DeLay Takes Over Cunningham’s Spot On Appropriations Committee

[G_j]

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/delay-duke-appropriations/

DeLay Takes Over Cunningham’s Spot On Appropriations Committee

When DeLay announced his official resignation on Saturday, he also announced he was “reclaiming” his seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Why is there a seat available? From the San Diego Union Tribune, 12/10/05:

A vacancy on the panel occurred earlier this week when Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Rancho Santa Fe, formally resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to charges that he accepted bribes from defense contractors.

[Caution]

1. If they put names on the actual seats in the committee room

They should just put a permanent: "Indicted Criminal" on that seat an then once Delay is convicted or pleads guilty they can move on to Congressman Ney as soon as his indictment comes down.

[InsultComicDog]

5. They may as well do that

...for all of the Republican seats

[Kber]

2. Shortage of honest elected republican officials I see.

[yellowcanine]

3. Uh - I thought the speaker assigned committee seats. How can he just

"reclaim" a seat? Besides, why would you allow someone in the middle of a bribery scandal to be on the Appropriations Committee?

[Sydnie]

4. They made a deal with him to get him to back down

and formally resign his leaders seat.

Republican criminal musical chairs, that's all it is.

They should make the the "memorial chair" of repugs now in jail due to the service they gave for their country! :rofl:

[InsultComicDog]

6. Sure seems like it n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. That would be my guess

Oh well...at least they didn't put him as Chair of the Ethics Committee!

[Skidmore]

8. There needs to be hue and cry from the populace.

The only appointment they should have given him was restroom attendant. Meantime, why should this guy be in charge of the purse?

[yellowcanine]

15. I will do my part.

Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry,
Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry, Hue and Cry.

The Populace.

[Cassandra]

9. I think it's appropriate that he be on Appropriations.

He appropriates quite well and as much as possible.

[G_j]

12. and knows how to clean it up

as in "launder" that is.

[peekaloo]

10. Duck, duck cooked goose.

so a deal was cut, eh?

Let's hope that chair is vacated again....soon.

[WhiteTara]

11. since this is call day...let's call Hastert

and let him know we aren't a bunch of turnips growing moldy in the back room.
His regional offices
27 North River Street
Batavia, IL 60510

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Dixon Regional Office

119 W. First Street
Dixon, IL 61021

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
9 AM – 4 PM
Geneseo Regional Office

137 South State Street, Suite 336
Geneseo, IL 61254

Phone: [phone]

Even just dozens of calls to his offices would be great.

[TahitiNut]

13. Well, gee ... that's exactly where I'd want an unethical hack.

:sarcasm: What better place to shovel out taxpayer dollars to cronies and sycopahnts?

For congresscritters in the pockets of federal contractors, the Appropriations Committee is the prize assignment.

Quid meet quo.

[KharmaTrain]

14. This Weaseldick Isn't Going Quietly...Ramping It Down A Notch

This dude still is swinging the hammer here...don't be fooled. The Appropriations committee is Pork Central and is what launched DeLay's machine in the first place. Generally this position is considered the most powerful in the Congress as so much money flows through it.

This is a less profile position...(can anyone name the longtime Democratic chairman of that committee?? He held it for years. Clue: he met a fate I'm certain DeLay will replicate)...it means Bugman can continue to dish out the favors and control his machine without the glare of the corporate media...or so he hopes.

That speech on Saturday wasn't of contrition or of a man fighting for his political life. He's like a vampire...until there's a silver stake in his non-existant heart, or he melts, many in his corrupt party will be under his influence. Don't let any of this "reform" crap sway you, all it is is trying to "cool things down" and re-arranging the deck chairs.

DeLay had to step down as it's starting to appear this scandal is going to center only on Repugnicans and he's a radioactive target. While I'm sure there are many in that Repugnican caucus who don't like DeLay and are quietly welcoming his fall, they're still scared shit when he walks past them or one of his "whips" comes a calling. These goons are conflicted cause they hate who this asshole is, but they are so adicted to the money and pork he can send their way. It's not that DeLay did anything wrong, it's he gives a face to this scandal that Repugnicans want to minimize. Problem is each week for the next few months there's gonna be a new face to this scandal as indictments and name dropping and testimony and convictions take their toll.

:popcorn:

[G_j]

16. --

[spanone]

17. it's a damned shell game...

:banghead:

[SoCalDem]

18. he better check the "seat" for "bugs"..Right up his alley, eh?