Delay is gone

Tom Delay, disgraced former Republican congressional leader, will not run again in 2006. This comes in the midst of many legal/ethical troubles. This is bad for Democrats, because this would have been a good takedown, and a moral booster. A new candidate, without Delay’s baggage, has a much better chance.

Tom Delay is a politician I will never forget. Because of him, I decided to go into politics. It all goes back to the new source review law. This law was a horrible handout to the oil refineries, who are perhaps the least in need of money. It said that refineries that expand output are not subject to environmental restrictions that new plants are subject to. The law was in place to prevent companies from expanding refineries without improving their emissions, instead of building a new refinery which would be subject to these laws. Everyone had voted, and the measure to destroy the new source review had failed. Phew! But Republican Denny Hastert didn’t announce the result. This gave time for Tom Delay to yell at Republicans that had sided with Justice, and make them change their vote. This took 45 minutes, and finally there were enough votes to destroy the bill. The Senate had the sense not to pass the bill, so his efforts were in vain. And their was a backlash, me getting into politics, that came from that.

We’ll miss you Tom, but I’m sure another corrupt Republican will rise up to your position of the most criminal member of Congress.