Hi! Guys how you manage to make such perfect sites? Good fellows!

pfbgm [link http://sjsbb.com]test4[/link]

Excellent work! A site very interesting and design top-level. Thanks!

Rep. Virgil Goode was an independent for a while between being a Democrat and a Republican. Rep. Bernie Sanders has been Vermont's independent congressman since 1991, and is about to be elected to the Senate. When were either of these independents rejected by the people? When did the people reject Jeffords for that matter? He has enjoyed consistently strong approval ratings in Vermont and won reelection easily in 1994 and 2000. Polls showed that he took no hit in popular support after becoming an independent in 2001. He's retiring this year largely for health reasons.

Jamie, your facts are wrong. Term limits have NEVER passed Congress. Find me the vote when that happened and post the link to it here.

My problem is my big three used to be Rep policies but with the stranglehold the religious right has on the party, I can't stomach the rest of the platform.

Show me a Dem who truly believes in Fiscal Responsibility, Strong Military and limited government and I'll convert.

Heard and accepted. Being part of a political party gives the candidate the organization required to win a District or a state office. Sadly, most politicans who became Independent (US Rep. James Trafficant, Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont and Senator Bob Smith of N Hamp) only left their party when the people rejected them, not for standing up for independent ideas or issues for the voters of their state.
Dan, find out which 3 issues are the most important to you, and find out whether a Dem or a GOP candidate in your District or State can help you put that issue into effect or solve the problem it represents. That way your voice will be heard at the ballot box and you will be part of fixing a problem.
Being reasonable and respectful is going to be part of having any debate, so thank you for the compliment. Take care.

Yes I am angry at the whole political system. Frustrated that there isn't really much I can do about it. Since I am unable to become a candidate in my own right, I must wait until someone shows up who will get the ball rolling.

I see congress as a self serving bunch of megalomaniacs who have lost touch with reality. I always get this way in April. Seeing just how much I pay in taxes for what I see in return really fires me up.

As far as I am concerned, "losing the historical knowledge to get things done" would not be a bad thing. Perhaps the new methods of getting things done will actually reflect the interest of the nation.

And why should a person have to be part of a political party to be part of the solution.

And I like banging on the keyboard because it puts me in touch with people who I may disagree with but who at least are willing to have a reasoned debate on a subject of substance.

And since I am so bad at putting thoughts to words that last was not a slam against you but a thank you for being reasonable in tone.

Interesting post by Dan to FIRE THEM ALL. But since the Term Limits issue led by Gingrich in 1994, (which passed) was tossed out by the US Supreme Court, most of the 73 fresh faces of 1994 came to Congress to shake things up. And they did. Over 20 of them "self-term limited" themselves and upheld their pledge, names like Tilly Fowler, Sanford (left a couple of years and now is a Southern governor) and Tom Coburn (lefta couple of years and later elected to the Senate). With Delay in Congres for 21 years, it was just time for new blood, fresh ideas from a new Republican.
Dan, you asked what is wrong with tossing out the entire Congress? They would lose the historical knowledge of getting anything done, it would be a complete loss the stability of Congress. Dan, you sound like you are just angry at the whole political system, so if you are not a member of a political party, you can't be part of the solution. Pounding on a keyboard is no way to fix a problem.

When will America wake up ? Has the alarm sounded ? Or will we continue to roll over hit the snooze button and wish for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. As a life long Democrate my party needs to wake up, find their collective balls, get to work and make America, the America so many people have died and will continue to die for.

Sorry Annie,

DeLay can be used to HAMMER the Republicans for the very fact that he who lives by the HAMMER, dies by the HAMMER. The GOP has set themselves up for it simply because they allowed DeLay to act on their behalf for so long without check and they have not admonished him, even now.

RMill,

DeLay is a dreadful idealogue in the sense that he has no loyalty to ideas, only to party. Just look at the spending record of Congress since he became Majority Leader.

Quentin Langley is editor of www.quentinlangley.net an academic at the University of Cardiff and is a columnist with Campaigns & Elections

If every last member of Congress is a crook, tell me exactly what each of the above members stole.

I spent 6 years working in Washington. Off the top of my head, I've met Sens. Daniel Akaka, Tom Harkin, Mark Dayton, Paul Wellstone (deceased), Maria Cantwell, and Patty Murray; and Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Chet Edwards, Ted Strickland, Shelley Moore Capito, and Bobby Scott in person.

I defy you to show me how any one of those people is corrupt. Find a single shred of evidence. I bet you've never even heard of some of them. The media doesn't report on the vast majority of members of Congress who behave just fine, because it's not news! You don't see stories about all the members who never cheated on their spouses, who don't take PAC money, who refuse every gift, etc. I don't like or agree with every or even most members of Congress by a longshot. But to paint them all with an IGNORANT broad brush that assumes the worst of all of them without having any of the facts is irresponsible, cynical, and unfair.

As a Republican, THANK GOD DELAY IS GONE...

Having met the man and observed him in action, he is a walking and talking hypocrite.

He is getting what he deserves and will actually really get what he deserves when he is officially charged.

GOODBYE Mr. DeLay. And stop wrapping this up in Christianity. You're doing a disgrace to us all.

Also, it seems like "Kerry is a Buffoon" is sort of your "and Carthage must be destroyed." You seem to end most of your posts that way. Not a problem. Just a comment.

Sandy,

I feel like that's too broad of a statement. I think there are some, maybe even a good many who are honest, or at least think they're doing the right thing. The ones that aren't, aren't because we let them get away with it.

What's so horrible about starting fresh?

The thing is that we have the power to fire them and we don't. Like I said in a different post, we get the democracy we deserve. Most of them just aren't serious about getting pork out of politics and reforming campaign finance. They've reached the top, so what motivation do they really have to reform the system that got them there, unless there's a threat that they will be voted out if they don't? The burden really lies with us, not them. Not enough people are pissed off in the right way.

They are all a bunch of crooks. There are no honest people in Congress, period. All of them are corrupt.

And Kerry is a buffoon.

No, because that would be horrible and what you're spouting is an outrageous, unsubstantiated stereotype.

Um, the CULTURE of corruption is pervasive in both parties. Anyone in favor of firing all of them and starting fresh?

And don't forget David Safavian and Karl Rove/Plame-gate.

The Republicans' corruption problem doesn't die with DeLay's resignation. I do fear that it helps their chances of keeping the seat, though if Stockman is determined to stay in the race, Nick Lampson is well-financed and a very strong candidate for the Democrats. But on the corruption score, the Rs still have to deal with Bob Ney, Bill Frist, Conrad Burns--as Dems have been saying all along, a CULTURE of corruption. What I would think of as systemic corruption. It pervades the whole Republican caucus in Congress, Tom DeLay is merely its clearest face.

http://sandwichrepair.blogspot.com

I don't think being caught with a live boy would do it anymore. A dead girl would probably still do it, but for live, I think it might have to be a horse or something. Check with Rick Santorum.

Did you all see Terry McAuliffe on Fox yapping about illegal campaign funding? Wow, is this guy for real? Does he think the voters forgot his illegal coffee at the White House with Clinton to raise money from illegal donors? Mike Espy indicted and booted out, Alexis Herman booted out, Hazel O'Leary booted out, and who could forget the Buddhist Temple illegal fundraiser? Yes, come on Dems, that high horse act just exposes your party as hypocrites about funding. Dan Rostenskoski was indicted in 1994 but he failed to help his party by resigned, so the voters rejected him and put a Republican in his seat. Now you all remember 1994, when 73 Democrats lost their seats? The Dems need to make sure their own members are clean, so why is Tony Coelho still playing a role in the Dem party? He was indicted too, booted out of Congress and Gary Condit replaced him. I think someone needs to write a book to remind the Dems they can't play the guilt by association game. Tom Delay can't be used to HAMMER the GOP, no matter how the Dems want to paint the picture, Delay blew up the Dems game plan.

Quentin-

Dreadful in what sense? To many conservatives, he throws the red meat right where they like it. In that sense, he is a perfect idealogue, if you like that sort of thing.

Certainly he is good at playing to his audience and up until now, not much has stood in his way of doing pretty much what he wants.

I agree that the balance needed to have more centrist appeal in the mid-terms is lacking but it seems a bit too late for that now, to the joy of Congressional Democrats.

Tom DeLay has been an effective partisan organiser, but a dreadful idealogue. The original GOP House leadership team - Gingrich, Armey, DeLay, and Boehner, was balanced about right. Three leaders committed to radical reform and an effective machine politician in the whip's office.

Gingrich and Boehner fell away after the the 1998 elections, and DeLay shifted his lieutenant into the Speaker's Chair. When Dick Armey quit Congress DeLay moved up to Majority Leader and put another lieutenant into his old job. Now Boehner is back, but DeLay's placemen - Denny Hastert as Speaker and Roy Blunt as Whip - are still there. If we are to see radical reform from Congress the leadership team still needs some stiffening. There has been talk of making Rep John Shaddegg Assistant Majority Leader, which would certainly be a good move.

More to the point, the Senate also needs ideological backbone. In 1994, when Gingrich swept aside the old 'seniority' rule - which committee chairmanships to the longest serving member, not the best qualified, Bob Dole left that rule in place in the Senate. The rule has survived the leadership of Trent Lott and Bill Frist. It really has to go. Perhaps Frist, who is not seeking re-election to the Senate this November, should step aside, to let a new Senate leadership team take place. Senators should find a place in it for Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.

Quentin Langley is editor of www.quentinlangley.net an academic at the University of Cardiff and is a columnist with Campaigns & Elections.

Cheryl

Don't you worry. The GOP has given us plenty to go around this season.

But lets praise the brilliant indicted felon. That's what the GOP has to hang their hat on this year? Brilliant strategy. Good luck with that. I hope that's is the best the right has because that will give Dems 30-40 seats this year instead of just 5-7.

Interesting that we have a Former Rep as the Dem nominee in TX 22 and a former Rep as an independent.

Sorry Dems, you have lost a GOP leader to pound on for the next 8 months. Brilliant for Tom to put the party before himself and takes himself out of the Dem shooting line. Now it will come down to Nick Lampson showing the voters of Texas, in a GOP District, that he would represent them instead of the Dems/liberals. Nick is not going to pull that one off. Sorry Dems, the boulder flattened your side out today.

At least its on topic.

Try to be impartial?

How about before posting to a thread, try keeping on topic and you won't get deleted.

Ok,

I apologise to CHE for that. Che, we would all appreciate it if you would just post a link for large comments.

Asta,

You can check the information at the site of the Miami Herald. That is why they want to delete my comments.

PS: Hey Chris, before deleting the comments, try to be impartial.

Yours truly,
Che

You actually read his posts?

Thank God WPO/CC has begun to delete them.

Come on Gravy, that's the most interesting article Che has posted in months.

What if its true....?

Jesus H!

Che, please stop posting here you bastard!

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

April 4, 2006 -- DeLay implicated in Florida gangland hit of casino boats owner.

Former GOP Majority Leader Tom DeLay's surprise announcement that he will resign from Congress in a few weeks and not stand for re-election after winning the GOP primary in his Houston area district came after a bombshell was dropped in the Broward County, Florida trial of former John Gotti hit man Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello for the February 2001 gangland slaying of Sun Cruz casino boat owner Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis. Moscatiello is on trial with Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari and James "Pudgy" Fiorillo in the murder of Boulis.

On April 1, the Miami Herald reported that Moscatiello was a long time informant for the FBI at the time of the murder of Boulis. Moscatiello quit his association with the the FBI shortly after the murder of Boulis. Recently convicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his colleague Adam Kidan forced Boulis to sell Sun Cruz Casino Cruises to them in a scheme engineered by Gov. Jeb Bus to establish a GOP money launcering contrivance. The state pressured Boulis, a Greek national, to sell Sun Cruz to Abramoff because of an obscure state requirement that shipping companies be owned by U.S. citizens. Jeb Bush, using Florida's regulatory mechanisms behind the scenes, ensured Boulis was pressured to divest his interests in Sun Cruz to Abramoff.

WMR sources report that Broward County prosecutors are livid about the failure of the FBI to inform them that Moscatiello was an FBI informant at the time of the Boulis murder. They are convinced that the George W. and Jeb Bush administrations in Washington and Tallahassee, respectively, deliberately blocked the prosecution from linking Moscatiello to the criminal cases against Abramoff and Kidan. Kidan placed Moscatiello and Ferrari on the Sun Cruz payroll after Abramoff assumed control of the company. Abramoff and Kidan were sentenced to over 5 years in prison last week for lying to financers in their purchase of Sun Cruz from Boulis. The light sentences were the result of plea agreements in which they prmised to cooperate with federal prosecutors.

However, the Sun Cruz case goes far beyond Abramoff and involves DeLay, according to informed sources. The Broward County prosecutors believe that the FBI's written summaries (FD-302s) of their interviews with Moscatiello were withheld from the prosecution by the FBI in order to protect senior GOP officials. Had the prosecution known Moscatiello was an FBI informer, he could have been offered a plea bargain in return for his cooperation against Republican politicians in Florida and Washington, DC.

The story behind the story: DeLay's involvement with Florida gangland mobsters probed by prosecutors stymied by withheld FBI interview forms and obstruction from George W. and Jeb Bush.

Prosecutors and investigative reporters in Miami and Fort Lauderdale are focusing on the time line involving Sun Cruz, Boulis, Abramoff, and DeLay. In February 2000, Abramoff began negotiations with Boulis for the sale of Sun Cruz, which Boulis eventually sold to Abramoff for a mere $147 million. At the time, Abramoff was a lobbyist for the well-connected Preston Gates law firm. After the November 2000 election of George W. Bush, Boulis protested that he had been defrauded by Abramoff and Kidan in the sale of Sun Cruz. To avoid legal issues, Abramoff and Kidan began to make legal moves to move Sun Cruz's corporate headquarters from Florida to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

On December 13, 2000, Abramoff's Sun Cruz paid $145,000 to Moscatiello for "consulting services." On January 19, 2001, one day prior to the inauguration of George W. Bush, Boulis filed court action to block Abramoff's and Kidan's involvement with Sun Cruz. On January 20, 2001, Kidan and former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon met in DeLay's congressional office in Washington to "officially" celebrate the Bush inauguration. Scanlon, former DeLay aide Tony Rudy, Abramoff, and Kidan are all cooperating with federal prosecutors after agreeing to plea agreements.

On January 25, 2001, Abramoff reportedly flew DeLay's senior staffer Tim Berry, named his chief of staff in 2002, to Tampa for the Super Bowl and a meeting on one of the Sun Cruz casino boats. Suspiciously, Berry did not report the trip on disclosure forms, something DeLay's office later called an "honest mistake."

On February 6, 2001, Boulis was shot to death in his car after leaving his Fort Lauderdale office. Florida prosecutors have uncovered preliminary evidence that Sun Cruz was wrested from Boulis to enable hundreds of millions of dollars in cash could be laundered into GOP campaigns, including the DeLay and Bush-Cheney 2004 campaigns, from the casino boats.

He's bailing now to dry up some of Lampson's cash flow and change the conversation about ethics to a more substantive topic. This story will play for a few weeks and then we won't hear anymore about it. Think Duke Cunningham. Big scandel that noone talks about anymore. Republicans want the policy debate because the Dems have yet to produce any vision with substance longer than a talking point for Pelosi. Take away Delay and it benefits the entire Republican caucus.

How can the bugkiller move to Virginia if he is out on bail in Texas?

Since there's always much more going on than gets reported, I suspect that Bugman is wanting to concentrate on staying out of prison, and maybe trying to keep some of his darker deeds from coming out, which undoubtedly were orchestrated by Cheney's office.

And I would guess that the White House wants badly to change the subject.

Stepping down before the races begin allows DeLay to keep the campaign money he has raised and put it toward his criminal defense expenses. Normally that would make me sick except for the pure elation I felt this morning when I read he was resigning. This is good for everyone as DeLay was an example of everything that is wrong with influence peddling.

Karma's a bitch Tom, and the gods love to bitch smack hubris.

n 1984-85 as a senior at Bellaire High School Houston, Texas. While taking a goverement/ecnomics class the teacher thought it would be a great idea for all of the students for extra credit to work as volunteers for people running for office. She "suggested" that students come work for her candidate since he was offering pizza parties and it would be able to kiss her "....."! The candidate was of course Tom DeLay his distinct was not even in the Bellaire High School district. At that time I refused to work for this teachers candidate and she disliked all of her students who did not work with her candidate.
Lesson #1: You are with us or your are against us!
To this day I still resent the teacher and where Delay has lead the country. Good riddance to a politician who preaches hypocrisy more than democracy

A 50-50 chance of winning???? And he drops out. How many people stick it out when they are clearly only going to get 20-30% of the vote. This guy is gutless and a coward.

It disgusts me that he continues to use the Bible and Jesus and faith as a smokescreen for his corruption of our political system. What is even more pathetic is the people of his district who would have voted for him this November.

>>>He stepped down because he thought he might lose.

No. He SAID he would step down b/c he thought he might lose. And since when has ANYTHING this guy said turned out to be true?

No, my view of it is that Tony Rudy (TD's former Chief of Staff) is turning hard on his old boss and his NEW old boss, Jack Abramoff. I secretly suspect that TD and JR are getting nailed on the Northern Maraianas Islands sweatshops and that also,, investigations of the MZM/Cunninscam Military Appropriations scandal is going to find its way into TDs lap as well. Cant forget abt the redistricting/TRMPAC scandal. I wouldnt be surprised if he gets convincted on more than one account of his several transgrassions.

Oh, and schadenfreud or whatever, I cant wait until they lock him up. With all this talk about security and terror since 9/11, we have clearly gotten away from Rule of Law (witness TD's actions, JAbramoff's actions and Bush's trampling of FISA via NSA spying, among many many other MOSTLY Republican scandals).

So wait, Nick Lampson is out of touch because he opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security? Riiight. Because DHS has proved to be such an effective umbrella organization, especially for orgs such as FEMA. Ya know, I guess it would be easy for the people of TX-22 to forget about Katrina. They're only on the f-ing GULF COAST!!!

Hey kids! It's the Tommy The Bugman show!

Wonder who he'll pick to have the GOP assign his post, and how long it will take to sneakily funnel dirty money to his campaign?

I don't expect the scandals to affect seats in districts not involved in the scandals. People elect their Rep on the basis of their understanding of him and how many federal dollars he returned to the district.

Unless an individual is specifically tied to a scandal/incident the voting sheep will continue to vote along party lines.

Reps will vote R. Dems will vote D. Only cases where an ideological third candidate muddies the waters will you see significant changes.

Ding dong, the witch is dead. Which old witch? The wicked witch! Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead!

Bye bye Mr. exterminator man

DeLay already HAS been indicted--twice! Remember how House Republicans voted to change their own ethics rules and allow him to stay in office as Majority Leader after it happened?

No, DeLay didn't step down because he was going to be indicted, or certainly because of public outrage.

He stepped down because he thought he might lose.

You wrote:

"One explanation for both the timing of DeLay's announcement and his decision not to complete his term is that he has been advised he will be indicted. Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but it is a plausible explanation for his actions today."

Greg,

How is that sub-head in the Washington Post considered spinning? DeLay himself said he is resigning because his chances of winning in November were getting slimmer by the day. He said another Republican would be able to keep the seat in GOP hands.

I find it amusing (or should I write maddening) that the GOP says that Lampson is too liberal for "America's hard-working families." I find it equally amusing (again, maddening) that the Democrats put up with this crap.

The Democrats need to make it clear to "America's hard-working families" that the Republicans never fails at taking every opportunity to screw over "America's hard-working families" where it counts most -- their wallets.

One explanation for both the timing of DeLay's announcement and his decision not to complete his term is that he has been advised he will be indicted. Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but it is a plausible explanation for his actions today.

You say both parties spin the Delay news, but when The Washington Post runs this sub-head

"Texas Republican and former majority leader plans to step down rather than face a reelection fight this November that appears increasingly unwinnable,"

I'd say you guys are doing a pretty good job of spinning yourselves.

I suspect that Delay's people believe that an heavy seas are on the horizon at hand or they wouldn't have withdrawn from the race.
Celebration might be premature though, these bozos have a way of hanging around long after a fall from public favor. Somehow, like Newt they manage to segue from public disgrace to elder statesman with ease and they're back on the lecture circuit and drawing soft money as fast as ever. The GOP is like the Mafia in the way it stands behind it's "good earners" and Delay is one of it's best at milking money from the faithful. I don't believe that we've seen the last of this cockroach so keep a can of bug spray handy.
http://sawdust.eponym.com/blog

Corbett, I am laughing my fool head off. Your post gave me visuals and the whole bit! I've been saying for ages that Delay will be in prison way before the election rolls 'round.
As a liberal democrat who Tom Delay would no doubt despise, I take no schadenfreude from this affair. Nope, it's such a sad commentary that i feel sheepish feeling good about it.
Usually what goes around comes around.
I take comfort knowing that.
http://einkleinesblog.blogspot.com/

RMill - I agree. WaPo needs to start banning certain IPs or something, because the comments sections in these blogs provide for a pretty decent discussion minus much of the non-sense seen elsewhere. And then there's posters (posers) like Che who copy and paste their off-topic diatribes and add absolutely nothing to the discussion.

Che needs to stick to the topic at hand instead of using THe Fix as his personal distribution center. HOw many times in the past weeks has his stuff been bounced? Does he ever engage in conversation that is actually taking place?

Re: Losing credibility with the fundies-I think you have to, in the words of a former governor of Louisiana, "be caught with a dead girl or a live boy." So sins like lying, cheating, stealing don't rate in importance, especially if you vote Republican. If Mr. Delay has any "open-fly" sins, the fundies would quietly disavow him.

What happened to "I'm innocent?" statement. An innocent person sees that he/she is vindicated and doesn't cut and run. Every crook, at the beginning of the investigation, claims it to be politically motivated, but once the people connected to the crook, the crook decides to resign for the good of the party. What a bunch of bull.

Losing creditability is bad for all Americans and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the law that entitles you to one free creditability report each year. Contact your local better business bureau or the FCC for help.

As someone born in Texas, all I can say is trying to pull this over the voting public is such high-handed elitist beltway gall, that it's bound to cause upsets in other Texas seats.

I don't recall Christ sitting down with the moneylenders to do their bidding.

Didn't you hear? Bugman's going to devote himself to furthering Christian causes. The fundies at this last weekend's War on Christianity fest ate it up.

Although I do have to wonder how bad do you have to be before you lose creditability with that group?

Don't worry about Tom. If he avoids prison, he'll be a "Fox News Analyst" just in time for the '06 elections. Fair and balanced.

The guy looks like a used car salesman. Glad he has a job he can fall back on, bug killer. Mental midget. Another good ole boy bites the dust. Who is next? Boy George better get his pardon pen warmed up before everything gets back to him.

Che needs to state that he's not lifting his (in this case thankfully brief) quotes from The Onion. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/oliver%20stone%20media%20slanders%20politically-minded%20stars_04_04_2006

OLIVER STONE: 'MEDIA SLANDERS POLITICALLY-MINDED STARS'

OLIVER STONE

Also see:
OLIVER STONE

PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH
NATURAL BORN KILLERS

Movie-maker OLIVER STONE has blasted media groups who "slander" celebrities for their political comments - because intelligent stars have every right to question their leaders. The Vietnam veteran, who is a fierce opponent of the US leadership, is appalled every time a celebrity is rudely mocked for making his or her thoughts about PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH and the war in Iraq public, and he urges journalists to be more supportive. The NATURAL BORN KILLERS director says, "We're Hollywood wackos and all that stuff, left-wing... (It's) an easy and facile dismissal. "I'm still a citizen, I've served my country as a veteran, I've had many jobs before the film business. I know something of life, having lived to this age. "We have a right to speak and every time we speak: 'You're an actor, a showbusiness director,' we're making it up! "This is not a way of dealing with people. This is slander."
04/04/2006 03:14

BOOKMARK:
WWW.ONLINEJOURNAL.COM
OTHERSIDE123.BLOGSPOT.COM
WWW.WSWS.ORG
WWW.TAKINGAIM.INFO

If the '06 election is about congressional oversight and accountability...and, if there is a way to ensure integity of the voting process, including having unhackable machines with a paper trail, than the Dems will take over the House, at the very least.

Despite anything DeLay has to add to the spin, er dialogue.

Picture it - Federal prison in Virginia, 2007 - Tom DeLay gives an interview to Fox News "The Abramoff affair had nothing to do with me. I'm here because I want to be, this is where I can do the most good."

Is he serious? Tom DeLay is running from an expensive fight? That doesnt' sound like the tough guy he's been portrayed as being for the past 20 years.

If anyone buys his explanation, I have a congressional district in Texas to sell you.

NNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

What did we do to deserve this???