Delay and two others indicted on conspiracy charges. Delay has long held that the charges, leveled by Ronnie Earle, the partisan DA of Travis County, are false and politically motivated.
By GOP rules, Delay will be forced to step down from his House leader role. David Dreier (R-CA) will take over House leadership.
Two things: First, if Delay is guilty, he deserves to be punished—though campaign finance laws are largely a meshwork of regulations and loopholes, and so the targeting of Delay is political and, to put it delicately, hardly disinterested (of course, Ronnie Earle once indicted himself for a misdemeanor campaign finance violation).
Second, the attacks on Delay and Frist might convince the famed Republican “smear” machine to strike back, and an already overcharged atmosphere of partisanship is about to get much worse.
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update: Former Texas Congressman Martin Frost, appearing on FOXNews, sets the tone within minutes of the announcement: Republicans are corrupt; Democrats who hate them totally vindicated by the indictment (already presumed to be a conviction).
This could get ugly.
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update 2: Terry Moran, at the Mcclellan press briefing: “Is there a stench of corruption surrounding Republicans?”
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update 3 Mark Levin, The Corner:
Here’s my first take on this indictment (I’ve only read the indictment and nothing more for now): The indictment is three pages in length. Other than a statement that “one or more” of 3 individuals, including Tom DeLay, entered into an illegal conspiracy, I can’t find a single sentence tying Tom DeLay to a crime. That is, there’s not a single sentence tying DeLay to the contribution. The indictment describes the alleged conduct of two other individuals, but nothing about DeLay. You would think if Ronnie Earle had even a thin reed of testimony linking DeLay to the contribution, it would have been noted in the indictment to justify the grand jury’s action. Moreover, not only is there no information about DeLay committing acts in furtherance of a conspiracy, there’s no information about DeLay entering into a conspiracy. I honestly believe that unless there’s more, this is an egregious abuse of prosecutorial power. It’s a disgrace. I understand that not everything has to be contained in an indictment, but how about something!
For what it’s worth.
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update 4: Soul-searching “conservative” Andrew Sullivan picks up the Democratic talking points, noting that “there is a clear stench of corruption coming from the Republican power-structure in Washington.” Probably just an accident that he’s echoing Terry Moran and Nancy Pelosi and Martin Frost, et al., Sullivan being a “conservative” and all…
Oliver to host a huge celebration (mostly himself). Krispy Kreme stock rumored to be poised to take off.
Travis County is the Mecca for Texas moonbats. The -R after his name is sufficient for a conviction among these folks.
“Disinterested” my butt. The locals here in Austin just want to be loved by the eedjits in Berkeley that they want to be.
If I were Dan Rather, I would point out that this indictment is certain to take some of the heat off the media’s major screw ups in covering Katrina. Fortunately, I’m not Dan Rather. Still, I QUESTION THE TIMING. BECAUSE OF THE HYPOCRISY!
Or maybe Tom Delay is just a reptile, or maybe Ronnie Earle is just a reptile. Or maybe they’re both reptiles. Time will tell, I’ll say one thing, though, it will be entertaining to watch. Maybe politicians could go back to dueling as way to settle their differences. That would be fun, too. It would also be the only way most politicians would ever have anything in common with Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Who both happened to be capable, intelligent men.
There’ll have to be a change of venue. In order for Delay to be tried by a jury of his peers, they’ll have to move it to a neighboring county that has actually contains some Republicans. The only time there are ever any Republicans in Austin is when the legislature is in session.
Shit, Goldstein, that’s like saying ‘The sun might be hot’.
Also:
The reason that Former Rep Martin Frost is a FORMER Rep is due to a plan for redistricting TX that Delay drew up after the 2000 census. Delay’s leadership was key in the Tx House passing this redistricting plan, and it effectively gerrymandered Frost out of a job. I say that to say this: Martin Frost is not a disinterested bystander in all of this.
Just wandered through a few Media sites, left and right. There seems to be a lot more concern with the politics of the case than the facts. Sort of the same thing that happened with the Katrina coverage, eh? Okay, okay I’ll leave the Katrina stuff alone. Still, I couldn’t help but notice.
There seems to be a lot more concern with the politics of the case than the facts
First words out of Christopher Glenn’s mouth after mentioning the official indictment was, “But how does this affect Delay politically”
The politics are all the media (and the left) care about. They’re already so sure they’re right in their thinking, the facts of the case don’t matter.
This has shades of Gingrich / Traficant / Cosby / Frist. I’m starting to notice a pattern.
tw: seen, as in you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.
TV (Harry)
Is there a stench of corruption surrounding Republicans?
Yes, yes there is. We call that stench “the Democrats”.
Now that David Dreier has been tapped as DeLay’s replacement, how long do you give it before the “whisper campaign” begins in earnest? You know the one I mean…
Joe:
I thought we called that stench: “Partisan Reporters” but your comment is much more on point!
This is just a continuation of the Texas re-districting battle. That was the purpose of Ronnie Earle’s investigation of the Republican PAC’s in the first place. If you don’t live in Texas you have no idea how angry Democrats are about redistricting, and Austin is ground zero. If you want to talk about corruption, how about using your office for political revenge?
I think the stench surrounds all politicians; some stink more than others.
Cynical Nation:
The “whisper campaign” has already begun.
Maybe we could offer Delay a half-percent of the Porkbusters total for his legal defense? That might get some momentum going!
The LA idiots would just waste it on plastic beads and booze anyway.
Aubrey, a great many of the locals here wouldn’t have any problem with using legal remedies to punish people for not voting for and with Democrats anyway. Let alone beating some in elections.
It’s gonna get incredibly ugly. Delay is the only Republican with the strength to get things done. Going after Delay is like kicking Bush in the groin.
Hard to imagine someone who’s good buddies with Don Jack Abramoff getting indicted . . .
Geek,
Don’t forget that the local DA can get you indicted, if he is so inclined. Go read the indictment and then tell me exactly waht Delay is accused of. The only thing I could find is a “conspiracy” with no specifications. Perhaps I don’t own that sharp legal mind that is astute or nuanced enough to pick out the damning accusation, maybe you can enlighten us.
If I remember correctly, didn’t this guy also indict another ham sandwich (Hutchison)? I believe that indictment was thrown out – not even an arraignment. Could it be….might it even be…..prosecutorial misconduct? Inquiring minds want to know.
I know, Geek. You could have DeLay and Michael Brown indicted for perjury and try them at the same time. So what if the alleged conduct truly doesn’t amount to perjury. The Geek has spoken!
I have to be honest. I don’t like DeLay, never have, but the more you scream for his head, the more I suspect something is wrong with the prosecution, time will tell. But your judgement has proven extemely flawed up to now. I see no reason it should suddenly improve.
I’m not a huge fan of Delay. Let’s get that right out of the way.
That said, the GOP, as the only viable, national vehicle for sensible, conservative/libertarian politics needs to wipe the blood off its chin and deliver a nasty right hook onto the jutting, smirking chin of the Democrat party.
This is a partisan hatchet job of the rankest order and that point needs to be made over and over and over again. Ronnie Earle is a seasoned Democrat party operative and fund raiser who manages to get himself elected District Attorney in the most liberal county in the Great State of Texas. He’s got a history of pulling politically motivated stunts like this under color of lawful authority and if there’s a God in Heaven, he’ll get censured or disbarred when this is all said and done.
Mark Levin over at NRO’s The Corner (which, not sure how he can handle the defeatist stink that’s been wafting around that site lately) has read the indictment and exposes it for the sham that it is.
I think the GOP, rather than doing the usual “we will let the legal process run its course and at an appropriate time, decisions will be maadzzzzzzzzzzzzz..blah blah” should fight fire with fire. This isn’t about law breaking, its about politics. The GOP should get out in front of this and the Frist non-crime story and make the case to the American people that this, this! is all that the Democrats have to offer: smears, phony indictments, and calculated lies designed solely to fool the naive and the casual observer of the political game. No agenda, no plan.
The Democrats are, indeed, have been taking down this dangerous and uncivil road for some time now. It’s past time for the Republicans to punch back.
You know, they didn’t indict some other people today, including the Speaker of the Texas House (Craddick) and the President of one the most powerful lobbying firms in the state (Hammond; Texas Association of Business). So I’m not sure that the “all-powerful Earle / ham sandwich” theory necessarily holds up.
My theory is that one of the 11 people/organizations indicted beforehand rolled on the Hammer, although why they would want to do so, knowing the severe kneecap damage to follow, is beyond me.
A little background
This bowel movement from Earle has been a long time coming. Six grand jury panels have come and gone since this stuff started circulating. I guess “7” is Earle’s lucky number. And when little Ronnie finally gets done straining and grunting, all that splashes into the bowl is this tiny little three-page non sequitor of an indictment.
This is a stunt, folks. For crying out loud, Earle indicted Kay Bailey Hutchison on a charge of physically intimidating someone. Kay.Bailey.Hutchison.
Think about it.
Hard to imagine someone who’s
good buddies with Don Jack Abramoffmade an enemy of a partisan DA who apparently knows all too well the fine line between dirty politics and prosecutorial misconduct getting indicted . . .No need to thank me for correcting your error, Geek.
Perhaps minutes after the next Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee is announced, Mr. Delay should call a press conference and say, “First, I’d like to congratulate Chief Justice Roberts on his elevation to lead the Uunited States Supreme Court. Second, I’d like to congratulate President Bush on his superb nomination of Edith Jones to fill the seat on the Supreme Court currently held by the retiring Sandra Day O’Conner. Finally, I am innocent of these scandalous charges and I will appeal this to the U.S. Supreme Court, should that be necessary, where I am sure Justices Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy, and Jones will correct this prosecutorial abuse.”
Turing word: among
If the Left wanted De Lay’s indictment to saturate the evening news, and in one feld-swoop take “New Orleans” and Schumer’s “ID theft-ring” off the docket, Santa Claus has delivered.
A sense of proportion: Michelle Malkin gave De Lay’s Indictment 7 pages – before even reviewing the indictment. Today’s “Chuckaquiddick” and the “New Orleans Police Meltdown” together only got four.
Hey, I know quantity ain’t always quality, but to Schumer and Co. right now it’s “all good, bra’.”
-Steve
Fred,
I take great exception with your characterization of the Democratic Party’s chin as “jutting”.
“Receding”, “nonexistent”, “weak” maybe, but never “jutting”.
Let’s save the imagery of strength for those that possess it.
al: point taken, but lately it sure seems like they’re sticking something out there where a chin would normally be and simply begging the Right to take a swing. We’ve been good long enough. Let’s take that swing, dangit!
It is not uncommon for an indictment from a state or local prosecutor to be much less detailed than federal indictments.
We have an accord Fred. Let the head-smashing begin!
Well, I dunno, I think this counts.
I’m really, REALLY sorry.
Sullivan is as conservative as my left nut. And, my left nut has Kos bookmarked.
TW: “Using”, as in using testicular references for shock value because that’s the hip and edgy kind of outlaw I am.
Now THAT is a Turing word reference.
OHNOES,
I guess I should have specified “Naturally occurring jutting chins”
Oh and thank you so much for searing, SEARING that image into my memory. I guess I picked the wrong week to quit smoking crack.
As a wingnut that WAS, and still is, in Martin Frost’s district, I so don’t miss him. The gerrymandering of Texas’ districts was a Republican attempt at power , to be sure. But is also happened to balacne out the elctorate and reverse the Democratic Gerrymandering of previous generations of a Democratic Texas.
Turnabout is fair play, Marty.