DeLay denies making threats to judges

[Rose Siding]

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says he wasn't threatening judges when he said they should be held accountable for their actions in the Terri Schiavo case, but instead was predicting a course of action for congressional oversight.
.....
In a letter back to Mr. Lautenberg, dated April 6 and obtained yesterday by The Washington Times, Mr. DeLay said Mr. Lautenberg "misinterpreted" him.

"Mischaracterizing a call for the judiciary to publicly explain its reasons for taking an innocent woman's life as threatening to 'our fundamental democracy' reveals either ignorance of or contempt for the framework of checks and balances that makes our constitutional republic possible," Mr. DeLay wrote.

But Mr. Lautenberg, in a statement yesterday, said Mr. DeLay has a history of threatening impeachment of judges and was quoted in 1997 as saying judges needed "to be intimidated" to uphold the Constitution.

"If there is any question about what Majority Leader DeLay meant in his statement, one only needs to look at his history," Mr. Lautenberg said.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050408-112319-5673r.htm

[Jade Fox]

1. Excellent response from Lautenberg. n/t

[merwin]

2. Wow, an article in the washington times that actually says something

negative about DeLay?

[0007]

11. ....I think.....I think I'm gonna faint.

But maybe the Times got orders from the crime cabal to give DeLay no quarter?

[0007]

13. And that's not a good sign for Bugsy!

Even Meyer Lansky knew what to do, 'eh?

[MADem]

15. Obviously, they got "the word"

And like good propaganda arms, are carrying out the directives to the T.

The GOP smells the liability coming off of ole Hot Tub Tom at a thousand paces. They need to neuter him quick, and put someone with a bit less hubris in the job who will take their marching orders, give a stiff armed salute, and execute their will. They want an obedient servant, not a blowhard who thinks he has his own clout, in that job.

He's being "TrentLotted" and he's gotta know it.

[rocktivity]

20. "The word" went out via Dick Cheney last week

when he said that DeLay's judge comments were not "appropriate" during a press conference. Tom's doing his best to defend his (dis)honor, but I guess he's forgotten that Trent Lott did the same thing before Bill Frist replaced him. Now even the Washington Post is turning on him, and he's STILL not taking the hint!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Canuckistanian]

27. The winds of change are blowin'

And they seem to be clueing in.....

[rawstory]

3. We reported this yesterday (READ DeLay's letter in print!)

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/delay_responds_lautenberg_408.htm

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has responded to a letter from Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) which questioned the leader's sharp comments about the judiciary, RAW STORY has learned.
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In his response, penned Wednesday, DeLay said that he had received Lautenberg's letter with a "combination of confusion and regret," and asserted that none of his remarks were "threatening, irresponsible, dangerous, inappropriate, intimidating or reckless."

"Mischaracterizing a call for the judiciary to publicly explain its reasons for taking an innocent woman's life as threatening 'our fundamental democracy' reveals either ignorance or contempt for the framework of checks and balances that make our constitutional republic possible," DeLay concluded in the letter, obtained by RAW STORY.

In response, Lautenberg said DeLay's statements speak for themselves.

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/delay_responds_lautenberg_408.htm

[rodeodance]

4. to late Tom--we know who you meant!! Wash TIMES article!

[rodeodance]

6. so--have the others (including me) Misinterpreted him?? what a wash!!

Mr. DeLay said Mr. Lautenberg "misinterpreted" him.

[Rose Siding]

7. Muddy water is his only strategy. Grover Norquist said...

"The challenge (for Democrats) with the attacks on DeLay is that you cannot, in two sentences, explain what the charges are," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3125416

[americanstranger]

9. Let me try.

He went on a trip to Russia paid for by a lobbying group, which is againt Confressional ethics rules.

Whaddya know? I did it in one. Sorry, Grover.

-as

[struggle4progress]

28. Uh, Nork -- your pal seems to be a lying graft-prone thug.

Is a second sentence really necessary?

[tsuki]

5. Kick.

[still_one]

8. and delay will kill any judge who says it was a threat

[GOPFighter]

10. Tom DeLay:

A turd insisting he's a rose.

[gratuitous]

12. I like that Lautenberg didn't back down

DeLay's remarks were clearly designed to intimidate, and he darn well knows it. If DeLay was really interested in a public explanation of the judiciary decisions in the Schiavo case, he could read the opinions that accompanied the decisions. That's where judges typically explain the facts (evidence and testimony), the law (statutes and prior cases), and the reasoning behind their decisions -- or doesn't the Bugman know that?

What a mealy-mouthed little twerp.

[MissMarple]

18. He was ready with an accurate reply. Way to go, Frank!.

Here's a thank you to Senator Lautenburg and his staff.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[kskiska]

14. "I never said that…"

[wallwriter]

16. What a piece of s***

He's on the record.

[Not_Giving_Up]

17. A Houston news station

actually covered DeLay's problems last night. I was shocked.

[rocktivity]

19. Go, RoachBoy! Go, go!

Stay in the spotlight! Ailenate those moderates! Attract media attention--and curiosity! Rah rah rah!


rocknation

[janx]

25. That's what I want, too!

I want him to do another Schiavo, lead a fundy revolution or something!

[WindRavenX]

21. fuck DeLay

He's beyond scum. :grr:

[Richard Steele]

22. Looks like 'THE PARTY' has decided to drop the bugman!

And he's not gonna go quietly! Tom just doesn't get it-he's GONE!

Once the WashTimes starts criticizing, it's OVER.

[AnneD]

23. For the life of me,

I can't understand what part of his comments where open to mischaracterization. They were pretty clear to me.
I sent a scathing e-mail to our other embarassment, Cornyin. Having served in the judical system...he should have known better. What a maroon.
I guess I won't get a reply (again). At least Kay sends a polite form letter......

[oasis]

24. If given a chance, Delay would become America's version of Saddam.

[AzDar]

26. They've gotten away with the ol' " liberal media twisting my words" and

the all-too-familiar "that was taken out context" defenses for so long that they obviously think they're bulletproof. Who could blame them?

[FlyByNight]

29. Senator Lautenberg interpreted your words...

perfectly Tommy. You're a liar and a hypocrite - pure and simple.

[Disturbed]

30. The mostly Repub Fed Judges were in fact..

upholding the Constitution. It's Delay who is teying to subvert it.

[Window]

31. You go boy!

Senator Lautenberg is the man.

[NNN0LHI]

32. Then put him on trial and let the judges decide for themselves n/t

[rooboy]

33. Hey, I just bought a "DeLay" - the bicycle that pedals BACKWARDS n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. If anyone should be held accountable for their actions, it's DeLie!

:grr: