Proof DeLay Is Radioactive? from HOU Chronicle

[babylonsister]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/2978085

Monday's stunning reversal by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and the Republicans in Congress on the so-called DeLay Rule caught all by surprise, including those of us in the midst of the effort to hold politicians accountable for these types of actions.

But it shouldn't have. There are three reasons why DeLay caved on the provision, which was enacted by the House Republican conference back in mid-November and was designed to protect him if he gets indicted for his role in the on-going investigation into corporate fund-raising in Texas politics: constituent anger; a measurable rebellion among House members that emboldened House Democrats; and the growing sense that DeLay is becoming politically radioactive.

But first some background. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has been conducting an investigation into possibly illegal corporate campaign fund-raising in the 2002 elections by a DeLay-created political action committee known as TRMPAC. Eight corporations and three individuals have already been indicted by a grand jury for their role. All three individuals have strong ties to DeLay, making DeLay's potential indictment a matter of great speculation.

Already two of the eight corporations, including Sears Roebuck & Co., have recently turned state's witness. more

[henslee]

1. I'll have the Tom Delay casserole well done with a side of jailhouse gritz

[Kelvin Mace]

2. We DO make a difference

Fueled by bloggers, enterprising journalists and public interest groups, thousands of constituents called members of Congress throughout November and December to ask where they stood on the DeLay Rule vote. The issue wasn't going away.

David Allen
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Yes we do. Slow but eventually sure.

Whatever happens tomorrow and Jan 20, we must continue to push for rights and the rule of law.

Quotes from some people involved in earlier slow, painful movements (there have been so many):

The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose. -- Frederick Douglass

You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all the papers more than anybody else, in fact you have to be there all the time and see that they do not snow you under, if you are really going to get your reform realized. -- Emmeline Pankhurst

There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people. -- Fannie Lou Hamer

You can kill a man but you can't kill an idea. -- Medgar Evers

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. -- Marian Wright Edelman

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. I think we're helped by the fact that many Repubs WANT him out

He has terrorized his colleagues (he would probably use a more subservient word) in Congress for a long time. There is no way they don't resent his heavy whip, even though he has also used the carrot in getting them money and favors.

I'm betting that something is finally happening because enough Repubs finally feel safe enough from the possibility of his vengance to make a move. The most recent elections are just done, there is more evidence of DeLay guilt coming, and some of them probably feel that this is the best chance and time to get him out. All the better if they can use the process to portray themselves as oh-so-ethical. ("Now ya'll just forget that this is the opposite of what we've been trying to do with the ethics rules, hear?")

Anyone for popcorn? The plot's heating up.

[MasonJar]

5. We must have a paper trail; we must have cochairman of all

election work; one from each party, all parties would be better.