GOP watch: DeLay sentenced to 3 years in prison

The AP: “A judge yesterday ordered Tom DeLay, former US House majority leader, to serve three years in prison for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.” DeLay said, “I can’t be remorseful for something I don’t think I did.” More: “DeLay’s attorney Dick DeGuerin said he expected the conviction would be overturned on appeal.”

Could Steele win on Friday? “Steele, the current chairman who has been beset by two years of almost continuous controversy and gaffes, is widely assumed to have no chance at winning a second term. But that outcome is not a lock, despite the fact that key Republicans have been working tirelessly to ensure Steele is defeated,” The Daily Caller’s Jon Ward writes.

The Hill: Wisconsin Party chairman Reince “Priebus leads the field with 36 RNC members publicly backing him, according to a count by National Review Online. Current RNC Chairman Michael Steele is a close second with 27 members backing him. Priebus' front-runner status could prove a liability, according to Mike Duncan. The former RNC chairman, who was Steele's predecessor serving from 2007-2009, said the leader typically ‘loses momentum after the first or second ballot,’ he said recently.”

Hotline’s Whip Count gives Priebus 38, Steele 17, MI committeeman Saul Anuzis 14, fmr. MO party chair Ann Wagner 14, fmr. Bush official Maria Cino 12 with 73 undecided.

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Seattle Sue

Tom Delay went from a possible life sentence to a small three year sentence. What the heck happened? Tom Delay helped to defeat the anti assault gun/extra capacity clip law. Tom you have a lot of blood on your hands and are a sorry excuse for a man. But you have a lot of money and influence behind you and you will never see the inside of a jail. I watched you and your wife in the court room wearing smug looks on your faces, knowing that nothing would happen to you. Actually you have been given more sentence than I ever thought you would receive. Maybe there is hope for our justice system yet.

#1 - Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:37 AM EST

kedbob

Delay is lying through his teeth.

#2 - Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:34 PM EST

California Tom

DeLay. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

#3 - Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:34 AM EST

J. Richter

Boehner may soon join him if he continues with this as he did with Delay:"http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a64ZIkmVPv_w

In 1995, Boehner handed out campaign checks from the tobacco industry to members on the House floor at a time when lawmakers were considering eliminating a tobacco subsidy.
The top donor to Boehner's leadership PAC in 2003-2004 was SLM Corp., the Reston, Virginia-based student-loan company better known as Sallie Mae. SLM contributed $65,170 to Boehner's Freedom Project, more than twice as much as the second-biggest donor, New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The money came as the House Education and Workforce Committee, which Boehner chairs, prepared to write new legislation governing student loans.
DeLay's Jan. 7 decision to permanently relinquish his leadership post came after former aides were mentioned in a plea-bargain agreement with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. House Republicans, who will hold a new vote the week of Jan. 30, have pledged to address ethics issues, including a possible overhaul of lobbying rules.
Blunt, who was tapped by then-House Republican Whip DeLay in 1999 to be his chief deputy, has been acting majority leader since Texan DeLay stepped down after being indicted in September on unrelated money-laundering charges in Austin.
Both men's political action committees employ Jim Ellis, who was indicted along with DeLay. DeLay's PAC gave Blunt's committee a $150,000 donation in 2000, and Blunt's PAC gave $10,000 to DeLay's non-profit foundation that same year. Both lawmakers' PACs have employed Alexander Strategy Group, a Georgetown-based firm whose partners include former Abramoff and DeLay associates.

HOW QUICKLY MANY FORGET. Of course with the help of the Fox machine and the Chamber's money. They are back to getting all the benefits - bailouts, tax cuts - all policies that skew upwards as the deficits soar and the bottom shrinks until their greed suffocates everything and demand dries up. No wonder we are still digging out from the surplus turned deficit within 2 years of their taking over in 2000 until final crash and bailouts by the time the last vestiges left in 2008. Only for us to return them back there sans apology or repentance. This is the same crying, exclusive country club, lobbyist check distributing Boehner and group. They will do nothing good for this country mark it down.

#4 - Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:43 PM EST