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.
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).
“…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.
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?
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?
