The New York Times reports that a Texas judge has reaffirmed the two most serious charges against Tom DeLay accusing him of laundering campaign funds in violation of Texas law (the judge also dismissed a slightly lesser charge of conspiracy since the law on which it was based passed the Texas legislature a year after the alleged violation).
But equally important are poll results in DeLay’s district which show him in deep trouble. Keep in mind that DeLay represents a lily-white Republican through-and-through Houston-area district:
A Gallup poll of his district released on Monday by CNN showed that 49 percent of those surveyed said they were more likely to support a Democratic candidate compared with 36 percent who said they would favor Mr. DeLay should he seek re-election in November. He is already being challenged by a Democrat, Nick Lampson, who lost his seat in a district redrawn in 2003.
I’m not saying that Democrats are going to get the ultimate revenge by knocking Terminator Tom off come November. After all, a lot could change. A Republican could get the balls to challenge Tom & knock him off in a primary (boy would he or she need them to take on Tom!). Tom’s trial could end without him being convicted. Or his constituents, currently disgusted with his shenanigans might decide that they still love him after all. I think each of these are tenuous propositions and that Tom’s in serious jeopardy here.
Which provides an enormous opportunity to Nick Lampson. He, you’ll recall, was one of the five Democrats gerrymandered to death in Tom’s Folly, or the reapportionment massacre. What sweet revenge it must be for Lampson to attempt to take down the guy who took him down in a manner most foul.
Revenge is a sweet emotion. But it doesn’t win elections. Nick Lampson needs help. He needs funds, he needs volunteers. If you’re a Texan, your “currency” is much more valuable than mine. I hope you folks will work like hell to kick the bum out and replace him with a decent Democrat. If you’re not a Texan, last I checked your money was still green. Do what you can to help. Donate if you can. Yeah, I know DeLay’s commandos are going to try to shellac Nick by saying he’s taking money from “outsiders.” But hey, Dick Cheney just helped Tom raise a minimum of $200,000 (that’s just ticket sales and not the total raised) at a fundraiser yesterday. I don’t recall that Dick’s a Texas native. So if Tom’s bringing in the big gun outsiders the least we can do is bring our meager resources to bear for Lampson.
