Down Goes DeLay

This is one of those New York Times headlines that I wish we could preserve: DeLay Decides to End Career in Congress

I enjoy the to and fro of politics and that usually would make me reticent to exhibit too much public happiness about the departure of a public figure. Ever aware of the adage that “what goes around comes around” I prefer to let washed up politicians fade away.

But Tom DeLay is different. He was a genuinely nasty piece of work. The modern Republican party is cast very much in his image. It is sharp edged, anti-social, ultra-conservative and bullying. And it has a seamy underside that is being brought to light by the steady drip of investigation. DeLay was at the epicenter of the “dirty” side of the Republicans. He engineered, apparently, a number of shady deals to underwrite Republican politicians around the country. Many of the current caucus are “DeLay people”. I wonder how many are worried that they, too, will sink as the investigations continue.

Still, DeLay fans can look forward to his move to Virginia where he can carry on as the connection between Republicans and tainted money. So all is not lost for his admirers. Unless, of course, he is in prison. Then they might have to worry.