Tom DeLay is one step closer to the slammer:
Tom DeLay, one of the most powerful and divisive Republican lawmakers to ever come out of Texas, was convicted Wednesday of money laundering charges in a state trial, five years after his indictment here forced him to resign as majority leader in the House of Representatives.
After 19 hours of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women decided that Mr. Delay was guilty of one charge of money laundering and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Of course, DeLay will appeal his conviction, but he has to be worried.
Mr. Delay could be sentenced from 2 years to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count, and from 5 years to 99 years, or life in prison, for the money-laundering count.
The New York Times article is confusing because it also says this: “He faces between five and 99 years in prison, though the judge may choose probation.” I don’t know how to reconcile those conflicting statements. I guess the judge can blow off the sentencing guidelines? They do seem kind of useless: between 5 and 99 years, or life? That’s a little broad, don’t you think?
In any case, Happy Thanksgiving, Tom. Now, can we have our congressional seats back that you stole?
Well it is Texas. Besides, I’m sure he’s already burning up the lines to the Governor’s Mansion to get on the pardon list.
He doesn’t have to burn up the lines. Communication leaves tracks; why bother? There’s not a non-winger appellate judge in Texas, and Perry wants to be Preznit, so he knows what he’s got to do. It’s a safe bet De & De spent Wednesday night in a CEO or lobbyist’s penthouse somewhere guzzling some other lobbyist’s $500 a bottle single malt and laughing at the rubes on the jury that thought there was any law that could actually touch a Republican in Texas….
Heh….gotta love the irony of a statement like that coming from the lips of Tom Delay.
“The criminalization of politics undermines our very system.”

I believe it should read, “The politicization of crime is what undermines our system.”
maybe it’s the systemization of crime that’s undermining our very politics …
A non-partisan issue…
If not…Charles Rangel.
Riiiiight.
Is that all you got? Mr. Rangel? Have you looked at what he’s actually guilty of doing (or not doing)? It’s some pretty petty and stupid stuff. It’s nothing compared to the coup DeLay pulled off in Texas.
Boo…Here’s my guess…all human beings, regardless of ideology, are inherently susceptible to corruption of one sort or another (sex and/or money are the “usual suspects”…e.g. Clinton vs. Vitter)
That’s why I gave up corruption as a partisan issue a while back…
Back to the guess…if you did a “scientifically controlled double-blind study” about corruption, equally weighting foibles and felonies…Democrats and Republicans would almost certainly tie in the corruption department, since they are all Human Beings.
God help us all.
It’s like you don’t pay attention at all. If the did a double-blind study they’d find that more than half the incoming freshmen class of Republicans has broken a non-trivial law in the three years. They’ve failed to report on their undocumented servants, or they’ve committed tax evasion or false reporting, or they’ve used government computers for illegal purposes, or they’ve failed to abide by campaign finance law, or they’ve used the GOP’s credit card to buy booze and fix their car, or they’ve tortured someone in Iraq and been discharged for it, or they’ve engaged in pederasty, or they’ve discriminated against gays, women, or racial minorities in their hiring and firing practices, or they defrauded the government for millions of dollars in Medicare costs, or contract work in Afghanistan and Iraq, or they’ve falsely received a tax benefit by claiming their residence is a farm.
Democrats can take a kickback or become greedy, too. But it isn’t our whole existence. It isn’t the essence of who we are. It isn’t the default position for a liberal to be looking out for how to screw up competitors nuts to the wall, rules be damned.
That’s why you guys are more ruthless. You’re born that way and that’s how most of you rise high enough to get elected.
At this time in history, we have immense corruption on the Repukeliscum side. We have corporations taking foreign money to influence US election. We have the US Chamber of Corruption, taking foreign money, influencing US elections.
And you are sitting here telling us that Charlie Rangel, who should resign, is the counterweight?
It is increasingly clear that your problems with business are that you are an idiot. You complain about regulation, but really the problem is that you are simply an incompetent at your business.
You get the feeling its really dad’s business. When he says “our”, I think that means dad and me. Lib is not deep enough to have a nationwide business……..hmmmm maybe an Amway thing? That is a possibility. I’m sure Lib just hates the inheritance tax but if dad is as dim as he is it won’t affect him anyway. Got to inherit 3.5 million so does the old man have that kind of money Lib?
We may be dealing with a 20 year old here. I do believe he is married as I have watched “16 and pregnant” on TV.
Rangel: Improper use of Congressional Stationery.
DeLay: Improper use of $190,000 of corporate money to buy elections.
Yeah, I like your sense of equivalence.
I’ve been away for a while, but I’m betting you’re one of the new wingnut trolls.
Wing nut – yes.
But not so trollish in most cases.
don’t.drop.the.soap.
Please do not make those comments.
There are so many terrified people in jail that live in fear.
All kinds of fear. They fear for their children, their family home, & what will become of them when they are eventually released, some after conviction & having served their time, some released after having been found not guilty.
It does not mean their fears were unfounded.
On this day of thanksgiving, & in that spirit please don`t.
I`ve been in some of the worst jails & prisons, & have seen that fear on the faces of incoming prisoners. It is horrifying just to see.
Thank you.
Excellent.
it’s slammer time!
Probation is always an option in Texas for first offenders for several kinds of convictions, usually the ones that wealthy white guys can run into. The sentencing guidelines have nothing to do with that. He can, probably will, get a slap on the wrist, probated, and that won’t outlive the appeals. He’s gonna walk; the only question is whether the conviction is reversed on appeal or he’s pardoned. He’s already seen all the jail doors he ever will. He’ll be on the ballot in 12 or 14, and he’ll win by a landslide.