Good evening . . .
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has done many good things in Congress. He has been extremely helpful pushing legislation through the Republican controlled House to support President Bush's agenda and programs.
DeLay has also done some things that make him, the Republicans, and the House look bad or maybe just make it look like "business as usual." His efforts to push through a bill to reinsert a feeding tube into Terri Schiavo is a prime example. The bill which was at best inappropriate and at worst unconstitutional attempted to interfere in the private business of a family in crisis. The main contention between the Schiavo's and the Schindler's was money from a court judgment. It was not, for the most part, concern for the life of Terri Schiavo. It also was not the business of Congress to interfere. The bill was not appropriate and unfounded. Nevertheless, DeLay pushed it through thinking only of the political gain plus a diversion from his ethics problems.
Following the death of Terri Schiavo DeLay decided to go after the federal judges who ruled by the law instead of the "will of Congress." DeLay made statements that were inappropriate and threatened to investigate and impeach the judges involved in the case. His remarks unfounded and demonstrates a lack of knowledge of the separation of powers and an independent judiciary. Under the Constitution there are three branches of government, not one or two controlled by a third. DeLay seeks to have Congressional oversight of the judiciary. Many Republicans including the vice president quickly distanced themselves from DeLay's remarks.
DeLay later apologized for his remarks. His apology was insincere.
DeLay appeared on Fox News Radio Tuesday and continued his attack on the federal judiciary. This time he aimed his vitriol at Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Justice Kennedy is a Reagan appointed justice whose opinions and rulings have moved to the "center-of-the-road" during his tenure on the Court.
DeLay has decided that Kennedy's use of international law on rulings and doing research on the Internet is "incredibly outrageous." He characterized Justice Kennedy as a activist judge, a term usual reserved for liberal-leaning judges by conservatives.
I wonder Mr. DeLay if any of your aides and lackeys use the Internet to research proposed legislation or is your office so backward that you still use a quill pen. Your remarks about the judiciary are "incredibly outrageous." Your conduct is becoming unacceptable.
While I am a proud Republican, my support of Tom DeLay is wavering. If any of the ethics allegations are found to be true, it is time for you to leave your post as Majority Leader and, possibly, leave Congress.
DeLay Slams Supreme Court Justice - Yahoo! News
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The House Ethics Committee is ready to proceed with an investigation of the ethics allegations against Majority Leader To DeLay.
Four of the five Republicans on the committee are ready to move forward with the investigation.
While the Republicans are ready their efforts are being blocked by Democrats. Alan Mollohan (d-WV), ranking Democrat, rejected the offer, his party would continue blocking the panel unless a bipartisan task force was appointed to write new rules for investigating lawmakers.
So, the Republicans have agreed to investigate DeLay. The Democrats will block the investigation because they do not like the rules, but the Democrats will continue to complain about DeLay.
In other words, the Democrats won't take "yes" for an answer and will continue partisan attacks on DeLay and the Ethics Committee.
Ethics Chairman Proposes Probe of Delay - Yahoo! News
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A US District judge will allow Zacarias Moussaoui to enter a guilty plea at a hearing set for Friday.
Judge Leonie Brinkmea met with Moussaoui Wednesday. Following a meeting with Moussaoui on Wednesday Judge Brinkmea said the defendant was competent to plead guilty to the indictment.
The indictment accuses Moussaoui of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, commit aircraft piracy, destroy aircraft, murder government employees and destroy property. The first four charges carry a maximum sentence of death.
Sources close to the case say that the government will seek the death penalty.
This is the second time Moussaoui has wanted to plead guilty. In 2002 Moussaoui wanted to plead guilty, but his attorneys and the judge wanted him to discuss the issue. He later withdrew the guilty plea.
Moussaoui is the only person indicted for the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Moussaoui Could Face Death Penalty - Yahoo! News
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More tomorrow.
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