Walking The Talk Causes Blistered Feet

by pessimist

For once, we recently saw a prominent Republican chastise another for behavioral and ethical improprieties:

Mr. Hastert [noted] that Mr. Cunningham's stint as a pilot in Vietnam made him a "war hero whose service defending America had built a deep respect for him on Capitol Hill."

"However, the public trust he has built through his military and Congressional career has been violated," Mr. Hastert said in a statement. "The behavior by Congressman Cunningham is unacceptable. No one is above the law. He will find that his actions will have serious consequences."

Would that this declaration of crocodile tear outrage were honestly applied to some other vile GOP miscreants! As a Democratic spokesman observed, there is a dichotomy between Randy Cunningham's actions and the image that the GOP once presented of themselves:

"They came in saying, 'We are going to be the paragons of virtue, values and honesty in Washington'," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat, referring to majority Republicans. "They lied."

They are good at lying! They think that we won't notice when they lie because they are so good at it! Want proof? Look at how well Iraq is going! Look at how well the EU is swallowing Condi's assertions that there are no secret prisons! Look at what the House leaders - while bumrushing low-ranking minion Cunningham out the back door - are willing to do to cover for another, more lofty House GOP criminal suspect!

Not only will they push back the opening date for the 2006 House session to buy him time to 'settle' his 'minor little difficulty' ...

Hastert has scheduled the first House session of 2006 for Jan. 31 -- after a holiday break of more than a month, and two weeks after senators are due to return to Washington. The late start gives DeLay, a Texas Republican, a greater amount of time with which to dispose of the charges, as new leadership elections could not occur until the House is back in session. Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, who took over as leader in Mr. DeLay's absence, said the Congressional calendar still provided an opportunity for Mr. DeLay to take care of the campaign-related money laundering charges either through dismissal or acquittal at trial before the House returned in late January.

... but they are signalling that this cushy-pushy majority leader job is still his:

Senior House Republicans said Tuesday that they saw no need to rush party leadership elections to replace Representative Tom DeLay while he contests criminal charges in Texas.

Good luck with THAT one, Mr. M(ajority) L(eedur) Hammer!

But even if DeLay were to beat the rap, he'd still be a rapper - and that bothers many Republicans up for reelection.

House Republicans are increasingly looking to usher in 2006 with a new majority leader to give the party a fresh start with voters that could help avert potentially devastating midterm elections next year.

The prospect of a high-profile trial next year involving DeLay -- on top of the resignation of representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham for taking bribes, as well as investigations of other GOP House members -- has rank-and-file representatives growing concerned about their 2006 reelection prospects.

The sentiments, which are starting to bubble up from the party's back benches, make it less likely that Representative Tom DeLay will return as majority leader.

Representative Charles Bass, a New Hampshire Republican, said he has asked DeLay to renounce claims to the majority leader's post. "I want a campaign in New Hampshire on what I think important priorities are," he added.

"I don't want to be defending colleagues who are going through the ethics process."

Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, said restless lawmakers could seek changes if the party's legislative agenda veered off course in coming days. "I'm not calling for leadership elections," Mr. Pence, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, said. "But I suspect in hearing from members that much will depend on the progress we make in putting our fiscal house in order in December."

If new leadership elections are held, DeLay will stand little chance of reclaiming his post even if he is later vindicated, said Julian Zelizer, a congressional scholar at Boston University. DeLay will remain a political liability for Republican members, and House members will want to distance themselves more as next November's elections approach, Zelizer said. "It's hard to imagine him or his allies being put back in office," Zelizer said.

The signatures of 50 Republican members can force a meeting to discuss new leadership elections at any time, and a majority of Republicans can force new elections. By demanding new leadership elections, Republican House members can send a powerful message to voters that they are addressing ethical lapses and are ready to move forward, said Representative Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican. New leaders can also set a new agenda that emphasizes the party's commitment to fiscal discipline.

"It's more likely than not that we will have new leadership elections," Flake said. "Most of us want to be able to say that we're moving ahead."

But Flake said he believes Hastert and Blunt can be convinced to call new elections without the threat of being forced into it by rank-and-file members. "If I were Roy Blunt, I would welcome and want them," Flake said. "The last thing we want is moving ahead and not knowing if you have the support of your colleagues. It would help him with more leverage on the floor" if Blunt is elected majority leader.

But you better hope that DeLay isn't back by the Hastert-engineered 'then', Mr. Flake! As the old adage goes, when one seeks to depose the king, he better succeed the first time.

There won't be a second chance.

Assuming that you fail (and I really hope you succeed!), you will also take Mr. Blunt with you when you go down (no loss, I'm sure, but he might not like it much!). Once anyone expresses loyalty to someone other than the king, the someone has to be dealt with lest he begin to forget his place. This could result in an interesting situation - a GOP un-civil war in the House!

O-Kay!!! Pass the popcorn!!!

Sources:

Amid Party Struggles, House Republicans Say They Won't Move to Fill DeLay Post

House Republicans quietly pushing for new leadership

Copyrighted [©] source material contained in this article is presented under the provisions of Fair Use.

FAIR USE NOTICE

This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of democracy, economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.