Spokesman: DeLay Won't Step Down Today

[sabra]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/delay_wont_step.html

Spox: DeLay Won't Step Down Today
Will Rep. Tom DeLay try to tuck his leadership resignation as majority leader into this lazy Friday evening news cycle?

His spokesman, Kevin Madden, says no. "He won't resign today."

The buzz on the Hill, circulating among members and their aides, is that DeLay has started to tell colleagues that he will acquiesce to their demands -- public, in the case of a few and private for many more-- and step down.

Madden denies it and calls the rumors "just plain wrong."

As the Hotline first reported, about two dozen members plan to circulate a Dear Colleague letter seeking fifty signatures, which would trigger a caucus meeting. An election would only be held if DeLay resigned permanently or a majority of members voted to hold one.

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. That's today. I say by Monday

his slimy ass will resign.

[babylonsister]

2. I guess his repug buddies will have to drag him kicking

and screaming from the House. :rofl: :popcorn:

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. I Thought He Already Stepped Down

What in the fuck is going on with this god damned country? I thought he had to resign as leader when he was indicted, which was months ago. Am I missing something here? I thought there is currently NO MAJORITY LEADER, until one is voted in.

Only in Congress can you get indicted, and still apparently remain with a job and in power. Most jobs you would get fired immediately, but I guess that sort of thing only happens in the real world, to ordinary scum like us.

[Rainscents]

Republicans changed the rules.

Now, it's when someone is found guilty (court) is the only way they have to step down. LOL

[Geoff R. Casavant]

13. No, you're right, the article cited in the OP is off a bit.

He did step down after his indictment, and others are filling in on a temporary basis. I think the gist of the argument, though, is that he won't seek to regain the post.

[Debi]

4. Nice caveat...he won't resign TODAY

Monday? maybe not so good for the Hammer...:shrug:

[bluestateguy]

5. Hopefully his district will resign him

we'll see.

[tularetom]

6. When they start denying it -

it's only a matter of time. The only way for delay to avoid losing face over this is to resign before they fire him so I look for it to happen soon. Maybe not today but early next week at the latest. Maybe he'll try to hide it behind the news from Israel if Sharon should die.

[MADem]

7. Well, that word TODAY confirms it--he is toast, and knows it

He is simply juggling for advantage vis a vis the timing! When the tighty-righties tell ya to go, ya gotta go!

...One of them is Rep. John Kline (R-MN). Kline, who has a 96% rating from the American Conservative Union, told the Associated Press that "that situation is that Tom's legal situation doesn't seem to be reaching clarity."

Others, according to several sources, are: Reps Jeff Flake (AZ), Charlie Bass (NH), Fred Upton (MI), Joe Schwarz (MI), John Kline (MN), Chris Shays (CT), Rob Simmons (CT), Nancy Johnson (CT), Mark Kirk (IL), Ray LaHood (IL), Walter Jones (NC), Heather Wilson (NM), Mike Castle (DE).

Three of these members -- Kline, Jones and Flake -- are bona fide conservatives who occasionally buck the party line. The rest are caucus moderates.

Other rank-and-file conservatives, including several who have been leadership loyalists in the past, are also said to have signed the letter....

[BR_Parkway]

9. Reaching clarity? I'd say it's pretty damn clear to me - criminal action

to support your party does not make it legal because you did it for what you thought was a good cause.

[TahitiNut]

8. "step DOWN"??? He can't get much lower!

He belongs in a septic tank.

[LSK]

10. hes probably working behind the scenes to find a "replacement"

Lots of arm twisting probably going around.

[Ino]

11. But... but... Bush says Delay's innocent!

:crazy:

[jazzjunkysue]

12. Update: Gannon won't go down today, either.

They're saving that for their special time together this weekend.