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April 03, 2006
Up, Up, and DeLay!
Bu-Bye, Tom! Mr DeLay is stepping down from Congress. He's outa there! He's vamoosed!
I can't tell you what a picker upper that is. Here's what the news is saying as of just an hour ago:
Rep. Tom DeLay will drop out of his re-election race, two Republican congressional sources told CNN on Monday.DeLay was forced to step down as House majority leader last year after being indicted in his home state of Texas on charges that he improperly steered corporate donations to state legislative candidates in 2002.
Yay! But it wouldn't be DeLay without a sinister plot twist, right? This one's easy enough for even me to figure out.
Fox Skews Network (somehow) got the scoop:
In interviews today with The Galveston County Daily News and Time magazine, DeLay said his decision was best for his district.He says the decision is based on troubling internal polling numbers.
Due props to Tommy. He ain't saying it's all about spending more time with his family. But as I mull this over, the deal about the "internal numbers" strikes me as odd. Normally internal numbers means polling figures. But certainly those figures aren't new as of this week. He just finished a troublesome primary challenge less than a month ago.
Personally, I'd like to think the phrase "internal numbers" refers to the numerals on his striped jumper that he'd be wearing while "on the inside" of a meals-included correctional facility. But no, it's not a code; at present he doesn't think he can beat his Democratic challenger, Nick Lampson, who's gotta be feeling pretty good tonight.
What's clever, and typically Tom Delayish about the timing of his step down is that he waited until the Republican primary was over with. Now that he's no longer the nominee, the Republican State Executive Committee will select a replacement nominee. As a parting gift to the voters, Tommy's made sure that none of those Republican reformers who ran against his corrupt machine will get the nomination. His organization's support is probably already behind a handpicked successor.
Wait for it. I'm sure who it is won't be a surprise. The only question is whether the reformer Pugs are gonna take this lying down, or put up a fight to get one of DeLay's former challengers in there. What move they make next will show how serious they are about fixing Congress. Takers, anyone?
Follow up note: Bryan Bankston of Brian's District 22 Blog has a theory of how DeLay plans to beat the existing law that states a party can't nominate a replacement for an office nominee who quits the race after winning the primary.
There's a special provision if the candidate moves out of the district, and DeLay says he's moving to DC. It will be up to the State GOP Executive Committee to pick a candidate. Knowing them, it will be Terese Raia.
Posted by Bucky at April 3, 2006 11:10 PM | Permalink
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» The local blogosphere reacts to DeLay's departure from Texas Politics
Almost immediately after Monday's night's news that U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay would not seek re-election and resign his House seat, bloggers began analyzing, dissecting and linking. Here are excerpts from local blogs: From Big Pink Cookie: I’m stunned. Spe... [Read More]
Tracked on April 4, 2006 04:07 PM
Comments
Don't let the door hit you in the ass!
It looks like DeLay is guilty as hell. He stinks. His staff stinks. His party stinks.
Posted by: John Cobarruvias at April 4, 2006 01:03 AM
The Time interview is very telling. It seems like DeLay has decided to make more money as a lobbyist. The slime on this guy just gets thicker and thicker.
Posted by: Robb Zipp at April 4, 2006 06:52 AM