GOP Congressman Says DeLay Should Step Down as House Majority Leader

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB2XSUPD7E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Christopher Shays said Sunday that fellow Republican Rep. Tom DeLay should step down as House majority leader because his continuing ethics problems are hurting the GOP.

"Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election," Shays told The Associated Press on Sunday.

DeLay, R-Texas, has been dogged in recent months by reports of possible ethics violations. There have been questions about his overseas travel, campaign payments to family members and his connections to lobbyists who are under investigation.

A moderate Republican from Connecticut who has battled with his party's leadership on a number of issues, Shays said efforts by the House GOP members to change ethics rules to protect DeLay only make the party look bad.

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[Melodybe]

1. We should jail Tom with no Delay!

HA HA

Now what can we do about the re-districting in TX?

[movonne]

4. Oh! that was a good one....

[icymist]

14. lol!

:rofl:

[woosh]

23. I think that it was challenged in court

and the districts will return to their prior boundaries.

[Not_Giving_Up]

2. They're starting to turn on him now

It won't be long! Bye bye!

[sonias]

3. related story in Newsweek

With Friends Like These...
A lunchtime chat with a lobbyist close to Tom DeLay suggests he may be headed for hotter water.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7446492/site/newsweek/

"Everybody is lying," Abramoff told a former colleague. There are e-mails and records that will implicate others, he said. He was noticeably caustic about House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. For years, nobody on Washington's K Street corridor was closer to DeLay than Abramoff. They were an unlikely duo. DeLay, a conservative Christian, and Abramoff, an Orthodox Jew, traveled the world together and golfed the finest courses. Abramoff raised hundreds of thousands for DeLay's political causes and hired DeLay's aides, or kicked them business, when they left his employ. But now DeLay, too, has problems—in part because of overseas trips allegedly paid for by Abramoff's clients. In response, DeLay and his aides have said repeatedly they were unaware of Abramoff's behind-the-scenes financing role. "Those S.O.B.s," Abramoff said last week about DeLay and his staffers, according to his luncheon companion. "DeLay knew everything. He knew all the details."

This is getting to be really fun to watch. Perp walk for DeLay, I hope.

Sonia

[quaoar]

13. As sleazy as Abramoff is

I'd be willing to grant him immunity if he were to sing like a canary.

[deadparrot]

5. Ha ha!

[tabasco]

6. Maybe Delay is the fall guy for Shrub's ratings.

I can't believe they actually give a shit about his conduct, except for getting caught. They will probably demote him from Leader but cover up all his crimes.

[indepat]

7. No delay is evident in the Lotting of Delay

[coloradodem2005]

8. Let him stay a little longer.

It will make it harder to forget.

[rodeodance]

19. no too long though--i want to see the day be day dribble of those who

want him out.

[Toots]

45. Absolutely not..Never give them a chance to get back up once you have them

Down. Don't ever think that your luck will continue. Take advantage of the moment. Not only don't let him up once he is down but kick him some more. Finish the bastard so he will never be able to hold his head up again..He would do no less for you or any democrat.

[coloradodem2005]

47. Ok.

THen let's continue to kick him after he is defeated. We need to make sure people remember his treachery come 2006 and 2008.

[CRK7376]

9. Can you say

emplosion boys and girls?!!!!! Hehehehehee...Suffer your nasty repubs...Serves you right Mr. Delay....

[ltfranklin]

11. Implosion, I think...

Emplosion would imply Empathy, which is in pitifully short supply among DeLay's type of Republican.

[lanlady]

10. Shays making hay of DeLay

I think DeLay will lose his position as Majority leader but keep his seat and continue his corrupt, sinister ways behind the scenes.

Are the folks in Sugarland paying any attention to this creep they've put in office?

[rock]

12. I say he shouldn't!

because "his continuing ethics problems are hurting the GOP".

[sundancekid]

15. yup, no theocracy & no jihad on judges if you want to get elected in 2006

nobody likes to be hijacked by the GOP-ATA, better described as the American Taliban Armeggedonistas

on edit: typos

[despairing optimist]

16. And after he steps down, tell him to stay under Bob Dole

Sooner or later, something's gonna give again.

[uppityperson]

17. CNN link to story too, woohoo

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/04/10/delay.ap/index.html

[rodeodance]

20. oh yuk-we get a look at his mug!

[uppityperson]

21. Can you imagine waking up next to that nice hair? n/t

[woosh]

22. He's through. Maybe he finishes his term in the house,

but there is no way he gets reelected.

[ProgressiveConn]

18. Like he really cares. Hes just trying to save his own ass from being

unemployed in 2006.

[Seeing Red]

24. Shays Calls on DeLay to Step Down as Leader, AP Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aK3E_ApWIxm4&refer=us">http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aK3E_ApWIxm4&refer=us

maybe they're starting to see SOME light after all ... its about time

[wallwriter]

25. YEEEEHHAAAAA!!!!

And it's coming from a Republican!

[aquart]

28. Step down, my ass.

I want him out of the Congress, period. If he doesn't resign, there is no reason to believe he isn't still operating.

[wakeme2008]

26. Yipes they are seeing the light

" Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut told the AP that DeLay's ``conduct is hurting the Republican Party'' and ``hurting any Republican who is up for re-election.''"

[KittyWampus]

29. Ugh, It Doesn't Have ANYTHING To Do With The Rampant Corruption

and coercion Delay is famous for... it's just their own sorry hides to worry about.

[Snap]

33. However,

At least self interest is clear. I get jittery when I can't figure out why these bastard are doing something.

[JerseygirlCT]

37. That's what I was thinking, too.

Not until polls, etc. start showing support for the weasel getting thin do we hear from Shays. He's going to have another tough run in 2006, and doesn't want the stink of the GOP on him too heavily. What he really needs to do is leave the party.

What was it Dukakis used to quote? The fish rots from the head down? Problem is, getting rid of the stinky head isn't going to make the rest of the fish any less smelly.

[K8-EEE]

27. Get The Marshmellows!

I will cheer the spectacle of this lying, thieving, greedy ass going down in flames. Burn baby burn, couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[msmcghee]

30. The longer he holds on . . .

. . the better for us IMO.

[babylonsister]

31. A thread started earlier w/varying opinions:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1383752

[smoogatz]

32. It ain't a victory

'til the FBI frog-march his ass off the House floor in handcuffs.

[NVMojo]

34. I like it, even it is just a baby step at this point for the repugs ...

one foot in front of the other ...keep it going ...


edited for this:

WAH!! DeLay is a wimp, blames his bad behavior on Soros!!! HAHA!!

:eyes: Puhleeze!!!!

[Merlot]

35. It's good it been coming from repubs...

but we don't want him to step down and avoid the spotlight of all the investigations and revelations. I want to be reading about his misdeeds for as long as possible, so that it becomes apparent how large and how wide this corruption spreads.

I'm thinking they'll put him down and he'll pull a newt and dissapear for a few years, and avoid consequences.

[BringEmOn]

36. Hang down your head Tom Deee Lay... n/t

[Rex]

38. Malloy is right

DeLay is toast, no one will help him and everyone wants to watch him drown like Newtie did. Look for DeLay to be in court until presidential pardons roll around. I say Fox show journalist in 2 to 3 years.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

39. No Delay should stay

The longer he's around the worse the Repugs look.

[Erika]

40. Agreed. Let him show all his moral values.

which aren't there. Let the naive Republicans see for themselves what hypocrisy has taken over the GOP.

[Orsino]

48. Yeah. The longer he holds on...

...and the more desperate he becomes, the more likely it is he'll squeal. He knows where some high-priced bodies are buried, and no doubt he's (gently, for now) working that blackmail angle to maintain his position.

I'd like to see a full meltdown. A quiet, early departure would only perpetuate the Machine.

[damntexdem]

41. Yes, by all means, he should step down -- after a while:

after hurtng hte Republican Party a bit longer.

[Moderator]

42. kick to combine

[bearfan454]

43. DeLay Draws Fire From Fellow Republicans

Even the pukes are saying he has to go.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=3&u=/ap/20050411/ap_on_go_co/delay

"Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election," Rep. Christopher Shays (news, bio, voting record), R-Conn., told The Associated Press on Sunday.

"My party is going to have to decide whether we are going to continue to make excuses for Tom to the detriment of Republicans seeking election," he said.

[merwin]

44. I say leave him in until at least 2006. He'll guarantee a few more

democratic wins in congress.

[DFWJock]

46. Why does

Chris Shays hate America?