The DeLay Legacy

Richard Cullen, Tom DeLay's criminal defense lawyer, said last night that his client had been pondering a withdrawal from the race for some time and that "it had nothing to do with any criminal investigation." "The decision had absolutely nothing to do with the investigation," Mr. Cullen said. "It was a very personal decision and a political one." Uh huh. Just wanted to spend more time with his family. Before he goes to jail. Tom Delay is generally considered to be the most corrupt politician in Washington, DC today. When his former deputy chief of staff, Tony Rudy, pleaded guilty to corruption charges, DeLay realized his particular jig was up. However, he just can’t keep from running the long con. It’s a compulsion. "I can continue to be a leader of the conservative cause. I can do more to grow the Republican majority, rather than spend the next eight months locked down in running a campaign," he said. But the big story isn’t about Tom DeLay. Tom DeLay is yesterday’s Texas cowpie. The big story is that John Boehner, DeLay’s majority leader replacement, plans to pick up where Tom DeLay left off. Boehner said Delay was “one of the most effective and gifted leaders the Republican Party has ever known." Boehner said of his predecessor, "He was a tireless advocate for his constituents, the state of Texas, and all Americans who shared a commitment to the principles of smaller government, more freedom, and family values.” There you go. Family values Texas style: Lie, cheat, coerce, defraud, bribe, swindle and conspire. DeLay just passed the baton to John Boehner.