Posted on 02/23/2006 4:38:42 PM PST by SolidSupplySide
U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay was likened to Stonewall Jackson, Lyndon Baines Johnson and a courageous World War I officer today as members of the Texas Republican congressional delegation joined the former House majority leader to endorse his re-election.
The unusual display of GOP solidarity was remarkable for DeLay, who is aggressively campaigning for re-election to the seat he has held comfortably for 22 years. This year he faces a contested primary March 7, and if he wins, a credible candidate in Democrat Nick Lampson in November.
"He's got a contested primary; that's why we're here," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
DeLay, R-Sugar Land, resigned his leadership post as he became embroiled in an ethics scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff and faces trial later this year on felony money-laundering charges.
The Republicans took turns singing DeLay's praises as a selfless leader who not only helped get them elected, but also won Republican majorities in Congress and the Legislature, and brought home the bacon for NASA, the port of Houston and other local needs.
U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla of San Antonio likened him to LBJ, the former Democratic president from Texas, for "altering the political axis in our state."
U.S. Rep. John Carter, who represents the Central Texas Hill Country, likened DeLay to a World War I lieutenant who led his men out of a trench into battle and is "willing to have a target on front and back saying, 'shoot me first.'"
And U.S. Rep. John Culberson of Houston said DeLay was like Stonewall Jackson, willing to take the shots on behalf of the GOP troops.
Bonilla noted that such an event was unprecedented in a primary season and was a signal of the loyalty DeLay has engendered in Washington.
A Lampson spokesman saw it differently, recalling that Vice President Dick Cheney also headlined a fund-raiser for DeLay last year.
"He's had the vice president bail him out, and now he's got to have the delegation prop him up. That's got to be humiliating," Mike Malaise said.
Tom Campbell, DeLay's primary opponent who set up an RV outside the GOP rally, said the event proved he was making inroads.
"I understand loyalty," Campbell said. "But it's important for us as a party to move through this fog of scandal."
DeLay hugged his wife, Christine, as he thanked the group.
"The Democrats are picking a fight with the wrong delegation," he told a small crowd.
"He's got a contested primary; that's why we're here," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
WOW ! ! !
Go, Tom, Go!
Ping
"U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay was likened to Stonewall Jackson,"
Wasn't Stonewall Jackson shot in the back by his own troops?
Go, Campbell, Go!
Tom was my State Rep his first term and showed me around the Capitol in Austin. Some of us were a little wary of him at first -- we were afraid he was going to be a RINO. Just goes to show that first impressions can be very WRONG.
I certainly hope he is re-elected. He has been a fine asset in Congress for the whole nation.
You're wasting your time. This anti-DeLay loser, "maui_hawaii", is not about to come out on positive DeLay news.
I agree with you. Campbell is an opportunistic, backstabbing hack.
No. Wikipedia's take:
He was shot accidentally by his own troops at Chancellorsville and died of complications a few days later.
Forget it. That's my voting district.
Tom DeLay has my vote.
"He's got a contested primary; that's why we're here," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
Something must have changed recently. From an article appearing in late December . . .
Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Eric Thode described Campbell as a credible candidate but one with low name recognition taking on a popular incumbent."He (DeLay) has represented us well, and I am confident he will be re-elected in the primary," Thode said Wednesday.
Thode said Campbell is not well-known among people active in the local GOP parties.
"He has no viable group of supporters," Thode said.
I guess Tom Campbell is viable now!
I voted for Campbell this morning.
While Campbell may not be able to pull this off, I will make a prediction. Campbell will do relatively better in the more conservative parts of the district. Campbell will have a better showing in conservative Harris and Brazoria counties than he will in the more centrist Ft. Bend County. (I'm leaving Galveston County out because it is such a small part of the district and actually gave a Democratic majority in 2004. It is not a good sample for judging a GOP primary.)
Both Campbell and DeLay are from Sugar Land, so hometown favorites don't impact my prediction.
Consider your vote nulled by mine or the other way round.
In your dreams! This just shows which candidate has the respect of other Congressmen. I haven't heard of any showing up to voice their support for Campbell.
"He's got a contested primary; that's why we're here," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
That's logical. Wouldn't be any need to show support or endorse a candidate in a primary race when there is no opponent. But since there is an opportunistic candidate that has shown up, the big boys with the experience are demonstrating which candidate deserves to be taken seriously. How you jump to the conclusion that it shows fear of Campbell is puzzling.
What impact upon the General will Stockman have? How will he do against Campbell, then Delay? Will it be enough to let Lampson come in the winner?
Well, I'll add to your vote. I went to the polls today with three neighbors, and we all voted for DeLay.
Thank you and your neighbors!
When DeLay isn't aggressively campaigning, they say "he doesn't care, he doesn't want our vote, he takes voters for granted", and when he does campaign, they say "see, he's running scared!"
Backstabbing RINOs.
I don't recall this kind of event in previous primaries when DeLay has been opposed. Something has changed. I wonder what . . .
In the latest polls, Stockman is pulling 10%. Interestingly enough, that is the same percentage by which DeLay trails Lampson.
By the way, when I voted early this afternoon, there were 7 other cars in the parking lot of the early voting facility; all people there to vote (not poll workers). ALL SEVEN had DeLay stickers -- not a Campbell sticker in the bunch. A quick canvas in my subdivision (260 homes) revealed that all my neighbors that had DeLay signs in previous campaigns ALL had their DeLay signs out again. Only 1 Campbell yard sign out of 260 houses, and that home has never displayed any sort of campaign sign before. I figure it just must be someone that goes to church with him or something. I don't see ANY indication of significant erosion in support for DeLay. Anecdotal evidence, I know, but I get out a lot, talk a lot, and I see what is going on around here.
Hey, I'm just supporting a Ronald Reagan Republican with character in a GOP primary. There's no need to get defensive.
Go Tom Campbell!
Funny! I post an observation and you accuse ME of becoming defensive! I've got no need to! My guy, Tom DeLay, is on top and is going to win the primary AND the congressional seat.
That may be. DeLay has all the advantages of incumbancy. But I stand by my prediction. The more conservative part of the district, the higher percentage of votes Campbell will get.
I won't post anything different than I haven't previously posted at one time or another...
There are two basic thoughts on Tom DeLay from two different camps.
1. He is a saint who has done nothing wrong, ever. The Democrats hate him and thats all there is to it. Anything wrong is just Democrats, as thought the R behind someone's name made them a saint already.
2. The other side of conservatives don't see it quite that way.
He isn't angelic, just like almost anyone in DC. In his case, he takes too much money from special interests primarily because he's been a fixture for so long.
While, yeah he's Republican etc etc... he has also vaulted himself to represent the party itself. He has to hold himself to higher standards if he's gonna do that. Which, in my opinion, he didn't do.
He is giving the vast middle America reason to dislike Republicans. He has so far, and can continue to drum up support--for Democrats. Thats not because he's a Republican, nor because he's 'effective'...its because there is blood in the water and the sharks are out and he started all that of his free will. He messed up and its no one else's fault but his own.
The difference between group one and group two though isn't politics or political leanings. Its that group one its hunting for a partisan fight to defend their holy grail, which in this case isn't an ideal, its a person.
Group two though believes the party is bigger than any one politician and we need to keep it as such.
It just depends on how you represent conservatism.
With that being said, DeLay, no matter how you look at it is nearing the end of his carreer. Maybe he'll end up being the Strom Thurmond of the House, but I doubt it. I believe the party as a whole needs to put that stuff to bed and move beyond it, primarily so we can move forward. Right now its a distraction.
I believe someone new needs to go in because they will give new life to things. Its time for a changing of the guard basically.
Call me a DeLay basher if you will...so be it.
If anything that I am truly complaining about DeLay about is that he comes across as a jerk that thinks he's too big to be touched. His head is too big and I don't like it. If there is one thing I am 'bashing' him about, thats it. The rest of the stuff mentioned above isn't bashing Tom DeLay.
I concur. The politics of DeLay and Campbell are similar. I can't make a distinction based on politics. Therefore I go to character. Campbell wins.
God bless one of the few GOPers in this nation with true will to rule.
As much as we would all like to see a major shift to the right, all RIGHT NOW, its not going to happen. Bit by bit, inch by inch is the way to conquer. We have to win the hearts and minds.
The condescending stuff some republicans throw out doesn't do much of anything but piss people off. DeLay is using an old tactic, but now we have a chance to galvanize a Republican majority we have to do things differently.
Right now Republicans in order to shift right the country we need to identify what needs to be done. We won't go anywhere by sticking doggedly to the fringes.
We need people in office and not just that one seat who can diplomatically aim for the hearts and minds of the vast middle and explain to them WHY things ought to be the way we say.
Of all the things Tom DeLay is, one thing he isn't is a diplomat.
He was reconnoitering Union positions with his staff at dusk when he came upon Confrederate pickets. They mistook them for Union cavalry.
Delay will win, and he will win easily.
Unfortunately, DeLay is trailing Lampson in the polls. Also, DeLay's vote total was 7-10% less than President Bush in 2004. In a district where Bush easily topped 60%, DeLay only got 55%.
Lastly, we have a former GOP Congressman (Steve Stockman) who is planning an independent campaign. Stockman would likely draw votes from disaffected Republicans away from DeLay in the general election. In November, I predict that the winner in CD-22 will have less than 50% of the vote. Noone can claim to have won such a race "easily".
I want to make Stockman a non-factor by having a Republican (Tom Campbell) that everyone in the party can support.
There's nothing 'national' about the race DeLay is running in his district. It's the demonRATs that are trying to make DeLay's contest a national event.
BTW - Coleman will lose, a large margin or not - he will still lose - as he should. But the likes of you and the demonRATs will make something negative out of his win - both in the primary and in November.
HEY BOZO's...any more wild a$$ed predictions, or revelations you two losers want to make!?!
The guy I liked lost and you, and the guy are still assholes. What's changed?
Posted by maui_hawaii to Dubya
On News/Activism 02/02/2006 7:59:23 PM PST · 3 of 8
Question to those in the know:
If after the March 7 primary, which most likely DeLay will win...
What happens if something 'big' happens, ie he's forced out of the race for whatever reason?
Does the Dem candidate automatically win?
This is a procedural/election question not a political one.
In that event, could DeLay be replaced by the GOP post primary?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies
IN fact, I am not even pitting Tom Campbell as man against man on this one. I say when its shown that Tom DeLay won't screw things up for everyone... then my questions will be answered.
Thank you for posting...it's a perfect example of that ignorance and arrogance that we've come to recognize you for!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.