Hurray, at long last.  Seems the GOP really isn't in a position to invoke Milosevic rules and allow DeLay to stay on in his current leadership position. 

What are the chances of him stepping down entirely?  Slim, I'd guess.  Anyone want to handicap the race for his Majority leadership position?  Oh, and does he have to clean out his corner office? Bad form to gloat, but I really couldn't be happier.

YES!!!!

I had my doubts that we would ever see criminal indictment(s) of DeLay.  I am glad to hear it happened.  Now under House rules in place shouldn't DeLay have to step down?  I am fully expecting the Rovian spin machine to kick in full force, but rules are rules...

But of course!  Those Texas grand juries are all partisan Democrats.  Poor, poor Tom!  He's just a victim of partisan politics.    

<Trying not to be gleeful...>

link:

GOP congressional officials said the plan was for DeLay to temporarily relinquish his leadership post and Speaker Dennis Hastert will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into those duties.

Some of the duties may go to the GOP whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. The Republican rank and file may meet as early as Wednesday night to act on Hastert's recommendation.

Bye bye Tom. It was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?

Actually, what's more fun is to watch the corrupt GOP fall apart in front of everyone's eyes.

Maybe next time Republicans go to the polls they'll look for something more than "someone I'd like to have a beer with" as a qualification.

</Trying not to be gleeful&gt

HAHAHA.

Don't Leave Home Without It!

You are half correct: there is a rule that forces leadership members to step down when under indictment, but it is a rule formulated by the House Republican Conference (this is the rule that Josh and a lot of the rest of us were harping on when the Republican Conference tried to repeal it in an effort to save DeLay).  Word is that David Drier will be the 'temporary' replacement as House Majority Leader.

Ronnie Earle has a clear record of having been an "equal opportunity" prosecutor. 

The DeLay indictment is great news. It parallels the news from the weather service today that the horrendous heat wave that central TX has been caught in for a long stretch will break tonight. 

DeLay's indicted!  Air clears!  Moods improve!

Anyone else getting tired of hearing the phrase "partisan Democrat"?  Sheesh!  Apart from being boring and irrational, it's untrue -- unfortunately!  Were that the Democrats truly partisan rather than weasly crumbs going-along-to-get-along.  Could we get them indicted too -- for wimpiness?

DeLay may step aside but anyone thinking the strings of power will be severed is deluded. His replacement will be the proverbial sock puppet, probably needing permission for even a bathroom break.

I don't think he used the name "Ronnnie Earle" enough in that press release.  Yeesh.

I hate to see anyone discriminated against for sexual preference but that's the main reason for choosing Drier. They can hang that over his head to keep him in line. There have been threats to out him for years and only his quiet support of gay rights has kept that from happening. Hopefully it will backfire on them as Drier is seen as a hypocrite and the Re-thugs will show their true face. I wonder what Andrew Sullivan will have to say.

Although I'm happy to see DeLay get the first of what I hope are several indictments for the Republican leadership, I think there's a sidebar worry that we should think about.  Just as Katrina showed that the federal government was ineffective and therefore "part of the problem, not part of the solution," I think the DeLay indictment will result in a further effort to show that you can't trust any politicians, and again show that government is the problem.  Since as liberals, we think that government can do good things and that an activist government is good for protecting the most needy, this overarching distrust of government can only fit into Grover Norquist's world of drowning the federal government.  We have to be careful, I think, to show that it is THESE PEOPLE in government who are destroying the utility of having a federal government, but that competent people can actually solve problems, be fiscally responsible, and be a government that betters Americans' lives.

Although I'm happy to see DeLay get the first of what I hope are several indictments for the Republican leadership, I think there's a sidebar worry that we should think about.  Just as Katrina showed that the federal government was ineffective and therefore "part of the problem, not part of the solution," I think the DeLay indictment will result in a further effort to show that you can't trust any politicians, and again show that government is the problem.  Since as liberals, we think that government can do good things and that an activist government is good for protecting the most needy, this overarching distrust of government can only fit into Grover Norquist's world of drowning the federal government.  We have to be careful, I think, to show that it is THESE PEOPLE in government who are destroying the utility of having a federal government, but that competent people can actually solve problems, be fiscally responsible, and be a government that betters Americans' lives.

"DeLay indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy."

It may be short, but it's the best blog entry of the year, so far.

is what's really going to be cool.  Much as it's deserved, it's very unlikely DeLay will be convicted on the conspiracy charge (I think -- but IANAL, and I'm too used to them getting away with things to be sanguine about it). 

 But it seems to me that lots of really interesting things will come to light in the course of a trial.

That's what I'm looking forward to: shining some light on these cockroaches. 

Drier was passed over for Roy Blount.

How much you wanna bet that Hastert tapped Drier for the "temp" job on DeLay's orders? DeLay fully intends to get his old job back and it would be easier to get it back from Drier than from Blunt.