Why DeLay Is Really Resigning

[JABBS]

Succumbing to scandal, former Majority Leader Tom Delay is scheduled to announce today that he intends to resign from Congress within weeks.

DeLay is expected to appear via a taped message on Fox News Channel some time this morning. In that message, DeLay will say he is stepping down out of loyalty to the Republican Party after it became clear to him that his mounting legal troubles would make it difficult for him to maintain his seat and help preserve a GOP majority in Congress.

"He has served our nation with integrity and honor," was the empty conservative spin offered by Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who succeeded DeLay in his leadership post earlier this year.

***

Why is "The Hammer" resigning, rather than continue his bare-knuckled political style?

Forget all the spin. Here are three probable reasons:

-- He knows that would be prosecuted by Travis County (Texas) District Attorney Ronnie Earle. DeLay is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy in an alleged scheme to launder corporate donations through the Republican National Committee for distribution to seven Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature.

-- He knows that he will struggle to be re-elected to his House seat. Recent polls show him trailing his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson -- a situation that would only get worse as his legal troubles take center stage.

-- He knows he represents the worst of the Republican Party, and that his continued presence in the House gives Democrats a free pass to talk about corruption within the GOP. DeLay's continued presence could have single-handedly assured Democrats would take back the House in November.

***

This item first appeared at JABBS.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Two out of three

The third, I don't think is his reason....unless he believe he can profit from martyr status. Tom DeLay has never done anything "for the good" of anything but himself.

[libertypirate]

2. What just happened?

All the bolstering that Abramoff was going to help, the bug guy. Did he?

[Betsy Ross]

3. Can't buy reason 3

Like he really cares what happens to the GOP? He cares about DeLay, and only DeLay. He is being pushed out by those who know he will be found guilty. (Gee, how do they know?) They are trying to stop the hemorrhaging.

[displacedtexan]

4. Don't forget:: DeLay gets to keep all of the $$ he's raised.

Instead of wasting $$ on lawyers and a failed reelection campaign,
DelAy chooses the dishonorable path once again by hightailing it
out of TX with donors' $$.

[Extend a Hand]

5. I saw a post that said

if he drops he can used the campaign funds for his legal defense...that seems like a real likely candidate for the top reason.

[yellowcanine]

6. One more - Resigning now allows him to immediately use campaign money

for his legal defense. If he is still running for reelection he could not cover his legal debts with campaign money. So he would have to wait to dip into campaign money until he lost in NOvember. Not only that, there would be less money to dip into, because he would have to spend some of it just to keep appearances up. I am sure contributors to his reelection campaign will be happy to know that they just got taken for a ride by Tom Delay.

[JABBS]

7. the reason for reason three

Lots of Republicans have supposedly been talking to him over the past few months about resigning. He may not actually think of himself as the worst the party represents, but he has probably been told he would bring down the party because of the scandals surrounding him.

[Ganja Ninja]

8. He's probably also planning on starting a lobbying firm.

He'll make more money doing that and despite his pending legal problems, perhaps even a jail sentence, may not stop the cash from flowing. He's setting himself up for a future. By the time he's tried and exhausts all his legal options Bush will be on his way out and it wouldn't surprise me if he gets a pardon when Bush leaves office.

[Peace Patriot]

9. Delay's most important work--the "Hack America's Vote Act"--lives on,

and he will be well rewarded.

[ChiciB1]

10. DeLay Has NO Plans Of Staying Out Of The LimeLight!

This weasel won't go away until he's put away! He probably knows ALL about LOBBYING, and since absolutely NOTHING is being done about it, I say we had better watch him like a hawk!!