Messing With DeLay

Well, maybe you can mess with Texas. Scandal-plagued former House Minority Leader Tom DeLay, whose career in Congress imploded after he was indicted for scheming to warp homestate political maps and campaigns, won a clear victory in his Republican primary Tuesday night.

DeLay took 62 percent of the vote to 30 percent for his most credible challenger, Tom Campbell, a lawyer who served as general counsel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the George H.W. Bush administration. Lawyer Mike Fjetland, a frequent candidate, took 5 percent, while Pat Baig, a retired credit manager, got 3 percent.

Those numbers look good on paper for DeLay. But, on the ground in Texas, the refrain is: "Tom's in trouble."

What's wrong with 62 percent? That's the smallest share of the Republican primary vote DeLay has secured in any of his re-election campaigns.

GOP strategists know that, when a still-powerful player in the majority party in the House, who has 100 percent name recognition, a huge campaign bankroll and across-the-board support from party leaders can't even get two-thirds of the vote in a Republican primary, he's standing on shaky ground.

And this particular incumbent was already looking vulnerable going into the fall contest.

In November, 2004, before he was indicted and before the name of his friend Jack Abramoff became the new shorthand for corruption in the Capitol, DeLay was reelection against a weak Democratic challenger with a mere 55 percent of the vote.

That was far short of the 64 percent of the vote given by DeLay's 22nd District to President Bush in 2004.

In this November's contests against an aggressive and reasonably well-funded Democrat, former U.S. Representative Nick Lampson, DeLay cannot afford to lose 38 percent of Republicans, as he did in Tuesday's primary.

Indeed, any significant slippage from his Republican base will spell big trouble for the incumbent.

So, while DeLay cleared the Republican primary hurdle, Texas might still mess him in November.

Comments (65)

1. So, finally, proof that not all Red Staters are bamboozled knuckledraggers. In Delay's district, 38% of the voting Republicans can now be certified as "paying attention." As to the 62%..., well, there's a bridge in Brooklyn that I feel confident I can sell them.

   Posted by bookmanjb at 03/08/2006 @ 10:14am

2. If Delay loses in his bid, then does this prove his redistricting plan has no negative effect on Dems?

   If he loses in a red district to a blue candidate, then all the chatter of gerry mandering is left..where, exactly?

   Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 10:26am

3. JOHN

   The Supreme Court heard arguments over the gerrymandering that Delay brought about. And judging from what was reported and what the Justice said during the hearing, they are UNlikely to overturn it. So I guess Delay will end up having the last laugh.

   Posted by CPT at 03/08/2006 @ 10:35am

4. Good

   Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 10:36am

5. BOOKMAN

   You could probably sell that bridge in Brooklyn to that town in Vermont more easily, no doubt.

   Posted by CPT at 03/08/2006 @ 10:37am

6. Book,

   It's a mixed bag. Its good news that a significant faction voted against him. On the other hand, 3 out of 5 chose to still vote for the guy.

   What are you going to to do. Partisanship runs deep.

   Posted by Frank Thomas at 03/08/2006 @ 10:40am

7. Frank,

   Just ask Marion Barry...or Teddy Kennedy

   Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 10:42am

8. I seriously think that if Tom Delay is re-elected, it will be a MORE serious psychological blow to the Left, than if Democrats fail to re-take the House and impeachment becomes impossible.

   Not to the hard-core "Move On" guys, who want Bush's head on a pike (and hope Delay is just "icing")...but to the more sane intellectual types like the editors of "The Nation", who would see the failure to oust Delay as a PERSONAL failure and sign of impotence.

   Posted by Mask at 03/08/2006 @ 10:45am

9. Lessee, Marion Barry, who actually represented his constituents by smoking crack right alongside them, or Ted Kennedy, the perennial long time running joke for bitchy republicans who want to sound "edgy".

   Or, Tom Delay, who created scandalous redistricting so bad it made the opposition party flee the state, financially raped numerous indian tribes with his "buddy" A, shall we go on, or are you going to act like this is a victory for the Republican party, that they're willing to re-elect a man who had to resign because he was INDICTED.

   Speaking of which, just what the hell do you wonks do with your lives, anyway? There seems to be a group of about four or five of you circle-jerking each other at all hours of the day here. Do you work? Are you paid operatives trying to demoralize the liberals? What's the deal?

   Posted by Megido at 03/08/2006 @ 10:48am

10. MEGIDO:

    It has always amazed me that "conservatives" seem so incapable of acknowledging corruption in their ranks. They deal with it by making the WACKIEST comparisons, e.g., that Marion Barry's shenanigans are somehow in the same solar system as the STUPENDOUS abuses of power by Delay. Remember when Clinton's lies about getting a BJ were compared to the Watergate coverup? Where are the outraged Red Staters? Why aren't they demanding Delay's head for betraying EVERYTHING that they believe in?

    Posted by bookmanjb at 03/08/2006 @ 11:04am

11. MEG,

    "Lessee, Marion Barry, who actually represented his constituents by smoking crack right alongside them, or Ted Kennedy, the perennial long time running joke for bitchy republicans who want to sound "edgy".

    Or, Tom Delay, who created scandalous redistricting so bad it made the opposition party flee the state, financially raped numerous indian tribes with his "buddy" A, shall we go on, or are you going to act like this is a victory for the Republican party, that they're willing to re-elect a man who had to resign because he was INDICTED. "

    Lessee,

    1....who actually represented his constituents by smoking crack right alongside them...yeah. good reason to keep him...good man..

    2...Ted Kennedy, the perennial long time running joke for bitchy republicans who want to sound "edgy"......or, maybe, leaving scene of accident resulting in death of person after havibg affair..murder 2 or 3, maybe...yeah vote him back as morl fiber..

    OR Scandals a redistrictier who plays hardball like the Texas politics does and wins? opposition flees state? or get voted out.

    Raped Indians tribes..like being raped in Lincoln bedroom?

    A man who resigned due to PARTY rules not law,in order to fight for his seat back..sounds interesting,

    but, yeah, give the me the crack smoker and the other guy, the moral giant of the senate,Kennedy as these guys are the models we should use and not Delay...who by the way was found guilty of what...........??

    It is avictory of a person who has been tried in the press and found guilty before he has had his day in court...and at present has won the first poll of importance,,,election poll.

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 11:06am

12. Maasch:

    IMO - If DeLay loses re-election, it will be IN SPITE of the redistricting; it will not validate it. If he wasn't a crook, it might provide a better case study.

    In any event, looks like you do not owe me an additional beer yet ... until November.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/08/2006 @ 11:06am

13. Hman,

    Hows ther new addition doing?

    November is the only poll that matters. I am not saying Delay is an angel, but he is a Texas politician and as of now is not guilty of anyhting.

    Compare to Meg defense or Barry and Kennedy..death and drugs...but Delay is worse? Can't buy it..

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 11:09am

14. Redistricting happens all the time..if the state is 60% red, why should the delgation be 80% blue?

    It works both ways and always has...the worst case is California, incumbants can't lose at all...totally rigged.

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 11:11am

15. Maasch - no supporter of Barry; I agree that redistricting is faulty on both sides, and at the benfit of the ones in power.

    That said, DeLay is still a crook. Can't conservatives do better than him? Don't you want to do better?

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/08/2006 @ 11:18am

16. Sure,

    I would want better than Kennedy, but I don't live in Mass or Houston...the election polls should rule..again, DELAY not found guilty of anything yet...Kennedy, well, you tell me...

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 11:22am

17. WOW!

    RE: "... OR Scandals a redistrictier[sic] who plays hardball like the Texas politics does and wins?" Hmmm... so, changing the rules, after having the Texas legislature bought and paid for (see: Texas Observer) for reapportionment mid- decade (rather than the normal rules) is "hardball".

    Does that work in football, basketball, and baseball as well? Call the game after the 1st quarter if you're ahead? How about the third inning? Or are those too important for the rules to be messed with while politics is only a "game"?

    RE: "... opposition flees state?" See newspapers as the Democrats had only one option- not to provide sufficient bodies for a quorum. Also see newspapers for how DeLay used Homeland Security and the FAA to track them down- feeling safe yet?

    RE: "... Raped Indians tribes..like being raped in Lincoln bedroom?" The latter must be a reference to blacks (see: Civil War) being turned away at the polls in 2000 in the wonderful state of Florida and in 2004 in Ohio (by mistake of course- purged by "mistake", naturally).

    RE: "A man who resigned due to PARTY rules not law,in order to fight for his seat back." Reference the original rules change pushed for by Republican leadership that would allow leadership to stay in current positions while under indictment only to be withdrawn after a huge public outcry and a revolt by moderates as well as all Democrats.

    Then again, it's hard to tell a mom that her son is just a bad, bad, guy. After all, she (whether she's a "he" or not- they're all "mothers") created him therefore he (the son) can't be all bad- can he?

    For the answer lokk up the word "YES" in the dictionary.

    Posted by AmeriPundit at 03/08/2006 @ 11:44am

18. What was Kennedy found guilty of again?

    My daughter is doing well, BTW, thanks for asking.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/08/2006 @ 11:44am

19. MAASCH, HMAN, it's my understanding that during the notorious Texas redistricting, DeLay's district actually gained Democrats. He took some Democratic outposts from the neighboring district, which knocked the Democrat next door out of the House, but in doing so, brought the Democratic vote in his district up 5 percent or so.

    The demographics in his district, of course, are still wildly in his favor, but if memory serves me, he won his race in 2004, the first after the redistricting, by the smallest margin of his career. Maybe this next, if he escapes his legal troubles, will be even more competive. He's actually most likely to end up running against the Democrat from next door that he unseated.

    Posted by breasonable at 03/08/2006 @ 11:46am

20. Who said it was a defense? I'm saying that Marion Barry is a human being. I believe his specific quote on being caught was "Bitch set me up!"

    Priceless. And human. There is no humor in Delay, he's just a political animal, and a former exterminator.

    As for Kennedy, I think the point was along the lines of "Hey, you'd think that 35 or so years after the fact, one might (just might) be capable of understanding people are capable of mistakes. I know I'd probably drive around drunk a little bit if two members of my family had already had their heads blown off.

    Posted by Megido at 03/08/2006 @ 12:03pm

21. (After all, it didn't seem to hurt Georgie-boy's elections any)

    Posted by Megido at 03/08/2006 @ 12:04pm

22. I'm sure Mary Jo Kepechne's family will be relieved to learn that her death "isn't as bad" as a Texas politician taking a bribe!

    Posted by Mask at 03/08/2006 @ 12:06pm

23. I listened to an NPR story (those radicals!) on DeLay a week or so ago. They visited his district and spoke with supporters and detractors both. The supporters pointed to his accomplishments, not as Majority Leader but as their congressman. In other words, they liked him because of the money that he brings to their district. DeLay has been very, very smart in his district from highway and development projects to expenditures from his and his wife's charities. Just like the big boys at Exxon who will support those who benefit them the most, many in DeLay's district will happily overlook his corruption as long as they see progress in their districts.

    If--big if--he loses, it would be more than just icing on MASK's imaginary head-on-a-pike. It would be a profound victory for those who favor the promise of clean politics over the benefits of questionable money.

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 12:07pm

24. "As for Kennedy, I think the point was along the lines of "Hey, you'd think that 35 or so years after the fact, one might (just might) be capable of understanding people are capable of mistakes. I know I'd probably drive around drunk a little bit if two members of my family had already had their heads blown off. "

    Posted by MEGIDO 03/08/2006 @ 12:

    Do you think Mary Jo family would agree with this horse shit?

    Should they now drive around drunk because some rich, arrogant, plagertizer in college, after 35 years of life filled with moral examples and get a pass?

    Please.

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 12:08pm

25. Really, how old are you farts who continue to obsess over the Kennedys? It's pathetic. But I am curious--tell me more about your experiences with "The Plagertizer". I remember when The Plagertizer was introduced in the '70s promising instant muscles, increased sexual prowess, and a thick head of hair. Mmmm, it was all the rage at Studio 54.

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 12:13pm

26. Ah? What, you're trying to play devil's advocate with people who actively hate your guts?

    What a frigging joke. Oh, such sympathies... so long as it advances your argument, ne?

    Posted by Megido at 03/08/2006 @ 12:17pm

27. TJ,

    The comparisions with Kennedy and Barry were from post as to which is really worse, delay or other scandals involving loss of life...read back a short ways..

    No one obsesses over Kennedy, its is just that he is such an obvious target and demostrates the hypocracy of the left.

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 12:34pm

28. To all of you head-in-the-sand, fingers-in-your-ears Republican/Bush/Delay apologists -

    Get over the past where you obsessively reside (and you do obsessively reside there whenever you can't come up with an answer related to the present). Stop bringing up Clinton, Barry, Kennedy, Gore, etc.

    Pay attention to the present.

    Delay and his ilk ARE IN POWER RIGHT NOW. Delay is corrupt (and you know it) and under indictment. RIGHT NOW.

    And John Maasch, I hate to be a spelling bitch, but it's "hypocrisy". It's amusing (in a sick, sad way) and explains much about you folks when you keep accusing people of something you neither understand nor can even spell.

    And since we're going back to the past:

    It's been asked repeatedly what Ted Kennedy was convicted of... Anyone care to answer that question with an answer-answer and not obfuscation? What was he convicted of?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 12:42pm

29. he won %62 of goddamn Tories, evidently the lowest he ever did.

    the supremes will decide on the Texas redistricting, not Maasch

    Kennedy was not found guilty of anything, are you braindead or what, Maasch.

    when you Tories throw up Kennedy it just shows how bankrupt you guys are, whatsamatter running out of Clinton bashes?

    Posted by johannesrolf at 03/08/2006 @ 12:44pm

30. I read all the posts. Comparisons of the sort that you and others are making are worthless. Bad is bad. Assigning different degrees of bad to this or that is a cheap way of undermining an argument against a bad politician that one supports.

    Don't even try to say that "no one obsesses over Kennedy". The man is mentioned at least once a week. He is an obvious target only in the way that Jodie Foster was obvious to John Hinckley.

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 12:45pm

31. And if that sounds as if I'm assigning "insane" status to some on this board, so be it...

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 12:45pm

32. The redistricting of Texas actually needed to be done.....representative democracy was not being served properly with the old lines. Unfortunately, it is illegal (in my opinion) to redistrict after a census if the lines had already been drawn post census (they had by the courts as the Dem/rep houses couldn't agree before the reps took both Texas houses). Thus the timing of the redistricting was just another case of Delay over stepping his authority.....he is the classic example of a person that feels the ends justify the means.

    But although the redistricting was an awful abuse of his national position it pales in comparison to his other stuff. Can you imagine figuring out a way to get your wife paid $100,000 from a lobbyist to do about 20 hours worth of work (she was asked to compile the top 3 favorite charities of each member of congress). It's funny, but no lobbyist has offered my wife that kind of money for that kind of work.....I'm still wondering why!

    Yet 62% of koolaid drinkers in his district still think he's the bees knees. I guess we should be thankful that Republican voters have such low moral expectations of their leaders.

    Posted by freedomplease at 03/08/2006 @ 12:54pm

33. Ahhh, now that I got some good, honest work in, I understand why I was just disgusted at the use of a poster's death to advance a political point... Remember that King funeral, the one you guys were all pissy about being used as a political platform?

    So, what's it like being a waffle?

    Posted by Megido at 03/08/2006 @ 12:56pm

34. TJ

    What's the "cut-off point" for "obsessing"?

    Apparently it's "January 21, 2001" for Republicans....since if anybody mentions Clinton, Carter, Kennedy, Johnson, they're "obsessing".

    But it's "April 1865" for Democrats....since it's fair game to mention Bush-41, Reagan, Nixon, Eisenhower (especially on a good ol' fashioned "military-industrial complex" article), HERBERT HOOVER, etc.

    Posted by Mask at 03/08/2006 @ 1:09pm

35. "Kennedy was not found guilty of anything, are you braindead or what, Maasch. "

    Neither has Delay..should kennedy have been indicted?

    Are you missing my point on purpose?

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:11pm

36. New Dawn,

    My spelling sucks as does my typing..what can I say, I am a victim of public education..perhaps there is a government program, with free breakfast and lunch, that can help teach me what I should have learned in school in the first place,then, with an after school program, I could get better..since it is Bush fault....

    And, Kennedy is very much in power now.

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:14pm

37. Ahhh, now that I got some good, honest work in, I understand why I was just disgusted at the use of a poster's death to advance a political point... Remember that King funeral, the one you guys were all pissy about being used as a political platform?

    So, what's it like being a waffle?

    Posted by MEGIDO 03/08/2006 @ 12:56am | ignore this person

    Meg -

    Who died?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:16pm

38. OK OK, All obsessing should stop unless we draw substantive comparisons from the past as opposed to "Yeah, but look what he did..." kinds of lame excuses for current bad behavior. Can't we just recognize incompetence and corruption when it occurs and try to eliminate it rather than justify it by saying the other side has perfomred similar misdeeds? I know this would take the jolly good fun out of political discussions, but it would help me, at least, sleep better at night. And that's really why I've brought all of you together into this forum: my peace of mind. Thanks for participating.

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 1:17pm

39. New Dawn,

    My spelling sucks as does my typing..what can I say, I am a victim of public education..perhaps there is a government program, with free breakfast and lunch, that can help teach me what I should have learned in school in the first place,then, with an after school program, I could get better..since it is Bush fault....

    And, Kennedy is very much in power now.

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/08/2006 @ 1:14pm | ignore this person

    And still not under indictment for corruption...

    Yes, your spelling sucks, but it's okay. Maybe you could get in on NCLB.

    No, wait, that wouldn't help, would it?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:17pm

40. What is NCLB?

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:20pm

41. Oh, and John -

    I'm also the product of a public education. We lived several years on welfare, food stamps, and in a trailer park. So...?

    I suppose the 134 IQ and the dedicated hard work not to look like an idiot may have helped me surpass my humble beginnings...

    I don't blame anyone else for my own mistakes.

    And I can define, spell, and give examples of hypocrisy...

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:22pm

42. What is NCLB?

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/08/2006 @ 1:20pm | ignore this person

    You're kidding, right?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:22pm

43. "And still not under indictment for corruption... "

    Well, as you say here, he should be....how was it he was ?

    Of course you are right, but had you been driving the car that night, where do you think you woiuld be sleeping tonite? Would you have been indicted?

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:22pm

44. No Conservative Left Behind?

    Posted by tjbehrens1 at 03/08/2006 @ 1:24pm

45. NCLB,

    I would have to be a child, correct? Maybe if I was tested for proficiency at the time I would be a better at spelling as well as typing..:)

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:24pm

46. Good to see that the insinuation wasn't entirely lost on you...

    I don't know where that horseshit comes from. Maybe I was just in different classes, but I seem to recall being tested for proficiency weekly.

    They were called "tests".

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:27pm

47. "And still not under indictment for corruption... "

    Well, as you say here, he should be....how was it he was ?

    Of course you are right, but had you been driving the car that night, where do you think you woiuld be sleeping tonite? Would you have been indicted?

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/08/2006 @ 1:22pm | ignore this person

    Should have been, yes. We are talking Delay, right?

    And your hypothetically placing me behind the wheel is relevant to what?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:29pm

48. Yes, and I took typing in summer school and passed spelling...so you see my point...maybe?

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:30pm

49. That your lessons didn't stick?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:33pm

50. That you didn't pay attention enough in class?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:33pm

51. That your comprehension and retention is weak?

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:34pm

52. New,

    The only point is all the harping about DElay and how bad he is and should be run out, yet he is guilty of nothing yet, but he removed himself per GOP rules..where as Teddy is responsible for that womens death and nothing there matters, if fact, he is allowed to rant on the morals of the GOPers...seems ,what is that word, "hypocrisy".

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:34pm

53. Just wild guesses. ;)

    No offense intended, John. Just busting your hump, really.

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:34pm

54. But John, it wasn't a Dem or liberal who brought up Kennedy. It was you folks on the other side, as it usually is, if I recall right.

    Talk about ignoring a black kettle to call a pot ebon...

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:37pm

55. New,

    Actualy, all of the fore mention short comings..my teacher was so hot I could get out of my desk with out embarassment..she still lingers in my memory banks, What I learned from her has nothing to do with spelling..

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:37pm

56. I was the one who brought him up in my original post regarding DeLay..

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:38pm

57. LOL I had hot teachers, too, but not until college... I get a kick out of these teen boys whose hot teachers are having sex with them... I believe it was Jon Stewart who pointed out that a kid who rats on that teacher is a dork. Hell, guys like you and I were thinking about nothing but that in class!

    I just find it amusing (again, in a sick, sad way) that the only defense you folks have for Delay is to point out others' faults (from decades ago, mind you) and then try to compare and contrast, as though that changes Delay RIGHT NOW, TODAY.

    No offerings of what a great guy Delay actually is? How good he is for the party and the people (and no, how much money he pulls in is not what I'm looking for... I'm talking about decency...)

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 1:42pm

58. LOL....I had a fling with a couple of my college teachers and loved the learning process :)

    I like the way DeLay broke the Democratic Party monoploy in Texas . The majority voted GOP and yet because of Dem redistricting the GOP had a minority of seats ...there was no out cry of decency or truth from the left then...he is tough and a fighter for what he believes and successfull at it. He has helped the party win majority in elections and in that respect has helped the country. You might also note that De Lay in not a Bush republican per say...he is more conservative in the traditional sense...The following is MY montra regarding Bush..

    ...most of us on the right do not consider Bush a conservative and we are not Bush worshippers like we are accused here..at the same time we are no where near the position most here are, that the answer is to the left...if anything we want furthewr right in economics and military and a little to the left socially...and no blank checks, no borrowing and no credit cards..

    As far a money raisers, none hold a candle to the Clinton duo

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 1:55pm

59. this bit with Kennedy is rhetorical three card monte. look over here, not there is what the Tories resort to,

    I guess in tribute to your mendacious leader you are peddling this dishonest crap here. the next person who brings up Kennedy is ignored

    Posted by johannesrolf at 03/08/2006 @ 2:25pm

60. Like that word, Tories, don't you, old sport..:)

    Posted by john maasch at 03/08/2006 @ 2:33pm

61. Speaking of "out cry" (better known as "outcry"), is it possible to return to the topic?

    The "K" Street Project and its attendant corruption as embodied by DeLay et al. has completely perverted any semblance of democracy we once had (and even that was questionable).

    It is unfathomable how apologists for the current regime (and that is what it is) fail to understand that with every keystroke of support given this madness they are putting themselves, their children, their loved ones (magazines under the bed and sheep included) at risk.

    Apologies for the insinuations, but please stop assisting in the sinking of the U.S.A. Titanic (see: new- yet another- increase in debt ceiling; foreign policy, Katrina, Medicare, etc.).

    Posted by AmeriPundit at 03/08/2006 @ 2:39pm

62. Texas does not mess with success. Be it legal or illegal. We here in the Loan Star State would rather have a successful criminal representing us that a unsuccessful anything else. Delay will sail through. As long as money buys elections, good ole Tom will be our shining star. Don't it make y'all prowd to be 'Mercuns?

    Posted by Noodle at 03/08/2006 @ 3:17pm

63. Noodle -

    In a word...

    No.

    Posted by New Dawn at 03/08/2006 @ 3:42pm

64. New Dawn,

    Me neither. AAMF, I'm actually ashamed to be an American these days. It's all just so sad to see your country looted, raped, and pilliged. I just get so damn mad........

    Posted by Noodle at 03/08/2006 @ 3:51pm

65. Maasch, would you prefer Whigs?

    Posted by johannesrolf at 03/08/2006 @ 4:38pm