Delay Departure is bad news for Democratic hopes in November

[Sensitivity]

Sorry to have to say it, but celebration of Delay's downfall has to end sometime in the light of harsh reality:
Delay quiting deny's the Democrats the critical campaign theme -- Puke corruption, arrogance and vice.

The Delay Texas race was the way in which the MSM would be force to bring up payoffs, indictments, and Abramoff.

Delays removal from the scene show Republican party discipline and the ruthless steps they will take to
keep control.

On MSNBC the Nation's political editor just said that negative publicity around Delay could have cost
the Pukes 4 seats.


Next thing you know Ms. Harris in Florida will get an offer she can't refuse and get out of the Fl. senate
race. That could cost us some more by hope-for wins.

This is scary because I don't the Dem Party has the discipline and unified leadership to make the same type of hard choices.

[Erika]

1. Why not?

What's the hard choices? We have excellent candidates in both states. Where are you coming from?

[Inland]

2. Maybe Bush will resign in disgrace and we'll really be toast.

After all, everyone knows, the only path to victory in the war is to keep losing every battle.

[Erika]

4. LOL

The Bushbots are drowning themselves and screaming the democrats don't know how to swim. Really funny.

[July]

36. I like the way you think, Inland.

That was enjoyable.

[Flabbergasted]

3. Can we celebrate for just ONE DAY. Delay was a huge thorn in

Americas side. He will be nearly impossible to replace. We already have seen the results.

[Erika]

9. DeLay is most probably a corrupt criminal

and truly representative of the GOP. They've thrown him aside, thru MSNBC rather than Faux. A two for one.

[eleny]

5. Here's some hope

I figure that the person who gets the nod will be of Delay's picking. And that means a connection to dirt and scandal. As Mike Malloy sez - all Repukes are corrupt liars. So, it will take between now and November, but we should be able to peel back the facade off the next candidate. And that person's dirty secrests should be easier to crack open than Delay's.

[JDPriestly]

17. You are right.

Delay is just the tip of the iceberg. Let's look at Ohio next.

And -- let's make sure that the Democrats we support are clean, honest servants of the people. Power and money are temptations few can resist. We have some great Democrats, but there are a few rotten apples in the bunch and they can spoil it for everyone.

[radfringe]

29. One word - ABRAMOFF

he's still singing - trying to save his butt as much as he can. His "lighter sentencing" was due to his cooperation in other investigations.

Who knows what other names will pop-up this summer? And how many of them will drop out to leave the GOPers scrambling for a replacement at the last minute?

the anti-incumbent mood is strong, and an anti-republican mood is there too. It's more than just corruption - it's also a question of compentency and a reluctance on the part of the Republican CONTROLLED congress to hold the bushies accountable.

Dems need to make the point that if you just replace one republican with another then things will continue as they have.

Still early in the game to be betting on polls - but current numbers show a double-digit lead for DEMs on several issues.

the question is will the Dems be able to capitalize on this or will they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

[simonm]

6. No problem

Plenty of other pukes under investigation that are good examples of corruption.

[Der Blaue Engel]

7. Thanks, Puddleglum

I almost had a moment of joy. :eyes:

[blondeatlast]

56. Come over to my house, I'm celebrating, dammit!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2551493

[onehandle]

8. Delay is connected to many sitting Republicans.

He will be connected for a long time to this Congress.

I'm now thinking that his fall in disgrace will help.

We're going to take the House. This may help with the Senate.

[LA lady]

10. not only that

I think there's more bad news than that. Nick Lampson had a real chance to take this seat from DeLay but when the Repubs choose someone else with out a closet full of skeletons, the makeup of the 22nd will come out. It is a VERY red district and I am afraid another candidate can beat Lampson. This could have been a Dem pickup.

[Erika]

12. I think even Texans are getting sick of the GOP corruption

Don't sell out Lampson.

[mazzarro]

11. That Is Not True - IMO

Corruption and administration ineptitude have become widely known and being discussed. Whether Delay remains or not, the fact is that the investigations and court cases will still be there to bring up the issues. Also it is left for the Democrats to use these issues wisely and effectively in painting the repukes as corrupt and inept. Democrats did extremely poor job with the Enron - California utility - World Com debacle. If Dems cannot do a better job than that - then it is not as a result of Delay quiting the race but of Dems not being smart and bold enough to use these opportunities to their advantange.

[Ignacio Upton]

13. It won't

DeLay will still go on trial, the Plame Investigation and Libby Trial are far from over, Frist is still being investigated, and so are Katherine Harris, Conrad Burns, Bob Ney, John Doolittle, and many others.

[norml]

14. Oh there's plenty of "Puke corruption, arrogance and vice" to go around.

And plenty of verses of "Another One Bites The Dust" to be sung.

Adios Tom DeLay.

Now bring me the head of Bill Frist!

[unblock]

15. are you kidding me? the repukes are STILL running against jimmy carter!

we can still hammer away at the corruption theme and still tie the entire banana republican party to it.

it's not like the only corrupt people are gone, or that it was just a few of 'em.

they're ALL rotten to the core.

[Vincardog]

16. Thanks for the buzz kill Mr. Sensitivity This strengthens our hand.

Even the hammer was too corrupt to stand. How far does the rot run? End the abuse vote the corrupt out.

[Sensitivity]

49. Just get us a PICTURE OF DELAY BEHIND BARS before Nov.

[MADem]

18. Well, you're likely wrong, but no need to be "sorry" about it

DeLay quitting does not deny the Dems a thing--it gives them yet one more example to list when they tick off the excesses and criminality. He comes after Scooter in the Dirty Deeds List, you see. Odds are running favorably that next up to bat, or following shortly in the line up, will be Karl Rove.

Perhaps you haven't been reading the paper. This shoe has been about to drop for some time. The only question was when; but everyone knew it would happen well before the election. The only reason DeLay didn't step aside is because he wanted to hold on to an illusion of power to stall the proceedings slightly. Now, with the handwriting on the wall, his friends (who really were weaklings who were bullied by him, or sleazebags who enjoyed the crumbs from his table) will run away in droves.

It's important to keep Katherine Harris, and her two campaign aides Moxie and Spunk, in the race until May 12. After that, the GOP will not be able to field another candidate.

The only people who are scared, or who should find this scary, are the bozos following behind the elephant. They know their excesses have come back around to haunt them, and they know it won't be pretty.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

19. The Democrats have to fight them. We cannot be dependent on the

Repubs imploding.

[ruggerson]

20. Get real

Tom Delay was the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and he was brought down by corruption.

CORRUPTION.

This is not going away in five or six months. The Republican party is knee deep in this shit. They can't get out.

Tom Delay is a criminal. Half or more of their leadership are criminals.

His resignation is just the beginning of the tsunami and IT GIVES IT MOMENTUM.

The trend is just getting started.

HAD ENOUGH?

[Mad_Dem_X]

37. I agree - this is just the tip

of the iceberg.

[guidod]

47. You are so Right!

Let the games begin!! YIPEEEEE!!!

[Old and In the Way]

21. He won't run, but he can't hide.

The fun is just starting for the Republican Syndicate. Lots and lots of people going in front of the grand jury and singing. The truth will get out. Funny, though. Reading the consensus reaction of the political braintrust over at FR seems to be - surprise. A steady diet of Fox, Rush, Sean, and NewsMax will do that to you, I guess. Obviously, they aren't too up on the scandals that are starting to hemorage indictments of the Republican Syndicate in a number of states. Boy, are they going to be surprised when the hits just keep on comin'.

[oasis]

59. When Rep. Rahm Emanuel spoke on House floor today he mentioned Doyle

the Homeland Security pedophile as well as another official from the same department who was arrested earlier this year for exposing himself.

Rahm ends his address saying the WH wants to snoop on private citizens when it needs to investigate the people it hires.

[snowbear]

22. 100% complete BUNK

Sorry. I realize you're just quoting some political hack on MSNBC Sensitivity, but I think the dude you heard is full of crap.

Screw the talking heads -- the voters will decide.

And the Nation's political editor's opinion won't mean diddly-squat.

[Sensitivity]

23. Hope all are right. Just a sickening thought after the initial thrill

Nation magazine tend to be pretty solid in POV

[FrenchieCat]

24. Not that "Solid".....

This was one guy doing some talking.

Look, the trial is still going to take place, and the fact that DeLay decided to drop out, in many of the public's mind, will mean that he understood that the verdict wasn't going to go over very well....and that gives the perception of guilt, whether he has been proven as such or not.

Now, I think that the news was announced at the time when it was too late for most of the talking heads to really discuss this beyond making the announcement. Matthews called this in at 7:10 p.m., Pacific time. None got to opine much on this except for Scarborough's show (Tucker is such a lightweight, that he doesn't even count).........i.e., most of the cable News programs were already in the can for today....That, I think Delay had control over...what time.

I have to believe that as cunning as he is, he did take the "timing" of the announcement into consideration.....as he may have picked a time that gives "them" additional time come up with their spin for tomorrow morning.

But the fact that Delay didn't do this on a Friday, however, makes me suspect that there is a force greater than he could control that gave him reason to do this in the way that he did, on the day that he did, a Monday, for Crispesake! I mean, this happened too quickly. I don't think that DeLay had control over what is happening....

Maybe there was going to be some kind of announcement tomorrow that forced his hand on this.

But look, this can't be bad news for the Democrats, because if it is, then things are twisted much worse than we could ever anticipate.

If this was bad news for us, the what would it take for us to get some good news? A Miracle at Lourdes? :shrug:

[AtomicKitten]

26. his aide just pleaded guilty to fraud ...

he's clearly ratted out Delay or Delay wouldn't be resigning. Plus the Abramoff thing has yet to flow downhill.

And then our boy Fitzpatrick is waiting in the wings ...

And let's not forget that Boehner announced that Delay has served with integrity and honor, which makes this whole thing particularly fabulous.

I'm just not seeing the downside to this. The corruption festival has yet to come to fruition.

[saltpoint]

25. No question that a lot of GOP operatives are a ruthless bunch, but

I take hope in the news this evening about DeLay's departure.

His own staff bought lighter sentences in exchange for facts prosecutors wanted to nail DeLay. I don't know that clinically but that's the look of things right now. DeLay lied and held out as long as he was able; when it was no longer possible, he caved and quit.

The Abramoff scandal may not be done with its discovery phase yet. Other names, maybe high-up names connected to the White House, could be in the newspapers soon and remain there through the 06 elections.

With much less to lose, DeLay could make it hot for some people also.

I think his being forced to step down is good for Democrats because it removes a hit man from Bush's domestic strategy. The playground bully is no longer enrolled in that school.

And on general principle, it's nice to have a slimeball removed from the corridors of public power.

[AussieDave]

27. To those who think Delay's "cut and run" strategy is bad news for Dems

here's the meme:

"So DeLay is out. But it's DeLay's House. DeLay's Republican DC machine. They built and fortified it with the money he brought in. The great majority of them voted for the "DeLay Rule" custom tailored for Majority Leader DeLay to avoid stepping down even after indictment. The current Republican membership of the House ethics committee was hand-picked to provide protection for DeLay and the old membership was purged. He's their guy. Their rule rests on his machine. They can run but they can't hide."

read the rest here at the wonderful TalkingPointsMemo:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/008101.php

Sidebar: I wonder if it makes Falafel O'Reilly rip his hair out to know he doesn't have that domain name ??

[Major Hogwash]

28. Naw, we can still beat on Delay like a rented mule for at least 6 months

And the elections are only 7 months away.

Cheer up - he hasn't even been sent to jail yet.

And those pictures of him going to jail will blow out tv tubes all over "Bush country".

You'll see.

[Disturbed]

30. Hassert will be tainted with the Noe Coin Scandal.

a few more Rethugs will resign soon.

[bklyncowgirl]

31. Delay's departure was good for America

The guy is a crook pure and simple.

If the Democrats can't make hay over the fact that this dominant Republican was forced to resign in disgrace, that Abramoff and Rudy are singing a sweet song that should put Hot Tub Tom in a cold jail cell and that his fellow Republicans not only failed to distance themselves but actually put this corrupt bastard on a committee which is chared with investigating political corruption, then they deserve not only to lose but to be consigned to the ashcan of history along with the Whigs and the Bullmoose Party.

[salin]

32. Quite the contrary. His influence peddling among congressional

members is well known. It is how he earned his title "the Hammer" - offering bribes and perks, and threats of retribution he whipped folks into line.

His stepping down is his final acknowledgement that he can't beat the indictments he currently faces, let alone the ones that will come down the pike ala Abramoff. Act two will be the taking down of many other members who he "persuaded" over the years on x vote or y vote. Reps. Ney, Doolittle, are just the beginning of the large net that will be caught from the ripples of this boulder being thrown into the river.

Just as interesting will be to see how many elected reps start backing away from Melhman's advice to embrace being "Brand W" republicans (his - if W drops further, we all drop further) ... watch some idiocy in arrogance as W tries to push congress to do some "bold plan" that is staged to win support - but inevitably due to the tin-ears of his advisors it will be things viewed by the public as either idiocy or more proof that the pres and the GOP is clueless as to the real concerns of citizens... watch how many desperate GOPers run... and funnier yet how many blindly repeat the Brand W line. Credibility will be shot.

Harris never had a chance to win - her eventually dropping out of the race will change nothing, except take a little late-night ridicule fodder off the plate.

[onenote]

33. I think it may make it harder to win his seat, but that's it

There was a very good chance that the Democrats could capture Delay's seat the way things were going. With him out of the race, i'm not so sure. But I disagree with the idea that this is bad news. It doesn't make the corruption issue any less of an issue and it takes the repubs main "defender" off the playing field.

onenote

[mrgorth]

34. I'm happier to know the cancer is gone

I'm not convinced we would've unseated him. I'm just happy to know he's gone.

[DebinTx]

35. I disagree

Democrats need to keep harping on DeLayed's corruption and republican party corruption. Texans will remember the shame he foisted on us.

[sendero]

38. Let me get this straight..

... the fact that Delay was forced out of his House leadership position and then forced from office can't be used by Dems as evidence of the culture of corruption?

If the Dem message-makers can't make hay of this then we truly are screwed.

On the contrary, one down and several to go, and each will be a feather in the Dem's hat. Trust me, one thing Americans know about politicians is that they don't give up their office until there is absolutely positively no other choice.

[Bridget Burke]

39. We're not about to run out of Corrupt Republicans...

And DeLay will still be in the news. In Court!

(DeLay's district is actually a bit "Bluer" than it was before redistricting.)

Glad you took this opportunity slam the Democrats...

[Sensitivity]

43. Poll showed that Delay was Great to run against: even outside his race

You could run against Delay for every seat in Texas and beyond.

I can't think of a better icon of Puke corruption.
Unfortunately the MSM will not have to give as much attention to Delay charges
now that he is out of the race.

Hope folks are right and this is not example of Repub party disciple and ruthlessness
as they seek to keep their grip on power.

[No Exit]

40. Bwaaaa aaaaAAAAHA HAHAHAHAHA HAHA.... oh... I'm sorry...

you were serious, weren't you?

(snort... snicker...mmmph...hee hee hee hee hee...)

[Norquist Nemesis]

41. Don't worry, there are more to come

DeLay is arguably the most recognizable face of the Congress, but most people understand that the stench of corruption is still permeating the halls.

[ChiciB1]

42. Ding! Ding! Ding! I Completely Agree...

DO NOT TRUST anything! I no longer trust anything they do, but even more distressing is the fact that the DEMOCRATS can't even unify themselves on any given issue!

As infuriated as I am about the Repukes, I'm becoming even more infuriated by Democrats who just sit back like Tweedledee & Tweedle-DUMB!! Democrats have VERY little time left to get their act together! Gerrymandering is going to make any Democratic wins hard enough, but when the party is so fractured and don't support their own it's going to be almost impossible to regain ANY control!

They're already flaming C. McKinney, as they have Conyers, Murtha, Feingold and all the rest who have actually stood up to DO SOMETHING!! November is right around the corner!

For the MOST part... it's been The Black Caucus that has stood up for the Democrats and yet they are running away once again! And I'm white!

[leesa]

44. Oh please! There's plenty of corruption to go around. Nice try though.

[Bake]

45. I beg to differ ... cautiously

I too worry that the Pukes will find another candidate who might not be as beatable as Delay for that particular seat.

However, as long as he has been in the public eye, Delay's departure will NOT alter his image as the face of the Republican Party, nor should we ALLOW that to happen. I think Delay is the gift that keeps on giving ... the indictment, a TRIAL or a guilty plea, the orange jumpsuit ... we can "hammer" those images again and again. All we need to do is to keep making the connection between "the most powerful man in Washington" and every other Puke that sucked up to him. Or took his dirty money.

Bake

[truebrit71]

46. I completely disagree...it fuels the fire...

..there are plenty more that are just as corrupt, and this coupled with Libby/Rove/Plamegate, and a whole host of other scandals simply reinforce the culture of corruption that is the gop...

I think you are 100% wrong and this is just the tip of the iceberg...

[Sensitivity]

48. Structure of Media control makes it tough to get attention on Puke evils

unless its part of some other story - like "the most watched congressional race of 2006" .

It is so tiring to watch Dems fooling themselves on cases like this while neglecting
party and message discipline in its own ranks.

[Panda1]

50. Hogwash

You're repeating Rove blastfaxes. Oooh, we're scared? Let's get DeLay back and ask him to forgive us for being so mean to him? Please don't hurt us, Mr. Bugman. What the hell is this? Stockholm Syndrome? Meme time? Bullshit, DeLay got caught, his aides and co-thieves are making deals with the Feds and naming names to save their own asses. DeLay's a crook and taking his campaign dough for his legal battles. In the meantime he's going to lobby from Virginia. He's an asshole who thinks he's above the law, especially since he had so many of them re-written to suit his thievery. Is this meant to demoralize us? They ALL need to resign and stand trial!
Just some of the others involved in the Abramoff scam:
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT); Rep. John T. Doolittle(R-CA); Rep. J.D. Hayworth, (R-AZ); House Speaker Dennis Hastert, (R-IL); RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman; Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH); Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, (R); White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, (R). And Lieboy himself. Replace the Rs with Neocon. They aren't REAL Republicans.

If you were around for Watergate you'd know this is the tip of the iceberg even though we don't have control of ANY branch of government. They're going down...slowly...but down! Cowards always snitch on each other in the end.

[DuaneBidoux]

51. You're assuming this stops with DeLay.

[WCGreen]

52. Dude, they are gonna go through every GOP congressional

persons contributions and list the amount they got from Delay...

Delay will be the monster in the race whether he is in or out....

They are gonna morph congressmen into Delay faster than superman puts Clark Kent behind him....

[ProSense]

53. Join the party!

Smash hit of the week: The Hammer Falls


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2550455&mesg_id=2550455

[Sensitivity]

54. I believe that Dean planned major campaign to take back Texas using Delay

race as the pivot. There was also a national campaign with Delay as a part of it. I am sure
we will go forward with this regardless of Delay's retirement, but the MSM will not give it
anywhere the same attention as they would if the Delay congressional race was still on.

[adigal]

55. Delay is just the TIP of the iceberg

by November, we will be swamped with all of the corruption.

[Wise Doubter]

57. Did anyone see this asshole on ABC today-Wed 4/5 ?

He was on Good Morning America talking to George Stephanopoulos.

I could not believe he kept trying to use "the Lord" in reference to his situation. :eyes:

gotta keep the support going, I guess. Some people will believe anything.

People should see this movie

http://www.thegodmovie.com/clip-Trailer.php

[oasis]

58. Brian Doyle, Abramoff, Rove, Scooter Libby and Delay will still be

in the news through next year. The corporate media can't avoid reporting on the legal woes of these prominent REPUBLICANS.

[Sensitivity]

60. Can't take that for granted. Dean has his work cut out for him -- needs

to invest more in the campaign since the MSM can't be trusted to follow up on Culture of Corruption.
Must have noticed how the Delay scandal was almost ignored in favor of pokings, murders and porn.