There’s a rumor going around that Tom DeLay might be getting a promotion to Speaker in the near future. I find it a little hard to understand. It’s not like the change in title would mean more actual power for him. Maybe it’s a legacy thing – history seldom remembers Majority Leaders. I’m pretty sure history won’t forget Tom DeLay, though.
Mostly what puzzles me is that this would make DeLay a lot more visible, and thus a lot easier for Democrats to run against in 2006. I guarantee that one of the first things to happen after this were to be announced would be another round of editorials bashing DeLay and the Congressional Republicans for their ethics problems. All of which is fine by me, of course, but I’m not seeing what the Republicans will get out of it.
Anyway. It’s a rumor, and rumors are written on water. If it does happen, there will be plenty more to say.
What does this rumor have happening to Denny Hastert?
Acutally, the Speaker of the House is second in succession after the Vice President if the President can not fulfill his duties. This means that Tom DeLay could become President if something were to happen to Bush and Cheney.
Speaker delay is what causes feedback.
From what I’ve heard, Hastert is looking to get out of the role of Speaker in the next few years. I don’t know if that means retirement or just retirement from being Speaker.
“Ethics purge confirms fears”
San Antonio Express-News: If Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., wanted to dispel fears of a partisan purge on the House Ethics Committee, he started his chairmanship of that panel with an awkward move. Hastings’ first act as the House ethics chief…