DeLay indicted in campaign finance probe

[SLCPUNK]

WASHINGTON - A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by DeLay and three of his political associates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9507677/

[pilferk]

Wow.

I'm actually surprised they did it.

Damn, it's gonna be an interesting set of midterms next year....

Edit: FYI, he's now saying he WILL step down, at least temporarily.

[Kitano]

This case was brought by a democrat.  He also brought another case against another republican which was pretty quickly thrown out.  Just politics as usual.

[pilferk]

This case was brought by a democrat.? He also brought another case against another republican which was pretty quickly thrown out.? Just politics as usual.

I read that accusation....which, of course, is also just politics as usual.

The thing is....the idictment  is handed down by a grand jury, not the prosecutor (the dem in question).

It was the grand jury who threw out the last case, I believe.

You can call "politics as usual", and you may be right, but it's going to be very interesting to watch this case unfold.

If he's found guilty, it's gonna be a pretty big blow.

[shades]

considering he didnt do anything wrong thats a highly unlikely scenario...
Its a witch hunt, dont bore yourself with it.

[SLCPUNK]

Its a witch hunt, dont bore yourself with it.

Yea, it's not like the guy got a blow job or anything.......

[gilld1]

This is the work of a vast Left Wing Conspiracy!  Funny how when the Repubs call the Dems on something it is a great service to the country but when the tables are turned the Repubs cry "this is politics"  "this is partisan", wah wah wah....

[SLCPUNK]

This is the work of a vast Left Wing Conspiracy!  Funny how when the Repubs call the Dems on something it is a great service to the country but when the tables are turned the Repubs cry "this is politics"  "this is partisan", wah wah wah....

Somebody call a wahhhbulance! 

The truth will come out one way or the other. Maybe he could share a bunk with England.......

[Vicious Wishes]

Its a witch hunt, dont bore yourself with it.

Yea, it's not like the guy got a blow job or anything.......

......in the oval office

......while"working" for the American people

......with a girl, who happened to be a few years older than his daughter

......and then went on camera and wagged his finger at us and said" I did not have sexual relations, blah, blah, blah

......and then lied to a grand jury

Really, what's the big deal?

[Dr. Blutarsky]

(+1 Hidden) you're not fooling anyone SLCPUNK. This topic has your stench all over it.

Politics as usual is very accurate.

[pilferk]

considering he didnt do anything wrong thats a highly unlikely scenario...
Its a witch hunt, dont bore yourself with it.

He didn't?

Proof?

Oh, right..the unfounded, baseless, opinion stuff again...

[SLCPUNK]

(+1 Hidden) you're not fooling anyone SLCPUNK. This topic has your stench all over it.

Politics as usual is very accurate.

I'm not trying to fool anybody....It's pretty obvious who I am. Every now and then I change my name. I am amused by those who stay "hidden" hence the temp name change.

[BigCombo]

"This case was brought by a democrat. ?He also brought another case against another republican which was pretty quickly thrown out. ?Just politics as usual." ?-Kitano

I knew this would come up....

"While Earle is an elected Democrat, as Media Matters for America has previously noted, a June 17 editorial in the Houston Chronicle commended his work: "During his long tenure, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has prosecuted many more Democratic officials than Republicans. The record does not support allegations that Earle is prone to partisan witch hunts." This assertion supports Earle's own claim about his record; a March 6 article in the El Paso Times reported: "Earle says local prosecution is fundamental and points out that 11 of the 15 politicians he has prosecuted over the years were Democrats."

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, 1994: Acquitted of official misconduct and records tampering after Earle dropped the case during the trial.

Former state Rep. Betty Denton, D-Waco, 1995: Sentenced to six months probation and fined $2,000 for listing false loans and contributions on campaign finance reports.

Former state Rep. Lane Denton, D-Waco, 1995: Sentenced to 60 days in work-release program and six years probation, fined $6,000 and ordered to pay more than $67,000 restitution after being convicted of theft and misapplication of fiduciary property for funneling money from the Department of Public Safety Officers Association to a Denton company.

House Speaker Gib Lewis, D-Fort Worth, 1992: In plea bargain, Earle dropped more serious charges when Lewis pleaded no contest to failing to disclose a business investment. Lewis was fined $2,000, and the judge said he took into consideration that Lewis was retiring from public office.

Attorney General Jim Mattox, Democrat, 1985: Acquitted on felony bribery charges. Won re-election.

State Rep. Mike Martin, R-Longview, 1982: Pleaded guilty to perjury after lying about having himself shot to gain publicity. Did not run for re-election.

State Treasurer Warren Harding, Democrat, 1982: Pleaded no contest to official misconduct and dropped re-election bid.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Yarbrough, Democrat, 1978: Sentenced to five years for lying to a grand jury and forgery. Gave up seat." -www.dailykos.com



Yeah, so Earle goes after a Democratic State Supreme Justice, a Democratic Attorney General, and a Democratic State Treasurer....you sure he's not a Democrat killer?

[SLCPUNK]

Its a witch hunt, dont bore yourself with it.

Yea, it's not like the guy got a blow job or anything.......

......in the oval office

......while"working" for the American people

......with a girl, who happened to be a few years older than his daughter

......and then went on camera and wagged his finger at us and said" I did not have sexual relations, blah, blah, blah

......and then lied to a grand jury

Really, what's the big deal?

He said "witch hunt"

I implied  that the Clinton BJ was a witch hunt too.

No time to cry when the shoe is on the other foot.

This has hardly been a witch hunt either.

[POPmetal]

If DeLay is guilty, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, if he is acquitted, and this proves to be another witch hunt, there will be a price to pay in the 06 elections. It's already bad enough that the Dems are defending more Senate seats than the Republicans. If this turns out to be another politically motivated tax payer dollar waste, we might not have to worry about that filibuster anymore. 60 = supermajority in the Senate.

[pilferk]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9557669/site/newsweek/

And before anyone jumps up, screaming:

It is absolutely an opinion piece by a liberal author.

But some of the quotes attibuted to DeLay are a bit..well....stunning, quite frankly:

This is a man who calls the Environmental Protection Agency "the Gestapo of government" and favors repealing the Clean Air Act because "it's never been proven that air toxins are hazardous to people"; who insists repeatedly that judges on the other side of issues "need to be intimidated" and rejects the idea of a separation of church and state; who claims there are no parents trying to raise families on the minimum wage?that "fortunately, such families do not exist" (at least Newt Gingrich was intrigued by the challenges of poverty); who once said: "A woman can't take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure."

Anyone able to put these quotes in context?? I'm gonna try, but help from the conservs would actually be appreciated.

[Surfrider]

Anyone able to put these quotes in context?? I'm gonna try, but help from the conservs would actually be appreciated.

I'll take a shot at it.  I will now morph myself into Delay:

This is a man who calls the Environmental Protection Agency "the Gestapo of government"

First of all, when you get to the environmental stuff you must realize that the quotes are coming from someone that was previously employed as an exterminator.

Seriously, the EPA does impose themselves many places sacrificing numerous jobs for little frogs or other reptiles or insects.
 

and favors repealing the Clean Air Act because "it's never been proven that air toxins are hazardous to people";

I am sure that he had particular toxins in mind, such as CO2 gasses.  Again, I think it is part of the thinking that some conservatives have on the environment that unless there is 100% proof that something is harmful or that climate change is occuring than we should't sacrifice jobs and lower economic output for such regulations. 

who insists repeatedly that judges on the other side of issues "need to be intimidated"

Hard to put this in context because I am not sure what he is referring to.  Delay preaches right-wing judicial activism, just as many judges and people on the left preach left-wing activism.  Of course, who knows what he means be intimidation: threats of violence or threats of impeachment?

and rejects the idea of a separation of church and state;

Again, its hard to put it into context.  I am not sure if he means politically of constitutionally.  Constitutionally I actually think he is right.  I don't think there ever was any intention by the framers for the strict separation of church and state created by the judiciary.

who claims there are no parents trying to raise families on the minimum wage?that "fortunately, such families do not exist" (at least Newt Gingrich was intrigued by the challenges of poverty);

Perhaps he means that it one is simply making minimum wage they should qualify for welfare and other assistance as well?  I am not sure of the accuracy of this.

who once said: "A woman can't take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure."

Again, who knows what this guy was saying.  But giving him the benefit of the doubt, which I am not sure I should do, I would probably assume that he is talking about single mother families, and that in order to have proper structure a man should be involved also.

[pilferk]

Anyone able to put these quotes in context?? I'm gonna try, but help from the conservs would actually be appreciated.

I'll take a shot at it.? I will now morph myself into Delay:

This is a man who calls the Environmental Protection Agency "the Gestapo of government"

First of all, when you get to the environmental stuff you must realize that the quotes are coming from someone that was previously employed as an exterminator.

Seriously, the EPA does impose themselves many places sacrificing numerous jobs for little frogs or other reptiles or insects.
 

and favors repealing the Clean Air Act because "it's never been proven that air toxins are hazardous to people";

I am sure that he had particular toxins in mind, such as CO2 gasses.? Again, I think it is part of the thinking that some conservatives have on the environment that unless there is 100% proof that something is harmful or that climate change is occuring than we should't sacrifice jobs and lower economic output for such regulations.?

who insists repeatedly that judges on the other side of issues "need to be intimidated"

Hard to put this in context because I am not sure what he is referring to.? Delay preaches right-wing judicial activism, just as many judges and people on the left preach left-wing activism.? Of course, who knows what he means be intimidation: threats of violence or threats of impeachment?

and rejects the idea of a separation of church and state;

Again, its hard to put it into context.? I am not sure if he means politically of constitutionally.? Constitutionally I actually think he is right.? I don't think there ever was any intention by the framers for the strict separation of church and state created by the judiciary.

who claims there are no parents trying to raise families on the minimum wage?that "fortunately, such families do not exist" (at least Newt Gingrich was intrigued by the challenges of poverty);

Perhaps he means that it one is simply making minimum wage they should qualify for welfare and other assistance as well?? I am not sure of the accuracy of this.

who once said: "A woman can't take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure."

Again, who knows what this guy was saying.? But giving him the benefit of the doubt, which I am not sure I should do, I would probably assume that he is talking about single mother families, and that in order to have proper structure a man should be involved also.

Thanks.  Not exactly what I meant, but it does give some insight into what he MIGHT have been thinking.

When I said "in context", I meant it literally.  Like, where did this guy lift the quotes from and what was the REST of the context of what Delay was saying.  The quotes are REALLY sensational (not sensational=great, sensational as "evoking a strong opinion) alone, but may lack the bite they have if put within the context they were given.

I'll be trying to track them down a bit later....I'll post what I can find, but if any conservs know where the quotes come from, and could post links, I'd be very appreciative.

[Surfrider]

Anyone able to put these quotes in context?? I'm gonna try, but help from the conservs would actually be appreciated.

I'll take a shot at it.? I will now morph myself into Delay:

This is a man who calls the Environmental Protection Agency "the Gestapo of government"

First of all, when you get to the environmental stuff you must realize that the quotes are coming from someone that was previously employed as an exterminator.

Seriously, the EPA does impose themselves many places sacrificing numerous jobs for little frogs or other reptiles or insects.
 

and favors repealing the Clean Air Act because "it's never been proven that air toxins are hazardous to people";

I am sure that he had particular toxins in mind, such as CO2 gasses.? Again, I think it is part of the thinking that some conservatives have on the environment that unless there is 100% proof that something is harmful or that climate change is occuring than we should't sacrifice jobs and lower economic output for such regulations.?

who insists repeatedly that judges on the other side of issues "need to be intimidated"

Hard to put this in context because I am not sure what he is referring to.? Delay preaches right-wing judicial activism, just as many judges and people on the left preach left-wing activism.? Of course, who knows what he means be intimidation: threats of violence or threats of impeachment?

and rejects the idea of a separation of church and state;

Again, its hard to put it into context.? I am not sure if he means politically of constitutionally.? Constitutionally I actually think he is right.? I don't think there ever was any intention by the framers for the strict separation of church and state created by the judiciary.

who claims there are no parents trying to raise families on the minimum wage?that "fortunately, such families do not exist" (at least Newt Gingrich was intrigued by the challenges of poverty);

Perhaps he means that it one is simply making minimum wage they should qualify for welfare and other assistance as well?? I am not sure of the accuracy of this.

who once said: "A woman can't take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure."

Again, who knows what this guy was saying.? But giving him the benefit of the doubt, which I am not sure I should do, I would probably assume that he is talking about single mother families, and that in order to have proper structure a man should be involved also.

Thanks.? Not exactly what I meant, but it does give some insight into what he MIGHT have been thinking.

When I said "in context", I meant it literally.? Like, where did this guy lift the quotes from and what was the REST of the context of what Delay was saying.? The quotes are REALLY sensational (not sensational=great, sensational as "evoking a strong opinion) alone, but may lack the bite they have if put within the context they were given.

I'll be trying to track them down a bit later....I'll post what I can find, but if any conservs know where the quotes come from, and could post links, I'd be very appreciative.

Sorry, I was trying to make sense of them.  Perhaps, they should just stand on their own, maybe he actually believes those things.  I was trying to give the absolute benefit of the doubt.

Good luck finding them in context, sounds like a lot of work.

[pilferk]

Sorry, I was trying to make sense of them.? Perhaps, they should just stand on their own, maybe he actually believes those things.? I was trying to give the absolute benefit of the doubt.

Good luck finding them in context, sounds like a lot of work.

I meant it when I said Thanks, just FYI, in my earlier post.  I wasn't being sarcastic....  Just wanted to be clear.

As for standing on their own....well, I've seen too many quotes taken out of context and twisted around to support an agenda to take them at face value.  They could very well mean EXACTLY what the author holds them up to mean, and it wouldn't really surprise me, knowing what I do of DeLay's politics.  On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if the opposite was true, given it's an op-ed piece.  I just want to be sure before I "crucify" (and the guy deserves it if the quotes, in context, convey the same message they do out of context, IMHO) the guy over them.

It'll be a bit of work but not too bad, I suspect.