. Woo hoo!

We still have a semblance of a democracy and we can make a difference!!!

[liveoaktx]

3. Good. I called all the Reps last week, tomorrow the Dems

[skooooo]

5. See, we really are making a difference!!

[NEOBuckeye]

6. Good to hear! That vile thug DeLay deserves to face justice

[Darby]

7. Contact Air America Radio and make sure they talk about this tomorrow

I just sent a couple e-mails out to them

[crispini]

8. kick

[Darby]

9. Just DU it!

[dansolo]

10. The Democrats need to learn something fast

"It wasn't so much that committee Democrats want to punt on the investigation, nor that they are more interested in maintaining the ethics truce. Rather, they have been seeking a way to move forward that doesn't invite retaliation from the other side. Of course, given who they're dealing with (DeLay), retaliation seems all but assured if they do anything other than punt."

The Democrats should realize that DeLay will retaliate no matter what. And the more you back down, the harder he will hit you. You need to hit him as hard as you can when you get the chance.

[Mr_Spock]

12. Yeah, he really needs to be hit.

What a scumbag he is - take him down!

[Darby]

11. Kick ass Leter to Hulshof - Hannibal MO

To:
Rep. Kenny Hulshof

September 16, 2004

Congressman Hulshof,

I’m writing to let you know how disappointed I am to hear that the House Ethics Committee is stonewalling the American People with regards to the situation concerning Tom DeLay of Texas.

I have seen many documents describing the, shall we say “Suspect”, activities he has been involved in concerning his financial dealings, the redistricting in Texas, phony Children’s charity, etc. It disturbs me that, with all these charges and supporting documentation, that the House Ethics Committee is unable to take a stand for the American People, our Government, and the honesty and integrity of the House of Representatives.

I am also hearing that MOST of the Republican Members of the Ethics Committee (4 of the 5) that are involved with bringing DeLay to justice are also receiving bribes from him through his PAC. That’s absolutely disgusting! As an upstanding citizen of Missouri, I’m certain that you would take the higher ground, Congressman. Am I correct?

Congressman, it’s time we brought some respectability back to our government. I am so tired of hearing about the dalliances of the Democrats from the Republicans, and then hearing that the Republicans are involved in the same (or MUCH, MUCH Worse) activities, oblivious to the morality of the situation.

I’m watching, Congressman! September 20 is fast approaching. You don’t want your legacy to be that of the Congressman who rolled over and took it from DeLay, do you? You can make your choice next week, and Missouri’s choice will be based on your choice.




Hannibal , MO

[Darby]

13. Kick ass LTTE - Houston

Ballot box is our safeguard

Regarding the Chronicle's Sept. 15 article "Ethics panel to weigh charges against DeLay": It is imperative that the House Ethics Committee ensure that a full investigation into the ethics charges against U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay be conducted.

Should the House fail to police itself, the ethics of the committee members themselves should be questioned since four of the five Republicans on the committee have received donations from DeLay's political action committee.

If the "most powerful man in Washington" is allowed to escape ethics charges, what might he do next? Our only safeguard is the ballot box.

[Darby]

14. Kick ass LTTE - Houston

I agree with the Chronicle's Sept. 17 editorial that said that U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's initial statement that parents interested in a "good, solid, godly education" should not send their children to Texas A&M University or to Baylor University, the two major educational institutions in the redrawn district, actually represented DeLay's true feelings. Another statement by him may also shed some light on his own situation: "Our school systems teach the children they are nothing but glorified apes who are evolutionized out of some primordial soup of mud." What better evidence of the truth of what the children are being taught than Tom DeLay's own life and character. He should not be re-elected. He's made me a believer in term limits. Twenty years in Congress is long enough. He should retire and live the rest of his life on the largess of the big government he so deplores.

[Darby]

15. www.morrisonfor22.com - Support DeLay's opponent!

www.morrisonfor22.com


Even $10...

[Darby]

20. Support Richard Morrison!

[Darby]

16. kick

[Sugarbleus]

17. Finally, some excellent news on Sleazeball Delay!!

:bounce:

[kokomo]

18. I was hoping Flynt had taken care of him years ago..

Nothing ever came of the story that "Hot Tub" Tom DeLay had a married mistress who became pregnant and had an abortion around 1990 in Sugarland after her husband said it wasn't his and divorced her. Of course, DeLay didn't giver her any pro-life counseling and dumped her too. This was about five years after DeLay was "born again" for Jesus. "Joann" then ended up owning a Sugarland nightclub and supposedly didn't want Flynt's million dollar reward. But then Sugarland has had an epidemic of "suicides" like Enron whistleblower Baxter, and the lady who filed rape charges on George W. I don't blame Joann for taking care of her health.

[CitySky]

22. Thanks, Darby, for posting the phone numbers in one easy format!

I sent them to Mom. She wants to call the Dems now too. :)

And, if y'all didn't hear about the INDICTMENTS today, check out the discussion in the Latest Breaking News Forum or read this afternoon's lead story in the Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/2807364

Yeee-haw! We are getting close to roping ourselves one money-fattened Texan Congresscritter!