A judge dismissed the conspiracy charges Monday against Rep. Tom DeLay but refused to throw out the money-laundering counts, dashing the Texas congressman's hopes for now of reclaiming his post as House majority leader.
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Judge Pat Priest, who is presiding over the case against the Republican, issued the ruling after a hearing late last month in which DeLay's attorney argued that the indictment was fatally flawed.
So the Delay spokespeople are out spinning this as a victory, despite the fact that Delay still has to face the money-laundering charges.
While this is all well and good, none of this is even related to the activities of Delay's good buddy Jack Abramoff, who is probably just waiting to see how much he can get for ratting out everyone from top to bottom all at once.
Grab some popcorn...the show is just getting underway.
posted by Jo Fish on 12.05.05 at 05:20 PM
Comments:
I'm really disappointed to see the conspiracy charge thrown out. From what I've read in news reports that seemed like a lead pipe cinch.
But, if you remember, there was quite a bit of judge shopping during the leadup to this trial, so I guess they managed to get a tame judge to smooth it all over.
Plus the fact that though the conspiracy charges were not admited that doesn't mean that they can't surface at a later date, especially if more evidence comes to light. Delay WAS NOT found not guilty, just that the evidence for this particulair indictment didn't reach the level to make it into court. His team is now arguing on semantics... that the law wasn't in place at the time he is accussed of money laundering. It stinks, Tom, it really stinks. There is such a thing as something being correct but still not right (unjust laws for instance).
Only one of the conspiracy charges was dropped, there is still the other conspiracy charge on laundering the money and the laundering charges that are still standing.. The other is only a 2 year sentence, and the laundering charge can be form 5 yrs to life.... This is only the tip of the iceberg, Kos has a post tonight that is on the removal of the Justice investigating Abramham on the Guam scandel that is beginning to see some light. Coyners is still pushing an investigation as it looks like the Chimp might have done a tap dance on his little needle dick...
Also, I see where Hillary seems to be signing on to the effort to criminalize flag burning.
I realize that she is a centrist and all, but to me this smacks of nothing more than political expediency. Being a veteran and having retired from the military after spending more than 20 years on active duty, I respect the flag of the United States and of every other country. But it is to me, in itself a symbol and not anything more. It is a piece of cloth, a rag, a marker. It is not all powerful or a devine object. To me the burning of a flag as a protest is a right. It is a statement that things have gotten to the point that the persons who are doing it are making a statement that the country is not working, or not living up to the ideals that the person or persons believe in. I respect that right and would fight to protect it. Each and every one of these insidious moves remove another freedom from the people. You already have the patriot act that stifles dissent and provides the government access to everything you do or say.. How many more freedoms are you willing to lose just to feel warm and comfortable? I personally will rebel against these bastards who are destroying everything I have believed in and fought for.
Hillary, you have given me a reason to fight and fight I will.... I will do everything in my power to see that you do not make it through the first primary balloting.. You, sweetheart, are toast. When you patronize those who never served and are willing to remove liberties, you had better be ready to pay the price...
Pat Priest... did he play 'Marilyn,' the 'normal' cousin on the Munsters?
posted by: Brian on 12.06.05 at 01:40 PM [permalink]
I have to agree with Ken on both the flag and Hillary. As a person she's fine. But to support this flag burning crap is just another attempt to play the shell game. The flag means different things to different people. To someone in a POW camp it might be a physical symbol for home and the good things about America. For another it might mean current US policies which that person does not support. When I view the flag as representing ALL the American people and the good we are capable of doing and have done I feel good about the flag. Right now, when the neocons wrap themselves in the US flag it grates on me and I take a different view of it. It seems to me that the flag that really represents the neocons is the Confederate flag, which being an Iowan, was once the flag of the enemy of the US. Ultimately, though, I prefer to view myself as a resident of the United States and a citizen of the planet Earth, and that is my real home.
