The Beat

Hammered

posted by John Nichols on 04/04/2006 @ 12:35am

When he was making his name in American politics, as then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's political enforcer, Tom DeLay was confronted by fellow Republicans who urged him to embrace a bipartisan budget compromise. Borrowing an expletive from Dick Cheney, DeLay growled, "F--k that, it's time for all-out war."

DeLay's war on American democracy--which included not just radical gerrymandering of Congressional districts and the formalization of pay-to-play policy-making in Washington but the crude manipulation of the recount that made George Bush President--is now coming to a close. Under indictment, forced from the House leadership by scandal and faced with the prospect of defeat in November, DeLay has signaled that he will quit the House of Representatives that he has effectively run for the better part of a decade.

Histories of this dark passage in the American story will record that no political figure fought harder or longer to dismantle traditions of compromise and cooperation in Congress than DeLay, a man who targeted those with whom he disagreed as zealously as he had once gone after the vermin he chased in his previous career as an exterminator. As far as DeLay was concerned, the niceties of democracy were a cruel impediment to his new career path. So he went to war with the process itself on behalf of his own political advancement--and that of the paymasters in the industries he served more diligently than his Texas constituents, his conservative ideology or his Republican Party.

While it is surely the case that the Texas Congressman's career was in steep decline following his indictment on campaign-corruption charges and his forced resignation from the majority leader position, for so long as Tom DeLay remained within grasping reach of the levers of power in Washington, the prospect of a further dismantling of democracy remained all too real.

It is this truth that makes DeLay's decision to cheat the voters of his Texas district out of an opportunity to remove him from Congress cause for at least a measure of hope with regard to the harrowing circumstance of the American experiment. Yes, of course, it would have been satisfying to watch DeLay defeated on election day. But even the faint risk that this worst of all Washington players might have clawed his way back to another term in the House--and, with that, another chance, however remote, to again take charge of the chamber--was serious enough that the news of his decision to quit rather than fight marks at least a small turning point in the struggle to reconstruct the democracy that the man they called "The Hammer" so consistently and so brutally battered.

In Washington, where the press corps rarely chooses to examine the real political stories of the day, DeLay will be most commonly remembered for his scheming to warp the redistricting processes of his home state in order to gerrymander a half dozen Democrats out of seats they had won fair and square in districts drawn by a judicial panel based on the results of the 2000 Census. His scandalous machinations did more than shift the character of the state's House delegation; they created the opening for a courageous prosecutor, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, to win the indictments that hastened the end of DeLay's reign of error.

There will, as well, be appropriate if incomplete discussion of DeLay's dirty dealings inside the Beltway--his "K Street Project" to formalize links between campaign giving, lobbying and legislating, his thought-policing of the Republican Party, his sex-crazed impeachment of a President he hated for being popular, his creation of a Potemkin Speaker of the House in the form of the bumbling Denny Hastert--and a few commentators will venture the "bold" suggestion that the Texan might have done a bit of harm to the integrity of the governing process.

But DeLay's crudest dismantling of democracy will be little mentioned today, just as it was barely noted at the time that he brought the hammer down.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2000, when the eyes of the nation were fixed on the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami, where a Dade County canvassing board was reviewing 10,750 uncounted ballots in Florida's disputed presidential contest between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush, a riot orchestrated by DeLay's top aides and allies and carried out by Republican operatives flown in from Washington stopped the count. In so doing, DeLay's Izod-clad minions assured that the Bush campaign's Florida co-chair, Katherine Harris, would, in her capacity as secretary of state, be able to certify a 537-vote "win" for the Republican when the recount deadline arrived. It was that certification that allowed Florida Governor Jeb Bush to sign a Certificate of Ascertainment designating twenty-five Florida electors pledged to his brother. The paperwork was immediately transferred to the National Archives, where it would eventually be cited by the US Supreme Court in its decision to award the Florida electoral votes, and with them the presidency, to Bush.

DeLay's role in the recount, though little reported and even now little understood outside the inner circles of the Republican and Democratic parties, was definitional.

Furious that the Florida Supreme Court had on November 21, 2000, ordered a real recount of disputed ballots in the race that would decide the presidency, the House Republican leader had issued a statement that declared: "I hope this misguided ruling will be vigorously challenged."

DeLay was not making an idle threat. He was delivering marching orders to the troops in his war on democracy.

On the following day, a crowd of Republican aides and lobbyists flown in from Washington swarmed into the Goverment Center, chased Democratic observers out of the building and began banging on the doors of the area in which the recount of the key county's ballots had begun. Leading the "rioters" in chants of "Stop the Count" was Tom Pyle, a policy analyst in DeLay's office. This "vigorous challenge" to the count proved successful. The three-judge panel of canvassers--who after going through only a handful of the disputed ballots had already identified more than 150 additional votes for Gore--was shaken. After a team of sheriff's deputies restored order, the judges asked for a police escort to return them to the recounting room. There, they voted unanimously to stop the count. The additional votes for Gore that had already been discovered were discarded. Vote totals from Florida's most populous county reverted to pre-recount figures.

David Leahy, the supervisor of elections for the country, admitted that the riot "weighed heavy on our minds" as the decision to stop the recount was made. US Representative Carrie Meeks, a Democrat in Miami, was blunter. "The canvassing board bowed under pressure," she said.

That pressure was applied by DeLay, who would say after the US Supreme Court locked in the results for Bush: "This is something I've been working on for twenty-two years. I mean, we got it."

For once, DeLay was being modest. While Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris and Antonin Scalia all played their parts, it was DeLay who brought down the hammer that stopped the recount process at its most critical point.

DeLay will soon be gone, and there is a good chance that he will be convicted of at least a few of his crimes against democracy. But his greatest crimes will go unpunished, at least for so long as the Congress Tom DeLay created and the presidency that he made possible continue to punish America and the world.

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John Nichols's book on the Florida recount fight of 2000, Jews for Buchanan (The New Press), features a chapter on DeLay's manipulation of the process. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. says, "If you care about American democracy, you must read this book."

Comments (184)

  1. Luckily there are good honorable people out there like Earle, Murtha, Feingold, still willing to take on the corrupt ones, speak truth to power. I've heard the thump of the thugs falling, one by one, like the slow mammoth steps of a dinosaur looking forward to its future extinction.

    Posted by Bushfools at 04/04/2006 @ 02:22am

  2. It's encouraging, BF, but extinction sounds so sloooowww.

    How many quiet, but disastrous little insults to our freedoms have been and will be installed while we're focused on the most blatant of the pigs.

    Many more of us need to wake the hell up.

    Posted by drhammer at 04/04/2006 @ 07:23am

  3. DELAY WALKS THE PLANK!!! God, I love it! He was the murderous mafia don of the Republicans. Many Republicans did not like him, but feared to cross him. But now he is a rattlesnake without fangs. Notice ,people of Texas, he intends to have his legal residence in Virginia, instead of Texas. He doesn't give a shit about Texas. He wants to be close to the power and money: Washinton D.C. Anyway, good riddance to bad rubbish.

    Posted by philbq at 04/04/2006 @ 08:07am

  4. Masch, I invite you to eat the shit you have been foisting upon us. this is the beginning of the end for you and your beloved repuglicans

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 08:37am

  5. Posted by DRHAMMER 04/04/2006 @ 07:23am

    Agreed on both waking up and its slowness. However we need to realize that nothing worthwhile is ever that easily obtained. At least this trend is moving in the right direction-- great that John Nichols reminded us of the hamf-isted history. Think where we'd be if the people standing up to the challenge were also laying down... Truly we'd much better off if everyone were standing up, awake and clear headed, facing the reality of what to do with a nightmare that is in part continuously maneuvering to pressure us to remain in that unconscious state via its mangled marketed reality.

    Posted by Bushfools at 04/04/2006 @ 08:56am

  6. I admit I was surprised by Delays quitting. I owe beers to Hman and you.

    How ever, I think the fore mentioned extinction comments may be more applicable to Democrats..Feingold is finished and will never be taken seriously by Dem Party. He was used or he fell on his sword. Able to say ,"see, we tried". Now the Dems will run to Hillary as they tried "trial balloon" for progressive candidate, Feingold, and he was left twisting in the wind with the censure nonsense. Zero support.

    I will also admit the Dems this time are blessed by the quality of their enemies, the repubs,who, are cowards today in my opinion.

    The Dems offer nothing but bitching and no solutions or even suggestions to solutions, just, "get Bush".

    You maybe surprised by the election results.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 09:04am

  7. Maasch,

    Why would you be surprised at Delay's exit? Surely if you'd been from his district a man of your integrity couldn't have held his nose and actually voted for this scumbag?

    Thus if somebody as rabidly apologetic as yourself couldn't tolerate ethical violations to this degree how in the hell do you think the average Texan was going to tolerate it?

    Frankly, this is a good day for America, which is the most important thing. In addition, it also happens to be a good day for the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

    Posted by freedomplease at 04/04/2006 @ 09:28am

  8. John Nichols brings us back to the emotions of election 2000 when GOPers blew their tops at the Clark Govt Center in Miami. But Mr. Nichols leaves out some important information about that episode. Time magazine, while reporting on the GOP's mob actions, also reports this piece of the story that the Nation leaves out "the canvassing board tried an end run around the court's Sunday deadline by deciding to recount only some 11,000 of Dade's 654,000 ballots. Those disputed ballots, most of which did not register presidential votes in the machines, were thought to favor Gore. Worse, the board moved into a smaller room that cut off public observation".

    Posted by hughm8 at 04/04/2006 @ 09:28am

  9. still whistling in the wind are we Maasch? you don't think the voters will remember DeLay resigning in disgrace? or Libby's trial? and they will forget who railroaded the country into a disastrous war? which you STILL support? give it up John, eat a little crow now, in preparation for the BIG helping to come.

    It's not a question of owing a beer, it's a question of what kind of country we are, and you have been on the wrong side of the debate. can you draw a consequence, or is it full steam ahead over the precipice.

    the Feingold matter is by no means finished. McGovern was way out in front on the Vietnam war. Humphrey was way behind. it did him no good to be cautious, he was a loser. Robert Kennedy, who sat on the fence the longest time, did find his issue, and but for an assassins bullet, would have been president, instead of Nixon. youanalysis is skin deep at best. my prediction is you will be owing a whole brewery's worth of beers after the next election.

    in the meantime you can tell us, what policy miracles the Bush gang will pull off to perfume away the stink of corruption and death emanating from the white house and the repuglican controlled congress.

    I also like calling the Tories the Republican't party, as everything they've touched has turned to shit

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 09:32am

  10. There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel! DeLay's resignation, indictment, and soon his conviction hopefully means that the country will no longer be held hostage by the right wingers currently in power. The only thing sweeter than the prospect of DeLay going to jail would be the impeachment and conviction of Bush.

    Posted by RPerry at 04/04/2006 @ 10:17am

  11. Did I miss the champagne and fireworks?

    Oh, well.

    Well, the "Cult of Anti-Personality" wins one-"Bugsy" is out.

    Now what? Well, let's see....A "clean" Republican will probably take Delay's district easy now; thus removing a chance for atleast one seat for Democrats in November. His replacement in Congress will continue his "Hammer" techniques and not compromise with the Democrats. His re-districting plan remains intact, thanks to the court decisions. And he passed 80% of the Bush agenda.

    But...."we got Bugsy", didn't we? And in the world of the "Cult of Anti-Personality", THAT is the "important thing", huh?

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 10:25am

  12. Maasch -

    The beers you owe me are piling up (and stay tuned - you may owe me more - I read that Fitzgerald will likely seek new indictments in the Plame matter). I am well on my way to a free night out. Are you sure you want to continue playing political handicapper?

    Feingold is far from finished - his numbers among Democrats has skyrocketed; even though a slight majority of all voters reject censure at this time, it's certainly not a landslide of opposition. As far as annointing Hillary, it is still way too early.

    Many individual Democrats have offered "solutions," ideas and direction. Maybe the party itself has not announced a collective platform, but Newt did not unveil the Contract With America until the Fall of 1994, so keep your pants on. They will.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 10:30am

  13. MASK - I am so surprised by your tone (not), but the objection to DeLay goes a bit farther than mere personality. DeLay WAS an utter disgrace and an affront to democracy - Congress and the country are better off without him. Even if a Republican wins his seat, I seriously doubt he/she will be a mini-DeLay. If the winning REP is ethical and operates legally, than so be it.

    If the goal is to clean up Congress, then yes, we got "Bugsy." Rejoice.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 10:38am

  14. John Maasch,

    How on earth has Senator Feingold extinguished his career? Ask the people of Wisconsin what they think of him. . . .

    Do you have any evidence for that statement, or is it a fond wish of yours that he disappear from the spotlight?

    Posted by hhemwm at 04/04/2006 @ 10:43am

  15. It's good to hear Delay is moving out of Texas. I think the pollution level just went down a notch here in Houston.

    Posted by BlueTexan at 04/04/2006 @ 10:43am

  16. Mask simply doesn't get it. I for one could give a rats ass whether the seat in Texas is held by a Republican or a Democrat. I only care when it is not the best this country can offer and a person with Delay's ethical standards is simply not the best the country can offer.

    HMAN, the Fitzgerald noose is tightening severely on Rove. Rove is one of the most wiley and powerful people in America so there is no way that Fitzgerald (A Republican) is going to deliver an indictment unless he is personally convinced it's going to stick. Yet, it looks like he's got Rove at this moment.

    Posted by freedomplease at 04/04/2006 @ 10:51am

  17. Maasch,

    Also, what do you say to all of the manipulation that occurred in Florida during the recount? To Harris and Gov. Bush's successful attempts to remove tens of thousands of people off of the registration rolls thus denying them the vote even though they were innocent of any crime? Or how about Governor Bush's successful maneuvering to have felons who had relocated from other states that restore the right to vote after the completion of one's felony sentence, be denied their right to a ballot? How can these things be overlooked?

    Posted by hhemwm at 04/04/2006 @ 10:53am

  18. Well, ding, dong, one of the witches is dead. Good riddance. Who's next up on the docket?

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 10:58am

  19. If the goal is to clean up Congress, then yes, we got "Bugsy." Rejoice.

    Posted by HMAN23 04/04/2006 @ 10:38am | ignore this person Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 04/04/2006 @ 10:51am | ignore this person

    Fine, guys. Really. If Delay is replaced by an ethical Republican and that's all you care about..."cleaning up Congress" and you don't (as FREE said) give a "rat's ass" about Democrats re-taking it in November (the chances of which just got WORSE with Delay out).....fine. Odd...but fine.

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 10:59am

  20. Mask, Delay was never the ticket to a Democratic victory in the fall. Nichols is right, there was a fair chance he was going to be reelected and it would be far better to see him out of Congress entirely. Of course, if the people of his district wanted to reelect him, that is their business.

    But either way, Delay was never going to be the winning strategy for Democrats. The complaints against this GOP led government are about far more than Tom Delay, he is a symbol of what is so wrong with it. If they had run again Delay and only Delay, Democrats would have been accused of using ad hominem attacks in lieu of policy and it would have been a fair criticism.

    Posted by hhemwm at 04/04/2006 @ 11:02am

  21. LVLiberty1,

    Once again I feel compelled to ask, what on earth are you talking about?

    Posted by hhemwm at 04/04/2006 @ 11:03am

  22. But then again, I really am not interested in your strange rants to begin with.

    Posted by hhemwm at 04/04/2006 @ 11:04am

  23. Looks like the bug-man got terminated.

    However, it probably would have been better for the Democrats if this happened a few months from now.

    There's still plenty of time.

    Posted by Zeddmen at 04/04/2006 @ 11:10am

  24. Posted by HHEMWM 04/04/2006 @ 11:02am | ignore this person

    Looks like some (below) disagree with that, as I do. Delay running while indicted would be the "final coffin nail" on the "culture of corruption" thing. Now, he's out in April....and seven LONG months until November for it to be "old news".

    "However, it probably would have been better for the Democrats if this happened a few months from now."

    Posted by ZEDDMEN 04/04/2006 @ 11:10am | ignore this person

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 11:18am

  25. Damn! It's starting to feel like 1994 all over again!

    The Repugs are simply experiencing the bad karma they pissed on us during those "Contract" days.

    Santorum on the run in my old home state of Pennsylvania, Fitzgerald about to make Rove squeal like Ned Beatty in "Deliverance", the Repugs playing "Keep-Away" with the Administration on the campaign trail and Abramoff singing to the Justice Department...man, is it really happening?

    Posted by lefthookjab at 04/04/2006 @ 11:32am

  26. MASK:

    Odd? What, that I do not take a win-at-all-costs view of things? Of course I would prefer a Democrat win his seat, but failing that, I would at least hope for an ethical and honest Republican in DeLay's place. I think high standards of conduct for our elected officials is something people on all sides would agree on.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 11:57am

  27. LL:

    Oh great, you have returned. I see that quoting John Lennon was an easier task than responding to my posts to you on the wiretap issue (Nichols' previous threads).

    You insulted others for not engaging in "a rational debate" that "would focus on those legal authorities", and requested "validation" of others' opinions. But, as is so often the case when anyone does respond, you vanish. This is not the first time. I think I am done with you. It is a waste of my time.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 12:07pm

  28. Last night your shadow fell upon my lonely room

    I touched your brown hair and tasted your perfume

    Your eyes were filled with hate the way they used to be

    Your hammer hand smashed all virtue and civility

    Then came the dawn

    And you were gone

    You were gone, gone, gone

    I had too much to dream last night

    Too much to dream

    I'm not ready to face the light

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    a few little changes and it's perfect for u liberty and u other idiotic ass kissers too. none of u will ever be ready to face the light. u better get to digging your little rat holes because you're going to need them.

    this is very good news. everyone celebrate. ding dong the rat bastard hamster is dead!

    Posted by loveloki at 04/04/2006 @ 12:23pm

  29. The delusional postings of those on the left who continue to believe that this November there will be an election mandate to return Democrats to power. Even more so are those who believe that a tidal wave of progressive politics is going to be implemented soon.

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/04/2006 @ 11:18am

    What's delusional Liberty, is your side's absolute refusal to look around and see how your fellow citizens are suffering.

    America needs something other than just tax cuts, deregulation and jingoistic slogans to make this country the beacon it use to be.

    Conservative policies have done nothing but hurt us. The progressive point of view is worth a try, and the rest of the country, I believe, is hungry for it.

    Posted by lefthookjab at 04/04/2006 @ 12:24pm

  30. I am DeLighted! This marks the end of conspicuous corruption. You realpolitik folks who want to spin this as a net loss for the Democratic opposition and for "clean" politics in general are whistling past the graveyard. Politics is a tough game, but Tom DeLay was more than a tough customer. He was, and is, a criminal, this will shortly be proven in court. Lacking the persuasive skills to win elections honestly, he consistently chose tactics that were just beyond whatever the other guys were doing. And in doing so he crossed many legal lines.

    He will go to jail.

    And his associates will suffer as a result.

    Watch it happen, folks.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 04/04/2006 @ 12:24pm

  31. Ah, Geez....RESE has staked a claim on this thread.

    Means I'll have two blank pages by 10pm tonight on it, and those still not ignorning him (instead of discussin of Tom Delay), will have 4000 cut & pastes from www.JesuitMindControlLasers.org.

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 12:49pm

  32. John, He lost...Gore Lost. Whether the Dems couldn't get enough votes to win, or the Republicans couldn't, it was an indecisive election and the Court needed to step in. Thats the beauty of the system. Its why we don't have armed uprisings like the rest of the world when results are fuzzy. And on the flip, Gore came up short. Its happened before. Read some REAL history (ie not Howard Zinn) and see.

    And get over it.

    Chip Thornton

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/04/2006 @ 1:02pm

  33. John, He lost...Gore Lost. Whether the Dems couldn't get enough votes to win, or the Republicans couldn't, it was an indecisive election and the Court needed to step in. Thats the beauty of the system. Its why we don't have armed uprisings like the rest of the world when results are fuzzy. And on the flip, Gore came up short. Its happened before. Read some REAL history (ie not Howard Zinn) and see.

    And get over it.

    Chip Thornton

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/04/2006 @ 1:02pm

  34. it was an indecisive election and the Court needed to step in

    Wrong. There are local procedures in place to handle indecisive elections, and those were working until DeLay's little bourgeois riot.

    And pointing out a bit of history doesn't mean someone hasn't gotten over it.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 04/04/2006 @ 1:12pm

  35. what the supremes did was unconstitutional. they knew it and added a codicil that said this does not apply to anything else. get over it? our democracy may never get over it.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 1:26pm

  36. You guys cheering the Delay resignation??? Why??? You lost your whipping dog, this helps REPS, not the DEM cause.

    For those who still foolishly believe DELAY is headed to jail, keep dreaming, Ronnie Earle is a cheap political chump, who uses his office to settle scores. Ask Jim Maddox former DEM Atty General of Texas. Earle is a thug, and will go down in flames because of it.

    DELAY will walk, easily and will happily do so.

    By the way PHILBQ, have to correct you on DELAYs' move to VA, it is solely so that another REP candidate can step up. You dolt!

    Posted by CPT at 04/04/2006 @ 1:37pm

  37. So, in a statement that was so very similar to the one that Duke Cunningham made just prior to the feds showing up at his office to cart away the evidence, Tom Delay has announced his departure.

    The DukeStir, Libby, Abramoff...now DeLay and his staff, Scanlon, Rudy, Buckham. Next up, Carl Rove. They're all going down.

    It's hard work...hard work! But finally, JUSTICE IS ON THE MARCH!

    Posted by Lillian at 04/04/2006 @ 1:41pm

  38. What a fitting end to an ignominious tenure. Like a typical ignorant bully, DeLay chooses the COWARDS way out of trouble- he quits! Way to show us what you're truly made of, Mr. BugKiller. Here's to hoping you spend the rest of your miserable life where you belong- in a cell.

    Posted by breebrat at 04/04/2006 @ 1:51pm

  39. CPT:

    Wow, someone is getting touchy as the Republican house of cards is collapsing all around him. So Earle is using his position to settle scores against ol' poor Tommy DeLay? Cry me a river, CPT - sounds like it comes right out of DeLay's playbook. To hear DeLay wimper about how "nasty" the campaign was going to be was pure comedy. It's downright hilarious when conservatives embrace the culture of victimization.

    And CPT, it helps REPs? Please stop. Unless black is white and up is down, you are becoming more delusional as well.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 1:58pm

  40. Histories of this dark passage in the American story will record that no political figure fought harder or longer to dismantle traditions of compromise and cooperation in Congress than DeLay.

    No, it won't.

    Most people won't know his name in just a few decades. Try asking young people who Newt Gingrich was, let alone any political figure from before that. The broad strokes of history don't care about people like DeLay, no matter how much this over-the-top, hateful screed might insist.

    I'm glad to see him gone, but this article was so full of hyperbole that it's just a shade lighter than conspiracy theory. This article was feeble, foolish, and irresponsible. There are plenty of people across the world who really do wage war on democracy. It's embarassing that the pages of the Nation defend such people while using the term to blast DeLay. Call him what he was - a corrupt and powerful politician who fought nastily for what he believed in. Pretending that he was some sort of crypto-fascist autocrat might make you feel good, but it wasn't the truth.

    It's sad that we're lectured to not demonize and dehumanize our terrorist enemies, but we'll happily do it to our political enemies. The guy was an American congressmen and probably loved his country and democracy just as much as any of us.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 2:01pm

  41. PHARGLE - Since he loved democracy as much as you, would you have sunk to the lows as he did? I wouldn't call that a love for democracy but to each his own. Anyway, I do agree he will be forgotten very quickly. With America's ever-shortening attention span, after the elections(if not before) he will be a faded memory.

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 2:17pm

  42. Yeah Phargle, DeLay was a true patriot. That his love of country and democracy was overwhelmed by his love of power was nothing but a minor character flaw.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 2:25pm

  43. CPT

    A DeLay apologist now?

    ALL

    Wait, I've got it! The new term for Cut and Run! is a wait for it... a Delay'd Reaction

    [sound of drum rimshot...brrrmb-chsss]

    Posted by leftofcenter at 04/04/2006 @ 2:38pm

  44. I wonder how wrong or "unconstitutional" you'd think it was had it gone the other way

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/04/2006 @ 2:42pm

  45. I wonder how wrong or "unconstitutional" you'd think it was had it gone the other way

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/04/2006 @ 2:42pm

  46. Free,

    I am surprised that he resigned and didn't fight to the end, either way. After hearing him speak, I think he will be working behind the scenes and out of the press and the spot light. I think to treat him as if he has gone fishing is a mistake. The seat will not change hands and an obstacle has been removed from the MSM and the DEM machine.

    And to your point of removing scum bags....has that really had any effect in the past? Even when scum bags are still there? IE. Kenedey,Daschel(whose wife lobbied illegally for NW airlines at salary of $3 mill)...pick one of any party.

    JR,

    Wind whistling? Hear any clamour for the Democratic Party? Feingold is sent out there to test water and dives face first into empty pool, cleaning way for Hillary, and appease many here who think a more liberal sociaist Dem will win.(Only people here believe this, not eve the Dem party believes this).

    I DON'T believe I am on wrong side of debate. I believe we are at war with the Islamos and it started way before Iraq, but Iraq is just a cog in the wheel. It goes back to Carter and Reagan. To focus on Iraq only is to focus on the robber who took your wallet in the bank and ignore the bank robbers cleaning out the vault. There is a bigger picture.

    Hman,

    I will glady pay any beers I may owe...but I think on Election day you will notice a rearranging of the chairs but when the music stops Rangel, McKinney, Conyers,et al will be chairman of nothing and no committees.Status quo.

    Don't miss understand, Bush has done many things that I disagree with and the Repubs are poussys IMO, but ther is NOTHING the Dems have shown to desereve anything other than minority status. They are lucky any one even lets them play.

    HH,

    Feingold is done. He may make the far left orgasim and thrill the University of Wisconsin at Madison gleefull, but it ends there. (I am from Wisconsin). He will get no national surge. Hillary will not allow it. She will lick your balls for you and promise you everything, just as the DEms do the black vote, but then nothing will change.

    Maybe you all are whistling in the wind, or is it farting in the wind.

    The dems will take over nothing as they have nothing to vote for...for those of you who don't know. Bush is not on the ballot next time. HH,

    Gore lost. Period. No crime no foul. He is and was an idiot. He lost his own state, he is a dolt and has lost it even more since 2000. It was a gift or an act of God that Gore lost. I, among many millions, am grateful. Get over 2000 now or you will be still fighting this lost cause in 2008. Hman,

    How is the new baby? And mother? Are you tired yet? Broke yet?

    :)

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 2:48pm

  47. Hman,

    "Histories of this dark passage in the American story will record that no political figure fought harder or longer to dismantle traditions of compromise and cooperation in Congress than DeLay."

    No, it won't anymore than the stink of Jim Wright is remembered...even in Texas..

    Hell,

    Most people today can't even tell you Alexander Hamilton is , or who he Vice President is(watch Leno), so the euphoria over Delay may be ashes in your mouth...

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 2:52pm

  48. Great. What a choice Maasch has put forth for us. We have to choose between the pussies and the underserving. Now, I am really depressed:(

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 2:55pm

  49. K330,

    Don't be depressed..be realistic. What do you expect to happen next? What is your prediction, really? I could be wrong, you know, but I doubt it.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 2:57pm

  50. K,

    I do think the Repubs are pussies and I do think the Dems are undeserving. Show me where I have wandered off the road..

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 2:58pm

  51. "an act of God that Gore lost"

    An act of God, alright. Similar to Hurricane Katrina, for all the damage we've suffered since.

    Posted by rain man at 04/04/2006 @ 3:00pm

  52. Maasch:

    Thanks for asking. Baby (her brother) and mom are both good. I have BEEN tired, but it gets easier each week, especially now that she has crossed that magic milestone of sleeping through the night. Not broke either, just cannot buy as many toys for myself anymore.

    Funny, you see a game of musical chairs. I see capture the flag or maybe dodgeball.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:02pm

  53. Delay is a thug of monumental proportion: the only reason he backed down was because he was forced to. The criminal charges (and accompanying bad PR) along with internal pressure against him from fellow republicans sensing the danger he presents. His fellow conservatives tossed Delay's barely living carcass overboard. This is just one more nail, as these monsters never acknowledge any wrong doing- right up to the moment of being hauled off (kicking and screaming self-righteously) to prison. This is very bad for the Tories.

    Posted by Oustbush at 04/04/2006 @ 3:04pm

  54. Thanks John Nichols for reminding us about 2000. Delay wasn't the only Congressman turning to mob rule. John Sweeney (NY) was another proud member of the "thugocracy." I remember feeling frightened then and am still frightened of these people. It's just not that far from them to the Reign of Terror.

    Posted by dsolomon at 04/04/2006 @ 3:04pm

  55. Oh, c'mon guys. We hate it when we think Republicans are calling us unpatriotic or corrupt when they oppose our methods or beliefs. We shouldn't do it to the other side. One of the problems with politics today is it's apocalyptic. Why does DeLay have to be a treasonous monster when he could just be a bad politician who meant well but screwed up? If we go around calling everyone we oppose a monster, we'll have no words left when we're confronted with real monstrosity. Don't forget that DeLay believed he was undoing Democratic gerrymandering in Texas in the first place. The other side is full of people just like us, and as much as we'd like to believe it, they're not sitting around cackling and plotting ways to ruin the country.

    I'm glad he's gone, but I'm sad with the hyperbolic screed Nichols wrote. It's not like we toppled Stalin, people. DeLay was not waging a war on democracy. He was waging a war on liberalism. That's why we hated him.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 3:04pm

  56. DeLay says he quit because the campaign would have been "nasty," a referendum on his conduct, and expensive. Does anyone really buy that? People like DeLay do not give up their grip on power merely because it proves too tough or costly. Keep an eye out, with everyone around him pleading out and cooperating with investigators, DeLay probably got wind that he is going to get hit with more than Earle's case. Plus, bowing out now allows him to use the money he raised to pay his legal bills.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:04pm

  57. As far as the choices Maasch, I agree with you. The repubs are pussies and the Democrats are not deserving of our votes. I'm just commenting on how sad our political climate is. What's next? Hell if I know. I'm still trying to decide if I'm gonna vote and who I might vote for. Hillary and Frist are both lame jokes. Up to now, I haven't seen anyone who has presidential aspirations who seems remotely worthy of my vote. So yeah, realistic but also sad.

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 3:06pm

  58. Even though the numbers keep coming down across the board for repubs, it hasn't been an ongoing up and down process for a long while, the below 40% approval is pretty solid as is the over 50% disapproval. Thus the BS from BC regime boot lickers saying what's happening isn't happening and that 'things' will be different in November-- I say YES they sure will--- a lot of repub approval numbers will be more like in the 20% range than in the 40% and below. Why? Look at everything else just sitting on the table that's left to drop: no one wants a fema position-- not with the criminally incompetent BC BS regime in charge, military are coming out more and more against Ruinsfeld, the Abramoff dominos keep falling, housing tanking, Snow heading south, energy on the rise, Cheney one eyed, 9/11 public shock wearing off and collectively getting ready for truth, and the truth about going into Iraq, people are fed up with the lies and the greed, Fitzgerald is still in the saddle, bye bye Rove the loaf, Iraq is just getting worse no matter how much BS they pile around it for shelter, global warming hitting the melon Day After Tomorrow hail and storms size, damn it to hell for them gagging the scientists and the science, education in the tubes, ... etc. There is so much there to condemn this sorry excuse of incompetent soulless money grubbing vile vampiristic lying pieces of worthless flesh masquerading as public administrators and representation in OUR government. How anyone can still believe this is a passing phase is missing the level of building disgust with the BC BS regime and their repub cronies. Witness the impending stampede away from the W as we get ever closer to the November elections. Enough already, I'll need to tell you later how I really feel.

    Posted by Bushfools at 04/04/2006 @ 3:08pm

  59. Maasch and Phargle - OK, I agree Nichols' went a little over the top. But, on the flp side, when conservatives like NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds tout DeLay as some civic-minded hero, the hypebole has nowehere else to go.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:11pm

  60. Chipper, you may read your constitution, then get back to me on the supremes' decision.

    I believe the election was stolen in Florida. the supreme court just ratified that theft.had the supreme court decided the reverse, it would still have been unconstitutional. just read the goddamn piece of paper.

    Maasch you are talking about ashes in MY mouth? why don't you just once admit you were wrong, WRONG. those are ashstains on your lips. DeLay is a crook, and no pointing to other crooks will disguise that fact. he is falling on his sword and there won't be any behind the scenes. only raking in the cash, like our former attorney general.

    you may be wrong, you ARE wrong, as you have been with Libby and Rove. your record on predicyions is zero, why do you think it will improve?

    your obsession with Hillary is touching. Hillary will not be a factor until 2008. here in new york the Tories can't find anyone to run against her, and rightly so, nobody wants to be the sacrificial loser. same with the race for governor. that idiot Pataki thinks he has national aspirations, whatta joke, and don't get me started on Giuliani, an incompetent asshole, hated, yes hated by the citizens of new york.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:15pm

  61. But Phargle, while I agree there are many conservatives "like us" in many ways, I would hesitate to put Tom DeLay in that category. Give me an ethical, honest conservative who plays by the rules and I will agree to disagree. As DeLay is none of that, he is not just an affront to liberals, he should be one to all Americans. If I were a Republican, I would be happy to see him go. He should be an embarrasment.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:15pm

  62. HMAN23, I hope we don't need to use Republican methods as a standard for what is acceptable.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 3:16pm

  63. Phargle, DeLay MEANT well? you must be joking, he's not under indictment for wellmeaning acts. he put the c in corrupt and the country is better off without him. I regret that the voters in his district won't have the satisfaction of kicking him out. it's ALL good, and a sign that there will be more creeps to take the fall.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:20pm

  64. Hey, Johannesrolf, does the hatred for Guiliani have to do with the treatment of the 9/11 families and their search for the truth? I'm not from the NY so I have no clue how anyone feels about Guiliani. I thought NY was behind him.

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 3:23pm

  65. I agree with that Phargle. But, attacking DeLay for subverting the democratic process (but I would not go so far as to label hima fascist) is not the same thing as attacking a man like Jack Murtha for being unpatriotic.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:23pm

  66. Posted by PHARGLE 04/04/2006 @ 3:04pm | ignore this person

    PHARGLE, interesting that you mentioned Stalin, as I noted in my first post here, this is a classic case of the new "Cult of Anti-Personality" that seems to effect both sides.

    For the Right, it was Clinton....for the Left, Bush, Delay, Cheney, and of course "the mastermind behind it all", Karl Rove.

    For them, Delay IS "on a par with Stalin"; shutting out Democrats from power in the House is "the same as" mass murder, and Delay's drop out of a Congressional race (to be easily replaced by another Republican) is the fall of Berlin 1945.

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 3:28pm

  67. NEW CleanSweepCampaign .com DELAY IMAGE at

    http://www.RogerART.com

    OK 2 Copy and send 2 your REPS in Congress, Friends, Family, etc

    Posted by RogerARTcom at 04/04/2006 @ 3:29pm

  68. K330, Giuliani wanted an exemption made for him of the term limits for mayors after the attack.in this time of crisis we don't need no stinkin' elections, just let me stay for some time.

    he was a very divisive figure in the city, racially,and otherwise. he may have some corruption skeletons in his closet, like his partner and protege Bernard Kerik.

    his personal life was a sham, juggling mistresses and rubbing them in his wife's face.the 9/11 tapes show that he was not paying attention to his job. no communication between anyone, 400 firemen died, people in the towers were told to stay put, when evacuation orders had been given. the 911 operators had no communication with the outside world. I lay some if not all of these disasters at his feet. the WTC had been attacked years earlier, but no consequences were drawn. this is just a partial list.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:32pm

  69. oh and another thing, he punked out in his race against Hillary for Senate. one wonders why?

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:34pm

  70. JM

    On the apparent ignorance of the populace...afraid I must agree. Of course, the infamous NCLB isn't helping. Then too, many of the "redstate flag-wavers" also believe that Saddam was responsible for 9/11...but that's because the Cmdr-in-Thief and Darth Cheney told them so. (we won't touch the item that many of them also believe the Earth is only 6,000 yrs old...)

    Posted by leftofcenter at 04/04/2006 @ 3:38pm

  71. HMAN23, correct. Some Republicans succumbed to hyperbole as well and slammed Murtha in a negative way. They were called on it by their leaders and promptly shut up and apologized.

    Who on our side is trying to stop the over-the-top statements? Instead of standing up and saying, 'Stop', we're seen as snickering into our fists when Bush-Equals-Hitler videos are made, and we're seen as cheering when DeLay is accused of waging a war on democracy while Chavez - who actually DID try to overthrow a government - is championed. It creates the impression that, given a choice, we'd take liberalism without democracy rather than the other way around.

    Is there a reboot button for the Democratic party? I'd like to hit it.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 3:38pm

  72. Is there a reboot button for both parties?

    Posted by k330k at 04/04/2006 @ 3:41pm

  73. Hman,

    I believe many republicans are happy to see him(DELAY) go...more than you might think..

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 3:46pm

  74. Phragle:"Chavez - who actually DID try to overthrow a government -

    what kind of gov't did Chavez try to overthrow? didn't that George Washington fellow overthrow a gov't?

    your saint DeLay is accused of corruption. he will make a deal to avoid jail, coming soon

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:48pm

  75. MASK:

    Don't you think you are going a bit overboard here yourself? Who on the left has been throwing around Stalin and mass murder analogies? I haven't seen those sorts of terms come in the first instance; they seem to come from you and others in response.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:49pm

  76. Maasch -

    RIO seems pretty unhappy about it.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 3:49pm

  77. Maasch:"I believe many republicans are happy to see him(DELAY) go...more than you might think..

    you are of course correct. not you though, evidently

    not surprising, he didn't just fall, he was pushed

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 3:50pm

  78. JR,

    I was never a Delay fan, but neither did I despise him. He was (or is) my friends congressman, and he feels Delay was fucked over by Texas rough and tumble politics. And my friend, while comservative, is not a hard right winger..I feel he was targeted, as was Newt, but that is the nature of the business they chose to live in...so, be it. I am not sure Earl is a bundle of virtues.

    BTW, yes, many of my predictions have not come true so far, the only ones that were dead wrong is the indictment of Delay and Libby, while my conviction predictions still are in the hands of the future.

    I still predict no DEM take over in either house and no Dem in WH in 08, PLUS, Bush will have 1 more pick on the SC , watch the fur fly.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 3:57pm

  79. JR,

    I do believ he was tossed over board by a scred REP party in washington...cowards of no back bone...must be the nature of politics.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 3:58pm

  80. Maasch, what a mealy mouthed post. who cares what your friend thinks, what do you think. if you would just say, the guy was hurting the party with his corruption problems, then I might consider you more than just a Tory apparatchik.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:00pm

  81. rough and tumble politics? moneylaundering? corruption? and why don't you smear the DA while you're at it. innuendo does not an accusation make.

    oh yes the cowards threw overboard a paragon of virtue. he was so good that in comparison he made them all look like crooks, you are hilarious, but I like your good manners in inquiring about someone's new baby.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:03pm

  82. And JR,

    Spare us the virtue of Chavez. He wants what all politicians south of the border want..life time appointments by making the "Collossus of the North" the issue(all the imperialist statments,ect). He is throwing out the international companies, will further nationalise the industrys(oil), declare himself above elections, close and jail opposition for safety of the people. Capital will flee, revenues inside economy will fall, blaming US, revolution sparks,..and the game starts over again, with the guy at the bottom getting nothing. The liberals"Up North" will celebrate and romanticize the revolutionary "down south", while ignoring the plight of the average man in the straits, watch the great Chavez go shopping in NYC, and the .....we have all seen this before..

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:04pm

  83. Maasch - so DeLay was "targeted" now. Oh, yes, just another victim of dirty politics. I thought you conservatives were so enamored of notions like personal responsibility and accountability for individual actions.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:05pm

  84. more predictions Maasch?

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:08pm

  85. JR,

    I think he got what he deserved. I think he was hurting his party with the MSN storys repeated ad nauseum and being tried in the press, like you all do here,and they jettisoned him. He could not win in any senario that matterd. The blood letting would and will not stop regardless of guilt.

    We may never know if he really was corrupt..any more than we really know if Hillary is corrupt..there will be no final conclusion. Too politcised.

    Does this answer your question?

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:09pm

  86. Yes, JR, Maasch is going to keep making predictions no matter his losing streak. When he finally gets one right, he will declare himself a politcal genius and we will never hear the end of it.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:11pm

  87. Hman,

    I think he was always tageted as was Newt the moment it was recognised he could do damage to the DEMS. This is not evil or bad, just politics. Delay lost. Newt lost.Corruption is your charge and the dems in Texas. Their problem, but the chrges seem a little weak, but I am not lawyer,...I will wait for the jury verdict...if guilty I will help drive him to the jail.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:12pm

  88. Chavez was elected with over 90% of the vote in '98, he was a victim of an attempted coup, and later a victor in a referendum on his rule, which was engineered and financially supported by the US.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:13pm

  89. Hman,

    The real question is, if I win, will I hear from you guys? I heard from you when I lost and honed up to the loss..hell, I even offer to buy more than I owe,and that offer still stands...always will.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:14pm

  90. Maasch:"..any more than we really know if Hillary is corrupt..

    you are an apparatchik and you make me sick. Hillary has never been accused of corruption and she has never been indicted for anything. you are a Schwein in this instance, trying to channel McCarthy are you?

    you can have a discussion with such sleazy "accusations"

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:17pm

  91. Predictions are just that, predictions..and mine are consistant.

    No DEM take over of any House, including White House, and Bush will get 1 more SC appointment.

    Also, Repubs win WH in 08.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:17pm

  92. JR,

    ....Hillary has never been accused of corruption ...

    Maybe she should?

    Come on..I make you sick.....oink, oink, I like mine smoked with a dry rub and a sweet, hot sauce and a nice cold Pilsner..

    Jeez, Johannes....

    Hman can come and eat, too.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:20pm

  93. Maasch - and nobody really knows if OJ killed his wife, right?

    I notice how you still cannot bring yourself to condemn DeLay's actual conduct. All you seem to blame him for is sticking around too long, and give us a backhanded attack on the press and "bloodletting."

    Oh yeah, DeLay is just like Hillary - after you take away the ethics censures, the indictment, the fact that is is likely facing legal jeopardy re: Abramoff, and every other corruption allegation.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:21pm

  94. Posted by HMAN23 04/04/2006 @ 3:49pm | ignore this person

    HMAN....do I really have to search "The Nation" blog archives to find references to Bush and Cheney and Stalin and mass murder?

    Didn't Ms vanden Heuval ADMIT just a week ago, that the Right AND Left tend to throw around "dictator" and "Hitler" a lot? Didn't FRANK THOMAS here have a long running debate over those who do and DO NOT call Bush a "fascist"?

    Come on....Delay may not be one of the "top top dogs", but he got his share of attacks. And now that he's gone, it's a celebration around here, by those who think ONE PERSON (who goes by the name of "Delay" or "Rove" or even "Bush") is more important than electoral wins or ideological victories.

    Posted by Mask at 04/04/2006 @ 4:21pm

  95. Johannesrolf,

    Chipper??? Really, old boy I'm 54.

    Now quote me the article that says the Supreme Court can't do what they did in an emergency. And it was an emergency to me. Fairly pathetec that the will of the people, whatever it is, could be delayed almost two months over such lawyer-driven bickering. Apparently the SP thought so too. I wouldn't have wanted Gore, he's a damned socialist. But the preservation of the system was more important than either of the candidates. I think the SP understood that.

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/04/2006 @ 4:23pm

  96. JR, "Chavez was elected with over 90% of the vote in '98,.."

    Does this raise ANY questions in your mind? Saddam also had margins of this sort. If Bush had a 90% margin of victory...I can imagine the squealing from you(pardon the BBQ refernce)...

    But...please, nicht mit dem 90% crap....YOU are smarter than that..

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:24pm

  97. RIO - like the "balance" and non-partisanship we have enjoyed up until now? A smear campaign would be falsely attacking a decorated Vietnam Vet, or accusing a primary challenger of having an illegitmate child and betraying his country while a POW. Calling DeLay corrupt is hardly a smear. The fact that you would defend him just shows you have a loose grip on reality.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:27pm

  98. Hman,

    "I notice how you still cannot bring yourself to condemn DeLay's actual conduct."

    I don't know what his conduct was, only what the press chimes in with and he has not had his DAY in court. From what I have read and heard, he has not done anything illegal...

    OJ killed his wife and Goldman. The jury didn't know DNA from PTA and didn't care. They stuck it to "the man"...justice? no, but legal..

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:29pm

  99. Hman,

    How do you like your ribs? :)

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:30pm

  100. "Hillary has never been accused of corruption"

    Hmmmm...we seem to forget the billing records that suddenly turned up with her finger prints all over it....Rose law firm shenanegans, white house travel staff firings,and of course married to B.J Clinton the impeached president for lying in front of a grand jury..disbarred and of course responsible for 9/11 because he let Osama go free 3 times...Yes Hillary Rotten is clean as the wind driven snow......Enjoy your so called day of Delay...In historical terms ...its a whole lotta NOTHIN

    Posted by libzsuk at 04/04/2006 @ 4:30pm

  101. Libzsuck,

    Your post of course, carries no weight here, since it came from you. Hillary is the lefts candiate for president NO MATTER WHAT. The MSM will and is helping this come true. She could murder Bill in the street and it would be Bush fault.

    She is bigger than anyhting she may have commited.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:33pm

  102. Just wait until the Abramoff mess unfolds Maasch. He is has been identified as "Representative #2" in court documents. His former aides and chief of staff are falling all around him.

    Why do you think he really dropped out?

    Want to make another prediction on whether or not he eventually faces charges or cops a plea in the Abramoff investigations?

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:34pm

  103. DeLay was a nasty politician. If he's convicted, we can add criminal to that. I'm glad to see him gone. But he was not a monster, or a man who hated democracy. It's sad that even suggesting such things causes "progressives" to spew bile - and then turn around and defend people who actually did attack democracy.

    Simply suggesting that the other side might be just like us - human beings who simply have differing political beliefs - is met with cynical challenges to name examples of such people. How progressive and open-minded are we if we believe that the other side must be deluded, criminal, or evil to hold the beliefs they hold?

    I drink beer with Republicans and I drink beer with Democrats. Y'all are welcome to speculate about which of my friends are more open-minded and tolerant.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 4:36pm

  104. JR,

    I do believ he was tossed over board by a scred REP party in washington...cowards of no back bone...must be the nature of politics.

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 04/04/2006 @ 3:58pm

    John, the thing I like about your posts is the "fill in the missing letters" game that I get to play.

    For example, "scred REP" is probably supposed to be "scared REP" but I made it into "screed REP" for my own amusement. Thanks.

    Posted by ILOVEPHYSICS at 04/04/2006 @ 4:37pm

  105. MASK:

    If you are talking about a few random posters here and on other blogs, fine I see your point. But, you did write "the Left" in the collective sense.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:38pm

  106. To make my point,

    Watch how the ever deep reporting from Katy Couric, of "the real question I want to know, as does America, will you direct your next picture? fame", handles Hillary with out having an orgasm on camera, during the love fest interviews in the 08 campaign...if she doesn't kill off CBS by then.

    Nothing like those MSM claims of unbiased ....CBS has learned nothing. How many millions for her???She gotem' to pay and for that I am impressed...

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:38pm

  107. Phargle,

    Where do you drink? and what?

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:40pm

  108. BTW,

    I am a libertarian..do we count in the bar?

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:40pm

  109. John Maasch, beer of any kind. I'm a New Mexico Democrat.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 4:41pm

  110. ILP,

    Never could type for shit...too big fingers...sorry...for the spelling and typing errors.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:41pm

  111. John, I don't think libertarians believe in bars. Bars are governments telling you where you can drink. :)

    J/K - I have a perfectly good back yard.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 4:42pm

  112. Phargle,

    Albaqueque?(sp) as usual...I travel there too. I like the place, one of my buddies is a balloon pilot and I was invited to fly with him during one of the ballon races...getting pinned and all that for the ladies...Great time, but I never flew. Saw the pinning tho...

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 4:45pm

  113. Chipper, the constitution says that a disputed election is a matter for the House of representatives. just look it up.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 4:49pm

  114. Phargle -

    What you seem to miss is that DeLay was more than just someone with a differing political opinion (like a buddy you drink beer with). It's not the ends, but the means. There is a big difference. Surprise, surprise, but I have conservative friends and family memebers too - they have differing political beliefs but it's fine, we all get along - and some of the liberals are as closed-minded as the conservatives. But, they are not in positions of power where they are taking bribes, trading favors for votes and corrupting the political system. I don't think Tom DeLay is a monster simply because of his political beliefs. If that were true, I would label Hatch, Specter, McCain, Bob Dole, and others the same - and I don't.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 4:51pm

  115. HMAN23, I have nothing else to add to what you just said there because your post was free from over-the-top statements and acknowledged the other side as being human. Add me as a 'Me too!' to your post!

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 4:58pm

  116. Maasch -

    Kansas City baby back

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 5:00pm

  117. Maasch, your posts on Hillary is so absurd, completely removed from reality. keep it up and you will be ignored, who has time for such crap.

    your comparison of Saddam and Chavez is way off the mark, Chavez is the duly elected head of state of a democratic country. something that could never have been said about Saddam. you are in your flinging shit mode, hoping that something will stick, it does but only to you.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 5:00pm

  118. Hman,

    Good choice,

    JR,

    Saddam and Chavez both suck. I have my beleifs and you have yours, I have my opinions and you have yours...

    I have my beer and you can have my beer, too.

    Peace.

    I am off to eat ribs and cold beer.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 5:04pm

  119. Maasch - don't forget about the crow (ha-ha).

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 5:07pm

  120. Hman,

    With the right sauce and enough beer, even crowe can have taste..:)

    Posted by john maasch at 04/04/2006 @ 5:10pm

  121. Maasch:"I have my beleifs and you have yours

    the difference is I don't make sleazy smear accusations.

    you are entitled to your opinions but you may not have your set of facts.

    enjoy your beer, but spare me lunatic rants about Hillary.I'll be glad to take up that subject in 2008 or sooner if Hillary actually becomes the subject of this post. gratuitous smears have no place in a reasoned discussion, which seems to be beyond your ken.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 5:11pm

  122. get the sauce ready Maasch, you may be eating a lot of crow in the near future.

    by the way, I am an excellent saucier, if I may be permitted this immodesty, and my freezer is always stocked with stock. but that's another subject entirely.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 5:15pm

  123. http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2005&country=6862

    Venezuela is considered to be an electoral democracy, although Chavez got a constitution passed that extends his term in office, dismissed branches of his government, passed laws making it illegal for the press to criticize the government, and got his congress to permit him to rule by decree.

    It's not exactly tossing your enemies into wood-chippers, or making them watch their sons get raped. But it's still hard for me, a liberal democrat, to get excited about the kind of behavior Chavez gets away with.

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 5:16pm

  124. Phargle, the US is not busting Chavez's chops because of any of those things, but rather because he is standing up against the hegemonic actions of the US. I have not been following his path in his country, but I think he is part of a trend in the other americas toward more socialism and more independence from the meddlesome northern Goliath.America has been an imperialistic power almost from the start, and that has been revived by Bush in a major way.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 5:53pm

  125. Johannesrolf, have you nothing negative to say about Chavez? You were pretty critical of DeLay, a man who probably has slightly higher civil liberties ratings from Freedom House. ;-) So got anything?

    Posted by phargle at 04/04/2006 @ 6:01pm

  126. Phargle, DeLay was a congressman in my government, and his actions affected me, as well as every other american. Chavez is the leader of Venezuela. if and when Chavez become the subject of this or any other thread, I will do the research, and will take a stand.at this point america is living in a glass house and is in no position to throw stones or lecture any other country on civil liberties. Does Chavez torture prisoners? did Chavez attack another country? I did not drag Chavez into this discussion.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 6:15pm

  127. Chipster, whatsa matter, misplaced your copy of the constitution? show me where the supreme court has any special powers during an emergency?

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 6:16pm

  128. Phragle, why would you want to compare a populist leader of another country, with a congressman who resigned and who is under indictment in a state case of money laundering, is under investigation in a federal case, and was admonished for ethics violations four times by his peers in the house which his party controls

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 6:34pm

  129. I forgot. What did Delay do to get Bush the Presidency?

    Posted by jbnmbl at 04/04/2006 @ 7:15pm

  130. Jen, sarcasm? I did not see anyone suggesting that, unless is was from the Tory loons whom I ignore. what he did however was to engineer the Tory majority in the house, and with that protected Bush and his gang from investigations and possible impeachment

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 7:21pm

  131. One of our most devious enemies of American democracy is stepping aside, making the way for the Texas governor to appoint another Republican to his office before the November elections. The stand-in will take the defeat, sparing DeLay the personal "hammering." How long, if ever, will it take us to undo the damage this man has done? Yet will he even be a footnote in the history books?

    Looking deeper, did DeLay fail to get Diebold machines installed in his own district? If not, that is even further indication of how arrogant he is, and invulnerable he must have imagined himself to be. RAYZOR

    Posted by RAZORBLADE at 04/04/2006 @ 7:27pm

  132. GOOD RIDDANCE! DeLay is one of the most arrogant bastards ever to sit in congress,in many ways he was worse than Joe McCarthy.

    Posted by kapel at 04/04/2006 @ 7:56pm

  133. one more nominee for best protest song: If I had a Hammer...

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/04/2006 @ 8:44pm

  134. Hammered?

    You mean... Hamstered

    Posted by Will C. at 04/04/2006 @ 9:14pm

  135. Well, well, the usual cast of characters are here, sticking up for Tom "the Pussy" DeLay. He is political history, and I can just about promise you, a whole bunch more of your disgusting, corrupt party will go down with him. Maybe you punkasses better re-group and try to find a new Republican shlong to jerk.

    Ah, Spring!

    Love,

    Bloppy

    Posted by bloppy at 04/04/2006 @ 11:01pm

  136. JR, "Chavez was elected with over 90% of the vote in '98,.."

    Does this raise ANY questions in your mind? Saddam also had margins of this sort. If Bush had a 90% margin of victory...I can imagine the squealing from you(pardon the BBQ refernce)...

    But...please, nicht mit dem 90% crap....YOU are smarter than that..

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 04/04/2006 @ 4:24pm | ignore this person

    John,

    I think you are a genuinely a nice guy, and I like you, but many of your opinions are ill-informed and quite frankly, scare me. I have seen you post elsewhere that we should have leveled the city of Fallujah even more than we did (some in the British press have described it as a modern day Guernica), and your posts concerning Chavez are extremely ignorant. You have compared him to Hussein and Hitler. Do you really think that a guy vilified by the privately owned media, by the most powerful country in history (U.S.), and hated by the rich oligarchy that has run Venezuela for decades, can really pull all this despotic shit you ascribe. Or maybe his success is due to his appealing to the vast majority of impovershed Venezuelans who finally see some glimmer of hope, that they finally have a leader who is genuine and with similar origins to those of the poor working class rather than the standard pedigreed land owning, wealthy elite ruler they're used to seeing. The National assembly is democratically elected as was Chavez: everyone is up against the wealth and resources of the corrupt elite; their strength being the social policies helping the people long abandoned. They are providing hope.

    Besides, isn't that what the republicans have been doing: consolidating their power? At least Chavez is doing it with popular mandate, and against the hostile media; not to mention the fact that Chavez didn't ascend from the corridors of influence and power as Bush and is ceo, oil executive cronies have. Bushco are attempting to protect and consolidate concentrated power and privilege, while Chavez is reforming the nation through integration of free market/socialist policies- combing his comparative adavantages with long-term investments in the people (education, job training, medicine, etc.). This is meaningful democracy engaing all people; down into the poorest neighborhoods, much more substantive than what we experience here. Here we are told to vote, and then get out of the way, leaving things to the experts and the big boys. Our role is to be a good consumer. These people are building a participatory democracy. Yes, in the U.S. each person has one vote, but one vote plus alot of money goes much further. We are mired in our big-money political corruption and bribery.

    The reason Chavez has higher than 80% approval rating is because he has something to offer the people. Not because he runs like a dictator. You guys are always so cynical as to perceive that if someone claims to support the people it must be a ruse or scam. Sorry, but things are moving in the opposite direction from the old days of puppet governments (phony democracies ruling by Death Squad) being run by Washington, and these people are working at policies that differ from the old days of populism (though many conservatives will continue to use the same dry old rhetoric, slogans from the Cold War era): shelling out free money and services so as to keep people dependent on the gvt, rather, this stuff today is directed at advancing national and regional interests for the present and future. Whether Chavez, and the other nations of Latin America succeed will only be determined in the future, but at least they are innovating and the peole are hopeful. Screw you cynics chained to old and decrepit ideologoies. You offer no new ideas.

    Posted by Oustbush at 04/04/2006 @ 11:25pm

  137. LL:

    It was actually several days ago; and it was directly to you; two threads ago on 3/31/06 at 1:31 p.m. and 2:44 p.m.

    Pontificus picked up your side of the argument.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/04/2006 @ 11:30pm

  138. Posted by BLOPPY 04/04/2006 @ 11:01pm |

    Bloppy,

    Good to see you're alive, well and happy. Good spring to you!

    Posted by Oustbush at 04/04/2006 @ 11:33pm

  139. Well LL weren't the FICA courts created to oversee not only NSA but all wiretaps? Oh yes the pres is above the law he don't need no stinking FICA approvals!

    Now back to national security issues we have another bush & Co compromise. Their administration has again put an incompetent twit in a position of responsibility this one is a pedophile.

    Living up the republican standards of incompetence we have a fool in Homeland Security who has like some other conservatives here not been following the news this pervert was busted in an Internet sting trying to solicit sex from an under aged kid, asshole really needed to watch MSNBC instead of Fox (is that really the) News.

    Posted by dycel8r at 04/04/2006 @ 11:51pm

  140. LL: Maybe I am missing something, but my first thought is that I fail to see how an international call means that FISA does not apply here.

    FISA defines "electronic surveillance" to include any "acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of the contents of any wire or radio communications." 50 U.S.C. § 1801(f). FISA covers any electronic communication "sent by or intended to be received by" a person in the United States, as well as purely domestic communications. See 50 U.S.C. §§ 1801(f)(1 and 2) and § 1801(f)(3).

    50 U.S.C. § 1801(f)

    Electronic surveillance" means-- (1) the acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of the contents of any wire or radio communication sent by or intended to be received by a particular, known United States person who is in the United States, if the contents are acquired by intentionally targeting that United States person, under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes;

    (2) the acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of the contents of any wire communication to or from a person in the United States, without the consent of any party thereto, if such acquisition occurs in the United States, but does not include the acquisition of those communications of computer trespassers that would be permissible under section 2511 (2)(i) of title 18;

    (3) the intentional acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of the contents of any radio communication, under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes, and if both the sender and all intended recipients are located within the United States; or

    (4) the installation or use of an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device in the United States for monitoring to acquire information, other than from a wire or radio communication, under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/05/2006 @ 12:16am

  141. Homeland Security official arrested on child pornography charges.

    Homeland Security Deputy Press Secretary Arrested [news.yahoo.com]

    Posted by oraibi1952 at 04/05/2006 @ 12:19am

  142. BBC News Radio is reporting that a Bush Administration secret prison could be located in Djibouti.

    Posted by oraibi1952 at 04/05/2006 @ 12:20am

  143. Outsbush,

    Do you admire Castro,too? Chavez is in his image. Time will tell.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/05/2006 @ 02:51am

  144. castro was elected?

    really...

    Posted by Will C. at 04/05/2006 @ 08:04am

  145. OustBush, nice skewering, Maasch has the understanding and sagacity of a preschooler.

    Maasch, nice trick changing the conversation from Chavez to Castro. in your stunted mind everything is the same. your knowledge of history is pitiful, your disdain for Islamists is misanthropic. I think you would be better served to stick with predictions, which have not come true, and discussions of food and beer.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 08:38am

  146. Posted by OUSTBUSH 04/04/2006 @ 11:25pm | ignore this person

    That sounds VERY familiar, OUST. I think I heard about similar praise in 1931 by NY Times reporter Walter Duranty.

    Posted by Mask at 04/05/2006 @ 10:20am

  147. Maasch, so you think Feingold is finished.

    http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2006/04/05/wisconsin-refe renda.html

    the sound you are hearing is the revulsion of the people for the war and the so-called president who started it, it will grow to a roar.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 10:33am

  148. 24 Wis. Communities Vote for Iraq Pullout

    bad link above maybe, see news story on wireservices

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 10:36am

  149. JOHANNES

    Wisconsin....a state that Kerry won by 14,000 votes...is hardly a bell-weather of the entire nation.

    Sorry!

    Posted by Mask at 04/05/2006 @ 11:19am

  150. MASK:

    OK, how about Chicago, Philadelphia, Oakland, San Francisco, Balitomore, and Chapel Hill to name a few?

    For one list of several other communities, large and small, see

    http://citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1 11

    This list will keep growing.

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/05/2006 @ 11:41am

  151. Mask,

    Do you think your punditry skills are better than the State of Wisconsin?

    In other words, what would be a good bell weather in your opinion oh great masked one!

    Posted by freedomplease at 04/05/2006 @ 11:46am

  152. So "the Hammer" is hammered, and good riddance....do you suppose we can get him to pull on a pair of those infamous, baggy MC Hammer pants and dance his way off-stage?

    Posted by leftofcenter at 04/05/2006 @ 12:14pm

  153. Posted by HMAN23 04/05/2006 @ 11:41am | ignore this person

    Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 04/05/2006 @ 11:46am | ignore this person

    How about a city/state that Kerry only won by less than 5%...or better, that Bush won by less 5%?

    and NOT ones that Kerry won by 15-25+% that have no political impact, since they don't scare Republicans or encourage Democrats.

    Posted by Mask at 04/05/2006 @ 12:18pm

  154. Johannesrolf,

    Sorry to take so long getting back, old boy, I do work for a living, you know.

    In fact I did take the opportunity to check the documents, checked the whole thing, actually, and I believe the related verbage to be found in the Article II and especially the 12th amendment. However, the Supreme Court did not overrextend by "choosing" the President: They simply stopped the recounts, and their "equal protection" stance was judicially logical. So they did not interfere with the H of R's responsibilities, despite what their decision led to. There were no serious objections and the count was 7-2, so... (I must admit thier follow up "we only mean this time" decision is a little suspicious, though.

    So I repeat my challenge, old boy: YOU show ME where it states that they COULDN'T do what they did.

    Chipper

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/05/2006 @ 12:26pm

  155. Chip, that's not the way that document is written, it doesn't state what you could not do. that would have taken many more volumes. the election in Florida was a state matter, and that state also has procedures in place which were ignored by the supremes. that's one of the things that was in my view unconstitutional. there have been disputed elections before and not one of them was settled by the supreme court.

    so your challenge is meaningless. discussion on the other hand is good, not least that it sent us scurrying to the primary source.

    by the way are you suggesting that I DON"T work for a living?

    you are mistaken that there were no serious objections. I refer you to the vehemently argued dissent.

    ultimately we may have to agree to disagree, though you showed a glimmer of agreement in your suspicion of that "only this time" disclaimer.

    I believe by the supremes ill advised interference, they let everyone off the hook so to speak, to the great detriment of the country. it would have been better if this had been thrashed out in Florida, the repugs may have brought about the same result, but it would have been something they would have had to stand behind, for history and the american voters to judge

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 12:56pm

  156. Tom DeLay epitomized the essence of what brought down Nixon: arrogance. When elected representatives of the people believe that they know what's best for them and that any means to achieve that end is justified, then they reach to the extreme in arrogance and in crushing the documents and ideals on which this nation was founded.

    DeLay added enrichment to arrogance. He will be remembered in history books as an infamous example of abuse of power. Feingold, et al. may not be remembered at all. So sad.

    Posted by adr at 04/05/2006 @ 12:58pm

  157. ADR, they're still talking about McGovern, while Humphrey is dust, so maybe Feingold will be remembered longer than DeLay

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 1:05pm

  158. OK Maasch, things make more sense now that you have disclosed that you are from Wisconsin. I too am from Wisconsin. I have been reading your comments for several months and by the time I read all posts in a particular thread either someone has already given you the thrashing you deserve or posts to the thread have stopped.

    You remind me of so many others from Wisconsin that dislike liberals so much that they will not listen to reason and stubbornly continue supporting the right wing agendas. The main difference I see is that those right winger supporters still living here recognize that Russ Feingold is a courageous, principled politician. I live in the same community as Russ and feel that I am more qualified to judge his qualifications than you are.

    Show me another politician who has a second mortgage on their modest home yet still refuses the pay increases that the Senate gives themselves. Senator Feingold pledged to hold town hall style listening sessions in every one of Wisconsin's 72 counties every year. To date he has held over 900 listening sessions.

    We definitely could use more politicians like Feingold, politicians that aren't out to amass wealth and power for themselves and their special interests. Russ has shown through his actions that he truly cares about improving the quality of life of his constituents.

    Posted by dlg at 04/05/2006 @ 1:08pm

  159. Mask,

    Clearly I am missing something as you are many things, but you're not stupid.

    Wisconsin was 50/49 to Kerry which is about 2% off what the country as a whole was. In other words, we're not talking about NY State or Alabama, we're talking about a place that is remarkably close to the entire national mood (albeit slightly more Democratic than the entire nation was both in overall vote and electoral college vote).

    So explain again your assertion that "Wisconsin is not a bell-weather of the entire nation".

    Posted by freedomplease at 04/05/2006 @ 1:09pm

  160. dlg, i believe maasch is from nebraska--is it lincoln maasch?

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 1:13pm

  161. loveloki, I think you're correct. In his 04/04/2006 @ 2:48pm post (second page) he said he was from Wisconsin.

    Posted by dlg at 04/05/2006 @ 1:18pm

  162. I guess we will have to agree to disagree, and no, I wasn't suggesting you don't work: Merely my response to your sarcasm about my "misplacing " my constitution. Your previous comments merited some research so I took the time to research.

    Just curious: What DO you do? I'm a manager with a book manufacturing & binding operation in Maryland. (in fact, lol, we just got finished printing 100,000 copies of the Constitution for the Government)

    Chip

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/05/2006 @ 1:21pm

  163. I think he said he was originally from Wisconsin but now apparently lives in Nebraska.

    Posted by dlg at 04/05/2006 @ 1:21pm

  164. oh, i see. thanks. :)

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 1:25pm

  165. MASK:

    uhhhh . . . how about Wisconsin?

    Posted by Hman23 at 04/05/2006 @ 1:31pm

  166. Chip, what I do for a living is that I have a small video production company in NYC which specializes in the performing arts, videotaping dance companies, theatre and opera companies, and occasionally corporate clients such as law firms etc.

    what I DO, besides blogging too much on the Nation site, is read books and listen to music. I am a musicologist and do research in dance history, and history in general. I have over a thousand books in english and german, my native tongue, and also well over 1,000 LPs, and a few hundred CDs.

    the obsessive blogging has done wonders for my writing. As professor Eugen Weber, ask me, has put it:"you read, you write." I guess it's like anything, practice makes maybe not prefect but certainly better.

    as far as your metier goes, are familiar with a series of books, one a year since 1905, the Donnelley & sons company publishes? They are all about american life of the past, and are wonderful.

    Maasch is from Wisconsin but lives in Nebraska.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 1:32pm

  167. I like it when repubs cite a fact of embarressment as not that important and a waste of time for anyone to go there. Means: we repubs are on our knees begging you not to go there please, pretty please...

    I like it when repubs say look at this totally meaningless situation over there as it's really something you idiot dems need to waste time on. Means: repubs think dems are idiots. Keep thinking that, heheheh. The W has gotten pretty far with that one too.

    I like it when repubs say that a fact isn't a fact and repubs have all this other made up stuff to counter it. Means: shit, you caught us but if repub lies enough maybe everyone will tire of going there and not find out which of us repubs are just lying criminals.

    I like it when repubs ask 'but what have the dems done' about all the repub incompetence and criminal behavior. Means: repubs are clueless and need dems to figure out a way to help to protect repubs from themselves, and our country.

    I like it when repubs that are indicted say they've praying a lot and and are doing what's best for their family and the gop. Means: damn, repub going to jail. Maybe if the repub hits the 'I'm a good guy' bit harder, maybe they'll go forthe repub reduced sentence plea if the repub spills the beans on all the repubs other criminal buds.

    I like it when repubs not indicted say they're resigning to spend more time with the family. Means: yeah the repub needs to spend time with the family as knows jail time is in the future.

    I like it when repubs say that the polls mean nothing, just wait until November when we beat the dem asses all over the place again. Means: repubs know they're screwed per the Diebolt crowd are in hiding and in a real election means eventually lots of repubs will be investigated and eventually off to do prison time.

    I like when repubs' big 'get out the vote' drive is re-elect us repubs because if you don't the dems are going figure out how to put us criminal repubs in jail. Means: repubs are finally telling the truth!

    Posted by Bushfools at 04/05/2006 @ 1:39pm

  168. Bushfools

    I really hate going for the obvious jugular, but you are right there, holding the door wide open, just beggin' for it,

    The Repugs are so stupid that they have overwhelmingly won national elections since 1994.

    God, I wish I was that stupid.

    Posted by Jay Cline at 04/05/2006 @ 2:00pm

  169. great post bushfools. :)

    conrad burns is here on the radio every five seconds accusing the libs of repeating lies long enough in hopes people will believe them. more doublespeak. more projection. he'll be in jail with the rest of them. he took the most abramoff money. i can't wait.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:02pm

  170. i'll try to keep this simple for ya jay. your wish has come true. beyond your wildest dreams.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:05pm

  171. talk about exposing your jugular.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:16pm

  172. johannesrolf, do u know jane comfort and wim wenders? after reading what u do for a living, i'm curious. i met them in the last few months. i think they're both wonderful and talented people.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:28pm

  173. johannesrolf, wim reminded me of u. he came here from germany 30 yrs. ago, i think. he's a talented, smart, free-thinking, artistic type.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:36pm

  174. well, i guess i should qualify what i said. i didn't really meet wim. however, i was the bartender who served him cranberry juice with no ice all night at the premiere party.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:43pm

  175. loveloki, I don't know them personally but I am familiar with their work. I am complimented that you think of me in the same way as these more famous people. I am more a behind the scenes guy. I have worked for three certifiable genius artist in my time, perhaps four, and I am proud to be associated with their work, and helped preserve that work for future generations. Of course I cherish all my clients, great or small, and I pride myself in giving the same high standard of work as to the famous ones, from the smallest student recital to those paying Carnegie Hall so to speak.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 2:46pm

  176. loveloki

    30 minutes and counting...

    I can hold my neck out like this only for so long...

    Posted by Jay Cline at 04/05/2006 @ 2:46pm

  177. johannesrolf, if u get a chance, see wim's new movie, don't come knocking. and as for behind the scenes people, there are geniuses there too. they just don't get the acclaim. and as you've demonstrated your strong ethical values here repeatedly in many different forms, i'm sure it applies to your work too.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:53pm

  178. very funny jay.

    :)

    Posted by loveloki at 04/05/2006 @ 2:54pm

  179. Another funny Jay (Jay Leno):

    "Indicted former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay resigned yesterday," said Jay Leno as part of his Tonight Show monologue. "People were shocked! A Republican with an exit plan."

    Actually, said Leno, "they were just amazed he was going to pay for his own vacation."

    Posted by dlg at 04/05/2006 @ 3:21pm

  180. I don't know, man, ah, she kinna funny, ya know.

    I know.

    everybody funny.

    now you funny too.

    Take it down, GT.

    Posted by Jay Cline at 04/05/2006 @ 3:29pm

  181. Johannesrolf,

    You remind me of a friend of mine who lived up there untill recently. He and I collected all sorts of books, movies, games, music CD's when he lived in Baltimore: most were historically based. Sounds also like you have an interesting job.

    I have been a student of almost all types of history my whole life, naturally picking up the politics/economics/geography as I went along. Finding a job in a book maufacturing operation is like a kid accidently getting stuck in a toy store. Regarding those books, Donnelly is not one of our clients, but what is the name of the series? And by all means tell me about Professor Weber.

    Perhaps this isn't the place to get into more off topic discussions. I have a Yahoo IM account with the screen name ironlimper1415 should you want to write. By the way, do you know a woman named Catherine Polites?

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 04/05/2006 @ 3:43pm

  182. Chip, actually considering how much space is taken up here with nya, nya, I don't mind a little off topic, but I'll check that e-mail. I don't know Catherine Polites.

    the book series I mentioned is called The Lakeside Classics. they publish one book a year in this series. I find most of my books in thrift shops, and I came across six of these recently for $3 each, a steal.I also inherit books, mostly german books as I live in a neighborhood that was all old german people until recently.

    then I bump into something that interests me and off it is with research. one such subject is the art of gesture, I forget how I came upon that but I found some 18th century books on acting and rhetoric, in the library, which to me is the equivalent of a church.

    NYC is blessed with one of the great libraries of the world, along with the library of congress, bibliothek nationale in Paris and the british library. all of those have wonderful websites. did I mention I read a lot on line.the NYPL has introduced a 40,000 item picture collection, the Digital Collection, in many subjects, to browse, download etc, pounce

    Professor Eugen Weber is a noted historian, is professor of history emeritus at UCLA, the author of many books, and for me most significantly, the lecturer of a PBS series called "The Western Tradition", 52 episodes, traversing the history of western civilization. Wow, it's truly great, he is erudite and witty, and the talks are illustrated with pictures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. that series is available on line at the site of the Annenberg foundation, along with many other fascinating things.I can't speak too highly of that series, check it out. I interviewed Professor Weber a while ago and I told him that while I read very much I wasn't really writing much. I quoted his reply above, and lo it has come true. I thank all the participants in this blog for their attention, and yours too.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 4:31pm

  183. http://www.learner.org/exhibits/

    for the google impaired

    Posted by johannesrolf at 04/05/2006 @ 5:16pm

  184. Posted by LOVELOKI 04/05/2006 @ 2:02pm

    Thanks. Sorry for the delays responding but I travel between jobs and sometimes just don't get access for hours... Plus sometimes my job lends itself to interruptions.

    And true to form Burns did burn the 2 term pledge, so given the extra money from Abramoff-- he's pretty much getting his just rewards: sliding way down in the polls and jailtime.

    Posted by JAY CLINE 04/05/2006 @ 2:00pm

    I like it when you say that. heheheh

    Posted by Bushfools at 04/05/2006 @ 5:28pm

John Nichols John Nichols

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» The Beat

RNC's Steele Decides It Is O.K. to Play the Race Card | "Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?” he wonders. Maybe he could compare notes with Obama.
John Nichols
12 Comments

» Editor's Cut

New Web Column at The Washington Post | Every Tuesday, I'll be featuring progressive thinking about politics and challenging the Right in my new web column for The Washington Post. Read my first one here.
Katrina vanden Heuvel
33 Comments

» The Notion

When Snow Melts: Vancouver’s Olympic Crackdown | Anger is growing in Vancouver in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Like Olympic clockwork, here comes the media crackdown.
Dave Zirin
47 Comments

» The Dreyfuss Report

The Mind-Boggling Stupidity of Michael Rubin | How an AEI apparatchik's love affair for Ahmed Chalabi blinds him to Chalabi's pro-Iran treachery.
Robert Dreyfuss
32 Comments

» Act Now!

Demand Question Time | Join the call for the President and Congress to implement regular Question Time sessions.
Peter Rothberg
60 Comments

» And Another Thing

How to Counterbalance Focus on the Family on Superbowl Sunday | Give to help low income girls and women.
Katha Pollitt
56 Comments

» Altercation

Slacker Friday | James O'Keefe and Alter-reviews.
Eric Alterman