[PianoMan]

I'm not so up on the Capital Hill ins and outs - why is DeLay the hero here, and not Hastert? Please advise...

[jwalsh07]

Tom Delay has a set of principles he lives by. He'll compromise on legislation but not on his principles. He is also the Republican Whip which means he is the guy responsible for convincing the rank and file republicans to vote the right way, our way. :-}

[MamaLucci]

Delay is the Majority Whip...he's the guy that persuades and then counts the votes.
They don't call him "The Hammer" for nothin.