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September 29, 2005
Sayanora
Tom DeLay finally was indicted, and while I don't know whether he'll actually get convicted of the charges against him, it feels good to know that there's somebody out there who won't let them get away with everything they do.
Now, because House ethics rules require DeLay to step down from his position as Majority Leader while fighting the charges, Republicans had to find someone to temporarily take his spot. DeLay, of course, prefers a guy who will leave voluntarily when he comes back.
Unsurprisingly, that move was scuttled:
What he and Hastert wanted was a timeserver, someone to hold the job but with no ambitions to stay in it. And they had someone in mind. This week, an aide to the speaker approached Rep. David Dreier about his role in a post-DeLay caucus. Dreier, a congenial Californian who has loyally served the GOP leadership as Rules Committee chairman, expressed interest in helping Hastert.
There was one big problem: When DeLay's indictment was unsealed yesterday, conservatives in the GOP caucus immediately erupted in anger over rumors that the selection of Dreier, whom they regard as too moderate, was being presented as a fait accompli .
As the conservatives met to vent frustrations and plot options, Hastert was changing course in a separate meeting on the second floor of the Capitol. Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.), the majority whip, was making a personal appeal for the promotion. Hastert agreed, forestalling a possible revolt by conservatives, who regard Blunt as one of their own.
This is one of the main reasons Republicans drive me bonkers. Most Republicans are fine - lest we all forget, my lovely girlfriend is a card-carrying member of the GOP, as well as my parents and brother. And they are perfectly reasonable human beings!
But some are bonkers. How can you reject somebody for not being conservative enough? As it has been said many times before, moderate Republicans are being hung out to dry because maybe they don't agree with a stem cell research ban. The most conservative of the bunch - who for some reason think they represent the majority of Americans - instead force their will on the rest of their party with not-so-subtle threats.
Now, I am pretty sure this is going to be the ruin of the Republican Party next time around, so I suppose I can deal with it for the time being. But it doesn't make me happy to see apparently good people like this Dreier fellow or John McCain get constantly criticized for not being Conservative enough.
Posted by oz115 at September 29, 2005 11:20 AM