Corruption or Something Else: Republican Leadership in Trouble
Going off of the first two segments of Countdown tonight, Republicans are reeling from not one, but two congressional leaders being at least suspected of wrongdoing. Bill Frist appearently sold some stock two days before it tanked, basicly pulling a Martha. On the other side of the hall, Tom "The Hammer" Delay is being indicted for laundering illegal funds into political campaigns.
Delay's problem is that it was this money that got him into his leadership position in the first place. Since the early 90's, he was on an active campaign to get more and more Republicans into congress.
I do not believe it is a case where there is a widespread case of the Republican party is corrupted. I do believe it is a case of power corrupts. I can easily say that almost every congressional leader has had problems, some to the point they had to quit. Newt Gingrich has been the most famous example of where a leader has been shoved out of his/her position because of allegations.
However, this series of allegations will effect the Republican party. Frist hasn't been as much of the HARDCORE Republican leader as his predicessor, but he is still a leader in a time where the political divide is wide.
Delay, on the other hand, definatly has earned his nickname of "The Hammer". He has been one of the most strict leaders of any party. He demands that you go along with him or you will get punished. His agressive means of getting his way has set the Republican party down the path it has been for the past few years. Going without this direction will divide the Republican party, much the same way the Democratic party is divided now.
As it is, the Republican party is lost since for the past four years, they have been steadfast behind Bush. Now with his tanking poll numbers, the Republican party is trying to decide between staying on the boat or jumping ship. If these allegations force both Delay and Frist out, chaotic won't even start to describe the position Republicans will be in.
Delay's problem is that it was this money that got him into his leadership position in the first place. Since the early 90's, he was on an active campaign to get more and more Republicans into congress.
I do not believe it is a case where there is a widespread case of the Republican party is corrupted. I do believe it is a case of power corrupts. I can easily say that almost every congressional leader has had problems, some to the point they had to quit. Newt Gingrich has been the most famous example of where a leader has been shoved out of his/her position because of allegations.
However, this series of allegations will effect the Republican party. Frist hasn't been as much of the HARDCORE Republican leader as his predicessor, but he is still a leader in a time where the political divide is wide.
Delay, on the other hand, definatly has earned his nickname of "The Hammer". He has been one of the most strict leaders of any party. He demands that you go along with him or you will get punished. His agressive means of getting his way has set the Republican party down the path it has been for the past few years. Going without this direction will divide the Republican party, much the same way the Democratic party is divided now.
As it is, the Republican party is lost since for the past four years, they have been steadfast behind Bush. Now with his tanking poll numbers, the Republican party is trying to decide between staying on the boat or jumping ship. If these allegations force both Delay and Frist out, chaotic won't even start to describe the position Republicans will be in.
posted by SeanM at 7:55 PM
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