It's Time to Take Down Tom Delay

Rep. Tom Delay just won't quit. The Republican House leader is one of the most tireless, relentless preachers of religious dogma there is. In the wake of Terri Schiavo's death, just when we thought we might've heard the last of him, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "there he goes again." This mad little devil is now hellbent on retribution. It's not enough that the Schiavo case, leading to her death, had become a major emotional and political distraction from the more pressing issues confronting Americans today. Now Delay wants the judges heads on a silver platter. He blames them for Ms. Schiavo's death, calling them "an arrogant, out of control, unaccountable judiciary." He released a statement yesterday warning "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today." Just what the hell is he talking about here? Is this a thinly veiled threat of violence? Is he speaking in code to the throngs of Jesus freaks out there ready to kill judges with whom they disagree? This is totally irresponsible, reprehensible and just plain dangerous behavior on the part of the 2nd highest-ranking GOP'er in the House, especially after the death threats already received in this case by Judge George Greer of the Florida Circuit Court. And let's not forget the murder of Chicago Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother a month ago by a deranged defendant. What this country doesn't need is a vindictive right wing extremist in Washington urging more violence. Devil Delay needs to be censured. And he needs more than just a wrist-slap. He's already been admonished three times by the House Ethics Committee for alleged illegal fundraising activity. It's time for Travis County, Texas District Attorney Ronnie Earle to finally hand up that indictment of Delay, a move that, under House rules, would force him from his leadership perch. And the FBI should grill him on just what he meant by his vague threat yesterday. Let's put Delay back where he belongs: on the hotseat defending against his own abuses of power. Maybe then and only then will he no longer have the time to preach what he doesn't practice. Andy