# DeLay dishes it out but can't take it **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759 "2005-05-27T14:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kanashibari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@kanashibari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanashibari)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/21 "2005-05-27T16:48:46Z")
Oh, blah. Look: Tom DeLay is a douchebag, fine. But he has never advocated violence against federal judges. I don’t care how big a douchebag he is; to use his name specifically in connection with a character who commits violence against federal judges is a shitty and low idea for a joke. Yeah, Tom DeLay is low, and scummy, and douchey, and all that. But turnabout is not fairplay, and the writers of the show are just as big douchebags for putting the line in the show. Fuck blind, brain-dead, party line motherfuckers on both sides. I’m sick of all of them, but sometimes I’m sicker of the ones on my side, because they make us look just as bad as the neo-cons. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/22 "2005-05-27T16:49:01Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > He is so going down and he so knows it. He’s probably in a bunker right now talking about the miracle weapons that will save him. The mother of all distractions? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/23 "2005-05-27T16:52:22Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Isn’t it lucky for DeLay that he tries to find a way to deflect attention the day after his PAC was found to be in violation of Texas law. The amazing good fortune that man has… I wouldn’t call it good fortune. A state judge doesn’t give a shit about national politics and doesn’t have to fear Congressional reprisal. And he was probably elected, so he doesn’t have to fear state lege reprisal, either. (The state judicial review board, maybe, but I can’t see that happening, either.) If the feds can’t or won’t help DeLay see the error of his ways, the state courts will be happy to help. The man is no better than the roaches he used to kill. Robin ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/24 "2005-05-27T17:13:22Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Make that Rosanna Rosannadanna. > > Robin Would you believe… Maxwell Smart? ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/25 "2005-05-27T17:14:35Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I wouldn’t call it good fortune. A state judge doesn’t give a shit about national politics and doesn’t have to fear Congressional reprisal. And he was probably elected, so he doesn’t have to fear state lege reprisal, either. (The state judicial review board, maybe, but I can’t see that happening, either.) > > If the feds can’t or won’t help DeLay see the error of his ways, the state courts will be happy to help. The man is no better than the roaches he used to kill. > > Robin The roaches have a purpose and a reason to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/26 "2005-05-27T17:34:15Z")
> [@kanashibari](#): > > Yeah, Tom DeLay is low, and scummy, and douchey, and all that. But turnabout is not fairplay, and the writers of the show are just as big douchebags for putting the line in the show. Actually, writers don’t always endorse the opinions of every line they write for every character. The joke seems perfectly plausible for the character and situation, and that’s all that matters. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/27 "2005-05-27T17:39:08Z")
> [@Mycroft H.](#): > > It just saddens me that so many of the good people of Texas actually vote for the moron. I used to live in his district. The people look pretty normal on the surface. You just have to stay indoors on nights with a full moon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kanashibari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@kanashibari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanashibari)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/28 "2005-05-27T17:52:40Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Actually, writers don’t always endorse the opinions of every line they write for every character. The joke seems perfectly plausible for the character and situation, and that’s all that matters. > Daniel So the character in question is a party line-toeing liberal douchebag, who is known for working disingenuous and painfully contrived political humor into his work? Don’t get me wrong, I know people like that exist. Is he usually written as on of them? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/29 "2005-05-27T18:07:12Z")
> [@kanashibari](#): > > So the character in question is a party line-toeing liberal douchebag, who is known for working disingenuous and painfully contrived political humor into his work? > > Don’t get me wrong, I know people like that exist. Is he usually written as on of them? You are reading WAY too much into that joke. It’s just a throwaway, exaggerated, borderline tasteless, topical reference. I would fully expect the same character who made it to have made a dirty cigar joke during the Lewinksi scandal. Only Clinton wouldn’t have made public statements condemning the show. No one called “DeLay” a judge killer. If he had killed a judge, the joke probably wouldn’t even have been made. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/30 "2005-05-27T18:12:58Z")
As a Texan, I am offended at the statement that Delay is, and I quote, “Undead”. This is an insult to all metabolically-impaired Texans. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/31 "2005-05-27T18:40:37Z")
> [@Mycroft H.](#): > > Yeah, he’s a true died-in-the-wool hypocrite. It just saddens me that so many of the good people of Texas actually vote for the moron. How many? According to the [Texas Secretary of State Election Results](http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe)(select “2004 General Election” and “Statewide Race Summary” and then scroll down to District 22) > [@](#): > > U. S. Representative District 22 > > Tom DeLay(I) REP 150,386 55.16% > > Richard R. Morrison DEM 112,034 41.09% > > Tom Morrison LIB 4,886 1.79% > > Michael Fjetland IND 5,314 1.94% > > * * * > > Race Total 272,620 Congressional districts that year represented communities of about 660,000. 150,386 / 660,000 = 22.8% Total turnout was well under 50%. And Mr. DeLay had one of the slimmer margins of victory in the 2004 Congressional elections. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/32 "2005-05-27T18:59:36Z")
> [@kanashibari](#): > > Oh, blah. Look: Tom DeLay is a douchebag, fine. But he has never advocated violence against federal judges. I don’t care how big a douchebag he is; to use his name specifically in connection with a character who commits violence against federal judges is a shitty and low idea for a joke. Get a clue. The joke wasn’t directly about the Tom DeLays of the world, it was about the kind of fringe people that take his words and twist. The actual intent of Mr. DeLay’s words are unknowable. Maybe it was a veiled threat, although it’s highly doubtful that was the case. But at the time he issued those words as a press release there were already people who’d been arrested for putting a bounty on the ruling judge’s head. It was nothing if not an incredibly injudicious use of the English language. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/33 "2005-05-27T19:21:47Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I wouldn’t call it good fortune. A state judge doesn’t give a shit about national politics and doesn’t have to fear Congressional reprisal. We really need a tounge in cheek smilie. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/34 "2005-05-27T19:27:49Z")
**Mtgman** , thanks for the information. It is frightening to learn how few people need to vote for some of the very powerful and influential in our country. (Not that that’s a complaint against the system. It’s better than the many countries where no one can vote for those in power.) I was attempting to apply the lesson I’ve learned on this Board – Don’t paint with a broad brush – and allow the many Texan Dopers to distance themselves from DeLay if desired. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/35 "2005-05-27T21:19:57Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Um, Lib, the second part wasn’t channelling Emily Litella, it was channeling Rosanna Rosadanna. Just thought you wanted to know. Memory is the second thing to go. :o ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/36 "2005-05-27T21:33:08Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Memory is the second thing to go. :o I thought it was a sucessful channeling of both characters, Emily w/her misunderstanding a word and going off about it, then being corrected and saying “oh, that’s very different. Nevermind”, and Roseann Rosannadana w/her obsessive gross talk. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/37 "2005-05-27T22:08:21Z")
> [@](#): > > The actual intent of Mr. DeLay’s words are unknowable. Well, the actual intent of Mr. DeLay’s comments on the judiciary may be unknowable, but the actual intent of his comments yesterday are quite clear: “Geez! My boys just got busted in that trial where we actually got the retired Republican judge we wanted! What can I do to distract the electorate and the media?” ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/38 "2005-05-27T22:14:59Z")
> [@Mycroft H.](#): > > **Mtgman** , thanks for the information. It is frightening to learn how few people need to vote for some of the very powerful and influential in our country. (Not that that’s a complaint against the system. It’s better than the many countries where no one can vote for those in power.) > > I was attempting to apply the lesson I’ve learned on this Board – Don’t paint with a broad brush – and allow the many Texan Dopers to distance themselves from DeLay if desired. I think you did well. In all fairness I don’t know how many Texans outside DeLay’s district would support him. Probably more than enough to be sad about. I just felt it was worth showing exactly what you noticed. The choices of few dictate the fate of many. According to [the US Census the estimated number of potential voters in 2004 was 217.8 million](http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/002957.html). 150,386 / 217,800,000 = 0.07 % He wields a wildly disproportionate amount of power in comparison to the number of people who actively voted for him. This would be true even if you looked only at the people in his district. He won with the express will of less than a quarter of his own constituents. The biggest failure in the US system IMO is the apathy of the electorate. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/39 "2005-05-28T02:49:27Z")
> [@kanashibari](#): > > Oh, blah. Look: Tom DeLay is a douchebag, fine. But he has never advocated violence against federal judges. You seem to be missing the point. What DeLay said after Schiavo kicked it could easily be construed by area armed right wing nut jobs as a call to violence. > [@](#): > > The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759/40 "2005-05-28T03:09:47Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > The biggest failure in the US system IMO is the apathy of the electorate. > > Enjoy, > Steven I really, really wish you’d left out your usual sign-off this time, Steven. Because I’m really, really not enjoying that particular truth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-dishes-it-out-but-cant-take-it/305759.md?page=3)