Tom, Tom, Tom..you've been a bad boy !

Tom Delay (R-TX), has been ordered to appear in a Texas courtroom on October 21st to face the conspiracy charge that has forced him to step down as House Majority Leader.
DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

The indictment in part states;

"The defendants entered into an agreement with each other or with TRMPAC (Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee) to make a political contribution in violation of the Texas election code," ………. "The contribution was made directly to the Republican National Committee within 60 days of a general election."

So why you may ask is Tom DeLay being indicted ? Well, TRMPAC is a PAC that was organized or established if you will , by Tom DeLay. Therefore, the indictment accused DeLay of a conspiracy to "knowingly make a political contribution" in violation of Texas law outlawing corporate contributions.

The charge relates to campaign finance improprieties regarding monies given by corporate donors. In simple terms, it is alleged that Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) accepted donations from multiple corporate donors. TRMPAC turned around and allegedly gave this money to an arm of the RNC and gave the RNC a list of names of Texas State House candidates and the amounts that each was supposed to in turn receive in donations from the RNC.

In his defense, DeLay has declared that he is innocent of the charge filed against him and that it is the result of “an act of blatant political partisanship”. Essentially he seems to be saying that this is a “witchhunt”

This is not Tom DeLay’s first brush with allegedly illegal or questionable activities. After reading through the following list you will ask yourself (if you have an open mind…) ‘Why is this guy still in office?”

December 2000
Article- NY Times : “DeLay Tries to Intimidate Supreme Court Judges to Fix Election Outcome”

Washington Post: Photo of Florida rioters that showed among others, member(s) of DeLays staff. These people were rioting in Florida in order to disrupt the Presidential Election Recount. Some of these rioters had their trips financed by DeLay.

April 2001
DeLay 'sells' meetings with President Bush to very high level GOP donors

July 2001
Article- Washington Post: DeLay wants to allow undisclosed use of pesticides in Elementary Schools

DeLay helps Speaker of the House Hastert in a republican push to block the Patient’s Bill of Rights.

January 2002
Discovery that DeLay used Enron money to fund political activities

February 2002
DeLay fights Campaign Finance Reform measure

DeLay refuses to return money to Enron employees

April 2002
Article- Washington Post: DeLay claims that only Christians know what is 'best' for the nation

May 2003
It is alledged that DeLay utilized Homeland Security and State Police resources to spy on and harass political opponents

July 2003
DeLay blocks efforts to restore tax cuts to poor families left out of the Bush Tax Plan

August 2003
DeLay ridicules and blocks Democratic attempts to upgrade the nations electrical grid that would prevent blackouts similar to those that plagued the northeast.

October 2003
A memo is found that gives proof of DeLay’s involvement with Enron executives

November 2003
Subpoenae issued to DeLay to appear as a witness in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn a congressional redistricting map that DeLay had previously helped get passed in the Texas legislature.

OK that is enough for now, my fingers hurt from typing that much !! Thanks to the DNC, various news organizations, and other political organizations for supportive information.

MSNBC reported on the results of a recent poll which showed that 28% of respondents thought that the indictment was the result of "political opponents trying to embarrass" Mr. DeLay. Sorry, but he doesn't need any help being embarrassed, he has done enough all by himself.

So, do we need continue?

This indictment is causing conservatives to say, “why such a big deal over something that has absolutely no effect on how Tom DeLay governs?”

Hmmmmm…. Let me think, I believe that liberals were also saying the same thing about the fuss that was made over Monica Lewinsky. So what is the difference? (Don’t tell me that it’s a moral difference, cause frankly that’s crap..)

If one had no bearing on an ability to govern then neither does the other.

By that same train of thought, if we as a nation condemned one, then we should by all means and with unchecked speed, condemn the other as well.