With the exception of my ill-conceived 1996 vote where I'd thought that I was in Ken Bentsen's district and this last election where I voted in Idaho, I've voted against Tom DeLay at every opportunity. I even volunteered for an opponent of his. I take no pride in having grown up in his district. On the whole, though, I think he's been good for congressional Republicans and an effective leader. The absense of such leadership on the Senate side of things has actually made me [mutter, mutter] appreciate him at least a little. On the whole, though, I'd prefer him out.

So what do I think now that he's been indicted? Not much, actually. I decline to believe that his prosecutor's intentions are of the noblest sort. Be that as it may, it DeLay's guilty of the crimes that he's accused of none of this matters.

It's not at all impossible to railroad an indictment of an innocent man, though getting a conviction is much harder. But I believe him guilty. So I'm mostly just waiting to see what comes of it all.

I think he's guilty, but that and thirty-seven cents will get you a postal stamp.

What's interesting and fun and sad is that they'll likely make a big deal of running against DeLay a year from now and still won't win back the House because it's so institutionally favorable to Republicans right now. It's interesting because that sort of stuff interest me. It's fun because... well it's fun for all the wrong reasons. And it's sad because the the no party's control over the House ought to be bulletproof.