"DeLay Lands Coveted Appropriations Spot"
OK, so let me see if I've got this all sorted out:
- Tom DeLay gets indicted on charges of illegal corporate campaign donations and has to quit as Majority Leader.
- As punishment, he gets the job as head of the Appropriations Committee - which deals in money.
- He also gets a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department - you know, the ones that investigate people who do illegal things with money (like Jack Abramoff, the example quoted in the article - you know, that crooked lobbyist who did illegal things with money and, you know, is connected to Tom DeLay).
- DeLay replaces Duke Cunningham on the committee who had to resign because he did illegal things with money.
I find myself in agreement with this quote from the article:
"Allowing Tom DeLay to sit on a committee in charge of giving out money is like putting Michael Brown back in charge of FEMA..."
- Current Mood:
outraged
Profile
esprix- Esprix
- My online photo album
Comments
Our new Minister of Finance held the same position in the provincial government a few years ago, and following the last election when his party lost, the new Premier took one look at the books and said, "Deficit? You said we were running a surplus!"
Our Minister of International Trade, Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics was elected as a member of the other major party, and defected when a cabinet seat was dangled in front of him (after the Conservatives went apeshit over Belinda Stronach doing the same thing last year; the difference being that she did it over a year after the election, over a disagreement with the party leader - who is our new Prime Minister - on same-sex marriage).
Oh, and our Minister of Public Works isn't even a Member of Parliament. The Conservatives campaigned on changing our Senate to an elected body, so what's the first thing they do? They appoint this guy to the Senate so that he can be in the Cabinet.
Both of these last two were placed into cabinet because Stephen Harper thought it important to make sure that Vancouver and Montreal had cabinet representation, since his party failed to elect a single MP in either city. Well, they didn't elect anyone in Toronto either, but we didn't get a cabinet minister parachuted in. The closest we got is a guy who represents a suburban community to the north - the area that benefitted the most from Toronto being hosed by the provincial government. The same provincial government that our new Minister of Finance (see above) served in.
Okay, I'll shut up now...
The GOP Party's Rules (internal rules, not binding laws), in an effort to protect the party, say that if there is an indictment you can't be the party's leader. That is the only reason DeLay had to step down (and probably the only reason he was being targeted for investigation in the first place).
Until (and IF he gets convicted, he is still a representative of his state. He still has a job to do. He was already ON the appropriations committee, and was the senior member after Duke Cuningham resigned... so he got the job.
The only reason to make a point of this is if you already have him convicted in your mind.
And for the pure sake of political appearances, how does it look when a man accused of illegally handling money gets the top spot on the governing body that handles money?
IMHO, Bush and the Republicans just keep digging themselves in deeper and deeper, and rank and file party members keep defending their actions. Why? Either blind devotion, the drunkenness of power, or they're simply not scared that any viable Democratic candidates are going to dethrone them.
IMHO, at least.
The Cal Thomas Commentary
Common Sense
Daily commentary by term limits advocate Paul Jacob.
Radio Free Republic
Chuck Muth, Kaye Daly, Tom Adkins and AnnaZ anchor weekly shows! Heard Tues., Wed., & Thurs. at 5pm and 8pm
Family Research Council Radio Commentary
Tackling today's top issues in politics and culture.
Concerned Women Today
Beverly LaHaye confront issues such as abortion and pornography.
Radio America
Shows reflecting a commitment to traditional American values, limited government and the free market.
Sean Hannity Show
Hannity has been named one of the "Top 100 Talk Hosts in America."
Focus on the Family
Dr. James Dobson gives practical advice on marriage, parenting, spiritual growth, social issues and public policy.
Rush Limbaugh Show
With more than 20 million listeners every week, Rush Limbaugh is the most listened-to and highest-rated talk show host in America.
Don Kroah Show
Kroah relates one-on-one with callers who share their perpectives on family, faith, politics, entertainment and news.
Janet Parshall's America
Three hours of thought-provoking, interactive radio that allows listeners to exchange information and learn.
Neal Boortz Show
Boortz's libertarian philosophy rankles conservatives, who think he's too liberal, and liberals, who think he's too conservative.
Dr. Laura
Dr. Laura Schlessinger dispenses morals, values, principles and ethics to her call-in listeners.
Michael Medved Show
Medved's daily program emphasizes the intersection of politics and pop culture.
Michael Reagan Show
Reagan provides a healthy dose of biting humor, wit and warmth to his discussion of national issues.
Steve Gill Show
Steve received the 2000 AIR award for Best Talk Show Host in the Nashville market.
Laura Ingraham Show
Ingraham takes listeners on a wild ride through the colliding worlds of politics, the news media, and Hollywood.
Milton Rosenberg Program
Milton deals with topics ranging from politics to financial investment to entertainment to religion to foreign policy to literature.
Victor Boc Program
Boc has been named one of "The Top 100 Most Important Radio Talk-Show Hosts in America.”