# Just fuck you, Tom Delay **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 24, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824 "2010-11-24T23:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/61 "2010-11-26T00:31:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > There just has to be a “Please, Hammer, Don’t Hurt 'Em” line in there somewhere, but damned if I can come up with it. I say again, just stop. Stop! [SPOILER]Hammertime! Ooo ooo ooo yee ooo [/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/62 "2010-11-26T02:02:49Z")
DeLay did say that his conviction was “an abuse of power.” That is a subject he knows a lot about; he might get his conviction overturned. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/63 "2010-11-26T02:07:25Z")
He’s also a former exterminator. I’m sure there has to be a joke in there somewhere too. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/64 "2010-11-26T02:13:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Rick Perry cannot unilaterally pardon Delay. Texas restricts the governor’s power to grant any form of clemency, which includes pardons. Here is the text from [the relevant Texas state web page](http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/exec_clem.html): (Johnny Carson voice) I did not know that. That’s interesting. Howabout when it comes to executions. Can governors in the Lone Star state issue stays. I remember people making a big deal about Bush not issuing stays for certain death row inmates when he was governor. It’d seem pretty silly to lambaste him for something like that though, if he didn’t have to power to do anything about it (at least without a recommendation from the parole board). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/65 "2010-11-26T03:37:30Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I say again, just stop. > > Stop! > > [SPOILER]Hammertime! > > Ooo ooo ooo yee ooo > > [/SPOILER] He would have gotten off lighter if he had chosen the right side of the [90s flowchart](http://xkcd.com/210/). ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/66 "2010-11-26T12:57:50Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You left out the goths and the furries and the lolcats, **'luci**. “3NLAARGE Y0UR PEEN1S” spammer, I once vowed to press my thumbs into your eye sockets until grey goo leaked from your ears if ever given the chance… yet now, we fight side-by-side! so seriously, you _guarantee_ this shit works? I don’t notice any difference yet… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/67 "2010-11-26T14:50:07Z")
Do Texas prison uniforms include gold parachute pants? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/68 "2011-01-10T21:20:45Z")
[Delay has been sentenced to 3 years in prison.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011000557.html?hpid=topnews) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/69 "2011-01-10T21:45:07Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [Delay has been sentenced to 3 years in prison.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011000557.html?hpid=topnews) Only three years? I was hoping for more. How much off for good behavior and knowing the right people?? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/70 "2011-01-10T22:04:56Z")
He may have deserved more, but I’m surprised he got that much. Connections matter a lot. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/71 "2011-01-10T22:06:44Z")
So you think his cellmate will be wanting him to do the paso doble? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/72 "2011-01-10T22:12:41Z")
Delay will need to dance like a mofo to keep away from some of his new neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/73 "2011-01-10T22:15:31Z")
He still gets to post bond and remain free, pending an appeal which could take months or years. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/74 "2011-01-11T01:45:51Z")
2 Legit, 2 Legit 2 Acquit … ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/75 "2011-01-11T03:11:21Z")
I remember, in some history class years ago, there was an interesting discussion. It centered around “crime and punishment”. A very interesting idea was floated. As a person, through birth or deeds climbs higher in society he/she is accorded a higher level of authority and trust, and the perks/privileges that go with it. The key word is trust. So, if you betray that trust, you are subject to harsher punishment as you climb the ladder. You had more trust and conceivably were capable of doing more damage, and your punishment should reflect that. Sometimes that idea has some appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/76 "2011-01-11T14:14:14Z")
The [Texas Observer](http://www.texasobserver.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=17256:defiant-delay-no-regrets&Itemid=1958) has excepts of DeLay’s speech at his sentencing hearing: > [@](#): > > STANDING BEFORE THE STATE DISTRICT JUDGE who was deliberating his sentence on Monday, Tom DeLay made one thing clear: He had no regrets. In a remarkable display of defiance before he was sentenced to “three years of confinement” for conspiracy to launder money and five years for money laundering, the former majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives told Judge Pat Priest he had done nothing wrong, despite his conviction in November of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money… > > “This criminalization of politics is very dangerous, dangerous to our system, and dangerous to or ability to maintain this Republic,” DeLay also informed the judge. He admitted only that he was guilty of “arrogance” — which might have gone unsaid considering the nature of his remarks to the judge. > > Assistant D.A. Gary Cobb told the Observer that he was caught off-guard by DeLay’s remarks. “I have never seen a judge to allow someone to speak like DeLay did at a sentencing hearing,” Cobb said. Let’s watch his attorney, [Dick Deguerin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_DeGuerin), stretch the appeals process–while DeLay remains a (relatively) free man. Those Republicans hate “Democratic trial lawyers”–until jail threatens. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/77 "2011-01-11T16:34:42Z")
A music writer from the Houston Press has a few suggestions of [jailhouse themed songs](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2011/01/tom_delay_prison_soundtrack.php) in celebration… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/78 "2011-01-11T18:37:37Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Let’s watch his attorney, [Dick Deguerin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_DeGuerin), stretch the appeals process–while DeLay remains a (relatively) free man. Federal crime. Convicted. Sentenced. And he gets to remain free while he appeals. What kind of shit is that? For some reason, I don’t think there are a lot of federally convicted weed dealers or mail frauders or hell, other money-launderers, who are free while they appeal their cases. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/79 "2011-01-11T22:29:46Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Federal crime. > Convicted. > Sentenced. > And he gets to remain free while he appeals. > > What kind of shit is that? For some reason, I don’t think there are a lot of federally convicted weed dealers or mail frauders or hell, other money-launderers, who are free while they appeal their cases. Wouldn’t you say that he’s less of a flight risk or repeat offender than some of your examples? That’s generally the criteria for allowing someone to be out of the klinkenjammer. I’m disappointed in the sentence, but at least he a convicted felon at this point, which is probably as much as we can hope for. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824/80 "2011-01-12T02:00:23Z")
He should have been imprisoned for his dancing long ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-fuck-you-tom-delay/561824.md?page=5)