What does the Delay indictment do to the three republican candidates

[Debi]

in Iowa's First District?

http://www.mikewhalen.com/

http://www.briankennedy.com/

http://www.billdix.com/


Not to mention Nussle, Latham, Leach and ewwwww King. All who have received $$ from Tom Delay's PAC and most who have publicly supported Delay.

[IA_Seth]

1. Good question...

I would love to say it would at least tarnish the image of the GOP, but sadly I am not sure that it will. The republicans I know in NE Iowa are the older, rural types who have been voting republican for a long time and see Iowa republicans separate from the Washington types (mistakenly so!).

On one hand I would say we should keep Delay (and Frist, and Abramoff) fresh in the mind of voters and try to link corruption and scandal with the republican party the way they were able to link the Democrats with immorality and declining family values in the Clinton years.

On the other hand, that sort of thing is one thing I hate about party politics, when we judge a candidate by their party and not their own record (and Nussle, Latham, Leach, King, etc. have plenty of their own issues!). I suppose it has its value, but I personally don't care much for it.

I guess it comes down to the way we run our campaigns this year!

What are your thoughts?

[Debi]

2. I agree that we shouldn't just smear candidates because they're republican

but some of these candidate (Nussle/Kennedy/King) have publicly defended Delay's actions and all of the elected officials have received money from his PAC.

I see that as different from just being of the same party. Several Democrats were critical of Clinton and yet got smeared just because he was D. And BOY, look at 1992 and 1994 with the House Banking Scandal. Even Dems who had never bounced a check were taken out because of Gingrich's scorched earth campaign.

republicans who have ridden on Delay's coattails to get where they are today all should ride them to wherever he's going tomorrow.....:evilgrin: and I don't think they serve caviar and champagne down there!!!

[ngreene]

3. We might want to wait a bit...

He hasn't even been found guilty yet. He is just accused. I think that we should wait to cast stones until he is found guilty. When he is found guilty we can go after him and his buddies for everything they have done.

[Debi]

4. You mean like the republicans waited on Whitewater with the Clintons?n/t

[Hobarticus]

13. Whaa? Nussle and King BOTH took $15k from this crook!

You want to wait until Nussle is your governor,and King is in the Senate, before we speak up?

The whole point of ethics in Congress is to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety. DeLay was spanked THREE TIMES by the House Ethics Committee. They even tried to rewrite the House rules so he could keep his seat. Why wait? He's broken the rules of Congress, pure and simple. Any criminal indictment is just icing on the cake.

[IA_Seth]

5. Points well made!

I agree with you. Those that have PUBLICLY defended Delay and his ilk should be quoted early and often if Delay is found guilty. If they want to associate themselves with him we surely shouldnt be afraid to.

I love your response.."republicans who have ridden on Delay's coattails to get where they are today all should ride them to wherever he's going tomorrow....." That is great!

I would be more hesitant to lump those that received contributions with those that spoke out on his behalf, as they probably have some plausible deniability.

[Debi]

6. Seth, you are such a nice person.

You really do give people the benefit of the doubt, maybe I should as well.

Rep. Tom Latham IA R $26,085
Rep. Jim Nussle IA R $15,020
Rep. Steven A. King IA R $15,000
Rep. Jim Leach IA R $20

http://www.ourfuture.org/action_center/delaypac_bystate.cfm

How much influence could $20.00 buy? Leach has his own problems and we should focus on them. :hi:

[IA_Seth]

7. Interesting..

Latham is in the top 20 in receiving cash from DeLay's PAC (16th). I suppose that qualifies him for at least a little heat.

Other than possibly Latham, while I do think it is shady to accept dirty money, I think we will have better luck sticking with those that have offered public support rather than just a greedy hand.

I wonder what the $20 is all about? I give more to the wait staff on a night out than that!

Oh, and I am sooo not a nice guy. Don't go ruinin my rep now. }(

[Bluzmann57]

8. Have any of the repub candidates accepted $ from DeLay?

Just wondering. I have no intention of voting for any of them, especially Whalen, but it would be nice to expose them to the local media if any of them took money from the crook, DeLay.

[Debi]

9. Here's what Open Secrets has...

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00292946&Cycle=2006Americans for a Republican Majority
PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
2006 Cycle
House Candidate Total Contribs
Beauprez, Bob (R-CO) $10,000

Bonilla, Henry (R-TX) $10,000

Boustany, Charles W Jr (R-LA) $10,000

Burns, Max (R-GA) $5,000

Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) $10,000

Chocola, Chris (R-IN) $10,000

Collins, Mac (R-GA) $5,000

Davis, Geoff (R-KY) $10,000

Dent, Charles Wieder (R-PA) $10,000

Ferguson, Mike (R-NJ) $5,000

Fitzpatrick, Michael G (R-PA) $10,000

Fortenberry, Jeffrey Lane (R-NE) $10,000

Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) $5,000

Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) $10,000

Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) $5,000

Graves, Sam (R-MO) $5,000

Hayes, Robin (R-NC) $10,000

Kuhl, John R Jr (R-NY) $10,000

Musgrave, Marilyn (R-CO) $10,000

Northup, Anne M (R-KY) $10,701

Reichert, Dave (R-WA) $10,000

Renzi, Rick (R-AZ) $10,000

Rogers, Mike (R-AL) $10,000

Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) $10,000

Schwarz, Joe (R-MI) $10,000

Simmons, Rob (R-CT) $10,000

Sodrel, Michael E (R-IN) $10,000

Wilson, Heather (R-NM) $10,000

Total to Democratic House Candidates: $0
Total to Republican House Candidates: $250,701





Figures in parentheses denote negative numbers, and may indicate returned contributions or bounced checks.

[Hobarticus]

10. Okay, I'm late...what'd I miss?

I brought treats, though.

Who took what from who in Iowa?

$56,125 from ARMPAC, as follows:

Jim Nussle $15,020
Jim Leach $20
Tom Latham $26,085
Steven A King $15,000

http://www.pcactionfund.org/delayspocket/dx_sv.htm

[Debi]

11. Before we tell you anything....what's the secret handshake

the secret codeword and what kind of treats?

:P Welcome to the party

[Hobarticus]

12. Um, er, ah....the secret handshake is "Nussle oozes a trail of slime"

and the treats are colored Cyclone cardinal-and-gold. They may not get eaten.

[Debi]

14. Well, we're sure as hell not going out to Heart of America to eat

This party is a bust....anyone got a suggestion?

Get away...I will not shake that slimey hand....ewwww...Cyclones...ewwww

I'm gonna cry :cry:

[Hobarticus]

15. Not so fast...let's all dine-n'-dash at Heart of America

It's bound to take a chunk out of Whalen's war chest.

Don't be like that, Debi. At least the 'Clones aren't the only team that's beating Iowa.

Ah jeez, I keep saying the wrong thing.

:evilfrown:

[Debi]

16. Them's figten words........

Anyone wanna go teepee Hobarticus's house? PM Me! :bounce:

[Hobarticus]

19. Hey, Dubya sez we hafta conserve gas...

So I'll do it myself, and send pictures.

I'll do anything to avoid going up against a mad Democratic Hawkeye fan right now! That's double jeopardy!

[IA_Seth]

18. oooooh...now you are in trouble!

Hey, we beat Ball State AND UNI..

on second thought..

:cry:

[Hobarticus]

20. 'Clones have had those years, too...

This rivalry thing is a hoot. I remember my family going back and forth about it for years. It's a lot more good-natured than some rivalries!

[Debi]

21. UNI

:cry: I live in Cedar Falls.

But hey, Cedar Falls High School is undefeated heading in to Homecoming this weekend! Who do we play? CR Washington :grr: take THAT Seth!

GO CF TIGERS!!! :woohoo:

[IA_Seth]

22. CR Washington

Have at em!

I am a true blue West Sider from birth... CR Jefferson is my home team and we have NO love for Washington!

They were always my favorite to play against...Good luck to Cedar Falls High!

[Bluzmann57]

17. Yeah. HoA is good damn food too

But since Whalen exposed himself as a righty, I haven't been to any of them. We all have make sacrifices sometimes. There are at least three of them here in the Quad Cities. They will do business without me.