I'm starting to think that Tom DeLay is cat. His political career obviously has at least nine lives. Possibly more.
DeLay, kicked out of the House Majority Leader position because of his indictment for money laundering, is now on the House Appropriations Subcommittee that is in charge of the NASA budget. The same NASA that has the Johnson Space Center in DeLay's district.
Yes, you read that correctly - a man who has been indicted for money laundering is now in charge of money in the House. Money laundering trial... giving out money. Does this make sense to any of you out there?
Like any good (or bad) infomercial, I'll say this: But wait, there's more. The Appropriations Subcommittee also is in charge of Department of Justice money. You can't make this stuff up.
DeLay, R-Texas, also claimed a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, which is currently investigating an influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his dealings with lawmakers. The subcommittee also has responsibility over NASA a top priority for DeLay, since the Johnson Space Center is located in his Houston-area district."Allowing Tom DeLay to sit on a committee in charge of giving out money is like putting Michael Brown back in charge of FEMA Republicans in Congress just can't seem to resist standing by their man," said Bill Burton, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But I saved the best for last.
DeLay was able to rejoin the powerful Appropriations panel he was a member until becoming majority leader in 2003 because of a vacancy created after the resignation of Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. Cunningham pleaded guilty in November to charges relating to accepting $2.4 million in bribes for government business and other favors.
DeLay replacing Cunningham. You cannot make this stuff up. If this wasn't our government, I'd think it was a pitch for a sitcom. By the way, what ever happened to "That's My Bush!"?
Yeah. New GOP. I'll believe that when I see it happen. And it obviously has not happened yet.
the fac t that tom delay is still around angers me. he should be removed from office like doolittle
doolittle?
Unbelievable. Just insanity piled on insanity. I hope this tragedy makes it into the history books some day. Great article, thanks for pointing this out.
I live in Tom DeLay's district (77469), and I happen to have met him, both as a constituent (asked him to support bill to fund the Grameen Bank circa 1988) and as a fellow church member. My personal impression has been that he's just not real.
In my neighborhood (~150 homes), I've been seeing "Re-Elect DeLay" signs since 12/1/05, but everyone I know in the community agrees that it's time for him to go--without hope of getting into lobbying or other revolving-door business. I personally expect him to end up where Newt Gingrich is, except I don't view DeLay as literate enough to write a book.
I live in the far western parcel of DeLay's district. I haven't seen how it's drawn, but it's got to look pretty weird: I live 10 miles from Sugar Land, and 45 miles from NASA. I'm guessing that it's two blobs, eastern Fort Bend County and NASA, connected by some wavy strip of land.
I predicted last year that Bush would win by a landslide and then be involved in a scandal which would make Watergate look like petty fraud. I now realize that this just represents what I'm willing to believe. We know he only won by a slim margin, and he's managed to stay clear of the multiplying scandals.
What I wonder about is how DeLay replacing Cunningham is *not* scandalous. It's not on any news, and realistically, we can only hope for coverage on Air America and, yes, the Daily Show. WTFIGO when only comic satirists consistently report the facts? The mainstream media seems to be in a mild coma, waking up from time to time to demonstrate lucidity, but spending most of its time nodding off and repeating what the Executive says it's doing.
Brad
I thought you should be aware but there is a solid Republican Candidate taking on DeLay in the primaries. His name is Tom Campbell. I don't your political persuasion, but thought you should know that there are Republicans out there they think DeLay's actions are reprehensible and that he is bad for America.
TJ
TJ: I'm sure there are some Republicans out there who do see DeLay's activities as reprehensible as well as illegal. It's too bad none of them hold office.
Every time the mainstream media reports on something contrary to the Republican party line, they are accused of being 'liberal media'. Meanwhile, bill o'reilly, chris matthews and rush limbaugh dominate the airwaves.
DeLay bagman and "well connected" Republican Ben Bintzen lost a head to head against an unknown Democrat in a special election in a supposedly safe Republican district in Travis county last week. The vote was 60-40 for the Democrat. The only significant issue was Republican sleeze, like Tom DeLay. The worm has turned.