GOP moves could silence complaint against DeLay

Remember a few days ago when I predicted that House Republicans would be squirming like worms to protect Lizard King and Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay? Well, the slithery squirming has begun. From the Houston Chronicle:

House Republicans are trying to block U.S. Rep. Chris Bell's ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, with Democrats saying the GOP is trying to silence any criticism of its chief.

Republicans denied they were trying to muzzle allegations against DeLay. But in the escalating partisan warfare touched off by investigations into DeLay's political dealings, Republicans' maneuvers may prevent Bell's complaint from being examined by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., took steps Thursday to throw out the complaint by Bell, a Democrat whose Houston-area district borders DeLay's.

LaHood said that because Bell is a lame-duck congressman, after losing the Democratic primary this year in his freshman term, he "has no stake in the institution" and should be disqualified from filing the charges. Bell's term expires at the end of the year.

For that matter, why even allow him to vote on legislation? Or sit on any committees? Use the Congressional parking lot? Play basketball in the Congressional gym? Why not just throw that lazy, good-for-nothing lame duck out on his can!

Of course, this is a stupid argument (but not the stupidest, for that see the post above), which is no surprise coming from a Republican, but it's also really unfair. House rules, I believe, generally make no distinction between lame duck members and congressmen who aren't.

Christ, Republicans just make up rules as they go, and always to their benefit. Sleazy bastards.

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