Tom DeLay Admits Republicans Have Gone Off Course And Wants To Make Nice With Democrats

Greg's Opinion tells us of Tom DeLay's speech in the House yesterday, "Ongoing Victory" Stops "Going":

Even more mindboggling is that DeLay suddenly wants to hold hands with moderate Dems ... the very class of Democrats he has sought to rid the House of since 1994:

In his speech, DeLay tried to shame centrist Democrats, who often speak of the need for fiscal discipline, into supporting the budget cuts.

"Where are the moderate, accountable New Democrats who could help us restrain spending, reform antiquated federal programs and offset the costs of the looming Katrina recovery?" DeLay said. "Have the so-called 'Blue Dogs' now become the 'Red-Ink Dogs'? Have these responsible moderates really thrown in their lot with the Michael Moore, Howard Dean extreme?"

Rep. Chet Edwards, a moderate Democrat from Waco who sits on the House Budget Committee, said the Republicans have written the budget over the past five years without Democratic input. The result, he said, "has been the largest three deficits in American history, adding over $1 trillion to the national debt between 2003 and 2005."

He said he would welcome a bipartisan budget summit.

Sorry Charlie, er ... Tom. There's an absolute zero of trust that exists between you and us. For you to shed crocodille tears and ask "Where are the moderate, accountable New Democrats who could help us restrain spending ..." is the most asinine question you could ask considering that it was you who helped draw the map that took out Charlie Stenholm, Jim Turner, Max Sandlin, Nick Lampson, and Martin Frost. You guys have the majority and it was your hand-picked third choice of a Speaker that declared the House would operate under the whims of a "majority of the majority's" desires. Deal with it.

Here is what DeLay said six weeks ago, DeLay declares 'victory' in war on budget fat:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.
Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible.
"My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing.
Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good."

...

[The Republican response to Mr. DeLay's comments]"This is hardly a well-oiled machine," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "There's a lot of fat to trim. ... I wonder if we've been serving in the same Congress."

Great analysis from Greg on why obviously no Democrat should fall for this, especially with an election coming up. House Republicans are in a big hole and their is no reason for Democrats to hand them a shovel. He links to a Chronicle article about it where DeLay says this:

"The time has come to set aside our intra-party differences, to rally around our core, unifying principles," DeLay said in a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation. "No more distractions; no more diversions. It's time for Republicans to be Republicans again and do what the American people know we are most capable of doing."

Right there DeLay is admitting that he and his party have been acting un-Republican. That should make Republicans mad that their leadership has been playing games with them for years now.

DeLay also has bigger problems. Apparently he's gotten an honest judge assigned to his case, Time for the daily salute to the new judge:

"I don't know how this case landed on me," said Priest, 64, of San Antonio. "I hope it's because someone told them I'd be fair."

Priest said he has no idea how long he might last as presiding judge.

"You'll have to ask the lawyers in the case to see if they find me objectionable," he said.

DeLay's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin of Houston, said his first motion before Priest will be to ask him to move the trial from Travis County to DeLay's home of Fort Bend County.

Here is the Washington Post article on what the Senate passed yesterday, Senate Passes Plan to Cut $35 Billion From Deficit. I believe this says it all:

It would shave payments to some farmers by 2.5 percent, while eliminating a major cotton support program and trimming agriculture conservation spending. A proposal to limit payments to rich farmers failed yesterday. The measure passed largely along party lines, with only two Democrats voting for it and five Republicans voting against it.