Posted on 11/20/2007 1:51:03 PM PST by StatenIsland
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may not be in a leadership position on Capitol Hill anymore, but that doesn't mean he can't weigh in on the current GOP leadership.
DeLay told Yeas & Nays that Republicans in Congress are "looking for something to believe in" and "they're not getting it out of this Republican leadership. The leadership just isn't getting it."
"They're looking for some backbone," said DeLay, who also chimed in on the 2008 election. He said the Republican party is "going to get our clocks cleaned in 2008" and unequivocally said that "Hillary [Clinton] will be the next president."
DeLay gave us is his dour assessment at a book party for former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, which was held at the Georgetown home of former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. The party was a virtual "who's who" of the conservative movement: Lynne Cheney, Liz Cheney Perry, Scooter Libby, David Keene, Vin Weber, Grover Norquist, Barbara Comstock, Armstrong Williams, Mary Matalin, Ramesh Ponnuru, John Fund, Byron York and Kate O'Beirne.
But, lest you think that The Hammer is about to start playing for the other team, he did poke fun at New York Times columnist -- and favorite conservative punching bag -- Paul Krugman: "I'd like to bitch-slap him." DeLay also ruled out another stab at politics, even if GOP fortunes reverse: "I'm 60 years old, I'm through."
Elsewhere around the party: Mehlman called Bolton "the Atticus Finch of the United Nations." Mehlman said he sees similarities between the Finch character in "To Kill A Mockingbird" and the famously pugnacious Bolton, praising Bolton for always "earnestly making his case." Bolton kept his remarks brief, but did end with a rallying call for conservatives: "I sure hope we win next year."
It was Tom Delay who stepped in the vaccuum created when the Clinton FBI files relieved Gingrich and Livingston of power. Delay was the Republican leader SOLELY responsible for Clinton’s impeachment, and he could not help it if all the RINOs caved in the Senate at the trial. There is much too critize about the GOP leadership while DeLay held his position. But he cannot take all the blame for that, Newt and Hastert called the shots. DeLay’s reputation was more of a mechanic than a big picture guy. The fact is the Rapist in Chief thought he had dodged impeachment by taking out Gingrich, but he could not avoid the Hammer.
Did you ever hear of Bush, Frist, and Hastert?
Just wondering....
>>>the country can survive the Presidency of ANY of the Republican candidates (except Paul)
Illegal immigration and out of control spending can survive the Presidency of ANY of the Republican candidates (except Paul).
It looks like DeLay is just pointing out the obvious: the (RINO) GOP leadership is walking the party over a cliff. It appears the GOP must rebuild only after an ignominious defeat. This is a Dole redux, where an “inside” candidate is pushed upon unwilling voters.
I agree completely. Illegal immigrants, and their ‘right’ to vote, will be the death of this country. Unfortunately the GOP has allowed the Left to shape the terminology of the debate such that anyone who is against illegal immigration is now a ‘racist’. If the GOP ‘leadeship’ doesn’t get a backbone your prediction will be dead on correct.
You are delusional if you think Tommy boy did anything other than support the out of control spending. Perhaps you did not hear this quote from a few years back:
“House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an “ongoing victory,” and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget. ...Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, “Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we’ve pared it down pretty good.”
Yeah, sure, a real conservative. Pull your head out of the sand, man.
What he really means is, “They are not listening to me.”
“The nation, much less our beloved GOP, will not withstand Rudy being nominated.
Rudy is the one GOP Presidential Candidate who guarantees a Hillary Presidency because of his extremely excessive Liberal baggage.”
You may well be right about both of these contentions, I’ve not the ability nor the desire to debate you.
But what I said was that the country would survive a Rudy PRESIDENCY, and I still think it would. The statement pre-supposes his election, as unlikely as you, possibly correctly, deem that to be.
At least the Fort Bend GOP could have picked a special election candidate with an easier-to-remember last name.
Good god! He said that tougue-in-cheek as a joke!
What's not to believe?
The Hammer......Paul Krugman: "I'd like to bitch-slap him."
Man, I would pay real good money to see that
That girly man Krugman probably pee in his pants and cry like a little girl
Joke or no joke, Delay was part of the Congressional leadership that in partnership with W has deposited our party into the dumpster. We may be a minority party forever. Once the Dems take us down the path to euro-style socialism, there will be no turning back. We will no longer have enough votes. I apologize for being harsh with you, but I am extremely bitter over what these guys have done.
As long as the party supports amnesty and stands behind abortionist, anti-gun liberals like Guliani, they deserve bashing. I quit donating to the party over a year ago.
I think that the party is starting to get the message from those of us that have cut off the financial support.
I told a nice young lady from the RNC the same thing just this morning. She called in search of our regular donation and I declined. I did let her know that I will continue to support real conservative republicans directly through their campaigns, but I am through giving a dime to the party until the leadership gives a damn about what conservatives want. I did use the words that they aren't getting it, nor are they getting my money.
I also told her that I would really appreciate it if, instead of just putting me down as a 'no', that she would pass on to the powers that be exactly my reasons for declining.
The first amendment applies to DeLay as much as any one else. He can speak freely on issues involving government.
Besides, he's right. The Republican party has lost it's MoJo. Way too many moderates and way too few conservatives in the party leadership.
Isn't that exactly what others do for democrats and we rightly criticize them? Blacks habitually voting for democrats comes to mind.
You aren't alone. I've repeatedly sent their donation "questionaires" back, sans money, with a harsh explanation as to why I'm not donating. It's not like I really donated much anyway. They need a backbone. Running on "I'm not Gore" and "I'm not Kerry" isn't enough. They need to regain vision.
It seems to me that Mitch M. is doing a pretty good job given what he is up against. Just wish he had worked as hard for our principles when we were in the majority. Maybe we still would be the majority if he had. I also want our people to start fighting as if they believed in something. You know, reasoned arguments, harsh tones, leave marks, kick a$$ take names don’t bring a pencil!
You're right, but many of the above crowd have been part of the problem.
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.