This Culture of Corruption Runs Deep

With DeLay winning his primary in Houston, I'm left wondering how deep the culture of corruption runs - and it seems right down to the grassroots to some district's voters. Couldn't the GOP find at least one person in the Republican party that is not indicted for something to run and beat DeLay? Do they really think no one else can do his job?

We will see how it all comes out in the wash come November, now won't we? Indeed, not every republican has become expert apologists rationalizing unethical, amoral, and downright illegal behavior like Fastow and the Enron boys. Let's hope, at least:

"I'm kind of shocked," Fjetland said at the Fort Bend County Republican Party's Primary Night soiree at the Ragin Cajun restaurant in Sugar Land. "I'm very concerned about the future of the Republican Party."

Interestingly, in the same issue of the Houston Chronicle, they are reporting that a new film is coming out proving once again, blessed are the documentary film makers:

Filmmakers Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck spent three years following the path of Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle's criminal investigation, which resulted in indictments against DeLay and two political associates.

DeLay is charged with conspiring to funnel $190,000 in corporate cash illegally to seven Texas House candidates in the 2002 elections. The film highlights how the Republican-controlled state Legislature redrew the congressional districts at DeLay's request. Birnbaum and Schermbeck said they chose to profile the political heavyweight even before he was indicted. They said they had considered the film complete until DeLay was charged.

Ten minutes were added to the film. Attorneys for DeLay and the two others charged — John Colyandro, director of Texans for a Republican Majority, and Jim Ellis, director of DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority — appear in the film. DeLay declined to appear.

Dick DeGuerin, DeLay's attorney, said the film offers little in the way of balance.

"I think it's about as fair and balanced as Michael Moore's stuff or Fox News," he said.

Schermbeck said that though many in Texas already may be familiar with the allegations against DeLay, the film "connects the dots" and points to recent state congressional votes all passed thanks to six additional Republicans.

Redistricting, Schermbeck said, "was all part of DeLay's master plan to stack Congress for the next 20 years."

Incidentially, how did DeLay spend his evening awaiting election returns?

WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom DeLay, whose association with lobbyist Jack Abramoff has left him politically vulnerable, is spending Texas' primary night Tuesday at a fundraiser hosted by two Washington lobbyists.

Figures - he's doing the work the people in his district have come to expect and enjoy.