THE DAILY DELAY

DeLay won't seek re-election, will resign from Congress

2006-04-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

Tom DeLay will not seek reelection, according to TIME. A year and a half ago, we came to the conclusion that Tom DeLay was not fit for public office. His fundraising excesses led to numerous Ethics Committee violations in early October 2004. We asked our members, "Should we engage in a public education campaign in Tom DeLay's district? And they responded resoundingly "Yes!"

And we, together, began that campaign. At the time, Washington insiders thought we were crazy. In October 2004 we were told, Don't waste your money, don't waste your time; DeLay will never lose that seat, nor will he ever relinquish it.

But our members told us then, If we don't take on Tom DeLay's arrogance and Tom DeLay's big money agenda, then why do we , as an organization, exist?

So together we fought DeLay's big money agenda before it was self-evident to do so. We had some allies, like Democracy for America. We set up a blog called the Daily DeLay before he became one-and-the-same with the culture of corruption. We ran advertisements in DeLay's backyard before progressives found out that Tom DeLay was a good "fundraising tool." And, along with Josh Marshall, we led the charge against the DeLay rule when Republicans tried to give him a get out of jail free card. More allies were with us then, including MoveOn. We're proud of our work, and the work of others along the way, in blazing a trail of accountability.

Tonight, TIME magazine's Mike Allen, who did some of the best reporting on DeLay, along with many others, in an exclusive interview, that Tom DeLay will not seek reelection and will resign from Congress.

The story tonight is that a politician reached too far, broke too many rules and laws, and people had enough. They had enough around the country and they had enough in his district.

Let's be honest: DeLay is in legal trouble because of his own actions. But he is in political trouble because we wouldn't sit back and let the chips fall, and because we wouldn't just write off a district, despite the odds.

DeLay hints that he'll be back fighting from the outside. I think we ought to keep our eyes on that. This man, with his corrupt ways should have no part in the publi cpolicy arena. Keep him away from our taxdollars, thank you very much.

One last note: If we don't go after the DeLays of the world, regardless of electoral or partisan considerations, shame on us. If we don't fight DeLay-ism, we sentence ourselves to a repeat of history.

More later.

New Blog. Come Visit.

2006-03-13T16:48:00.000-05:00

We've moved the Daily DeLay entries over to a new blog today. At the new blog, you can read that which would normally be posted here, and much more.

Please join the conversation. We've just posted something about a potential investigation into DeLay's ARMPAC at the new site.

Changes

2006-03-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

Next Monday, we’ll be launching a new website, with a new blog. Because DeLay-ism is so ingrained in the big money culture of Washington, we’ve come to decide that the Daily DeLay’s reporting, commentary, analysis, and community should take this bigger view, too.

In fact, we’ve been doing just that over the last six months. We want to clearly identify and consistently promote opportunities to address the corruption DeLay brought upon our nation’s capitol, and weave together the stories from other breaking and emerging scandals.

So, come next Monday, March 13th, what we would nornally be posting at the Daily DeLay will be posted at Public Campaign Action Fund’s new website. We will be "tagging" these posts so that those of you who only want to get the latest news on Tom DeLay can easily access just that. But we also want you to have an opportunity to weigh in on the new design, new tools, and broader focus, so poke around a bunch.

Our next post on Monday morning will provide you with the new URL for the broader new blog.

Please be assured that the passion to hold DeLay accountable, and the laser-like focus on DeLay’s big money, unethical agenda will continue unabated. I said this in 2004 when we first took on the powerful then-Majority Leader in his home district, at a time when no one else thought he was vulnerable, and I'll say it again today:

If we don’t fight to hold Tom DeLay accountable, then why do we exist?

But I also think that the politicians and special interests who engage in the legal corruption that happens everyday in the corridors of power in Washington and state capitals around the country need to be held accountable, too.

The new blog at the new site will tell this story and give citizens a chance to engage in a debate, offer ideas, learn more about their own elected officials, and take action. The power of many people acting together to take on big money is the only way to change it. DeLay is the brashest symbol of the problem, but the focus has to be on DeLay-ism...

So keep coming back, and when the new site is up, let us know what you think. Thanks!

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor blasts Tom DeLay

2006-03-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

On NPR this morning, Nina Totenberg covered a speech by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in which she took DeLay to task, not by name but by deed. Here's a partial transcript, courtesy of Raw Story:

And then she took aim at former House GOP leader Tom DeLay. She didn’t name him, but she quoted his attacks on the courts at a meeting of the conservative Christian group Justice Sunday last year when DeLay took out after the courts for rulings on abortions, prayer and the Terri Schiavo case. This, said O’Connor, was after the federal courts had applied Congress’ onetime only statute about Schiavo as it was written. Not, said O’Connor, as the congressman might have wished it were written. This response to this flagrant display of judicial restraint, said O’Connor, her voice dripping with sarcasm, was that the congressman blasted the courts.

Another Brick In The Wall

2006-03-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

Peter Cloeren, who himself has pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws, has been issued a subpoena by Travis County prosecutor Ronnie Earle. Earle wants records of contributions made by Cloeren's Citizens United Political Victory Fund to Tom DeLay.

From The Orange Leader in Orange, Texas:

" In an affidavit signed in 1998, Cloeren said DeLay urged him to evade campaign finance laws and funnel more money than legally allowed into the Babin campaign. DeLay denied the accusation, according to the AP."

It's amazing how many things DeLay denies.

one of my closest and dearest friends, Jack Abramoff...

2006-03-09T13:02:00.000-05:00

Check out Think Progress for a reality check on DeLay's friendship with Jack Abramoff. DeLay continues to try to distance himself, but his own words give him away again and again.

DeLay's prospects down-graded

2006-03-09T09:56:00.000-05:00

Congressional Quarterly agrees with our take.

My two cents about DeLay's 'victory' yesterday

2006-03-08T16:15:00.000-05:00

I know Rick wrote about this earlier, but I wanted to add my two cents...

In 2004, in the general election, DeLay received 55% of the vote. Yesterday, in a low turnout, only-the-faithful-voting primary election, he got 62%, only slightly better than where he was among all voters, Democrats included, a year and a half ago.

I don't believe any spin on this race coming out of DeLay's camp. DeLay is in Trouble, with a capital T.

Hotline Running Snippets of Vanity Fair Interview With Abramoff

2006-03-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of the DailyKos, the Hotline Blog is posting snippets of an interview with Jack Abramoff that will be printed in Vanity Fair. From the blog:

"According to the Vanity Fair article, Pres. Bush once teased Abramoff about his muscular build. 'What are you benching, buff guy?'"

What do you think McClellan will say when asked about these new allegations that Jack and W. are closer than the White House has let on?

UPDATE: From ThinkProgress.org, you can read an advanced copy of the article here.

Circle The Wagons: DeLay and Lampson Will Vie For Seat

2006-03-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

DeLay was able to secure the GOP nod in TX-22 (he received 62% of the vote) but not by the margin expected from a sitting incumbent in a Republican leaning district. DeLay remains as vulnerable as people have been saying he is. Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said:

"DeLay will have to capture two-thirds of the vote in order to claim he's out of trouble."

DeLay came up just shy of that magic number and that's not good news for DeLay.

In 2004 Bush took 64% of the vote in DeLay's district while DeLay himself only got 55% and he was running against a weak Democratic challenger (not to mention that that election was pre-indictment and before the Abramoff scandal broke).

DeLay can celebrate today but he's going to have a fight on his hands in the coming months. With lower support, a cloud of controversy surrounding him, and something he hasn't seen in a long while, a well funded opponent with a bone to pick, DeLay will be fighting for his political life in the coming months.

Election returns

2006-03-07T21:07:00.000-05:00

You can get election returns as they are reported at the Texas Secretary of State's website.

For TX-22 GOP primary, go here.

For TX-28 Democratic primary, go here.

Abramoff to be sentenced in Florida fraud case March 29

2006-03-07T16:17:00.000-05:00

Why is this important?

Well, to get a lighter sentence, Jack Abramoff has to show that he's cooperating with authorities. Abbe Lowell, his lawyer, says,

We will name names. We will provide the public with evidence of what is going on out there," Lowell said. "It seems to me that is not in the interest of law enforcement."

Get your popcorn. The caged bird is about to sing.

While Voters Vote...DeLay Parties With Lobbyists in D.C.

2006-03-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

Tom DeLay won't be in Houston for today's primary. Instead he's partying in D.C. at a fundraiser hosted by lobbyists Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari, both former lawmakers from New York. See the CNN report here.

Could there be better proof that DeLay cares more about his cash constituents than his those folks back in Sugarland?

The Big Buy: Coming to a house party near you

2006-03-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

A couple of Texas filmmakers have produced a movie called "The Big Buy: How Tom DeLay Stole Congress," and Robert Greenwald and his Brave New Films (Outfoxed, the Walmart movie, etc.) are on tap to promote and distribute it.

The New York Times writes it up in this morning's paper.

I had the good fortune to see an early rough cut last fall, and it's not your typical political movie. While the rough cut tries hard to squeeze everything into the "cops and robbers" framework, I understand a few more political moments are added -- including a clip of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff telling a crowd of College Republicans that Tom DeLay is someone they should be like when they grow up as an introduction to the Majority Leader.

You can purchase a DVD or sign up to host a screening at their website... I just signed up myself...

Today is Primary Day

2006-03-07T10:29:00.000-05:00

Here is Bloomberg with a round up on DeLay's primary race today, in which he confronts three Republican challengers. Stay tuned--we'll update as the news rolls in.

In Day Before Primary, DeLay Keeps His Head Low

2006-03-06T15:09:00.000-05:00

DeLay's Republican base is a little uneasy the night before the primary...according to the Washington Post.

I don't think there is any doubt that DeLay will win the primary. The big question is if he can retain his seat come this November.

Houston Chronicle endorses Campbell for TX-22 primary

2006-03-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

Here's the endorsement.

How confident (and tone deaf) is DeLay?

2006-03-03T12:55:00.000-05:00

From the Wall Street Journal (no link):

Former Majority Leader DeLay, girding for November defense of his House seat, plans fund-raiser Tuesday hosted by lobbyists Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari.

Next Tuesday is the primary election in Texas. Nice message to voters in Sugarland, and everywhere, huh?

DeLay: It's primary election day and I'm spending it raising money from lobbyists.

DeLay' laying the ground work for the Fall

2006-03-02T14:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not writing off the primary challengers. Who knows? But it's not likely any of them will knock him off.

What is clear though, is that DeLay is running a smart campaign on the ground.

He’s using a relatively new, innovative micro-targeting approach to ID’ing voters and determining which message moves which voter by compiling significant amount of information from and on voters, matching that commercially available data, and grafting it on to, I assume, analytic public opinion research.

The Chronicle story linked above gives a window in, and the reporter, Samantha Levine, grasps the technique relatively well. DeLay’s campaign is state of the art, and expensive, but it means that every dollar he spends on voter contact from now on is very efficient. Unless Lampson is doing the same or is able to raise massive amounts of money for boatloads broadcast, this is a sign of trouble.

Here's one example of how to read between the lines. The last part of the story:

The next phase for DeLay, who's favored in the primary, is a "long and sustained voter education" program. That will include comparing Democratic candidate former Rep. Nick Lampson to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Californian who leads the Democrats in the House and is a lightning rod for Republican ire.

When asked whether voters in the 22nd District know who Pelosi is, [DeLay campaign manager Chris] Homan said he knows they do.

"I've done polling on her," he said.

It’s not that all voters know about Pelosi. No way. That's the wrong question. It's which voters care about Pelosi. DeLay’s team, through polling and regression/discriminate analysis, have likely identified key voting blocs in Lampson’s base who move when they hear a message tying Lampson to Pelosi.

This window into DeLay’s campaign shows that this old dog learned some new tricks and that he’s willing to give over the campaign to pros. And it lends itself very well to someone who has to rehabilitate his imagewith voters, particularly because of his personal betrayal of them.

Picture says a thousand words, indeed

2006-03-01T13:02:00.000-05:00

Now appearing in Tom DeLay's district.

(Our online petition version.)

Thanks to Daily DeLay reader BK.

Update: This picture apparently comes courtesy of Juanita's -- credit where credit's due -- but I can't find a direct link to it.

Happy 48th Birthday...

2006-02-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

Jack Abramoff.

Breaking: Wade bribed two more members

2006-02-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

Update I: Okay, the headline here is not exactly right -- it was written after I first heard the news but before I read the entire plea agreement. New Headline: Wade Made Illegal Contributions to Two Members.

Mitchell Wade of MZM -- the guy who bribed Duke Cunningham -- apparently made illegal campaign donations to two other members of Congress. More soon.

--

Update II: CNN has the AP story. Key paragraph:

Wade, former president of defense contractor MZM Inc. in Washington, also acknowledged making nearly $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions in the names of MZM employees and their spouses to two other members of Congress, who were not identified. The lawmakers apparently were unaware the donations were illegal, according to court papers.

And San Diego Union-Tribune (their reporting has been amazing on this story) has more:

In a summary of the prosecution's case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard R. Sklamberg disclosed that Wade made about $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions in 2004 and 2006 to two members of Congress he did not name. The lawmakers were targeted because they had the potential to steer federal contracts to MZM.

Color me naive. How do you not know when this many fraudulent contributions come in? We're not talking about a donation here or there. Who are these members? Katherine Harris? Virgil Goode? John Doolittle? Others?

But the real question is, what did these members promise in return for the contributions?

DeLay's Pre-Primary Report

2006-02-24T10:17:00.000-05:00

Tom DeLay had to file his pre-primary fundraising and expenses with the FEC.

What do you see of note?

Here are some interesting notes:

No media expenses I can tell.

DeLay spent $92.01 for pest control on 2/8/06. I guess those cockroaches follow him everywhere, like homing pigeons.

He spent $3895 on rent in January and February. That seems very high.

He spent about $14,000 on telemarketing. Is this a fundraising expense, or voter conact?

He bought a dataset -- targeted voters -- from the NRA. Is the $962.01 fair market value? And another $2900 to Texas Right to Life PAC for list expenses.

He paid $110,000 to McGuirreWoods for legal fees. Why not the legal defense fund for this expense?

He spent more than $16,000 on direct mail and thousands more in postage -- I guess that's the 8-page letter.

Bill Moyers' Speech: Saving Democracy

2006-02-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

Bill Moyers has been barnstorming California on an eight-day speaking tour focusing his considerable intellect and voice on the scandals in Washington and what we can do to clean up politics.

Public Campaign's (and Daily DeLay's!) very own Nancy Watzman and Micah Sifry helped in the drafting of the speech, and we are proud to post it on our affiliated site over at Public Campaign.

Read it here.

Please forward it to friends, family, colleagues, and associates right away.

Here are some snippets:

On the urgency of the fight to clean up politics:

The great progressive struggles in our history have been waged to make sure ordinary citizens, and not just the rich, share in the benefits of a free society. Yet today the public may support such broad social goals as affordable medical coverage for all, decent wages for working people, safe working conditions, a secure retirement, and clean air and water, but there is no government 'of, by, and for the people' to deliver on those aspirations. Instead, our elections are bought out from under us and our public officials do the bidding of mercenaries. Money is choking democracy to death. So powerfully has wealth shaped our political agenda that we cannot say America is working for all of America.

On Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff:

DeLay was a man on the move and on the take. But he needed help to sustain the cash flow. He found it in a fellow right wing ideologue named Jack Abramoff. Abramoff personifies the Republican money machine of which DeLay with the blessing of the House leadership was the major domo. It was Abramoff who helped DeLay raise those millions of dollars from campaign donors that bought the support of other politicians and became the base for an empire of corruption. DeLay praised Abramoff as 'one of my closest friends.' Abramoff, in turn, told a convention of college Republicans, 'Thank God Tom DeLay is majority leader of the house. Tom DeLay is who all of us want to be when we grow up.'

On the cost of corruption and sacrifice:

There are, as I said, no victimless crimes in politics. The cost of corruption is passed on to you. When the government of the United States falls under the thumb of the powerful and privileged, regular folks get squashed.
This week I visited for the first time the Museum of the Presidio in San Francisco. From there American troops shipped out to combat in the Pacific. Many never came back. On the walls of one corridor are photographs of some of those troops, a long way from home. Looking at them, I wondered: Is this what those Marines died for on the Marianas – for sweatshops, the plunder of our public trust, the corruption of democracy? Government of the Abramoffs, by the DeLays, and for the people who bribe them?
I don't think so.

Read the entire speech – it will take you a little while, but it's worth it. And then get back to work to fight against the greed and for real reform.

Here's the URL

http://www.publicampaign.org/savingdemocracy/

If this speech moves you, tell your member of Congress to support the Clean Elections-style public financing Moyers advocates for in his speech.

The power of these words can shape the debate. I'm certain of it.

DeLay's Letter to Constituents

2006-02-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

Think Progress has a copy of DeLay's handwritten letter to his constituents in TX-22 (primary only a few weeks away!) with this image being the most incredulous part: