Something Smells: US House Republicans Move to Protect Leader...

[AmyCrat]

US House Republicans Move to Protect Leader, Democrats Cry Foul
http://www.truthnews.net/daily/2004110152.htm
<snip>---
Majority Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have approved a rule change aimed at preventing their leader from having to step down in the face of any possible indictment in his home state of Texas. The move is the latest chapter in a debate with minority Democrats over ethics in Congress.

Because the majority wields so much law-making and agenda-setting power in American politics, potential problems facing a leader of the majority party in either chamber of Congress have tremendous political significance.

Congressman Tom DeLay of Texas, known as a tough political fighter publicly and behind-the-scenes, has been under an ethical cloud because of allegations raised in his home state of Texas.
---<snip>

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[gmoney]

1. First step... lower ethical standards for our government

evil evil evil

[anamandujano]

2. Well they are the party of moral values

from the article--

"Under previous Republican rules, party leaders have to temporarily step down if they are indicted for a crime carrying at least a two-year prison sentence."

I don't mind if he continues to be the leader if he's in prison. We can't have everything.

[AmyCrat]

3. I wonder

Would election fraud carry a 2 year sentence ya think?

[badc0der]

4. two points

First, an indictment is not the same as a conviction. The rule of law in America generally "innocent until proven guilty" so this change has some merit in terms of bringing congressional rules back in line with the legal system the founders envisioned. The real story IMO is not that this is being changed now, but that the rule existed in the first place. Now is a perfect opportunity to speak up about why the rule was instituted in the first place and which party likes to play fast and loose with the constitution for their own partisan gain.

Second, I really don't think this is going to help him. DeLay has had his share of troubles this year and I think when it comes down to it he is going to have a hard time holding on to his position within the party. In a way this change you make things sweeter, if DeLay gets "Gingriched" (as one of my friends out it) instead of getting taken out by some procedural rule that is contrary to the spirit of the constitution and that the dem's blocked the reformation of.

[TheFarseer]

5. I think if he was in prison

Dumb-ass Sugarland would still elect him in a landslide. They don't even care that he is screwing them over and making them a national joke.

[whistle]

6. The odor you are sensing is the sh*t on the noses of republican...

...congressmen who have been sniffing Tom Delay's ass for the past four years. In some cases they've actually stuck their heads way up that Good o'l boy's tuckus and have only now withdrawn long enough to pass this vote to protect loosing their warm place. Do not give them hoses or disinfectant, it will be much easier to pick them out of the crowd with sh*t encrusted all over their face and ears and head.

[RevCheesehead]

7. And these are the same idiots who screamed morals at Clinton.

So, which is it?
Morality (and the strict consequences of living anything less than "above-board."?

or
Business-as-usual?