Culture of Corruption, Not Symbol

The conventional wisdom is that the departure of Tom DeLay from the national stage will undercut the Democratic argument about the culture of corruption in GOP-controlled Washington. Certainly I think that's what DeLay believes, although he's thinking locally here, expecting a Republican to win his seat and defeat Nick Lampson, though he would probably not be able to do so. But the culture of corruption is just that, a culture, and one man's exit from the stage will not be able to change that. Indeed the departure of DeLay while under this ethical cloud does nothing but bolster this argument. And Josh Marshall will be quick to point out all of the Republicans in Congress who voted for the "DeLay Rule," which would have allowed him to keep the Majority Leader post while indicted, and all of those who gave or received money from DeLay's campaign funds and various PACs.

Here's just one, just TODAY'S example of the culture of corruption in practice, this time not in DC but at the governor's office in Maryland:

Maryland Senate officials prepared yesterday for a legal showdown with Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. over 15 bills that they rushed to pass by a key deadline but were prevented from delivering to the governor because his aides had locked an office door.

Senate clerks said that when they found the door to the governor's legislative office locked Friday afternoon, they slid the receipts - and, in some cases the bills themselves - underneath and tried Saturday to deliver the remaining bills in person.

The difference in timing has major implications for the fate of the legislation, which includes a measure to limit pollutants emitted by power plants and another designating polling locations to be opened early, both of which are opposed by the governor.

Because it is an election year, the General Assembly cannot override any Ehrlich vetoes after legislators adjourn Monday at midnight unless they return for a special session.

The governor must decide whether to sign or veto bills that reach him within six working days of the end of the session. Aware of the deadline - which was Saturday evening - legislators scrambled to pass bills that they thought the governor might reject in time for override votes.

The guy's locking his door on purpose so he can delay bills that come do his desk, so when he vetoes them they can't be overridden until the following year. Add that to the revelation that the Secretary of State of the most hotly contested battleground in the 2004 Presidential election
bought stock in Diebold, the electronic voting machine maker which has a virtual monopoly on Ohio.

This kind of corruption, dishonety, and secrecy is endemic to Republican governance. There are those that would say it's endemic to government as a whole. I don't think so, but if that's the case, certainly Tom DeLay's walking away from his Congressional seat wouldn't change such a overwhelming problem.

Democrats can still run on bringing honest leadership and open government back to the Capitol, with or without the Hammer.