Mike Luckovich

By RW-(the original)

October 21, 2005 02:26 AM | Link to this

What, no cockroach being hit by a hammer in this latest offering?

As bogus as the charges against Tom Delay are at least he is charged with something. I hope you have your cartoon of Ronnie Earle and his film crew going down in flames once the charges are dismissed.

Wouldn’t you love to be financing the filming of this witch hunt? After all, instead of people and film you could have just paid Luckovich to make it up!

By Richard Maritt

October 21, 2005 05:41 AM | Link to this

I don’t see a place for general “Mike” comments so I will post them here. I love Mike’s work. Even if you don’t, you have to respect the man as he was in both Time and Newsweek this week. We Atlantans have it very lucky to have such a brilliant man considered to be our “local” artist. He is admired across our entire country!

By SW

October 21, 2005 07:40 AM | Link to this

I haven’t been able to successfully vote on Mike’s cartoons for months now - I always get a “site doesn’t exist” type of message in reply. Anyway, MIKE IS BRILLIANT! I LOVE his work, and this one ranks right up there with his best (although Harriett Miers saying “Bush is God” is hard to beat).

By G.

October 21, 2005 07:49 AM | Link to this

Mike, today’s cartoon is outstanding, but then your work always is. Here’s hoping that crook DeLay will get what’s coming to him.

By Jeff

October 21, 2005 08:11 AM | Link to this

Way to go, Mike!

Can Frist and Rove be far behind? For those of us who have long desired BugBoy’s arrest, it has been justice delayed, but it is finally MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

By gttim

October 21, 2005 08:12 AM | Link to this

Delay is another one of the many crooks the GOP holds up as “Family Values.” Gotta love it! The Nixon White House is starting to look like Little House On The Prairie compared to these guys.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 08:27 AM | Link to this

Have you guys actually looked at the indictment of DeLay or read the reporting on how Earle got the indictment? Doens’t sound like justice to me, sounds like a witch hunt. Like Jeff said, “Mission Accomplished.” So I guess the is the liberal plan now, criminalizing politics. You guys should really come up with a new platform and get some ideas out there. When the two ideology’s are debated without all of the BS, the conservatives are winning. Only 8 out of the last 25 years have seen a Dem in the White House and more Americans identify themselves as conservatives than ever before. We are winning the battle.

By Mike Not L.

October 21, 2005 09:58 AM | Link to this

Lucko… does have some good editorial “cartoons”. I understand that he is nationally recognized, rightfully so. I also understand that he is constantly slamming the conservative majority. They are quite entertaining, even if they poke fun at political party that better represents my personal beliefs. I support the war in Iraq, but one of the best Lucko cartoons was the one when a despondent Saddam is in jail and is notified that he has a visitor “Rummy!”… . Is there never anything to draw that is positive? Is there ever anything to draw about liberals? I would think a little more balance would go a long way to enhance my perception of Mike’s objectiveness. Otherwise this “opinion” is in appearance nothing more than Democratic propoganda.

Has anyone answered the questions regarding Ronnie Earle’s motives and prior attempted indictments?

By Mike NotL.

October 21, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this

that’s “Democratic propaganda” - before I get challenged by the intellectually superior left.

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 10:07 AM | Link to this

WHO IS THAT? Let’s see. It SAYS Tom Delay. Really? I’d have never guessed. This must have been drawn by one of those stubby fingered student interns at AJC. And surely our angelic Luckovich would never have broken that legal premise which says “people are considered innocent until proven guilty”. Delay hasn’t even been in a courtroom. Oh, I am certain that our magnanimous Mike will see to the removal of this unscrupulous and untalented “artist” from the ranks of that shining bastion of fairness, the AJC.

By Yonak

October 21, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

I love to watch the “rad right” squirm when confronted by the truth. - Yonak

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this

What truth, Yokel?

By Yokel

October 21, 2005 10:45 AM | Link to this

Forget it Dusty, I’m going back to the Democratic Underground where people know what their talking about

By kimberly

October 21, 2005 10:48 AM | Link to this

Once again, Luckovich succinctly captures the essence of those he draws!

By Jason

October 21, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this

Ronnie Earle is a HERO for standing up to the Repub juggernaut and spin machine. What I’m concerned about is his competence to prosecute. Washington Post quoted an ex Attorney General from Travis county (who was indicted by Earle and later exonerated) that he believed Earle was fair but he could not say the same about his competence. Democrats need to come up with competent lawyers to put this scumbag away for good. We all know he’s guilty as sin.

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 10:59 AM | Link to this

Yes, and Luckovich exudes a certain essence of his own. As Hamlet described it, “There’s something rotten in Denmark.”

By Wild Sects

October 21, 2005 11:05 AM | Link to this

I have a question for Dusty, Chris, and any other Bush supporter. In you opinion is there ANYTHING that ANYONE in the Bush administration has done that is just plain wrong? Either illegal or immoral? Just wondering where your sensiblities lie.

www.wildsects.blogspot.com

By kimberly

October 21, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

Good reference, Dusty! Hamlet’s comment went to the stench of deceit and corruption in the power-grab at the head of his government. The odor that offends your delicate nostrils comes not from an artist’s depiction, but from the life it imitates.

By Phillip

October 21, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this

I’m sure Bush can say to the public:

“We’ve had a few bad apples here and there. No wait, uhhhhh.. what looks like bad apples, I don’t want to misunderinform you, uhhh, (smirk). But I know they will all be resolved, errr, devolved, ahhh, found clean and shiny. So just don’t let any of this get in the way of yous all conservin’ gasoline until we can drill Alaska dry. That is all (beep - squeak).”

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

Oh Wild Sex, I have been very busy writing down all the good things the Bush administration has done. Didn’t have time to make that lil’old nitty-gritty list. But I am sure that you have. Just forwrd it on to Luckovich. He might have missed something.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

Does ones opinion on guilt or innocence depend on which label, conservative or liberal, a person has chosen to hang on themselves? Do conservatives excuse the misdeeds, criminality, and unethical behavior of the DeLays of the world? And do liberals excuse the wrongdoers that fit their ideology. I see alot of that here. And it is a sad state of affairs. A scoundrel is a scoundrel no matter what his ideology. Does any one remember when Ken Lay, bible in hand, looked straight into the camera and stated, “I have done nothing wrong”? The scarry thing is that the man really believed that he had done nothing wrong. Scarrier still is when we the people excuse guys like DeLay because we proscribe to his ideology. No intelligent being could possibly be aware of the sordid affair of Abramoff and his buddy DeLay and not be sickened by the stink. DeLay is long overdue for this and the fact that he scrounges millions of smelly dollars for his ideological causes doesn’t excuse his unethical and maybe criminal behavior. A rat is a rat no matter which den he comes from folks. And people, what does it say about us when we defend shysters and scoundrels because they happen to be from the same party that we do?

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this

Sorry, Kimberly, you failed. Luckovich will never pass the “sniff test”.

And Phillip, give up mind reading. Madame Majomba does it much better.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this

If DeLay committed a crime, put him in jail. I am a conservative and can say that with no problem. If any politician on either side is found guilty of a crime, get rid of him. However,it is still innocent till proven guilty. Having said that I would like to see some on the left admit that Earle’s motives are not purely based on law. He is an unabashed liberal that wants to get DeLay out of power.

By Jeff

October 21, 2005 11:51 AM | Link to this

DeLay’s mug shot says that he’s above the law, that being indicted is a big joke and that he and all his buddies are gonna beat this rap. Some days, as a prosecutor or a police officer, the knowledge that you will soon wipe the grin off the face of the jackass that you have just charged with a crime makes the whole thing all the more worthwhile.

Smile while you can, BugBoy. The Abramoff investigation is just picking up steam, and that’s not even the charges for which this picture was taken. This photo was taken for a series of other felonies. Hey moron - you have been charged with a number of crimes, not invited to a kegger.

Smile while you can.

By kimberly

October 21, 2005 11:54 AM | Link to this

Mark, you make an excellent point. My observation is that many people will always look at the label or “side” before they look at the truth, and will always retort with insults and accusations rather than answering a question. When asked to disprove this (twice just here today), they make no attempt. What saddens me the most is that THESE are the people who keep claiming to be the majority of Americans! How truly, deeply, profoundly saddened I am that they might actually be.

By Bobbie

October 21, 2005 12:00 PM | Link to this

Bush people are like a woman who has spoiled brats for children. No matter what they do “mom” thinks they are just adorable sweet children. Wake up and smell the bacon burning! They are not sweet and adorable they are delinquents.

By Chirs

October 21, 2005 12:00 PM | Link to this

Here you go Kimberly. Earle tried to indict DeLay twice before and failed. Only on his 3rd attempt did he succeed. In his indictment, there are no specific charges against DeLay. Maybe that is why most legal scholars, on both sides, believe this case will be thrown out. And by the way, most Americans do consider themselves more on the conservative side. I am so sorry that it saddens you so much.

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 12:02 PM | Link to this

Bobbie, I guess there are no delinquents on the left side of the political spectrum. And nobody on that side refused to admit that Sandy Berger was guilty or that your hero Bill lied to the American public and to the Grand Jury.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 12:06 PM | Link to this

Just for the record…I voted for Bush. My viewpoints here have nothing to do with being republican or democrat. I am an American first. Some of you here are using the same “political witch hunt” argument that was used when Bill Clinton was under the gun. And yes, innocent until proven guilty. However, does something have to be criminal before people get upset. What about the biggest problem with our government today? Corruption and unethical behavior on both sides of the aisle. How have these ideologues gotten the American people to the point that the end justifies the means as long as their side wins? Also, I beg to ask the question, is Patrick Fitzgerald on a “political witch hunt”? He is a lifelong republican and he is about to turn the neo-cons inside out. Could it be that he is just doing his job and protecting we the peoples interest. There are still people like that around thank God.

By kimberly

October 21, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this

Okay, let’s break it down: Texas has in place campaign finance laws that prohibit corporations from bankrolling candidates. These laws are there for the purpose of ensuring that the regular PEOPLE of Texas have a voice in government to a greater extent than the Corporate (big money) interests. While Texas is infamous as a place where fairness falls into a great abyss, there are actually some laws to protect the “democratic process.” When someone plots and schemes to intentionally circumvent these laws, he has intentionally violated their purpose and the public trust attached thereto. He can say that mailing checks back and forth is not a crime, but his INTENT was to violate those laws by giving unfair advantage to candidates on his “side.” Should we just trash ALL our laws by claiming they are “politically motivated?”

By Bobbie

October 21, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this

Ricky: If you commit a crime you are guilty no matter what your political party is. I do not defend wrong doing.

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 12:11 PM | Link to this

Jason, Mark & Jeff, don’t even try for law school. You’d never make it. DeLay hasn’t even had a trial but you have a verdict.

Kimberly , I too am truly, deeply, and profoundly saddened that someone might hang an untruthful label on you such as lefty liberal. Oh, the horror of it all.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 12:11 PM | Link to this

THANK YOU KIMBERLY! You actually get it!

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 12:16 PM | Link to this

Mark, it is only a witch hunt when someone of the opposite party is the investigator. Ken Starr was on a witch hunt when he was investigating Bill. I hope that if a law was broken, Fitzgerald finds it and charges people. That is the only way to fix the problem.

By Que

October 21, 2005 12:19 PM | Link to this

Mark, I couldn’t agree with you more. Thank God for people like Fitzgerald. I say let his investigation lead where it leads.

Also some of the people here is taken Mike cartoons way to seriously. They are just cartoons folks. I’m a democrat and if this was a democratic administration, I would laugh just as hard at Mike cartoons if he were poking fun at them, and he has in the past. If Mike leans to the left personally, who cares. That is his right. Chris do you slam Fox News Rush Limbaugh for their always righ leaning views. Of course not. Until you can be fair and honest with yourself about the state of this country under this conservative bunch then you as far as I’m concerned have your head in the sand.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what is going on here. But it does require you to open your eyes. In the meantime, some of you should take a valium and relax. Like I said, there only cartoons for our amusement.

Keep up the great work Mike. Todays cartoon was one of the all time best.

By kimberly

October 21, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this

Dusty, your lables, petty insults, and bad puns do not hurt me. But learning that my country is filled with people like YOU (define however you wish) has caused me to lose the faith in a great many things I once believed in — among them, my country, my people, and the God you claim to worship. I hope you feel some sense of accomplishment; you deserve it.

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this

Yes, Mark, Kimberly has had it a long time. I hope it isn’t “catching”.

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 12:22 PM | Link to this

Kimberly, wow you must be pretty close to Delay to know what he intent was. Thats good insider info. Innocent until proven guilty right

By Yonak

October 21, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

By Mark

October 21, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

Dusty…I have no interest whatsoever in “trying for law school.” I am perfectly happy being a West Point Grad that only wants ethical government that represents all Americans. It doesn’t have to be criminal to be unethical. That seems to be something that some of those among us have very little concern for anymore. It doesn’t seem to bother enough people that our public servants have become nothing more than political prostitutes, pandering for gratuities in return for services rendered.

By RW-(the original)

October 21, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

Mark asks what the biggest problems facing our government are and then answers his own question as corruption and unethical behavior.

The political flame throwers and the press might want you to believe that, but those two items are so far down the list of real problems they wouldn’t even be on any objective list.

Internationally we have terrorists and terrorist appeasing states that would love nothing better than for us to squabble over campaign finance while they conspire to destroy our very way of life.

Domestically, Social Security and Medicare are going to completely bankrupt this country if we don’t soon put these programs through some meaningful reform.

And you could go on and on before coming to corruption and ethics.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 12:35 PM | Link to this

Que, just for the record, I am not a Limbaugh fan. I am not one of those people on both sides that blindly follows what the national party puts out. I consider myself a conservative first, a republican second. So thanks for making the assumption even though you don’t know me from adam. And Fox News just balances out CNN. They are both equally poor news programs in my opinion. I guess you should open your eyes too.

By Andy

October 21, 2005 12:36 PM | Link to this

You got to love the liberal “return to power” action plan: Find a partisan democrat prosecutor who’s specialty is abuse of his power, who has said he is on a mission from God (of all the ironies,) who jury shopped, who has no evidence, who revealed details of the case at a democrat fund raiser and who has videotaped (right to privacy?) a movie of the “investigation.” The funny part is, after salivating over the prospect of having a forlorn mugshot to victory parade across the front page, Delay gives them, hilariously, one of his best campaign photos ever. Are these libs neutered or what?

Anybody want to bet that Ronnie Earle has a mugshot in his near future and he won’t be smiling for the cameras?

But cartoon boy and company shouldn’t see this as a complete catastrophe. Since you don’t seem to mind lying through your teeth, just reprint the picture with the caption “Delay caught eating minority children.” This will get traction with those in the fever swamps of Decatur. If you get really lucky, maybe Cynthia McKinney will launch an investigation.

By Yonak

October 21, 2005 12:36 PM | Link to this

Kimberly, please don’t lose faith in your country. This misguided path we’ve been going down the past few years is only temporary. People will begin to see the bad results of the misdirection soon (hopefully by the 2006 election) and things will improve. You’ve got to have faith.

• Yonak

By Dusty

October 21, 2005 12:37 PM | Link to this

Ah Kimberly, I get your essence! But do not worry, I am very happy except for one thing: MAZZONE IS LEAVING THE BRAVES! That is great cause for sorrow. In the meantime, be happpy and don’t sulk. I have better things to do this afternoon. Cheers!

By Chris

October 21, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this

We live in the greatest country in the world. That is not in dispute. No one should be losing faith in our country period.

By Que

October 21, 2005 01:04 PM | Link to this

Chris, you are right, I don’t know you from Adam. I was just asking a simple question of you. If you thought that Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are slanted to the right and if you make that accusation as fervently as you have about Mike.

As for opening my eyes, well they are wide open. Open enough to see we have a corrupt government in place now and sooner or later everything in the dark comes to light. If that exonerates people that I feel that has done wrong in this government then so be it. But common sense tells me where theres smoke there’s also some fire and these mass cover-ups are going to implode on the perpetrators.

You may be surprised but I for one like Tom Delay. He has done some things I like as well as some things I don’t like. In the end, rather he is guilty or innocent, that will be determined. In the meantime, I going to continue to crack up at Mikes cartoons regardless who is the subject of the joke.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 01:04 PM | Link to this

RW-(theOriginal) let me get this straight. So now anyone that would like to see better and more honest government is aiding and abetting terrorists? Every administration from LBJ up through George H.W. Bush has tried to get this retired Army officer killed…and did get alot of my boys killed. Maybe if there had been more honesty in government some of them would still be alive. Furthermore, there are many reasons that this country is headed for bankruptcy in more ways than one. And sir, before you contend that someone is aiding and abetting terrorism by expressing an opinion or excercising their freedoms under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States…think twice. That contention is best suited for the Taliban.

By The72John

October 21, 2005 01:07 PM | Link to this

Ronnie Earl has prosecuted 12 Democrats and 3 Republicans in his career. Some “liberal with an agenda”, huh. I realize that you people refuse to acknowledge that ANY of your leaders might be the least bit corrupt, but let’s not get hysterical, ok?

And really - is there ANYTHING in Mike’s cartoon about DeLay’s innocence or guilt? Was he NOT booked and fingerprinted?

Oh well, put the facist blinders back on, little goosesteppers.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 01:07 PM | Link to this

Que, all I am asking from Mike is some objectivity. Once or twice a week it would be nice to see a joke about some on the left. Just for balances sake. It would be easy to make a cartoon about Charles Schumer and his obsession with being on TV. You can’t tell me Teddy Kennedy isn’t an easy target. What about Cynthia McKinney? These material is endless there.

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 01:12 PM | Link to this

John, can we at least stop the name calling or are all conservatives facists? Many of the Dems Earle prosecuted were “Southern Dems” like we used to have in Georgia. I would be most of them would be considered Republicans now. And yes as a conservative, I can admit that there are corrupt people on my side, just like the other side. And Earle has admitted in public that he is a far left liberal with an agenda. Just ask Kay Bailey Hutchinson. And go back and look at how many cases he has had thrown out. If you are going to ask other people to be fair, you should be too.

By RW-(the original)

October 21, 2005 01:13 PM | Link to this

Mark, you’re missing my point. Honesty in government is something that should be taken care of as a matter of course. Elections and honest investigations that lead to exhonoration or conviction.

The hysterical ranting in the press keeps the focus of honest politicians on this instead of the bigger picture and keeps journalists from seeing ahead to larger problems.

Re-read with an open mind, I didn’t accuse anyone of aiding and abetting anyone.

By The72John

October 21, 2005 01:23 PM | Link to this

Well Ricky, everytime Dusty or one of his cronies pipes in with a “you can’t criticize the president because it’s un-american” lines, then yes - I will continue to refer to him as a facist. Unquestioning support of one’s leaders and a belief that they are infallible, coupled with the belief that anyone who questions them is unpatriotic is a hallmark of facism, so I really don’t feel unjustified in calling a spade a spade.

As for Ronnie Earl - his record is not one of a partisan prosecutor, or of an uncritical or hasty one. His record shows that he is a highly moral and ethical prosecutor. It seems that the claims of partisanship stem entirely from the fact that he’s had the gall to go after a Republican. See my first paragraph…

Has it ever occured to anyone that the man simply abhors corruption of any sort in government? Are we so deeply fallen into partisanship that everyone’s motives are suspect? Personally, I would be happy to see corrupt Democrats prosecuted. It’s interesting to see that no conservative on this blog is EVER interested in entertaining the idea that their leaders might actually be corrupt.

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 01:28 PM | Link to this

John, I just said that there were corrupt people on the conservative side. So there goes that argument. Earle record is partisan. He has stated publicly that he is a liberal democrat and has been quoted in interviews as wanting to bring down DeLay and Hutchinson. I am all for having fair campaign finance. I think that big money and corporations are too involved. We need someone fair, like we had on the 9/11 comission, to investigate these things, not partisan prosecuters. And calling people facistts isn’t justified. It would be like calling you a socialist.

By Sean

October 21, 2005 01:29 PM | Link to this

I don’t know why people take Mike’s cartoons so seriously. It’s the same as believing that all Dads are like Homer Simpson; i.e., fat, stupid, and lazy. It’s a satire.

As for the Republicans, they get criticized so much because of their sick belief that they are these moralistic individuals that can look down on everybody else and condemn them, when they are doing just as many things or worse. They talk about the sanctity of marriage, yet some of them are on their second or third marriage. They condemn others telling them are doing wrong, when they are having phone sex with a colleague.

Republicans wouldn’t get criticized so much if they admitted that they are no better than anybody else.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 01:32 PM | Link to this

Thank you for the clarification RW. The lynchpin of freedom in this country is the 1st Amendment. Dissent is healthy and one of the strongest checks and balances against powerful forces that wish to promote their own agenda. If people in this country ever become afraid to express themselves for fear of ridicule or reprisal, we have taken the first step toward a totalitarian state.

By RW-(the original)

October 21, 2005 01:47 PM | Link to this

Mark, I agree with you about the 1st amendment. It’s a shame it was so obliterated by the McCain/Fiengold bill. I hope the Supreme Court can re-visit that.

It would also be nice if we had any respect for the 5th amendment (that whole due process thing.)

Now I’ll sarcastically add, am I out of the Taliban now? I wasn’t looking forward to having to cut of a limb or poke out one of my eyes!

By Mark

October 21, 2005 01:53 PM | Link to this

Yes RW…you are no Taliban. No ticket to Guantanamo for you today.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 01:53 PM | Link to this

Well hopefully we can get some meaningfully campaign finance that doesn’t mute free speech. Ideally we need to get back to where averages citizens can run for office and you don’t need to be a millionare to run for office.

By Mark

October 21, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this

Ah yes…campaign finance reform. Way back in the 1700s when our founding fathers framed the constitution…did they intend that money should talk? MONEY BUYS! And only the most naive among us would believe that massive amounts of money are given for nothing in return. Speech in the classic sense is verbalization, expression through the written word, and maybe carrying signs. I am not a constitutional expert, so does anyone know if the founding fathers addressed the money issue? Or what Supreme Court ruling deemed money a form of speech. Even in the 1700s money was currency and was exchanged for something in return. Anyway. Money in politics co-opts our government and virtually guarantees that our elected officials work primarily for their contributors with the constituancies that elected them to their office all but forgotten.

By Jill

October 21, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t DeLay look cute in his mug shots? I know he has got to be thinking “I will destroy you Ronnie Earle.” I wonder if Dubya will send in the Republican hit squads to silence Earle?

By Chris

October 21, 2005 02:31 PM | Link to this

Jill, would those be the same hit squads Clinton and Podesta loved to send out. They had a guy who worked in the WH that all he did was put out propaganda against Republicans. It goes both ways, both parties do it

By Jeff

October 21, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

I received this song written about BugBoy today via email.

ODE TO TOM DELAY

A Rep whose name is Tom DeLay, He breaks the rules most ev’ry day. He don’t respect the law, Thinks ethics are a bore. ‘Tis time to show him crime don’t pay.

Tom practices dishonesty. Ignores the law with joy and glee. Misused the FBI, Golf junkets on the sly, How ‘bout we stop his crim’nal spree.

The winds of change are fin’ly blowing. We’re on the hunt for Tom DeLay. The winds of change continue blowing, And we’ll soon send DeLay away.

Tom helps the rich and harms the poor. He should not be a Rep no more. To those who’d right his wrongs, I dedicate this song. It’s time we show DeLay the door.

The man has caused a Texas mess, With scheming done at his behest. Eradicates his foes, And everywhere he goes, Treats Democrats like evil pests.

The winds of change are fin’ly blowing. We’re on the hunt for Tom DeLay. The winds of change continue blowing, And we’ll soon send Delay away.

The right to die with dignity, He flouted with iniquity. A self-appointed God, On state law ran rough shod. Let’s jail him for eternity.

By Eric

October 21, 2005 03:29 PM | Link to this

Delay could commit a murder and Chris and his ilk would find a way to defend him. Bush, Delay, Frist, Rove, Cheney, etc. are the most corrupt and secretive bunch of thugs this country has seen in over a hundred years, if ever. Good for Ronnie Earle for doing what ever he had to do to get an indictment. Now look for new indictments next week in the Plame-gate case. Next step, numerous convictions!

By Chris

October 21, 2005 03:47 PM | Link to this

Eric, I have said in several earlier posts that if Delay is guilty, he should go to jail. Just like the people in the leak investigation. The only point that I am making is that people like you and you ilk already assume he is guilty just becuase you don’t like him. Why not give justice a chance

By Bob

October 21, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this

In a Texas courtroom today, Tom DeLay’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said MoveOn.org has been selling a T-shirt showing Delay’s mugshot and since the judge, Bob Perkins, has donated money to the group, he asked the judge to recuse himself. The liberal political group denies it’s been selling T-shirts bearing the likeness of DeLay’s mug shot.

Judge Perkins replied that he’s neither seen nor bought such a T-shirt, and that the last time he contributed to MoveOn.org was before last year’s election, when they were mostly helping Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

In a statement, MoveOn.org says that DeLay’s lawyer “has either bad information or lied in court.” DeLay appeared in court for the first time today in connection with his indictment on conspiracy and money laundering charges. But his arraignment was postponed pending a hearing on his request for a new judge.

Lets analyze the request of DeLay’s attorney briefly. First, DeLay’s lawyer either lied to the court or is reckless with the facts he is presenting, both situations could land the attorney in ethical hot water. Secondly, the request is ludicrous. DeLay’s attorney will have us believe that because a judge is a Democrat he cannot remain on the case. Utterly ridiculous.

The judge is a Democrat, but it isn’t MoveOn.org that is being judged for a crime, its Tom DeLay. Remember the Antonin Scalia precedent? Scalia was seen duck hunting with Dick Cheney shortly before Cheney’s secret, energy task-force case came before the Supreme Court, and with Scalia’s help Cheney won.

Scalia refused to recuse himself and so should Tom DeLay’s judge. To insinuate that only a Republican judge can be used in DeLay’s criminal case or that this judge is unfit because he is a Democrat or contributed to a Democratic group is a serious perversion of the way the justice system works. The request should be summarily dismissed.

By Daniel

October 21, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this

There’s always a germ of truth in your work. Then, you create a scene that is really funny. Thanks.

By Que

October 21, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this

Ok Chris, you got me on that one. Kennedy, McKinney and a few others are worthy of a few laughs as well. I wouldn’t mind seeing some from Mike on that.

By Chris

October 21, 2005 04:34 PM | Link to this

All of this talk about the case is irrelevant unitl the trial. I bet the odds are 50/50 that the case is thrown out before trial, but we will see.

By The72John

October 21, 2005 04:42 PM | Link to this

Isn’t it funny that the only people these days who are accused of having bias are liberals? Ricky says that Earle has stated publicly that he’s a liberal Democrat. I wonder, Ricky, what was your response when conservative Republican Kenneth Starr was going after Clinton? Did you call for a bi-partisan effort then?

No, I doubt it. It’s all part of this “liberal is evil” groupthink infecting us today. Earle is suspect because, Ricky claims, he says he is a liberal (I would LOVE to see this cited, by the way Ricky). Yet he isn’t calling out bias on the other end of the spectrum, is he?

It’s not as if this is the first, second, or even THIRD time that DeLay has been under suspicion and investigation for corruption and ethics violations. Each time, his party has closed ranks to protect him. He has even gone so far as to abuse his position to invade people’s privacy - that would be his use of the FAA to track down a political opponent. Yes. I absolutely believe the man is guilty. I also find him to be a loathsome individual on many levels, and if he is convicted there will be no end to my rejoicing.

Maybe the reason the Earle wants to see him convicted is because Earle honestly believes he is guilty. Like prosecutors all over the country, he’s only doing his job. But because he’s supposedly a LIBERAL, it’s just a witch hunt.

What crap.

By Ricky

October 21, 2005 04:49 PM | Link to this

John, Ken Starr was a right winger. The investigation on Clinton was a witch hunt. Was he guilty of lieing to the public and to the grand jury, yes he was. Was it worth all the money spent on it, no it wasn’t. And John you keep making assumptions about people that are not true. You really shouln’t do that. Why don’t you ask me what I think before stating it as fact? I don’t subscribe to any groupthink. I don’t blindly follow the Republican talking points. There are many things with which I disagree with on the President. We are spending way too much, we handled the aftermath of the Iraqi war poorly, the immigration across the Mexican border is out of control, we should be working on more diverse forms of gas and fuel, etc. Any more questions? And Republicans are accused of having bias all the time. The democrats wouldn’t even participate in the hearings on katrina because they thought they were biased.

By Bobbie

October 21, 2005 05:57 PM | Link to this

Response to Andy at 12:36 p.m. comment. You have been watching the Sci Fi channel too much.

By Ethan

October 21, 2005 08:25 PM | Link to this

Gee, I’d really like everyone to think that I’m interested in Tom Delay getting a fair trial should he choose to not “cop a plea” but I gotta tell ya…I’m not. I could care less about that low life back stabber. I hope he spends himself into a frenzy on lawyers, and then goes before a jury of his peers, (if there really is such a thing) is found GUILTY and gets the maximum penalty, whereupon he does about two years time being the jail’s pest control specialist. The only thing that would top that is if he were really innocent. Now that would be apropos. Just Karma doing its thing! Can’t wait for the next indictment on the next low life repug. What a bunch of sanctimonious self serving fake Christians. Did I sound angry? Hope so. And should anyone say that I’m not interested in justice - I say to you: when was DeLay ever interested in justice?

By Jason

October 21, 2005 09:18 PM | Link to this

The indictment was not only for DeLay and his cronies. There were 8 companies charged as well. Notice the companies that were providing the funding to re-organize the Texas system were not even Texas companies - also take a look at what their agendas might be -

The eight companies charged with making illegal political contributions were: Sears, Roebuck and Co., Elmhurst, Ill.; the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, Lebanon, Tenn.; the Williams Companies, Tulsa, Okla.; Bacardi USA Inc., Miami; Questerra Corp., Richmond, Va.; Diversified Collection Services Inc., Union City, Calif.; Alliance for Quality Nursing Homes Inc., Boston; and Topeka, Kan.-based Westar.

1) Questerra Corporation, a Charlottesville, Virginia based. Questerra is a subsidiary of MeadWestvaco Corporation of Connecticut, a leading producer of packaging, coated and specialty papers, and specialized chemicals. With more than 90 employees, Questerra maintains a technology office and data center in Orange County, California, and has sales staff throughout the United States. Questerra helps decision-makers within public as well as private enterprises derive knowledge and value from geographic data and imagery to accelerate and improve critical planning, policy and operational decisions. A one-stop source of spatial business solutions, Questerra offers a rich array of aerial photography, satellite imagery and GIS data.

2) Westar Energy, Inc., a Topeka, Kansas based electric utility company, has a generating capacity of more than 5,800 MW (mostly from fossil-fueled facilities) and serves 653,000 electricity customers in Kansas through its utility subsidiaries. The company also markets wholesale power.

3) Diversified Collection Services, Inc., a San Leandro, California based debt-collection company, DCS contracts with the U.S. Department of Education, and other state and federal agencies to provide repayment services for various types of governmental debt.

4) Sears, Roebuck & Company, an Illinois based retailer, sells apparel, tools, and appliances, and provide home services.

5) The Williams Companies Inc., a Tulsa, Oklahoma based natural gas company, engages in finding, producing, gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas. The company operates in four segments: Gas Pipeline, Exploration and Production, Midstream Gas and Liquids, and Power.

6) Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., a Miami, Florida based subsidiary of the Bahamas based liquor producer, sales, and marketing arm of Bacardi Limited, one of the world’s leading wine and spirits producers. Trying to get DeLay to help with their Trademark dispute with Cuba.

7) Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., a Lebanon, Tennessee based subsidiary of CBRL Group, Inc. that operates restaurants and retail operations in forty-one states.

8) The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Corporation, an umbrella organization of some of the nation’s largest nursing home operators, a trade group of about 15 long-term-care companies that was formed in 1999 around the issue of nursing-home quality of care, its Texas members were interested in the pending legislative debate over limiting the legal liability of companies, including nursing homes.