Great News

..unless you're a criminal ex-exterminator. Tom Delay's poll results IN HIS OWN DISTRICT are about on par with Shrub's nationwide.

From Gallup

If Tom DeLay runs for re-election in 2006, in general, are you more likely to vote for the Republican candidate Tom DeLay or for the Democratic Party's candidate for Congress?

Tom DeLay: 36%
The Democrat: 49%

Voters' Opinion of Tom DeLay:

Favorable: 37%
Unfavorable: 52%
Unfamiliar: 11%

Based on what you have heard or read, do you think the charges against DeLay are definitely true, probably true, probably not true, or definitely not true?

Definitely True: 15%
Probably True: 40%
Probably False: 26
Definitely False: 8%

WOW! 55% of HIS CONSTITUENTS believe the charges are at lease probably true. Trust those who know him best!!!

I'd be remiss if I didn't report that the judge in Delay's case dismissed the conspiracy charge (always the hardest to prove, unless one of the co-conspirators flips) on a technicality. The other two charges of money laundering stand, and Delay will face trial, probably starting in January.

deGuerin is spinning this as a great victory, and it may be a small one, but the fact that the trial will go on, and not till early January at the earliest, is bad news for DeLay in regards to regaining his House leadership role. There's a lot of rumblings in Congress that they don't want him back as Majority Leader (who needs that kind of baggage when they have so much OTHER baggage to deal with?), and at least three different groups are poised to battle for the leadership.

If he's NOT cleared by the time Congress comes back for the new session, he's out and done (well, one can never really be sure one has killed a cockroach, can one?). If he is cleared in time, he still may face a revolt by the moderates (snort) and/or the wingnuts. If he's convicted (unlikely in the time frame, but possible overall), he's out... period.

Whether he is convicted or not (make those Christmas/Holiday wishlists, boys and girls!), this is likely to be amusing to watch. If he's re-instated, the Repugs have a HUGE PR problem come next November. (Vote For X- He's Not as Crooked as SOME Republicans.....) If he comes back, and there's a fight, these guys are likely to gut each other badly (and, of course, it will all be made public by SOMEONE leaking the dirt!) If he's convicted, he's likely to be just the first of a string, so the whole Repug party will have 'dirt' problems.