As Kuff says, "It's not just a DeLay drumbeat out there, it's an entire marching band." Duncan "open microwave, insert popcorn" Black thinks that the parade is being led by the GOP. It certainly seems like a smart idea for the Republicans to boot him now before 2006. But DeLay's crooked beat extends from Houston to the Bahamas to Moscow—I would be very, very surprised if there isn't more collateral damage from his fall than just the political hit the GOP will take once the cesspool of the House is fair game for front page, above the fold treatment in every paper in the land.
Today's NYT feature highlights the gadzooks of money that Tom DeLay's daughter in particular has raked in through DeLay's connections. Atrios beat me to the archives for this gem, but I'll post it anyway:
The weekend included a late-night party Saturday in DeLay's suite at the Rio Hotel and Casino, which featured a living room, bar and hot tub on the balcony. DeLay was not present, aides said; the event was hosted by his daughter, Dani Ferro, the campaign manager for DeLay's reelection campaign. After the party, Ferro told associates that a lobbyist poured champagne on her while she was in the hot tub.I think that a person has the right to have champagne poured on her by any person she admits in her hot tub, and your editors generally deem such behavior to be hott. But to say that it's at least eyebrow raising for the daugher of the House Majority Leader (then Majority Whip) to go all Paris Hilton on a crew of lobbyists during a paid Vegas vacation is an understatement, given that this is the least irreputable of the corruption charges that have been generated since that story broke way back in 2000, and DeLay has only increased the holdings of his Sugar Land crime syndicate in the intervening 5 years. In other words: How can it possibly have taken this long to nab him, and what transparency rules can we change to correct the structural problem at hand? It doesn't go away when DeLay does. Posted by Kriston at April 6, 2005 10:37 AM
I'll accept that he should go when you agree that Pelosi should go:
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi helped secure $3 million last year for a nonprofit transportation-research organization whose president gave money to her political action committee as the group was paying for a European trip for one of her policy advisers.
Transportation adviser Lara Levison's nine-day, $4,475 trip to Spain and Germany last April to learn about hydrogen-fuel cells for buses was primarily paid for by WestStart-CALSTART.
But just days before the trip, WestStart-CALSTART announced that Mrs. Pelosi had helped the nonprofit group secure $1 million from the Federal Transit Administration for a bus rapid-transit program. A month after the Levison trip, the group sent out a press release thanking her for a $2 million grant for a fuel-cell program.
According to campaign records, WestStart-CALSTART Chief Executive Officer John R. Boesel also gave $1,000 to one of Mrs. Pelosi's political action committees in 2003 and $1,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Both Mr. Boesel and Mrs. Pelosi's spokeswoman, Jennifer Crider, said there is no link between the staffer's trip and the grants."
She reported those. DeLay lied about his. She was trying to help local businesses. DeLay was helping RUSSIAN OIL BARONS. Pelosi didn't take the junket, she sent a policy advisor to look at the technology for 4 grand. DeLay went to Moscow with entourage for 100 big ones. That's trip one of three now being questioned.
But this is only the small change. Speculation is rife that the next Grand Jury empanelled by Travis County D.A. [Props to Austinites] will focus on DeLay using information gained in plea bargain agreements with two of the Congressman's long-time associates and corporations who donated to Delay's Texas PAC in violation of state law, which forbids such donations.
That's why I think these allegations are coming straight from D.A. Ronnie Earle--who is using a tried and true technique to put pressure on anyone who hasn't come forward yet. He's letting them know in no uncertain terms that Tom DeLay will not be able to protect them if he is indicted because he will be forced to step down from his leadership position. DeLay's troubles are just starting. Karma is a bitch, boys.
Posted by: Rob W at April 6, 2005 1:10 PMJSB, you are talking about some extremely small, legal potatoes.
Posted by: Kriston at April 6, 2005 1:15 PMWhat else would you expect from the JSB Auto-Responder, v. 3.0?
As for the actual subject of the post, I was always wondering what happened to Big Daddy Kane after his brand of Barry White rap was declared officially played out in the early 90s. I guess he became a lobbyist. The only lobbyist in Timberlands. Sweet!
Posted by: norbizness at April 6, 2005 2:36 PMJust out of curiosity, does anyone know what DeLay's daughter looks like? I'm trying to decide if the thought of someone pouring champagne over her in a hot tub truly is hott or just disturbing. My gut feeling is the latter.
Posted by: Miguel Sánchez at April 6, 2005 3:43 PMIt should be noted that his daughter and wife have earned about $500,000 between them directly from DeLay/his campaign in the past few years. Nothing like nepotism to raise the ire of the citizenry...
Posted by: richard at April 6, 2005 4:00 PMYou just made CNN.
Posted by: Petey at April 6, 2005 4:32 PMMan, losing Tom DeLay would be soooooo worth watching Dems slit their own throats on this. Want to bet what Step 2 is when you idiots bite down hard on the DeLay accusations?
Posted by: Random Guy at April 6, 2005 6:16 PMRandom Guy, please enlighten. I suppose this is all a Republican scheme to discredit themselves.
Posted by: Rob W at April 6, 2005 6:47 PMI went to high school with her. She was quite hot, if I remember
Well, that settles it - after all, if someone wrote in comments at Kos, it's gotta be true! Seriously, I guess she'd have to be - even a drunken lobbyist wouldn't have goggles bad enough to do it if she looked like her father.
Posted by: Miguel Sánchez at April 6, 2005 7:01 PMDrunken lobbyists do a lot with DeLay.
Posted by: Rob W at April 6, 2005 7:09 PMGentlemen, we are witnessing the birth of a new life form, a fully conscious JSB Auto-Responder that has learned to use pseudonyms.
Posted by: norbizness at April 6, 2005 7:25 PMI want pictures of Daniell DeLay! where can I find them?
- prurient Dem
Norbizness, I do not use pseudonyms. And at least Delay doesn't hate cheerleaders.
Posted by: j.scott barnard at April 7, 2005 10:56 AMwho is Daniell DeLay? is she a cheerlady?
Posted by: oyun at June 6, 2008 11:35 AM