Tom DeLay to quit Congress

Yow. DeLay has abandoned plans to seek re-election and will resign his seat by mid-June, setting the stage for a special election to fill the vacancy.

I think that means two elections in very short order, since a special election usually just fills out the remainder of a Congressman's term. I guess the hope is a Republican will win and have the advantage of incumbency come November. With two elections in six months, it also might be a way to leverage DeLay's money advantage.

Why did he drop out? He cites declining poll numbers, but this is the sort of thing that will fuel all sorts of speculation. Maybe DA Ronnie Earle actually has something on him after all, instead of simply harassing him with a politically motivated indictment as many DeLay supporters have claimed. Maybe the two aides who have pleaded guilty to corruption have agreed to testify about his involvement. Maybe the Republican leadership felt his trial was turning into a spectacle that was damaging the party.

Whatever happens, good riddance. DeLay was pure hardball sleaze from the get-go; if he didn't actually cross the ethical line with his funding and lobbying tactics, he sidled right up to it repeatedly. He was one of the people poisoning Congress with unbridled partisanship.

May I dare hope that moderates will step up to fill the leadership vacuum being created by the current GOP troubles?

Texas, Congress, DeLay, politics, midtopia