Posted on 01/15/2006 7:42:52 PM PST by maui_hawaii
Freepers---
Since you guys are literally the cream of the crop of political analysis I thought I would ask your opinions about the whole DeLay situation.
For the record I don't live in DeLay's district and I haven't followed it that much at all. This post is for informational purposes only. If nothing else it will be a situational report for those interested in such a high profile race.
Several candidates have all thrown their hats into the ring...Three of DeLay's opponents — Campbell, Pat Baig and Mike Fjetland — are fellow Republicans. A fourth, Nick Lampson, is a conservative Democrat.
According to news reports:
While DeLay‘s campaign spokeswoman, Shannon Flaherty, has dismissed Fjetland and Baig with disparaging quips, she said DeLay welcomes Campbell to the race and to hearing his ideas.
From what I can gather DeLay takes Campbell seriously, and not to mention they are actually friends somewhat. Based on what I read on the net Campbell has been a long term GOP man etc etc. He's pretty conservative but he's not abrasive like DeLay is.
Having said that, another report says:
"Tom Campbell at least has Republican credentials," Fort Bend County GOP chairman Eric Thode said. "Having said that, it doesn‘t translate into one iota of support or money. He is 100 percent absolutely unknown in this county."
Here is a link to Campbell's web page. Under "platform" it gives a basis of what he's about, although its brief.
Since this is in the media all the time, here is what I got out of it thus far...
The media/left hate DeLay. At the same time his popularity isn't rampant in the really conservative district as many people believe.
With that said, the constituents will either A) vote for DeLay just to piss off the media/left or B) vote for another conservative candidate.
So, thus far Campbell seems to be viable.
Based on what little I have gathered, if DeLay goes down in the courts, who else is left?
Secondly, Campbell comes across as a 'humble conservative', not the brash and abrasive 'in your face' kind of politician that DeLay comes across as...
Any input is welcome on any and all of the candidates....
Three days before the election they drop a bombshell...kind of like the Bush DWI thing.
If the GOP doesn't at least question DeLay by then it will be too late.
At the very least the GOP should say, for the good of the party,"If DeLay or his people are found to be in violation of ethics we will withdraw support for him..."
Its called covering your @ss, as a party.
That is the first time I have heard that term. Where did you get it? Is that a phrase you and Campbell are trying to get started. Tom Delay has never sought the camera. If anything he has been too behind the scenes with not enough time in front of the camera. The media seek him out to try to further this conspiracy for Soros.
However to some people pissing off the left isn't justification enough for a 20 plus year entrenchment that leads to an old boy network 'who runs things'...
More Campbell talking points? Nobody is angry he has been there that long, that is what gives him his clout. He is not at all as you are presenting him. The left hates him because he is effective in getting the conservative agenda through and because he manged to get the apportionment of Republicans/Democrats correct through redistricting. Prior to that the Democrats, through their own gerrymandering, had held onto a disproportionate number of seats to their true political strength in Texas.
Also what IF DeLay DOES run into more trouble? Then what?
He will because all this is part of the lefts' strategy just as is their strategy for defeating conservative Supreme Court nominees. Do you want to appease them and just throw in the towel.
By now you have probably determined that I greatly suspect your sincerity. Sound like a "seminar poster" to me.
This whole idea comes from what I consider a tongue in cheek comment by DeLay. When the President and the leadership asked all Congressmen to try to find some budget cuts to make to reduce spending, DeLay contacted all his colleagues and asked them if there were any places they could cut. He then announced that the budget must be as tight as it can be with no savings to be had because no one got back to him on that. He was making the point that all were guilty and not willing to give. That wasn't an endorsement of spending on his part, just reporting what the situation was.
I am not in DeLay's district so I can't vote for or against either way. I am not affiliated with anyone's campaign for anything. I am asking questions. Simple as that.
I did run into someone who does have 'connections' but that was the first and only thing I ever heard of it. I never heard of Tom Campbell until earlier today during a conversation with a friend I haven't seen for a while. Because I don't follow it, I thought it curious to read up on it.
As for the quote of 'movie star politics' I wrote it here on FR at whatever time it was time stamped. I wrote it based on every time I turn on the tv the word Republican and Tom DeLay are 2/3 of the time mentioned in the same breath.
Sought out or not, he's become the poster child of Republicans. Looking from a distance thats what I see.
I am not giving talking points for anyone. Period. At the same time I am A)not ready to proclaim anyone 100% innocent or guilty. B)Based on my readings on this DeLay, however great of guy I think he's been, doesn't dominate his district like some people think. My goal in starting this thread is to find out why and to learn about the respective campaigns.
There is no endorsements from me going on here, only acknowlegement that if DeLay or his people did things illegally, (as a group) we need to know whats going on.
As for throwing in the towel, its way early for that. However because of the position that he is in, he certainly doesn't get a free pass.
Other than that if you know something I don't, please feel free to express it.
If Tom DeLay goes to jail, who are you voting for? He might not go to jail. He probably will never go to jail. But what do you do if something winds up blowing up?
The wimpy RNC has already pulled away.
If anything the impression is out there. If DeLay should be in front of the camera why isn't he? I am sure he can get on any talk show he so chose. Free air time, a lot of it...is available....
Now that you mention it, why isn't he on TV more?
Isn't he making a stupid political mistake by not countering all the 'news' about himself?
I am getting a crash course in the DeLay thing, which is what I requested to start with :o)
I say if he is, he should take one for the team and not screw it up for everyone else.
In the mean time, however and whatever great things he's done, the support for him in his district (according to the news and other various sources) is waning.
With 6 weeks or whatever left until the primary, which is the proving ground for the whole election in that district...we're not seeing the other side of the coin. Its taking its toll.
My first thought exactly.
You should consider that you are getting your information from the MSM, and you believe exactly what they want you to believe, that DeLay is losing support. They want the voters in his district to think the same.
As far as what he "should" be doing, I leave that up to him. Part of the plot was to keep him too busy to do his job or to campaign.
You are either in on it or you fell for it. For practical purposes, it is a distiction without a difference.
I don't think DeLay is in that much trouble. The voters in the Republican primary tend to represent his strongest supporters and they are well aware of Ronnie Earle's political witchhunt.
DeLay's problem, if any, would be in the general election where the less-informed moderates and independents might be influenced by Earle's sleezy tactics.
But that's in November, and the trial might well be over by then. Campbell's task would be to become the frontrunner in the next two months, and I don't think he can do it.
Bump for later
Exactly so and we have all seen the result to date including everything from indictments on spurious (that's being as polite as I can be) charges by political hack Ronnie Earle to stories from the media arm of the DNC, otherwise known as the Associated Press, about how unpopular DeLay is in his district.
The ONLY reason Soros and his ilk are targeting DeLay is because he was and still is an EFFECTIVE conservative leader. If we allow these reparbates to win this one we can look forward to the same kind of treatment for ANY conservative leader who emerges in the future.
Fretland is no newcomer and is and always has been a democrat plant. (Everyone who is even moderately politically active down there knows this. He is a nullity.) I do not recall having met the other two Republicans and respect their right to enter whatever race they choose. I myself will however do everything in my power to ensure the re-election of Mr. DeLay for the reasons mentioned above and I urge everyone else to look at the situation in it's entirity before making their decisions on March 7th.
Nick Lampson is no conservative at all and has exactly zero chance in this district.
Post 55
What say you?
I would like other opinions also, since what I said was strictly interpretation on my part. However, I would also like to know what special knowledge you or others might have, or what circumstances I have overlooked, that would make your opinions superior to mine.
A) Just seeing his mug on the news leads people to conclusions...which I haven't drawn any yet, but none the less its all over the news.
B)I know about less about these candidates than any of you guys do, but it doesn't matter since I can't vote for any of them.
C)I haven't followed why DeLay is in whatever he's in and for what...
D) If I had 'fallen' for whatever, I would have posted a "DeLay is an SOB" thread and not asked for astute political commentary from freeperland. Lets just say I am using freeperville to its potential with this one with the sole purpose of learning about what I haven't followed.
With all that being said, I wanted to get the minds together and tell me, a bystander, what they think.
So far, the consensus is a few people
1. think DeLay is a good Rep for the most part on political positions, but has had 'lapses' in ethics and has an old boy network. They are just as disenchanted with some of the local workings and bloodletting politics as they are with the supposed 'ethics' charges.
Positions on issues haven't really come up because everyone says about the same thing. However the only quote I could locate from Campbell says that the party as a whole could suffer if we don't demand the best from representatives. In my opinion thats on the level no matter what political race we're talking about. That doesn't declare anyone guilty in my book though.
2. The other side says, the charges are trumped up and nothing is wrong with DeLay. They say the left hates him so they targeted him mainly because he is an effective leader that gets things done. Merely because he has been in their face he gets targeted.
So far so good?
As pointed out above, almost everyone except DeLay are unknowns. They have a long way to go before the election.
MY question is though, is what IF something comes to fruition regarding DeLay? So far those in group 2 dismiss it outright. Me, I think its a fair question.
To me that doesn't make me anti-DeLay nor pro-anyone else. I can sing DeLay's praises too. I can also see the logic in not giving in to the media crowd or those who otherwise hate DeLay.
Just based on responses here though it sounds almost like a 'vast left wing conspiracy' standpoint...but there is almost a universal denial of anything wrong. To that I say there is logic in putting DeLay up like that, but there is also danger in doing it as well.
Like I said above, the Democrats aren't seeking for DeLay's seat... they are seeking everyone else's.
None the less, he's in a world of hurt, guilty or not.
My point is, it might be astute to look at both sides because few are angels in Washington DC.
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