August 07, 2006
DeLay, once the Hammer, now the Nail
Just how unpopular is Tom DeLay?
So unpopular that even Antonin Scalia turned down the Texas Republican Party's request for a stay of a court order preventing them from replacing him on the November ballot. How did this sad state of affairs come about?
Well, you may remember that the clouds started in roll in on Bugsy's picnic last fall when a Travis County grand jury indicted him for various crimes committed by his political action committee TRMPAC, which financed the republican takeover of the Texas House in 2002 which led to the 2003 congressional gerrymandering, parts of which have since been found to be illegal. Despite the ever-darkening sky, DeLay ran in the primary to retain his seat, handily beating several challengers. Then apparently the Lord spoke unto Tom, explaining that come November, even the good people of Sugarland might balk at re-electing an arrorant, shameless crook to Congress. So Tom decided that he would not run for re-election after all. In fact, since people seemed to no longer appreciate him, he was resigning his Congressional seat early (leaving his erstwhile constituents without any representation at all until next January) and inviting the Texas republicans to replace him on the ballot since was changing his official address to his Virginia residence.
The TRP began sorting through the various wackos anxious to get on the ballot aginst Nick Lampson, but meanwhile the Texas Democrats went to court Whether To DeLay liked it or not, they argued, he had run, dammit, and he had won, and a pesky bunch of words written on paper called the LAW limited the republicans' options for calling "do-overs". The Fifth Circuit Court agreed, finding that DeLay could either stay on the ballot or withdraw from the ballot and not be replaced. Tina Binkiser, TRP chair asked Scalia for a stay, which would have allowed a replacement to be named. Scalia's denial today was legalese for "Fuck off."
There does appear to be one final option to replace Bugsy DeLay on the republican line, however...
Under the Texas Election Code, a candidate can be replaced if he dies before the election.
Imagine, if you will, Tina Bekiser and Tom DeLay entering a small room. Inside the room is a chair and a table. Tina bids DeLay sit in the chair. She removes a pistol from her purse and lays it on the table. She says she is sure Tom will "do the right thing" and leaves the room, shutting the door behind her. Tina Benkiser stands in the hall and waits...
Of course, for that to work, Tom DeLay would need to possess a modicum of homor. So I guess Dick Cheney will just have to take him hunting instead.
Posted by mayor mcsleaze at August 7, 2006 06:13 PM
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