Delay: will he get a pardon or prison...?

[QuettaKid]

Anyone know what the possible jail time he is looking at...and on a more realistic note, yeah we are all laughing and having a great time, but really, when all is said and done, won't bush just pardon him and call it a day?

[Seansky]

1. Probably pardon, but based on the reaction by the freepers, the damage

has been done...

[toymachines]

2. 2 years or 5 probation

i dont know, bush might distance himself. then again, they dont even try to fool us now.

[garybeck]

3. Indictment is not the same as conviction

remember the trial hasn't begun yet. expect lots of lawyers to try to lie their way out of it.

[WiseButAngrySara]

18. Look what SCOTUS and B*'s attorneys did in 2000...I will never forget

that major lesson in treason against the American people. IMHO, the Republican party is and has been tainted for years. If they didn't run on, and get elected for Family Values, ethics (:barf:)and phony religious propaganda, maybe some of their hypocricy could be overlooked, or at least halfway tolerated. But too much for me, for way too long.

[WiseButAngrySara]

19. How did that smiley end up in my message? LOL !!!!.....n/t

[Inland]

25. Yup. First thing he gets is a trial.

He doesn't want one, but he'll get one.

[abluelady]

4. As loyal as Bush is to his cronies,

I'd bet on a pardon.

[Akoto]

5. A pardon, but even then ...

The right-wing administration already reeks of corruption. Every incident like this just alerts more people to that unforgettable stench.

[txaslftist]

6. I don't think Bush can pardon him.

He's indicted in Texas State Court.

That said, our governor might pardon him.

[Balbus]

7. Usually a conviction has to come before a sentence....

unless the rules have been changed recently. But either way, I seriously doubt he'll serve any time in prison.

[Mr_Spock]

8. Can't we execute him?

I'd make an exception just this once :D

[joanne]

11. I dont think he will serve any jail time

and to be honest, dont really care.

The main thing is..... the damage has been done.

HUGE damage in my opinion.

The Repukes control every branch of government. They are going to try and blame the Dems somehow. But rather difficult when you control everything.

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[nonconformist]

9. Considering the nature of the crime, I would say there is a damn good

paper trail. They may just have to sacrifice him so he doesn't bring down the ship. A pardon would be bad, bad PR for the whole lot of them.

[berni_mccoy]

10. He would have to be pardoned by the Governor of Texas

Bush can only pardon for Federal Offenses.

And yes, a pardon can be given to someone even before charges are raised, but it depends on the pardoning power of the governor in that state (The POTUS has pardon power to the extent that he can pardon before charges are brought up).

I am not familiar with Texas Governor Pardon power... so I can't say if he will be pardoned or not and when.

[earth mom]

12. He'd better do some jail time!

:grr:

[baby_mouse]

13. "Disgraced former Majority House Leader Tom Delay"

:-)

prison or pardon - no matter. He LOOKS bad. The death of a Repbulican's squirming black soul...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

21. That has a nice ring to it.... :) nt

[baby_mouse]

22. Not my coinage, honestly

Thre's another thread around here with that as its subject line.

[cynatnite]

14. I just want to see this:

[Texasgal]

15. a state jail felony punishable by up to two years incarceration

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/09/29trmpac.html

Delay is TOAST.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

16. The way I see it

There is just a little over one year before the next House election in 2006, and about six months before the primaries. Delay is going to have to worry about a trial in that time, he doesn't want to be a candidate who is currently under indictment.

My take is that he is suddenly going to realize he hasn't spent enough time with his family and has declined to seek reelection. After that I could ruly not care less if he is pardoned because the facts will come out in any event and he will be politically radioactive for a very long time. And as a bonus I expect every candidate who accepted money from his various PACs will have plenty of pressure to return it -- guilt by association all around.

[eallen]

17. Perry would have to pardon him, not Bush.

These are state charges. It's more likely that the state legislature will legalize the very impropriety of which Tom DeLay is indicted of conspiring to do. Texas, unlike most states, makes it illegal for corporations to contribute to political campaigns. Tom's TRMPAC laundered corporate money through DC PACs for that purpose.

[Matariki]

20. resident astrologer, Nancy Waterman has this to say

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x12638

[DrDan]

23. come on - perhaps this is why junior has been

holding out that last USOC nomination.

The reich-wing judges are easily bought. He will get off scot-free.

[jobycom]

24. Bush will not pardon Delay. He doesn't give a damn.

Delay is powerful man in Texas. Bush hates competition. Bush won't waste political capital on Delay.

If he does pardon Delay, there is a large exchange of money somewhere.