DeLay Indictment Roundup

Michelle Malkin seems to have pretty much the ultimate rundown and roundup of the DeLay indictment. All kinds of useful information there. Note that although Malkin is a noted conservative, in my opinion she does paint a convincing factual picture of this as a political vendetta.



Daily Kosis not nearly so rational. They do note that the prosecutor has gone after Democrats, but fail to mention that until the last decade Texas was a Donkey party fiefdom going back to Reconstruction Era. When you run The Machine, you've got more apparent latitude for corruption. The Kossacks are practicing their usual bile on possible successors as well.



Oliver Willis at least manages to avoid foaming at the mouth, if barely. Oops, cancel that last sentence.



Talkleft seems partisan, but rational.



Powerline has some good comments and information on the politics involved in the indictment of Tom DeLay.



Captain's Quarters has more about the partisan nature of the district attorney who indicted him. We have to give him the latitude to do his job, but this appears to be an abuse of authority.



Michael Barone has more.



Random Fate seems to think there's enough smoke to justify a hypothesis of fire, but offers no evidence.



Justus for All thinks DeLay likely violated the spirit, but not the letter of the law, and will become more powerful as a martyr.



Pubcrawler is not impressed, agreeing that DeLay is likely guilty, but nonetheless a victim of a witchhunt as the laws are so byzantine it is impossible to comply in toto.



Liberty Corner has some worthwhile thoughts on his dislike of both DeLay and the law allegedly violated.



Dean's World points out the same thing Daily Kos does. Once again, this may be factually correct but misleading. The Donkeys owned Texas for a very long time as the result of the "Black Republicans" leading the "War of Northern Agression" from 1861 to 1865. There simply weren't any Elephant office-holders to prosecute until recently.



Me? I think DeLay is most likely guilty, albeit on a technicality, and in a perfect world should be convicted. On the other hand, given the fundraising shenanigans that were violations on a less technical and more substantive level of Al Gore among others, if there is any justice, DeLay will be acquitted or the charges dismissed. I agree with Liberty Corner that fundraising restrictions should be unconstitutional, and that the law should be repealed. I have yet to see ANY convincing argument that "getting the money out of politics" would be beneficial. On the other hand, DeLay will not emerge victorious and more powerful. Wounds of this nature persist, no matter their merit.



UPDATE: Politburo Diktat's post on this subject has been chosen as the Wateringhole topic for Thursday.