Tom DeLay got hammered in Clear Lake, TX yesterday

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

"What an embarrassment for Tom DeLay. After sending 7500 invitations paid for by the University of Houston for a reception honoring Tom DeLay, less than 100 attended, 50 of which were staff or worked at the university.

Outside in the hot sun were 150 enthusiastic protestors changing "Don't DeLay. Indict today!" and "Tom DeLay has got to go". Three times as many protested Delay than those that honored him.

Also, only 2 elected officials from the city of Houston attended, no NASA employees or management, or any other type of dignitary.

A counter protest consisting of 6 (yes, six) protestors, 2 of them younger than 8 years old, was hastily convened close to the 150 protesters against DeLay. The 2 young children kept busy by building a fort with the 25 or so signs that were to be held by other protesters that didn't show up.

On the inside there were 3 large tables filled with food for 400-500 people that was left untouched. Name tags of about 100 people were left on the table, from those who didn't bother to attend after making reservations.

And DeLay only spoke for about 3 minutes including taking time to address students who disturbed his speech by singing.

This was to be an event to "introduce DeLay to his new district", according to an email sent from the University. Many believed this was a misuse of state funds and will be filing a complaint tomorrow in Austin.

Instead it turned out to be an embarrassment for DeLay. He later went to Deer Park where again there were more protestors than those attending the event."

:thumbsup: Hilarious! :thumbsup: Hilarious! :thumbsup: Hilarious! :thumbsup: Hilarious! I love it!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Interesting comment from a congressional candidate who responded to this story:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2004-08-13/pols_naked8.html

"I was raised in deep East Texas, and one of the things I did a lot was hunt for pineywood rooters. And in case y'all don't know what this is, they're big, black, ugly pigs with long teeth. And if you ever get one mad at ya, he won't leave you alone. So Tom DeLay's got a pineywood rooter right on his –" says Richard Morrison, pointing at his butt, "right now!"

Add another Quixote to the crusade. But unlike the other Democrats indirectly fighting back at Tom DeLay by running in the tailored-for-Republicans districts he designed, congressional candidate Morrison is, in the words of Dem activist and former state Rep. Glen Maxey, "putting a stake through the heart of the beast" – taking on DeLay himself in CD 22.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Protesters rally against U.S. Congressman

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12772788&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=532238&rfi=6
Houston Community Newspapers

http://images.zwire.com/local/Z/Zwire1574/zwire/images/DeLayprotest%20008142.jpg

Signs proclaiming "Dump DeLay" and "Exterminate DeLay" showed the theme for some who gathered at the University of Houston Clear Lake to protest House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's presence on campus

While trying to be heard over cries of protest, DeLay spoke at the UH-CL alumni reception held Tuesday at 6 p.m.

As DeLay entered the building before the reception began, he waved and smiled to about 100 protesters who chanted, "No way Tom DeLay."

"UHCL is spending money on partisan events," alleged Karl Silverman, who joined protesters.

Silverman and other protesters were given permission to gather in designated areas outside the Bayou Building because they believe the reception was a violation of UH's ethics policy.

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"The reception is an implied endorsement of Tom DeLay," said Tom Gederberg, alumnus and protest organizer.

Protesters couldn't be held back by the glass doors of the building, and some of them paraded into the reception.

"You are a crook, you dirty schnook," sang Elizabeth Nash and Chris Landry during DeLay's speech to alumni.

Nash, Landry and other protesters crowded at the top of the balcony overlooking the alumni reception to object to DeLay's presence at the UH-CL campus.

DeLay simply said, "Well, we still have free speech."

The singers were escorted out of UH-CL's Bayou Building by campus police.

Eric Gerber, interim director of communications for UH, said the university takes no political stand, but instead had invited DeLay to speak because he is a distinguished alumnus of UH and a "very important law maker."

"Tom DeLay is a friend to higher education," Gerber said.

Gerber added that DeLay has supported UH and NASA by helping obtain grant funding for space experimentation and studies, which was another reason for the visit.

However, protesters said DeLay has neglected teachers.

"My group presented him with the 'Mistreating Teachers' Award. Why are they honoring him for higher education," asked Lee Medley, vice president of Paper Allied-Industrial Chemical Energy workers union.

Some university officials were shocked by the protesters.

"I've worked here 12 years and (we've had politicians in and out), but I've never seen this before," said Theresa Presswood, director of communications for UHCL.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

http://www.brazosriver.com/uhcl.jpg

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I'm still shaking my head in astonishment at the news that 25% of Texans have no health insurance (leading all 50 states w/ this stat.) Reminds me of when, under Governor AWOL, Houston, TX actually outstripped L.A. on its way to becoming the city with the worst air quality in America.

No wonder ol' Tom is feeling the heat.

[rosco]

I almost wish i were there but i don't like texas.

[Mile High Shack]

:spamattac

[Bronco_Beerslug]

:spamattac
Great reply! Here's another one, is that all you got?

[Mile High Shack]

Great reply! Here's another one, is that all you got?


I'll answer you b/c you don't SPAM

I don't answer LABF b/c all he does is spam from his left wing sites...at least you post yours from credible news sources

and I don't care what happens to Tom Delay to be quite honest.

[RaiderH8r]

Hammered, HA HA HA. His plan will pick up 5 house seats for the GOP in November. HA HA HA.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I don't answer LABF b/c all he does is spam from his left wing sites...at least you post yours from credible news sources

For MHS, lying seems to come as easily as breathing.

Hammered, HA HA HA. His plan will pick up 5 house seats for the GOP in November.

Yeah, when I read that 7,500 invitations to his event were sent out and only 100 people showed, (half of whom were staff at the university) and that the protesters outnumbered the reich-wing supporters, I think landslide.

LOL

[Mile High Shack]

you do realize Bush will carry Texas quite easily?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

you do realize Bush will carry Texas quite easily?

Who said he wouldn't?

In case you haven't figured it out, this thread is about Tom DeLay.

[Mile High Shack]

you do realize Bush will carry Texas quite easily?

Who said he wouldn't?

In case you haven't figured it out, this thread is about Tom DeLay.

pointless, I'm not sure why I tried....nevermind :spamattac

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

pointless, I'm not sure why I tried....nevermind

:spamattac :spamattac :spamattac :spamattac

Two can play MHS's kiddie game.

[RaiderH8r]

I don't answer LABF b/c all he does is spam from his left wing sites...at least you post yours from credible news sources

For MHS, lying seems to come as easily as breathing.

Hammered, HA HA HA. His plan will pick up 5 house seats for the GOP in November.

Yeah, when I read that 7,500 invitations to his event were sent out and only 100 people showed, (half of whom were staff at the university) and that the protesters outnumbered the reich-wing supporters, I think landslide.

LOL
Put down the bong and read a paper. With the completion of the US Census in 2000, Congressional seats are redistributed and districts redrawn by committees in each respective state. Take a look at Texas, 3 seats are a shoe in for GOP victories over incumbant Dumbacrats and two others are heavy leaning GOP districts where the incumbant is all but screwed. HA HA HA. You take your eye off the prize and you lose the game.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

The Decay of DeLay

New and spreading scandals plague House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his political empire. ;D

Oct. 4, 2004 | September was a bad month for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. The year to come will likely be worse.

On Sept. 30, the House Ethics Committee issued a 62-page report rebuking DeLay for trading support for the congressional candidacy of the son of retiring Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., in exchange for Smith's vote on Bush's Medicare bill. "It is improper for a member to offer or link support for the personal interests of another member as part of a quid pro quo to achieve a legislative goal," the committee reported.

Back in 1996 DeLay got a walk in a fundraising scandal involving a front group known as Triad. That scandal cost a Texas businessman $400,000 in fines and resulted in an FBI investigation. But what the FBI turned up was never revealed because then-House Government Reform chairman Dan Burton, R-Ind., blocked attempts by the ranking Democrat on the Committee, Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to subpoena the FBI notes and files.

Now the story of the fundraising operation known as DeLay Inc. might not have such a happy ending. While he got a pass in Washington in the Triad affair, DeLay might be doing a perp walk in 2005 in Austin, where three of his fundraisers may be headed for the Big Rodeo and the corporations that wrote checks will be dragged before a jury on charges of making illegal political contributions.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/04/scandal/index_np.html

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

House Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041007/ap_on_go_co/delay_ethics&cid=512&ncid=716

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee rebuked Majority Leader Tom DeLay for the second time in a week for questionable conduct, sternly warning the Texas Republican to temper his behavior.

The committee late Wednesday admonished DeLay for creating an appearance of giving donors special access on pending energy legislation and using the Federal Aviation Administration to intervene in a Texas political dispute.

Last week, the same committee admonished DeLay for offering to endorse the House candidacy of a House member's son in exchange for the member's favorable vote on a Medicare prescription drug bill.

The committee's publicly issued findings constituted the panel's mildest punishment, and spared DeLay from a lengthy investigation.

But the committee noted the rare back-to-back admonishments and that in 1999 DeLay received an ethics committee warning for pressuring a lobby company to hire a Republican.

"In view of the number of instances to date in which the committee has found it necessary to comment on conduct in which you engaged, it is clearly necessary for you to temper your future actions," the committee said in a letter to DeLay.

DeLay is one of the nation's most partisan political leaders and most successful money-raisers. He has long been known in the Capitol as "The Hammer."

The committee of five Democrats and five Republicans delayed action on an allegation that DeLay violated Texas campaign finance laws. A Texas grand jury investigation has so far led to indictments of three DeLay associates and eight corporations.

DeLay said he considers the complaint against him dismissed, but accepted the committee's guidance.

He called the complaint another personal attack by Democrats that fell short "not because of insufficient venom, but because of insufficient merit."

The panel told DeLay that he created an appearance of favoritism when he mingled at a 2003 golf outing with executives of Westar Energy of Kansas.

The tournament at a Virginia resort came just days after the executives contributed $25,000 to Texans for a Republican Majority, a fund-raising organization associated with DeLay.

In addition, company executives donated $33,200 to six House campaigns.

The committee concluded DeLay was "in a position to significantly influence" legislation Westar sought because he is a House leader and at the time was involved in House-Senate efforts to negotiate an energy bill.

The legislation sought by Westar was inserted in the energy bill by another lawmaker, but eventually was withdrawn.

The committee made clear that DeLay did not solicit contributions from Westar in return for a favor, which would have been far more serious.

"Representative DeLay took no action with regard to Westar that would constitute an impermissible special favor," according to the report from the panel led by Chairman Joel Hefley, R-Colo. and senior Democrat Alan Mollohan of West Virginia.

DeLay also raised "serious concerns" by contacting the Federal Aviation Administration in 2003 to chase down a Texas Democrat's private plane. State Democratic legislators were fleeing Texas to prevent Republican state lawmakers from passing a DeLay-engineered redistricting plan.

While Democrats and government watchdog groups unleashed a stream of criticism of DeLay's conduct, the committee findings are unlikely to derail him if Republicans retain control in November.

Wednesday's admonishments stem from a a three-part complaint filed by freshman Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas. He lost his primary because of the DeLay-inspired redistricting plan.

Bell said DeLay should step down from his leadership position. "The old rule is three strikes and your out," Bell said.

The committee said it would take up DeLay's objections that the complaint by Bell contained "innuendo, speculative assertions or conclusionary statements."

DeLay, 57, was elected in 1984 to a district representing the Houston suburb of Sugar Land.

He began his ascent in Congress after Republicans captured the House in 1994 — successfully running for the No. 3 position as majority whip.

As the chief vote-counter and fund-raiser for House Republicans, he kept the party united on key votes when it possessed only a slim majority over the Democrats.

When Newt Gingrich stepped down as speaker in 1998 after a damaging ethics investigation, DeLay played a major role in raising little-known Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to the speakership. DeLay became Majority Leader in 2002 after Dick Armey, R-Texas, retired.