# Is DeLay going down?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [April 6, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028 "2005-04-06T13:40:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/61 "2005-04-28T06:07:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Too easy. The scent of rodent is in the air. Tom DeLay (R, Undead), the world’s most cuddlesome arachnid, will not go gently into the night. Why, then, this extraordinary display of bi-partisan comity, this born-again devotion to scrupulous standards of ethical conduct?
>
> Because the fix is in?
Somewhat. The ethics committee shutdown allowed the allegations against DeLay to hang out there forever. A daily drip, drip, drip of accusations against herr Speaker. Brilliant move from the Dems.
If the committee were in session, an allegation could be raised, the committee could vote to investigate, and… nothing, for a while. During that time, DeLay can respond to questions as such: “the committee is investigating. I’m sure I’ll be cleared.” And that takes it off the front page for weeks or more. The drip that stops dripping.
The ethics panel could eventually decide to censure DeLay. But with a recently-packed panel of congressmen on the committee, most hand-picked by the GOP leadership to be friendly to DeLay (having contributed to his defense fund), the likelyhood of action is small.
---
### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/62 "2005-04-28T06:21:09Z")
I bet Delay delays! 😛
---
### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/63 "2005-04-28T11:40:19Z")
Drag out and shoot. Warrant pending.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/64 "2005-04-28T17:42:53Z")
> [@squeegee](#):
>
> But with a recently-packed panel of congressmen on the committee, most hand-picked by the GOP leadership to be friendly to DeLay (having contributed to his defense fund), the likelyhood of action is small.
I just heard on the radio that the Dems are pushing to have five committee members excluded from hearing DeLay’s case on conflict-of-interest grounds (they accepted campaign contributions from his PAC).
---
### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/65 "2005-04-28T17:56:22Z")
Sure, that’ll happen. 😛
---
### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/66 "2005-04-28T18:06:01Z")
And this just in…
[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050426/ap\_on\_go\_co/delay\_lobbyist&e=2](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_go_co/delay_lobbyist&e=2)
**Records show DeLay, Lobbyist Daily Contact**
“…They provide a day-by-day account of the lobbyist’s campaign of fundraising, trip-providing and schmoozing with lawmakers in both parties aimed at getting Congress to block Clinton administration efforts to regulate alleged “sweatshop” garment factories in the Northern Marianas. Those rules were never enacted…”
Sweatshops. Be back in a bit, gotta go puke my guts out.
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/67 "2005-04-29T01:19:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> “…They provide a day-by-day account of the lobbyist’s campaign of fundraising, trip-providing and schmoozing with lawmakers in both parties aimed at getting Congress to block Clinton administration efforts to regulate alleged “sweatshop” garment factories in the Northern Marianas. Those rules were never enacted…”
>
> Sweatshops. Be back in a bit, gotta go puke my guts out.
Luci, you’re such an idiot. You need to look at it from the wider perspective. Think about it.
No abortion leads to extra kids. Sweatshops use said extra kids for cheap labor thus leading to more Low Everyday Prices. Everyone is a winner. Well, all the important people are, anyways.
Silly librul.
-Joe
---
### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/68 "2005-04-29T13:17:54Z")
Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/69 "2005-04-29T18:12:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?
Prisons we got. The workhouses have been outsourced to Indonesia.
---
### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/70 "2005-04-29T18:32:01Z")
Which leaves untold thousands of our own American street urchins homeless, hungry and sick! Or, worse still, sponging off the public dole!
---
### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/71 "2005-05-05T12:31:25Z")
[Update.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050505/ap_on_go_co/house_ethics;_ylt=AtpwixPdwxhW3deUEwm7IoGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2bW85OXIzBHNlYwNwbA--)
> [@AP news wire](#):
>
> Two Republicans on the House ethics committee say they’ll step aside from any investigation of Tom DeLay, acknowledging their contributions to the majority leader’s defense funds will lead others to question their impartiality.
---
### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/72 "2005-09-28T16:38:19Z")
[Yup, Delay’s Going Down.](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-DeLay-Investigation.html?hp&ex=1127966400&en=2cf6902ed6f45124&ei=5094&partner=homepage)
> [@](#):
>
> 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.
> Today’s indictment could force Representative Tom DeLay 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.
Earlier (2004) thread: [Is Tom Delay Going to Jail?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=250440)
---
### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/73 "2005-09-28T16:59:22Z")
> [@Squink](#):
>
> [Yup, Delay’s Going Down.](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-DeLay-Investigation.html?hp&ex=1127966400&en=2cf6902ed6f45124&ei=5094&partner=homepage) Earlier (2004) thread: [Is Tom Delay Going to Jail?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=250440)
As delighted as I am about this indictment, I will reserve any happy-feet dancing until he is convicted. These slimy devils have shown an ability to slip the noose before, and I hate it when I get my hopes up, only to have them dashed because the fix is in from the beginning. At least he will have to resign as House Republican Leader, right?
---
### Author:  [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/74 "2005-09-28T17:00:51Z")
[This just in](http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/28/delay.investigation.ap/index.html) Indictment handed down.
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/75 "2005-09-28T17:12:39Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Who knows?
>
> What I’m really hoping for is that Delay goes for a flameout and takes some people with him.
>
> Will I get my wish? My birthday is only five months away…
>
> -Joe
Almost exactly five months to the day, Merijeek!
Happy Birthday!
---
### Author:  [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/76 "2005-09-28T17:44:29Z")
Does anyone have an idea of what kind of timetable we might be looking at for this trial? Could it be resolved before major Congressional campaigning starts next year? Could the trial be happening on election day? How could the trial itself (rather than the fact that he was indicted) affect DeLay’s reelection chances?
---
### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/77 "2005-09-28T17:57:25Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> As delighted as I am about this indictment, I will reserve any happy-feet dancing until he is convicted. These slimy devils have shown an ability to slip the noose before, and I hate it when I get my hopes up, only to have them dashed because the fix is in from the beginning. At least he will have to resign as House Republican Leader, right?
As House Majority Leader, the number two spot, yes.
This is the result of a Republican party rule, not a law or a rule of the House.
---
### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/78 "2005-09-28T18:10:01Z")
> [@Bricker](#):
>
> This is the result of a Republican party rule, not a law or a rule of the House.
That would be the one [Republicans changed last November](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54572-2004Nov16.html), specifically to protect DeLay, then [changed back again in January](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45573-2005Jan3.html) in response to the public outcry? Is that the rule?
---
### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/79 "2005-09-28T18:11:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#):
>
> This is the result of a Republican party rule, not a law or a rule of the House.
[Forced to Virtue, GOP reverses DeLay Rule:](http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/03/delay.rule/)
> [@](#):
>
> Majority Leader Tom DeLay asked House Republicans Monday to reverse a December rule change that allows indicted leaders to continue to hold leadership posts in the chamber
---
### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028/80 "2005-09-28T18:22:15Z")
Heh–the Google ads are for “Easy i - Ethics Training”. I love these things.
Daniel
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028.md?page=3)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-delay-going-down/298028.md?page=5)