Seems like a good reason for a government shutdown

The Austin American Statesman is reporting that getting Tom DeLay his job back is more important than serving the American people:

Although there has been some rumbling among Republicans about permanently filling the majority leader post Tom DeLay vacated, House leaders are moving to give the embattled lawmaker from Sugar Land more time to clear away his legal problems and reclaim the post.

The Republican leadership is planning to keep the House in recess almost the entire month of January, while the full Senate plans to return on Jan. 18, almost two weeks after the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearings on the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

DeLay's lawyers hope to use that time to get the campaign money laundering charges against the lawmaker dismissed or prevail at trial, clearing the way for him to reclaim his leadership post. Meanwhile, DeLay is maneuvering to try to get a more powerful interim position.

Heading into an election year, with a cloud of corruption already swirling over their heads, the House Republicans are going to SHUT DOWN THE FUCKING HOUSE for a month so their big boss man can beat his money laundering rap. If the Democrats can't make some noise out of this then I give up. Culture of corruption, anyone?

Meanwhile, it's funny to me that DeLay is trying to slide right into disgraced Congressman Duke Cunningham's old spot:

But even as he seeks to reclaim his No. 2 spot in the House political hierarchy, DeLay is also trying to claim a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, his one-time power base, as a short-term remedy to his loss of power on Capitol Hill, according to The Hill newspaper.

A vacancy on the panel occurred earlier this week when Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to charges that he accepted bribes from a defense contractor.

I guess the Bugman heard that he could get some good bribes in that position. Maybe he needs an 18th century commode.