Comments on: DeLay Resigns http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242 Random rants from a civil servant in Houston, TX Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:49:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: ubu http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-247 ubu Tue, 04 Apr 2006 17:31:27 +0000 http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-247 If it's a "conservative" of the same sort he is, no difference. We need a *fiscal* conservative committed to supporting defense of our borders. If I were the Libertarian candidate for that post, I'd be shaking the piggy bank for loose change to help get such a message out. As for <a href="http://anglosphere.com/weblog/archives/000311.html" rel="nofollow">this</a>, I don't know whether to cheer it or damn it. Last time got us 8 years of Slick Willie, this time will likely get us his wife. h/t to <a href="http://www.instapundit.com" rel="nofollow">Instapundit.</a> If it’s a “conservative” of the same sort he is, no difference. We need a *fiscal* conservative committed to supporting defense of our borders. If I were the Libertarian candidate for that post, I’d be shaking the piggy bank for loose change to help get such a message out.

As for this, I don’t know whether to cheer it or damn it. Last time got us 8 years of Slick Willie, this time will likely get us his wife. h/t to Instapundit.

]]> By: PubliusTX http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-246 PubliusTX Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:08:49 +0000 http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-246 <i>Evidently, the Feds had a whole lot more on him, and his buddy may roll over and testify against him for a lighter sentence.</i> Actually, I don't know that it's that evident. The bigger point is that it doesn't matter politically whether it is or not. The political problem here is perception, and it's just one more negative perception that could very well extend past November. The DeLay camp has concluded -- rightly I think -- that the amount of negative perception simply can't be overcome by election day. That is to say, the legal matters may well drag on past that. Even if they believe they will prevail on the legal merits, the inability to do so before November hurts their political chances. Thus, stepping down isn't a legal or moral concession, but a political one -- rather than risk losing what should be a safe Republican seat, better to step aside for another conservative. Evidently, the Feds had a whole lot more on him, and his buddy may roll over and testify against him for a lighter sentence.

Actually, I don’t know that it’s that evident.

The bigger point is that it doesn’t matter politically whether it is or not.

The political problem here is perception, and it’s just one more negative perception that could very well extend past November. The DeLay camp has concluded — rightly I think — that the amount of negative perception simply can’t be overcome by election day. That is to say, the legal matters may well drag on past that. Even if they believe they will prevail on the legal merits, the inability to do so before November hurts their political chances. Thus, stepping down isn’t a legal or moral concession, but a political one — rather than risk losing what should be a safe Republican seat, better to step aside for another conservative.

]]> By: DrHeinous http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-245 DrHeinous Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:11:40 +0000 http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/242#comment-245 I've disliked DeLay pretty much as long as I've known about him. Really his utter, unthinking opposition to any sort of transit plans (other than 'same as we've got now') irritated me quite a lot. That, and he was a serious porker. Good riddance. I’ve disliked DeLay pretty much as long as I’ve known about him. Really his utter, unthinking opposition to any sort of transit plans (other than ’same as we’ve got now’) irritated me quite a lot. That, and he was a serious porker. Good riddance.

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