As Malcolm Gladwell might put it, the Tom Delay saga may have reached a "tipping point." Across the House, the Senate and even the White House, Delay is under a withering assault from his erstwhile Republican allies.

Many in the GOP, including the leadership, increasingly view Delay's judicial jihad and ethics imbroglio as threatening the Republican Congressional majorities in 2006. And while momentum has been building for his ouster, Delay's doom may be sealed by his own friends:

"He is an absolute embarrassment to me and to the Republican Party...Do I think Tom DeLay will be the majority leader by the end of this term? No. I don't think Tom DeLay is going to survive. He goes to the edge and he goes beyond. Even knowing there's a microscope on him, he continues to do these things."

"Those S.O.B.s [DeLay and his staffers]. DeLay knew everything. He knew all the details."

"I think he has to come forward and lay out what he did and why he did it and let the people then judge for themselves."

"I believe we have a fair and independent judiciary today. I respect that."

"I don't think that's appropriate [to call for retribution against specific judges]. There's a reason why judges get lifetime appointments."

"I believe in an independent judiciary. I believe in proper checks and balances."

Delay, the once-and-future pest control salesman, came to Washington wanting to bring a "biblical worldview" to government. It now appears that the man who routinely compares himself to Jesus, has received his Judas kiss. (Or in the case of Rick Santorum, a much less gay hearty handshake of betrayal.)

—Perrspective 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |