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November 28, 2005
A Sign of Desperation
Tom DeLay, the Sugarland Congressman and at least temporarily neutered U.S. House Majority Leader, had been awfully quiet lately, until today.
Since the opening round of his criminal case in Austin, some six weeks ago, where he sported a big smile, almost palpable bravado, and scored an opening victory by getting the presiding judge removed, his sails have lost a bit of wind.
Last week Mr. DeLay suffered two significant setbacks. First, the new judge in the Austin trial refused to dismiss Travis County DA Ronnie Earle's charges against him, meaning he will remain out of power in Washington until at least early next year when his trial is scheduled to recommence.
Second, and much more seriously, his former Hill staffer Michael Scanlon was indicted in Washington and will be the prosecution's star witness against lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and a number of influential Beltway types, most likely inclduing Mr. DeLay. Not a good week for the Congressman.
So, when things are looking bad and you just don't have the stroke you used to, what's the solution? Why, hold a rally and blame Democrats for your troubles, of course!
Never mind that Mr. DeLay's latest problems in Washington stem from his own former staffer (who is, shockingly, a Republican) cooperating with the Republican-controlled Justice Department, it's the Democrat Party's fault!
Sadly, as this evening's wire story indicates, only about 100 people showed up to support him at a suburban Houston hotel. The crowds are getting smaller (though the protesters always show up), and the bad news just keeps on coming. Mr. DeLay's former best friend Jack Abramoff is going down, and with Scanlon's help, just might take Tom with him.
2005 has been a long year for Tom DeLay, and it's not over yet. 2006 may prove endless for him, or just the end. Well, at least he has Democrats at whom to direct his bellyaching. Texans don't like a whiner Mr. DeLay.
Posted by houtopia at November 28, 2005 09:43 PM