[Frank T]

"When we came in, I realized right away in 1995 that we may have taken the majority, but we haven't changed the culture of Washington, D.C. And I immediately started strategizing to change that culture. I mean, how in the world could you maintain a majority up here if all of K Street were Democrat lobbyists that owed their power and their checkbook to the Democrats, and their friends who were out of power?"

And therein lies the problem, of the fall of the class of '94. Delay helped knee-cap the conservative reform movement early on.

He was concerned to a much greater extent of party over principle, and neglected to consider that voters put in a GOP majority on the basis of change and reform, and not for any particular affection for the party.

If '94 was to stand for anything, it was to shrink the size and reach of the Feds. Part of that means shrinking the power of lobbyists too, not just switching who K street gives money to, for re-election campaigns. If people still want that nonsense, it should have been moved down to state level, as much as humanly possible.

Interesting that Delay fingers soft moderate Republicans as the difference between winning and losing in '06. His own primary contest showed that a good chunk of the conservative base voted against him. Much of the rest were too loyal not to do their job.

Thank God He communicated with Delay and told him to scram.

[Rodney King]

Good riddance. Delay, while great in the minority, decided that when the GOP came to power the most important thing to do was to replace a democratic pork and patronage machine with a GOP one... and thus the end of the modern conservative movement.

[stboz]

Loser...good ridance....if there's more like him.....

[Once-Ler]

DeLay's chief of staff Tony Rudy took a plea bargain last Friday. That was obviously the trigger for DeLay to step down. Whether DeLay came to the realization that he was hurting the party, or he was trying to save himself, or the strain on his family became too great remains to be determined. We also do not know if DeLay was surprised by the plea bargain.

The rats and media besmirched a good man and a great Republican. This is politics at its worst with no resemblance to reality.

Only the future will tell, but I hope DeLay comes back to politics. The reason he had been a target for so many years is because he was an effective vote counter and fundraiser. DeLay/Ascroft 08

[ImpBill]

How quick they fall. And I thought only Rats ate their own while abandoning a sinking ship. Shades of Newt.

[Libloather]

Apparently, Tom will move to Virginia to become a lobbyist. This may freak out the leftists more than before. He sat down after the bell rang - but since it's only round one, the fight isn't over...

[goldstategop]

It rare to find a Republican willing to sacrifice his career for the good of the party. And besides DeLay has a lot of legal bills to pay off - not something easily done on a House member's salary. In addition, it drains out the momentum from the Democrats drive to take back the House - an easily identifiable symbol of Republican excess and corruption is gone. The Democrats managed to get rid of DeLay but they'll probably wish they had him to kick around. Its like the old saying goes that in their case, no good deed goes unpunished.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[WhiteGuy]

Why DeLay Quit..........?

Lobbying pays better?

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Interesting.

[deport]

And interesting read regarding DeLay's decision....

[Christian4Bush]

bttt

[chuckles]

Delay was my congressman for awhile and everything I know about him is top notch. I can't believe people here will turn on him after what he has done for his country and his party. He hasn't been found guilty of anything. Anyone can call names and accuse. If Delay is found guilty of anything, they better have photo's and recordings or I won't believe it. As far as I'm concerned, he is founder quality. His character is above reproach.

What makes people angry is that he got things done. Look what we have left. We can't even plug the border with the wimps we have now.

[manwiththehands]

... What's left are soft moderate Republicans," DeLay explained, "and independents that will vote for anybody but Tom DeLay, that believe for whatever reason that he's a crook, or where there's smoke, there's fire, ...

Don't put me in this box, "MR" Delay. Where there is smoke there IS fire.

You quitting only validated my cynicism.

[samiam230]

Let's not delude ourselves. DeLay did not step down for the good of the party, rather because he knew his indictment was imminent. If it was really for the good of the party, he would finish the rest of his term, while bowing out of the next election. Instead, he is taking an early retirement, beginning in June.

[xzins]

Delay quit because:

1. The aide turned witness has something to incriminate him.

or

2. The aide turned witness will result in such bad-sounding PR that it cannot be overcome before the election.

[TChad]

Rush interviewed DeLay. Here's the link. Includes audio.