I'll Take An 8x10 Glossy

...of Tom's mugshot. The poor Hammer is having one hell of a month. Today a Texas court issued a warrant for the former House Majority Leader to appear for booking. Where he will get fingerprinted and a mug shot. Bail was set at $10,000 before his first court appearance on conspiracy and money laundering charges. Delay's attorney Dick DeGuerin stated that the warrant was "a matter of routine and bond will be posted." He failed to say when the Hammer would surrender to authorities. Perhaps us Democrats can have the Department of Homeland Security hunt him down, like Delay had them hunt down Democrats in Texas.

Delay has been charged with funneling corporate money into state GOP legislative races through the National Republican Party. Texas law prohibits use of corporate money to elect state candidates. He is also charged with conspiracy to violate state election laws and money laundering. Both of which are felonies, which required him to step down as House majority leader. Delay has denied all of these charges, but let's take a look at his innocence thus far:

1. Delay's Campaign Committee, TRMPAC, Indicted for Facilitating Illegal Campaign Contributions. Delay cronies Jim Ellis and John Colyandro were personally indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate Texas campaign finance laws. (Washington Post, 3/4/05)

2. DeLay Received Private Admonishment for Continuing with Gingrich's K Street Project. In 1999, the House Ethics Committee sent a letter to DeLay privately admonishing him for pushing the Electronics Industry Association to hire former Rep. Bill Paxon (R-NY) as a lobbyist instead of former Rep. Dave McCurdy (D-OK). The plan was part of DeLay's push to load K Street power lobbying firms with Republicans, which he re-launched in 2004, despite being admonished for it by the Ethics Committee in 1999. (Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 5/15/1999)

3. Delay Admonished for Taking Bribes for Votes. DeLay violated House standard procedure and kept the 15-minute House vote on Medicare open for 3 hours. Later on, the House Ethics Committee conducted an investigation into whether DeLay threatened and bribed representatives into voting the Medicare law, including a large contribution of "$100,000-plus" for the campaign of the son of a member of Congress. (Washington Post, 2/6/04)

4. Delay Admonished for Trading A "Seat At The Table" During Energy Bill Negotiations To Westar in Exchange for Cash. An energy company, Westar, gave more than $56,000 in cash to DeLay for a "seat at the table" during energy bill negotiations. As a result, language was added to a bill that specifically benefited Westar. (Washington Post, 10/7/04)

5. DeLay Admonished for Abusing Leadership Position and Used Influence To Track Private Airplane. DeLay abused his leadership position and used his influence to direct the Department of Homeland Security track a private airplane carrying Democratic members of the Texas legislature who were rebelling against a DeLay-led Texas redistricting plan. (Washington Post, 10/7/04)

This is the GOP leadership? Of one of the 3 branches of federal government? Is this bringing dignity and morality back to Washington D.C.?