[My2Cents]

now in jeopardy thanks in part to a failure in leadership from party officials

Score one for The Stupid Party. Democrats don't make these kind of boners. They lie, cheat, and break the law in order to get their campaigns in place.

[kaktuskid]

His opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson, is very well funded, and has enlisted the support of Hollywood liberals and far-left organizations to help him win the seat.

That will realy play well in that district

[TexasCajun]

Lots of blame to go around in this mess:

Former Harris County Republican Party Chairman Gary Polland cites the Texas Republican Party leadership for its failure to properly have DeLay removed from the ballot. In the latest issue of his Texas Conservative Review, Polland enumerates what went wrong with the DeLay case. In particular, Polland notes:

– [Republican Party of Texas ] Chairman [Tina] Benkiser did not adequately prepare for or document DeLay’s change of residency when she removed his name. This was a chance where a little extra effort could have paid off. Instead it hurt them later when trying to prove DeLay’s ineligibility.

– RPT did not have their case together. In trial, the RPT’s arguments and witnesses came across as under-prepared. They made crucial mistakes that also limited their ability to make a stronger case on appeal.

– Moving to Federal Court was a monster mistake. RPT assumed that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals would rule in our favor simply because they’re perceived as a Republican court. Instead, the RPT simply invited the federal government to intervene on a matter of state law. Not only was this a foolish move - it was decidedly not conservative. Conservatives respect our system of federalism and the rights and laws of the states

[Soul Seeker]

The Liberal Party establishment didn't want the conservative Hammer to stay in the House.

They kicked him out.

They lose this seat it's their damn fault, and I'm not shedding a tear for them or the "sensitive morally upright beltway elitist conservatives" that joined the bash Delay bandwagon. Yes, I'm pointing at NR here...

[trumandogz]

Place the blame on the activist judges who have paved the way for the Dems to take over Congress by nixing the GOP's candidate in the Texas 22nd.

[Yo-Yo]

I never understood why DeLay dropped out of the race in the first place. The "money laundering" case against him was unraveling, and there was evidence of the prosecuter jury shopping just to get any sort of indictment in part because a documentary was being filmed about the prosecuter.

What came out of the closet to bite the Hammer so badly that he ran away from a fight?

[Torie]

The problem was that Delay got cute, and decided to win the primary and then drop out, rather than dropping out of the primary. So I blame Delay.

I don't agree with the article. The GOP case was a loser from the getgo because one isn't disqualified from the ballot under Texas law unless one is not a resident on election day, and there is no way to know that until election day. Thus the factual details don't matter.

[Mr. Jeeves]

DeLay Seat Turns into Fiasco

Who is Fiasco, and what's his position on illegal immigration? ;)

[balch3]

guess again. The tide is already turning in key states like Michigan, Montana, and Penn. The RATS have peaked.

[weegee]

Writing in choice on eSlate will take a little more work (electronic ballot disenfranchises)

Write-in candidate names are not on the ballot by design. To cast a vote for one on the electronic eSlate machines, which don't have a keyboard, you'll have to use the "select" dial to choose "write-in."

If you think a majority of voters are going to "dial" in a candidate's name as if they were using an old rotary phone, you are mistaken.

The list of WRITE IN candidates is to be established prior to election day. "In each booth there will be a printed list of candidates who have been certified for the Congressional District 22 race." Since the names are known, it is purely procedural to require this inadequate mechanism for inputing the write in name.

The Texas ballot permits nicknames. I suggest the nickname "AAA" for one of the write-in candidates'.

[RippyO]

Remember that Charlie Wilson in Ohio failed to get on the primary ballot because he couldn't come up with 50 measly signatures. He had to run as a write-in but walloped his competition anyway.

Things will be tougher because Lampson is better known than Wilson's opponents, but Repubs have a shot if they rally around a candidate.

[Sashasasha]

Isn't this a pretty conservative District? I would think this Dem BS would irritate enough voters that they would vote for a good Republican write-in.

[Redbob]

Of course Eberle has a bit of an agenda here, as the failed candidate for Texas GOP Chairman. Tina Benkiser appears to be at least somewhat responsible for this fiasco, and Eberle wants everyone to know.